Note from the author:
To the kind person under the JustSaying Guest account (and whose comment I deleted), you might as well never read my story again because I am going to write it how I want Agent Carter to be. And if that means writing her in the steriotypical heroine bullshit, then so be it. If you don't like it, keep your shit to yourself and go read something else. No one is forcing you.
But to those of you who like my story for what it is, thank you so much. I'm glad you all like it so!
-end rant-
"Beth Wallice has a shit ton of karma coming her way," Carter groaned, burying herself into her couch.
"Come on, you know you can't blame the unsub just because you got sick," Garcia said.
"It's her fault we ended up in the fountain!" she whined, Garcia sitting down next to her with a bowl of soup.
"Either way you go back to work today so we have to pep you up," Garcia smiled, holding up the spoon. "Now open up."
"Garcia I can feed my-"Garcia shoved the spoon into her mouth anyway. Carter immediately groaned, grimacing against the bitter taste. "Jesus, haven't you heard of chicken noodle soup?"
"Stop being a baby, this is supposed to boost your immune system! Now finish this bowl or I will keep you hostage."
"You know Morgan is coming to get me in an hour right?"
"Like he can withstand this," Garcia winked. Carter knew she was right too, snatching the bowl from her glittery hands. "That's what I thought."
Carter chugged the entire bowl, holding back every urge to gag with a smile. Once Garcia approved, Carter immediately bolted to her room to change. Garcia and Morgan had been over almost every day since she got sick. The doctor says that because of her midnight swim in the middle of practically freezing temperatures, she almost instantly caught the flu. Carter swore it was just a bug but finally Hotch sent her home on bed rest, especially after the fever started. Yesterday though the fever went down, her headaches went away, and she hasn't been coughing up green slime. She didn't want to admit it, but maybe Garcia's miracle juice was actually working….Carter was just excited to get back to work, which is something she never thought would come out of her mouth. But working for the BAU was amazing, her team was fantastic, and they got to save the day every time they went to work. What could be better?
Just as she slid on her jacket there was a knock at the door, Morgan's voice echoing from the kitchen. "How are you feeling angel face?" Morgan asked as Carter peered her head out into the living room. "Ready for our case today?"
"Starting off early, I like it," Carter chuckled.
As she grabbed her bag, swinging it over her shoulder, Morgan crossed his arms. "Are you sure you're ready to come back kid?"
Carter nodded. "I've been out almost a week, I can't stand to miss anymore. I'll be fine," she attempted at a smile.
Morgan still didn't look convinced but eventually gave in with a nod. "Fine. We'll see you baby girl," Morgan said as he kissed Garcia's cheek.
They all headed out to the garage, Carter sliding into Morgan's passenger seat. This was her deal; if she was going to come back to work then he was going to drive her. Just as they pulled out onto the main road Morgan motioned to the back seat. "What?"
"I brought you something. It's in the bag on the floor."
Carter slowly lifted the styrofoam container only to gasp in excitement. "Is this Mama Morgan's famous chicken noodle soup?"
"You know it. She heard you were sick and immediately sent me the recipe. Now, I can't cook it like she does, but I have to say I came pretty close," he grinned as she immediately began to slurp it up. "I know Garcia means well, but she has to know that sometimes all we need is a little chicken soup love."
"Morgan, I think I love you," Carter sighed into each bite. "So, what's our case about today?"
"It actually started yesterday. The team has been on site since, which is where we're headed now."
"On sight? You mean it's within driving distance for once?"
Morgan reached into his bag in the backseat, pulling out a case file before handing it to her. "Thirty minutes from here actually."
"Fountainhead? Isn't it closed already for the rainy season?" Carter questioned.
"Yup, but you know that doesn't stop a lot of people."
"Harold Knight, Kelly Hope, and Nick Krooks were killed while riding out on the bike trail, but Thomas Able was simply hiking. I don't see any connections here."
