After JJ's departure the team struggles with the loss, and the complete refusal to replace her. Having gone through three Media Liaisons already the addition of Jena Eck has Hotch and the rest of the team questioning if they ever will fall into a rhythm again. All travel suspended the team is only working local cases. Taryn Gillis of the Special Crimes Unit has an idea that she could use one of the BAU members out it the field, to help give his perspective on the crime scene from a profilers point of view. Having her mind set on the perfect one, she won't stop until she gets him. A rapist and murderer is on the loose eluding Taryn's team and soon the case will land in Hotch's lap when it takes an unexpected twist.
As always I do not own any rights to CBS, ABC or their affiliates. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. This is an original story written on the basis of the show Criminal Minds and solely for entertainment purposes.
Please enjoy and review.
Thank you
~Cinny
Chapter 2
The elevator door opened. The green down arrow glowed above it. Emily and Jena were inside. Both took a brief look at him before continuing their conversation. He decided to join them and see if Emily recognised him.
"…normally Reid would be with us, he's working with another team, you'll get to know him later, just careful what you ask him."
"Why?"
"Well, for one thing, I would avoid it unless you have an hour to kill to listen to his explanation. And another, if you want to feel stupid, because he knows everything."
Reid stared straight ahead, he wanted nothing more than to argue with Emily and correct her that he didn't give hour long explanation or know everything. He had his instructions so he kept his mouth shut. Agent Jones' voice was coming over the headset and he listened to him asking the team to speak. Reid was stunned by the sheer volume of people involved with this stakeout. His plan worked, he blocked out Emily and Jena enough that the need to comment fadded.
Emily was listening to Jena all the while she was observing the man who just got on the elevator with them. He seemed a little scary, yet she was oddly attracted to him. Normally she liked men with a little bulk, but the way he dressed turned her on. She was looking at his tight little ass as the elevator made its way to the ground level. Special Crimes must have a case that required undercover and she wondered what "MR. Biker" here looked like in real life. Either way he was going to be the subject of quite a few fantasies for her. Emily shook her head thinking she really needed a date. When the elevators opened he went to the left and they went to the right. Emily took one last look at tight biker ass before she went into the Federal Medical office with Jena.
Reid went outside for a few minutes to avoid Jena and Emily, before heading back inside. He showed his credentials to a skeptical security guard. Deciding to go directly to the sixth floor this time, he rode the elevator once again. He leaned back against the rear hand rail and waited. The doors opened on three and Garcia got on. She nervously looked at Reid, turning her back on him when he stood up to his full height. He noticed she pushed level five, and as soon as the doors opened enough, she shoved through them. She was afraid of him, he was sure of it. There was no reason for her to get off on the fifth floor. He laughed silently about it. So far two people didn't know him. He assumed that the clothing and the defensive way he stood made people avoid looking directly at him. That and the fact that he had kept his head low, and his hair in his face.
"Reid are you alone? If not get there." Jones said into the ear piece. Reid pressed the emergency stop on the elevator.
"Yes I am, I'm in the elevator."
"Ok great you're loud and clear. Anyone spot you?"
"Two of my team, they didn't know me."
"Alright you got fifteen minutes and then we need you back here."
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"I don't know who he is Morgan, but he is on his way up there." Garcia said nervously into the phone.
"Ok baby girl the elevator is opening now, I'll check it out."
The elevator doors opened and Reid stepped out. Morgan stood up slowly.
"Can I help you?"
Reid walked past him without saying a word.
"Hey, I'm talking to you!"
Reid had his hands in his pockets and he slumped forward when he walked. He stopped a few feet away.
Morgan pulled his gun, getting the attention of Rossi and Hotch. The second set of elevator doors opened out in the mezzanine and Emily saw Morgan holding the man at gun point. She pulled her weapon as Jena opened the glass doors. Knowing the team had him covered Morgan lowered his gun.
"Put your hands in the air! Slowly."
Reid hoped to God Jones heard this conversation so he would know Reid had no choice other than to speak to his team before one of them shot him.
Reid didn't react fast enough and Morgan took him out, tackling him. Emily moved in as Derek hit the ground with Reid.
"Morgan, it's me!" Reid said in a terrified voice.
"What the hell!" Morgan rolled Reid over and looked at his face. "Son of a bitch kid I almost shot you!"
"Agent Reid what the fuck is going on?" Jones barked into the ear piece.
"They didn't know me!" Reid said nervously.
"Who are you talking to?" To ease the tension Morgan smacked the side of Reid's head. Before helping him to his feet.
"I'm wired!"
"Wow you sure don't look like the geek pretty boy you really are." Morgan laughed loudly. Reid knew it was out of nerves that he got louder. Taking a "stranger" down in the BAU had rattled Morgan.
Garcia got off the elevator just in time to see Morgan helping Reid off of the floor.
Spencer shook the hair out of his face and then used his hand to move the rest. It was a typical Reid gesture and Garcia knew him immediately.
"Reid? Oh my God you look so different. She drew in closer to get a better look.
