Hi All. Welcome to chapter two of More Than A Team: The Final Member. This is the first in a series of stories that will all be under the umbrella of More Than A Team, I hope to write new stories for this series frequently. This story is complete and was going to be written as a one shot, but it immediately became too long for a one shot, so I wrote it as eight separate chapters. Updates should be weekly unless something drastic happens. This is an introduction to my OC and not a full representation of what future stories will be like.

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal minds, if I did then Aaron Hotchner certainly wouldn't have left, and neither would Derek Morgan! Pepper Rosanne Lee is my own original character, but all other recognisable characters belong to Jeff Davis, I just like to use them to do my bidding.

Series Summary: The Criminal Minds team is more than just a team, they spend so much time with each other, relying on each other, and wrapped up in each other's lives they are practically family. This is how the family makes sure they stay a family even when rules are broken.

Story Summary: This is the story of Pepper Rosanne Lee, how she went from a victim of an Unsub Jason and David were hunting, to the eighth member of their team. AU, OC, AaronXHaley, starts Season two. Warnings inside please read, rated M for good reason.

Warning: This story involves Criminal Mind cases, if you've watched Criminal Minds, you know what I mean, I've tried not to be too graphic, but there is abuse, kidnapping, murder, and rape, if this is triggering, please be careful. This story also involves the spanking of minors and adults, don't like, don't read. This chapter contains spanking.

A huge, huge thank you to my wonderful and amazing beta, Jules Ann, she is quite literally my Magical Muse Mender and when I get stuck just talking to her can help me figure my way past a block. She has helped me so much with all my stories and my writing, I would be utterly lost without her.

~o~

David Rossi knew what was happening today and he couldn't be prouder of the little girl he'd carried out of that house of horrors. He'd sent her a text this morning, wishing her good luck for her first day. Part of him did wish she'd chosen a different career path; it was hard not to still see her as that tiny little girl she had been when they'd first met.

The first time Pepper had shown up at Quantico, Jason had given her a mild lecture about the dangers of what she'd done, but David recognized a confused, frightened, but very intelligent little girl, so he took her aside. He spoke with her, giving her the chance to ask him the questions she had and doing his best to answer them honestly, reassuring her of some things, but not lying to her. Though he was torn about telling such a young child these things, Pepper had lived it and he understood the desperate need she felt to understand. He wasn't completely sure it was the right thing to do, however there was enough information out there that if she was determined enough, she'd find it. Considering she'd run away all the way to Quantico, there was no question of her determination, so it was better she found out the truth in a controlled manner, unlike how she'd seen the TV interview.

Flashback

David handed Pepper a little cup of hot chocolate and sat opposite her, looking at her gently. "Bella bambina, you have something on your mind, talk to me," he urged.

Pepper sipped at her hot chocolate and looked down at her lap, "did I… Mom… F-Fiona, she said in her interview, that when I didn't give the other girl water, she died… is that my fault? Did I kill her?"

David felt another wave of fury at the irresponsibility of Pepper's foster parents, even if they couldn't possibly know Pepper had any involvement in that, allowing a six-year-old to watch that interview was appalling. "No, Pepper, you didn't kill her. It wasn't your fault at all. You deserve all the credit for what you did for those other girls. The fact you were brave enough to steal anything for any of those girls is a huge testament to the good person you are," he tried to reassure her.

Pepper looked directly at David then, "but I didn't give her water and she died of dehydation. I know what dehydation is now, Mr. David. If I'd given her water like I did everyone else she wouldn't have died of dehydation," she insisted.

David had to hide a smile at Pepper's fumbling of the word, she was certainly smart, but also clearly still learning. "Dehydration Pepper, and how about you call me Uncle David, rather than Mr. David?" He invited. Getting a firm nod and being stared at demandingly David knew he had to give her a completely honest answer. "Okay, did you know what dehydration was then, when you didn't give her water?" He asked.

Pepper pulled a face but shook her head, she'd had to look up the word after the interview, it had only added to her nightmares. "No, I'd never heard of it before," she admitted.

"Did you know she would die, if you didn't give her water?" David pressed.

Pepper shook her head rapidly, "no! No, I promise I didn't know."