"Garcia couldn't find any either. They all have different jobs, they live in different cities of Virginia, and none of the victims knew each other," Morgan said. "Wait until you see the murder weapon."
Carter read further into the report, brows stitching together. "Undetermined?"
"The weapon has a smooth entrance, but there was only an exit wound on the victim from last night, Nick Krooks. The weirdest part is there are no retraction marks, just small burn marks inside the wounds."
"So what, we have a vanishing murder weapon?"
"And crime scenes that keep being washed away by the rain."
"This guy definitely knows what he's doing, we just have to figure out why," Carter sighed, breaking out into a coughing fit.
As soon as Morgan parked in front of the ranger's station, he gently grabbed her arm, keeping her from sliding out. "Kid, are you sure you're ready to be back in the field yet? I mean, I get you're feeling better, but you still look like you're sick as hell."
Carter smiled. "I'm fine Morgan, I promise."
"Good. Since you're feeling better, I do have to warn you that something happened while you were gone."
"What?" Carter asked. Morgan however simply got out of the Tahoe, Carter chasing after him and into the station. When she walked into the station's meeting room however she immediately saw it, JJ's right arm strapped tightly into a sling. "JJ! What the hell happened to you?"
"Good to see you too," she chuckled. "It's just a sprain Carter, I'll be back to myself in a few days."
"She got into a swinging match with an unsub the other day. She won, but the unsub got a few good kicks in," Morgan explained.
"Jesus, I've been gone not even a week! See, this is what happens when I leave you guys alone for a few days," Carter sighed, JJ pulling her into a hug.
"Well we're glad to have you back."
"We are. How are you feeling?" Hotch questioned.
Carter nodded. "Much better sir. Morgan has already updated me on the case."
"Good, we're going to need all the help we can get for this."
"This unsub always attacks during rain showers. Every time a body has been found it's been raining, including last night," Callahan said.
"Why though? Does he need to muffle the sound of him attacking his victims?"
"It only took him one strike; he hit them through the heart every time. It was over before it started."
"Every victim has a different depth where it pierced into their chest, each growing by a few inches. Krooks was the first to get a through and through."
"So how is he killing them?"
"That's what we need to find out. Carter, Rossi, and Morgan return to the crime scene and try to find anything we might have missed. Reid and Callahan go to the morgue and see if the coroner has found anything else in his autopsy, and JJ I'll need your help talking to the latest victim's family," Hotch ordered.
The crime scene didn't look like a crime scene anymore. It may not be raining now, but the rain from that morning had washed away any sign that a crime had even occurred; the footprints were gone, tire tracks were gone, nothing left but mud and leaves. "There's literally nothing left," Morgan said. "If there was something the unsub left behind, it's been washed away by now."
"What I want to know is how he attacked the victims," Rossi said, Carter and he glancing over the crime scene photos. "When he fell the bike was half on top of him meaning he was on it when attacked."
"He could have stopped for a rest, the unsub taking the moment to attack."
"It doesn't look like a struggle ensued though; it's like a blindside," Rossi said.
"This would be easier if we knew what our murder weapon was. At least with a bullet we'd have something we could be looking for," Morgan said, frustrated. "We literally have nothing."
While Morgan and Rossi went over theories, Carter took a closer look at Nick Krook's final resting place. He was slumped up against the tree, his legs tangled in his bike. Rossi was right though, just the look in his eyes told them he had no idea what was coming. It was a surprise attack and this unsub made sure he had no chance. When she gently ran her fingers through the mud at the base of the tree a sneeze tickled her nose, the force sending her fumbling for support against the trunk. "You ok kid?" Morgan asked.
"I'm good!" Carter exclaimed with a thumbs up. It took a few minutes to regain herself though, her head throbbing painfully as a wave of heat surged through her. Shit, not now. When she made a move to stand again however she felt it, her index finger running over a small hole. What the hell was that? Sure enough there it was, a small perfectly circular hole embedded into the wood. "Morgan? Rossi?"
"What is it?" Rossi questioned.
