A/N – so hope everyone had a good Christmas, I've been on the best Christmas diet ever thanks to a sickness bug that is still wiping the floor with me, hence the lack of postings the last couple of days! This, as the title suggests, is based on the episode 'Minimal Loss'.

Minimal Loss –

Emily hated going away. Every time the team was called away it ripped a little piece of her heart away but strangely it never made it smaller it only made it stronger. It had been 6 months, 3 weeks, 2 days and 16 hours since Kate had entered her life and Emily had counted every second as she sat down with her adopted daughter and prepared to tell her the news.

"I've got to go away on a case."

"Uh huh."

"Uncle Spence and I, we've been asked to intervene in a case that we've got to go undercover on."

"So you are going to be away for a while?"

"Yes, hopefully not too long, it just depends."

They both sat there in silence, looking at each other both knowing that this could be the last time they speak to each other for a while.

"JJ has said that you can go and stay with her and Will while I'm away so at least I'll know that you are safe and cared for."

Neither of them needed to say anymore. Emily wrapped Kate up in her arms and hugged her tightly, not knowing when she would next hold her daughter.

JJ had dropped Kate off at school that morning and then made her way to work. Although she was into her third trimester JJ was determined not to let it interfere with her job, she was only pregnant for goodness sake it wasn't some disease that you can catch. JJ sat in her office looking through some files when her phone rang, looking at the display it was one of her confidential contacts so she quickly answered the call.

JJ went running through into the BAU bullpen and flicked on the television before calling to Morgan and Reid. As soon as Morgan saw what was transpiring he yelled up for Hotch. It didn't take long as the team quickly gathered around each other in the bullpen, all eyes on the television screen, as it dawned on them that Reid and Emily were stuck in the compound and the phones sprang into life around them they knew that they were heading down to Colorado.

Emily sat there with Reid, the woman from Child Services had been shot dead, now it was just her and Reid alone but luckily their true identities had yet to be uncovered. Emily was trying desperately to focus on profiling Cyrus but her mind kept going back to Kate and how she had met her daughter.

Ainsley dragged her in by her arm but she was semi-conscious so she didn't feel much pain as he dragged in her and brutally tied her to the chair in the sparsely furnished cabin. After he left she struggled to get her bearings, her eyes finally focused as she saw another person in the cabin with her. Emily gradually figured out where she was and who she was with, Katherine Stanley, the 9 year old girl who had been missing for over a week.

As the plane took off and stabilised to its height JJ got on the phone to Will.

"Hey."

"Hey to you, is everything ok?"

"We've been called away on a case. It's involving Emily and Spence. Can you pick up Kate from school?"

"Sure no probs."

"I don't want her to hear or see any news coverage until we really know what's going on."

"Ok. But what about tonight?"

"Leave it up to her Will. If she doesn't want to stay then Garcia has said that she will stay with her. Listen Will I've got to go, as soon as I know anymore I'll let you know."

JJ put the phone down and looked longingly out of the window, she had been sitting by herself and had not noticed Rossi as he came and sat opposite her.

"Are you ok JJ?"

"Yeah I just had to speak to Will about Kate."

"Oh god in all the panic I'd forgotten all about her. What are we going to tell her?"

"Nothing Dave, I've asked Will to not let her know what is going on. That girl has seen enough violence in her short lifetime that if she knew that Emily was being held hostage she would automatically assume the worst."

JJ shifted her glance away from the rest of the team and walked to the front of the plane to make a phone call about the case in private and after that she allowed herself two minutes alone to try and gather her thoughts before the plane landed.

Hotch sat deep in thought, worrying about his agents and how had they managed to get themselves caught up in a raid? Hotch was not looking forward to what he might say to the SAG, because of his political ambitions the lives of two of his agents were at risk. Hotch knew how much Prentiss hated politics but once again it had landed her in trouble and now Hotch had to try and get her and Reid out safely. As they drove to the Ranch Hotch knew that he was too involved to do the negotiation, pulling Rossi aside Hotch pleaded with him to take charge of the negotiations which eventually he agreed to do.

Kate saw Will as she came out of school and immediately went over to him, she wasn't surprised that he was picking her up as JJ often got held up at work when they looked after her.

"How was school today Kate?"

"Not too bad, I've got an English test tomorrow though."

"Well I'm sure you'll be fine. Listen Kate, JJ has been called away on a case."

"Oh."

Although Kate felt comfortable around Will and she knew that he would never do anything to hurt her she was a little unsure about spending the night with just him in the house.

"Kate, it's ok sweetheart, I know what you are thinking. Garcia said that if you want to you can stay with her."

"Oh. Thanks Uncle Will, I'm sorry but..."

"You don't have to say anything, I'll just give Garcia a ring and sort everything out."

Will quickly got through to Garcia and relayed the news to her, she was busy finding out some information on the Ranch for Hotch but she would be able to pick Kate up in an hour. Will drove Kate back to the house and sat with her and helped her study for her English test.

Will heard the knock at the door and left Kate finishing off her homework and went to speak to Garcia away from the young girl.

"Thanks for this Garcia, as soon as I said JJ wasn't going to be here she started to freak out."

"No worries, I'll be glad of the company."

"Any news yet?"

"None so far, I don't think anything will happen yet, they still don't know enough about Cyrus to be able to predict what his next move will be."

"Ok, are you going to say anything to Kate yet?"

"Say anything to me about what?"

