A/N: This is my first attempt at a Criminal Minds so I apologize if get things incorrect. I welcome any reviews (good or bad) and I hope you enjoy. And no, I do not own Criminal Minds or their characters...but if I did we'd have a Morgan/Garcia relationship by now. :)

Chapter 1: Off To New York

Everyone was relaxed. Even their boss, Aaron Hotchner, seemed more content than he had been in a while. The whole team was having a great time at the bar, wishing in the back of their minds that JJ's phone stayed silent. Tonight was not going to be one of those nights. The sound of her phone drained every ounce of fun from the room, and the team left in one sullen group.

"This is what they've sent over so far: Three victims…two males and one female…all three bodies were found in public places in New York City…" JJ started flipping through the crime scene photos on the screen. "The first, Benjamin Austin, was found 72 hours after his family reported him missing."

"Where was he found?" Prentiss broke in.

"Central Park around four months ago. The autopsy report so far shows he was battered and bruised, a few broken ribs, and small injection bruises on the left forearm."

"He's injecting his victims? With what?" Reid was next to ask.

"They're still waiting on the results. The injuries are the only thing consistent between the victims. Riley Lawson, our female victim, was found in Times Square and within 72 hours of her roommate reporting her missing. Devon Masters, just a month ago, was found outside a theatre on Broadway."

"Let me guess…the same 72 hours?" Morgan already knew the answer.

"You got it…his girlfriend reported him missing 72 hours before he was found," JJ replied.

"Alright, the plane is leaving in a two hours but I wanna get started as soon as possible. Garcia, start victimology with Morgan. We're gonna need you in New York on this one," Hotch began to take charge.

"You got it, Boss Man. I'll get some searches started right away," Garcia immediately headed for her office to fire up her babies.

"Morgan, we need to find any possible connections between these victims," Hotch tried to stress his point.

"We'll try to have something by the time we get to the plane," Morgan answered and quickly followed Garcia's footsteps.

"Reid and Prentiss we need any type of working profile you can come up with. Go over the files we have on our victim's and see if you can come with anything. It'll at least be a starting point," Reid and Prentiss both nodded in agreement with Hotch and got to work immediately.

"JJ you and Rossi can get started on any unsolved murders in New York City with similar MOs. We need to know what we're dealing with," Hotch gave his final instruction, "I'll be back to give you guys a hand."

Before JJ could even start going through the case files from the NYPD, her phone was ringing again. The display showed the number of the NYPD detective who'd contacted her earlier. "Jareau…You're sending it now?...I will call when we land. Our plane is leaving in two hours...Thanks." JJ shot a glance at Rossi to round everyone else back into the conference room. "We've got another victim. Where's Morgan?"

"Frantically trying to find his phone in his mess of desk," Garcia couldn't resist teasing him, even if he wasn't in the room. "He said to go ahead and start without him."

"Right," JJ looked at Hotch for approval and he nodded for her to proceed, "well, I should another potential victim. She was reported missing this morning by an older couple the she was shoveling a driveway for and her roommate hasn't heard from her since yesterday."

"What time this morning?" Prentiss asked.

"7:30…it was part of a volunteer program at the college she attends," JJ replied.

"Where does she attend?"

"NYU, she's a grad student going for her Masters in Psychology."

"How do they know so much about the victim? They haven't had much time to investigate, have they?" Reid pondered aloud.

"The detective I spoke with knows the victim personally so he knows quite a bit about her personal life. It's the stuff they don't know that we need to find out."

"The files are here," Garcia confirmed with JJ.

"Throw 'em up," JJ requested, "This is what NYPD has the case so far. They found her backpack at the Berkeleys' house. Since the roommate hasn't heard from since yesterday, we can assume she never went home after class Friday. They found her NYU ID in the backpack. Victim's name is Danielle Morgan, lives in a college apartment complex, age 24.

"Consistent with the ages of the other victims, early to late 20s," Morgan chimed in, returning to the conference room.

"Exactly, but they're not all at the same school," Reid contributed.

"Nor are any of them from the city. None of the victims are even from the state of New York," Garcia threw in. She shot ID photos of each victim as she listed their names, "Benjamin Austin hails from the state of Florida, Riley Lawson is from Vermont, Devon Masters comes from Maryland, and our newest victim is from Chicago."

"Wait a minute," Morgan was staring in shock at the last photo Garcia had put on the screen, "that's the fourth victim? No, that can't be right," he was pointing at the screen.