David gave her a soft sympathetic smile, "then how could it possibly be your fault, Pepper? You were five years old; you were doing nice things for your Mommies because they did nice things for you. Fiona said she didn't want to be your Mommy, that she pushed you away. You didn't know that giving them the water was saving their lives. It wasn't your fault bambina. Percy knew that if he didn't give those girls water they would die, he chose to tie them up, to prevent them from accessing water for more than three days, he killed her, not you. You saved the other girls from the same fate," he told her firmly.

Pepper looked at David, searching his face, trying to determine his honesty, she started to feel a little better when she saw no hint of duplicity in his eyes.

David could see the moment Pepper, slightly reluctantly, accepted he was telling her the truth. "Now, I want to hear no more of this ridiculous notion that you had anything to do with any of those girls dying, it was as far from your fault as it was possible to be," he declared.

Pepper shook her head, "one girl was my fault," she murmured. She looked down at her lap, tears filling her eyes once more, "Da… he… I… they didn't like going into the basement, he ordered one girl down there, she was scared, and I knew she was scared, so I told Da… I told him no. I told him she didn't want to. He was so mad, h-he grabbed me, around the throat, threw me across the room. Another girl, she, she was washing the dishes, she threw herself on top of me, protecting me. He hit her, over and over again, until she died. I didn't understand, I didn't know what it meant. He killed her because of me," she choked out.

David's heart broke for the little girl, "do you remember which girl this was?" He remembered her identifying one of the girls in the beginning, it had slightly horrified him the way she said, 'Daddy made her go bye-byes because I maded him furious, she protected me,' it stuck out to him.

Pepper concentrated back on when she was identifying the missing girls as her Mommies. She closed her eyes for better recall, "yes, Shelley Lockston." She opened her eyes again, able to recall the image of the missing poster with perfect clarity along with her name and physical details and the picture.

David nodded, "yes, well Shelley wasn't an only child, she had a little sister about the same age as you, I don't think she could have sat by passively whilst you were beaten no matter what. We can't know what she was thinking, but you heard Fiona, they all came to be fond of you, their rule that they passed down to each other, was to protect you. No matter what though, that wasn't your fault, you didn't know how he would react, you didn't ask her to throw herself in front of you. He might very well have killed you if she hadn't protected you, don't dishonor her sacrifice by trying to make it your fault."

Pepper again searched David's face for any hint that he was lying.

David maintained eye contact with Pepper, letting the six-year-old read him, whilst he read her, he could see she was comforted by his words, letting go of any hint of blame and that reassured him that he was doing the right thing.

Pepper finally gave a tiny nod, "okay." She took another sip of her hot chocolate, looking down at her cup and trying to work out how to ask her next question.

David could see Pepper wasn't done yet and was working herself up to another big question to he let her take her time.

Pepper finally looked up again, "Fiona said… she said… she said I wasn't like him, but I've read newspapers and some of them think I should be in jail too, they think I'm bad because I didn't phone the police sooner. They say I'll be like him when I'm older, that I'll be dangerous. Is that true? Am I dangerous? Am I going to hurt people?"

David's first instinct was to categorically deny this, but he kept his promise to himself not to lie to her. "There is evidence that children who grow up abused can become abusers themselves. That childhood trauma can twist the developing psyche, but not all abused children become abusers. If you had been a boy and your Dad groomed you to become like him, then I'd say you'd need psychological intervention to overcome the grooming, but you were not like your Dad, you helped these girls," he insisted. He could see Pepper wasn't convinced so tried a different tact, "I am a profiler, do you know what that means?"

Pepper frowned at the unfamiliar word and shook her head, not liking that she didn't know it.

David smiled at the almost pout on Pepper's face, "it means I can read people; I can spot who might be a dangerous person when I interact with them. I can tell when I speak to a suspect if they have the capability of committing the crime they have been accused off or not. One of the key things needed to become someone who hurts others, is the ability to be cruel, you Pepper, don't have that ability. Tell me, how did you feel when you saw that interview?"

Pepper cocked her head to the side as she thought about what David was saying. She shuddered remembering the interview, "I felt sick, it made me cry. I never knew, before, I didn't understand, but when F-Fiona spoke, it made me realize, he killed all those girls, they died, he hurt them. How could he do that?" She whimpered as tears started rolling down her cheeks again.

