AN: Ok so I was thinking *looks at worried looks* I know dangerous and yes Darren it did hurt. Ok so I've seen versions where it's Aaron and Emily with Foyet instead of Haley, but I decided, at the time of the first Reaper case, Dave was probably still there, so I'm going to be evil and do Foyet over only this time with Dave, JJ, and Henry. *looks at murderous glares* *clears throat and looks at crowd* I apparently have a death wish! Anyway, I would say happy reading, but that doesn't work so well does it?
Disclaimer: I'm redoing the episodes starting with Omnivore. Doesn't mean I own them. Ever heard of creative licenses?
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Dave rubbed his eyes as he stared at the file. It was 4 am and he had his son cradled in his arms. He had received a call from Shaunessy and was supposed to fly out tomorrow to meet up with him. Dave had a feeling if he didn't go, Shaunessy would die before he got the info. His train of thoughts was broken when his wife of two years arms wrapped around his neck from behind.
"How did I not hear you come in?" he asked softly. JJ chuckled as she laid her head on Dave's shoulder.
"You are holding our little boy and thinking about the Reaper case" she answered. Dave nodded and leaned his head against hers. "Why don't you come to bed? This one," she motioned to the baby in Dave's arms, "is out for the night. You need to get up early to catch the plane" she said. Dave nodded and stood, following her down the hall to Henry's airplane themed room. He set him down in the crib and watched as JJ covered him up with a blanket before leaning down and kissing him, before grabbing his hand and pulling him out of the nursery and to their room. Dave stripped to his boxers and slipped on a pair of flannel pj pants before he slid into the bed next to JJ. He turned on the alarm before pulling JJ into his arms and falling into a fitful rest with dreams of the Reaper. There was something about the case that was not sitting well with him.
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"You made a deal?" Dave asked in shock. Shaunessy just nodded and handed him the paper that the Reaper had written out for him.
"The killings needed to stop and the only way to do that was to make this deal. I'm sorry" he said. Dave didn't know what to do right away, but he sighed and held Shaunessy's hand. "Catch him" was the last thing he muttered before he passed away. Dave felt the tears in his eyes as he pat the elder man's hand.
"Of course" he whispered.
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Dave sighed and flipped through the newest file he had been given. He still couldn't believe the only reason The Reaper had stopped was because Shaunessy had basically sold his life and soul away. He was one dedicated SOB.
"Dave" JJ called out as she entered his office, case file in hand. Dave stood. "You wanted me to let you know if there were any unusual murders in Boston" she said as he flipped through the file. His eyebrows arched. This was his MO and nothing about it had changed. He leaned over and picked up his go bag.
"Tell Hotch we're going to Boston" Dave said. JJ watched as he walked away, a frown firmly in place. What was going on with him lately?
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"The Reaper needs to dominate and manipulate" Dave started as he paced the aisle. He knew this case would come back to haunt him, he was just waiting for it. Unfortunately the time came now, while he had a beautiful wife and son.
"Why would he offer a deal that would shut him down then?" Emily asked. Dave shook his head.
"The killings gave him power, but the payoff would diminish over time so he decided to offer the deal. This gave him a power even greater than killing; he manipulated the police into surrendering. And now the only person who knew he won, knew he made the deal, is dead" Dave said in a flat voice, Shaunessy's words echoing: 'You'll have to pay for my sin'.
"Narcissistic killers need other people to recognize their power" Hotch said. Reid leaned over and picked up the book "Night of the Reaper".
"The author theorizes the man stopped killing for 10 years because he had been jailed for a different offense, or had perhaps died. The killer may be trying to show everyone he had done neither. For the past ten years he'd been planning what to do when he could kill again." Everyone froze. What hell awaited them now?
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Dave stood with JJ and Reid as the lead detective read over the note. JJ was given orders to tell the press that it was just a copycat, but they knew better and now, so did Detective O'Mara.
"Welcome to hell, these guys will make sure you have everything you need" O'Mara said. Reid looked over the file the police had already started on the newest victim.
