"So, he's out there…alone and unarmed?"

Garcia was beyond livid. Her mind was overflowing with images of him hurt…or worse. How could Hotch hang him out to dry like that? He'd risked his life, knowingly walked into a trap to save them…all of them…Hotch included.

"Why? What were you thinking?" She yelled.

"Garcia… calm down. We'll find him."

JJ pulled her friend to her and held her tightly around the shoulders. Everybody in the room knew how she felt about Morgan. The two had been more than friends since forever. In fact, there wasn't a label for what they were to each other and finally they'd admitted to themselves that whatever was going on, they loved each other beyond a definition and that was the reason now that she was willing to stand and challenge the man who held her professional career and even her freedom in his hands.

Garcia was inconsolable and JJ had shot a glare at Hotch that made the otherwise stone-faced agent shudder. Reid stared in silence at his leader. Rossi took it all in worried that this could spell the end of them as a team.

"Look, I did what I thought was right. Elle shot a man in cold blood…"

"Hotch, she was cleared by the local authorities and the case was closed! Get over it!" JJ yelled.

Hotch was ready to strike back, nose flaring and his face turning bright red. He'd forgotten that the petite blonde in front of him had a mean, fearless streak in her.

"Okay! Okay! Stop all of you!" Shouted Rossi. "We need to pull it together, right now or the only person who loses is Morgan! He needs us! We don't know anything right now and I can guarantee that his time is running out!"

Hotch hung his head showing no semblance of the man who had lead them on countless cases, emotion never cracking the surface, his focus on the task at hand never wavering. Reid, JJ and Garcia, visibly angry refused to look his way, choosing instead in giving Rossi their undivided attention.

"Okay, so what do we have?" Rossi began.

"Alex said that when she was alone with Kirkwood he received a call from someone that he called, 'Aunt Mabel.'" Hotch began.

"Aunt Mabel?"

Section Chief Mateo Cruz had arrived; his presence had been requested earlier by Hotch. Everyone looked up, most of them surprised to see him in the doorway.

"That's right. Apparently she was calling from somewhere in this building."

"That's interesting because the person that Communications sent up to help run searches was named Mabel."

"Wait, what?" Reid stammered.

"Yeah. Morgan insisted on someone who could run searches and a few minutes after she showed up.

"Can you describe her?" Rossi asked.

"Middle-aged, Caucasian, blonde, neon eye glasses, brightly colored skirt and top, sweater…kind of an older version of you, Garcia."

Garcia barely looked up not in the mood to hear herself being compared to a old deranged kidnapper.

"Well we don't know anything about Kirkwood or his family. Garcia can you-" Hotch began.

"On it." She snapped.

Garcia jumped up and rushed out of the room toward her lair. The rest of them stared after her without saying a word.

"Is she going to be okay?" Reid asked.

"She's pissed! Do you blame her?"

"But she'll get the job done, for Morgan."

"According to Alex, whoever this Aunt Mabel is, she was involved in our case."

"That makes sense." Cruz began.

"What do you mean?" JJ asked.

"Morgan had given her some parameters to help pinpoint a possible location where Kirkwood was holding you all. The most obvious one, which is where you guys ended up being, was not even on her list."

"Really? That's kind of odd." JJ replied.

"Morgan figured out the location because of Reid's video. He remembered dating a model a few years ago that was a student at a film school. Apparently it had gone belly up a while ago. So, when Reid started talking about Hollywood movies he connected the dots."

"Alex said he was pretty upset that Morgan had figured out where he was so fast."

Home of Mabel Henry

Mabel packed her bags taking only what she absolutely needed for her trip, which wasn't a lot. She had made it a point not to overstuff the small house with furniture and trinkets that would later weigh her down when her business here was over. Still, she regretted the fact that most of what she'd purchased to make the place feel like home would be left behind.

Her timetable had been well thought out and planned down to the last minute. Her outburst earlier had threatened everything and she wanted to kick herself for allowing the cunning agent to throw her off of her game. No matter, she'd released some steam in beating the hell out of him while he lied bound and defenseless on the floor. Still, she couldn't afford anymore of those lapses. She knew who and what she was dealing with. His team would eventually find out who she was and then find him. They were smart and experienced and more importantly they meant something to each other, a dangerous combination for anybody threatening their wellbeing.

Morgan slowly opened his eyes against the pain that reminded him where he was and what had happened. He'd provoked the woman and she snapped, as he knew she would. She prided herself in being in control but he had seen that it was a well- crafted façade that if he chipped away she would not be able to maintain. He was correct and it meant that he paid the price. He had to keep it up; it was the only way to keep his team safe. Once she left the house he had no idea of her plans for them and worse, he wouldn't be able to stop her. He knew this meant more pain, more torture and perhaps it would mean he'd die on this basement floor.

Mabel stood and adjusted her clothes brushing strands of her hair out of her face. She was finished packing. Feeling a sense of accomplishment and taking one final look around the bedroom, she rummaged around her large purse and pulled out something that would help her torment her guest who was no doubt waiting eagerly for her downstairs.

She opened the door the light from the kitchen breaking the darkness below and acting as a spotlight, catching him off guard. She'd grown used to the anger in his eyes, looked forward to it in fact. She took her time, taking the steps slowly then as she hit the last one, releasing the safety on the gun in her right hand.

He saw the gun before he saw the vacant look in her eyes; both scared him but he had to appear unmoved. This was a game, a test and he already knew the outcome if he panicked. He could only hope that Hotch really did understand him and that he'd see the team soon.

She stopped in front of him her body blocking the light that had earlier intruded upon the darkness. He waited for a taunting comment but she remained silent, as if she were deciding what to do next. But she had a plan, he knew it, so he closed his eyes trying to clear the cobwebs from the result of her last visit to the basement.

"So, how are you Agent?"

…And so it began; another round of her sick game.

"Sorry about the last time but you pissed me off. Of course, I'm sure that was a part of your plan, right?"

He didn't know if he should respond or remain silent. After all, it was her game, her rules.

"What? Cat got your tongue? You had an awful lot to say before?"

He struggled against his bindings and moaned against the tape across his mouth.

"That's it! That's the feisty agent Morgan I've grown to love."

She kneeled down and leaned in close he could feel her breath on his face. She searched his eyes and smirked as if she'd found what she was looking for. Then out of the blue she quickly stood and aimed the gun at his head.

"How did it feel when you looked my boy in his face and then pulled the trigger?"

Morgan stepped up his futile struggle against his bindings and even though he knew he couldn't be understood he raged against the tape on his face.

"Did it make you feel giddy? Did you feel any remorse when his body fell dead at your feet?"

She watched him struggle, remembering a few hours earlier when he ranted against her and how it had angered her. She wouldn't allow that to happen again. She had no intentions of listening to him again.

"I think it's time for you to feel some pain, to watch your blood seeping out of your body!"

He heard the blast just before the sharp pain hammered and found home in his right foot. He held in the scream squinting against the pain. Pain was her agenda not death… at least not yet. She wanted him to wish for death…wanted him to suffer and then gratefully thank her when she finally ended his life.

She watched him trying to be brave knowing that the pain was overtaking him. Now things were back on schedule. She was in control. She'd handled herself well and she hoped if her boys were watching that they would be proud. She backed away relishing in watching him fight against the pain watching the blood seep and form a pool under his boot.

" We're just getting started. Get some rest. I'll be back."