"You said that Krook's had an exit wound right? Well I think I found where it exited into."
"The tree? Then where is the murder weapon? If he was pinned to the tree from the force, yet there were no retraction marks in the wound, where is it?"
"This case just keeps getting more frustrating," Morgan groaned.
"Let's think of this from a different perspective then," Carter suggested. "Instead of the unsub attacking short range, what about long?"
"What are you suggesting?"
"Morgan, stand where we believe Nick Krooks was before he was attacked," Carter said, Morgan following her direction. "Now Rossi attack him." Rossi did, lightly slamming a fist against where the wound was on the victim. Morgan then knelt down where he was last found. "See the problem?"
"There's not enough force to get the blade through both the heart and the tree," Rossi said.
"Especially not with the bike in the way."
"So the weapon was shot from a long distance. What murder weapon could he use that could possibly vanish so fast?" Rossi questioned.
Suddenly the sky opened up, rain beginning to pour around them. Just the cold from the air began to seep through Carter's clothes, another cough erupted in her chest. "We should get back to the team, maybe they'll be able to help," Morgan said. "Good job kid. I knew we kept you around for a reason."
"Oh thanks!"
When they returned to the station, Reid and Callahan were already waiting for them. "Did the coroner find anything for us to go on?" Morgan asked.
Callahan shook her head, Reid standing in front of the evidence board. "He's still stumped."
"Carter found more evidence about the unsub's M.O.," Morgan said.
"I think our victims have been shot from long range. We found a hole in the tree Nick Krooks was resting against when he was found."
"It looks to be the same size as the one through his chest," Rossi said.
"The witnesses who had been in the area reported that they didn't hear any gunshots, and you know one would echo through an area like this," Callahan pointed out.
"If we're going for silence then the next best thing is a bow," Carter grinned.
"You know, there are 300,000 deaths from the use of firearms per year across the U.S. Deaths from a bow and arrow however doesn't even make 5% of that, and that includes accidental deaths," Reid said, finally removing himself from the board. "Do you think this is like the case with the Mulford brothers?"
"You mean the brothers who hunted humans as game up in Idaho? I heard about that case," Callahan said.
"I don't think so. There was no chase, no fear factor with these victims, and that was the whole point with the Mulford brothers," Rossi disagreed. "No, with a blindside like this I think there's something else behind this unsub's motives."
"And we still don't know what he used to actually shoot them with."
Suddenly Hotch and JJ stepped into the station, that stone look tight against Hotch's face; this couldn't be good. "We have another victim."
"Seriously? Hotch we were literally just out there."
"Who is it?" Callahan asked.
"An Anna Wilkerson. She was out walking her dogs when she was shot; the dogs led the rangers to where her body was," he explained.
"Hotch, we figured something out about the murder weapon," Carter said.
"Good, update me on the way. Carter, Reid, and Morgan come with me to the scene. Callahan and JJ go to the morgue and meet the coroner there with the body. We need to get on top of this before the rain washes it all away this time."
To their luck the rain had lessened to a light sprinkle by the time they got there, giving them a somewhat still intact crime scene. "It looks like she was following this hiking trail up to the reservoir," Morgan said.
"Wilkerson didn't live very far either. She probably walked her dogs on this trail every chance she got," Carter frowned.
"While we have the chance we need to separate. Rossi come with me to interrogate the group that found her. You three search around and try to find anything of relevance."
This time the victim was found lying out in the middle of the wooden hiking trail. "I feel like we're stabbing into nothing," Morgan groaned. "There's literally nothing here that can help us."
"Well, if she was attacked by our unsub, then it wouldn't have happened here right? Judging by the way she was lying when she was hit, it had to of come from over there right? Morgan stay here and be my target." Carter made her way through the brush and trees, finally stopping when she was about half a football field away. "I'd have to say he shot from right around here!" she yelled.
The sudden shout in her throat however brought another wave of coughing fits, forcing her to step away. She tried to catch her breath, her chest rattling painfully as another wave of heat washed over her. It took her a few seconds to regain herself, her head spinning once again. God, she thought she was over this. "Are you ok?"
