The Walthom house was a busy command center. Computers were in the process of being set up and all the telephones were being wired. Hotch personally did not expect a ransom call. His gut feeling was telling him it was a hit. And Robert Jenkins had something to do with it. And since Jenkins was protected by a wall of lawyers the only way to solve this case was to find the girl and the kidnapper.

"Ok people. Garcia and Reid, work on the kidnapping footage. Anything that will help us. JJ get her picture in the media. Dave, Morgan the crime scene is all yours. Prentiss, you and I will prep the family."

They went into the den, where Mr. Walthom and his wife were sitting. "He's not going to hurt her is he?" Mrs. Walthom cried.

Hotch didn't have an exact answer. If it was for ransom, they would not. Revenge was a whole other playing field. There was always the possibility she could already be dead. Of course telling the parents this was always difficult.

"Mr. Walthom, Mrs. Walthom we have no reason to believe that she will be harmed; we are going to do our very best in finding her. However in all cases there is the always the chance that things don't turn out how we want them to." He was very surprised and satisfied at Prentiss calm and diplomatic answer.

"Do you have many enemies Mr Walthom." He asked.

"Some. Robert Jenkins is definitely one of them."

"We should not just focus on one person Mr. Walthom. We could get a ransom call from someone looking for money."

Mr Walthom nodded. "But I'm not just focussing on him. He said this would happen. That he would take everything away from me."

"When did he say this?"

"A few weeks ago. I am very experienced doing business with him. He does bribery, backstabbing, anything to get a contract. He was furious and out of his mind when he found out I got it instead."

"We were taking precautions after the threat. We put in better security systems, got a guard dog, got Jess security. We thought she would be safe." Mrs. Walthom added.

"You could not have predicted this Mrs. Walthom." Prentiss reassured.

"Do you know Mr. Jenkins personally?" Hotch directed the conversation. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Reid move into the room. Maybe they had information.

"No. But I know he likes to flash his money around. He's been quite successful." He growled.

"I will be right back Mr. Walthom." Hotch walked over to Reid.

"Garcia managed to predict the height and weight of the kidnapper using her programs and Morgan's measurements. He's 6'2 and about 220. Garcia also managed to enhance the footage and we believe he's a white male. We're running a search with these parameters."

"That could be 1000 of men Reid." Hotch interrupted.

"We are also searching those who have past assaults and kidnappings."

"Good." Hotch made to go back to Prentiss talking with the family.

"Another thing. Garcia looked further into Jenkins holdings and found that he purchased a few more warehouses. Abandoned warehouses." Reid whispered.

"How many?"

"3 recently purchased and he owned 5 more."

"We'll check them all. Tell Dave and Morgan to get a team together." He went back to Prentiss and excused themselves. Handing her a kelvar vest he explained the updates.

"At least we're doing something." She casually said.

*~*

They dived off into pairs to check each warehouse. Hotch decided he had enough evidence to conduct a search. The chief of police thought so too.

Hotch and Prentiss drove to the third warehouse, one bought recently. He could feel an intense energy coming from Emily. She jiggled her foot annoyingly.

"When we go in; I'll go first and you watch my back."

"This isn't my first, Hotch." Emily treaded the line of insubordination.

"That doesn't mean something can't go wrong. Just be on the lookout." He warned.

The warehouse looked deserted when they entered. Hotch entered first; with Emily close behind. To close; it was distracting. He could smell her perfume. They slowly walked through the first few rooms of the warehouse, guns drawn.

Suddenly Emily gripped his arm. "Do you hear that?" She whispered. Hotch listened. Pacing footsteps and...crying? He wished they had backup. It was too late now. They inched closer to the noise. A door was ajar and Hotch peered through. Emily's head was centimetres away from his. She was trying to see what he was seeing.

He motioned for her to call for backup. They had obviously found their unsub. They still weren't sure if he was armed or not. Hotch couldn't see. Emily texted Morgan from her cellphone. It was the best she could do without giving away their position.

They could tell Jessica wasn't dead from her crying. But Hotch didn't want to spook the unsub into hurting her further. He needed to surprise and subdued him. If he could only get behind him.

Hotch tested the door, seeing if it would squeak. When it didn't he let Emily pass under his arm into the room. There were boxes that she hid behind. It would take at least 10 minutes for Morgan to get here and he was the closest.

He hid behind another box beside Emily. She could see Jessica tied up sitting on the floor. She looked frightened but otherwise unharmed. The unsub paced in front of her with a semi-automatic. Her heart sank. That weapon could do a lot of damage to the three of them. She moved to another set of boxes.

Hotch could pretty much predict the outcome if they announced themselves. This unsub looked agitated. They needed him alive to implicate Jenkins. He could start shooting any moment. His best chance was to tackle (how Morgan) and get the gun away from him. He motioned to Prentiss what he was going to do. She frantically motioned back 'no'. 'It's too dangerous. You could get hurt' she mouthed to him. In some sick and twisted way it was good to know she cared. He got into position, with her still trying to stop him.

Finally she positioned herself to cover the girl when Hotch moved. In one split second everything went to hell.

