He hadn't changed; not one bit and the years hadn't softened him or made him wise. Their conversation had confirmed that and she knew what she had to do. Morgan didn't deserve to be hurt by Mason and she wouldn't allow it no matter what she had to do. She remembered the years, they seemed so far away now; his arrogance was something else to her and she craved it and him. Now she saw through the ugly self-centeredness of Mason Burton and the man she once believed she loved was now one that she despised and she'd do whatever it took to destroy him.
She quietly closed the door and headed toward her car the rest of the team were doing what they did best totally engrossed in strategizing and profiling and readying themselves for what was to come. According to the address and directions she'd been given she had about an hour's drive ahead of her, time to think about so many things, her past, and what would happen to Morgan if things did not go well in the next several minutes. He'd been her hero for the last ten years he'd managed to convince her that their love was stronger than anything life threw at them, past, present or future. She wasn't sure now if that was true she saw how he looked at her when she revealed that she'd lied. Now he was learning first hand just how horrible her past was and the power it now had on her present and future.
"She's not trained to do this kind of stuff, Hotch!"
"She wanted to do it, Dave! Nobody was going to stop her!"
"There has to be another way!"
The team stayed far enough away to not be seen as the orange caddy sped down the road. They all knew this was a gamble and the bureau would have never approved such an operation but time was running out. Dave spoke out loud all of their frustrations even though no one else would readily admit it.
Garcia felt her heart beating out of control as she kept glancing at her watch and then back to the road, which had become a long dark unpaved endless path to a worn down heap of junk. Her team was following behind and for that she was grateful.
"She's here!"
The largest of the men rushed into the house closing the door quickly behind him.
"Excellent!"
Mason exhaled and smiled as he approached the front window watching as the car's light went out and the driver side door opened.
"Yes, he must be pretty special." He muttered to himself as she stepped out into the darkness and looked around before proceeding toward the front door.
The light knock on the worn wooden door pulled him from his thoughts as he opened it to let her in.
"My lovely Penelope, you came."
Without a response she stepped forward as he moved to let her in. She glanced quickly around the room assessing the situation and then purposefully she began speaking trying desperately to remain unaffected by what she saw.
"Mason dear, I'm disappointed by the company you're keeping these days…one, two, three, four big burly men in black! Definitely not like the old days…"
She moved further into the room and then turned to face him. She was surprised that he'd followed so close behind her and she jumped at his invasion into her personal space grabbing her by her arms and pulling her close.
"Times have changed my sweet little cherub and a man has to learn to adjust to the times."
Pulling from his arms she continued to walk the small dingy room.
"Where's Derek?"
She shot a side-glance at the man as she ran her finger across a nearby table.
"First things first."
Hotch, Rossi, JJ and Reid sat a short distance away out of sight listening to the conversation between Garcia and Mason.
"She's good." Rossi praised.
"Remind me to offer her agent training when this is all over." Hotch said jokingly.
"There's five total inside. They must be keeping Morgan somewhere else."
"Good work, Garcie!" JJ spoke softly.
"Okay, I'm here, what do you want, Mason?"
Mason approached her again gently wrapping his arm around her waist and leading her to a small table in the far corner where a computer sat.
"I need access to a few bank accounts."
"Always about money."
"I'm sorry to disappoint you my darling, but yes, it's always about money."
"You know as soon as I log on law enforcement will be on me like flies on poop!"
"Please, don't forget I know who you are! There is no better hacker in the world than the Black Queen and the Black Queen can get in and out of any bank before anyone knows what's happened."
He was right she could; she'd always taken great pride in her skills now not so much. She looked at the computer it was state-of-the-art and she wondered if he'd spent his last few thousand on it. He noticed her reluctance still as he turned her to face him.
"What's the hold up?"
"I want to see him."
"I assure you he's fine; a little banged up but he's no worse for wear."
"I want to see him! Now!"
Looking down at her with a crooked smile he then turned and motioned to the men. Two of the four moved quickly out the door. Penelope looked Mason sternly in the eyes determined not to move until she saw for herself that Morgan was okay.
A few minutes later the door sprung open and Morgan was pushed roughly into the house with two men close behind. He looked disheveled and she couldn't help but see the blood on his clothes and the bruises on his face. All she wanted to do was rush to him and wrap herself around him but she was stopped in her tracks by Mason's grip around her arm.
