The Rescue

That night they entered at the warehouse where they believed there was a strong possibility the children were being held by Aldous Swann. They'd discovered he was keeping them to punish his parents and save them from their own.

Aldous was about to hit Johnny for moaning and saying he wanted to go home when once again Adam stepped up. Once again he kicked him hard in the leg and he turned back to the little boy with annoyance and anger boiling up inside of him.

"I thought you'd learnt from the last time," he growled.

Adam glared at him and answered, "I thought you did too. No-one hurts my friends."

He felt the thumps and punches rain down on him again but once again he kept his tears inside and didn't make a peep to show his pain. As it carried on he heard footsteps outside and hoped to God it was daddy.

Hotch led the team in and overheard his son's voice say, "My daddy's going to beat you. He's in the FBI and takes down bad guys just like you." He heard and felt the slap across his son's face. "He's going to save us..."

"Oh yer so where is he then, smartarse?" Aldous growled.

He looked up to meet his father's eyes as he came through the doorway but decided not to tell Mr Swann. Unfortunately he'd noticed Adam stare ahead and looked to the doorway to see the team with their guns drawn. Quickly assessing the situation he wrapped his arm round Adam's neck.

"If you take me you take this pest," he spat. "He's been a pain in my arse since we got here."

Hotch's eyes narrowed as the man called his son names and held him round the neck but he knew that if he didn't tell them to put down their guns his son would be in the crossfire. Adam's safety was most important. "Lower your guns," he said trying to keep calm though it was his son being held by that bastard. Adam looked at him pleading for help.

It was then Aldous Swann realised they had the same eyes and looked a lot like each other. He grinned menacingly and asked, "Are you his father or his grandfather?"

In answer he growled and Adam finally called in a little frightened voice, "Daddy." Aldous smiled at the first sign of fear and the fact he knew he had this agent's son in his clutches. He could do whatever he liked and he couldn't stop him. Not if he wanted him to live. He could knock him out cold with a well-planted blow. Like this he thought as he brought his hand up and smacked him to the floor with a well-planted blow.

The team looked in shock and understanding as Hotch roared in rage and begun fighting Aldous Swann. They grappled with each other as Rossi turned to Adam whose head was bleeding down the side of his head and was out cold. JJ was tending to the other children who told her how Adam fought for them. She was proud of the boy hearing that. Hotch finally got on top of Aldous Swan and the handcuffs on his wrists after beating him for beating Adam.

Looking back at Adam and seeing the blood his heart tightened and he felt like he was falling. Morgan took over and led Aldous Swann out making sure the handcuffs were nice and tight. He hoped they gave him as much pain as possible for what he'd done to Adam.

Hotch got down by his son feeling like he was going to cry. He held Adam close to him and begged for him to come round and wake up. He soon came round, looked up to see his daddy and smiled at him.

"Daddy, I don't want to be strong and brave anymore. It hurts," he said vulnerably trying to bite back tears.

"It's ok, buddy. Daddy's here now," he answered carefully holding him close.

"I tried to make you proud by showing him no weakness and standing up for the others."

"I'm very proud of you, son. I'm proud to be your father."

"Thanks dad. I knew you'd save us..." Hotch smiled down at his son's belief in him. "Is the bad guy gone?" he asked sleepily.

"Yes he is," he answered stroking the side of his hair that hadn't become matted with blood. He saw Adam was falling asleep and he shook him which made him whine. "Adam, you have to stay awake. You have a head injury. It's dangerous to fall asleep in your condition."

"But daddy..." he whined.

"Adam, trust me," he said firmly, "this is for your own good."

"But I'm sleepy..."

The paramedics came up and checked Adam then put him on a stretched and in the ambulance while Hotch got in as well. There was no way he was leaving his son. Not now they'd rescued him. On the way to the hospital he held Adam's hand and assured him everything was fine.