Chapter 149
AN: Hope you like this chapter, let me know what you think.
At the BAU Emily, who just checked on the kids and is desperately trying to be okay, is walking along the Catwalk when Anderson walks up to her.
"Ma'am, all emergency vehicles have been confirmed except for one ambulance that wasn't registered with the city or county," Anderson explains.
"Private company so we can't track the GPS," Emily realises.
"That's right," Anderson says.
"Thanks Anderson, keep me posted," Emily says, before heading to the roundtable room where the rest of the team are.
"I still can't believe Meadows was able to cover up all these kills," Matt says, sounding amazed.
"Over a decade. There doesn't seem to be an obvious pattern," JJ notes. "They're all over the continental US," JJ notes.
"Victimology's protector type," Luke says.
"That's a good start, but we need more," Emily says, knowing it is the only way they're going to get her wife, and brother, back. "Why take hyoid bones?" Emily asks.
"Well, they're unique to humans," Tara notes. "They float in the neck, and they aren't connected to any other bone," Tara says.
"Well, it anchors the tongue," JJ says. "Without it, the victims have no voice," JJ says.
"Run with that," Rossi instructs. "They removed them while their victims were still alive, which isn't just sadistic, it means they want them speechless," Rossi says.
"What if removing the hyoid isn't just a ritual, but an individual's signature?" Emily asks.
"So, it isn't a cult of killers, it's just Merva," JJ realises. "All the victims were sacrificed by The Messiah," JJ realises.
"The followers are simply hunters," Emily says.
"That would eliminate some of his risk," Luke realises.
"He gave the hunters hyoids as trophies, maybe some kind of reward for their hard work," Matt realises. "That's why he gave Theo's parents seven of them," Matt says.
"All right, look, The Believers, they're just like Jonestown, Manson, Heaven's Gate, even Rajneeshpuram in Oregon," Tara explains. "There's always a charismatic leader and a strong right hand who appears to be a devoted disciple," Tara explains. "In this case, Meadows," Tara says.
"Merva has killed two hundred and ninety-nine innocents for a reason," Emily says. "We just don't know why," Emily admits. "But now that he's taken Pen and Reid, The Believers have declared war on the BAU," Emily says, meaning that completely. "So, this has got to be working towards their end game, one that could make either Pen or Reid their three hundredth victim, perhaps their last," Emily says, her voice stuttering a little as she speaks.
"Penelope wasn't apart of this," Matt admits. "She was just racing to the elevator," Matt explains, and Emily feels terrified not only for Reid but for Penelope as she cannot imagine it will end well for her when she isn't who they actually wanted.
"So, it's Spence," JJ realises. "It's been him all along. He's a protector. It fits the victimology," JJ realises.
"Reid has to know something we don't," Tara realises.
"Ben's Believers. Reid could have told us anything, but he choose that," Luke says.
A little while after Reid was taken away from her Penelope is still working on the laptop to do what Meadows wanted. Unfortunately, she is being watched too closely to do anything other than what they want.
"What is wrong with you?" Penelope asks Meadows.
"Didn't think you'd be so judgy," Meadows comments.
"It's Good vs Evil, dummy. It's pretty simple," Penelope tells her. "Doing the wrong thing for the right reasons to make sure you don't hurt Reid or anybody else," Penelope says.
"You've justified it," Meadows says.
"I'm a pretty good person and I'm doing a really bad thing," Penelope admits.
"Again. Justification. Now that you've made my point, maybe you won't be so quick to judge," Meadows says as Penelope finishes doing what Meadows wanted. "Women of her word. The world needs more of us, am I right?" Meadows asks, taking the laptop.
"You need to sink that right now or it will lock me out and set a bunch of alarms if I try to hack it again," Penelope says.
At Quantico Emily, who feels like she needs to be doing something, has gone to look for JJ and she finds her in the bathroom looking like she is close to falling apart.
"Hey," Emily greats.
