Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds. The occasional scenes from episodes of Criminal Minds in this story belongs to the writers of Criminal Minds and CBS. No copyright infringement intended.
A/N: Hello again, everyone!
Again, sorry for the delay!
My apologies if I had made any mistakes but do enjoy the chapter!
Also, I would like to credit ahowell1993 for helping me with this chapter.
Previously on "Criminal Minds"
"…George Foyet is The Reaper."
"Foyet escaped…Guards found him in his cell vomiting blood and convulsing…They rushed him to the prison hospital."
"They're gonna find him, right?
"No, they're not."
"Foyet's back."
A week later…
As Élise and Reid stepped out of the elevator,
"Careful, sweet brain," Élise said to Reid, who has now graduated to the use of a cane.
Reid replied back, "I'm fine, babe."
"But still…" Whispering to him closely, "You know I can't help but worry."
Whispering back to her, "And you know I can't help but worry about you either."
"Spencer. Élise."
It was Hotch with JJ by his side.
"I'm here." Reid raised his hand as he and Élise steadily entered the bullpen.
Élise raised her hand as well, "I'm here as well. I told you; once Foyet crossed state lines, it officially became a federal case. One I definitely intend to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law."
"Good; we going to need all the help we can to take down Foyet."
"Then let's get to work," Élise firmly insisted as she pulls out her cell phone, "Now that we have new information, I'll contact the Attorney General again. I can contact the FDA Commissioner and DEA Administrator again and see if they still have anything for us."
"Good. While we work the geographic profile, Garcia and Kevin are matching the prescription and over-the-counter drugs Foyet can't substitute within the two cities since he doesn't stay in one place very long. Call me when you have something. And hurry." Hotch and JJ hurried into the bullpen. Reid and Élise gave each other a quick peck on the lips.
Élise let out a frustrated grunt as she hung up. So far, her sources had nothing yet but would call her again when they did. As she was on her way to the roundtable room, she runs into Garcia, who had her laptop with her.
Élise asked Garcia "Please tell me you have something good?"
"Yup."
"Great!"
"Ok, so what are we gonna do about the two cities?" JJ asked. "Usually we need 3 different points to get an accurate geographic profile."
"That's all we got right now," Morgan said.
Prentiss observed the cities on the map, "Gaithersburg, Rockville, DC, Alexandria, Bowie, Annapolis."
"Where the hell are you, Foyet?" Morgan asked himself.
Élise walked in with Garcia, "Garcia and Kevin got something."
"Ok, me and the boy found a thyroid medication That has no substitute over the counter. You've gotta get it from a pharmacist. But a lot of people are on it."
Rossi suggests, "Find the midpoint between the two cities and isolate names in a 25-mile radius."
"153 names."
Morgan figured, "Well, he's not gonna use his own name. What kind of aliases should we be looking for?"
"He could have easily stolen someone's identity." Prentiss guessed.
"No, he's a narcissist in love with his own mythology." Hotch said as he observes a file, "He'd use a name connected with the case."
"A victim, maybe, a cop." Rossi believed.
Garcia began typing again, "Ok. let's check the Foyet files for a list of names. And…nothing."
Reid began analyzing the board in the room. Getting up from his seat, "Wait a minute, guys. Foyet likes things to have meaning to him. The eye of providence, the addresses in blood he wrote on the bus that led us back to him. Maybe he's doing the same thing with the alias." He grabs a blue marker and writes 'George Foyet' on the board, trying to make out a possible alias.
Prentiss guessed. "Like an anagram or something."
"You see something, Reid?" Morgan asked.
"Not yet." Reid was still thinking.
"Reid, he named himself the reaper." Hotch considered
After Reid writes 'The Reaper' on the board and after figuring out a likely alias.
"Peter Rhea," Reid concluded.
Garcia types again, "There's a Peter Rhea in Arlington."
Rossi looked at the screen, "we found him."
"Let's go," Hotch ordered. "Élise, you're coming us."
"Oh, absolutely!" Élise said as she pulled out her cell phone. "I'll contact SWAT for you, and I'll make some calls again."
