AN: Thanks so much for all your fantastic reviews!

Previously:

Finally, Merrick nodded reluctantly. "We can't have Reeves or anyone on your team on this case…but Professor Eppes stays. He's not an official member of your team."

Don smiled slightly. They still had a connection to the case.

"Thank you, sir."

Merrick nodded and dismissed him. "Give all your files to Anderson's team.

Don agreed and exited the office.

The Madness of Megan Reeves

Chapter Three: Terrors and Turmoil

David and Colby looked up as Don approached. "Jason Anderson's team has the case, but Charlie's still working it. What have you got?"

David answered first. "Marchesi's pretty clean," he admitted. "There're several traffic violations, but that's it. The man has a need for speed. He grew up in an average size town in Connecticut. Middle-class family. Mom was a high school teacher. Dad worked as an electrician. The parents divorced when he was thirteen, but they're both dead now."

"How did the parents die?" Don asked.

"The mother died in a car accident when he was fifteen. The father had a heart attack and died three years later. Marchesi moved a few hours away and got a bachelor's in electrical engineering. He got a job in New York and retired six months ago after 25 years of service. Never married." David looked up from his notes. "I have more, but it's mostly details. You've got the general picture."

Don nodded. "Good work, David."

Colby spoke next. "The M.O. in New York is almost exactly the same as here in L.A. He kidnaps the girls and sexually abuses them before beating them up. Then at night, he dumps them in a public place so that someone is sure to find them in the morning. None of the girls could come up with anything distinctive about him, the car, or the location they were being held."

"How many in New York?" Don asked.

"There were 13 cases that were suspected to be connected in New York, but the cops there also found a few in the surrounding states that looked similar."

"How many kidnappings involved more than one girl?"

Colby shrugged. "Megan's was the only one I could find."

The three agents winced at their friend's name.

"I know you wanted everything I could find," Colby said hesitantly, "but I didn't want to read Megan's file without her permission."

Don nodded. "That was a good idea, Colby. We'll all have to read it eventually, but I think it's better to wait and talk to Megan first."

"We need to go see her," said David. "We can't leave her on her own in all this."

The three men exchanged uncomfortable glances.

"We should fill her in on what's happening," Don agreed. "We said we would."

"How do we talk to her about something like this?" Colby voiced the question that each of them hoped the others had the answer to.

Finally, Don shrugged. "Wing it, I guess. See how much Megan wants to say."

The three agents agreed to drive separately and meet at Megan's apartment.

When they arrived, it was almost nine in the evening. The day had disappeared quickly, and their research hadn't gotten them anything. David and Colby traded apprehensive looks before following their determined-looking boss into the building.

At Megan's apartment door, all three men took deep breaths before David knocked.

"Megan?" Colby called after a moment.

"We know she's here," commented Don. "Her car's still in the FBI's parking lot."

"Shh!" said David suddenly. "Listen!"

Very faintly from behind the door, they could hear Megan's voice. "Please! ... Stop! ... No! Don't hurt her! ... Please!"

Simultaneously, they unholstered their guns. Don hurriedly found the spare key that Megan had given him for emergencies. He signaled for David and Colby to remain silent, unlocked the door, and pushed it open just far enough for them to slip through. Guns drawn, the agents moved through the entryway and the rest of the apartment. They used only hand signals as they systematically cleared their friend's home.

"Stop it!" Megan's voice was getting louder.

Colby indicated that the living room was clear while Don checked the kitchen.

"Get away from me!" Her tone was more franti.

David looked in the closets and the bathroom.

Colby cleared the spare bedroom.

"No, no, no! Stop it!" Megan was yelling.

The last room was her bedroom. When they reached the source of Megan's voice, David placed his hand on the knob while Don counted down from three using his fingers. The moment Don put his last finger down, David wrenched open the door, and the agents entered one after the other, their guns out in front of them.

Don's eyes quickly scanned the room. He was surprised and relieved to see only Megan. She was asleep, but was having what appeared to be a very terrifying nightmare. He was sure that her screams would bring the occupants of entire floor to her apartment. He motioned for David to check the closet and bathroom just in case before he lowered his weapon.

His gun already holstered, Colby sat on the edge of the bed and took hold of her arms to keep her from hitting him. "Megan," he called. "Wake up, Megan."

She just struggled harder. "Get off of me! Go away!"

Colby was thankful that her legs were still trapped under the blankets. Otherwise, he'd be black and blue. He moved his hands to her upper arms and shook her gently. "Come on, Megan. Wake up!"

Don and David watched quietly as Megan fought Colby, each hoping that their friend was dreaming of something other than her rape but knowing that it wasn't true.

Suddenly, Megan sat up and her eyes flew open. "NO!" She looked wildly around her before her gaze landed on Colby. "Oh, my God!" She burst into tears and collapsed against him, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.

Colby looked slightly bewildered but rubbed her back soothingly while she cried. "Shh," he whispered softly. "He can't hurt you. You're okay. Shh."

Gradually, Megan's sobs quieted and her breathing evened out. Colby carefully lowered her back to the bed, brushed the last of the tears from her cheeks, and tucked the blanket around her. He stood, and the three left the room, David pulling the door shut softly behind them.

Don was the first to speak once they entered the kitchen. "What did that bastard do to her? I've never seen Megan cry."

David shook his head. "It was over ten years ago. It must have been terrible."

Colby just shook his head.

There was an extremely uncomfortable silence before Don spoke again. "I'm going to stay here tonight. I don't want to leave her alone. Why don't you guys come back in the morning. She only has one couch," he reasoned.

Colby looked like he was about to protest, but he simply nodded.

"Good idea," David agreed. He looked at Colby. "We'll come by in the morning, and one of us will stay tomorrow night if she'll allow it."

"Nine o'clock?" Don asked. "Tomorrow is a Sunday."

"Sounds good," said Colby. "I'm exhausted, so I'll see you guys in the morning."

"See you later," Don said.

"Goodnight," added David.

Colby waved and left, his eyes haunted.

"What's up with Colby?" asked Don. "He's been pretty quiet since we found out."

"I'm not sure," replied David. "Obviously, this is hard for all of us, but, other than Megan, it seems hardest on Colby."

Don hesitated. "Colby doesn't … like Megan … does he?"

David laughed humorlessly. If the circumstances hadn't been so dismal, he would have found it hilarious that his two male colleagues were so hopelessly confused when it came to relationships. "Colby sees Megan as his sister," he explained. "During the Alec Schane/Kurt Delock case, after he shot McCall, he actually mentioned that she as like the sister he never had. Now, I think that maybe he sees this as someone hurting his sister, and he's powerless to stop it."

Don nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense, but that also means that you and I have to keep close tabs on him to make sure he doesn't do anything crazy like try to chase this guy down on his own."

David nodded in agreement. "Well, I'd better head home," he said finally. Call me if you need anything."

With a clap on the shoulder from Don, David exited the apartment. Don secured the door and all the windows and found a pillow and some blankets in a closet. While he would have preferred a bed, Megan had turned her spare room into a mini library. He made up the couch and went to check on Megan one last time. Although she didn't appear to be dreaming, her forehead was creased in a frown, and the blankets were twisted around her as though she had tossed and turned continuously since they had left her room. Don closed the door as quietly as he could and settled in his makeshift bed.