Chapter 7: Reinforcements

Stella walked into Mac's office, he had been working non-stop for 72 hours. They had a few smudged prints, no DNA, and over thirty dead people. He was asleep, with his head leaning against the back of the chair. She thought he looked so peaceful, she really didn't want to wake him. She had to tell him that it was time to call in reinforcements, the BAU, a team of behavioural analysts. If they could create a profile, then, the CSI's could find the son-of-a-bitch who kidnapped Nikki, and killed over thirty people. Stella stood there watching Mac, and decided not to wake him yet. He needed his sleep, he hadn't gone home for two days. Stella turned around and walked out of his office.

Stella knew that Mac might not call Agent Hotchner at Quantico, but if he did protest, she would tell him that they seriously need help on this case. She decided to go get a coffee and maybe something to eat. She also had to figure out how to get Flack and Nikki together, or at least help them figure out that they have feelings for each other. But that can only happen if they find Nikki, well, she would help course the feelings out of Flack first, then, when they found Nikki, she would get her feelings and then find someway of getting them to tell each other. It all sounded so simple, the fact was, she was missing one of the key people in order for her plan to work.

An hour later, Stella purposely walked by Mac's office to see if he was awake. He was. So, she walked into his office. Mac looked up from his desk and straight at Stella. " Hey. What's up?", Mac asked cautiously.

" Oh, it's nothing. I just have an idea, and earlier when I came to tell you, I seen you got some sleep. Anyways, I think that maybe we should call Agent Hotchner at the BAU. We need some immediate help, help I think that only the profilers can give. I know that you're going to object, but we have no physical evidence", Stella pleaded.

" Yeah, I know Stell. I've been asking myself that for the past ten minutes. I never thought I'd have to do this, but I think it's time we call for some help", Mac replied tiredly. Stella was shocked, she didn't think he'd give in so quickly. Stella thought that he would tell her to keep looking for evidence.

So, she gave him the only reply she could strain out, " OK."

Mac detected that hint of straining in her voice and asked, " What?"

" It's nothing, I've just never seen you give in so quickly", Stella replied softly.

" That's not nothing, Stella. Well, for the other point, Nikki has been working on this case. He is the most prolific serial killer New York has ever seen. She hasn't caught him yet, but maybe with the BAU's help, we can do it for her, and save her at the same time", Mac countered. Stella turned then and walked out of office, so that Mac could call in Agent Hotchner and the rest of his team.

Ten minutes later, the whole team was called into Mac's office. Flack, Danny came in holding Lindsay's hand, Hawkes, and Stella all walked into his office. Danny had dark circles under his eyes, he definitely needed some sleep. Danny had always been the one to look after Nikki, and he felt the same as he had five years ago when she left without a word. That feeling was despair and failure as a big brother. Flack clearly looked concerned, he also had small dark circles under his eyes, and Hawkes even looked worried.

" Ok, guys. Here's what's going on. Everyone has clearly not slept in a few days. I have called Agent Hotchner in the BAU at Quantico. He is bringing his team up, they arrive in two hours. I think, no believe, that they are our only hope. They can create a profile of our serial killer and we can narrow it down as to who's responsible for this horrible crime", Mac concluded, " Everybody, try to get some sleep. I will page everyone when they arrive." Everyone left his office to go their separate ways for the time being. Hawkes went down to the morgue to help Sid, Stella headed to her office, Danny, Lindsay, and Flack all went to the break room.

Danny sat down with Lindsay leaning against his shoulder. She was so very tired. She tried staying up with Danny, and he knew that it wasn't a good idea, with her being pregnant and all. It was good to have comfort though, but she was as stubborn as a mule when he had told her to go to bed. She wouldn't go, and he had held her until she fell asleep, just as he was doing now.

Flack sat at the table with his head in his hands, and a steaming cup of black coffee in front of him. He was tired and exhausted. He hadn't slept in three days. He felt Danny's presence watching him. He couldn't quite understand why he felt the way he did about Nikki, but he kept fighting it. Danny was her brother, and his best friend. What the hell was he thinking? " I really am crazy", Flack whispered to himself. He chuckled and shook his head, as Danny asked, " What?"

