A/N: Ok, here is my latest fic! I'd like to start off by giving a HUGE thanks to my epically fantastic beta insanepersonishappy. You are awesome! This is very team centric (sorry, Hotch lovers) and is different from anything else I've ever seen. Now, it does involve the military and a serial killer on a military base, so if you don't like that kinda stuff, turn back now. My dad has been in the Navy my entire life, so this fic in no way attacks or belittles any members of the armed forces. So, keep the flames to yourself. I'll try to keep this as accurate as possible. And because of the fact that I'm using a military base as my target in this fic, every location will be fake (bases, hospitals, etc.) except for the cities. I'm also going to do this different. Before I bother writing anymore to this story, I want to see if anyone is even interested. So, depending on the response, I'll continue.
Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds, nor do I make a profit from it.
Rated: M for Extreme Language and Graphic Violence
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ENLISTED BUNKERS
US Naval Base, Afghanistan
"Wake up, Rogers! It's time for our morning run." Corporal Lucas Rogers rolled over in his sandy cot and looked at his bunkmate wearily. "C'mon man, even the insurgents have to sleep. Why do we have to fight a war so damn early?" His question was answered by a splash of cold water from his fellow Marine, Staff Sergeant Carter Morales. "Lucas, you know you're the laziest Marine I know." Rogers pulled on his desert camouflage pants as Morales bushed his teeth quickly. The two men wanted to get their run out of the way before the sun was up and the Afghanistan desert reached its predicted high of one hundred-eighteen degrees Fahrenheit. "You ready Morales?"
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Two muscular figures rounded the rocky path three miles away from the bunkers, precisely in the middle of the training grounds. "You see that?" Morales' breathy voice broke the silence as he came to a stand-still. Rogers squinted his eyes at the silver reflection a few meters away. "Yeah… Should we radio the base?" The senior NCO (non-commissioned officer) nodded before resting his hand on his hip as Lucas pulled out a small radio from his belt pack.
"This is Corporal Lucas Rogers…" Morales couldn't hear the Corporal's voice over the rising winds as he focused on what was in the sand.
-- "Units are on their way. Proceed with caution, Corporal Rogers. We'll keep the line open."
Morales looked back at Rogers who nodded before reaching for his own hand gun. The two Marines slowly approached the shining metal surface and recognized it as media-issued dog tags. "Damn…" Morales moved the tags just enough to read the name. "Rachel Gordon." He gently tugged on the tags to confirm his suspicions; she was buried below. "Bastard struck again. Call the base back. Tell 'em we need NCIS out here again."
The Corporal nodded before jogging back towards the trail, leaving the Staff Sergeant to his thoughts. Six women were dead; NCIS had arrived after the first two bodies were found. Four more bodies had been found since the agents had shown up. They needed more help. Sure, people were expected to die, it was a war. They just weren't supposed to be victims of a serial killer. Not like this.
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FBI HEADQUARTERS – BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS UNIT
Quantico, VA
"Six women have been found dead, buried in the sands of the Afghan deserts." JJ handed out manila folders to each of her teammates as they sat at the round table in the briefing room. Morgan looked at his file questioningly, almost as if it were diseased. "And this is in our jurisdiction?" The blond media liaison nodded as she pulled up pictures of each victim on the screen. "They all took place on a US Naval base, making it technically American soil." Morgan put the file down and folded his arms. "Again, how is this case ours? Doesn't NCIS have jurisdiction?"
Hotch continued to scan over the case file as he spoke in his naturally deep, authoritative voice. "NCIS has hit a wall with their investigation. All the evidence has been nearly destroyed by the desert conditions it was recovered from and they're hoping we can profile their UnSub to give the investigation new life." He put the file down before looking at each of them slowly. "Because of the distance and limited space, only four of us are going, and before anyone protests," He shot a look at Morgan which quickly silenced his unspoken plea, "I've already made my decision on who's going."
There was a sudden silence that came over the team as Hotch prepared to let them know who would be where. "It's a given that Garcia will remain here in Quantico. We won't have the same full access to technology overseas like we do here, so there'd be no point. Prentiss, you'll also be staying here. Your multilingual skills will be necessary to translate what Garcia finds as there is a good chance this UnSub is an Afghan national. Morgan, you'll be going with me overseas. Your gun savvy will be needed. Reid, I'll need your eidetic memory to record what is left of the evidence before it all goes to hell."