After everyone got all geared up, the team, Élise, and SWAT surrounded Foyet's apartment to stakeout Foyet. While Prentiss and Hotch were outside, Morgan, JJ, Rossi, Reid, and Élise inside with SWAT.
"SWAT's getting antsy," JJ said as she approached Morgan again.
"Well, can you blame them?" Élise began picking her nails.
After Morgan set his binoculars downs, "I'll tell them when it's time to go. Right now, we sit tight. Let them know." After looking out with his binoculars again and watching JJ talk to SWAT. "These guys are trained to move, not just sit around. I can't really say that I blame them."
"He may not even be there anymore," Reid said, using his cane to stand.
Élise placed her hand on Reid's arm. "True, but still…"
"I know. The longer we sit here, the further away he gets."
"You make the best call you can, kid," Rossi said.
"All right, this is what we're gonna do." Morgan had an idea; to send in an undercover SWAT agent disguised as a super.
As they were on their way to the safe house, Élise asked, "Have you ever gotten that feeling that something is not right or would go terribly wrong?"
"At times." Reid truthfully answers. "Why, are you having that feeling?"
"Yeah."
Soon the team and Élise arrived at the safe house. Only to find the door open…
And US Marshal Sam Kassmeyer lying on the floor, bleeding.
Hotch rushed over to Sam's side, "Sam!"
"This is Agent Rossi, FBI," Rossi said into his vest. "We need an ambulance. We have a federal officer down."
"I wouldn't...I wouldn't..." A raspy Sam tried to talk.
"We're getting an ambulance."
"I tried."
Hotch pleads, "Hang on. Just hang on."
"I'm sorry." Sam apologies.
"What are you sorry for?"
"I...I tried."
"Are Jack and Haley safe?" Hotch asked as Sam was still breathing hard and Élise help led Reid into the house, "Sam, tell me what happened."
"I don't know how he got in." A gasping Sam tries to explain what happened.
"Sam, I need to understand. Does he know where Jack and Haley are?"
"I didn't..." Sam was still struggling with talking as the team could hear an ambulance.
"What about her phone number? What's her safe phone number?" Hotch asked with urgency.
"I didn't...it won't matter." A hoarsely Sam answered as he was still breathing hard. "I—I tried, Hotch.
"Gunshot wounds to each leg," Reid gave details to the paramedics as they made their way. "One foot, he's missing several fingers, and appears to be badly beaten."
"Clear out of the way." A female paramedic said to Hotch.
One of the other paramedics said as he began tending to Sam. "Get me a C-collar, prep me a saline drip While I grab a round of vitals. Sam, are you allergic to any medication?"
"Hotch."
"Sam, I'm right here." Hotch stood between two of the paramedics.
"I tried."
A paramedic ordered, "Make sure they have a trauma surgeon standing by."
"Oh, my god," Élise had her hand over her mouth and her other hand being held by Reid, comforting her as they all witness Sam being taken on a gurney and Hotch following them before going into the ambulance, hoping to get more answers from Sam.
"Okay, thank you." Élise hung up. "That was the US Marshals. Sam's dead."
"Damn," Morgan exclaimed.
"Yeah. That's also mean Haley and Jack are in the wind. She's dumped her cell phone, which means there's no way to track them or pinpoint their exact location since their cell phones are designed to bounce between towers."
Hotch was now on speaker, "Foyet called Haley from Kassmeyer's phone."
"All right, we'll get Garcia to trace it. JJ." Morgan said.
"He told her she was compromised, and I was dead."
Prentiss asked. "Well, have you called her?"
"No. he said to throw her phone away and to buy a disposable."
"Hotch, we're gonna come get you right now."
"No, Anderson's bringing me a car." A panicking Hotch said.
"You want to meet back at the office?" Morgan asked.
Hotch was still frantic, "I'm hoping that she's just gonna call me, at least, to check."
"Foyet posed as a Marshal; even called from a number that Haley recognized."
"And then he did what gets him off," Rossi added. "He scared her."
Prentiss included, "No, he paralyzed her. He overwhelmed her."
"And now she trusts him. Where do you think he would take her?" Reid asked.
Prentiss said, "Witness Protection had her living in New Jersey."
"He has a head start. He could be there now." Reid figured.
