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A Lack of Color


I'll try to balance out the updates with my other story Fanfiction Trauma.


Chapter 9: Sacrifice

"Were you able to speak with her Reid?" Hotch said.

"Well, kind of."

"What do you mean kind of?" Rossi added.

"I did talk to her but she didn't give me anything on the unsubs." Reid replied. "She did give me her interpretation of her attacker though, it had a variety of curses and some of which I'd never heard of before. It was actually a contrast to her interpretation of the unsubs. She referred to them as her saviors."

"I guess what Morgan said was true, they target convicts and come off as heroes." JJ exclaimed.

"In other words they view themselves as peacemakers." Rossi said.

At that moment Morgan and Emily stepped out of the house.

"Anything?" Rossi asked.

Emily shook her head. "It doesn't look like the Scorpion Killers entered the house. It's all a mess which contradicts their meticulous nature. I think the unsubs found Simmons outside."

"It's not dark, someone must've seen something." Hotch said. "We need to set up a press conference and the tip line, but first we're going back to the station. It's time to give out the profile."


The officers were all gathered in the room and were waiting to hear the profilers.

"The group we're looking for are a group of three," Hotch explained. "They're all white males and function with only two members, while the one in charge gives the orders from a distance. We believe the two subordinates are between the ages of 30-35 while the leader is between 50-60."

"This group drives a black van around. They're extremely meticulous and have their own sense of right and wrong." Rossi said.

"They also have a strong, unwavering, loyalty towards one another; a bond like that isn't built overnight which indicates they must've known each other for some time." Emily added.

"They have a strong dislike for convicts and thugs as well as law officials." Reid added. "This stems from having a bad encounter with the justice system where they have felt they were wronged."

"This particular fallout is what led them to make their own system in which they are judge and jury." JJ stated. "These people are very intelligent which means they won't have your typical job."

"Look for businessmen and lawyers or anything that isn't a menial job." Hotch said. "They are not timid or shy and do not regret their actions. They will hold eye contact and speak with a sense of authority."

Morgan stepped out while the team continued the profile. He knew they were making progress but that didn't help the nagging feeling in the back of his mind. He knew it couldn't be helped but he wanted things to move faster. There was also that part of him that worried about his team. This decision would guarantee them to be targets.

No.

He wouldn't allow that. His decision was already made and he wouldn't go back on his words. These people were important to him and he wouldn't allow any of them to get hurt.

"Hey Morgan," Emily called. "There you are."

"Oh, what's up?"

She crossed her arms. "I think you're forgetting something, or rather you've been avoiding it."

It took him a few moments for it took sink in. He sighed. "Right, where is she?"

Emily chuckled. "Manning her station. C'mon let's get it over with."

"You know it feels like you're my mother." Morgan laughed and he playfully nudged her.

Emily smiled and led him towards Garcia. The technical analyst was working on her computers before looking up to acknowledge them.

"Hey, what's up?"

"This guy," Emily pointed to Morgan. "Has something he'd like to tell you."

"Are you okay Derek?" Garcia asked with concern.

"Yeah, it's just..." Morgan awkwardly scratched the back of his head. How he dreaded apologies like this. "Look babygirl, uh..."

Emily frowned at his beating around the bush approach. Deciding to help him she lowered his head with her hand. "Sorry babygirl I done messed up!" She spoke in a mock Morgan voice which made Garcia chuckle.

Morgan turned to face Garcia. "I'm sorry for making you worry like that Penelope, and for brushing you off."

Garcia noticed the sparkle in his eyes. They shined with a determination. He was getting back to his normal self. She smiled and held her arms open. "Can I ever stay mad at you?"

Morgan grinned happily and embraced her. "I really love that about you."

When Morgan had went back towards the others Garcia pulled Emily into a hug. "Thanks Em, I knew you'd bring him back to me."

"We're a team Garcia, all of us." Emily replied with a smile. "Helping one another out is how we function."

She smirked. "You're damn right."

... ... …. …. ... ... ... …. …. ... ... ... ….

"Hey where are you going?" Emily asked.

"I want to go see the victim, I know Reid talked to her already but I still want to see her." Morgan said.

She sighed sadly. "Were you planning on running off again?"

"No, I told Hotch where I was going. Trust me Emily, I learned my lesson." He replied with a laugh. "Oh and I was going to ask you to tag along with me, do you mind?"

It felt relieving to hear him say that. He was beginning to count on them again, count on her. Bit by bit things were going to the way they'd use to be. She nodded. "Let's go."