"Hi. Ahem. Did I ever tell you about the Redskins game, gosh, fourteen years ago now?" JJ asks and Emily shakes her head. "Well, Spence… Spence got us good tickets," JJ reveals. "Actually, Gideon gave them to him and talked him into asking me to go," JJ corrects. "So, you know, I just figured all the youngest team members should hang out, so I, of course, asked Garcia to come along," JJ says. "Ugh. Well, it turns out Morgan and Hoch were giving him pointers on the side thinking it was going to be a date," JJ says. "Gosh. I mean, he'd never been on one before," JJ explains. "Poor Spence. He didn't know what to do. I'm just glad he forgave me," JJ admits.
"He adores you," Emily says. "And it sounds like that was the beginning of something even better. The three of you have been inseparable since I met you and I know what you and Spence mean to Pen," Emily admits.
"I don't know how to do this without them," JJ admits.
"I don't know how to do this without her," Emily says, as they both become upset.
"I don't know how you're holding it together," JJ admits, as she I barely holding it together so she can't imagine how Emily is.
"I'm not," Emily admits, as the two of them embrace.
After spending a little while with JJ Emily has headed up to the roundtable room where she is staring at the picture of Meadows, staring a the picture of the person who could be hurting her wife, as Rossi sits at the table, looking though various things.
"What are you thinking?" Rossi asks, noticing what Emily is doing.
"When we hit a wall in the Quinn investigation, Meadows showed up in my office. She convinced me Quinn wasn't a killer," Emily explains.
"Unsub 101," Rossi says, just like Tara did earlier.
"Yeah, I know, but it was the way she stood there," Emily admits. "She lingered. It's almost like she was testing me to see if I recognized her," Emily explains.
"Did you?" Rossi asks curious.
"Yeah, from here, but I don't know where else our paths crossed," Emily admits,.
"What if Reid recognized her, and that's why he signed 'Ben's Believers'?" Rossi asks. "Maybe she's the connection," Rossi suggests and as he does Emily thinks back, she thinks to any possible connection to the phrase, and as she does the answer comes to her.
"Oh, my god," Emily suddenly says.
"What?" Rossi asks.
"I have seen her. So, have you," Emily says and Rossi stands up. "We have both met the Believers before," Emily says. "Liberty Ranch in Colorado. Polygamous leader Benjamin Cyrus," Emily says and Rossi remembers back.
"I remember him," Rossi says.
"Merva was there, so was Meadows. She must have been one of Cyrus' wives," Emily says.
"Ben's Believers," Rossi repeats.
"Benjamin Cyrus and Benjamin Merva are connected," Emily realises.
"And this is the payback for Cyrus's death," Rossi says.
A little while after Emily and Rossi realised what Ben's Believers means Reid is being lead through the warehouse. As he is led Reid is looking for an opportunity that he can take advantage off.
"Solar panels, guns, food. You'll be off the grid," Reid realises. "Just take me. Let Theo go," Reid suggests.
"Theo's not a hostage. He's a divine gift," Meadows explains. "He was raised at the ranch to be a leader until your team destroyed everything," Meadows says. "You didn't stop to think how this would look a decade later, how Theo was forced to depend on weak parents. They were the followers, no the leaders," Meadows says. "And you, none of you ever thought about us again. You never considered how angry we'd be," Meadows says. "Your government underestimated our faith. Now you'll see," Meadows informs Reid.
"Everyone's looking for us, and they aren't gonna stop," Reid says, knowing that without a doubt.
"Unlike the BAU, we've learned from our mistakes," Meadows says. "But I can tell you this, no one's ever gonna find you," Meadows says.
"Cyrus said God wanted to save me," Reid says.
"He was right. He saved you for a great purpose, and this is it," Meadows says, and once she does Reid and Penelope lock eyes. As he knows this is the best chance Penelope has he starts to struggle, fight back, and due to everything being so hectic Penelope is able to run.
Remember exactly what Reid said Penelope runs outside, and goes straight to the car, which has keys inside just like Reid said, which she starts. As she start the car Meadows comes running out and points her gun at her, but Penelope just keeps driving, hitting meadows and causing her to fall to the ground as she goes
At the BAU Luke, Matt and Tara are in the bullpen watching the news report from ten years ago as none of them were apart of the BAU back then.
