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There was a deafening silence that hung as heavy as the frost bitten air. Derek clutched his side as he lain on the ground and quickly assessed his body. He knew he was an open target, but the searing pain from the bullet that had sliced through him kept him unmoving at that moment. He pried his eyes open and forced his head up and looked in the direction the shots had come from. He anticipated that as he looked he would see who shot him waiting to finish the job. His eyes adjusted to the unnatural shadows and form on the ground. Slowly he gained focus and realized what he was looking at was the soles of Emily's boots. He had heard two shots, was one of them for her? He tried to call out, but his voice failed and the pain only intensified. He struggled to his knees and the world began to spin and tip. To keep from falling over Derek pressed against the rough stucco wall, but found it a difficult task to say upright. He was breathing like he had just sprinted a marathon. He was sweating, trembling, and bleeding, but he continued to try and move. The need to get to Emily overtook his thinking. The agony only intensified as it shot through his ribs and wrapped itself around him. One hand continued to hold the wound while the other clenched his gun so tightly his knuckles popped from the force. He squeezed his eyes shut as he rode out the excruciating wave until the worst of it had passed. His mind was already next to Emily but his body refused. A realization of failure overtook him and quickly found himself back on his side. The cold hard ground dug into his body. He shivered and tried to speak again. His body became covered in goose bumps as he continued to shiver uncontrollably from a deep unnatural chill. He fought the heaviness of his lids, but his mental strength was not strong enough to keep his body from shutting down.

A sudden jolt caused Emily's eyes to pop open. Pain rippled through her temple. She stared at the dark sky that filled the void above her and tried to figure out what had happened and where she was. Her confusion vanished as the memories of the recent events shot through her mind. In a panic she rolled to her side and slowly rose to her knees. Immediately she had to hold her head to control the spinning and waves of nausea that overtook her. She breathed out and slowly drew in the chilled air to gain control of the possible revolt.

Once she felt she could move she turned her head to look towards where she had been taken from. What she saw both stop her heart and made it beat faster than it ever had. In the minimal reflective light of neighbors Emily made out Derek's unmoving form. The pooling of blood beneath him stirred her panic even more.

She didn't know if their attacker was still around, but the fact he was no longer over the top of her and Derek lay bleeding out made her believe he had fled. Maybe Derek had gotten a shot off and he was injured. At that moment it didn't matter; she had to get to her partner. She ignored the pain tunneling through her head and forced herself forward. As she moved she dug into her pocket for her phone and made a call for help. All she managed to get out were a crackle of inaudible words. The operator made her frustrated with her continual questions of what she was saying and to repeat her location. Not getting anywhere she ended the call and dialed Penelope. The Analyst answered as she drew up to Derek. Pinching the phone between her ear and shoulder she tore her coat off and wadded it up to apply to his bleeding wound and hope it did any good.

She spoke quickly but her voice failed once again. The bastard had done enough damage to her throat that her vocal cords were failing her.

"Emily? Are you there? You're cutting out."

In an effort to make the urgency known she spoke only two important words. "Morgan. Shot!"

"Did you just say Derek's been shot?"

"Yes!" She croaked as loudly and clearly as she could.

The phone fell away but she ignored it. She wasn't about to release the pressure she had applied to Derek. Penelope got the idea. She could hear her frantic cries and then silence. She was sending help.

Derek moaned and tilted his head towards Emily as he felt her press harder against his wound. His eyes fluttered open and looked to her. He was wracked with tremors that continually rolled through his body.

"Emily-" He whispered, but she quickly cut him off. She wanted him to use al of his energy concentrating on staying alive.

"Shh, hold on."

A click and the sudden light from the porch flooded the area they occupied. Emily looked up to find the old man opening the screen just as two officers flew around the corner. They slide past the two of them and continued to the back. Emily watched with her eyes but her real attention was on Derek floating in and out of consciousness.

"Are you alright?" The first officer asked as he rehoulstered his gun and took a knee on the other side of Morgan.

She was about to ask where the ambulance was when the medics emerged into sight. One gently moved Emily to the side as the other took over her spot she had held next to Derek. She fought being pushed out of the way, but more that the man's body blocked her view. His constant questions forced her to look at him.

"Can you tell me your name?"

No answer.

"What day is it?" She looked away from him and tilted her head to peer around the bulky jacket he wore.

"Who's our current President?" With the last question he palpated the side of her face and the pain brought her attention back to him. She still didn't answer but gave him a look of annoyance. He returned it but she ignored him and continued to try and see what they were doing with Derek.

"Let them help you." Hotch insisted as he came into her eye level.

When Emily heard his voice it was the first instance she realized he was there. She fired him a look. Her sore throat and headache was nothing to Derek being shot.

"I'm fine. Derek." She whispered.

"He's being helped. Now answer his questions."