"I'll call them," Élise pulls out her cell phone.
"Garcia's got a trace," JJ said.
"He's bouncing between a few towers," Garcia said.
"Where?" Hotch asked.
Garcia answered, "Fairfax County."
"He's still local?" JJ asked.
"Send the coordinates to my phone," Hotch ordered.
"Done."
JJ wonders, "Why isn't he on his way to New Jersey?"
"Wait, that phone's on?" Prentiss asked.
"Yes."
"Hotch?" She tries calling out for him.
"He hung up."
"Damn it." Prentiss cried, but after hearing a beep. "What's that?"
"Hotch is calling Foyet."
Soon, the team and Élise could hear the conversation between Hotch and Foyet.
"Agent Hotchner." Foyet cocky answers.
Hotch quietly threats him. "If you touch her..."
"Be gentle, like I was with you?" Foyet smugly said. "What the hell took you so long? I was beginning to think this phone was dead or something. Why so quiet? You usually lash out when you're frustrated."
"I'm not frustrated." Hotch tries to hide it. "You're more predictable than you think."
"Am I?" Foyet said with deadpan.
"You didn't know where Haley was, so you made her come to you."
"You make me sound lazy."
"Just another way for you to show control."
"Oh, that's terrible," Foyet said dryly.
Soon, Hotch began profiling Foyet about his past, "Your mother tried to protect you from your father, but she wasn't strong enough. And you hated her for that, didn't you? You decided that all women were weak."
"Those are your words, not mine."
"What were you, nine when you killed them?"
"It was a car accident." Foyet insisted.
"That you couldn't take credit for. That had to be hard for you." Hotch sarcastically said before continuing. "But poor George got another chance. The little orphan was saved by the wealthy, sterile Eastside couple, the Foyets. And the story should have ended there."
"I don't believe in fairy tales. do you?" Foyet questioned Hotch.
"That's the thing, George." Hotch began ranting. "This isn't a fairy tale. You don't have to write this story. You don't have to do any of this. I know you're exhausted. Always looking over your shoulder, always wondering when the other shoe is gonna drop. Haven't you gotten what you wanted? You've set yourself apart from anybody we've ever dealt with. You're not just a famous serial killer, you're the reaper. We're gonna study you and your methods for years and years."
After a quick silent moment, "You know what I've been thinking? Haley looks pretty good with dark hair. She's lost some weight. Must be all the stress you caused her. Where's the little man? Oh. there he is. Does he like Captain America because of you?" Foyet's cell phone began ringing. "That's your wife. Hold, please. Mrs. Hotchner."
"I'm here."
"Open the gate and I'll drive in."
"Ok."
Aaron? I really gotta go." Foyet hangs up.
"Oh, god." Élise had her hand on her head. "Oh."
Morgan tries to brush off the chills, "All right, Foyet has to be in control. He had Haley come to him."
"Yeah, but where would he take her?" Reid wondered.
"He'd want Hotch to find him," JJ said. "to see where he was, which means he- to see what he did."
"He said something on that call That tells Hotch where to go." Rossi reminded them.
"Reid, what did he say, exactly?"
Reid began reciting what Foyet said, ""Haley's hair looks good dark. She's lost some weight. It must be because of all the stress you caused her. Where's the little man? Oh, there he is now. Do you think he likes Captain America because of you? That's your wife on the other line. Hold, please. Hi. Open the gate and I'll drive in.""
"Open the gate?" Rossi repeated.
"It would be someplace with the biggest emotional impact for Hotch." Prentiss guessed.
Morgan added, "And Haley has access to the gate."
"Their house," Rossi deducted. "Where they lived together."
"Of course." Prentiss figured. "Foyet planned this all the way to the end. It's everything to him."
"He wants to take over Hotch's home to be in control to prove his dominance," Morgan concluded before hurrying over to Hotch's old house.
Élise and Reid sat at the back seat as they rode with Morgan and Rossi and JJ and Prentiss in the other car, getting to the Hotchner residence as fast as they could.
"Morgan," Hotch answered.
"He's going to your house."
"I know."
"I'm sending out a full tactical deployment, Hotch."
"Good."
"We're on our way." After hanging up,
"Foyet's calling Hotch," Garcia said.
