Chapter Twelve

Special Agent Derek Morgan watched carefully as the social worker led five-year old Bray Conner into the room. The little boy's blue eyes filled with fear when he saw the men and he drew back.
Morgan sighed, wishing Jack had been able to send a female agent. He started toward the boy but was stopped by a hand on his arm. Josiah shook his head slightly and nodded toward Murdoch. Derek raised an eyebrow in surprise as the quiet, young agent took over.

"Hey, Bray." Murdoch knelt in front of the small boy, being careful to keep a distance between them. "My name is Murdoch. I work for the FBI. Do you know what that is?"
The little boy's blond brows furrowed in thought and he shook his head.
Murdoch smiled gently. "It's kind of like being a police officer." A spark of interest filled the sad blue eyes and Murdoch's smile grew. "Would you like to see my badge?"
Bray nodded eagerly.
Murdoch pulled it out and let the boy examine it. "Pretty cool, huh?"
Bray nodded and handed it back, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"How old are you, Bray?"
He held up five fingers.
"Five? Really?"
The little boy nodded.
"Does that mean you're in kindergarten?" Excitement filled Murdoch's voice.
Another nod.
"Oh, wow. This is so cool. Bray, I've been trying to catch these bad guys, but I'm having some trouble. I really need a kindergartener to help me. Do you think that you could help me?"
Bray hesitated and glanced over at where Morgan, Reid, and Josiah were watching them. Fear filled his eyes again.
"It's okay. Those guys are agents too. That's what they call people who work at the FBI. We're the good guys. Do you want to see their badges too?"
Bray nodded.
Murdoch glanced over his shoulder. "Guys."
Derek, Spencer, and Josiah pulled out their badges and held them up for Bray to see. "That was very smart, Bray. You should always ask for identification from anyone claiming to be a police officer. I'm proud of you. Okay, now, my friends are going to sit over there with Miss Ali while you and I talk over here."

Murdoch led the boy over to a small table. "I'm so glad I found you, Bray. I think you're just the kindergartner I need to help me catch these bad guys. What have you been learning? Are you learning your letters and numbers?"
Bray nodded.

Morgan frowned and shared a glance with Reid. The kid still had not spoken. He looked over at Josiah, but he didn't seem worried.
Feeling Morgan's eyes on him Josiah looked over. "Trust him." He mouthed.

"What about colors? What's your favorite color?"
"Orange."
Murdoch smiled. "That's a great color. Always reminds me of sunsets. That's the great thing about kindergarten. You get to learn really cool stuff that you'll always need to know."
Murdoch furrowed his brow and rubbed his chin. "See, that's why I need some help. In kindergarten you learn about good and bad touch, right?"
The little boy visibly stiffened and gave a slight nod; his eyes now firmly glued to the table.
"Hey," Murdoch lowered his voice to a gentle whisper. "It's all right."
He shrugged one shoulder. "I was hoping you would help me remember. But you can say no if you don't want to. It's okay."
A moment of silence stretched by. Bray gave another slight nod. "I'll help."
Murdoch's face relaxed in a smile. "Excellent." He laid a teddy bear on the table. "Will you teach me good and bad touch with this bear?"

The three FBI agents and the young social worker watched as the little boy used the teddy bear to demonstrate the differences between safe and unsafe touching.
"Thank you, Bray. You have been a really big help. This is going to help me catch the bad guys. Bray, there's one more question I would like to ask you. Did Mr. Drew Anderson ever touch you with bad touch?"
Tears welled up in the little boy's blue eyes as he nodded; his lip quivering.
"I am so sorry, Bray. That should have never happened to you. Listen, you are a very brave, very smart, and very good boy. You helped me a lot today. Thank you."
Bray sniffed and rubbed at his teary eyes.
"Shh. It's okay now. It is all right. Bray," Murdoch's tone took on a lighter note. "You helped me so much today that I would really like to make you one of my partners in the FBI, would you like that?"
The little boy lifted his head to look at Murdoch and nodded.
"Yeah? All right." Murdoch reached into his pocket and pulled out a thin black leather wallet that matched his own. He opened it to reveal a Junior FBI Agent badge.
The corners of Bray's lips twitched slightly upward. "You know, Bray, partners in the FBI are very special and very important. Would it be okay for my friends to come over here for a minute?"
Bray glanced over at the three men and his eyes widened in fear.
"It's okay." Murdoch said. "They're good guys. They will not hurt you. Besides, I'm right here. And I would never let anyone hurt you, Bray. You're my partner. Okay?"
"Okay."

Murdoch waved the agents over. "Bray, this is Derek Morgan, Spencer Reid, and Josiah Carter. Morgan and Reid are partners and Josiah is my partner just like you. Now, one of the first things you need to know about being a FBI agent is that you always need to have your badge with you. Secondly, partners always have each other's backs. Right, guys?" "Right."
"Partners always protect each other and always help each other. You're my partner, Bray, so I need you to always help me like you did today. Do you think you can do that?"
"Yes."
"And I will always be there for you." Murdoch pulled out a business card and slipped into the wallet.
"Bray, I want you to keep this card with your badge. Okay? And if anyone ever tries to touch you with bad touch again, or if you're scared or sad or lonely and need to talk to someone, you find a phone and push those numbers on the card to call me. Okay, Partner?"
"Okay." A real smile spread across the little boy's face.
Murdoch grinned back. "Good. Now, I'm going to have to go now, but I'll come back to see you as soon as I can."
"Okay."
"Bye, Partner."