Chapter 3
Note: This is where the story becomes a cross-over with Criminal Minds, which is a show based on the Behavioral Analysis Unit of the FBI where, in my little story world, Natalie now works. Besides, a little jealousy and competition is good for John and if anyone can spark some jealousy I would think it would be yummy Derek Morgan (played by Shemar Moore). SIGH. Ok, anyway back to it…..
Natalie stood still, stunned by John's words. Had he just implied that he was the one who needed her? Ok that wasn't just implied. He flat out said so. Wow. She forced herself to move to the passenger door and open it, sliding into the car and closing the door softly. She could tell he was holding his breath, as was she. Knowing John he was hoping she could ignore what he had said. He was the classic avoider personality. Granted that wasn't an official psychological diagnosis that you would find in any textbook but John was a textbook case. The clichés and rambling thoughts going through her mind made her smile in spite of the confusing situation in which she found herself.
John saw the smile playing at the corners of her mouth. He felt himself staring at her lips, and then moving slowly up to her eyes. Her eyes always twinkled when she smiled like they were filled with diamonds. Since when was he so poetic? Since the day that Natalie Balsom entered his life, turned it upside down then left it again. Sure he had gone through the motions of living over the past 3 years. To some, he even appeared to be happy he was certain. But deep down in the soul that only the woman beside him really knew, he was miserable and lost since she walked away from him. And now, here she was back to remind him of what he was missing. And soon, she would go back to her life and he would be left here to deal with the darkness again.
Natalie had turned to say something to John when she caught the look in his eyes. It was difference from the one she had seen as they were leaving the station, that one unfamiliar. This look, this darkness was one she recognized all too well. "John?"
His eyes snapped to attention quickly at the sound of her voice. "Yeah?"
"You seem distracted." She watched him as he took a deep breath and the darkness subsided. The mask was back.
"I'm good. You know how I get when I'm on a case."
She nodded. "Probably better than anyone else. Want to talk about it?"
"Nothing to talk about. We just need to find this guy."
She smiled slightly at the mention, again, of "we". "You're ok with me helping out?"
He nodded but didn't quite meet her eyes. "If you can help us catch this guy faster, then why wouldn't I be?"
She didn't have a chance to answer the question before her cell phone rang. She smiled. It was one of her co-workers and the person she was closest to at Quantico, Derek Morgan. "Hey Morgan, what's up?"
"Hey Red. Just thought I'd give you a head's up that the team is looking at the case going on in your hometown."
"Funny you said that. I'm actually riding with the lead detective right now. We just finished checking out the latest dump site."
"And I thought JJ worked fast. Impressive. I guess the locals are ok with having help then?"
"The commissioner is my uncle."
Morgan laughed. "Got it. Find out if he's interested in the whole team or just you lending a hand. We're ready to fly out in an hour if we're needed."
"I'll let you know. Thanks Derek." She looked at John. "My team is prepared to fly in to help develop a profile if you and Uncle Bo are interested."
John was still processing the light tone of her voice when she talked to her co-worker. He realized he was jealous. "That's Bo's call. Whatever he thinks is best."
Natalie would practically see the wall build up right before her eyes. "Since when do you give up control to anyone, even Bo?"
"When my objectivity is in question." He said the words quickly and quietly and hoped again Natalie would let it go without further questioning. He knew better.
"Why would your objectivity be in question?" She was genuinely perplexed.
"Because it involves you. I've never been objective when it comes to you and I never will be." John turned the car into the LPD parking lot and drove to his assigned spot before turning off the car and facing Natalie. "Some things are outside of my control. And this is one of them. If Bo wants your team here, then I will go with his recommendation. Let it go Natalie, please."
"Ok. For now. Let's go talk to Bo." She got out of the car and walked towards the front door. John took a deep breath before following.
Two hours later:
The group of agents known as the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, or BAU, walked off the plane and split into two groups as they loaded their gear into the waiting SUVs that would take them to the Llanview Police Department where the newest member of their team waited for them.
Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) Aaron Hotchner was the unit chief for the group, riding in the first SUB along with SSA Jennifer Jareau and Dr. Spencer Reid. Following them was the vehicle containing SSAs David Rossi, Derek Morgan and Emily Prentiss.
A few minutes later the team arrived at the LPD and unloaded their files and laptops as Natalie came through the door.
Derek noticed her first. "Hey Red."
She smiled broadly. "Hey D. I'm glad you guys could get here so quickly. This guy is escalating and right now, there's not much to go on so our help is going to be appreciated." To herself she added, at least by most everyone here.
The group followed Natalie as she led the way to the door. A war room had been set up across from John's office down the narrow hallway from the main squad room. Bo and John were waiting there when they walked in.
Natalie went through the introductions between her team and her uncle. John had purposely stayed in the background so that he could evaluate the group of agents.
He first looked over the agent introduced as SSA Morgan, the man Natalie had talked to earlier. He was about John's height from the look of things with a physique that showed he spent quite a bit of time lifting weights. He carried himself confidently and though John would have termed him a pretty boy had he met him under different circumstances, he could see that the agent took his work seriously.
The unit chief, Aaron Hotchner, looked like the typical FBI agent. No smile, no sign of personality under the suit. The oldest of the group John recognized as David Rossi. He had helped start the BAU before leaving the Bureau for a lucrative book deal. Several years ago, he had returned to the unit and left his book writing career behind. The youngest of the group reminded John of the stereotypical nerdy kid that everyone had in their high school class. Tall, thin and a bit awkward, Dr. Spencer Reid, as he was introduced, barely looked old enough to be out of college.
There were two women on the team, other than Natalie. Jennifer Jareau introduced herself as JJ and is the team liaison with the local police departments. John had heard Bo talking to her on the phone as he officially invited them to consult on the case, which is a requirement before the BAU can become involved in an investigation unless it falls under federal jurisdiction for some other reason, such as something that crosses state lines. Emily Prentiss appeared to be the most reserved of the group, other than Hotchner. She didn't say much but he could see her observant gaze moving around the room and knew she was listening to every word being exchanged between the local and federal groups.
After sizing up the team, John's gaze returned to Derek Morgan. Natalie was standing next to him as Bo talked to the group, giving them updates on what they had learned since the files had originally been sent to the BAU for review. John could see the closeness between them. It showed in the way they regarded each other. What he couldn't tell was how close. He kept telling himself it didn't matter; Natalie had moved on from him, from Llanview and there was no getting that back. But that didn't mean he had stopped caring about her. Instincts told him that Morgan was a player. Something about the confident way he carried himself, the way he stood compared to the women he was around, his smile. John was self-aware enough to know he was jealous. But that didn't mean his instincts weren't spot on. He knew he needed to mind his own business. Natalie didn't like to be told what she should and shouldn't do by anyway, let alone him, especially now.
Natalie felt like she was in a dream. She was in the town she loved; doing the job she had become so passionate about. While she hated that Llanview was dealing with another serial killer, she was thrilled that for the first time she was able to help with the investigation. She was going to help bring this killer to justice.
