Disclaimer: I own nothing.

So this chapter has a bit of overlap with the previous one. You'll get to see the explosion that caused the end of the last chapter. Thanks so much for reviewing, folks!

Natasha

"He's just been sitting in there like that since we've brought him in," Hotchner said, crossing his arms over his chest as he, Morgan, Fury, and Natasha sat on the other side of the interrogation room glass. Nigel sat with a stony expression, staring at the cold metal of the table in the room.

Fury arched a brow at the BAU unit chief. "And there's nothing you can get out of him?" he asked. "Your former associate had me call you people in because he believed you would be the key to cracking these wackjobs."

Morgan growled low in his throat from beside Natasha. "Watch yourself, Fury," he said.

Hotchner stared evenly back at Fury. "Just because we can help you figure out what they're thinking doesn't mean we're going to be able help you apprehend a telepath who could make us all put a gun in our mouths."

Natasha rolled her eyes. "We don't have time for this," she said. "We have to get in there and talk with him. If Dr. Reid is right, we've got a load of bullshit coming our way if Bellaria decides to take revenge. And we've all seen what she is willing to do."

Fury nodded. "Romanoff is right. Morgan, you get in there with her. See if he'll crack so we can get her under control."

Morgan huffed. "Yeah, well even if we get out of him where she is, how are we supposed to apprehend her?" he asked.

"Jareau will wake up at some point," Fury said. "She's our key to bringing that psychopath down." He sighed. "I'm sure we'll hear from Stark as soon as she wakes up. He hasn't been out of the infirmary since we brought her back on board."

Nodding, Natasha motioned for Morgan to join her. "Let's go," she said.

Both of them strode into the interrogation room. Nigel didn't even look up as they approached the metal table and sat down. They remained silent, both of them observing their prisoner carefully for any signs of life.

"You won't get anything from me," he said simply, breaking the silence. "I would never betray Bellaria."

"How'd you find our crazy ass telepath friend?" Morgan asked. Romanoff could have smirked; Morgan was already pushing the buttons.

Nigel's fists clenched. "Watch your step, boy," he said. His voice was sharp as steel.

"What could you possibly get from partnering with her?" Natasha asked. "I mean, what could a woman who would turn you into her own little puppet possibly need you for."

Leaning forward, he glared at Natasha. "Have you ever felt such loyalty to someone that you would die for them? That girl lived a hellish life, one that she survived and came out stronger from."

"Yes, killing her parents was definitely a wonderful way to come out from with a newfound strength," Natasha said sarcastically.

Nigel ignored her remark. "She found me living as a drunk, someone who didn't deserve a second chance, and she gave that to me. I'll forever be loyal to her. I'll help her get the Key from you bastards, and I'll help her destroy everyone who's ever harmed her."

"Somehow I doubt you're a descendant of Isis or someone with supernatural abilities," Natasha said. "If she connects the Key and the Orb, you'll die along with the billions of people she'll unleash the power of the Underworld on."

"Like I said: I'd die for her."

Derek snorted from beside Natasha. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were in love with her."

Nigel gritted his teeth. "I love her as a father would love a daughter," he said.

"I'm sure." Derek smirked.

Natasha leaned forward in her seat, her eyes boring into Nigel's. "Here's the deal: you're going to tell us where we find your psychopathic girlfriend," she said. "My specialty? I can get things out of people with just a simple conversation. And trust me, if that doesn't work, we'll find a way to beat it out of you. My buddy right here? His fists alone make it sound like a thunderstorm. And I'm sure you know one of our helpful assets is Dr. Banner. Although you may know him better as the Hulk."

Nigel just blinked at her. "I'd die for her," he repeated. "And when she arrives at most powerful place on earth, she's going to unleash the power of the underworld on the world. She will get the Key, and she will succeed."

Morgan looked over at Natasha, forcing her to meet his gaze. His expression was blank, but she could sense he needed to speak with her. Blinking once, Natasha rose from her seat, along with Morgan.

"We'll let you think that offer over," she said. "I'd think really hard about what you're going to do."

Nigel merely returned a blank stare.

Once they exited the interrogation room, Natasha fixed her gaze on Morgan. "What is it?" she asked.

Morgan shook his head. "He isn't going to crack," he said. "There's nothing we're going to be able to do to break him. We've seen it before with serial killers who work in teams. He feels so indebted to her that he won't tell us where she is."

