A/N: Thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed, favorited or followed this story!
Special thanks to samcarter1980, dino-dog83, Jotchprossi18, arjemma and Dustyfog416!
I don't own criminal minds!
Chapter 2: The First Step
November 8th 2012, BAU
Hotch was sitting behind his desk, trying to get through the loads of paperwork he still had to do. They had just returned from a case and the paperwork kept stacking up. He wasn't up for another long night at the office. He closed the file, looking at the picture of his six year old son. Jack was always a good reason to go home. Hotch had Jack for the weekend. He knew Haley was never happy to leave Jack with him. And that made Hotch appreciative of every minute he had with his son.
Hotch was ready to leave the bullpen when he heard Rossi calling out his name. He turned around, sighing in annoyance. ''What's up, Dave?''
''Don't be mad at me.'' Rossi said defensively. ''I got a detective from the Seattle Police Department on the phone for you.''
Hotch stopped in front of Rossi on the catwalk. ''Just tell them to fax over the case file. They'll have a consult by the end of this weekend.'' he said. ''I have to be home in twenty minutes because I have Jack tonight.''
''Aaron!'' Rossi called out when Hotch was turning around to leave again. ''It's about JJ.'' he explained. Rossi had never met JJ. But he had heard from Hotch what happened during a case in Oregon and that it caused his entire team to fall apart. Rossi had seen his friend breaking down when it got to be too much for him. But he had never seen Hotch give up hope.
Hotch froze instantly. There hadn't been any new leads in over a year. ''I'll take the call.'' he mumbled.
Rossi followed Hotch into his own office, waiting for what could possibly be devastating news again. ''I'll stay here.'' Rossi reassured.
''Agent Hotchner.'' Hotch answered simply.
A loud sigh on the other end of the line could be heard. ''Hello, I'm detective Baker with the Seattle Police Department. I have a witness who claims to have seen your missing agent multiple times. I wanted to inform you before I take any actions.''
''I appreciate that, detective. Where has he seen her?''
It took a while for the detective to answer Hotch's simple question. ''I don't if I should give you any details over the phone. The details are rather hard to hear I have to say, sir.''
''Just tell me. I can handle it.'' he said, knowing he probably couldn't.
''The witness told us he is part of a club that auctions off women every single day. He says he bought your agent multiple times over the past four years.''
''Thank you, detective. We'll take the next flight out.'' Hotch said kindly before hanging up the phone. He slammed his fist on the desk, scaring the crap out of Rossi. The tears started to escape his eyes.
''Calm down, Aaron.''
Hotch clenched his hands together. ''Don't tell me what to do.'' he whispered. ''Don't ever tell me what to do.''
''What did he tell you?'' Rossi asked carefully.
Hotch straightened himself up as much as he possibly could at that moment. ''The detective believes JJ has been a sex slave.'' he said, summarizing the words of detective. It sounded even worse when he said it himself.
''I'm so sorry.''
''Yeah, so am I.'' Hotch agreed. ''Tell the team that we're leaving in fifteen minutes. I don't want to waste any time.''
Rossi stayed in his office after Hotch stormed out. He was busy dialing the numbers of every single team member, hoping they would pick up. Rossi knew this was going to be the biggest shock for Reid and Garcia.
The entire team was sitting on the plane while they all questioned why they were called in after they just came home from a case. They all noticed that Hotch had been on edge.
''I'm sorry for the sudden change of plans, but this case is extremely important.'' Hotch began, but Blake interrupted him.
''Sir, isn't every case important?'' she asked.
Garcia and Reid were putting all the pieces together. Hotch's behavior, the urgency and his irritation. ''Is this about her?'' Garcia questioned.
Hotch put a hand on her shoulder before answering. ''Yes.'' he said while both Reid and Garcia gasped in shock. It wasn't that they had forgotten JJ, but it had been a really long time since they had a lead in her disappearance.
''JJ?'' Anderson asked, remembering the blonde liaison he used work with. He used to be JJ's right hand man before she disappeared, but he replaced her. And two years later he was promoted to profiler. It was Garcia who then took over part of his job.
''What kind of lead do we have?'' Reid asked.
''A witness walked into the Seattle Police Station, saying that he had seen JJ multiple times. Detective Baker called me about it. I told him we would be in Seattle as soon as possible. I don't know more than that.'' Hotch replied.
A long silence fell on the plane and everyone was keeping themselves busy. Garcia decided to join Reid on the other side of the plane, where he was sitting all alone.
''Hey,'' she greeted softly as she sat down across from him. ''How are you holding up?''
''I don't think I am.'' he admitted. ''It's been six years since we last saw her. JJ just made me smile. She was…'' he stopped when it got to be too much.
''I know.'' Garcia whispered.
''You know, she is the only one who ever called me Spence. I don't know why but she just did. And I miss that so much.''
''We're going to find her and we'll bring her home.''