David couldn't ignore the distressed child and gently picked her up, settling her on his lap and cuddling her in. "He was a sick, twisted man, and you are nothing like him bambina. Trust me, I know evil, and you sweet bella bambina, are not evil," he murmured to her.

Flashback over

David answered a few more questions, relieved to see he had been able to reassure her and banish her worries and fears for now.

David and Jason took Pepper out for dinner, they were waiting on her caseworker sorting out how she was getting back to her foster parents. Though David was willing to take her himself if necessary.

Pepper's foster parents refused to have her back, so Jason decided she could stay with his wife for a couple days whilst a new foster family were found, his son was three and would probably enjoy the company. David was willing to let Pepper stay with him, but as a thrice divorced male, her caseworker would not give the okay. They were hopeful that the new foster family would be one that could help her with her trauma, though her specific history was still withheld, they were advised at least that she needed therapy to deal with her trauma.

Though that was the first time Pepper ran away, it was far from the last. The second time she'd shown up was only a few months after the first, her new foster Mom had slapped her and again she ran to the one place she felt safe. This time David and Jason had sat her down and given her a stern talking to about running away. They both understood they were figures of safety and protection for her however, so they gave her their numbers and told her that if she needed them to call and they'd be there for her, or even if she just wanted to talk.

Having their phone numbers seemed to help and put a stop to the running incidents, that and maybe the little bit of pressure the protective Italian put on CPS to find the little girl a more suitable placement.

David would never admit it, but there was something incredibly uplifting about listening to Pepper just tell him what was going on in her life. Her new foster parents were extremely good for her, and she was flying through school, her reading level was extraordinary. It was sometimes hard to remember he was talking to a now seven-year-old girl she was so smart and insightful.

Flashback

David knew Pepper called Jason, but he didn't know if Jason kept up with her foster parents like he did. He couldn't help but be slightly invested in this child's life and future. He wanted to make sure she had every chance for recovery and to make something positive out of her life. He wasn't too alarmed to receive a phone call from her foster parents whilst they were investigating a case, and though he was disappointed in the news they gave him, he was also happy that they had actually noticed her missing first unlike her previous foster parents. After a brief discussion with Jason, they decided both of them would stay on the case; it really was too critical for either of them to go back to Quantico to wait for Pepper and though it would be a hard lesson for her for them not to be there, she needed to stop this running away business.

David understood why she felt the need to run away again, she was settled and frankly thriving in her foster parents' care, she didn't need her biological Grandfather demanding custody of her. It had been part of the conditions for her foster parents to potentially adopt her, CPS needed to make sure that all effort had been put forth to find any biological family for her. Her DNA showing a biological match with her mother's father was apparently enough for the man to insist that he get custody of his only remaining family. Again, David understood, she was the man's last remaining family, but he wished it could have been handled differently. At least this time he wouldn't have to punish her at all, he had promised her next time she ran away that she'd get more than a telling off, him and Jason not being there would be punishment enough for her.

When Pepper showed up at the police precinct that they were currently at David honestly thought his heart stopped for a second. He shared a quick glance with Jason, nodding that he would deal with this, before he strode up to the little girl and took hold of her upper arm and marched into the private room they'd been given. He marched her directly into the corner and parked her in it, "do not move," he almost growled. He stepped back to give himself space and to try and make himself calm down; he honestly didn't think he'd ever been angrier than he was right now. It was one thing when Pepper took the unacceptable risks to get to the BAU headquarters, but an entirely different thing when she turned up where they were working on an active crime. This particular unsub hadn't yet targeted little girls, but it was still horrifyingly dangerous for Pepper to come here where there was a known serial killer hunting.

"Uncle…" Pepper started, confused at why he had put her in the corner.