" Nothing", was all that Flack said. They fell back into silence.

After another few silent moments, Danny said, " I'm a failure, you know."

" What do you mean?", Flack questioned.

" I mean, Don, I'm a failure as a brother", Danny hung as head in shame.

" No, you aren't. You're a great brother", Flack answered.

" Thanks for trying to cheer me up, but, I couldn't protect her when she needed me the most. I could've prevented it", Danny explained, " She hasn't always been good at asking for help but I knew when she needed it. I looked after her at school. In high school, I would drive all the guys away from her", Danny laughed softly, so he wouldn't wake Lindsay, " She always had a flock of guys after her, although I could see why. She didn't have braces, red hair, she was a straight-A student, and she has those brown eyes. She has a good heart, which is why our parents are still wondering why she's not married."

Flack started wondering that himself. A beautiful woman like Nikki would probably be married with two kids by now. She wasn't though and he knew that. He suddenly remembered that Danny was sitting right there, and knew he needed to say something. So, he tried reassurance, " Danny, you can not blame yourself for this. You had no way of knowing that this guy would come after her, but he did, and now, we are going to save her. She is beautiful, and she does have a good heart, your parents do have good reason to wonder."

Danny looked at Don through narrowed eyes and considered his response. He didn't know what to say. Flack seemed to have his head in the clouds lately. Danny couldn't help but wonder.

Lindsay silently listened to her husbands' conversation with his best friend, she knew that Nikki meant the world to him since they had helped each other instead of fought when they were younger. She knew how bad he felt about all of this, and he had always wondered what happened that made Nikki leave here. She never talked about it with anyone, so, it could've been a multitude of things. Danny always felt responsible for Nikki, even after her and Danny had gotten married. Lindsay loved this man who was holding her and she always would, and she admired the way he cared for his sister. She waited silently to hear Danny's response to what Don had said.

The continued silence was very over whelming to Lindsay. Well, maybe he's thinking, Lindsay thought.

Danny finally broke the silence, " I guess they do. I don't know. Maybe she's holding out for the right guy."

" Yeah, that could be it", Don yawned. He couldn't sleep because Nikki was always clouding his thoughts. Her being missing only made him worry about what could happen to her. I'm going to kill that sick bastard, Don thought.

Danny fell asleep soon afterward. Lindsay opened her eyes and saw a pained expression in Flack. She gently got up out of Danny's arms and walked over to Don. She put her hands on his shoulders and whispered, " She's going to be fine, Don."

He looked up at her, too tired to be startled and without thinking first, replied, " I hope so, Lindsay, I hope so." With her suspicions confirmed by what Flack had just said, Lindsay went and got a glass of water then, after she drank it, she told Don, " I'm going to find Stella. So, when Danny wakes up, tell him I've gone to her office." Don nodded and watched her leave. He looked over at his sleeping friend and put his head down on the table in his arms and sighed.

Lindsay walked into Stella's office, and said, " I think Flack's got a little crush on Nikki."

" I see you've noticed his strange behaviour, too", Stella sighed.

" Yes, I have. I wonder if anyone else has noticed", Lindsay wondered aloud.

" You didn't tell Danny, did you?", Stella asked, anxiously.

" No, I didn't. Should I? I mean Don's his best friend, so, maybe Danny has noticed his behaviour, too", Lindsay replied. Lindsay had started noticing Don's strange behaviour the day he had met Nikki. The only reason she noticed this behaviour was because it only occurred when Nikki was around.

Stella was the only one who had gone home and gotten some sleep in the past few days. She had noticed the sparks between Nikki and Flack that night after Danny had yelled at her, and she had given Nikki a lecture that Danny shouldn't have yelled at her. When Nikki had turned and ran straight into Don, she had seen it the moment their eyes locked. Stella had been harbouring the thoughts that they had unspoken feelings for each other.

Right when Stella about to answer her, both their cell phones rang. " It's Mac", they both chimed. Stella got up and they headed to his office. Everyone met up in Mac's office shortly after.

" OK, everyone. The BAU has just arrived at the airport. I got a call from Agent Hotchner, he says they'll be here shortly", Mac announced.