Emily's throat burned and felt like sandpaper every time she swallowed. Answering his questions were far from what she intended to waste her voice on. If she were going to speak it would be for a more important purpose. The medic continued to poked and prod her swollen cheek reminding her why her head pounded unrelentingly.

"We need to get you to the hospital." He stated.

She shook her head. "I'm fine."

"You may have a concussion, and from the trauma to your throat more swelling may occur and could close off your air way."

Hotch rose to a standing position and crossed his arms. "You're going to the hospital."

In the strong light of the single bulb he looked like a giant, but Emily ignored the intimidating visual.

"An order?" She asked, but knew the answer.

"Yes." Hotch nodded and looked to the Medic who helped Emily to a standing position.

"We need to go now, Mike." The other medic called out as he pushed the gurney holding Derek into the waiting darkness.

"I can walk." She insisted. The medic nodded, but walked carefully next to her, prepared to assist if she waivered at all.

Once they were sealed in and moving Emily sat in an unsettling silence. She listened to the medic relay Derek's status to the waiting Trauma Center. She watched Derek carefully, afraid that his next shallow breath was going to be his last. She cursed herself for being so negative but there had been so much blood and she had no clue how long she was out before she saw him. Her inability to overcome the UnSub or give him warning to his presence could have meant his death. She closed her eyes to the possible defeat.

When the rig doors flew open everything became a blur of movement and actions. She was led down a hallway, but all she could see was the frantic swarm that overtook Derek. As he was swallowed into the hospital the uncontrollable helplessness engulfed her once again.

She finally answered the same questions that the medic had asked but now to the nurse. Her voice clipped in and out as she spoke but her now her answers were clearer.

Emily felt Aaron studying her as he waited patiently for the nurse to finish her initial evaluation. She knew he needed to focus on any immediate information she could give about their Unsub, but all she could seem to think about was the possibility of losing Derek.

He smiled politely to the young nurse as she excused herself and he took her place next to the gurney.

"Can you remember what happened?" He asked carefully.

Emily shrugged and spoke only the important words. "The light went out. Then he attacked."

"Who?"

"Parker."

"You're sure it was him?"

"Definitely." She said nodding her head. She swallowed and tried to clear her throat. "He wanted me to see him."

"Did he say anything to you?"

"Maybe. I think, I can't remember."

Aaron was about to speak again, but the nurse came back. Emily didn't have chance to even ask about Derek. She was swept off to test after test. Once she was settled back in her designated space separated by a curtain JJ had made her way back to her.

Emily ignored her concerned looks and questions. She continued to ask about Derek. But they had nothing. He was in surgery and that was all they knew.

Reid appearing beyond the curtain had JJ turning away. "I'll be right back. Maybe he has news." JJ said placing a hand on Emily's knee.

Emily nodded and eased her head back down closing her eyes. She started to drift off when the sound of forceful footsteps approaching brought her back around. She pried her eyes open and lifted her aching head from the pillow and stared at the doctor that pulled the curtain to the side and made her way to the foot of the gurney. She didn't look to Emily right away and studied the notes on the chart.

She had a tight buttoned up professional look Emily didn't expect from an ER doctor. Her hair was pulled back into a slick bun, and wore a trim skirt with a navy blue blouse beneath her crisp white doctor's coat. Green eyes suddenly rose and scrutinized Emily beyond dark rectangular glasses. The frames contrasted with her blonde hair, but complimented her facial shape.

"I'm Doctor Greer." She said quickly then let the chart fall to her side to fully examine Emily herself. "How are you feeling?"

Emily began to answer but the Doctor threw her hand up. "Actually, don't answer that. I'd prefer you not to talk as much as possible. With your fingers give me a number from one to ten to your pain level right now."

Emily raised a brow but obliged and raised her hand.

Dr. Greer's eyes squinted in distrust to her honesty but continued her evaluation and lightly palpated Emily's swollen and discolored cheekbone. "With your history of concussions, I'd like to keep you over night to keep an eye on this."

Emily opened her mouth in protest, but a flip of the doctor's hand kept her silent.

"Again, no speaking. There was minimal tissue damage, but the less you use your throat muscles and vocal cords the better." The doctor stepped back from the gurney and quickly wrote in the chart. "Besides, I wouldn't even consider any of your arguments." She added without looking up.

Emily did want to protest, but she was smart enough to know that it was a losing battle. Being admitted in the same hospital as Derek gave her an opportunity to stay near him. She nodded her unwilling consent, but doubted she could keep from speaking once JJ came back. She planned on drilling her with questions about Derek and what the hell they were doing to find Parker Lewis. She followed the Doctor's movements out and tried to fight her heavy lids but it did little good and found herself drifting off.

