Morgan got on the plane, sighing as he saw everybody's concerned eyes on him. He shook his head and told the pilot to take off before he settled into his seat beside Reid.
"Is Hotch okay?" The young agent asked as he shut his book, focusing his attention on the man beside him. They all figured it was something with Hotch, or Morgan wouldn't have run off so quick.
Everybody's eyes trained on the two. Morgan sighed, but nodded. "He's okay, he passed out, but apparently it's possible with his seizures." He soothed lightly as he shook his head. "He looked fine, Rossi just needed help moving him to the couch in his office."
JJ shook her head, "So we're just leaving them?"
Morgan nodded slightly. "We can't take off another case and give it to another team again. The director let us once because Hotch was in the hospital. Now is when we focus on this unsub who's running around Texas." He held up the file and nodded. "Hotch would want us to focus on this instead of him, and you know that."
Prentiss nodded and picked up a file. Now they were down two valuable men again. She sighed and flipped open the file so they could start gathering their thoughts about this unsub and his whereabouts.
Two hours passed and the team landed in Dallas, about an hour away from where the killings were. They had a van waiting for them and stepped in, Morgan allowing Prentiss to drive so he could call Rossi. He pulled his phone from his pocket as he stepped up into the Passenger's seat.
"Rossi." The older agent answered.
"Hey Rossi, how's Hotch?" Morgan asked easily as Prentiss started the car and began to the drive to Denton.
Rossi shook his head and glanced over his shoulder at the man curled on his couch. "I think he had a nightmare." He sighed quietly. When Hotch had woken up crying, that was his first clue, but as soon as Hotch pulled away from him, his heart sunk as he watched Hotch retreat back into himself again.
Morgan cursed quietly, ignoring the glances he felt bare into his back. "What about? Has he said anything?"
Rossi shook his head. "No, he just woke up crying and...he moves away from me like I hurt him somehow..." He voiced his fears quietly, again sending another uneasy glance over his shoulder. The argument he had with the fallen unit chief flashed in his mind. He swallowed.
Morgan ran a hand over his head and sighed. He shook his head. "Rossi, you know it was just a dream." He wished he could've stayed behind to help, but he knew that he was needed out in the field. "Just give him time, he'll be okay." He said quietly, hoping that it were true.
Rossi nodded. "Yeah...I know." He couldn't help but feel guilty, knowing that he had hurt Hotch and not told anyone about it. He shook his head. "When Hotch and I argued..."
"Rossi, it's fine. He knew you were just frustrated. You don't have to tell me what happened. He's probably already over it." Morgan cut him off, his own heart aching at the thought of what could've been said to make Rossi feel so guilty. He sighed.
Rossi bit his lip and ran a hand through his hair. He tapped his foot anxiously. He looked up as the elevator doors opened. "I gotta go, We'll be out there in a couple hours."
Morgan raised an eyebrow and shook his head. "Rossi? But what about Hotch-" Rossi had already ended the call. "Dammit." He sighed as he dropped his phone in his lap.
"Everything okay?" Prentiss dared to ask as she glanced over at him before her eyes focused back on the road.
Morgan sighed and shook his head. "Hotch is okay...Rossi said he had a nightmare, but everything's okay. He just hung up on me." He said as he called Rossi back, the call going straight to voicemail. He cursed quietly and leaned his head back, silent as Prentiss continued the ride. Nobody pushed as Prentiss drove to Denton.
Forty-five minutes passed and the team had made it to the police station. They stepped into the building and was greeted by an older gentleman with a white cowboy hat and black beard. He held out his hand. "Officer Keith Medford." He said with a nod. Morgan shook his hand and introduced everybody. "Agent Morgan, these are Agents Prentiss and Jareau, and Doctor Reid. Where can we set up?"
Officer Medford led the team to a conference room that was already packed with files of their case, as well as a whiteboard and bulletin board. Morgan quietly thanked him as everybody set down their stuff.
