"Come on! They'll be fine. It will be a boys' night in. Besides, you guys need a break; when was the last time you all had a grown folks night out?" Morgan asked.

Hotch and JJ looked at each other waiting for the other to approve the idea. It had been a while since either of them had been out on a real date with their partners; with their lives the little time off they managed to get was spent with their children guiltily making up for lost time. The offer was tempting and the smiles on Hotch and JJ's faces let Morgan know that they appreciated his offer.

"Are you sure about this, Derek?" JJ asked.

"Of course. It will be fun. Besides, I don't have plans tonight."

"What about Savannah?"

"She's on call this weekend. So I'm on my own."

"Just as long as you don't let Jack talk you into eating too much candy. I saw all of that leftover Halloween stuff in your office."

"Not to worry, man I've got it all under control. We'll have a blast. Now stop worrying."

"Thanks Morgan, Beth will really appreciate a quiet night out."

"Yeah so will, Will. We owe you big time."

"No you don't. I love spending time with my nephews. Now get out of my office so I can finish up before the Jack and Henry invasion!"

Hotch shook Morgan's hand and JJ gave him a hug and he watched as his two close friends left.

Garcia nearly ran into the both of them as she rounded the corner headed toward Morgan's office. His smile lit the room at the sight of his best friend.

"What's up Hot Stuff?"

"I'm watching Jack and Henry tonight."

"Really? How'd you managed to talk those two into that?"

"Hey! I've watched them before. "

"Yeah, baseball, football games…those boys are serious chick magnets, mister. Five minutes after you sit down every woman in the stadium is swooning over you and the boys. All you have to do is sit back smile and enjoy the game."

"Me and the boys are going to have a blast! They'll be talking about this night for years!"

"Well I'm sure that's true."

"So, what are you and Sam getting into tonight?"

"Sam is taking me to see that new kaleidoscope exhibit at the convention center."

Morgan shook his head and chuckled.

"Now that's different. Okay, well you two lovebirds enjoy that."

She never ceased to amaze him she could find joy in just about anything.

"Kaleidoscopes of all things."

There was no other woman like Penelope Garcia Sam was one lucky man, he thought to himself.

Home of Will and JJ LaMontagne – Evening –

JJ felt his arms slowly snake around her waist as she put the final touches on her makeup. She looked amazing and as Will inhaled he smiled because she smelled amazing too. He began to plant kisses on the back of her neck slowly working his way down her back where her zipper had stopped.

"Alright Mr. LaMontagne, keep that up and our date night will be spent here reading a bedtime story to your son."

"Umm…I hear you but you just look so damn fine, woman!" He said in his cute southern drawl.

JJ turned to face him he was dressed in a black suit and white dress shirt. He looked so handsome.

"You don't look half bad yourself." She cooed.

"I owe Morgan for offering to babysit tonight. This time alone is long overdue."

"I hear you. We'll have to return the favor when he and Garcia start having their babies." She chuckled.

"Those two I don't understand why they just don't get together. It's obvious they're crazy about each other."

"Well I hope they figure it out and soon."

JJ wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a sexy sweet kiss on his lips. When it was getting too hard to breathe he reluctantly pulled away leaning his forehead on hers.

"Now look who's starting something."

She kissed him again.

"Go get your son ready or will be late for our reservations."

"Yes, ma'am."

He smiled and he kissed her again before leaving the room.

Home of Aaron Hotchner –

Hotch checked his watch as he stood in front of the mirror adjusting his tie. He had made reservations at Beth's favorite restaurant and he was excited for an evening out that didn't consist of burgers fries and a dozen other screaming kids. He had to find a way to repay Morgan for such a generous offer.

"Jack! Let's go!" He yelled down the hall.

He was due to pick up Beth after dropping Jack off and he didn't want to be late. Jack came running into the front room with his backpack stuffed with pajamas, jacket and toys.

"Looks like you're ready to go."

"I'm ready to go to Uncle Derek's!"

"We'll then, let's go!"

Home of Derek Morgan – Later –

Derek, Jack and Henry were having a blast. Derek had planned an evening of wrestling, video games, football and lots of junk food. He'd planned to make this a night the two young boys would remember for a long time. He'd forgotten how much boys could eat. The three of them had put quite a dent in the cheese pizza and he'd sworn them both to secrecy as he allowed them to build their own ice cream sundaes that would make Ben and Jerry very proud.

