Promise
Chapter Four
When Morgan snaps at Garcia everyone knows that everything is not alright.
"Your 'sorry' isn't helping anybody, I need results!"
Hotch wonders if they are able to deduce how serious things really are and if it's reproach or worry he sees in the eyes of Reid, JJ and Rossi. Then Emily Prentiss hands them a way to contact the unsub and it gives Morgan yet another opportunity to bite their heads off - this time JJ's
"Oh, no," JJ sighs, "The LA PD just put all the information they have out to the press."
"And you didn't stop them?" Morgan lashes right out.
JJ glares at him wide-eyed, "How was I supposed to do that?"
"I don't know, you're the media liaison! It's your damn job to control what leaks out to the press! Now this guy knows exactly what we know!"
Those concerns are perfectly valid, just not the way Morgan expresses them.
"It might force him to dump the RV," Rossi tries to cover up the discomfort they all feel but then Reid all but ruins the attempt.
"Or kill-" he starts and catches himself. So not the right thing to say in front of distraught Morgan. In silence Hotch can almost hear the injured agent's heart thumping, each beat forcing more blood to his concussed brain. There has to be a way to placate him, to give him some peace of mind, to ward off the inevitable.
"No," Rossi tries again, this attempt more awkward. "I don't think so." Is it just to stall? Doesn't matter, Hotch is grateful that his older, still more experienced colleague steps in every time he's needed.
Morgan doesn't appreciate it one bit.
"You don't think so!" he mocks. "Based on what? Gut instinct?"
But Rossi has regained his calm already.
"He could have killed you and the sister," he says slowly, meeting Derek's eyes dead-on. Holds his gaze. Won't let go. "He didn't. Kept you alive. He can't be surprised that we know what he's driving and that he has a hostage."
Hotch finds his footing as well.
"Morgan, a word with you," he motions to the other room and walks away, as he hears the others start discussing the possibility of talking to the unsub through the radio. He doesn't look back, he won't take the option of Morgan not following him.
"What?" Morgan barks when the door behind him close.
"You need to calm down," Hotch deadpans.
"Calm down? She's out-"
"Derek! Calm. Down."
They glare at each other, an alpha-male standoff, and Morgan deflates, much faster than Hotch is prepared for. It catches him off-guard, almost makes him take a step, close the distance between them, grab his colleague's shoulders and ask if he's alright. He isn't, Hotch knows that. Not that he would admit. And Hotch needs to be the boss here, not a friend.
"I won't tolerate such actions, Morgan. You need to get a grip."
"Whatever." Morgan sits on the edge of the desk, shoulders slumped, head bowed. "I just-" he hesitates. Did the paramedic say anything about sudden mood changes?
"JJ's onto something." Hotch finds himself next to Morgan despite his better judgment. He lays a hand on his shoulder, comforting. "Let's work on it. Together. We'll get him."
Morgan only nods.
Emily thinks she knows why Morgan is this upset. Because there has to be some explanation, right? Other than him being beaten, watching his partner being killed in front of him (and in front of said partner's daughter, this had to bring bad childhood memories), worrying about a child being snatched by a monster when he couldn't do anything about it (aren't there memories of something similar too?; she's never really been certain). Yeah, Morgan has plenty to be upset about.
Still, she thinks his reactions are a little over-the-top. He's throwing verbal punches left and right like there's no tomorrow. She knows she'll be asking for one when she sees him at the coffeemaker and decides to approach him.
Touch him, or not? Emily hesitates only for a second, rubs his arm but snatches her hand away the moment he turns to her. Awkward.
"Kristin," she starts, "wanted me to tell you she's sorry she made you promise her brother." She tries to repeat those words exactly the way they were said. "She believed it wasn't fair. You wanna tell me what she made you promise?" Emily is certain there's the answer in that. There's the key to Morgan's behavior.
Indeed. "That I wouldn't let anything happen to Ellie," he says softly, his voice vaguely bitter.
Emily nods to herself. She was right, a burden like this can wreck havoc with one's head.
"Well, she's right, it's not fair."
Morgan turns to her, his eyes razor-sharp.
"And why do you think it makes a difference?" he asks and she doesn't understand. "Fair, not fair. I can't believe how naïve you are Emily Prentiss." He walks away brushing past her, bodily pushing her out of the way and into the table. The edge bites her thigh and she almost yelps, clutching her aching muscle, bewildered. He'd never deliberately caused her pain!
She wants to call after him but he's too far away already and there's Detective Kurzbard and Hotch and obviously there's something new in their investigation because they all act rather frantic, so Emily limps to them and focuses on the case. Once it's over, she thinks, there will be plenty of time to worry about Morgan.
t.b.c.
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