a/n: Okay people, you need a little warning here. Remember that on the very first chapter I've said that this was a story about angels vs demons. Yep, here we are.

So if you get queasy on extremely bumpy battles between good x evil, I suggest you stop reading. Things will be rough for a while, and they will only get downhill from here onwards and it will be a very fast ride. I don't want you getting sick on your shoes (or all over your keyboard).

By the way, *knocks on the screen* Hey Noraque, remember our little conversation back in June? That little showdown you suggested me is going to happen now. Stay tuned and then tell me what you think of it.

Back to the story:


Chapter 45: Servant's visit

Illinois State Penitentiary
8:38 am

Early the following morning, the small committee formed by Gibbs, McGee, Hotch, Rossi and Buchanan entered the Illinois State Penitentiary at the beginning of visiting hours and were guided by two heavily armed guards to the maximum security section, ignoring the stares and glares of the inmates at the wrong side of the iron bars.

"He will try to exert power over you but he has none. You have to control the interview right from the beginning. Ignore any insults or mental games he might try to play with you and focus on what we came searching for." Hotch said, his gaze flickering to the cells at one side or the other, seeing the movement of the inmates and deeply aware of the evil atmosphere hovering over them.

It was like a heavy and wet blanket trying to push them down, making them tired and extremely sensitive.

"I know the drill, Hotch. I've been to these custodial interviews before." Joy muttered as she felt McGee silently squeeze her hand into his in a show of support.

They stopped before the same biometric locked door of their last visit and while the guard unlocked it Hotch said to her, "But none of them were with the bastard who abused you when you were a little child."

Joy looked up at him, seeing his worried gaze on her face.

"I'll be fine."

Hotch studied her face and seeing no hesitation, he turned to follow the guards to the interrogation area. They were taken to the same dull gray observation room and were left for a moment alone while the guards went to fetch their guest.

Rossi studied Joy, who was staring ahead almost in trance observing the empty interrogation room though the one way mirror. She would breathe in, hold it inside and release it very slowly, obviously trying to hold her emotions in a tight leash. His gaze then fell on McGee, who was moving around like a nervous colt, eager to run at the first shot in a race.

"We're going to talk to the guards, we will enter first to prepare him to the interview and then, only then, you enter, okay?"

"Aye, Aye, sir." She said, her eyes moving nervously to the door leading to the corridor.

Both Hotch and Rossi went to a corner of the room so they could talk privately while Gibbs and McGee surrounded Joy.

"You okay?" Gibbs asked gently and that was Joy's undoing.

She looked at Gibbs with tears threatening to fall, but she sniffed and held them back at least for now. She was on the brink of a breakdown, trying valiantly to keep all her nervous energy in check. "This might be the biggest showdown of my entire life."

"Are you ready for it?" Gibbs prodded her, his gaze fixed on her face as she turned to look through the one way mirror to the empty interrogation room of the Federal Pen.

"I've been waiting for it my entire adult life." She admitted in a whisper.

A loud siren was heard and two truculent guards brought a chained man to the interrogation room through the door on the left corner. They slowly sat him down and chained his hands and legs to hooks under the table which was bolted to the floor, preventive measures to ensure that he wouldn't have enough slack in the chains to give him the chance of attacking the FBI agents once they entered the room.

One of the guards nodded to the one way mirror, the expected sign that Hotch and Rossi could come in. Another siren was heard and both FBI agents left the observation room, going through the open door down the corridor that would finally lead them to the interrogation room where Swanson was being held.

Gibbs stared at the man in orange overall, trying to match the monster depicted in the files they had studied exhaustively during the last days to the guy smiling brightly to the two FBI agents as soon as they entered the room.

Swanson had been an attractive man, but vice, lack of light and freedom had dimmed a little the overbearing personality that seemed to flow out the pictures the team had so carefully studied during the last few hours. His hair was blond, now starting to show a little bit of gray here and there; his once tanned face from many hours in the sun on extended holidays now had a sickly color, but he still had an aura of someone who was used to getting what he wanted when he wanted it.

Arrogance, unfortunately, is something that grows in a man even while he is in prison, as it rarely diminishes.

"I can't go in there with you but I'll be here, right behind this glass." McGee whispered against Joy's hair, whose gaze flickered from the monster of her past to her husband's eyes reflecting on the mirrored surface, looking at her with concern.

"You can't go with me but there's something that I need you to do." She turned around and hugged him, burrowing her face against his chest in a gesture so usual and comforting for them both.

"Anything." McGee kissed her curls and squeezed her tightly against his chest, unwilling to let go.

She smiled against his chest and rose on the tip of her toes, prompting him to lean down so she could whisper something in his ear that Gibbs could not hear.

When she finished, McGee stood up straighter, looking at her eyes attentively trying to see if she was serious about it.

"Just that?"

"Yep. They are waiting for just a phone call. The prayer cover is ready I just need a match to light a bushfire. I need you to give them the sign."

"Okay, I'll call your dad then."

"Good."

She turned to the mirror again, feeling his strong arms going around her and bringing her back against his chest. He rested his chin on the top of her head, following her gaze to the small room where Hotch and Rossi were talking with Swanson.

"Tell them to pray specifically for the defeat of Legion. That must be enough." Joy muttered, just waiting for her cue to enter the scene.