"Garcia, can you get us on?" Morgan asked.
Now, they could hear…
"Foyet," Hotch answered at the first ring.
"Aaron?"
It was Haley.
"You're ok?" She sounded teary-eyed but relieved.
"I'm fine." Hotch stunningly said.
"But... He said that...Oh, Aaron." Haley was overwhelmed.
"He can hear us, right?" Hotch asked.
"Yes. I am so sorry." Haley apologies.
"Haley, show him no weakness. No fear."
"I know. Sam told me all about him. Is he, uh—"
"No, Sam is fine." Hotch quickly lied.
Foyet began taunting Hotch, "Aaron, Aaron, Aaron. Is that why your marriage broke up, Because you're a liar?"
Hotch urged her. "Don't listen to him, Haley."
"I have Sam's service phone right here. They sent out a mass text about his death. You can take a look if you want."
"He's trying to scare you." Hotch tries to soothe her.
"Did you even tell her what this was about? About the deal?"
"He's just trying to make you angry."
"Well, she should be. She's gonna...D-I-E Because of your inflated ego."
"Ignore him, Haley." Hotch was still trying to urge her.
"I'm sure you don't want her to know this part either. You know, all he had to do was stop looking for me and you wouldn't be in this mess."
"Don't react."
After a short pause. "What is he talking about?" Haley asked, dazed by everything that was going on.
"Tell Jack I need him working the case."
"What?" A confused Haley asked.
"Tell Jack I need him working the case."
Haley clears her throat, "Jack. Did you hear that?"
Soon Jack came to the phone, "Hi, daddy."
"Hi, buddy."
"Is George a bad guy?"
"Yes, he is. Jack, I need you on this case with me. Do you understand? I need you to work the case with me."
"Ok, daddy."
"Jack, hug your mom for me," Hotch asked Jack to do, crocking.
"Mommy hug me too tight."
"I'm sorry."
"Why are you sad?" Haley softly said.
"Oh, I just love you so much."
"Mommy, I gotta go. I'm working the case."
Haley said, "Ok."
"He's so cute. He's like a little junior G-man. I'll be right up, Jackie boy!"
"Is he gone?"
"Yes."
"You're so strong, Haley. You're stronger than I ever was."
A nervous Haley asked, "You'll hurry, right?"
"I know you didn't sign on for this." Hotch was fighting tears.
Haley reminded Hotch, "Neither did you."
Hotch apologies, "I'm sorry for everything."
"Promise me that you will tell him how we met and how you used to make me laugh."
"Haley..."
"He needs to know that you weren't always so serious, Aaron. I want him to believe in love because it is the most important thing. But you need to show him. Promise me." Haley tearfully pleads.
"I promise."
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Soon, Rossi and Morgan registered shock on their faces as Élise softly broke down and began crying on Reid's chest, allowing him to comfort her, wrapping his arms around her and her arms around him.
The team and Élise finally reached the Hotchner residence as well as the full tactical development Morgan sent out; from more FBI agents to SWAT to paramedics. Once they got into the house, they arrived with their weapons,
"Hotch! Hotch!" Morgan pulls Hotch away from Foyet. "He's dead. Hotch, stop. Come on, stop it. It's over. It's over. It's ok. It's over, man."
"Holy hell." Élise was shielded away by Reid from what Hotch did to Foyet. After seeing Hotch breaking down, Élise, JJ, and Reid soon followed Hotch, who quickly ran up the stairs and into one of the rooms in the house. They all soon noticed Jack was hiding in a chest and was just coming out when,
"What happened to you, daddy?" Jack innocently asked with concern.
"I'm ok." Hotch's voice was shaking. "I want you to go outside with Élise. Ok?"
"Come here, sweetheart." Élise brought Jack into her arms and began rubbing his back; JJ and Reid followed her. As they got outside,
"Where's mommy, Élise?" Jack asked.
Élise looked at Jack before turning to look at Reid and JJ with drained facial expressions. Élise cleared her throat, crocking.
"Jack...she-uh...she's on the other side now, little guy," Élise said with tears piercing in her eyes before hugging him and Reid and JJ joined in.
Until next time, everyone!