He put all of his energy into the tackle, surprising the hell out of the unsub, who immediately pulled the trigger. In his peripheral vision he saw Prentiss go down; covering Jessica, who was screaming. He nailed the unsub to the floor slamming his fist on the guy's wrist to let go of the gun. It went off again and this time he couldn't place Prentiss. His heart pounded faster. He could not hear anything from the two women.

The unsub knocked his other fist towards his head, momentarily making Hotch's head spin. The adrenaline in his veins was incredible. He somehow managed to flip the unsub on his stomach and fumbled for his handcuffs. Prentiss was suddenly joining him; kicking the gun across the room. Her hair was messy and out of place.

"You okay?" He asked loudly.

"Fine. Better then Jessica." She answered tersely. Hotch stood the struggling unsub up.

"You whore." He spat at Emily. She responded by nailing him in the groin. It felt good to get out some aggression. Hotch got to tackle the bastard.

Morgan burst into the room. "We heard gunfire." He was followed by SWAT.

Hotch handed over the unsub. "How's Jessica?" He asked loosening his too-tight tie.

"JJ and Reid have her in the ambulance." Morgan informed him.

"I'll interrogate the unsub later. Get Jessica to her parents." He ordered. Even though they had got the girl back; he still needed a confession.

Prentiss came stomping up to him; still looking very frazzled. "That was the stupidest idea you've ever had."

"Did you have a better one?"

"Yeah; waiting for the team to arrive."

"He would have came out shooting. That's what he wanted. Likely what Jenkins wanted to. He would never have been blamed. Think of the bigger picture Prentiss!"

"You could have been shot or worse, killed." She argued.

"Well I wasn't. End of discussion." He didn't need to argue with another woman today.

*~*

It took 15 minutes to break this unsub into confessing. In the end, he ended up giving him a deal; but Blake Saunders would be going away for multiple charges and many years. Even Jenkins lawyers couldn't protect him now.

The chief of police closed the case allowing the team to burn off their excess energy. Hotch especially needed to. So they agreed to meet at bar in Adams-Morgan. This was a celebration of their success. One more case where there were no victims. Sure Jessica would never be the same again but she was alive.

Derek arrived with Lexi, who agreed to meet all of his work friends. He was in a very good mood. Almost infectious. It was only Hotch and Emily who were on edge. Dave bought the first round of beers. Emily choose something stronger; merlot.

After a few drinks everyone dispersed elsewhere. JJ challenged Reid to darts; Dave and Hotch moved on to scotch and Garcia, Emily and Lexi chatted together at their table. Derek floated between the two groups.

"Heather's boyfriend finally proposed to her." Lexi told Emily, referring to her roommate.

"That's good."

"For her. Now I have to find somewhere else to live."

"Why?" Emily felt very full. Perhaps she had too much wine. Or too much reality.

"I can't live with a baby in that apartment. Her fiancé will be moving in soon."

"Well I have an extra bedroom if you want it. I promise I won't be getting engaged anytime soon." Emily laughed. Lexi really seemed to consider it.

"That wouldn't be too bad. I guess I had always pictured I would be out on my own by now. But I have to use the washroom. I swear you have to go every half hour."

"You know that increase the more pregnant you are." Emily called after her laughing.

"Hey Em, you might want to tell Derek you offering her your apartment." Garcia said.

"Why? She's my friend. Derek shouldn't have a problem with it. I can even butter her up about him. Make him look good."

"Make who look good?" Derek was behind her now.

"Oh. You. Lex might move in with me."

"What?" Derek said as Garcia excused herself. "Why would she need to live with you?" He had really enjoyed living with her. It was nice to home to someone.

"She said she needed to move." She did not expect that reaction. She knew they were doing better than before; but not that he wanted to live with her.

"She didn't talk to me about it."

"Maybe she didn't want to. This is her decision Morgan."

"I don't want you interfering in my relationship with her." He said firmly. Everyone was paying attention to them now.

"I'm not interfering. I'm doing her a favour." Emily had no idea why this conversation was turning so sour.

"She's my girlfriend. Let me handle it so stay out of it."

"He's right Prentiss. It's none of your business." Hotch and Garcia seemed to be backing Derek up. She felt like she was being backed up against a wall.

"Fine. I'll take it back." She snapped taking off toward the bathrooms. Her anger boiled up inside her. Who was he to say that to her? They were supposed to be a team. Yeah, a team ganging up all on her all because she was trying to help him out. She thought bitterly.

*~*

"What's wrong Em?" Lexi was heading back to the table.

Might as well get it over with. "I guess I can't offer my extra bedroom." The wine was really hitting her now.

"Why not?"

"Derek wasn't too fond of the idea."

"So?"

"I just don't want to be put in that position."

"So you're choosing Derek's friendship, whom you've known like 6 months, over me?"

"It's not like that. He's my colleague."

"Right. You know three years ago you would have never backed down like this. I guess you have changed."

"I guess so." Emily said. She needed to walk. The alcohol was making her head spin. Her anger, exhaustion and unspent energy was too much. She needed to get away from them all.

*~*

So how believeable was that fight? I would really like to know. Please review! And thank you still to all those who have reviewed. It really means a lot.

Until next time (and don't forget to review!)