Hey everyone I haven't wrote for awhile, I have finally found that drive to tell this story. It's one I've wanted to tell for awhile. I hope you enjoy!
Rossi stood atop the catwalk, waiting outside his office. His eyes were fixated on the glass doors of the bull pen. He was waiting for Agent Vincent Edgewood to walk into the bull pen for an impending meeting with Hotch, Morgan, JJ and Emily. The meeting concerned Rossi for more reasons than one.
Agent Edgewood is temperamental and worries more about himself and his position at Quantico than focusing on cases that need to be solved. Against everyone's good judgement Agent Edgewood recently had a promotion to Team Leader due to his political disposition. The meeting he set up today with "only part" of Hotch's team was supposedly to gain insight on how to be an effective leader; however his intention was questioned and this meeting was causing a great deal of suspicion among more than just Rossi.
Rossi also contemplated on the four team members Agent Edgewood wanted to meet with. Right now there was heated gossip about two blossoming romantic relationships. Rossi new it wasn't just gossip. The truth is Hotch and JJ were in the early stages of a new found romance as well has Emily and Morgan. At the office both couples put on a professional front but in an office full of profilers one couldn't help notice subtle cues the couples so diligently tried to hide. Rossi wondered if Edgewood's planned meeting with these particular four was a coincidence or intended with a hidden agenda.
Rossi leaned on the rails of the catwalk, he sighed and looked towards Hotch's office.
In Hotch's office, Hotch had pulled up three chairs across from his black leather couch. Two of those were for him and JJ to occupy and the other for Edgewood. JJ took a seat farthest from the door, making seductive eye contact with Hotch as he took a seat next to her. They both gave each other a slight smirk as they were reminded of the passionate night they shared less than twelve hours ago. Hotch could feel his heart begin to beat a little faster as JJ looked at him with an eager look in her eye. He couldn't let his mind wander though, especially before a meeting but he couldn't help but remember how JJ's hair felt as it swept across his body in heated passion.
JJ flipped her hair behind her shoulders while she got comfortable in her chair, she felt herself become flush with thoughts of Hotch and his strong hands firmly embracing her body.
Emily and Morgan took a seat on the couch, forcing themselves not to sit too close. Morgan looked towards Hotch's window thinking of the long restless night he shared with Emily in her apartment, tangled in blue satin bedsheets. He reminisced on her beauty and the softness of her ivory skin. Emily rested her right arm on the edge of the couch, looking out Hotch's office door into the bull pen; though her mind was not on the night she shared with Morgan.
Emily was feeling nervous and concerned, unconsciously she bit her lip.
Only a few feet away Hotch noticed Emily's visible tell he couldn't help but address, "What are you thinking?" He asked seriously, directing his question to Emily.
Hotch's question alone shifted everyone's focus to the present.
Emily sighed, "I just hope Edgewood doesn't feel as if there is any bad blood between us. I kind of stepped in on his spotlight when you gave me this job." Emily bit her lip again, she could feel Morgan looking at her with concern.
"There's something else bothering you, what is it?" Morgan asked, before Hotch had an opportunity to address Emily's response to his question.
"Why us four? I've been asking that question all morning. Why didn't he ask to speak to Rossi, he's more experienced than all of us? Reid's a genius you would at least think he would want to speak with him and Garcia's so tech savvy you think he would want to gain some insight from her."
"Maybe he's more comfortable with us since Rossi hasn't been back long. As for Reid he is hard to communicate with sometimes and we all know Garcia has locked herself in her lair, to do updates all day today." JJ offered as an answer.
"JJ may be right." Morgan agreed, trying to reassure Emily that she had nothing to worry about.
Hotch glanced out his office window to see if Edgewood was approaching and was glad to see he wasn't so he could address the situation. He looked back at the other members of his team and said, "You do make a point JJ, he may be more comfortable with us." Hotch wasn't convinced as he said that aloud and the silence in the room told him no one was. Emily was the only one to openly address the odd behavior from Agent Edgewood. Hotch looked to Emily, "Regardless of the circumstances and why Edgewood requested to meet with us, Prentiss you showed me you were more qualified in the two minutes I spoke with you, after you had waited in my office all evening, than the numerous pages of an application and resume Edgewood handed me. His methods were ineffective and he was unable to effectively analyze probable cases."
"Thank you." Emily said humbly, still biting her lip.
JJ chimed in, "It's a surprise to me that he even got a position as a team leader. It's only been four years since he applied to join our team, I can't believe he's been appointed as a team leader."
"That's politics for you." Morgan stated.
Hotch added, "However he may not be suited for the job it is our responsibility to advise him the best we can. We are all here for the same purpose and the fact that he sought us out was very uncharacteristic of his behavior but it could be seen as growth." Against his better judgement Hotch was trying to be hopeful, but his gut told him differently.
"We will see." Morgan stated.
"Here he comes." Emily said when she glanced back out into the bull pen.
Edgewood had a menacing smirk as he ascended the catwalk, which didn't go unnoticed by the agents analyzing his approach.
Edgewood stepped inside Hotch's office the same time Hotch stood up to greet him. Hotch stuck out his hand, "Agent Edgewood."
