Jennifer's Daughter

Found

TW: Swearing, usual cannon violence, police standoff / hostage negotiation, case involving/referencing: explosives, trafficking of minors, human trafficking, child abuse and neglect

(Just After Season 2, Episode 8, November 2006)

After returning from Seattle and arriving at the BAU Hotch announced that they should all take a couple days off. But just as they are leaving, he reemerged from his office with a serious face. The entire team groaned as they all knew what that meant.

"Local case, bust on a human trafficking operation. They need our help. We'll brief on the road. Meet at the SUVs in 10."

On the way to the scene, separated into two cars, Penelope caught got the team caught up over the phone.

"What do you have, Garcia."

"A team of icky icky scumbags have been operating in the city for several months now, and the Violent Crime Section, Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Unit, wow that's a mouthful, was just able to locate them before they moved locations. It has become a police standoff and a hostage situation. They need you to negotiate the peaceful release of the victims."

"Anything else?" Hotch said, already mentally preparing.

"Unfortunately there may be explosives in the building..." Garcia gasped as she read this aloud.

"Great, we haven't had enough of that today??" Morgan scoffed.

"Let's not get distracted, we need to get the victims out alive. That's the priority." Hotch said, trying to prepare the team. Back to back cases were never easy, and this could prove to be volatile.

Upon arriving to an old warehouse, they raced to the front line of police cars and Gideon immediately took the lead on negotiation, "This is the FBI. Release the hostages and we can negotiate your safe exit."

Not wanting to relinquish their best bargaining chip, they refused.

"What good will it do to stay there? We have you surrounded. If you surrender yourselves peacefully, nobody needs to be hurt."

This went on for what felt like hours, but was probably no more than 30 minutes. The team watched as Gideon expertly talked down the leader of the operation and convinced him to release a few prisoners, in exchange for some food and medical equipment.

"We'll send out the little ones." The spokesperson said.

JJ was first to react to this new information, "What? Did he just say kids?"

As a small cluster of dirty and frightened children shuffled out the warehouse door, one child tripped at the entrance and seemed unable to stand. The rest ran quickly to the police, but that one tiny body remained at the door, hardly able to move.

Morgan didn't think twice as he ran to the door.

"Morgan!" Hotch shouted in reproach

But Morgan completely ignored him as he ran past the line of cop cars, straight to the door and picked up the small, frail bundle. The child's leg narrowly escaped being crushed by the heavy door as it was slammed and locked.

Running back full speed, Morgan raced to one of the ambulances that was on stand-by. Setting the child's tiny body on the gurney, he stepped back slightly as to let the paramedics do their job.

Upon rolling the child to the side to check their back, Morgan got his first look at the child's face. "Oh my god... JJ!!!" Morgan yelled back at his teammate who was helping the other paramedics check out and assist the rest of the children.

"Morgan, what?" She looked up, but he was already pushing forward to get a better view.

Lifting the hair from the child's face, Morgan exclaimed again, "Oh my god." He took a step back and let JJ step in front of him.

Unmistakeable, and without a doubt. Liddi was lying there, just feet in front of JJ, tattered and torn, battered and bruised, but very much alive.