"Can I get the biggest map you have?" Reid asked the officer, watching him nod, not asking any questions as he left the room.
Morgan didn't even have to say anything as everyone got to work, already knowing their tasks at hand.
JJ started taking the pictures from the file and sticking them to the board, writing the names of the victims underneath. She also wrote the names of their families and where they were found.
Reid took the map that Medford handed him. He taped it up against he wall and pulled a marker from his bag, pinpointing where each body was found.
Prentiss set her bag on a chair and looked over at Morgan, "you ready?" She asked quietly, watching him nod. They gathered their things and headed to the first victims home. Medford told them that the kids would be waiting outside the house for them.
The ride to the Trim household was silent, Morgan behind the wheel this time. It was only about ten minutes before he pulled up to the house. He narrowed his eyes as he adjusted his sunglasses on his nose. He hated when crime scenes occurred in crowded neighborhoods. The swarming police officers, as well as tape, always attracted a huge crowd and reporters. He sighed heavily and stepped out of the car, ducking his head as he pushed his way to the house. An officer lifted up the tape for the two of them, the three children waiting in the front yard.
Kara was just about as tall as Prentiss. She was blonde and thin, but muscular at the same time. Her hair was lighter than any of her siblings, he assumed she played some sort of outside sport. Morgan's eyes traced over her, easily profiling her. She had been crying, most likely having a strong connection with her dad since she was the only one living at home at the time. She was an athlete, definitely in shape. Her blue eyes sparkled with unshed tears as she bit the nail of her thumb, heavily leaning into her brothers side.
Jon wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to him, standing at the same height as her. His short hair was dirty blonde. He was also built like an athlete, but obviously wasn't in shape. Morgan figured he focused more on his studies than athletics. Sadness was sketched into his face
Last was Christian. He was as tall as Morgan, maybe an inch more. He was blonde like his sister, glasses covering his blue eyes. He was tall and thin, maybe putting on a few pounds, but he still looked in decent shape. He raised an eyebrow and saw how he stood with confidence despite his fathers passing. He assumed it was from some sort of military, maybe even police or firefighter.
He held out his hand and introduced himself while Prentiss went in to look at the remains of the crime scene. "I'm Agent Morgan, I'm very sorry for your loss." He sighed quietly, the death of his own father playing in his head. His breath hitched, but he quickly regained himself knowing that he was the best man for the job.
Prentiss stepped into the house. She walked through the foyer, a softball bag visible in the corner. That explained the daughter. She nodded and continued on, looking down at the many pairs of shoes. Dirty tennis shoes mainly. She walked into the living room, her breath catching in her throat as she saw the blood that stained the white carpet. She shook her head and imagined the scene. There weren't any signs of a struggle, which left her a little confused. The parents must have known this unsub, or they held a gun to his head. She crossed her arms and thought through it, glancing up as Morgan stepped into her field of vision.
"The kids don't know anything." He shook his head. "Kara didn't note any cars visiting all the time. The sons don't know anything since they've been away." He sighed and crossed his arms. "Find anything?"
Prentiss shook her head. "No signs of a struggle. Really there's not much going on here. The only thing we have is how he kills his victims." She sighed. "Newcombe house?" She offered quietly.
Morgan nodded and pulled the keys from his pocket and left after saying a quick goodbye to the kids. He had made sure to tell them that if they ever needed anything that he was there. He had even given them his card.
The Newcombe house had gotten them nowhere either. No signs of a struggle, nothing to go off of. Morgan stepped into the police station with a sigh as he headed back to the conference room. JJ and Reid had made little progress in possible connections while they were gone. Lunch was waiting for them on the table, the other two focusing on their current task.
Morgan's stomach twisted. He wasn't hungry and probably wouldn't be until they found this son of a bitch who was doing this to kids. He looked at the map Spencer had marked on. He leaned back against the table, his eyes lighting up as he saw a familiar face enter the room. His face fell.
"Where's Hotch?"
