A/N: I'm always been very up front and honest with my readers. I wrote 100 from behind by my normal timeline. I admitted that to y'all up front. I hammered away on my laptop into the early morning hours to finish the last chapter. But it took a toll on me. Big time. So I took the down time I told you all I would.

All four days. My relaxation is writing. And like I told you, I've had a Matt story swirling in my head for nearly nine months. But unlike 100, that I had to crank out, I've taken my time with this one. When I wanted to write; I did. When I wanted down time, I took it.

Including doing my extensive research for a case fic; which wasn't easy for this one. How do I do my Google search and not get on a government watch list. Yup; it's that kind of case.

I gotta do it; but I don't like it. All rights to the Criminal Minds characters belong to Mark Gordon Studios, CBS and ABC Studios. *swears under my breath* My potty mouth will show up later in this story so I won't do it now.

*Jedi Master bow*

Chapter 1

"Morgan," Matt shouted. "Go left!"

The rest of the team crouched down behind their SUV's as a corner of the building blew out.

-00CM00-

Two days earlier…

Aaron Hotchner sat in his office, doing his usual reports to the Bureau brass. His team was catching up with their reports on the latest case they worked on in Houston. His desk phone rang.

"Agent Hotchner," he answered and listened. "Good morning Mr. Director." He listened more. "I understand sir. I'll have Agent Anderson get the Associate Director up here ASAP without security inference." He listened more. "I understand sir. My team will be on it. Thank you for the heads up; we appreciate that." He listened more. "You as well sir. Good bye."

Hotch hung up the phone and called Anderson's desk. "Anderson," he heard.

"Agent Anderson, I need you to get down to the first floor immediately and get an Associate Director of Homeland Security through security without any fuss. And do it quietly. The last sentence the key; and Anderson, this stays between the two of us."

"I understand sir," Anderson replied. "I'm on it." Hotch looked out his office window to see Anderson getting up from his desk as Anderson hung up his phone. Hotch hung his up and came out of his office. He lightly tapped on Dave's office window to the bullpen, getting his attention. Hotch looked over the bullpen and saw the rest of the team heads down.

Rossi came out of his office as Hotch did the same at Matt's office. Matt followed the two down the catwalk.

Hotch waited for Matt to enter and then shut the door. "Dave," he pointed at the other door coming up from the break room, "please shut that one." Dave complied.

Matt looked at Hotch. "We've got a case. DCPD just invited us in. Garcia is getting the info as we speak to put together the team briefing."

"At least it's local," Dave said. "Maybe we can sleep in our own beds at home for a bit."

Matt read Hotch. "Aaron, there's something more going on."

Hotch looked at him. "I just got a call from the Director. There's a Homeland Security Associate Director on the way up here to add to our briefing. But the Director made it clear it was for the three of us only with our security clearances."

"What's the case Aaron," Dave asked.

"Did either of you see the news this morning? The low income apartment building blowing up? It's the second in a week. Between the two, there is now twenty-four confirmed dead. Both were attributed to a gas leak. But between the DCPD and the DCFD arson investigation, they gave us a call. We'll be working with both groups."

"HS is thinking terrorism," Dave asked. "That doesn't fit the profile of a terrorist attack."

"I agree," Matt said. "Where's the high profile boom for their buck?"

Hotch shook his head. "I agree with both of you. But for now, this case is priority one by orders of the Director. He said HS would give us more."

Anderson lightly knocked on the door from the breakroom. "Come in," Hotch said.

Anderson opened the door and held it open for the man that was following him. The man entered. Anderson looked at Hotch. "Sir, Associate Director Nick Jannis of Homeland Security."

"Thanks Anderson," Hotch said, as Brian left, shutting the door.

Matt smiled. "Holy shit Nick. I thought you would be a career Navy man that would sit on your ass with retirement."

"Hey Matt," Jannis said, shaking Matt's extended hand. "Good to see you again after all these years. I thought I would do the same as well. Until my two kids entered Middle School and started playing sports. Being at sea six months out of the year lost its attraction. I took a page out of your playbook and went with a calling of a higher up friend."

Matt smiled. "I hear that. Nick, meet Aaron Hotchner, BAU Unit Chief." They shook hands. "And our Senior Profiler and Unit co-founder David Rossi."

"Pleasure to meet you both gentleman," Jannis smiled, shaking Dave's hand.

Matt looked at Hotch and Rossi. "Nick and I graduated together from the Academy. He spent a lot of years being with intelligence on carrier task force groups."

Nick shook his head. "Too many; it was either find another job or lose my wife and kids."

"Wise decision," Dave smiled. "Hence the six months at sea comment." Nick nodded.

Matt looked at Nick. "Hotch just told us we got invited in on a case from DCPD with the two apartment building explosions. They think they have a serial. We agree. But Nick, by our initial read, it's not terrorism. What gives?"

Nick smiled. "Why I needed to meet with the three of you only with your security clearance. My group does counter-intelligence. We're tasked with looking at things that most Americans don't want to know." He looked at the three of them. "Including things I can't disclose. But the two building explosions sent up a red flag for my taskforce. Which means we scour everything and I mean everything." He pulled a file out of his briefcase and handed it to Hotch.