"Morgan, what's wrong?" Garcia saw the look on Morgan's face and it scared. She had never seen that expression before and could without ever seeing it again. It was an expression full of pain and confusion, and nothing fazed Morgan. If a case bothered him, he usually just got angry and more determined to catch the unsub. "Morgan?"

"No, no, no," was all Morgan said before running out of the conference room. He was already looking for a number in his phone. No one could figure out what was going on. Reid was first to piece everything together.

"Oh no," was all Reid said as he left the room to find his friend. "Morgan?" Reid found him in the bullpen, frantically on his phone.

"C'mon, pick up," Reid could hear the frustration in Morgan's voice. "This can't be happening, Reid. She can't be a…" he couldn't, rather wouldn't, use the word.

"Who is she, Morgan?" Reid asked, neither of them noticing the rest of the team gathered outside the conference room door.

"Danni is my sister, man," Morgan answered in a tone that brought a stunned hush over the bullpen.

"Oh," Garcia gasped, covering her mouth with her hands.

"And before you ask, Reid, my parents adopted her when she was 5. She lived next door when her parents were killed in car crash. It never mattered that we were black and she was white. We were family. When I get this guy…" a few renegade tears rolled down his cheeks.

"Morgan," he nearly jumped out of his skin at Hotch's voice, acknowledging other people in the room for the first time. "Morgan, she still has time. We still have time," Hotch was trying to be reassuring.

"What happens if we don't make it, Hotch?" that was a prospect no one wanted to contemplate. "That is not a phone call I wanna make," he tried not to let the tears flood down his face.

"You won't have to. We'll bring her home," JJ laid a comforting arm across Morgan's shoulders.

"New plan," Hotch began to take charge again. "Garcia lets stay with Danielle. Find anything that could be a connection to our other victims. Reid and Morgan go with her. You know her best," he continued before Morgan could protest. "You may know things about her habits or routines that could be the reason our unsub chose her," Hotch picked his words very carefully.

"C'mon baby, let's go bring your sister home," Garcia wrapped an arm behind Morgan's back and led him toward her office. Reid silently followed. Garcia looked back at Hotch with a look that said 'I'll take care of him'.

"JJ," Hotch began again, after Morgan had left the bullpen, "start with the victims we already have. Find anything we could use to connect Danielle. I'll be in to help you in just a minute. Rossi and Prentiss keep on the case files for unsolved murders."

"You got it," Prentiss returned to the conference room with Rossi.

"Where are you going?" Rossi asked.

"Get some help."

Everyone was on time for the plane, Morgan was first to arrive. The short ride was quiet, minus the occasional discussion of the case. As soon as they landed, Morgan was first off the plane and into one of the black SUVs that were waiting at the airport. Garcia and JJ shot quick glances at each other and decided they should keep up with him. Garcia took off after him and JJ gave the address to the station to Hotch, "I don't expect you to keep up with him. Just call when you get there," Hotch took the paper from JJ understanding the meaning of her words. JJ ran to the car not knowing how much longer Garcia could convince Morgan to wait for her.

Traffic was slow, which made for a very irate Morgan. While he yelled at the traffic, pedestrians, and the traffic lights, JJ was on the phone with the NYPD detective she had spoken with earlier and didn't know any faster routes through the city. When they finally arrived, JJ barely beat Morgan out of the car to greet the detective waiting for them.

"Agent Jareau," she said offering her hand.

"Detective Flack and this is Detective Mac Taylor with the crime lab."

"Detective Taylor," JJ reached to shake his hand, "this is Penelope Garcia our technical analyst and Agent Derek Morgan."

"Nice meeting you, please call me Mac," he shook all three hands. "Is this all of you?"

"No, four more are coming in another vehicle," JJ answered before Morgan could say anything.

"I'll for the rest of your team down here," Flack directed at JJ then turned toward Mac, "if you wan to take them upstairs and get them set up?"

"Sure thing," Mac extended his arm toward the door, "right this way," Garcia and Morgan followed Mac's lead, but JJ stayed behind to talk briefly with Detective Flack.

"I just wanted to give you a heads up that Agent Morgan will be on edge during this case."

"I noticed he was a little tense. Is he okay?"

"Not really, the fourth victim is his sister," JJ replied, "Adopted," JJ explained further, noticing the quizzical look on the detective's face.

