A/N: Glad you lot are enjoying it so far! Thanks for reading and thanks for the reviews, it means a lot considering this story is completely out of my 'comfort zone' :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds.

Chapter 1things we don't want to know but have to learn...people we can't live without but have to let go...

There are things we don't want to happen but have to accept...

The police station was caught in a moment of turmoil, the rookies, the veterans and even the agents were all engulfed in a moment of chaos. And why?

One of their own had been taken.

And not only that but they had been snatched from what should have been a few background questions answered and then a few minute drive back to the station. Instead the background questions had ended in a spade to the back of the head and a note left on the door step:

Leave us alone.

Among the confusion and slight panic created by this development in the case the BAU team were gathered together in deep discussion, their fear and panic hidden from view; they had a job to do, a profile to re-think and they also had to find their friend.

Hotch nodded in agreement with their assessment of the situation and took a step towards the Police Chief's office; ready to begin further neutralisation of the panic. They needed everyone focused and briefed on what this change to the UNSUB's MO meant and they needed to do it fast; time was of the essence. Garcia was preparing for the imminent press conference with Morgan by her side; they weren't taking any chances, while the rest of them had worked on possible theories ready to present them to the locals.

As they began to brief the available police officers there was a commotion in the entrance and everyone in the room seemed to, collectively and instinctively, look towards it. A familiar voice sounded in irritation:

"I used to work with them, now let – me - through!" As none other than Jennifer Jareau came barrelling into the main precinct, with two uniformed officers hot on her heels.

"We tried to stop her, Agent Hotchner, but she-oof." The officer stopped short when he barrelled into the back of the blonde who had suddenly stopped in front of him.

JJ was in shock, her eyes widened and her mouth went dry as the reality of the situation hit her; it had still felt a little surreal as she drove here in a fit of panic but now, faced with her old colleagues and friends it truly sunk in; this was actually happening.

"It's fine." Hotch said, placating the men; he knew that no matter who had been at that door Jennifer Jareau would've made her way through them and he cursed himself for not calling her before now, it was an unforgivable oversight really.

"What's happening?" JJ asked, switching suddenly from shock to 'Agent Jareau' mode.

"Rossi." Hotch requested and with that word JJ knew to follow him and all would be explained.

As she followed the older agent the others began their profile and her mind began whirring once more; who was gone? She needed to know.

"It's Prentiss." He said before she could even ask the question. "Morgan and Garcia are preparing for the press conference."

"Wha- How?" She spluttered, her composure flying out the window, one of her best friends had been kidnapped.

"She went to ask a neighbour some follow-up questions and someone - we're assuming the UNSUB - got her when she was leaving; it's a relatively quiet area and nobody seems to have seen anything."

"The first forty-eight hours after an abduction are the most crucial and the first three hours is when most are..." She said automatically, trailing off when she realised the implications of her thoughts, unable to voice them out loud.

"Looks like you picked something up from our Boy Genius." Rossi joked, trying to lighten the tension that had filled the room. JJ cracked a shaky smile.

"What do you need me to do? Has somebody called Ambassador Prentiss? She can't find out from the T.V." She said, straightening her back and looking him square in the eye: Supervisory Special Agent Jareau was now back and in business.

"Hotch took care of that." He said, more than aware that the words 'like I did' that had hung between them after her statement.

"Good. Hold on, you said you're assuming it was the UNSUB, who else could it be?" JJ asked as her brow furrowed in puzzlement.

"Prentiss hasn't quite been herself lately; jumpy, more withdrawn and more than a little frightened. We're just concerned that everything's not as it seems..." he trailed off, hoping that maybe JJ could shed some light on the situation.

"She has sounded a little off on the phone lately but I just assumed it was the cases taking their toll, even Emily's compartmentalisation has to slip sometimes. But maybe it was something else..." the rest of her sentence dissolved on her tongue as she remembered something the older woman had said in their last conversation:

"Sometimes the past is the one thing you can never outrun, especially when they catch up with you."

At the time she hadn't thought anything more of it, they'd been talking about the latest case Emily had consulted on and it hadn't occurred to her to question the statement. Now she wished she had. What if Emily was in trouble? Where would that mean she was now? That put a whole new possible angle to this mess.

"What?" Rossi asked, worried at the sudden silence as the blonde's mind obviously whirled with thoughts.

"Just something she said, Dave, I think she might have been in trouble, before she was kidnapped. Something from her past; I just hope it is this UNSUB that has her, if it's not..."

"We need to get Garcia on it the second she's done." He said, for once hoping that the ex-Media Liaison was wrong as they headed to tell Hotch the other possibility.

Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves Garcia readied herself to once again stand out on a podium and talk to the press. This time, however, it wasn't to bait an UNSUB into moving it was, instead, to try and quell the information that was at this moment being put into print about Emily's abduction and to try and reach out to the person that took her. It was a lot of pressure and she was more than aware of that fact.

Morgan's strong hands on her shoulders helped calm the rising panic that had begun to build when she peeked out into the conference room where the press were waiting; this was going to be horrendous, she had a feeling.

"You'll do just fine, Baby Girl." He said encouragingly while he massaged her shoulders gently. "Just be yourself and stay strong; stick to what we want them to know and then get out of there as soon as you can."