Natasha sighed. "I figured as much." She pursed her lips, thinking back to what little Nigel had said in the interrogation room.

"What?" Morgan asked. "What are you thinking?"

She met his eyes. "The most powerful place on earth," she said. Adrenaline started to race through her veins as she realized what he had meant. "He gave it away. It's where she plans to go."

Morgan shrugged. "Well don't keep it a secret," he said. "I'm not Reid. I don't know how to solve riddles."

Natasha rolled her eyes. "Washington DC," she said. "Think about it: the United States is the most powerful government on Earth. If she goes there, she gets the audience she wants. She craves the attention for the carnage she causes. She wants to start where everyone is going to notice."

Before Morgan could even open his mouth, Natasha rushed off down the hallway to find Fury.

XXXXX

Penelope

"Mom?"

Penelope smiled down at Talia as she pulled the blanket to her chin. She smoothed her hair back. "Yeah, sweetheart?"

"How much longer are we going to here?" Talia asked. "I miss home and my friends."

The truth was that Penelope herself didn't know the answer to the question. After Agent Romanoff revealed what she thought was Bellaria's plan, it increased the urgency of their mission to catch her. But who knew how long it would take for that happen. The Key of Osiris was safely aboard the Helicarrier, but there was no possibility they could stop hunting her until she was caught.

"I know you do," Penelope said. "I…I hope we'll be going home soon." She couldn't bring herself to lie to Talia and tell her they would certainly be going home soon.

Talia sighed deeply. "You don't know for sure…do you?" Her observation was followed by a yawn.

"No," Penelope said in a soft voice. "I'm sorry, Baby. I want to go home, too."

Her voice still came out small. That was how she felt, though. The enormity of the situation struck her once more. She knew she couldn't speak with Derek about this now, not when the situation with Bellaria was so dire. But she couldn't push away her thoughts of what the future held. She'd told Derek once before that she did not like change, and that had not altered over the years.

Change would almost certainly be coming. There was no way things could go back to the way they were.

"What about Aunt JJ?" Talia asked. "Is she coming home with us?"

Swallowing hard, Penelope kissed Talia's forehead. "She's coming home. Henry's gonna want to see his mama after all," she said. "Your Aunt JJ is going to be just fine." She needed to force herself to believe her own words. The last two days had been hell with the only image of JJ being the sight of her lying on a hospital bed.

"Of course she'll be okay," Talia said with a tired giggle. "Mr. Ironman is with her."

Talia's giggle was so infectious that Penelope couldn't stop herself from smiling. It was true that Stark had not left JJ's side, even when Fury demanded he assist in strategizing about Bellaria. If anyone wanted to speak to him, they needed to meet him in the infirmary.

The action was touching considering it was coming from Tony Stark.

"Yup," she said. "Mr. Ironman is going to stay with her."

Yawning once more, Talia snuggled into her pillows. Her eyes fluttered. "Okay," she said. "Good night, Mama."

Penelope kissed her daughter's head. "Sleep tight, beautiful," she said.

Rising from the edge of the couch, Penelope grabbed her laptop bag. She needed to get back to the infirmary to be with JJ, not to mention she also needed to continue looking for any signs of Bellaria across the globe. Stealth was not the telepath's strong suit, particularly when she was in a rage. That was what the team had profiled about her.

Bellaria could run, but she would never be able to hide from Penelope Garcia.

As she walked down the silent halls to return to the infirmary, she came upon a door that led to the outer decks of the Helicarrier. She hadn't yet made it around the corner when she heard a frighteningly loud clang from the other side of the door. She jumped, goose bumps springing up on her skin.

Quietly, she went to the door, peeking through the small circular hole onto the darkened deck of the Helicarrier. She saw nothing. The sky was a murky purple, as the sun started to fade beneath the horizon. She squinted at the empty deck. Had she just been hearing things?

Rubbing her forehead tiredly, she turned to start back down the hallway. She was really losing her mind here. There was no indication when she would be able to go home, for her family to go back to normal. She was just too exhausted from thinking that to truly be able to function.

But before she could make it very far down the hall, a blast came from behind her that sent her flying into the wall. The air rushed from her lungs as her forehead knocked against the wall. Fear shot through her veins as she thought of her daughter, but the knock to her head and the force of the explosion sent her spiraling out of consciousness.