2 Months later…

Home of Derek Morgan- Morning –

It had been two months; Derek and the rest of the team had all returned to Quantico taking cases while still secretly waiting for Villarreal to strike. It was exhausting and the bureau chief had already warned them of the consequences of their clandestine operation to catch the elusive Armando Villarreal. Cruz and the other bureau higher-ups had closed the case and insisted that Villarreal was in the wind and had most likely lost interest in Morgan.

Morgan didn't believe it; he had gotten to know the deranged egomaniac and he'd experienced up close and very personal just what he could and would do to anyone who posed a threat to him. Derek also knew that as long as Villarreal occupied his every waking moment then the man had already won, and it would be as good as if he had already put a bullet in his head. Already he could see the cracks in his relationship with Garcia and his team was already compensating for him being distracted in the field. Most of the time Hotch would leave him behind to work with Garcia instead of allowing him in the field and that didn't sit well with him. Confrontations with his boss had become a regular occurrence at the round table and he was on his last strike.

He was pulling away from her. She thought after they returned home their relationship would continue to grow into something permanent, but he'd become distant and more often then not he insisted on spending his free time alone. Her insecurities were on tilt and she wondered if he regretted everything that he had said and promised her. She'd never fought for him before instead she'd hidden her feelings for him behind a façade of friendship; but friendship was no longer enough. She had to hold onto the fact that she knew him better than he knew himself and in her moments of sanity she knew exactly what he was doing. It wasn't a matter of not loving her or changing his mind; it was about protecting her and keeping her out of Armando Villarreal's crosshairs. So, she'd let him have his space and she'd watch his back when he thought she wasn't looking. It didn't matter what the bureau ordered; the case was not closed not until the man who'd almost killed Derek was back behind bars or dead.

BAU Headquarters –

Derek was the last to arrive for the briefing and he avoided Hotch's glare as he quickly took the seat next to Garcia. He was hoping not to be left behind this time be he knew that the likelihood of him going with the rest of them was slim to none. He began to wonder if his days of usefulness with the BAU were over. Villarreal had taken everything that mattered to him; his wife and everything that he thought was real was nothing but dust. His career was teetering on a cliff and his life with Garcia was crumbling as well. All he wanted was to find and fight his demons; his past and his present had collided and conspired to destroy him and at this moment he felt his back on the ropes and he was gasping for air.

"The bodies of three women have been found around the center of Manhattan over the last three weeks. All of the women have been raped and strangled and their naked bodies left at bus stops in the late evening or early mornings while most people were still asleep." Hotch began.

Pictures of the victims appeared on the screens as each agent reviewed the files in front of them. One by one they gave their opinions on what had happened and why. Morgan remained silent which was not like him. Rossi was the first to notice that this was becoming his stepson's new normal and he didn't like it.

"Derek, what's your take?"

"What?"

"You're an expert on obsessional crimes, what do you think?"

"Does it matter?"

"Of course, it matters you're a part of this team…"

"Really, okay, well let's see; these victims are symbols of someone in the unsub's past that humiliated or emasculated him."

"Why do you say that?" Hotch asked.

"Because of what he did to them; all of them were mutilated below the waist and their faces are disfigured and he cut their hair."

"Wow, whoever pissed this guy off, really pissed this guy off!" JJ added.

"Well if he sticks with his current MO, there'll be another body before we get to New York; wheels up in thirty…Morgan…"

"Yeah, I know, I know Hotch, I'll be staying behind with Garcia."

"No, I want you with us; you too Garcia."

Athens, Greece – Afternoon –

Armando had settled into his new villa. It was much smaller than his last home, but it was important that he kept a low profile. He'd always wanted to live in Greece, but he hadn't expected it to become a reality so soon. At any rate, he was here and had gotten comfortable in the solitude and tranquil surroundings.

It had been two months; two months since he'd escaped capture and had suffered losses that he'd blamed on Derek Morgan. He'd stolen Savannah and the son that should have been his and now even his daughter and best friend were gone. The thought of killing the man was the only thing that kept him going these days and even his criminal activity had slowed down over the last few months. Nothing could take his focus from his plans to walk back into Derek Morgan's life one last time. Even now, he was packing for a trip to New York; it would be a meeting that no one would see coming and no one would be able to protect the man that everyone deemed invincible. He wasn't invincible, Armando knew it; he'd broken him before and he'd do it again, just before he took his life.

New York Police Department- Manhattan Division – Evening –

Just as they'd expected another body had been discovered before their arrival and even after five hours since their arrival they were still at a lost as to who they were looking for. The team had set up in an office near the far end of the building. Garcia had spent the last hour doing searches for the case and secretly working on searches of a more personal matter. Derek wasn't the only one who had not been able to let things rest and the man that had nearly destroyed the man she loved was still free to come at him again. So, as the team conducted their final debrief and planned for the next day, she sat alone…hunting.

"Garcie we're ready to head to the hotel."

JJ entered the room and closed the door. She knew exactly what her friend was doing, and she was worried.

"Please tell me you're not doing what I think you're doing!"

Garcia didn't respond she merely sat motionless in front of her screens.

"Garcia!"

She couldn't believe what she was seeing; after months of searching under every imaginable cyber rock and nearly giving up the idea of ever finding him…there he was.

"Garcie? What's wrong?"

"I found him."

"What? Who?"

"Armando Villarreal; I found the son-of-a-bitch."

"You're kidding. Where is he?"

"Here!"