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How Legacy Should Have Ended
"Close the door and sit down," Deputy Chief Carter ordered as Captain Wright strode into his office.
"Yes sir."
"I just finished reading your report on the Charles Holcomb case. Sixty-three torture-murders closed, and one sicko dead, excellent work."
"Thank you, Sir."
"Don't thank me, Al. My gratitude goes to Detective McGee and the BAU. If not for your detective, we'd still have a killer on the street."
"Yes, sir, I agree with you. I've put Detective McGee in for a commendation."
Deputy Chief Carter picked up a sheaf of paperwork. "Yeah, I have it right here. It's the least you can do for him. I, myself, have other ideas. I'm putting him in for the Combat Cross."
"Sir, that award is reserved for heroism in the line of duty."
"That's right, and in my mind there's nothing more heroic than protecting those least able to protect themselves, and he did it without your support."
"Sir, I -"
"Don't interrupt me," Carter snapped and his dark eyes flashed like a predator bird. "I'm not in the mood for political posturing. You did everything you could to discourage this investigation. If you'd had your way, Holcomb'd still be on the street.
"There was no reason to believe anyone was missing, Larry. You know that," Wright bristled.
"No, what I know is that you dismissed McGee because he has issues, as you put it. You refused to accept that he might be right because of what happened two years ago."
"Yeah, he almost got himself killed. It was better for him -"
"I don't need a recap, Al. The only reason why I haven't busted you down to patrol officer, is that we got back a long way."
"Come on, Larry, you know I was right. They were bums, whores and junkies. What was I supposed to think?"
He jumped to his feet and ignored his boss's eyes following him around the room. "I was doing what I thought was best."
"No," Carter said, and he got to his feet. Even though he wore a suit on his six foot three inch frame, he radiated the air of a street cop. His dark hair was buzz cut short and he retained his tight muscular build despite his fifty-three years.
"You were more interested in your comfortable little desk job and your petty little routine. You were threatened by McGee, because he disturbed your view of the world."
"Oh cut the crap, Larry. You'd have made the same decision and you know it."
"Watch your step, Al. Thirty years on the force only goes so far. You hear me."
"Yes, sir," Wright snapped out."
"I'm glad we understand each other, Captain."
He sat and went back to the files on his desk without another word. Captain Wright barely resisted the urge to slam the door as he left. At least, he still had his job and perhaps the Chief might find another post for McGee. He smiled to himself, yeah that would work just fine.
CMCMCMCM
JJ hurried into the briefing room three weeks later to find that everyone was assembled for their Monday morning case. "Hey," she greeted and dropped her case files on the table. "Hotch, before we talk about the case, I have some news from Kansas City."
Everyone perked up and gave their full attention to JJ.
"I just got an email from Sarah in counter-terrorism. There is a rumor going around the bureau's courting a new recruit."
"Detective McGee," Hotch surmised.
"Yeah, apparently he's been awarded the Combat Cross for the Charles Holcomb case. The case caught the attention of his superiors, the mayor, and the local FBI office, which got the attention of Washington. They want to recruit him for counter-terrorism. Apparently, they like the way his mind works despite his OCD. They see it as an asset to analyzing data up there."
"It's not like you to spread rumors," Morgan teased.
"Sarah's not much for unsubstantiated gossip."
"Why are you telling us this now?" Gideon wanted to know.
"I got another email from Detective McGee. He wanted to say thanks again for believing in him."
"He was right," Gideon said. "I think if he decides to join the FBI, we'd be lucky to have him."
"I agree," JJ said. "I'm glad I didn't blow him off, like I wanted to when he walked into my office."
"Me too," Hotch said.
"I'll bet Captain Wright isn't too happy right now."
Gideon smirked a little and Hotch smiled as the others laughed.
"I think he learned a hard lesson. Let's hope it stuck," Gideon observed.
"Some people never learn," Emily pointed out.
"Thank God, some of us do," JJ, said.
CMCMCMCMCM
Detective McGee put his nameplate precisely on top of two books stacked in a box on his desk. He placed his notebooks into a second box and straightened them.
"You've done well for yourself, McGee," Captain Wright said.
"Thank you sir."
"Your dad would be proud."
"I just wish he were here to see it."
He stacked one box on the other and hefted them. They didn't weigh very much because he didn't have much to take back to his apartment.
"Good-bye, Captain Wright."
"Good-bye, McGee. Don't let the Bureau get you down.
"I won't, sir."
He looked around the precinct that'd been his home for four years and hoped he was making the right decision. The FBI said he could make a huge difference to National Security, and after all, that was what he always wanted to do, make a difference.