"46 stab wounds and finished off with a…"
".45 magnum" Dave finished. The others looked at him in shock. He shrugged. "It was his weapon of choice for years" he said. "And the younger his female victim, the more time he spent with his knife on her body" he said, pain dripping in his voice. JJ wanted to comfort him, but they were on a case, she would do it when they lay down for the night.
"Her watch is missing" Reid pointed out.
"He takes items from one victim and places the item on the next victim. Can I see his wallet?" Dave asked as he pointed to the man. One of the officers brought him the wallet, which he carefully went through. Reid, JJ, and O'Mara watched in confusion as he nodded. "He didn't need glasses. I've seen these glasses in my nightmares for years. These are from the Reaper's ninth victim, the only victim to live" Dave said. He lifted his eyes and met JJ's. "I think Foyet's in trouble" he said. JJ pulled out her phone and made a call to Garcia.
"I need you to find me everything you can on a Foyet, George Foyet" JJ said quickly. She and Dave had stayed up talking many late nights and she knew almost as much about the case as Dave did.
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"What's more important to you Roy? The story, or getting the killer?" Dave asked sharply. Roy looked appalled.
"I've spent years with the families of the victims Dave, I got to know them. I get cards and letters throughout the year telling me about them" Roy said. Dave nodded and sighed.
"The minute I have something I'll call" he said before heading inside. Colson watched him leave and sighed. David Rossi was nothing short of a pain in the ass and he would be damned if he actually got any info from him.
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"They're older than his previous victims" Hotch said. Dave nodded.
"License and registration; he was using a cop ruse" Dave said as he shined his flashlight on to the papers lying between the seat. Aaron shone his flashlight in the back and noticed the contents of the woman's purse had been dumped. "He went through her purse" Dave added. Hotch pointed to her wrist.
"And she has Nina Hale's watch too" he pointed out. Dave shined his flashlight on the male body as Aaron flipped down the sun visor and picked up the paper that fell out.
"He's missing his wedding ring" Dave said, pointing to the tan line on the man's finger. Aaron motioned for him to come over and check it out. Dave walked around the front of the car and looked down at the picture Hotch was holding. It was a family picture on across it the Reaper had written "Fate?" in their blood.
"They were on their way home from the Elks lodge, where they played Bingo twice a week" O'Mara explains.
"It's a message for us. It's telling us we had 10 years to save all of the victims from him" Dave said, still wrapped up in the photo. Hotch nodded that he heard both men and waited for O'Mara to leave.
"You got all of that from one question mark?" Hotch asked, his rare sense of humor coming to play to try and keep his best friend from jumping off the deep end. He could already see the pain, fear, and hurt that had taken over Dave's normally happy and jovial eyes.
"I know him well, a little too well. He's haunted me since we've been here. When Shaunessy sent us away I had started working on a profile alone. I never shared it with anyone because I was afraid it would send the investigation in the wrong direction, but with all of this additional evidence, I think I got it right" Dave said. Aaron was floored. Dave had never told him any of this and he had never heard Dave second guess himself. This was a whole new side to David Rossi.
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"He's what we call an omnivore, someone who doesn't target a specific victim type" Dave started. "He does spend more time with younger female victims, but he is a predator that will choose anyone."
"His kills aren't just about his victims; they are about him and his need for recognition. They symbols, the items he takes and puts on subsequent victims, they are for the police" Hotch said. "He does this because he craves power and the Shaunessy letter is a clear indication of this."
"Shaunessy was his 22nd victim" Dave added mournfully. "Like BTK, he is disciplined and inflexible, unable to keep relationships."
"The focus on the younger female victims is important, especially as now seen by the killer's treatment of an older woman- he killed her with a single shot. On the younger women he uses a knife for bodily penetration, and spends much more time and effort" Reid said.
"He is a hebephile, someone attracted to post-pubescent children" Morgan said.
"Look at men in authority such as high school teachers, counselors, or coaches, or anyone charged with sex crimes against teen-aged girls in the last ten years" Emily adds. Dave's phone rings and he excuses himself to answer it.
