Mercy Hospital – San Diego- Morning

"He's stable."

Dr. Amsale stepped into the hallway and was immediately surrounded by the worried group. He didn't want to give them false hope but he knew they were looking for something to hold on to.

"We lost him twice but he's holding on, his vitals are stable." He continued. "He's young, and in good physical shape…he's a fighter."

"Can we see him, doctor?" Garcia asked.

"As soon as the nurses are finished you can go in but please don't stay long. The nurses will be in and out most of the night. We'll need to keep a close eye on him and the less distraction we have to work around the better."

"Thank you doctor."

Hotch extended his hand to the older man, which was accepted. Dr. Amsale smiled and headed down the hallway toward the front desk. They all watched the nurses attend to Morgan in silence. JJ noticed Garcia walk away from the rest of them and head toward the room's doorway stopping just short of entering.

"He's got to pull through. I don't know what will happen to her if he doesn't."

"He's stubborn and he'll make it."

Hotch wasn't sure if he believed his own words but he needed something to hold on to.

The next several hours consisted of waiting with no change in Morgan's condition. Garcia stayed glued to his side while the others took turns coming and going. Then reality set in as their current case began to tug at them to abandon their friend and get back to the business at hand.

Another body had been found.

"He's escalating!"

Rossi noted as they all rushed through the automatic doors into the parking lot.

"Yeah, but why? He normally takes a week before he kills again." Reid noted.

"He didn't get what he wanted with his last victim." Hotch answered.

"What do you mean?"

JJ looked at him puzzled.

"Death. His last victim didn't die."

After a short drive the team entered the busy downtown precinct and headed toward the conference room that had been set up for them the previous day. None of them had slept, showered or eaten and they were in full warrior mode. This case had taken a crazy turn and now one of their own had become a victim.

"Let's go over victimology."

Hotch sat down and grabbed a case file. The others followed suit except Reid who stood at the victim board studying it carefully.

"All three victims were men in their early thirties to mid forties, physically fit and were doing some sort of workout prior to being killed." JJ began.

"There's no racial preference; the first victim was white, the second and third victims were both black and our latest, Asian."

The room went silent for a moment as Reid taped a picture of Morgan on the board.

"Why Morgan?"

JJ's mind went back to the hospital and seeing Morgan laying in bed and Garcia crying non-stop by his side.

"He fits the victim profile; physically fit, active and he was jogging at the time he was shot."

"I know but what's the likelihood that this unsub would choose him? We had only in been here for a few hours and none of us had left this building until we went to the hotel. By his normal M.O. he would have already picked out his next victim."

"Our unsub could be a cop."

Hotch didn't want to think that the very people they were working with were responsible for Morgan being hurt and the other victims' deaths. They couldn't trust anyone.

Mercy Hospital –

"Knock, knock."

Garcia looked toward the door to see an unfamiliar face poking through the door. Quickly wiping the tears from her face she stood to face the man as he stepped inside.

"Hi I'm Detective Dan Harper with the SDPD."

"Ah yes, you're the lead detective on the case we're working on."

"Yes I am. I heard about Agent Morgan. I wanted to come by to see how he was."

Harper looked down studying the unconscious man.

"He's in a coma. The doctors aren't sure if he's going to make it. We've almost lost him twice already."

Garcia took her seat again gently taking his hand in hers.

"I'm sorry to hear that. This never would have happened if you all hadn't come out here to help me on this case."

"This isn't your fault detective it's the sicko who thinks it's okay to go around killing innocent men."

The detective began to fidget running his fingers through his hair. He'd messed up big time and he had to fix things. No one was supposed to live, no one! He couldn't risk any survivors and he knew for certain that Morgan got a good look at him just before he pulled the trigger. He needed his victims to see him, really see him, face-to-face before they died. That was the real thrill; the high…he needed that feeling that made it seem as if he were flying!

He was foolish to have picked the agent but he was perfect and he couldn't resist. He was right there as if the heavens had dropped him in his lap. He was just like the others who'd betrayed him. He'd gotten over confident, the others had been so easy and no one knew it was him and they never would. He was in charge of the investigation and he was right in the middle of the case.

Maybe he would die that's what the blonde had said; a 50/50 chance of making it. Considering the mess he'd created those were pretty bad odds. No more chances, he was taking no more chances and as long as this man's heart was beating he had unfinished business.

He'd be back…soon!

San Diego Police Department –

"How do we work this case when every cop in this precinct is a suspect?" Rossi asked.

"We don't let on that we suspect a cop." Answered Hotch.

"How do we do that? We're going to be digging into their lives…questioning them…how do we not let them know that a cop could have done this?"

"We do it very carefully."

"Wait a minute!" Reid began. "Each victim was shot at close range. Morgan is the only victim that survived."

"Morgan probably got a look at our unsub and if he did…" JJ added.

"Morgan could still be in danger. Dave I need you and JJ to head to Mercy now."

"Got it, Hotch."

Dave and JJ nodded and quickly headed back to the hospital.

"Where's Detective Harper?"

Reid looked out into the precinct and then back at his boss. Almost on cue, Det. Harper walked in calmly and headed toward the conference room.

"Detective, we were just looking for you."

"Agent Hotchner, I wanted to go by the hospital and see Agent Morgan."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, I feel really bad about what happened to him. Your team came to help me on this case, I just feel responsible."

"I appreciate your concern detective but this isn't your fault. You couldn't have predicted this."

"I suppose you're right it's just that this son-of-a-bitch is killing innocent men and we can't seem to catch a break!"

"Detective."

"Yes?"

"There's been another killing."

"Yes, my partner called me; same victimology?"

"Exactly. This time the victim is an Asian male, forty and he was last seen leaving a swim club in Chula Vista."

"Damn! We've to stop this guy!"

"We will detective we will!"

Detective Harper felt a cold shudder down his spine as the Agent looked piercingly into his eyes. For the first time since he'd begun his mission of revenge, he felt as if he was in danger of being discovered. He knew it was silly, after all, he was the one in charge of the case and he could steer it any way he wanted. In fact, having the FBI on the case was a clever part of his plan. But that look, those jet-black piercing eyes boring a hole to his core seemed to have the ability to uncover his misdeeds. He had to be more careful there was too much at stake. He'd gotten cocky and sloppy and now he had to make sure that the only person who could identify him died and soon.

Mercy Hospital –

Garcia continued to watch him lying so still barely breathing on the bed his hand cool in hers. The room was quiet except for the beeping of the monitors. She was so focused on the sounds that reassured her that he was still alive that she almost missed the movement; his index finger lightly brushed against the palm of her hand and she jumped. She looked up and met his eyes staring at her with confusion and fear.

"You're awake!"

She stood quickly wanting to kiss him and hug him but there were so many tubes and she didn't want to hurt him more than he already was. Puzzled he followed her every move as she pressed the call button lying next to him.

"Let me get the nurse!"

"Wait!" He whispered.

He tightened his grip on her hand and she stopped in her tracks. He was so weak but she could still feel the power in his hand.

"Where am I?"

"You're in Mercy Hospital. You were out jogging and someone shot you."

She could see him trying to process the information as he slowly looked around the room.

"Jogging? I don't understand?"

"I know Baby just let me get the nurse, okay?"

He shook his head and reluctantly released her hand and watched as she rushed from the room. A few moments later several nurses and Dr. Amsale came into the room. Garcia was ushered out into the hallway just as Rossi and JJ were coming around the corner.

"What happened?"

Rossi looked into her wide-eyed teary face. He didn't want to assume the worse there was too much to lose.

"Garcia? Tell us."

JJ wrapped her arm around her friend's shoulder.

"He's awake."