Around ten-thirty the boys were conked out on the inflatable mattress that he'd bought just for the evening. They had built a fort earlier and the mattress was in the middle right in front of the television. He laughed as Jack and Henry snuggled up inside the fort fighting hard to stay awake a little longer. After they had lost the battle, Derek grabbed a beer and got comfortable on the couch to watch a movie.

The house was quiet except for the light snores of two very tired little boys. He dreamt of having his own family one day but the more he wanted that the further away it seemed. Sure he was with Savannah and she'd managed to keep him in a relationship longer than any other woman but something was missing. He couldn't quite put his finger on it Savannah was everything a man in his right mind would want, she was gorgeous, smart, had a great job and she loved him. Still, something was missing.

Derek drained the last of his beer and wondered how the kaleidoscope exhibit was going.

12:15 a.m.

Just as Hotch rang the doorbell JJ and will arrived and the three of them waited on Derek's porch. They all were still glowing from their evenings out filled with great food and lots of wine and alone time.

"How was your evening?" Hotch asked the couple.

"Wonderful!" JJ answered as she leaned into her husband's embrace.

Hotch rang the bell again.

"Maybe he fell asleep." Will said.

"Those two probably wore him out!" Hotch added.

"Yeah, an UnSub has nothing on those two boys." JJ joked.

Hotch frowned when Derek hadn't answered the door after the third ring. He knew Derek was a light sleeper and it was odd that he hadn't come to the door.

JJ decided to knock on the door and when she did the door swung open. Immediately the three of them sprung into FBI and police mode as they carefully entered the house. The house was in shambles and clearly there had been a struggle with lamps lying shattered on the floor, tables broken and food every where.

"JJ, check upstairs." Hotch ordered.

"I'll check outside." Will offered.

Hotch searched the kitchen and den. Derek and the boys were nowhere to be found in the house. JJ found no signs of them upstairs and she began to panic. Where was her son? Derek had promised to take care of her son. She didn't want to think of the possibilities, there had to be an explanation. She rushed back downstairs praying that Will or Hotch would be there scolding Derek for making them worry. But when she rejoined the men their faces were drained of color and there was still no Derek, no Henry and no Jack.

"I found blood in the kitchen." Hotch said desperately trying to control his own panic.

"No signs of a forced entry." Will added.

"Oh my God, where are they?" JJ asked.

Will grabbed her and held her tightly against his body. Hotch stood in the middle of the room knowing that he didn't have the luxury of doing nothing his son was missing. He knew the statistics time was short when a child went missing. He'd been on cases like this too many times. He had all the pat answers all the lines spoken as if scripted when dealing with parents of missing children. But now it was him that needed to hear the words, to be encouraged to find some sort of way to cling on to hope no matter how fleeting. It was his child taken and as he looked around the room whatever happened in this house, it sent dread and fear like a dagger to his heart.

Derek could hear crying, lots of crying; it sounded like children. He forced his eyes open everything was fuzzy, dark and cold. He needed to get up and find out where the crying was coming from but he couldn't move his arms and legs were held firmly in place. Where was he? Where were the boys? He struggled against the bindings but there was no use.

"Jack! Henry!" His voice was just a whisper.

He couldn't remember how he got here wherever here was. He had to get to the boys, JJ, Will, Hotch would be so angry with him. He'd promised to watch after their children.

"Glad to see that you're awake, Agent Morgan."

A figure stepped out of the darkness he couldn't see his face; hidden behind the dark hoodie he even wore dark gloves to cover his hands.

"Who are you? What have you done with the boys?"

Derek's struggle continued as his head began to clear a little more.

"The boys are just fine…for now."

"If you so much as think about touching them I'll kill you!"

"Now, now, Agent; you are not in any position to threaten anyone."

The man's voice was calm; too calm. The sounds of crying seemed closer now and he knew it had to be Henry and Jack.

"Where are they you son-of-a-bitch! Let them go!"

The man began to laugh as he walked away from Derek and headed toward the door. He had the power and he planned to use it to make Morgan and the team suffer. When he was finished they'd regret the day they'd failed him, failed his family and ruined his life. They'd know what it felt like to be in excruciating pain and how it felt to lose everything and everyone that mattered in your life.

"I've got to go I have other guests to attend to but don't worry, I'll be back."

"No! Don't you touch them! Do whatever you want to me but don't you touch them!"

The man didn't say another word. The only sound was the opening and closing of the door and footsteps. Then a few seconds later, the next sound froze him in place he felt utterly helpless as he increased his struggle against the bindings that held in firmly to the chair.

"Uncle Derek! Help us!"