MONDAY CAME ALL TOO SOON. Forcing us back into the office to do paperwork and mediation for another case. It's not like I had much time off regardless— after spending Friday with Derek, Penelope and Spencer the next two days of our three day break was spent working with Erin Strauss. They had more for me to do, mountains of tasks that she keeps adding too.

Yet even that weight doesn't seem daunting. I'm in a good mood. I decided to wear my black heels today. The ones that have been sitting in my closet since my surprise housewarming party, the ones that I had to learn to balance in, the ones that hurt and pinched with each step.

The ones I would have never been allowed to even look at.

They don't hurt so much anymore.

Unfortunately this morning I hadn't taken into consideration how long registering for a space in the fbi car lot would take. It's as if I had asked for the president's head on a silver platter with how they reacted. And I spent the past forty minutes going back and forth with one of the security guards. Making my arrival fifteen minutes later than my usual time.

I peer through the large glass doors of the BAU wing, satisfied at seeing only a few people had arrived. Rossi and Derek crowded around Spencer's desk, but it seems that the other ladies hadn't showed up yet.

"Good morning, Nicolette." Aaron approaches as he turns the hall to meet me.

"Hi, Aaron." I smile at him, holding out a to-go cup of his coffee order. "This is for you."

Hesitantly he takes it, glancing at the multiple cardboard cup holders I'm balancing in my arms. "Coffees again?" His drink before his lips set into an almost nonexistent smirk. "They already like you just fine. No need to bribe anyone."

I laugh trying to hide my racing thoughts. "Well being here I've noticed how... caffeine dependent you all seem to be. Extra affection can't hurt right?"

"Do you need a hand?" He asks.

"No, no, I'm fine." I wave him off the best I can, "I made it this far, I've just have to get through the doors."

He breathes an almost incoherent chuckle at my attempt to open the door by shifting the coffees and my weight to one leg, momentarily freeing one of my hands to grab the handle. I'm not fast enough because I have to abandon the handle to grab the coffees before they fall.

I was about to try again when I hear Hotch clear his throat. He opens the door, holding it for me as he takes a drink of his coffee.

"Thank you for the caffeine." He says with a tight lipped smile

"And thank you for getting us the weekend off."

"Don't get used to it." His tone is the same as usual, but his eyes have a slight playful gleam to them. "I was just on my way to Strauss's office because of that."

"You're not getting reprimanded for that, are you?" I ask as I lean against the door to keep it open.

"I shouldn't." He nods his head in my direction. "I should be back before the rest of the team arrives."

I give him one last smile before letting the doors swing closed. After setting the coffees on my desk, I smooth out my clothes and toss my keys and wallet into my desk drawer.

I like getting here early, the bullpen dark and quiet— peaceful before the chaos. The calm before the storm. But today since I ran behind I don't get that time. Derek's booming laugh being evidence of that.

"Listen to me kid," thinking he is addressing me, my attention turns to Rossi who is standing along with Derek at Spencer's desk. "You're stressing yourself out over nothing."

What is he even talking about? He can tell I'm stressed out? Damn profilers. I think I stress myself out the right amount.

Okay maybe a bit more then is healthy... but it's not like I have to basis behind it! How would he even know... it's not like—

"What if you're wrong?" Spencers voice asks hesitantly. He must be sitting at his desk, blocked from view by the two other men.

Not talking to me. Got it.

Okay maybe I do stress about nothing at times. But it's difficult to turn it on and off.

"I've been married three times." Rossi reply's in a slightly offended tone. "I think I know what I'm talking about."

You've also been divorced three times... go figure.

"Really?" Derek scoffs. "Have you met me? Have you seen me? Chicks worship this."

I have to stop myself from gaffing at his ridiculous statement, unfortunately I wasn't quick enough. And now the three men know I'm here. "I think worship may be a bit of an exaggeration."

"Watch your mou—"

I cross over to the desk, crossing my legs and leaning back against it before shushing Derek's attempt at redemption. "But I'll bite— What are they wrong about?"

"Uh, n-nothing!"

"Cars."

"Kid wants to go on a date."

They all speak at the same time.

"Oh." My breath hitches and I can't help the puzzling heated feeling that swells in my chest. I turn to Spencer. "That's uh- definitely not 'nothing'. Someone we know?"

His eyes don't meet mine, and instead of giving me a clear answer he just shakes his head roughly, pulling his bottom lip in between his teeth. "No... no... she just uh... no."

"Okay?" My brows furrow at his response. Despite my curiosity I don't push further.

"I-I never even said I wanted—" he try's but Derek waves him off.

"We all know that's what you want, pretty-boy."

"I keep telling him just ask her to Le Amore." Rossi says as he kisses his fingers like a chef would after preparing a good meal. "Best in the city."

"'Le Amore'" I try it. "That sounds really fancy."