Morgan got a closer look at Reid too when he moved his hair. "Is that guy liner?" He laughed heartily.
"Reid it's time to go!" Jones barked at him.
The fifteen minutes wasn't up yet and he wondered if telling them who he was, was a mistake.
"I've got to go guys." Reid hurried to the stairwell.
Jena looked at Emily, who was still pointing her gun at the ground. "He is really good looking. And really, he is a genius?"
Emily heard Jena, she just was stunned that she thought Reid was hot and was thinking very dirty thoughts about him and his little ass.
Garcia moved closer to the girls, "This isn't the way he normally looks, is it Emily?"
.
.
Jones had the power to speak to all of them or one at a time. What he had to say was for Reid's ears only. "Don't say anything, just listen. Why do you let them speak to you like that? You give me a week and I will build up your self confidence, showing you just how valuable you are and what you can accomplish. And then maybe, you might rethink your role on that team."
Reid didn't reply as he was instructed. He walked slowly down the stairs. He didn't have a problem with his team, much. They respected him, most of the time.
.
.
"I can't believe you were afraid of Reid." Morgan laughed heartily as he made his way up to the conference room.
"Well I'm not the one who tackled him!" Garcia swatted Morgan with her file as she followed him up the steps.
Inside the room Rossi and Hotch waited. This was Jena's time to shine, either she fit with this group or she didn't.
"I wasn't afraid of him when he got on the elevator with us. I thought he was cute. Emily and I were checking out his butt!"
"I was not!" Prentiss busied herself with changing the chairs around in the room trying to find the one she liked to sit on. It was at her spot already, but she hoped it was enough of a distraction from the warm flush that crept up her face. It wasn't. Rossi made eye contact and gave her a hmm expression that hinted at, 'I always thought you had a thing for Reid.' She didn't, quite the opposite Reid was like her little brother. It was only a case of mistaken identity and the fact that she hadn't had a date in…she didn't remember the last time. Girls night out ASAP. She needed to talk to Garcia about that.
"Reid and Prentiss sitting in a tree…" Morgan mocked.
"Stop that! So help me Morgan…"
"Aw what's the matter Prentiss do you need a kiss and hug. I could call boy wonder back up here if you'd like."
Jena stood there frozen in her spot. She wasn't aware of the way they teased one another or the friendly banter being light hearted. She didn't know what to do, she thought she had caused trouble in the team.
Hotch looked at her. His gaze was hard, cold even, impatient. 'Now I've done it, he is going to reprimand me.' Instead Hotch picked up the case file sitting in front of him held it chest high, showing her the front as he pointed at it and nodded to the back of the room where the white board stood. She moved into position and silence settled on the room. Each of the Agents squared their chairs with the table, Garcia waited by the door for her instructions. The look of serious determination on each of their faces took Jena by surprise.
"In the last three months woman have been disappearing from the area know as the narrows. Ten woman have been badly beaten and dumped four of which have succumbed to their injuries. Out of these four only one has been positively identified." The post mortem photos of the woman flashed on the screen. All various shades of blond. They were small woman under 100 pounds. Jena stated their names or what they called themselves on the street.
"Lexxie, Essence, Honey and Diamond also known as Robby Gabel. I am meeting with Robby's parents this evening, What they were able to tell me about their son was, she was living as a pre-op transsexual prior to disappearing after she tried to kill herself three years ago. Her operation was postponed and Mrs. Gabel told me Robby had a hard time dealing with it."
"She was the only one not sexually assaulted?" Morgan asked.
"Yes and due to their profession I can not get the M.E. to rule sexual assault on any of the deceased."
Hotch was impressed with the fact that Jena had already made contact with the family of the one person they had identified. He also was moved that she treated each of them as human beings and with respect regardless of their life style.
After a brief, almost to brief discussion on the case Hotch dismissed each of them. Garcia was checking for anymore potential victims and Morgan, Prentiss and Rossi were sent to try and track down the victims. Hotch waited near by as Jena met with the family.
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Mrs. Gabel was clutching a dress in a dry cleaners bag as her husband sat next to her on the couch.
"Can I get you some coffee?"
Both of them declined.
"Robby called herself Regina and that is what we are going to put on her marker. She always looked good in blue. I brought her a blue dress. She can wear this don't you think?"
"Yes I think it is perfect. Do you know where she would have been that night?"
Mr. Gabel shook his head. "No we hadn't heard from Robby in weeks. He was depressed because they turned him down."
"She." Mrs. Gabel corrected her husband.
"Damn it Mary he was my son. I know his choices I respected them. I loved him even when he didn't care much for me. Loved him even when he turned his back on his family." He spoke to Jena but kept his eyes on Mary as he added, "We accepted him for who he was. He didn't have to run away, didn't have to live on the street like this! I called him Regina, introduced him as my daughter, but damn it for once let me love my son!" Mr. Gabel collapsed on himself covering his face with his hands as he wept.
Jena made eye contact with Hotch and he could read them. She wanted nothing more than to find this man so that justice could be served for this broken family. A little bit of doubt eased from Hotch's mind. Jena had JJ's compasion.