The images of Derek on the ground with so much blood surrounding him was enough to cause her eyes to shoot open. She was still alone. The silence and lack of contact frustrated her. She needed information. She pushed off the gurney and tore out her IV without hesitation. As she emerged from behind the curtain JJ was a step away. Their eyes met and shock and confusion flooded the blonde's features.

"Where do you think you're going?" She demanded.

"Derek." Emily whispered and looked around to figure out which way to go.

JJ studied her but knew it was a useless fight and would prefer them all in the same place. They'd deal with the angry doctor and nurses later. She gently took the brunette's arm and guided her towards the elevator. Emily softly smiled her thanks.

When they emerged onto the floor that Derek would be brought to, they worked their way to where everyone had gathered in the small quiet room. Everyone but Rossi. Emily acknowledged them all with a nod, but deterred them away from asking any questions about her physical condition. She was upright, breathing and of sound mind. That was all that mattered. Derek however was another story. She was in a void of unknown to Morgan's status and to that was all she was concerned about.

She accepted JJ's assistance to sit in a chair across from Reid. He stared at her with pain and fear. She felt every ounce of his worry and reached out for him. She wanted to take it away but she had no way to.

Aaron was about to ask what the doctor had said to Emily when Rossi came around the corner. He made a beeline for the Unit Chief. Having seen the look in his eye so many time he moved to meet him half way.

"What's up, Dave?"

"How's Derek? Emily?" He asked glancing towards the brunette.

"No word yet on Derek. Emily's going to be okay."

"Okay."

"Where have you been?"

"Getting Garcia focused and trying to figure out who this Lewis guy really is."

"And?" Hotch asked curiously.

"The Parker Lewis the world knows is squeaky clean, not a blemish to his name. And now he's disappeared."

"What do you mean?"

"Apparently for the last ten years he's only deposited a little under half of his checks into an account he had set up for his dad. The rest was cashed. He has no other paper trail. No credit cards, bank statements of his own, bills in his name, nothing. Even the car he drove was registered to his dad. Which was still parked at the house."

"Living with his father gave him the ultimate cover." Aaron said shaking his head.

"His face is out there now, but to be honest Aaron, I have a feeling we're dealing with something bigger than we originally anticipated. He's not going to reemerge until he's ready."

Aaron nodded and stole a glance back towards the team huddled together. "That's what I'm afraid of."

The shocks of the car protested the constant jerking and bumping created from the uneven and rough terrain not meant for a midsized sedan. As Parker followed the path he considered the need for of an off road vehicle or an SUV with four-wheel drive. He had spent the last two days driving. Though he did spent the last day in and around the nearest town to acclimate to his new home. Even though he was now officially on the FBI's radar he couldn't help but be on the prowl. He knew he had left them reeling but had no doubt they would ramp up to try and find him. He left them nothing, and he wouldn't give them anything until he allowed them back in. He had changed his appearance enough that the picture broadcasted on the news would do little to draw attention to him. He had played the game long enough that he knew how to hide in plain sight. Plus, he had work to do. The first thing was to understand his new location. He was raised a city boy and worked within those confines, but he had camped enough throughout his life that he could fully adapt and adjust.

The current driving conditions quickly brought his attention back. He had only travelled a few miles from the road but the surrounding wilderness grew thick and dense around him. It made him nervous but it was exactly what he was looking for. He knew he had reached the end when a small cabin came into view. It appeared to have been built around the trees and blended into its surroundings. The only part of the woods that had been cleared out was a bit to make enough room for the small drive. A thin porch circled its way around both sides of the wood structure. It all looked to be a part of the scenery except for a thin swirl of smoke rose from the chimney and a rusted blue pickup that was parked in front. A man that looked to be in his early fifties leaned patiently against the driver's door. When he caught sight of Parker his serious scowl softened and he waved to him. He pushed off his truck and took steps towards him motioning where he could park his car.

Parker followed his guide and then cut the engine. He studied the man briefly before he opened his door and stepped out. The man wore a thick camouflaged jacket, blue jeans that were held up by a belt that proudly displayed a large exaggerated buckle. The comfortable temperature in his car from the blaring heater had him forgetting that the air outside was much colder. A bitter breeze maneuvered its way through the trees and rustled some dead leaves and pine needles across the dirt lot in front of the men. Parker zipped up his jacket and stepped around the back of his car to meet the man.

"Tyler Mann?" The man asked offering his hand out to Parker. "Carl Parson." He said referring to himself.

"Yes, good to meet you." Parker responded with a quick shake then shoved his hands into his pocket for warmth.

"I know it's cold, so I'll make this quick so you can get inside. I started a fire for you so it should be comfortable."

"I appreciate that." Parker nodded glancing around.

The man smiled then handed a file folder over. "This is any numbers you may need, maps to the nearest gas station, and super market. Though it's not really a supermarket just a small mom and pop shop that has your basic necessities. James and Beth are sweet people, they'll take great care of you."