Carter sharply turned to find Reid stepping into the clearing and immediately smiled, begging her body to relax. "I'm fine. Just coughing up the rest of what is in my lungs I guess."
"You know, it generally takes up to a week before flu symptoms start to become mild, but it takes up to two weeks before they actually go away. It hasn't been more than five days since you fell into that fountain in Phoenix, four since your fever started," Reid muttered.
"I know but I promise I'm fine, Reid," she said. "Thank you though."
A small silence pulled through them before Reid took a few more steps towards her. "So, you said your dad was a survivalist right? What would he do in this situation."
"See that's the thing. From this distance I think he's using a compound bow, but with a force like that he'd have to have dead set aim to hit a moving target straight through the heart. On top of whatever element he's using as an arrow."
"Wait, element?"
Carter nodded. "You have your basic arrow, usually made from either a hollow metal or wood, but that's never enough for a survivalist who is afraid that one day they're going to have to survive from the earth," she snorted.
"Survivalists have specialized concerns that often related to an adherence to apocalyptic religious beliefs. Some New Agers anticipate a forthcoming arrival of a catastrophic earth change and prepare to survive them," Reid said.
"Trust me I know," she grumbled. "Anyway, their weaponry didn't just stop at wood. Soon they started experimenting with-"that's when she heard the rustling.
A rustling that didn't come from below them where Morgan was walking around. No, this was above them and a good distance away. "Carter?"
"Get down!" she shrieked. She grabbed Reid by the waist, a sharp pain erupting in her bicep as she slammed him down into the leaves, something shattering against the tree next to them. Without missing a beat Carter shot back to her feet, immediately taking off into the woods. "Stay there!"
"Carter!"
Carter took off, chasing after the footsteps just ahead of her. She could see a figure weaving through the trees, their form cloaked in a tan camouflaged outfit. Knowing she couldn't keep up a chase in her current condition however she unholstered her gun. "Stop! FBI!" she warned as she took aim, giving him a chance to stop.
When he didn't she pulled the trigger, the bullet tearing through the air and hitting its mark. The unsub let out a shout of pain, the sound of his body rolling through the brush echoing through the park. Carter was on top of them in seconds, slamming into them just as they were getting back to their feet. Whoever it was they were covered from head to toe in leaves and camouflaged clothing, their face covered in a matching mesh mask. He immediately drew a knife from his boot before taking a desperate swing, Carter easily dodging it before grabbing his back and kneeing him in the gut. The two fought back and forth, but as the seconds ticked by Carter could feel him beginning to push her somewhere, a trap most likely. Suddenly it hit her, a thin wire catching the back of her heel and knocking her backwards. She hit the leaves hard, rolling down a steep slope before rolling to a stop into a small stream. What the hell was it with water this week!? She let out a groan, slowly forcing herself to sit up. The unsub was gone though, his footsteps retreating back to wherever he came from.
"Carter!"
"Carter where are you!?"
"Down here!" Carter sputtered, slowly staggering to her feet as she attempted to shake the water off.
"Jesus kid!" Morgan exclaimed as Reid, he, and a few rangers slid down the hill after her. "Are you alright? You're soaked!"
"I hit him," Carter mumbled, her body slowly beginning to shiver as the cold soaked through her clothes. "He's-he's been hiding in the woods, camouflaged with the-with the environment."
"Right now we need to get you to the hospital. You're bleeding," Morgan said, beginning to lead her back to the Tahoe.
It took ten stitches to close up the wound from the arrow, Carter impatiently waiting for the nurse to finish. It wasn't too deep, but the doctor did warn her it was going to bruise and ache over the next few weeks. That wasn't what was bothering Carter though, the fact she could practically feel her fever beginning to return is what had her on edge. All it took was a dip in the freezing stream to feel her symptoms returning and she wasn't happy about it. But still, it was worth it in the end, all of this was. She saved Reid's life and that's all that mattered to her right now.
