Title:
Power
Play
Rating:
R
Fandom:
Criminal
Minds
Universe:
Creatures
of the Night (Part 1)
Pairing:
Morgan/Prentiss;
JJ/Hotch
Genre:
Supernatural/Drama
Summary:
Tensions
are running high when a vampire joins the BAU, but all differences
must be put aside as the team investigate a series of suspicious
werewolf murders. AU.
Author's
Notes: Betaed
by Windy City Dreamer. Some guest beta work from Yellow Smurf.
Chapter Thirty-Six
The day goes much quicker than he anticipated. They're running down every lead, searching for whoever might be have motive, and just as importantly, who might be capable. It's something of a conundrum; the vamps are the natural main suspects for killing the wolves, but it's out of character for them to be framing other vampires. Not only are the Prentiss clan neutral, but they're indiscriminately intimidating.
The other side of the coin, however, makes just as little sense. The wolves would never kill their own, not even to bring down the vampires. Which means that it isn't about species. It's about something else entirely. Unfortunately, the political bullshit is so intermixed with the species thing, that sometimes it's hard to tell what's what.
'Definitely someone with power,' says Morgan. 'Or in a powerful group. No way your average guy off the street could've pulled this off. But we already knew that.'
'Garcia, could you check LaMontagne's finances?' Hotch directs the fairy, who starts tapping away at the laptop keyboard with her feet.
'Looks clean on the surface,' she announces. 'I'll run a deeper check. If someone's paying him, then they'll be doing it on the d.l.'
Rossi drums his fingers against the table. 'Why the Prentiss clan?'
'We have a history with them,' JJ points out. 'Once they found out we were the ones taking the case, they could have hired LaMontagne to try and kill Morgan and Emily.'
Hotch nods. 'We were so focused on taking them down, we didn't consider the alternatives.' Morgan can hear the tone in Hotch's voice; when he says "we," he doesn't really mean "we," he means "I." I was so focused on taking them down. I didn't consider the alternatives. He's blaming himself; something that Morgan is getting fairly used to by now.
'Are we sure that's the only reason, though?' Emily asks, and the question hangs in the air.
No-one knows.
***
It's barely noon when Hotch tells her to take Morgan home. She raises an eyebrow at the request.
'By all rights, you should both be on medical leave after last night. And the night before.'
Morgan's eyes narrow. 'Do you remember that time when you came into work two days after major surgery? You could barely walk, and yet you came in telling JJ that she needed to polish her shoes.'
Hotch's face is completely straight as he counters, 'Well clearly I was delirious at the time, and you shouldn't follow my example.'
Stealth humor. Ten points to the Unit Chief.
'All were doing here is searching through files, looking for a connection.' There's strain in Hotch's voice, and it's understandable. Clearly he would much prefer if they had a real, tangible lead in the case.
There's little more argument, because in the end, Hotch is right. They're both exhausted. She can tell that Morgan wants to press the issue, but he doesn't. Instead, they gather their belongings, and make their way down to the parking garage. She's not allowed to set foot in the office until sometime tomorrow, and for Morgan it's the day after, because having your entire body change so violently isn't exactly something you can get over quickly.
They take her car, because, while she's ridden a bike before, she much prefers having her gear at hand should something go down. She's hoping like hell that nothing does go down, because seriously – she'd like to have at least one night this week where someone isn't trying to kill her. Or Morgan. Or any of the team, for that matter. But if the team is interviewing vamps tonight, then that may well be a pipe dream.
He directs her towards Bathory, and she finds her interest piqued. He doesn't live that far from her; there's only half a dozen blocks between their apartment buildings. It makes sense for him to live in a mixed community; even with the major alpha male vibe he gives off, he is definitely not a wolf in the behavioral sense.
That doesn't stop him from being almost territorial as they make their way up to his apartment. They might have made some kind of connection, but that doesn't mean that he's ready to let her into his home.
She hesitates at the doorway.
'Do I have to invite you in?' He says it with a laugh, but it almost seems like a fake laugh, as if he's suddenly considering not doing so.
'You know you don't,' she frowns. 'But…I'd prefer it if you did.' That way, it makes her almost feel as though she's wanted here, even if she isn't. It doesn't help that she's supposed to be here protecting him. He doesn't trust, and he doesn't yield, and here she is making him do both.
There's a moment of awkward silence.
'Did you want to get some sleep before I have to 'shift?' he asks her. 'There's a guest room, but I might have to go searching for the sheets.'
'I can nap on the couch,' she suggests, and he relaxes somewhat. She doesn't want to be putting him out any more than she already is, and clearly finding clean sheets is something of a challenge.
She sets her bag down beside the couch, and almost trips over the edge of the rug. She steadies herself quickly, but Morgan's just as fast, his hand at her shoulder.
She looks into his eyes. They're a little more wild now, the influence of the full moon slowly surging into him.
She doesn't get to take that nap after all.