She nodded stiffly in response.

"I'll be right there by your side, just in case." He added, trying to relax her before she walked out there in front of the reporters. You could show no fear or discomfort when you were confronting them or they would exploit it to the fullest and he only hoped him being by her side would help her achieve that.

"Good." She said, blowing out a long breath before checking her watch: 1 o'clock. It was time. Rolling her shoulders back as Morgan's hands fell to his sides she strode forwards and pushed the door open, entering the room with a confident stride, ready to do what needed to be done.

The room erupted with noise; questions being yelled at her from all directions as flashes dotted her vision. Reaching the podium she turned to face the room and when she stepped up to the microphones there was a slight hush.

"Good afternoon. Thank you for being patient." She greeted the crowd of reporters with a small smile. "At this point we can confirm what the reports have been saying; SSA Emily Prentiss was abducted earlier this afternoon. We believe this was carried out by the same culprit that has been abducting young girls in this area."

Rossi observed JJ as she watched Garcia take the press conference from the side room. He noted the pride, the flash of hurt and the slight pang of longing cross her face. It was obvious that she missed her old job.

"You miss it?" He asked roughly.

"Every day. Well, maybe not all of the aspects of it but yeah, I do. But PG's doing a fantastic job." She replied and she almost beamed with pride at her friend's accomplishment.

"We continue to advise that children, specifically pre-teen and teenage girls, as well as young adults not to go out alone and if they must then to ensure they stay in well lit and busier areas. We will be issuing more information as and when we have it. Thank you." Garcia ended her spiel, ready to get out of the wolves' den as soon as she could. She had said all she needed to say.

The room erupted once again with question and after question. Squaring her shoulders she turned back to the podium and spoke loudly and clearly into the microphones:

"We will be taking no questions at this time; all of our team is needed in the hunt for Jo Hallens, SSA Prentiss and the man that we suspect is responsible for their abductions. Thank you." She said forcefully.

One question sounded above the rest as the crowd chanced their hand once again; "Can you confirm reports that the girls were all found with a doll clutched in their hands?"

Garcia flinched involuntarily, that piece of information had not been released to the media. Seeing the almost insignificant flinch the reporter circled back around like a vulture that could smell blood and went back in for the 'kill', repeating his question once again. The words seemed to resonate in the otherwise almost silent room. It seemed reporters could be quiet at times.

Chancing a glance at Morgan she pleaded with him to help her; she wasn't equipped to deal with this situation and he could see that she was slowly beginning to unravel with the stress of Emily's abduction and the worry about the press conference. Jumping to her rescue he stepped up beside her and tried to calm the now expanding questions, all stemming from the first man's question.

"As stated by SA Garcia we cannot take any questions right now and there will be another press conference scheduled for later today to keep everybody up to date." His deep voice boomed over the ruckus.

Still the questions did not subside and he chanced a glance at Penelope, catching the slight flash of panic that crossed her features.

Before he could repeat his statement and usher her out of there he felt a gentle but firm hand on his shoulder pushing him back slightly and a familiar figure shrouded in blonde hair appeared between him and Penelope.

Confusion was written plainly across their faces for a second before they covered it up quickly, stepping back and letting her have the floor; it was her stage after all.

"As my colleagues have informed you there will be no questions taken at this session. I suggest that you don't print anything without confirmation from us as this information is likely to be flawed or completely fabricated." A strange hush had come over the room as she spoke, her voice strong and her tone unwavering.

"This is a highly sensitive situation and each minute we remain here beating off your unsubstantiated questions is another minute that this UNSUB has Jo Hallens and our agent held under duress. We would ask you to respect that we need to work as quickly and efficiently as possible in order to get them both back safely. We urge you all," she continued, addressing those watching this broadcast as well as the reporters standing before her. "to contact us on the hotline if you have any information which could be of use to our investigation. This press conference is over. The next one is scheduled for 5:30pm tonight. We will have an update for you then. Good Afternoon."

When she finished there was still a few desperate reporters that tried to ask questions but most turned to their cameras and ended their segments. JJ ignored the last desperate questions, merely holding her hand up in a gesture of 'no' as she, Morgan and Garcia left the room.

The second they made it into the side room Garcia flung her arms around JJ, never more glad to see her friend as she had been at that moment. JJ clung on tight for a few seconds, taking comfort from the warm embrace.

"I've missed you." Garcia said into JJ's ear, her voice a little wobbly.

"Right back at ya." JJ replied, giving her one last squeeze as she blinked back the tears that had been threatening to fall since she had heard the news bulletin this morning.

"Sorry about just barging out there. I was on auto-pilot and just couldn't stand and do nothing." JJ said more to Hotch than anybody else; she wasn't an agent anymore, at least not with them, and she had taken over. She didn't think he would have a problem with it but those higher up might, and she just hoped they realised the circumstances were exceptional. Hotch just nodded in understanding; it was fine, they would deal it later, it wasn't important now.

"You were fantastic out there, Jayje." Morgan said. "Thanks for saving ours asses." He chuckled a little.

"This is why they shouldn't have just been able to take you away." Came Reid's soft voice from her left and JJ's head spun around to lock eyes with him; he looked like a lost puppy, almost like had when she had said goodbye in the bullpen that day.