It took a long fight with Morgan before they returned to the Ranger's station, Morgan adamant she stay at the station until this thing was solved. "I mean it twinkle toes, you've played hero enough this week."
"I'm fine Morgan I promise," Carter attempted to reassure him, only to sneeze into his jacket. At his glare she rolled her eyes. "It's just a sneeze Morgan!"
"It's never just a sneeze with you Carter! Are you sure you're not feeling sick again?" he asked. When Carter shook her head he sighed, rubbing at his temples. "I swear if you're lying to me I am forcing you into bed rest for the rest of your life, and I know Hotch will agree with me."
"Fine! Now come on, I need to update the team."
As soon as she walked through the door the team immediately stood up, JJ the first to approach her. "Are you alright?" she asked.
Carter nodded with a smile. "I'm fine JJ. But I do know who where our unsub might be."
"You do?" Hotch questioned.
"This guy is a survivalist."
"A survivalist? You mean like a doomsday prepper?" Callahan asked.
"That's exactly what I'm talking about. Guys like this live to survive from the elements, that's their whole goal in life, and this guy is taking it to the extreme."
"Extreme?"
"He's basically moved into the park and believes this is his home, his property, and that he needs to protect it."
"So he sees all of these people as intruders," JJ pieced together.
"And he's going about it with a unique weapon," Carter said, beginning to type in a search on the laptop. After a few seconds she turned it around. "This."
"Is that-is that an ice arrow?" Reid questioned, Carter grinning.
"Know the ice bullet? Well survivalists have been toying with the idea of an ice arrow, perfect to use during the winter when the wood is wet. Because of how weak and heavy ice itself is however, the idea has only been just that. An idea. But this guy figured out the next best thing. Know how the wounds were burned in the inside?" When the group nodded Carter's grin only widened. "Dry ice. The bastard has figured out how to create an arrow made of dry ice that is not only light enough to shoot, but strong enough not to shatter on impact."
"That's why the depth of each victim's wounds were different; he was practicing," Rossi said.
"He finally got it right with Krooks and Wilkerson though."
"It also explains not only the burns in the wounds, but the vanishing murder weapons," Callahan said. "The rain evaporated them without leaving a trace."
"So where is he hiding then?" Morgan asked.
Carter dialed Garcia's number before putting her on speaker. "It's about time someone has called me in on this case! I've been sitting her like a bump on a log. I've literally rearranged my office twice. Twice!" Garcia exclaimed.
"I'm sorry mama bear but we need you now!" Carter smiled.
"Good. What can I do for you then?"
"I need you to mark the distances between each victim and find a center point for me."
They could hear her fingers beginning to type away, her screens beeping back at her. "Alright so it looks like there's a center point near the mountain bike trail loop. It's actually almost dead center to where all five murders occurred."
"Send us those coordinates mama," Morgan said.
"And done! Good luck out there!" Garcia cheered before Carter hung up.
"What are we looking for out there though? A shed or something?"
"Oh no, Survivalists like to dig bunkers underground, especially in more social areas like this. Keep under the radar."
"So like a needle in a haystack," Callahan sighed.
"Not quite, they always have a tell around just in case they need it. Usually it's something hidden in plain sight like a tree marker or a unique rock. When we find it though we have to expect him inside; since I hit him he's taking the chance to nurse his wounds."
"Isn't he afraid we're onto him?" Morgan asked.
"Survivalists are only afraid of other survivalists, and he wouldn't dream that one would be working with the FBI."
"So you really are like our secret weapon," Rossi chuckled.
When they got to the scene they spread out, searching for anything that stood out as a possible marker. Hotch saw it first, immediately making a motion to Carter. It was small, just a simple X against the trunk of a tree. Something that wouldn't stand out to anyone who wasn't looking. Slowly Carter stepped across the grass, her eyes catching the distortion of leaves that didn't blow in the wind. She made a motion to Hotch and the rangers that had followed them, all nodding in agreement as Hotch made to grab the small rope handle. Carter held up her fingers for the countdown, and as soon as she hit three he pulled the door up, Carter jumping inside. "FBI Freeze!" she roared.