Edgewood grasped Hotch's hand firmly, "Agent Hotchner, thanks for meeting with me…" He looked at the other agents in the room, "all of you."
The agents nodded.
Hotch opened his hand toward the empty chair, "Please, have a seat."
Edgewood was standing in the doorway, he pushed Hotch's office door closed, twisted the lock, turned back around and said, "I don't think so. This is my show, you Agent Hotchner will be the one sitting down." His voice was calm but firm.
All four Agents were now standing with their hands resting on their holsters. Edgewood had not yet drawn his gun.
"Here's how this is going to work, you all are going to un-holster your weapons and give them to me." Edgewood said smiling.
"Not a chance in hell." Morgan said.
"You, Agent Morgan will change your mind when you hear my terms." Edgewood folded his hands in front of his chest and walked over to Hotch's window, looking into the bull pen and closed the blinds.
Meanwhile outside of Hotch's office Rossi grew concerned when he saw Hotch's blinds close. Rossi stepped into the bull pen at Reid's desk. Reid was also staring at Hotch's office.
Rossi bumped Reid's shoulder gently, "Hey pretty boy, let me borrow your phone."
"You noticed it too." Reid stated. He had also observed Hotch's office blinds close.
"Yeah I noticed it." Rossi dialed Hotch's extension. "Let's find out what's going on." Rossi waited as Hotch's phone began to ring.
Inside Hotch's office the phone started to ring. No one moved uncertain of what Edgewood had planned.
Edgewood pulled something out of his pocket that looked like a remote. "Answer the phone, we wouldn't want anyone getting any ideas that something might be wrong. If you make the first inclination that something is wrong all I have to do is press one of these pretty little buttons and someone will get hurt. I have six bombs located in very distinct places. Three of those are planted under the desks of your other team members."
Hotch moved towards his desk, by his phone.
JJ, Emily and Morgan were standing in an initial shock, to know their teammates were in danger. They wondered what Edgewood had in store.
"Put the phone on speaker." Edgewood demanded.
Hotch hit the speaker button, "Agent Hotchner", he answered.
"This is Dave, is everything okay?"
Hotch look sternly at Edgewood, "Everything is fine. Edgewood wanted some privacy." Hotch answered knowing Rossi was referring to the blinds. Hotch was concerned that Rossi was going to say something he didn't want Edgewood to hear so he casually tried to end the conversation, "We should only be about an hour, would you mind making sure no one interrupts the meeting?" Hotch tried to emphasize the last few words of the sentence.
"Sure thing." Rossi said.
Hotch could tell by Rossi's tone that he didn't believe him and he was glad he didn't.
"Thank you." Hotch disconnected the call.
Emily looked at Edgewood, "Why are you doing this?"
"Shame and humiliation." Edgewood stated, "You all are going to pay for the shame and humiliation I've had to suffer."
JJ looked worriedly at Hotch.
Hotch stepped back towards JJ who was standing to close for his comfort near Edgewood.
Morgan pulled his gun, "What is going to keep me from shooting you?"
Edgewood unbuttons his shirt to reveal a set of pads and cords running across his chest that are connected to a small black monitor, "I have an accomplice. If he notices that there is a jump or drop in my vitals all bombs will blow." Edgewood buttons his shirt. "Now give me your weapons."
All the agents were hesitant but once Hotch made the first move to hand over his gun they all did. They couldn't risk the lives of the other members of their team.
Edgewood straightened his jacket, "Since things are about to get intimate I'm going to call you by your first names." He pointed to JJ, "JJ go stand behind Aaron's desk."
JJ didn't go right away and looked at Hotch with her wide blue eyes beckoning to him. Hotch stepped in front of her protectively, "Whatever you are doing leave her out of it." Hotch demanded.
"If you want the other members of your team to live, she will do what I say. All of you will." Edgewood pointed to Hotch's desk, "Now JJ go stand behind Aaron's desk. Derek you can join her. Aaron and Emily you may take a seat on the couch."
Morgan joined JJ behind Hotch's desk, he tried to give her a re-assuring glance.
Hotch took a seat close to Emily, trying to be protective.
Edgewood smiled and looked at the two agents behind Hotch's desk. "Now remove your clothes."
"What?" Emily jumped up.
Hotch jumped up too, he looked into the frightened eyes of JJ.
Morgan stepped in front of JJ, "No."
"Oh, okay so we have resistance." Edgewood stated. He hit a button on the remote. A loud boom could be heard accompanied by a small tremor.
Morgan hovered over JJ as they crouched to the ground.
Pictures and plaques rattled on Hotch's shelf. A few fell hitting Morgan in the back.
Hotch pulled Emily away from the lamp that nearly hit her in the head. Emily fell into Hotch's protective embrace.
"No!" JJ said, thinking of her team members.
Hotch and Morgan went after Edgewood, when stillness once again fell over the office. Edgewood immediately hit another button, sending off another boom that was also followed by a small tremor.
All the agents in Hotch's office were frozen, they thought the members of their team were now dead. They could hear the commotion outside of Hotch's office.
Emily could feel the tears welling in her eyes, "You didn't?"