"That's great, thank you."

"If you do decide you need some real human contact, Hastings is about thirty five miles Northwest. Just take the main road to Fifty-Seven and you'll run right into it. It's a bit of a younger crowd with the college not too far from it."

Parker kept his hands in his pocket and stood like he knew how an innocent man stood, and shrugged causally. Of course he knew Hastings. He already had his eye on Sharon. He had found her fast, now that he knew exactly what he was looking for. He would still stick to his precise process, it was necessary to gain her trust and then he could make his move. He knew how simply it would be to just take her, but the game was more fun to play when there was more intrigue and higher risks.

Not noticing his brief interlude of concentration Carl kept speaking but this time pointed in the opposite direction. "If you want quiet, Ridgecrest is forty-five miles East."

"Again, thank you. I have quite the writing deadline so I doubt I'll venture far."

"May I ask the type of novel your writing?"

"Just a typical murder mystery."

"Well, that sounds exciting."

"I hope my readers think so." Parker chuckled.

The man smiled and clapped his hands together. "Well, we're all paid up for four months, so unless you call and need anything from me this is where we'll part ways until then."

"Perfect." Parker said pulling his hand out to shake the man's again.

"Oh, I almost forgot." Carl reached into his pocket and drew out the key. "Not that you'll need to lock up since no one's ever out here, but it's just habit for me to have it locked."

Parker smiled and took the key ring.

"And I know we spoke about it but there's no electricity here. You're still okay with that?"

"Of course. I'm using a typewriter." He lied smoothly. "I have a generator if I need it and I have no use for my phone since I need to focus on the story and am avidly avoiding my editor."

The man laughed and shook his head in amusement. "Sounds like you have it all figured out. Good luck with your writing."

"Thanks." He smiled again but remained still as he watched the man lumber to his truck climb in and drive off. He faked a wide gracious smile and gave a small wave as he passed.

He was a nice man, Parker thought. Too bad he had no clue that the murder mystery that was going to occur there was not just going to be read in a book.

When the last echoing reminisce of the truck finally vanished the true silent that surrounded him became apparent. He drew in a deep breath and looked up to the towering treetops. They shaded the distant sun and cut any warmth it offered. The cold stung but invigorated his senses. At that moment he didn't mind the chill. He looked around briefly but told himself he'd explore later. He wanted to unload and settle in.

He pulled out a box from the trunk and walked up the few steps to the door. He paid attention to the wood that creaked uneasily as his weight pressed against them. He had to learn all of the nuances his temporary home held. Finding it was unlocked Parker turned the knob and let the old door swing inward. The small interior was warm and appealing. Just as he had been told a fire roared in the fireplace. It was the center of the room and was surrounded by a few mismatched pieces of furniture. On the far wall was what he assumed was the kitchen. An icebox and a tall pantry took up either side of a metal sink. Though there was no electricity he was grateful to running water from the well on the property.

Between the sink and side wall that led to the only other room was a counter that held a two-burner propane stove.

After carrying a few loads into the cabin Parker decided to take a break and warm himself by the fire. He was in no rush; he was going to enjoy his first victory. He dug through the box that held some of his provisions and pulled out a packet of tea. He found his teakettle quickly and then tested the water pressure by turning the metal knob of the faucet. The pipes rattled and protested briefly but soon a solid stream of icy water rushed into the sink with an echoing pinging sound. As the kettle filled he lit up the propane for the stove. Once the water was successfully heating he turned his attention back to his boxes to find a specific file. He flipped the lids of a few that he had set on the small round dining table and rustled through them. He had to search because he hid them from himself. He couldn't have them easily accessible, just in case. He couldn't take any chances.

The kettle began to whistle and rattle on the small stove pulling Parker's attention from his search. He paused to take care of his tea and as he walked back he gently set the tea bag in the cup to steep. After another few minutes of searching he found what he wanted. With tea cup in one had and the file in the other he settled into the leather chair that faced the fire.

With his one free hand he thumbed the file open and took the two photos that were on top. He looked the two women over and mentally compared them letting his imagination create unmistakable similarities.

"You will do." He said to the picture of Sharon. The young brunette smiled brightly to a friend while they shared a drink and conversation. She was younger than he intended or wanted, but he was drawn to her right away. Then he looked to the professional portrait he had printed out at the college library. It was of the one he truly desired. His real challenge that he had created for himself days earlier when he let her live. There would have been no fun in it without the hunt, or the thrill of the potential danger. Having her would be the ultimate high he had been craving for so long.

"So serious and intense." He whispered as he followed his finger around her face and studied her eyes. He imagined what it would feel like to render such a strong woman helpless. "Soon, Emily, soon."

This chapter took on a life of its own and I had to break it up. So there will be much more information of what the team learns about their UnSub, or of how little they really know….

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Thank you for reading!