"Whoever this nutcase is, he told the world through his want ad earlier in the day before he struck, exactly where he'd hit. One of my top analysts put it all together. Look at the first one," he pointed.

Hotch pulled open the file he had and the three read it looking over Hotch's shoulder. Hotch pointed at the address to Matt and Dave. "Front Street; just like the code; including the building number." Matt looked at Dave. "And the second one," Hotch asked.

Nick pulled out a copy of the second want ad. The three read it and looked as Hotch pulled up the papers of the file to the second attack. They all shook their heads. "It ain't Dumont but birds fly free there above four thousand but under twenty thousand," Dave read. "The building that was hit was at 4200 Freemont Street. The bastard is taunting law enforcement."

"You think it's a male," Nick asked.

Matt shook his head at him. "There are no serial killer females in our database that use arson." Nick looked at Matt. "They get pissed and just kill. If they burn, it's to cover up the kill."

"And usually down and dirty," Dave added.

Matt looked at Hotch. "I'm assuming we're taking the case." Hotch nodded. Matt looked at Nick. "Is there a way your analysts can hook up with our tech analyst without giving away your whole game?" Nick looked at Matt. "Nick; I get it. We all do. You're running covert ops. We won't give that away. But any intel you can feed to us will be huge."

Nick smiled. "This meeting was about one thing – you don't give out what my ops are doing. To anyone," he emphasized. "Beyond that, we're more than happy to play ball with you. The lessons of 9/11 are finally being learned." Matt smiled.

Dave looked at Nick. "I'm assuming you traced the payments for the want ads." Nick nodded. "Anything?"

Nick shook his head. "A Pay Pal account in the name of John Doe set up on two different burner phones."

"This unsub is sophisticated and funded," Hotch profiled and looked at Nick. "You know we've got to share these want ads with our team to build our profile."

"Aaron, I have no problem with what you use from our intel. We're happy to help. And I'm more than willing to play ball with your tech analyst. All I ask is that you do not tell your team our covert spying on this. That cannot get out. Bottom line for me."

Hotch looked at him. "Consider that done Nick," Hotch slightly smiled. "Your info sharing does not go in our reports. You have my word. Except the three of us with our reports to the director….."

Nick smiled. "I can live with that. I answer to a master as well."

Matt smiled. "Have your analyst on the case covertly send your files to our tech analyst. She'll put them in the case files when I give her the heads up and it's a done deal."

Nick looked at the three men. "We're watching this case; closely. Because to the American public, it looks like terrorism. Anything we get….."

"Send it to Garcia, our tech analyst," Hotch said. "The faster the better; Matt as well."

"Can I meet her," Nick asked. Matt looked at him. "Just like you Cob, I want to judge who I'm dealing with before I trust."

Matt smiled at Nick and looked at Hotch. "We good?"

Hotch slightly smiled, nodding his head. "Just remember Garcia is putting case info together for her presentation. Be careful how you approach or I'm dealing with her wrath later."

Nick looked at Matt. "How do you say hell on wheels?"

Nick laughed. "I've got people skills Aaron. I'll be gentle." Hotch smiled. Matt smiled at Nick, nodding towards the door to the breakroom. "Follow me."

Walking down the hall to Garcia's lair, Morgan looked at Matt passing by with a stranger towards Garcia's lair. He started to rise out of his chair. Matt shook his head to him. Morgan sat back down.

Matt swiped his Bureau ID through the security to Garcia's lair, knocked and pushed the door open. Garcia swung in her chair at him. "Sir Cob; I'm still compiling case deets." Nick took one look around and shot Matt a look.

Matt smiled at him. "Don't judge the dress. We like our Garcia loud and proud." Nick looked around more closely.

"Holy shit," he said. "Lynx based?"

Matt smiled at Penelope. "Garcia, this is my friend Nick. He's about to send you more details about this case. He works in the intelligence community. That is all I can say. But I trust him; you trust him." He burrowed a look at Garcia. "No questions; but if you get an urgent email from him, I want to know ASAP."

He looked at Nick. "Just hit her email," Matt smiled. "Garcia will take care of the rest."

"Understood sir," Garcia said, smiling at Nick. "Nice to meet you sir; send away." Nick sent a quick text on his cell phone. Garcia looked at her email and then Matt. "Sir, I may need a few more minutes."

Matt rubbed Garcia's shoulder. "Just get it done when you can Garcia," he smiled. "The team has plenty of reports to finish." Matt looked at Nick. "We good?"

Nick nodded and looked at Garcia typing away. "Agent Garcia, I may send you more intel."

She turned in her chair and smiled at him. "Send away sir."

Nick looked at Matt. "Can I recruit her to my team?"

Matt stared at Nick. "You do, I pull out my service weapon."

Nick laughed. "Sorta figured that Cob." He shook Matt's hand. "I'll send you everything I can gather." They exchanged business cards.

Matt warmly shook Nick's hand. "We appreciate it. Keep me in the loop as well."

"Catch this bastard Cob," Nick said.

"We're on it Nick," Matt smiled, rubbing his shoulder, getting him out of Garcia's lair.

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