"Liberty Ranch. This case is still legendary for extreme survivalists," Matt reveals.
"And when the local police invaded, they took it as proof that the prophecy had come true," Tara comments.
"Polygamy was huge for them," Luke says. "Meadows wasn't the only one married to Benjamin Cyrus," Luke says.
"So, they blamed the BAU for the death of their messiah way back then," Matt says.
"And they've been planning their revenge for a very long time," Luke says.
"The team went bin there to save some kids from a sketchy situation a decade ago, and now this," Tara says as Emily, Rossi and JJ walk up to the trio.
"After the explosion, the ranch was condemned. Local FBI has eyes on it for us in case they head back there," Emily explains.
"When the women and children was rescued from the ranch, the government offered to relocate and give them a fresh start through WITSEC," JJ explains.
"That makes sense why Meadows was able to clear the FBI background check," Matt realises.
"She accepted their help knowing she would betray the government," Tara says.
"Not every survivor wanted help," JJ says.
"We ran those who left the ranch and kept their names," Rossi explains. "A few relocated to rural Maryland and Virginia," Rossi explains.
"Well, they could be helping now," Luke says. "Any of them have large pieces of property?" Luke asks.
A few," Emily answers. "The Washington field office has started searches in Maryland," Emily explains. "We'll take the lead in Virginia," Emily says and as she does JJ realises something.
"Oh my god," JJ says, and everyone turns to see Penelope walking towards them, carrying her shoes.
Feeling overwhelming joy Emily runs up to her wife, and hugs her, kissing her check.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Emily asks her wife worried, as she continues to hug her.
"It's a warehouse that's in Hilcrest, eighteen minutes," Penelope says, in a monotone voice. "I can take you there. You got to hurry. They hurt Ried. He's been bleeding. They're in trucks with Theo. I heard a gunshot. It's a warehouse," Penelope says as she continues to hug her wife, and once she speaks everyone, but Emily run out of the bullpen.
"Pen look at me, Babe," Emily says, putting her hands either side of Penelope's face. "Are you hurt?" Emily asks worried, and Penelope shakes her head.
"Reid's hurt, it's a warehouse," Penelope repeats, and Emily knows that her wife is in shock.
"We heard, the team's going to get him," Emily says, putting an arm around Penelope's shoulder. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up," Emily says, leading her wife up towards her office.
As Penelope and Emily get closer to the office Kenzie, who is also holding Casey, Maddie, Noah and Connor hurry out of the office.
"Mama!" Kenzie, Maddie, Noah and Connor yell, all sounding thrilled, as they run towards Penelope and once they are close enough they all hug Penelope.
"We're so glad you're okay," Maddie says, as Emily knows, without a doubt, that Penelope is in shock as she barely responds to the hugs.
"Kenz, can you take your siblings into Dave's office for a few minutes? I need to talk to Mama," Emily explains, as all the kids break apart from Penelope, as she wants to help Penelope be closer to being okay so that the kids don't worry about her.
"Sure," Kenzie responds, being able to tell that Penelope isn't completely okay. "Come on guys," Kenzie says, leading her siblings to the other room, as Emily helps Penelope to her office.
"It's a warehouse, Reid's hurt," Penelope requests.
"I know Babe, we've got it," Emily says, helping Penelope onto the couch, and Emily sits down right in front of her wife. "It's okay, you're okay," Emily tells Penelope.
"Reid's not," Penelope responds.
"We'll find him," Emily says, squeezing Penelope's hands before getting up and walking over to her desk where she grabs one of the bottles of water that is on it, and opening the cabinet behind her desk she grabs a hoddie of Penelope's that she keeps as she likes wearing it when she has to work late alone. Once she has collected the items she wants she walks back over to Penelope. "Here, drink this," Emily says, handing Penelope the water as she puts the hoddie over Penelope's shoulder. "Look around, Pen, you're back at the BAU, you're safe," Emily tells her wife, trying to help her.
"I thought I was never going to see you again," Penelope admits, her voice breaking, and so Emily moves over so that she is sitting next to her wife, as she pulls Penelope into her arms; desperately hoping she can help her.