''But what if she doesn't want to come home?'' he asked painfully. ''What is she forgot about us?''
Garcia shook her head in disagreement. ''She hasn't, Reid. That's not who she is. She will remember us.''
''How are you?'' he asked, trying to turn the tables. He noticed that Garcia was quite nervous. She had been picking her nails and she couldn't sit still for longer than a minute.
''I'm hanging in there.''
Hotch decided to join Garcia and Reid. He wanted to know how they were holding up. And he just wanted to make sure his friends were alright. The entire situation was far from easy.
''I just wanted to tell you both that I am so proud of you. You both held on for the past six years and that's amazing. No matter what happens today or tomorrow I'll try anything to get her back. I promise.'' Hotch spoke softly.
''Thanks.'' Garcia and Reid said in unison.
The team arrived at the police station about six hours later. It was the middle of the night and people were running through the crowded station. The entire station was covered in boards with pictures of missing women on them. Hotch instantly recognized a photo of JJ. It was the picture he personally picked when JJ went missing. He had spent attention on the entire process. He made sure every law enforcement agency in the country had her picture. Hotch stopped in front of an older bald man who was telling everyone what to do.
''Detective Baker?'' Hotch asked.
Baker shook Hotch's hand firmly. ''Call me Bruce. And you must be Agent Hotchner.''
''Yes, I am.'' Hotch replied. ''These are SSA's Rossi, Blake, Anderson and Dr. Reid. I also flew in our technical analyst, Penelope Garcia.''
''Can we talk to the witness?'' Hotch asked impatiently as the detective was shaking everyone's hands.
''Sure,'' he started. ''But I couldn't get a location out of him and he barely told me anything. It actually surprised me that he hasn't asked for a lawyer yet.''
The team followed the detective to the interrogation room. The detective stopped in front the door, blocking Hotch in the process.
''I know this case is personal, but I don't want any problems. Get what you need without any violence.'' Baker said kindly before moving away from the door.
Hotch put his hand on the door, taking a deep breath. He wanted to act with a certain detachment. He couldn't show the witness his personal interest in JJ. When he opened the door, he saw a tall man sitting behind the table. His expression was one of concern and worry. He was about the same age as Hotch. Hotch slowly took a seat across from him.
''Hello, sir.'' he started. ''I'm Agent Hotchner with the FBI. What's your name?''
The man shook his head in anger. ''I am not going to tell you. I already told Detective Baker the same thing.''
Hotch leaned backwards, opening the file in his hands. The first thing in the file was a picture of JJ. She had the biggest smile on her face and her eyes were filled with joy of life. ''Do you know this girl?'' he said as he put the picture in front of the disheveled man.
''Yes, that's why I'm here.'' he began. ''I've seen her a lot in the past four years.''
''Where have you seen her?'' Hotch asked impatiently. But there was no answer. ''Where have you seen her?'' he yelled.
He still didn't answer. Hotch was getting sick of it. The guy knew where JJ was. Hotch knew he would stop at nothing to find her, which meant he would hurt anyone who was going to get into his way. He jumped from the chair and pushed the table against the wall behind him. ''Where is she?'' he asked as he pushed the guy against the wall. Hotch put his hands around his neck. ''Where is JJ?'' he yelled louder.
The door to the interrogation room opened quickly. Hotch felt two strong arms pulling him off the man, but he wasn't about to let go.
''Hotch, don't!'' he heard a very familiar voice yell. ''Stop, man!''
When he heard the last phrase he stopped and immediately turned around. Behind him stood Derek in his jeans and t-shirt. He hadn't changed a bit. ''Morgan?''
''Hey.'' Derek greeted, breathing heavily. ''It's good to see you again.''
''How? Why? How?'' Hotch asked.
''Baker called me as well. You weren't the only one who made other people aware of JJ's disappearance. I kept looking for her after I left.''
''I would love to catch up Derek, but I need to kill this guy if he doesn't give me the address.'' Hotch threatened to scare the guy, but he didn't even blink.
''How do you know JJ?'' the man asked.
Derek stepped in front of him. ''I don't think it's your place to ask any questions right now.''
''I want you to help her!'' he yelled. ''Why the hell do you think I came here in the first place?''
The man was only making Hotch angrier than before. ''If you want to help you should give us an address and your name. Do you think it's the first time I'm doing this job?''
''No, I don't.'' he replied. ''It has to be dealt with professionally. The facility where she is being held, has security everywhere. They aren't amateurs.''
Hotch sat down in a chair ready to tell the man that he would never jeopardize JJ's life because he loved her. ''I was JJ's boss. I care about her and I would never want to endanger her life.''
''Okay.'' he said softly. ''She's in an abandoned warehouse in Tacoma. I can write down the address.''
''Thank you.'' Hotch said almost breaking down. He couldn't believe that they finally had a real lead. He could have JJ in his arms again in a couple of hours.