"Not another word," David scolded sharply. He took another step back and forced a long slow breath, he understood why Pepper had run away, he really did, he and Jason were her constants, her pillars of stability, but this was too far. His heart sank and his anger faded as the realization of what he was going to have to do to this little girl that he had come to truly care for sank in. He slumped down into one of the chairs and pinched the bridge of his nose tightly. It wasn't that he didn't think she hadn't well and truly earned it, but it had barely been a year since he and Jason had rescued her, or rather she was instrumental in rescuing herself and four other teenagers. This could cause irreparable damage to their relationship; she could very well hate him for what he was about to do. The only thing giving him the strength to stick to his conviction was the alternative, if he didn't do this, what was going to stop her next time she wanted to run away and find them at a crime scene?

Pepper squirmed as she stood in the corner, quickly deciding she did not like having to stand in the corner.

David didn't leave Pepper in the corner for too long, though he wished he could end the punishment there, he knew he couldn't. Pepper needed to know, in no uncertain terms, that this was completely unacceptable. First though, he did need to talk to her about why she'd run away, he was pretty sure it was because of this Grandfather popping out of the woodwork and demanding custody, and she clearly needed reassuring about that. "Come here Pepper Rosanne," he ordered. He had to force himself not to smile thinking about her middle name, recalling how she'd asked him and Jason to write their names and she'd used letters from both of their names to make her own middle name.

Pepper turned out of the corner and walked over to Uncle David, she did not run to him like she wanted to, his tone made her a little wary.

David waited until Pepper was directly in front of him and picked her up, settling her on his lap and looking down at her. "We've talked about running away before haven't we little girl?" He probed.

Pepper pulled a face and gave a bit of a pout, "yeah," she admitted.

"What are you supposed to do instead of running away if something happens?" David pressed.

"I'm supposed to call you or Uncle Jason," Pepper sighed.

David nodded, "yes you are. So why didn't you? What was so bad that it made you run, not to Quantico, but to a police station, that I don't know how you knew we were even at, where we are helping the police track down an active killer?" He demanded a little harshly.

Pepper swallowed nervously at her Uncle David's tone; he really wasn't happy with her. "I… I just needed to see you. I don't want to go live with my Grandad, I want to stay with Julie and Richard," she confessed tearfully.

David knew this, Pepper needed stability, but legally her Grandfather had every right to demand custody. "Oh, bella bambina, I know. Julie and Richard have been very good to you, but he is your Grandfather, you need to at least give him a chance. He loved your mother very much, and I'm quite sure he'll absolutely adore you," he assured her. He'd already done a background check on Mr. Lee, it all checked out currently, he'd been arrested for drunk and disorderly behavior a year after the disappearance of his daughter, but that was understandable. There was no history he could uncover that posed a risk to Pepper.

Pepper had known there wasn't anything anyone, even Uncle David, could do, but hearing it confirmed finally had her crying. She wrapped her arms around one of the only constants she had in her life and cried into his shoulder.

David wrapped his arms around Pepper, letting her cry, he felt like a heel knowing he was going to make her cry a lot more very shortly, but she needed to face the consequences for her actions. Seven-year-old girls shouldn't have to learn that life wasn't fair, but sadly it was a lesson Pepper had learnt long ago.

Pepper did not cry for long, she was sad, but part of her had already known this was going to be Uncle David's response. She slumped against his chest sniffling, disappointed, but she knew there was nothing she could do about the situation.

David looked down at the sad little child on his lap, "now, we need to talk about what you did Pepper."

Pepper blinked and looked up at her Uncle David, chewing her lip concerned. "I… I'm sorry," she murmured, squirming nervously.

David picked Pepper up and stood her in front of him, taking her hands in his. "Pepper, it's bad enough when you run away to Quantico, and Uncle Jason and I have told you that you mustn't do that anymore. Running to where we are hunting an active killer is even more dangerous. You are seven years old Pepper; anything could have happened to you. I know you are very smart, but you also know how dangerous the world is, and your smarts won't protect you against a killer. You must never, ever come to where we are helping to catch an active killer Pepper," he scolded her firmly.

Pepper's lower lip trembled, and she nodded sincerely, "I won't," she promised.

David wanted to take Pepper at her word, but this was too serious to leave up to chance, "I hope not bambina, because we are going to make sure you think twice the next time you want to run away." He unsnapped her jeans and tugged them down, he debated leaving her panties up and perhaps if she'd just run to Quantico and they'd been there he probably would have, but this was just too serious. With a heavy heart he pulled her panties down to join her jeans before he picked her back up and popped her face down over his knee, wrapping his free hand around her waist to keep her in place.