Garcia and Will had been too busy talking to see Kate walking quietly towards them.

"Nothing sweetheart, come on let's get your stuff together and we'll head to mine for an evening of computer games!"

Kate knew something was going on but knew when not to push it, she trusted her Aunt Pen and was looking forward to spending the night with her.

Emily and Reid had been separated from the rest of the group, she could tell it was dark outside and she tried to make herself comfortable on the hard floor. Her mind drifted to Kate and she wondered if she knew any of what was going on, she hoped that the team had managed to keep her sheltered from the news. Emily's thoughts couldn't get passed the last time she had been held hostage, at least this time she was better prepared for what might happen.

Garcia woke up early the next morning and instinctively got on the phone to JJ to find out if there had been any developments. Kate had heard voices in the living room and had quietly got off the bed and instinctively listened in on the conversation as she knew that Garcia was holding back on her. When Garcia had finished she put her phone down and saw a small figure trying to hide in the doorway.

"Oh darling, I'm sorry."

Garcia quickly went over to Kate and brought the girl over to sit on the sofa with her.

"What's going on Aunt Pen?"

"Well you know that your mom and Uncle Spence were helping out with a case in Colorado. Well whilst they were undercover at the Ranch the local Sheriff decided to launch a raid and now they are trapped."

"Is she ok?"

"As far as I know yes, that's where the rest of the team are, they are working really hard to get your mom and Spence out safely."

Kate nodded and tried not to cry, she couldn't think about what she would do if something happened to her mom.

"Well I guess that you don't really want to go to school today now do you?"

Kate firmly shook her head.

"Well I suppose you'd better come into the office with me at least then we will both know what is going on."

Garcia hugged Kate, knowing exactly what the little girl was thinking about and praying that it wasn't going to happen.

Emily suddenly sensed the mood had changed when Cyrus walked in heavily armed with another three men for back-up. She looked at Reid who also looked concerned. As Cyrus demanded to know which one of them was the FBI Agent, Emily answered without hesitation. She knew that Reid was better placed to talk Cyrus out of whatever he had planned and as the gun pointed to Reid's head Emily knew that Cyrus wouldn't kill her.

Emily had expected the beating and prepared her body to take the kicks and punches that were dealt out. Knowing the team could hear what was going on she yelled that she could take it so they wouldn't come in and rescue her, that action she knew would leave many innocent people dead. As Cyrus left her bloodied and bruised Emily tried not to let the tears fall, she had to strong otherwise there was no way she was going to get out of this alive and see Kate again.

Garcia opened the door to her office and motioned for Kate to sit in a corner away from the screens while Garcia got on the phone to JJ.

"Agent Jareau."

"Hi JJ."

"Hi Garcia, I've got no news at the moment."

"Well I just wanted you to know that Kate is here with me. She knows JJ."

"Oh, is she ok?"

"She will be when she speaks to Emily."

"Yeah well that's true for all of us, hang on Garcia."

Garcia heard Morgan whispering quietly to JJ.

"Oh my god!"

"JJ is everything ok, talk to me sweetheart!"

JJ's voice broke as she struggled to keep a hold of her emotions as she relayed the information of Emily's beating to Garcia.

"Apparently they are going in at 3am."

"Oh well Kate and I are here if you hear anymore."

Garcia clicked the phone off and went over to tell Kate the bad news.

Emily received Hotch's message about the Ranch being stormed at 3am, she knew that she had to try and get as many of the women and children out. After she managed to convince them that this was the best course of action they led Emily into the escape tunnel where they met Morgan and the HRT team heading into the Ranch. Heading outside Emily struggled to stand up, suffering from exhaustion and her beating. JJ came over and put a steadying arm around her waist, it was then as they were standing there that the explosion happened, both women gasped in horror as Reid and Morgan were still in the building. It seemed to take an eternity but then the smoke cleared and they saw two figures walking towards them, Emily left JJ and stumbled towards Morgan and Reid whilst JJ got on her phone to Garcia.

"JJ please tell me, Kate and I have just seen the explosion on the television!"

"They are all out Garcia, they are all alive. Hang on a minute can you put Kate on the phone please?"

JJ walked over to Emily and handed her the phone.

"Hello?"

"Mom! Oh thank you are you ok?"

"Kate! Oh munchkin I'm fine, a little bruised and battered but I'm fine. I love you and I'll be home soon."

"I love you too mom!"

JJ took the phone off Emily and helped the tearful woman over to an ambulance so her injuries could be looked at, whilst back in Quantico Kate had tears of relief streaming down her face that Garcia tried in vain to wipe away.

Kate was sitting by the window, looking out at the view over Washington, Garcia sat on the sofa watching her, the apartment was silent as they waited for the door to open.

JJ was carrying Emily's bag as they walked along the corridor to the front door of the apartment. Emily got out her keys and winced in pain as she strained her ribs, she quickly opened the door and walked into her home. She immediately saw Kate sitting looking out of the window and made her way towards her daughter, the tears quickly started to roll down her cheeks as her daughter moved quickly over to her. JJ dropped Emily's bag in the hall and sat down next to Garcia on the sofa, resting her head against her friend's shoulder, and then JJ broke the silence in the room.

"Be gentle with her Kate, she's a little bit sore at the moment."

"It's ok JJ there is nothing more I want to do at the moment other than hug my daughter no matter what the pain is."

Emily and Kate stood hugging by the window, both eternally grateful that they had a hold of each other once again.