"Foyet has dropped off the grid. There is no mention of him, nothing I can find and you know I'm the all finding goddess, but not even a paper trail sugar" Garcia rattled off. Dave sighed and sat on a chair in one of the offices he'd gone to for privacy. He noticed the book sitting on the desk and smiled once again.
"Don't worry Garcia, I think I know someone who might know" he said before hanging up and pulling Colson's card out of his jeans pocket.
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Dave and Hotch sat in the SUV in front of Foyet's apartment.
"How did Colson find Foyet's location?" Hotch asked Dave as they sat waiting for Foyet to come home.
"Colson has stayed in contact with everyone he interviewed for his book once it was published" Dave explained. Hotch nodded. Both men spotted an older, greyer Foyet, limping down the street carrying bags of groceries. They left the confines of the car and surprised Foyet when they walked up to him.
"Can we take this inside?" was all he asked as he looked around nervously.
"Lead the way" Dave said. Foyet nodded and led the parade into his first floor apartment, setting the bags down on the table before offering them something to drink. Foyet gets himself a cup of water and took a pill from the prescription bottle in his pocket. He sat down as Dave handed him the evidence bag with his glasses in it.
"I was going to propose to her that night, but I got cold feet. He came up to the window with a sightseeing book and was asking for directions." Foyet had a lost look of his face as he sat there remembering the fateful night.
"You don't have to do this again" Hotch said softly. Foyet shook his head.
"I watched as he stabbed her 67 times" he said. He cleared his throat and looked back at Hotch and Dave. "It's not really a surprise that he's after me again. That's why I hide away. I keep different residences all over the city, each under a different name" he said. Dave nodded and handed him his pen and notebook.
"I'm going to need you to write down all of your aliases and addresses" he said. Foyet took the offered items and wrote down his info. He clutched the book to his chest when he was done.
"Promise that no one else will see this" Foyet said. Dave nodded and Foyet handed the notebook back to Dave. Dave tucks the book away.
"Just remember, he's a man and nothing more" Dave said. Foyet's haunted eyes looked up at him.
"Then why can't you catch him?"
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JJ rubbed his shoulders as Dave sighed. This case was hitting him hard and he needed to try and spend the night relaxing so he could be fresh on his game tomorrow. JJ was tired and worried about Dave, but she also had something to tell him.
"Dave I'm pregnant" she blurted out. Dave froze and looked at her. A large smile broke across his face as he kissed her. They were going to have another child together. There celebration was cut short as Dave's cell phone rang. He growled and reached over and grabbed it. It came up "unlisted" and Dave answered it.
"Rossi" he commented. The Reaper chuckled.
"Now now now, that's not a nice way to greet me. And after your gorgeous wife just gave you the best news in the world" he said. Dave grabbed JJ and pulled her body against his. He looked around the drab hotel room for some way the Reaper could see or hear him. "If you stop hunting me, I'll stop hunting them" he said. Dave frowned.
"I thought you were smarter than that? I don't make deals. I'm the person who hunts serial killers like you" Dave said. JJ knew who was on the line and she wrapped her arms around his torso. He stroked her hair with one hand as he listened for the Reaper.
"You'll regret this" he says angrily before he hung up. JJ looked up as Dave pulled the phone away from his ear.
"What's wrong?" she asked softly. Dave's pain filled eyes looked down at her.
"I think I let him slip through my fingers" he replied.
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Dave and Aaron stood in the middle of the bus. Hotch counted the number of stab wounds and gunshots on each body as Dave stared at the numbers. They looked familiar, but he couldn't place why. He looked at the driver and noticed the wedding band.
"Arthur Lanessa's wedding ring" Dave said. He shook his head and walked out of the bus and started down an alleyway. Hotch nodded at the officers as he passed on his way to catch up to Dave. Rossi stood in the alleyway, head slightly bent, pinching his nose.
"He offered me the deal and I turned him down" Dave said. He had tears in his eyes and he wondered if it would ever stop.