The man immediately bolted upright from where he was lying on the cot, his shirt missing to reveal a badly stitched bullet wound across his ribs. She could see his hand twitch as he stared at her, obviously recognizing her from their altercation earlier, but immediately he gave up when Hotch and the Rangers climbed down with her. "Don't even think about it," Hotch warned.
The man's eyes immediately zeroed in on Carter. "You're a traitor to our kind working with the government scum like this."
"Good thing I'm not like you then, huh?" Carter grinned. "Enjoy that scar to remember me by though."
The rangers dragged the man up and out of the bunker, Hotch and Carter holstering their weapons as they took a look around. "It looks like he's been down here for months," Hotch said.
"And here's the freezer full of dry ice," Carter said. "He's got a pretty good arrow mold going for him too and with the quietest generator I've ever seen."
"Along with every compound bow known to man. He's got quite the collection here. Maps of Fountainhead too."
"He sure as hell knew what he was doing."
"Come on, let's get back to the station so Garcia can identify our unsub," Hotch suggested, helping pull Carter out of the ground. As soon as she started following him however, it's like the world turned upside down, her head beginning to spin and pound violently. The coughing fit started, her balance tilting as she collapsed into the leaves, heat waves bubbling up through her body. "Carter? Carter! I need help!" Hotch exclaimed as Carter slid face first down into the dirt. "I need help here, now!"
Carter was diagnosed with full blown pneumonia, her dip in the stream blowing her flu symptoms out of the water. She spent a few days in the hospital until the doctors could get her temperature down and her lungs back in order, but finally she was allowed to go home for bed rest, Garcia already waiting in her apartment when Morgan brought her home. "I stocked your pantry with soup, I rented a bunch of movies from Redbox, and your fridge is filled with Gatorade. In bottles of course."
"Garcia you really didn't have to do all of this," Carter smiled, voice a little raspy. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me, just get better ok? And please-please stop swimming in freezing cold water. Seriously. Now come on, I already have our first movie set up!"
"Are you going to stay?" Carter asked Morgan.
He grinned. "Savannah is booked with surgeries all night so I'm yours till she's off."
The group settled down on the couch, Garcia popping a bowl of popcorn for her and Morgan, shoving a straw into a Gatorade bottle for Carter. Just as she began to settle in however there was a knock at the door. "I got it," Garcia beamed.
As soon as she opened the door she was greeted by Hotch and Beth, JJ and Will, Reid, Callahan and Chris, and Rossi with a bottle of wine. "Are we late?" Hotch asked.
"You're just on time!" Garcia cheered, motioning for them to come in.
"What are you guys doing here?" Carter stared.
"I may or may not have called them for an emergency movie night," Garcia grinned.
"Do I have enough room? Jesus, you guys really didn't have to do this!"
"Hey, we got a baby sitter for this date night," Beth said.
"My mom has Henry so we've got all night long, but that is so not going to be enough popcorn. Where's the microwave?" JJ questioned, everyone flooding into the apartment.
They all sat down where they could find room, everyone crammed on Carter's thankfully extra-long wrap around couch, Morgan on the ground tucked against Garcia's legs. There were arguments about popcorn while Morgan and Rossi picked through the movies during the moment of distraction, finally settling on The Silence of the Lambs. Guess even off the job they couldn't get away from profiling. As they finally settled down, Reid standing to turn off the lights, Carter watched as he gingerly sat down into the empty space next to her. Immediately her body tensed up, grip tight around her sweats as his arm barely brushed against hers. Shit. Why did he have to sit here? She slowly began to talk herself down though, taking a few breaths to slowly relax herself. Finally she settled into the couch, her arm gently pressing back against Reid's.
Huh. Maybe this really wasn't so bad after all.