Just a few things before we start:

First off, a thank you to WRose, Guest, and LeeMarieJack for your reviews ^-^ Second, the location of Lyndefield, Maine is entirely fictional - as far as I know, anyway - and this is set in the third season of both shows, around that convenient break when the writers went on strike and we lost about a quarter of Dean's 'last year', so let's say 'round mid-March?.

Last but not least, any future ANs will be at the end of the chapter unless it's something really important. So, without further ado, I present you with chapter 1. (PS: anyone else want to go on a plane just to say "wheels up in..."?)

Warnings: Rated T for language and mature themes typical of canon. Un-betaed, all mistakes are mine (So please tell me about them)

Disclaimer: I think we need to discuss the term fanfiction.

-X-

Chapter 1
Help is on the Way

When Aaron Hotchner called his team into work early that morning they knew it had to be a time sensitive case. The seven of them, including Penelope Garcia, had filed into the briefing room as the sun was rising and Jennifer Jareau was fairly sure they wouldn't be functioning without the coffee they each carried. Everyone was exhausted from their last case, having returned only yesterday, but JJ knew that this couldn't wait and her team would understand.

"Eliza Miller, age ten, and Dante Green, fifteen, were last seen at roughly seven o'clock by Rosa Green when she sent her son to walk Eliza home," she began, pulling two pictures up onto the large screen. The first was of a small blonde girl in a soccer uniform, her hair in pigtails and her blue eyes shining happily; in the second a teenage boy was making a playful face at whoever stood behind the camera, unruly dark hair hanging in his green eyes. "They never made it to the Millers' house; that was two nights ago."

She paused to let this news sink in. Every one of them knew that their chances of finding these kids grew slimmer with every minute; it had almost been forty-eight hours already. She cleared her throat and continued, "The local sheriff's department believe their disappearance may be connected to two others in the past month. Thirteen year old Matthew Kelly," a photo of a sullen boy with ginger curls and storm-grey eyes appeared, "vanished from his home three weeks ago. No sign of struggle or forced entry."

Another picture, this one a beautiful girl with dark skin and hair, and deep brown eyes; her smile was warm, and her stance confident. "Danica Rogers is sixteen. She was on her way to meet her boyfriend for a date last week. He told the sheriff that she never reached the movie theatre, and no one has seen or heard from her. The files we have on the first two victims are incomplete, but the sheriff promises that we'll have access to the rest when we arrive."

"The victimology is all over the place," Derek Morgan commented, flipping through the local police's files, "And it says here that, other than Eliza and Dante, they didn't seem to know each other. How are they all connected?" Emily Prentiss nodded while Spencer Reid looked through the files again, as if he hadn't already read them through at least twice. Not even their resident genius could see a connection.

"That's just one of the things we need to find out," Hotch said; his brow creased in concern but his eyes were like steel, "We have no evidence, no bodies, and no witnesses but the sheriff is convinced that they're connected. If they are then our unsub is evolving. Rapidly."

"We don't have time to take chances," David Rossi summarized, looking to his old friend for confirmation. Hotch nodded.

"Garcia," he said and the technical analyst looked up in surprise, "You'll be coming with us. The entire town has been reporting issues with their power and phones; I don't want to risk losing contact."

"Right-o, sir. I'll grab anything I'll need then." As she prepared to leave, Hotch met each of his team's eyes.

"Wheels up in forty."

-X-

"Are you sure this is one of ours?" Sam asked his brother, looking over the newspaper article again. Dean had walked into their motel room with the usual takeout coffee and breakfast, dropped the paper in Sam's lap and announced a new hunt. Four kids had disappeared in a month in the next state over, but there was no sign of demon activity or haunting in the area. It sounded like something the police should handle, not the Winchesters.

"I told you, I called Bobby to look into it. He says that the same thing happened almost fifty years ago," Dean shot him an almost scolding look, "He agrees with me."

Sam rolled his eyes. Of course Bobby had agreed with Dean; Sam would have too at any other time. It was better to check it out and leave than to risk letting something run loose, especially when there were kids involved. But, Dean's deal came due in only a few months and Sam couldn't afford distractions. He needed to save his brother. Dean glanced at him and sighed, as if he could see Sam's thoughts written across his face.

"If it's not one of ours," he said reluctantly, "Then we'll leave, Sam. Promise."

Sam nodded and let the subject drop. He knew that his brother would be far too stubborn to let this go once he'd started the case; neither one of them would be able to leave while kids were still disappearing, but especially not Dean. Sam also knew that he wouldn't be able to blame him for breaking that particular promise. So, instead of arguing, he grabbed his duffel and headed for the door. By the time the sun had started to warm the chilled morning, the Impala was already on the highway.

Next stop, Lyndefield, Maine.

-X-

R&R