The team was sleeping peacefully before turbulence awoke them four hours into their flight. Reid was the first to rise. The tousled haired genius made his way to the end of the aeroplane and flicked the switch on the coffee. Hotch was the next to rise, tiredly straightening up from his position behind the table.
"Time for the briefing" he spoke.
Morgan blinked blearily. "What time is it?"
"Just after four" Reid piped up, leaning against the counter.
"Girls, time to move" Hotch addressed the two sleeping forms leaning against each other.
"Five, more, minutes" Emily murmured.
"We'll be in San Diego in an hour. JJ, if you would start the briefing" Hotch said, making his way towards the coffee Reid had commandeered.
"Grab me a cup Pretty Boy" Morgan called down the plane. Bending down to put his boots back on he met heavy resistance from the dispersed colouring on his stomach.
"Morgan, do you think that if you were missing both arms you'd still attempt to do up your laces?" Prentiss joked as the hefty agent struggled.
Morgan light-heartedly scowled at the raven haired women as he gave up on the laces, leaning back in the seat and taking the cup of coffee offered to him by Reid.
"Could we please start?" Hotch asked, glad his agent was back on his feet.
As the files were handed round JJ began, opening the folder onto a photo of a young girl. She had slightly crooked teeth and brown hair glistening in a French braid.
"This is Kara Hughes, Age 12. She was discovered by local joggers in Mission Trails Regional Park. Signs of physical abuse were found, but so far no sexual trauma. The reason we've been called in is because this is the fourth young girl to be found, and three in the past month have gone missing, but not yet found. The others ages range from 10 to 12 and are a mix of races. Caucasian, African American, Mexican. The unsub doesn't base victimology on race. The girls were all snatched while walking home from school. Witnesses describe our unsub as a male of medium build, dressed in black in a grey van. No description of the driver."
"The unsub's signature is the way in which the girls have been dressed. All these girls have been remarkably well taken care of, aside from the abuse. Although they have been beaten it seems as though someone took the time to care for their wounds. This girl…" Rossi pointed at a photo of one of the victims, "She has a cast on. And look at how they're dressed. The nice clothing they're wearing" Rossi finished thoughtfully.
"It doesn't fit. The rage, but the remorse. We could be dealing with two unsubs" Morgan theorized.
Reid reflected on this piece of information. "You know, it could be a couple. The clothing the girls are wearing looks like something a woman would pick out. It's all matching. But the marks look like hands bigger than a woman's".
JJ nodded in agreement. "Reid's right. When Will dresses Henry he dresses him in the first things he can find. I take the time to make sure that his socks match, his pants go with his shirt and so on". She smiled, remembering the time she arrived home to find Henry decked out all in red, from his shirt to his gumboots.
"Prentiss, Reid, when we land I want you to go to the latest crime scene. JJ, you talk to the family of the latest victim. Rossi, Morgan and I will go to the field office" Hotch decided.
"Hotch, why do I go to the field office. That's normally Reid's job" Morgan protested.
"You're on desk duty until further notice"
"Hotch, come on man, I'm fine" Morgan insisted, emphasizing the last two words.
"Morgan, you can't even do up your own laces. You're sporting an impressive number of bruises and while you won't admit it, you're hurting. Until I say otherwise, you're resting and going over theories in the office".
The plane touched down a short while later and the team disembarked, dispersing towards the four SUV's ready on the tarmac.
Morgan watched the team leave to their various locations before getting into the last vehicle with Hotch. Still holding a little resentment towards Hotch he did not say much.
They drove in silence, following Rossi in the SUV in front until Hotch broke the quiet.
"What're your thoughts on the unsub?" he asked.
Morgan was jerked out of his own thoughts. "What?"
"The unsub. You specialise in fixations and obsessive crimes".
"We won't know much until we talk to the lead detective, but unsubs that take children are normally paedophilic. Everything so far points towards the theory that this couple aren't".
Morgan went back to staring out the window as Hotch processes what Morgan had just said.
They remained in silence for the rest of the ride until they pulled up outside the field office. Walking into the office it was clear that there was desperation among the fellow agents.
Hotch and Morgan were approached by a gentleman in his early thirties with brown hair.
"You must be the team sent by the BAU. I'm Agent Charlie Woods. Thank you for coming" he said extending his hand. It was gripped in a firm handshake by both agents.
"It's a pleasure to be here, I just wish it was under different circumstances" Hotch expressed to the San Diego agent.
"We've set up the conferencing room for you. I hope it has all you need" Agent Woods said, leading them through the building to a room on the far side of the second floor. It was tucked away in the corner. Inside there was a large white board, along with all the case files.
"This will be perfect" Hotch assured him.
Rossi set up their various equipment as Hotch began to piece together what little information they had on the board and Morgan called Garcia.
"You've reached Penelope Garcia in the FBI's Office of Supreme Genius" came the cherry voice on the other end of the line.
"Hey Baby Girl"
"My chocolate god, what can I do for you on this fine morning?" Garcia chirped.
"Whatcha got on the victims momma?"
"All girls came from different backgrounds, a mixture of race and age. All held signs of abuse, nothing out of the ordinary unless you think that beating little girls up before dressing them and trying to fix them is ordinary then…."
"I know momma" Morgan reassured.
"Good, as long as you know. To get anything else you'll need to give me something to work with. Take care of yourself. Now, hand me to Hotch" Garcia instructed, being unusually short with Morgan.
Morgan looked bemused. "She wants to talk to you" he said, handing Hotch the phone.
Hotch took the phone and held it to his ear. Morgan watched him as Hotch listened to whatever she was saying.
"Uhuh, okay, yes. You have my word Garcia. Okay, I'll make sure to. Okay."
Hotch hung up and looked at Morgan. "She wants me to promise that I will make you sleep, not over exert yourself and make sure you will never get hurt again".
Morgan cracked a grin.
"Good luck with that task" he laughed quietly.