"Nah, that is cheesy, everyone takes them to romantic restaurants. You've gotta do something big!" Derek says with a wink. "Something that'll sweep her off her feet." His attention turns to me. "What would sweep you off your feet, Nicolette? Hypothetically."

Spencer's face darkens red, and his eyes widen at Dereks words.

He must not want my opinion. It's not like I'm eager to give it either.

"I'm the wrong person to ask."

Why do I have to be giving him relationship advice?

"Why? You're a woman, the kid just wants your suggestions." Rossi edges me on.

"Still. Lessons need to be taught. Let's give you something to be sorry about, babe."

"I-I don't have much to compare to." I tense, his voice clawing at my skin.

"Come on, one little piece of advice?" Derek nudges closer, grinning widely.

"But... I uh... would assume the best way would be... to be yourself." I say after a moment of thought.

"Boring." Rossi waves me off.

"No I'm... I'm serious." I turn to look at Spencer, who's practically squirming in his seat from how uncomfortable he is with this conversation. "Rossi takes women to Le Amore, that is who he is. He loves cultured wine, romantic atmosphere, associating with other well off couples, and small portioned food that costs double than it normally would. Derek probably takes his dates to a ball game, and pay the staff to feature them on the teleprompter because that is a big gesture." I take a breath, letting them follow my words before continuing. "But what does Spencer do? You can try their ideas. I don't know her, she might enjoy them. But whatever you do Spence, make sure it is who you are. Because I imagine it would be difficult to keep it up the facade. You're a really great person, so if she dosent like you for who you truly are why bother? I think you should wait for someone who loves and appreciates you without conditions. But hey, what do I know?"

"Ooo you think he's a great person—" I glare over at Rossi as he pokes at me like a child.

"You don't?" I counter. Immediately shutting the man up.

Spencer meets my gaze as I turn to him, I look away bashfully after a few seconds, finding my eyes catching his for a moment too long.

"Damn when did you become so goddamn motivational?" Derek asks with a smirk before his eyes fall to the drinks on my desk. "Wait— are those for us?"

"That depends." I smile pushing off the desk and rounding to mine. I try to push away the uneasy feeling that talking about Spencer's potential dating life brought me, as I hold up a cup with his name on it. "Is your order a large caramel americano with extra espresso shot?"

His smile grows and he snatches the cup from my hands. "Dammit woman, you're the best."

"Oh I know." I laugh, handing a cup to Rossi. "Black coffee with three pumps of vanilla bean extract, no whip cream."

"Is that coffee?!" I glance to the doors finding JJ and Emily making their way over.

"How did you know how I take my coffee?" Rossi asks suspiciously, opening the lid and peering into the dark liquid as if I poisoned it.

Note to self, don't try to poison Rossi.

"In Arizona, remember? We went to that coffee shop on the way back to the jet after the case." I say simply, handing Penelope her cup. "You all said your orders, so I just brought the same thing."

"That was your first case— months ago." JJ comes near with a puzzled look on her face.

"Right." I hand her the cup with her name, not understanding what she is trying to get at. I take a drink of my tea, sitting down in my rolling chair. "They didn't have enough donuts— sorry."

"Hotch and Spencer both weren't with us." Emily grabbed her cup from my desk, taking a drink of her americano. "Whats in their cup?" She challenges, curious to see if I got theirs right.

"Do you want anything from the cafeteria, sweetie? If their food is as good as their roast coffee I'm sure you'll love it."

"Uh," I pause. I can't tell them how I know his coffee order, I just hope it hadn't changed in the past twelve years. "I got Hotch black coffee. He can add to it if he wants. And I've watched Spencer make at least two mugs of coffee a day." I hold up his cup. "He makes black coffee, extra shot of espresso, and—" I cringe at my next words. "Six sugar packets."

"Six?" Emily gasps, nearly spitting out her drink. "You pump six things of sugar into that lanky body?"

"How do you think I get anything done?" He asks, giving me a thankful smile and taking a drink. His brows furrow and he glances at me, noticing the irregularity in the taste. "What did you do?"

I cross my arms, trying to suppress a smile. "As you know, Spencer, six packs of sugar twice a day is very unhealthy." He narrows his eyes at the cup. "I had the barista use a natural sweetener— honey."

"Nic-" he starts.

"No." I interrupted him. "You can't have a caffeine addiction and a sugar addiction. You'll sleep better and be more productive once it's out of your system."

His face darkens, and Rossi throws an arm over his shoulder. "Awe she cares... She's right kid. You've got to take care of yourself."

"Don't you smoke?" Spencer asks defensively.

"I'm not on trial here." Rossi raises his hands in surrender, laughing as he backs away to his desk.

I wrap my arms around myself, smiling as I hear that all to familiar voice boom across the bullpen.

