Title: Learning the Hard Way.
Pairings: Primarily team centric, but will eventually be Morgan/Garcia
Summary: Morgan is forced to trust that his team will be the ones to rescue him this time, not the other way around, when he is unexpectedly kidnapped out of the blue. Will the team find him before too much damage is done?
A/N: Thank you once again for the reviews, alerts and what not. Fear not Morgan will be found very soon. I promise and with that in mind enjoy.
Chapter 4: One Step Closer
Tuesday afternoon BAU Headquarters…
"So have you guys figured out who kidnapped my brother yet?" The team heard a voice ask around 5pm.
The team all turned around to see one Desiree Morgan standing there with her arms crossed at her chest just like they had seen her brother do many times.
Hotch was the first to recover from the shock of seeing her there and asked curiously, "How'd you get up here?"
"I have my ways," Desiree quipped back with a familiar grin as she sat her purse down on the desk closest to her.
"In other words you mentioned who your brother was didn't you?" Emily quipped right back at her without missing a bit.
Desiree conceded with a nod before asking, "Which reminds me do any of you know why half of the people in this building are afraid of my brother?"
They all shook their heads in what was some very much needed laughter. It seemed Morgan's baby sister had the gift of being able to tell a joke no matter what was going on.
After the laughter died down Desiree then sat down on the desk next to her purse before going on to explain that she'd never been good at sitting around and waiting. That's why she had decided to fly out here to see first hand what was going on.
"So as I was saying, have you figured anything out yet?" Desiree asked repeating her earlier question.
"Yes we have," Garcia said as walked over to the group with takeout in her arms. "I was going to call your mom just as soon as I made sure they ate."
"Ah you must be the Penelope my brother's always talking about." Desiree said as she stood up and proceeded to help Garcia unload the food out of her arms.
Garcia nodded before saying to the team, "I hope you guys are hungry."
As they all began to eat Reid uncharacteristically took the initiative and informed Des, that's what she'd told them to call her, all of what they knew so far. He of course left out the part about the video they had received because as much as it had upset them to see Morgan that way he knew it would upset her and the rest of the Morgan women even more.
"So that's it?" Des asked when he finished, "These idiots haven't tried to contact you at all except for the initial note they left."
Reid looked over at Hotch unsure of what to do. Hotch then slowly stood up and gestured for the young woman to follow him.
She complied and once they were a distance away from everyone else he told her about the video message they had received earlier.
"He's still alive in the video isn't he?" She asked knowing he was reluctant to let her see the video.
"Yes but he doesn't look good," Hotch answered then paused before adding, "And your brother wouldn't want to see him like that."
"Like what? Damn it I don't care. I want to see the video," Des insisted.
They each stood there for a few moments neither one wanting to give an inch before Hotch finally caved and led her to Garcia's office.
Garcia's Office…
Garcia's eyes were once again tearfully glued to her computer screen. Another video had just arrived. This time it was addressed to her and in it Morgan looked worse than he had in the first one. That is if that was even possible.
"Baby girl I'm sorry I never had the courage to pursue you. That I never told you I was in love with you. That I wanted to settle down for the first time in my life and that I wanted it to be with you." Morgan spoke his voice shaky as he struggled to breathe.
The video was still playing when Garcia sensed she was no longer alone. Pressing pause she turned around, not even bothering to hide her tears to see Hotch standing their along with Des.
"That's new isn't it?" Hotch asked with a glance at the screen.
Garcia nodded as she reached for a Kleenex, "This one's for me," She explained.
Hotch nodded, the team could take a look at it later. "Des, here," He said, "Would like to see the first video." With that he turned and left the two women alone. Call him a coward if you will but he really had no desire to be there when Des saw just how bad of shape her brother was in.
"Are you sure sweetie?" Garcia asked as she looked at the younger woman.
"Yes, but you can finish watching this one first," Des replied as she sat down in the chair beside Garcia.
Less than two minutes later that video was finished and /Garcia immediately pulled up the other video and pressed play. Her eyes glued to Derek's sister as she watched.
To say it was painful to see her brother, her protector looking so broken and weak when he normally seemed invincible would be an understatement. She managed to hold it together as she listened to his messages for her mom and sister. However when it came to the part that was meant for her she couldn't hold her tears back any longer as she took the Kleenex offered to her.
"Desi girl you remind me so much of me. You always have, but do me a favor don't be like me. Find you someone that treats you right for once, someone you know I'd approve of like Sarah did. Speaking of Sarah take good care of her and mom for me."
Once the video was finished Garcia pulled the young woman into a comforting hug as the tears continued.
A moment or two later Desiree pulled away and wiped her eyes one more time before speaking. "That's a cabin their holding him in right?"
Garcia nodded, "We're just trying to narrow down the location. Right now all we know is that it's probably in Wisconsin because that's where they're from."
"Maybe I can help you with that," Desiree replied.
"What do you mean?" Garcia asked.
"What I mean is I know whose cabin that is or I should say was." Desiree answered.
"Are you sure?" Garcia replied.
Desiree nodded before elaborating, "It still looks like it did in the pictures Derek brought back from his fishing trip with that bastard Buford. That's Buford's cabin. I remember because I begged him to ask if I could go some time. He was so angry when he said no and I gave him the silent treatment for two days afterwards. Now of course I know why he didn't want me to go."
"Alright let's tell Hotch and them the good news." Garcia said as she dialed up his number. They were one step closer to finding him.
"Hotch, I've got good news," Garcia said as soon as he answered the phone.
"Wait, hold on let me put you on speaker," Hotch asked as the rest of the team watched him curiously.
"Des here recognized the cabin in the video. It's Carl Buford's" Garcia explained.
The collective feeling of the group after hearing that was a mixture of both relief to know where he was and fear for what this was doing to Morgan.