"I'm going to kill you Edgewood!" Morgan threatened.
"If you're worried I killed your teammates I didn't. I only destroyed a few vehicles in the parking garage, but the building is now locked down, because my accomplice is down stairs with an additional seventh bomb strapped to his chest, threatening to have it go off if anyone attempts to leave the building. There are five bombs left and if you do not do what I say, people will die."
JJ could feel herself beginning to cry as she tried desperately to hold it in. She wanted to be strong for Hotch and her team, but it was all falling apart so rapidly.
Edgewood spoke harshly, "Derek go back behind Aaron's desk. Aaron and Emily please take your seats on the couch."
Hotch and Emily sat close.
Morgan walked back over next to JJ.
Edgewood straightened his jacket, "Let's try this again. Morgan and JJ please remove your clothes."
Morgan was standing close enough to feel JJ trembling. He looked at her and smiled, "It's okay." He whispered.
JJ took a deep breath drawing some strength from Morgan. It will be like bathing suit, she told herself.
Both agents removed all of their clothes but their underwear. Morgan looked at JJ trying to make her not feel so uncomfortable, he grabbed her hand.
Hotch wanted to be the one standing next to JJ. He felt his face flush with anger and he pictured strangling Edgewood with his bare hands for making Morgan and JJ suffer but especially JJ.
Emily didn't like to see Morgan being put in such a vulnerable position. She also found herself being a little jealous that he was holding JJ's hand despite forcibly being put in the position, but she reasoned with herself and new it was because he was just trying to be comforting. That was one of the things she like about him, how protective and comforting he was.
Morgan and JJ just stood there.
Commotion could be heard outside of Hotch's office but no one was calling him or knocking on his door. Rossi seemed to be following Hotch's instruction of no interruptions. Hotch presumed Rossi had deduced there was a threatening situation, considering no one came out of Hotch's office when the bombs went off.
"What now?" Morgan asked.
Edgewood paced a moment, "There was a case a few years ago when an un-sub made people strip and have sex with one another. I believed this occurred in a bank."
JJ pulled her hand away from Morgan and crossed her arms in front of her body. She visibly shook her head, remembering the case well, he can't do this, she thought to herself.
"JJ and Derek both of you will need to finish taking off your clothes and have sex." Edgewood stated non-shalantly.
JJ gasped. "No", she whispered.
Morgan's muscles tensed, "Isn't this enough?" He asked. He couldn't look at Emily, feeling a shame mask over him.
Hotch and Emily stood up once more.
Edgewood looked at them, "Sit down, your turn will be coming soon."
Both agents took a seat as instructed but Hotch couldn't just let this happen and yet he didn't know how to stop it. He tried one more attempt to end this situation, "Edgewood you can stop this. You're in charge. We could make you a hero and pin it on your accomplice." Hotch tried to keep his voice calm.
Edgewood didn't respond to Hotch. He knew where to cut Hotch deep and headed towards an exposed JJ.
JJ hoped what Hotch was saying would help but instead her eyes widened as Edgewood came swiftly towards her. JJ backed into Morgan's naked chest and immediately felt his hands firmly grasp the upper part of her bare arms. Her feet came off the ground as Morgan swiveled her behind him, away from an oncoming Edgewood. JJ was momentarily relieved to be protected by Morgan and moved out of harm's way.
Edgewood pulled his gun out of his holster and pressed it onto Morgan's chest, "You'll undress and so will she. If you don't I'm going to blow this place sky high." Edgewood tried to remain calm, desperately trying not to spike his monitors. He sadistically wanted to watch his plan unfold, uninterrupted and would do anything to make it happen.
Hotch once again jumped off the couch and ran towards his desk when Edgewood moved towards JJ. He watched Morgan move JJ behind him in a matter of a second. Hotch could feel a jealous heat rush over his body when he ran into the side of the desk, stopping himself from jumping over when Edgewood shoved a gun into Morgan's chest. Hotch looked at JJ who was hiding behind Morgan and holding on to his arms, pressing her hands around his biceps. He could physically see her shaking as she peeked around Morgan's shoulder to look at Edgewood. She never even looked at Hotch who nearly catapulted himself over his desk to protect her. Hotch felt his heart sink.
Edgewood then turned the gun to Hotch, "I see I've found your soft spot. Now go sit down, this is going to happen whether you like it or not."
Hotch backed towards the couch slowly, watching JJ and Morgan's dynamic. JJ was no longer relying on him, but on Morgan. Morgan moved his hands behind him, placing them on JJ's waist, "It's okay." He turned to face her with a reassuring grin, replacing his hands firmly against her back, pressing her into him as he turned around.
Hotch felt the bile creep up his throat, it was only less than 12 hours ago he was entangled in JJ's arms and now he watched her in the arms of another man, not just any man but Morgan and she had forgone all eye contact with him. He briefly wondered if what they had would be gone forever.
Edgewood was already breaking them down mentally, toying with their emotions and they were just getting started.
Things are taking a turn for the worse, the day is just getting started. Will they make it out? I hope you enjoyed the beginning more to come! I'd love to know what you thought!