Tempest Rose: I do not own Criminal Minds or anything you recognize.
"You have reached the Goddess of Information. Speak and be heard mortal."
"Hey, Garcia, it's Elle. As much as I would love to chat, this isn't a social call."
"Elle! Oh my god, honey, how are you? And if this isn't a social call, what can I do for you?"
"I'm doing alright, but I was wondering if you could tell me where the team is and how I can get in touch with Reid. It's very important that I talk to him as soon as possible."
"Well sweetness, our illustrious do-gooders are in Salt Lake on the case of a serial killer. Just one second and I will give you the good doctor's digits. Just answer one question for me first, what is this about?"
"Garcia, I can't give you the details. All I can tell you is that I'm a social worker in Salt Lake and I need to talk to him about a woman he used to know. I can't tell you anything more than that without speaking to him first. I know you're really curious, I'd be worried if you weren't, but please don't hack my caseload to find out."
With a sigh, the blonde agreed to leave the files alone. Rattling off the number for Reid's cell, Garcia said her farewell to Elle. Turning back to her work, she grimaced at the horror on her screens. This was the worst part of her job, having to see the aftermath of the worst of humanity.
* * * *
Staring at the map on the corkboard, Reid was desperately looking for a pattern. The unsub was using some twisted interpretation of the Wizard of Oz. A priest who had been described as incredibly compassionate and caring to a fault had had his heart removed. A firefighter who had been given commendations for his bravery had his spine cut out. And most recently, a world-renowned professor of mathematics had his brain removed. The unsub was collecting the very things that the Wizard had given Dorothy's traveling companions, and the team had no idea if this meant that he was done killing yet or not. Tucking his hair behind his ear, Reid leaned back against the table in the conference room that the local LEOs had set aside for the team. Throwing back the last of his lukewarm coffee with a frown, Reid nearly jumped straight in the air when he heard a knock on the door behind him. Spinning to greet the newcomer, Reid gasped in shock at the face he saw.
"Elle? What are you doing here?"
"Hi Reid, I'm actually here on business. I called Garcia and she said you guys were here in town so I figured I would come and talk to you in person. Do you know a woman named Amber Serano?"
"Um, yeah I know her. We haven't spoken in almost nine years though."
Were you aware of the fact that she had a twin son and daughter?"
"How old are they?"
"Just turned eight last month." For a moment Reid was quiet and still, silently running calculation in his head. Suddenly their breakup made sense. He had loved Amber dearly, and even considered marrying her once upon a time. Reid had never understood why she had left so abruptly; Amber had barely even bothered to leave a note. It was clear now that she had been pregnant, and the odds of the children being his wwere incredibly high. Looking back at Elle, Reid tried to dislodge the frog in his throat so he could speak.
"I don't suppose you have a picture of them with you?"
Elle reached into her bag and pulled out a photo that had been taken at the twins' birthday party last month. Handing it to him, she began to mention calling in a favor to rush a paternity test if he would like. Collapsing into the closest chair , Reid told her that the test wouldn't be necessary. Staring at the picture in utter shock, he absently noticed how much his children looked like him. His daughter was like a perfect blend of Amber and his mother, while the boy could easily have been his clone.
"So how did Amber die? I can't imagine that you would be talking to me if she was still alive."
With a sigh, Elle replied to his question. "Miss Serano was struck and killed by a drunk driver two nights ago while walking to her car after work. Liam and Mariah are still with their babysitter, as she offered to watch them until you could be contacted. If Hotch is willing to let you go, Mrs. Colt would be happy to let you visit them."
Before Reid could answer her, he spotted Hotch and Morgan through the window of the conference room. The two of them were manhandling a man toward the holding cells on the other side of the station. Next came Rossi, Emily, and JJ; and they turned toward the room he and Elle were in. As they entered the room, Emily and Rossi regarded the former profiler with cautious curiosity while informing Reid that the unsub had been caught. Outside, a local officer had waylaid JJ, so she was walking in just in front of Morgan and Hotch. The blonde gasped in shock when she came into the room.
"Elle! What are you doing here?"
The former profiler smiled at the blonde, but never got the chance to answer. Just as Elle was about to speak, Reid stood abruptly and moved toward the door. Turning back to face Elle, his mouth opened and closed a few times before finding his voice.
"Take me there. Take me to meet them. Please Elle."
"Ok Reid, let's go."
Smiling an apology to JJ, Hotch, and Morgan, Elle followed the young genius out the door. Meeting him in the parking lot, she indicated that he could either ride with her or follow her. Not trusting himself to drive safely, Reid chose to let Elle take him to his children.