Author's Note: I realize it has been forever since I have updated and I apologize to all. Thank you to all who have stuck around and who continue to read this little story of mine. I had some serious writers block and I am hoping to get rid of it. I still don't know how I feel about this chapter, but you have waited far long enough. I love you all and please be honest and review.
Thanks to you all, and I love my beta gurl3376!
Chapter Twenty
When JJ and Sean returned from their supply run Sean was feeling a little better. He was happy to hear that Kathy might be falling for him as well, but it was dampened by the fact that he didn't know if he would ever see her again. When they entered the base camp it was a little after nine. Kathy was going on 26 hours missing, and only 24 hours ago they had found a battered Reid on the side of the road. Everyone was tired and stressed. There was not one of them without concern on his or her face. Hotch was standing off to the side with Rossi and Derek in a quiet conversation, while Reid, Blake and Garcia were looking over the geographical profile.
"What are you thinking Aaron?" Rossi asked, using Hotch's first name.
Hotch rubbed at the bridge of his nose, between his eyes, and sighed.
"I think my team is strapped emotionally, mentally, and physically. They need a good nights sleep, but they won't. I'm also thinking I don't know who the unsub is, or how much time she has left." He looked into Rossi's and then Derek's eyes.
Rossi nodded before speaking. "We aren't going to find her in the middle of the night. If we all agree to get some rest, maybe we'll see something fresh in the morning."
"You giving up Dave, that's not like you, and not on her. You and she are really close." Derek replied.
"Yes, I care for her, she's like a kid to me, but I care for this team too. I believe in her, but I also don't want her suffering in pain if we can't find her. Look, we all know that she's strong, but we also know its almost 26 or 27 hours now. I'm not saying she's not alive, but I'm saying that we need to realize she could be dead. If she's not dead, I don't even want to think about what kind of condition she's in. I don't want to stop looking for her, and I don't want to give up, but I know that we can't sacrifice ourselves, and she wouldn't want that. We're all running on few hours of sleep, and no good to anyone, especially no good to her."
"She needs us though Rossi." Derek said quietly.
"Yes, but if . . . she's dead, we aren't accomplishing anything."
"What about you Hotch? What do you think?" Derek asked, angry with Dave for saying this, but realizing the truth in the words.
"I think we have to be realistic, and face what could be the truth of her situation." He turned towards the group. "Everyone sit down, let's go over what we know."
"We don't know much. We know that our list of suspects is dwindling, and so far we have no possible suspects. The one suspect we had has an alibi."
"I don't trust that alibi. Walter would lie for him, and that Shane just gave it to us without asking." Sean interrupted.
"Even so, we can't disprove it, what would you suggest Agent Conner?" Hotch asked.
"Watch him, see what he does, watch Shane, and maybe even Walter."
"That's a lot of watching, and if it's not him, when are we out looking for her?" Hotch responded, his tone stern.
Sean sighed, "I don't know. I'm sorry; I just don't like the man. I don't trust his alibi."
"I don't trust him either, but that doesn't make him the unsub." Rossi replied.
"Did we gain anything from the geographical profile or the updated victimology?" Hotch asked the table.
"The road where Kathy and Reid were driving is extremely remote, and judging by how the truck sped away, I think this further proves that the unsub is a local, familiar with the area. We also know that he is a planner, he goes beyond just hunting his victims to planning how to snatch them. He obviously knew that he couldn't grab Kathy from the hotel, so he waited until a less populated time and place. He also doesn't care if bystanders are involved, and probably would have killed Reid if he was out of the SUV while he was still there." Blake said.
"The area of abduction also shows that his hunting goes beyond the search area we originally set up for the bodies. This piece of road was remote and almost out of Cainville." JJ said, picking up her coffee.
"Where's the medical examiner's report on Natalie Sprigs?" Hotch asked, and took the folder from JJ's hand. He briefly read through it and then looked up at the team.
"Kathy is a part of this team, we know that. We also know that every hour counts. For a moment though let's look at this from the perspective of an unknown to us victim. What are your thoughts on this victim?"
Rossi cleared his throat and looked at the tired and sad faces. "Logically, the victim would be seriously hurt. Going by the reports on the other victims, there is extreme damage to the body. We know with this kind of sexual sadist that he will exert dominance quickly, first through physical force and then through sexual assault. Other than Natalie we do not know if there is a certain amount of time he keeps the victims, but if we use her as the model, there is a good chance the victim is dead or will be soon." He finished quietly.
"So you give up?" Sean asked standing up from the table. "You just said she's probably seriously hurt, she needs us to find her." He was almost shouting now.
"Agent Connor, we're not giving up. The reality is that we have no leads, and no suspects. We have some more men to follow up with, but that's tomorrow. I think it would be best if we all went back to the motel and got some sleep." Hotch said.
"I have to agree with Hotch on this. I don't like it either, and I want to believe she's alive, but if I' m too tired to hold my gun up, how can I help her?" Rossi asked.