Pepper frowned as her jeans and then panties were pulled down and she found herself face down over Uncle Jason's lap. She squirmed trying to get into a little more comfortable position. She hadn't been spanked before, but she knew what it was, "no, please Uncle David," she pleaded.

David had to steel his heart against Pepper's plea, "little girls who run away to places they know there is an active killer get their bare bottoms spanked," he informed her. If his voice came out a little gruffly, it definitely wasn't because he'd rather do just about anything other than this.

Pepper gave a small sob, "m'sorry Uncle David."

As Pepper seemed to understand what she'd done and accept her spanking, David forced himself to raise his hand and bring it down firmly on the little bottom over his knee.

Pepper yelped at the swat, more out of surprise than in actual pain.

David forced himself to continue, bringing his hand down again and again over the tiny little cheeks over his knee. His whole hand covered both little cheeks with each swat, and it didn't take long for Pepper to start crying. Each cry tore at his heart, but he made himself keep going, just imagining her winding up a victim of a murderer because she decided she needed to see them again whilst they were on a case. He did not lecture her as he spanked, letting his hand do the talking.

Pepper quickly started squirming over her Uncle David's lap, drumming her feet as much as she could with her jeans and panties around her ankles. Tears almost immediately welled up in her eyes and it didn't take long for them to start rolling down her cheeks and for her to be crying.

David moved the focus of his swats to the tender under curve of Pepper's bottom cheeks, knowing she'd feel it there every time she sat down for a while. He wanted to leave a lasting impression on Pepper and make sure she never did this again.

Pepper's cries took on a more distressed note as the swats started landing somewhere that seemed to hurt more. "Owwwiiee! Uncle Daaaavid, pleeeeeease no more!" She pleaded.

David ignored Pepper's pleas, though he wanted to give in and stop the spanking, he didn't feel the lesson had been fully learnt yet. He continued spanking Pepper's little sit spots, upping the force and speed of his swats just a little, until she was crying hard. Then he targeted the backs of her little thighs, softening his swats just a little knowing how sensitive the thighs were, though Pepper probably wouldn't realize that.

Pepper yowled at the swats to her thighs, going from crying hard to sobbing, no longer pleading, begging, or apologizing, just sobbing hard.

David knew he could bring the spanking to a close now. He brought down ten harder swats to her little bottom, before he pulled her panties back up and scooped her up to cuddle her into his chest.

Pepper's whole bottom felt like she'd sat on a hot iron as she lay limp over her Uncle David's lap. When he picked her up, she wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him, burying her face into the crook of his neck, and sobbing her heart out.

David stood with Pepper in his arms and paced around the room, bouncing her a little in his arms. He murmured comforting nothings into her ear, pressing kisses to her temple, holding her close to his chest. He let her cry until she was cried out and just resting her head against his shoulder as she sniffled and hiccupped. "Now bambina, if you run away again, even to Quantico, when you have another option, this is what will happen, and if you ever come to a place where we are hunting an active killer again then you'll feel more than my hand on your bottom, understood?" He warned firmly.

Pepper sniffled and gave a small hiccup but nodded, "I won't do it again, I promise Uncle David."

"Brava bella bambina, that's my good girl," David praised. He held her tight and pressed a kiss to the top of her head before reluctantly setting her down and pulling her jeans up. "Come on bambina, let's go speak to Uncle Jason and figure out what we're doing with you," he smiled at her. He tucked a lock of vibrant red hair behind her ear before he sighed and scooped her back up again, setting her on his hip as he carried her into the main floor of the police precinct.

Flashback over

David wasn't surprised to find out that Jason had already contacted Pepper's caseworker and foster parents and they were on their way to pick up Pepper. He had tried again, for Pepper's sake, to find any way she could stay with Julie and Richard. Mr. Lee's claim was legitimate though, and in less than two weeks Pepper was in the custody of her biological grandfather.

~o~

There you go, that was chapter two, I hope you liked the insight into David Rossi's history with Pepper, I'll see you next week for the next chapter. Drop a review and let me know your thoughts, reviews really make my day and motivate me to write more.