"Ah," he responded. "This case became personal for us too, I understand. Is that your team?" Flack pointed to the approaching SUV.

"Yes," JJ answered as the four team members emerged from the car. "These are Agents Aaron Hotchner, David Rossi, Emily Prentiss, and Dr. Spencer Reid."

"Detective Don Flack," he offered his hand to each of the agents. "We are real glad you guys came up here. The team up there isn't quite the same without her," seeing the confusion on their faces he explained further. "I thought you guys knew. She was an intern her at the crime lab, that's why we set up the investigation out of here."

"She was with Detective Taylor's team, then?" JJ started piecing everything together. "I'd like to speak with each of them about Danielle."

"Sure thing, you may want to start with Lindsay Monroe. Danielle has been staying with her for the past two weeks or so while the campus apartment is getting renovated. I can take you guys upstairs and direct you to Detective Monroe," Flack offered and led the way into the building.

"Great," JJ replied.

"I'll also let the team know about her brother, they'll understand. You may want to take him around with you while you talk to her team. It may do him some good to hear positive stuff about his sister," Flack suggested as they made their way up to the lab.

JJ looked to Hotch for approval and he nodded for to go ahead. Detective Flack had a point. At least he'd know this team wanted to find Danielle as much as they did.

"Detective Flack, I'd like to speak with the Berkeleys?" Emily asked, speaking for the first time since they left the car.

"Yeah sure, hey Stella," Flack called to as she was passing by. "This is the BAU team, Detective Stella Bonescera," Flack introduced. "Agent Prentiss would like to speak with the Berkeleys about Danielle."

"I can take you there, just a minute. I've got to drop this off to Mac first," Stella explained.

"Lead the way," Emily followed.

"Reid, go with her," Hotch directed.

"Sure thing," Reid quickly caught up to Emily and Stella.

"Agent Jareau, Detective Monroe is the brunette right through there."

"I see," JJ acknowledged. "Do you know where Agent Morgan is?"

"He's right down the hall there with Miss Garcia," Mac said approaching the group. "I'm Detective Mac Taylor, the director of the team Danielle worked with her at the lab," he shook hands with Hotch and Rossi.

"Agents Hotchner and Rossi," JJ introduced.

"I'd like to ask you some questions about Danielle, how she conducted herself her at work?" Rossi asked.

"Sure my office is right this way. Anything that'll help bring her back here. Don, Agent Morgan is in the office next to Adam," Mac told him as he led Rossi to his office.

"Thanks, Mac. Follow me, please," Flack redirected to Hotch and JJ. "You may want to catch Lindsay now," Flack suggested. "She's always in and out of here, but I'm pretty sure that Mac's ordered his team to this case alone."

"Go ahead, JJ. I'll send Derek your direction," and JJ turned off to find Lindsay.

"Just tell her I sent you," Flack called after her. "Agent Hotchner, they should be right in here."

"Thanks," Hotch said. He could hear Garcia's keystrokes through the half open door. It didn't surprise him in the least that Morgan hadn't left Garcia's side. "Morgan, JJ is talking to some of the detectives that worked her with Danielle. Why don't you go find her?"

"I'll show you," Flack offered when he saw the hesitation on the agent's face. "Morgan reluctantly sauntered behind Don to find JJ and Lindsay.

"How's he doing?" Hotch asked when he was sure Morgan was out of earshot.

"Not so great, but there has yet to be any angry outbursts of frustration," she stopped typing. She put her head in her hands, resting here elbows on the desk. She took a deep breath. "I hate seeing him like this."

"I know, but the best thing we can do for him right now is keep him occupied and productive."

"I've started some searches with some of what Derek told me about her. I've got records and personal stuff but nothing so far in common with the others," even Garcia wouldn't use the word 'victim' in any type of reference to Morgan's sister.

"Keep digging and cross-referencing. If anything comes up let me know…and before you tell Morgan."

"You got it, Chief," Garcia seemed to momentarily back to herself getting back to work as soon as Hotch left.

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He had to stop it before it spread. She would spread it and all of humanity would be lost. It was his responsibility to mankind and civilization as the world knew it. He had already started, and soon it would move beyond the city. She would be next and then the whole world would know the danger.

He laid her unconscious body on the table. He first used the restraints to strap down her arms and then her feet. He couldn't have her running away when she woke up, and that would be soon. He quickly found the handcuff and rope, making sure they were ready before starting to set up the camera.

What do you think? Reviews are welcome!