The Unit Chief looked at the last two agents: JJ and Rossi. "Rossi, you'll be staying here with Prentiss and Garcia. I need one senior agent here." He met the eyes of a dumbstruck JJ. Why was he picking her? She wasn't a profiler, and while she was accurate with a hand gun, sub machine guns and assault rifles were completely different stories. "JJ, as you know there is a large mass of media on base, and with NCIS' inability to find the killer, they'll be in a frenzy. I'll need you to keep them calm and to keep details from being released to the press. We can't have an uproar on the base or back here on our own soil." The blond woman pursed her lips before nodding solemnly in agreement. "Ok, you have your assignments. Wheels up in five hours. Pack light and durable. We could be there a while." Everyone stood and left in silence. This was a big case and everyone was scared to say goodbye. It could be the last time.
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BAU – PENELOPE GARCIA'S OFFICE
Quantico, VA
"Tell them we're unavailable… tell them you guys don't have passports…" Penelope was holding onto Derek's form fitting shirt for dear life. She didn't want any of her babies to leave. Hunting serial killers was dangerous enough, but hunting them in the middle of a war zone was about as dangerous as it got.
Derek's deep eyes gazed into hers soothingly. "Baby Girl, we'll be fine. I'll call you every day and we'll be in contact when you're working your magic to solve the case." He flashed his pearly white smile before pulling the tech analyst into his muscular arms and kissed her gently on top of her head. "You know Hotch. He won't let anyone put us in more danger than we need to be in." He brushed a stray hair out of her eyes as he continued to smile at her.
Garcia stood in his warm embrace for a few moments before standing back and looking up at him skeptically. "Fine, but if you're going, you have to take a piece of me with you." She reached behind her neck and unclasped the thin metal chain she had been wearing. A small, silver cross adorned the center of the otherwise bare chain. "I expect to get this and you back in one piece, Agent Morgan."
Morgan closed his large hand around the necklace before giving her another squeeze. "You will, Baby Girl. You will."
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BAU – SPENCER REID'S DESK
Quantico, VA
Spencer pulled out the familiar pad of paper and ball point pen as he formulated what he wanted to write inside his mind. He knew he had to be careful how he worded things. He didn't want to worry his mother.
Mom,
It's me, Spencer. I just wanted to tell you about our latest case before I leave. I won't be able to send you any letters while I'm gone, but I'll still write them and mail them when I get back.
Morgan, Hotch, JJ and I are going to a military base in Afghanistan. Someone on the base is hurting the soldiers and they need our help to stop them. Six women have already killed and I can only hope we get there before there's a seventh.
I'm sorry this letter is so short, but there's nothing else I can tell you, other than that I love you and I'm proud to be your son. Thanks for being there for me.
Love,
Spencer
The young doctor folded up the paper with a sense of accomplishment. She needed to know where he would be and why he couldn't write. He needed her to know.
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HOME OF JENNIFER JAREAU
Manassas, VA
"Hey, cher." Will kissed JJ on the lips tenderly as she walked in the door. "Wa's wron'?" His handsome face contorted to match the inquisitive nature of his Cajun voice. JJ placed a slender hand on his cheek before kissing him again, this time more passionately. "It's our newest case… we're going to be away for a while." Will nodded and led them both to the couch as she continued explaining. "It's going to be more dangerous than usual." Her crystal blue eyes met his as he began to chuckle. "Ya soun' like you goin' ova'seas fo' da war o' somet'in'." JJ pursed her lips and he understood. "Will, we're looking for a serial killer on a Navy base. It's the same thing as if we we're –" He placed his index finger over her lips to silence her. "Jennifer, I know yo' job is dangerous, an' I may not always like it, but it's yo' job. I'll help ya' pack so yo' can say bye ta Henry."
Will kissed her lovingly before standing and heading to their bedroom. "Will…" He stopped and looked back at JJ who was smiling with tears in her eyes. "Thank you."
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HOME OF AARON HOTCHNER
Fairfax, VA
"DADDY!" Jack ran up to his crouching father and wrapped his arms around Hotch's neck. "Hey buddy! Are you being good for Aunt Jessica?" Aaron carried his son into the kitchen where Jessica was making Mac N' Cheese for the toddler. "He's been a perfect angel, other than our little Play-Doh fiasco."
Hotch set his son down, who ran off to finish watching Spongebob, before raising a dark brow skeptically. "Do I even want to know?" Jessica simply laughed and shook her head. "Trust me, Aaron, you don't."
He nodded as he leaned against the counter with his arms folded across his chest. "Thanks for driving out here so I could see him."
The blond woman wiped her hands on a towel and faced him. "Of course. You said you've got a new case? In Afghanistan?" Aaron nodded. "There's a serial killer on a base overseas. NCIS needs us to profile him." Jessica looked over at Jack who was mesmerized by the television. "You know I'll keep Jack as long as you need me to. Just be safe." She kissed him on the cheek and gave him a warm smile. "He's proud of you, you know. He tells everyone how his daddy stops the bad guys and how he never loses." Aaron looked at his son silently and nodded. He wished that were the case.