This time the ride wasn't silent, they had a few small chatter. Although it was mostly spent on talking about the case. Upon arrival the two left the car in sync. One door closing a fraction of a second behind the other. The nurse had directed them towards the floor and door.

"Hey Morgan," Emily started as they approached the patient's room. "What was his number?"

"Huh?"

"Jack's jersey number, back then you only told us his team's numbers but not his, so I'm a bit curious."

Morgan smiled. "It was one, his number was one. Heh, but getting that number only made his big ego grow in size. I remember he was so happy when he'd made the team, like a kid in a candy store. Jacky told me that it was due to all the practice we had that he had made it."

"Did you always have games?"

"Yeah, so much so that it became like a tradition for us. When we lived in Chicago we'd always play at some park by our school and when he moved to Florida we still keep that aspect about us the same." He chuckled lightly. "There was this cool courtyard by his house and whenever I got the chance to visit we'd play a few matches."

She smiled. "It sounds like you guys were two peas in a pot."

They reached the door and Morgan paused. He gave her a despondent look. "He always told me 'I knew I could count on you'. But... when he needed me most I let him down. It makes me wonder if I really deserved those words."

Emily placed her hand on his cheek. "You were his friend Morgan, that's why he left everything to you. He knew you would finish what he'd started. Jack believed in you and if it's any consolation so do I."

Morgan stared at her with shock. He didn't understand why she'd believe in him. He clutched her hand with his. "But... I couldn't save you, I couldn't save anyone."

"Morgan you've changed the lives of so many people, you've saved countless lives." Emily stated. "I'll make sure you never forget that, even if I have to remind you every day."

Morgan inched forward to lean his forehead on hers, catching her off guard. "I'm really happy I got to meet you Emily. Your words are my salvation."

She was greatly relieved his eyes were closed or he'd of seen her red face. They had never been at this close proximity before. She could practically feel his breathing. She prayed he couldn't hear her heart drumming in her chest.

After another moment he moved back and gently poked her forehead. "C'mon Prentiss, we got work to do."

Emily stood motionless for a moment, still in cloud nine.

"Emily?"

"Oh! Uh yeah let's go." She responded before mentally berating herself.

The two entered and Morgan approached Audrey Brooks with his ID. "Hello Audrey, my name is Derek Morgan and this is my partner agent Prentiss, we're with the FBI. You mind if we ask you some questions?"

"What do you wanna know?" Audrey asked. "I already spoke with you people already."

"We know, so we'll make this quick." Emily added. "Can you walk us through the events?"

Audrey sighed. "I was in my house, I had just arrived, and I went to start dinner. Then I hear my door being kicked in and the next thing I know there's some psycho chasing me with a knife."

"So he chased you outside?" Morgan questioned.

Audrey nodded. "Yeah, he came on top of me and I swear my heart stopped. I'd seen enough movies to know I was a goner. Then," she closed her eyes and took a breather. "I was saved."

"By the Scorpion Killers." Morgan stated.

"Yes." Audrey confirmed. "He saved my life."

"It was only one?" Morgan asked and got his answer in a nod.

"Weren't you scared?" Emily said.

"He told me 'don't worry he can't hurt you now'; and at first all I could feel was an intense fear," she cringed at the remembrance. "But then, I felt grateful. Those people saved my life. I would've been killed."

"What did he look like?" Emily added.

Audrey frowned slightly. "You're trying to arrest them aren't you? I don't blame you it's your job and all, but that doesn't mean I have to like it."

"Those people who saved you," Morgan began with a frown. "They killed my friend Jack. He was a detective who dedicated his life to helping people. Jack was irreplaceable to me; he was family." He clenched his fists. "That's why whether you help us out or not I will find them."

Audrey averted her gaze. "I'm sorry to hear that about your friend. I'm sure you hate them but I can't help it. I'll forever be grateful to them. No disrespect or anything but you cops were nowhere to be found when I needed help."

"Let's go Prentiss, we're getting nowhere here." Morgan said as he exited the door.

"Thank you for your time." Emily told her before following Morgan.

"Agent," she called out causing her to stop. "All I could tell you was that he wore all black and that he sounded about my age."

Emily nodded. "Thanks." She headed out and found Morgan awaiting her.

"This is freaking bull Emily, not one person wants to help." Morgan complained. "At this rate we won't get anywhere."

A beeping noise in her pocket halted her from responding. She checked the message before turning to her partner. "Speak of the devil, that was Reid. He says they caught a break with the tip line."