"Niki!" Penelope shrikes as she comes over to us. "Where is it? Where's your car? I've been dying to see it all weekend!" She shrugs off her bag pulling out a pink sparkling heart hung by a string. "I gotcha a bubblegum air freshener!"

"Awe thank you, Penelope!" It isn't necessary something I would ever buy myself, but it was totally Garcia, and it's so sweet of her. "I haven't gotten it yet."

"What?!" She gasps. "Why?"

"I um... I got busy this weekend." I say simply. "I've got a life outside of here."

"Phttt... no you don't!" She giggles making me laugh.

"Okay okay, you're right but I couldn't find any that were right. But when I get one you'll be the first I show."

"That would have been first thing on my list." Emily chimes in.

"Above finding a place to live?" I ask

"Eh," she shrugs. "In a pinch you can live in a car, but you can't drive a house."

Well, you can't argue with that logic.

"What do ya mean you didn't find any you liked, pretty-girl?" Derek asks his brows furrowed. "You had the funds three days ago!"

"I don't know." I sit at my rolling chair, taking a drink of my tea as I hand Penelope her coffee. "Just didn't I guess."

I can't tell them I was here this weekend, working on classified assignments for Strauss. Although I hate it, it's actually a good thing. Keep this up and I'll be free sooner than I thought.

"You guys should have seen it." Derek leans on my desk looking to Emily and JJ. "She had five dollars- five freaking dollars, and after a few hours in the park she got this man to hand over the registration to his truck. Which we traded in for cash at some rinky-dink dealership."

"Wait? You what?" JJ asks, her curiosity peaked by Dereks description.

"We just played some competitive chess in the park." I explain. "This one man was very angry that a woman could beat him, so we played out cards right and won his truck." It took no more than forty minutes with that man for him to completely fall apart. He yelled, and stomped his feet like a toddler having a tantrum, he even tried to hit Morgan and I. "Which reminds me," I glance at Emily. "Your present works very well."

A knowing smile forms on her face, and for the first time since I've met her she seems vaguely of proud of me.

"You got to tase someone!" Her voice is loud, and more excited than I've ever heard her. It brings a smile to my face.

"Well, not exactly. I pointed and zapped it to scare him when he came after Derek and I."

"I was this close to taking him down." Derek holds up his fingers close together. Shaking his head in annoyance at the memory of that jerk.

Before he could go into more detail the bullpen doors swung open, Aaron pushing into the office, a serious look in his eyes as he waves his hand in our direction.

That can only mean one thing.

We have a case.
••••

"Alright my babes this one hits home because it is local this time." Penelope turns her back and clicks the projector on. A boy and a young girl appearing on the screen. "Fourteen year old Jace Klyd, and twelve year old Tris Felton were reported missing a little over six hours ago. Their parents woke up this morning and found child's beds empty."

"Okay." Rossi rubs his chin. "So why are we being called in?"

Oh I don't know— maybe because two children are missing and that warrants a little action?

"That is the creepy part." Penelope cringes as she clicks the button again.

Pictures of the children's beds come on side by side on the screen. A yellow smiley face balloon is tied to each bed frame.

Creepy. These unsubs are getting really creative with their signatures. That could be a good thing, more evidence left behind the higher the chance we will be able to find them.

"So these definitely are connected." Morgan zooms in on the photos with his tablet. "This is too detailed to be coincidental runaways. Did their families receive a ransom demand?"

"Not yet... no." She clears her throat and even through the dim light you can see her eyes glossed over.

"Thank you Garcia." Hotch nods at her silence plea to leave the room. She does so quickly, going to her office to begin her research in a safe space.

"The chances they are still alive are-"

Spencer is cut off by Emily. "Dwindling down by the minute."

A sigh leaves my lips as I stare at the photos of the two children. Emily is right, if we don't find them soon their families will be planning their funeral.

"Keep quiet. Stand up straight and look into the camera. And for gods sake cover that swollen eye with your hair! No one will want  to buy you if you look used already."

My mouth goes dry, and I have to wrap my arms around my waist to keep my hands from shaking. They're just kids.

They're just kids.

"No one can hear you. Go ahead, scream as loud as you can."
"Aaahhhhgh!"

"The media is having a field day. Causing a spectacle as they normally do when cases involve children" JJ shakes her head, showing her phone screen to us. "They are naming him the Balloon Snatcher."

"How does one exactly become the one to name these people?" Emily rolls her eyes. "That's the stupidest name I've seen this year."

"Well when you only have so much information—" Derek try's to defend the name, but is cut off when Hotch clears his throat shooting the two disapproving looks.

"We have less then 40 hours to find them. Reid, Rossi check out Jace Klyds abduction sight. Morgan, Prentiss, survey Tristin Feltons." Hotch commands as he stands. "Jareau you handle the media. Garcia will be on standby. Cypher, you and I will talk to the lead detective."