"Look, go back to the motel, rest and we'll reconvene at 7 am." Hotch said. Sean opened his mouth to speak, but Hotch stopped him. "That's an order."
Sean inhaled deeply and stormed from the tent. Derek rose to go follow him, but Hotch put up his hand. "JJ can you check on him? The rest of you try and get some sleep."
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JJ found Sean sitting in his SUV with his head back against the car seat and his eyes closed. She could see his breathing was rapid, and his face was drawn. The window was down so she cleared her throat as she approached. Sean popped open one eye and gave a slight smile.
"I seem to have this habit of losing my temper and getting checked on." He said, shaking his head.
JJ shrugged, "Mind if I join you, maybe you can give me a ride back to the motel?"
Sean leaned over and popped open her door. "Come on in. I apologize now, I am not good company."
"It's okay." She said and climbed into the passenger seat.
"I get it, I do. I know what they're saying is right, and I am exhausted, but when I close my eyes all I see is her. I see her when she told me she was scared, I see her smile, I see her green eyes, and I just can't sit and do nothing."
"I know Sean. I don't want to stop looking either, but I'm exhausted, and I can't think straight anymore, and everything I look at is blurry. I have known Kathy for five years, and she is one of my closest friends, but I also know she'd tell me to get some sleep."
Sean turned the SUV on and shifted into reverse. "Why do you think that?"
"Because we aren't doing her any good like this, and because we're putting ourselves in danger. Here we are driving unfamiliar roads, talking to criminals, and dealing with an unsub who could be anyone. We need to sleep. I believe she'd agree, and I believe we'll be able to find her if we sleep. If we keep pushing, we're pushing ourselves out of the arena of finding her."
Sean chuckled, "She'd probably demand we go to sleep."
JJ laughed and looked over at him. "I'm sure she would. It's only a few hours, and don't think about what that means, think of the benefits."
Sean nodded and glanced at her. "I'll try."
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When the team reconvened in the morning they were somewhat rested, but still tense and anxious. It didn't help that a storm was brewing over the canyons and promised heavy rain and winds. There were still some leads to follow up on and Hotch sent the team out, he stayed behind with Reid and Garcia. He was waiting on a call from Strauss. Kathy had been missing around 36 hours, which if he only kept them two days meant they had 12 hours to find her. Hotch was not hopeful, he didn't want to tell the team but he was genuinely concerned that they would not find Kathy in time. They were no closer to finding the unsub then before she went missing. He knew he was going to have sit the team down and discuss it, but he wanted to wait, to spare them. No, if he was honest, it was to spare himself.
MACMACMACMACMACMACMAC
For the next day and a half the team worked relentlessly on any and all leads. Everyone was feeling the stress. Tempers flared, patience was tested and fears were voiced in angry words. Sean felt like a caged animal, and was beginning to think he was going to lose it. None of the leads panned out, they were no closer to finding Kathy today then they were when she first disappeared. In his gut Sean felt that the most likely place to look was Mac, but a trip past his place showed no life, and it's not like they could barge in, they had no warrant and no probable cause. A trip over the station where Mac worked also proved empty. Sean couldn't get over the fact that it was convenient that Mac was missing. Hotch agreed and let Sean and JJ head over to the bar to speak with Walter in the hopes of finding out where Mac was. Kathy had been missing for 72 hours. The whole team felt as if the clock was ticking louder and louder alerting them to the fact that Kathy had less and less chance of being found alive.
Sean and JJ took a seat at the mostly empty bar and waited until Walter came over.
Sean nodded at him, "Hey Walter. Was wondering if you could help us with something," Sean said, trying to sound pleasant.
"What can I possibly help you with?" Walter said, matching the fake pleasantry from Sean's voice.
"Any idea where your son is Mr. Rodriquez? We have a few more questions for him?" JJ said, jumping in before things became ugly.
"No, I'm sorry I don't know where Mac is. He sometimes takes short trips, Vegas mostly. He likes to gamble, earns a little money and then off to spend it." Walter said, shaking his head.
"Any idea when he might be back?" JJ asked giving Walter a small smile.
"No, I'm sorry again. I don't know. I have to take care of some customers, I am sorry I couldn't be of more help."
"You understand we're just worried about our friend, and anything you can do to help us would be appreciated." JJ said, unable to hide the harsh tone in her voice.
"I do understand, but I can't help you. She has been gone for some time, do you still believe her alive?" He asked, wondering how soon they would be gone from here.
"Until we know that she is not, we will continue to think the best." JJ said.
"The best? I hope so. Please excuse me." Walter said as he walked over to help some other customers. He could see in their faces that they were unsure that the agent was alive; they were starting to doubt it. He was going to have to head up to the caves and let Mac know. If she was still alive Mac needed to end this. He had to pick up some product anyway. He knew it was risky, but it was necessary. Mac had enough fuck ups, this was the FBI, he had to take a small chance to avoid a bigger disaster.