Morgan lunged toward her but was grabbed by the two who'd escorted him there and held firmly in place.
"Garcia! What are you doing here?"
Morgan was terrified and angry at Mason and her for putting herself in danger for him.
"Derek!"
"Let her go! She can't help you!"
"She can and she will!" Mason oozed confidently.
Morgan renewed his struggle against the men glaring at the man holding onto Garcia.
"Derek, I'm sorry, but I had to come! I couldn't let them kill you!"
"Forget about me! You can't help this, this, thief, con man whatever he is!"
"Ouch!" Mason teased.
Mason then wrapped himself around Garcia and began kissing the side of her face and neck. She cringed and tried desperately to move away from his touch.
"Let her go! Don't touch her!"
"She was mine long before she met you, agent! We're just getting reacquainted, right my little cherub?"
"Get your hands off of me, Mason! You want my help? Then let's get to work!"
"Garcia! No! Don't do this!"
Mason chuckled placing one final kiss on her cheek and slowly released her from his grip. Morgan continued to struggle and she looked across at him and saw the confusion in his eyes.
"Don't worry Baby, I'm going to get us both out of this, I promise!"
She took the seat in front of the computer and began powering it up.
"Garcia! Don't you get it? He's not going to let either of us go once he gets what he wants! Don't help him, please, Baby Girl!"
As she began working she fought to block out his pleas. She had no intentions of helping Mason Burton, quite the contrary. She was going to destroy him for ever thinking that she was weak, that she was stupid enough to believe he ever loved her. She was going to enjoy being the one to wipe that arrogant smirk from his face and even though she wasn't an agent she hoped Hotch would let her clamp the cuffs around his wrists when this was all over.
"Garcia!"
"Shut him up!"
She closed her eyes, she only wished she could close her ears as one of the other men came over and sent his fist into Morgan's midsection. His groan stilled her fingers hovering over the keyboard. Mason noticed and turned his attention on her.
"Keep working!"
"Don't hurt him!"
"For every second you're not working my men will beat the hell out of him! Now start working!"
"Okay, okay!"
The SUV sat idle in the darkness as its occupants descended upon the house. Aided by the darkness and Mason's over confident foolishness at not having someone watching outside, they met no resistance as they took up positions waiting on Hotch to signal them to go inside.
Garcia fought back her tears as she typed as fast as she could. Things looked blurry as she could still hear his faint moans of pain behind her. Then she felt Mason's hands roaming up and down her neck and shoulders then running his fingers through her hair. She tried ignoring him but his touch was revolting. Then suddenly he stopped.
"What the hell is this?"
He snatched a thin wire that had been cleverly hidden in her bow. Everyone's attention shifted to Mason and Garcia as the older man looked accusingly down at her the listening device dangling from his hand.
"Mason…please…"
"Are you trying to double cross me, Penelope?"
She could see Morgan across the room on the floor trying desperately to climb to his feet.
"Answer me!"
"Mason, please! Just let us go!"
She was terrified, no she was beyond terrified as she watched Morgan and then Mason. She prayed that her team would burst through the door at any moment but she knew it was all about timing and preventing her and Morgan from getting killed.
Mason pulled her from her chair and slowly ran his hand down her face as he looked longingly into her eyes. She saw the blackness and the pure evil.
"You know how much I hate betrayal, Penelope?"
"Yes, about as much as I hate you, Mason and as much as I hate myself for ever thinking I loved you."
"How does it feel to know you just got your lover killed?"
"It won't change anything, Mason. You're still a despicable human being and I beat you!"
"But at what cost my lovely little cherub?"
She was silent then but their stares never waivered.
"Kill him!"
She shot another look at the man on the floor who'd claimed her heart when she thought no one would ever want it. Her tears had made seeing difficult but she was able to see clear enough that he didn't blame her or hate her. The hurt from earlier that day had vanished and so their eyes spoke silently everything they needed to say to one another. She wanted to hold him one last time to kiss him to tell him she was sorry but she was held in place by the old evil hands of her past that she'd fought so hard to escape.
Then…a loud booming noise filled the room sending dust and dirt flying madly through the air…confusion and mayhem had suddenly taken control voices shouting, screaming…then blood…
"Derek!"