"So you think this is your fault?" Aaron asked. When he heard Dave sigh, his anger grew. He took out his gun and offered it to Dave. "Here. You convinced me. Go ahead and use mine" Aaron said. Dave shot him a small look.
"I had ten years to do something" he said. Aaron nodded.
"Ten years in which you were retired. Ten years in which the BAU was working on active cases. Cases with live victims we saved. Should we blame ourselves for not going back to this case?"
"That's the thing Aaron, I did go back to it. For the first year or two almost every night" he responded. Aaron sighed.
"Look, if you want to end up like Shaunessy, like Gideon, blaming yourself for everything, go right ahead. But that voice in your head? It's not your conscience, it's your ego. We can catch this guy without you" Aaron said. Dave sighed.
"You can put that away" Dave said, motioning towards Aaron's gun. Aaron looked at him.
"You sure?" Dave just nodded and Aaron pocketed it.
"It's a little dramatic don't you think?" Dave asked. Aaron chuckled.
"Emily always did say I had a flare for the dramatics when I wanted to" he said. Dave nodded as they both turned and started back towards their car.
"Oh and Aaron? Don't ever compare me to Gideon again" Dave said. Aaron chuckled. He knew that would come back to kick him in the ass.
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"The numbers on the bus correspond to Foyet's addresses" Reid said quickly looking over the two numbers. Dave froze.
"The Reaper found Foyet" Dave said. The team left the conference room, breaking into small groups to cover each address.
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"Each of Foyet's aliases all worked teaching computer science in the Boston Department of Education until one of them was fired for alleged inappropriate misconduct with a female student" Garcia said. Dave nodded.
"Foyet is the Reaper" he said. "Garcia, can you find Roy Colson's cell phone. He was going to meet up with Foyet" Dave explained. Garcia typed away and came back with an address only a few miles away. The team raced to the SUVs and jumped in, racing off to the address.
"Foyet killed Amanda, driven to the telephone and had called 911, and then had driven back and inflicted the stab wounds on himself, knowing the EMTs would arrive in time to save him. Of course we would never consider him as a suspect with the severity of his wounds. It put him at the core of the investigation" Aaron explained. The others nodded. It made sense and gave him the power he needed. As the SUVs pulled in front of the house, the team moves into position as SWAT surrounds the house, Dave taking point. He and Aaron went in first, pointing their guns at Foyet.
"You kill him, I kill you" Dave whispered, his finger on the trigger. The rest of the team moves in from the back until Foyet was surrounded. He gave Dave a sick little smirk.
"It's your fault those people had to die" Foyet said. Dave smirked.
"Actually it was your own choice. You're the serial killer" he taunted. Foyet ignored him and turned around, spotting Morgan.
"Agent Derek Morgan" Foyet said with a sadistic tone of voice. Morgan grabbed him and pushed him against the wall, cuffing his hands behind his back.
"Where's my badge you sick son of a…" Morgan started. Foyet turned his head and grinned at Dave.
"I'll be more famous than you realize" he murmured. Morgan pulled him off the wall and pushed him out the door and into one of the waiting police cars. Dave holstered his gun and thought about Foyet's words. He would find out soon enough what he meant.
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"Foyet escaped" JJ said as she ran into her husband's office where he and Hotch were sitting and drinking coffee. "The guards found him in his cell convulsing and vomiting up blood. They took him to the infirmary" she announced. Dave and Hotch followed her out into the bullpen where Reid and Emily were holding blueprints of the jail that they had retrieved from his house.
"He had 10 years to plan his escape" Dave muttered as he watched the news. JJ leaned into his body as he wrapped an arm around her.
"They're going to find him, right?" Garcia asks as she stared in horror. Dave pulled JJ closer to his body.
"No they're not" he said before turning and pulling JJ into his office.
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AN: Ok loooooooong chapter! I know trust me! This will be a 3shot or so. This one, one with the end of To Hell… and Back, Faceless, Nameless, and Outfoxed then will be the big finale! 100! With a pregnant JJ… *looks at angry crowd* I'm going to go hide now! Thanks for reading please review!