"Really?" Morgan asked hopeful.

"Yeah, some man called in and said he spotted a person who fit the profile; said he was wearing all black and was entering a black van."

"Let's go get this guy then!" Morgan replied as he headed for their car. "Let's haul ass before he makes a getaway."

"Hotch and the others are already on their way but we're closer to the area." Emily said as they boarded the SUV.


They arrived at the location Reid had given them. It was dark out so they knew it had to be their guy. They were known to use the shadows as a camouflage to move about. Unfortunately they were nowhere to be seen.

"Damn I don't see them Prentiss."

"They couldn't have gotten too far they have to be around here," she assured him. From the corner of her eyes she managed to catch a glimpse of a vehicle. "Whoa hang on, I think I saw something. Go back, there was a car making the turn over back there."

"Hang on." Morgan said as he flipped a u-turn and made a turn on the street. Just as she'd said there was a black van driving ahead of them; conveniently it hadn't noticed them. "Let's follow it Prentiss, it could lead us to the leader."

"Right, I'll call Hotch and tell him we're in pursuit." Emily replied as Morgan slowly drove behind the car.

After about fifteen minutes of pursuit the car began speeding up.

"Shit! He figured us out!" Morgan said and he flicked the police sirens on. "Prentiss call Hotch and tell him to move in."

Emily was steps ahead of him and had already dialed the unit chief. "Hotch he's making a break for it, we're already tailing him!" She quickly gave them their location and moments later they could hear several sirens.

"I won't let this bastard get away!" Morgan shouted as he sped the vehicle. "Hang on Prentiss!"

The unsub was making several turns and had drawn the attention of several police cars in the distance.

Emily gripped the sides of the chair as the car began speeding. She noticed the ocean to her left. "He's heading to the shipyard!"

The perpetrator drove the van inside one of the storages.

"He's blocked there's no way out of that place! We got his ass!" Morgan said as he maneuvered the SUV towards the storage.

Emily stepped out of the car. "Something seems off Morgan. I don't know what, but something does."

"He's completely cornered Prentiss, this is our only chance." Morgan replied. He wasn't about to throw this opportunity away. It was the closest he'd gotten to progress. He quickly placed the vest they had in the trunk on and moved in. "I'm bringing this son of a bitch down."

Emily cursed beneath her breath and followed him inside. It was a huge, dark storage lot with multiple crates stacked up. The van was parked right in the center but its door was wide open indicating the unsub wasn't inside it.

"FBI!" Morgan shouted. "Come out with your hands up!"

"Morgan up there," Emily signaled with her flashlight towards the upper level of the storage lot.

His eyes followed her direction to where a hooded man was making his way down the stairs.

"Put your hands where I could see them!" Emily barked.

They managed to get a clear look at him once he approached them. The light from their flashlight illuminated the figure and their eyes widened. The man was holding a detonator in his hand and attached to him was a device plugged with several wires.

"So you didn't heed our warnings did you Derek Morgan?" He said. "Instead you've chosen to continue pursuing us."

"You're damn right; this is what I've decided and you won't steer me from my decision." Morgan declared firmly.

He shook his head. "I knew you wouldn't understand us."

Emily glared at the man. "No it's you who doesn't understand! Morgan is doing what he believes in and I'll stand by him and his decision!"

"Tell me where the one in charge is; I want to speak with him!" Morgan said. "I want to settle things."

"You won't understand our pain, it is impossible. You can't understand someone unless you've gone through the same pain as them, and even then, there's a chance you still won't stand on the same ground; he told you this before already. That is the truth."

"Either way I want to speak with him!"

"Our conversation is over, talking with you is pointless. You understand nothing, you know nothing. You continue to go against us but you people will never destroy our ideals. Even with me out the picture our ideals will thrive and the garbage will be disposed of, including you and your friends."

Morgan narrowed his eyes. "You guys piss me off so badly that I can't even express it in words. So I'll just tell you this about me… I'm no trash! I'll never become trash! And I won't ever let any of you people kill anyone from my team!"

"Derek..." Emily murmured softly.

"Is that so," the man said as he held his detonator. "It's a pity I won't see this to the end, but I will never allow myself to be taken in."

"Emily run!" Morgan shouted as he grabbed her wrist and bolted to the door.

The explosion came seconds after and tore through the storage lot.


Author's Notes

The confrontation turns sour for Morgan. Seeing no way out one of the Scorpion Killers, as a last resort, chooses to give his life up instead of risking captivity.