For a couple of minutes Penelope and Emily sit together Emily desperately trying to help her wife, while Penelope is trying to calm down after what has happened.
"The kids, I want to see the kids," Penelope says.
"I'll go get them," Emily says, before kissing her wife's head and heading out of her office.
Less than a minute later Emily, who is carrying Casey, walk back into the room, as soon as the four older kids walk in the hurry over to Penelope and hug her, and this hug Penelope responds too more than the last one; to Emily's relief.
"Are you okay, Mama?" Kenzie asks, and it doesn't even register with Penelope that Kenzie called her mama.
"I am now," Penelope says, kissing the heads of each of her four older children. As Penelope does that Emily's phone goes off and she finds a message from Tara; and as soon as she reads the message Emily knows that she has to interrupt the reunion.
"Pen, the team need to know more about where the warehouse is," Emily explains.
"I need to go to my cave," Penelope says, her voice being the same tone as it was when she talked about where she and Reid were, before getting up and heading out of the room, putting the hoddie on properly as she goes.
"Is Mama okay?" Connor asks worried.
"Mama's in shock right now, but she will be okay," Emily explains.
"Should she be working right now?" Maddie asks, as she may only be seven, but she is pretty sure that Penelope shouldn't be working in the state she is in.
"Right now, Mama has to because it will help find Spencer; and that's something Mama needs to do," Emily explains. "I'm going to help Mama, but I'll be back soon, okay?" Emily asks.
"Okay," Kenzie says, trying to keep in a yawn, and Emily puts Casey down in the bassinet. After putting Casey in the bassinet Emily gives each of the kids a kiss on the head before heading out of her office.
About fifteen minutes later the team have found the warehouse completely cleaned out and JJ and Rossi, who explained what they found, are on the phone with Penelope and Emily who are in Penelope's office.
"Reid said it all happens at ten twenty-three," Penelope reveals.
"But it's past that," Emily says. "So, what did he mean?" Emily asks.
"Could be a clue here," Rossi says. "They got sloppy since they left in a hurry," Rossi says.
"Okay, well, you can't be that far behind them," Emily says.
"I know, but there's easy access to three major highways, and we don't know which way they went," JJ explains.
"Right, but they're in big rigs. That means we can track them through weigh stations," Emily comments.
"No, you won't be able to," Penelope comments.
"Why not?" Emily asks, looking at her wife.
"I hacked the AVI, the Automated Vehicle ID, and created clean histories for each of the trucks so they wouldn't have to stop," Penelope explains, guilt clear in her voice.
"So as long as they're within legal weight, they'd get a green light," Emily realises.
"I did that," Penelope says, her voice breaking. "I wanted to see Reid so I did that. I did the wrong thing," Penelope says, looking at her wife.
"No, you didn't," Emily assures her. "We'll find another way to track them," Emily says, taking Penelope's hand. "There's got to be a way to trace an electronic weigh station bypass. They're transponders, like a carpool lane. Each one is assigned…" Emily starts to explain, but Penelope cuts her off.
"No, no, you won't be able to," Penelope says, her voice breaking. "I used old registrations, nothing legit," Penelope explains. "It's all untraceable. I tried to leave a trail, but I couldn't. there wasn't enough time," Penelope says. "This is all my fault. We're not gonna be able to find Reid in time, and it's all my fault," Penelope says, her voice breaking.
"Pen, it's gonna be okay," Emily says, squeezing Penelope's hand.
"How is it gonna be okay, Em? They killed Theo and we don't know where they're going," Penelope says, sounding horrified.
"Pen, they've been gone less than an hour. They're a good chance they're still in Virginia, and we're gonna do whatever we have to do to find them," Emily assures her wife.
A little while later the team are on their way back to the BAU and while Penelope is setting things up in the roundtable room Emily is checking in on the kids. Walking into her office Emily sees that all the kids have fallen asleep; something which doesn't surprise her. Moving as quietly as possible Emily walks over to the kids and covers the four older kids, who are cuddling together on the couch, in a blanket. Once she has covered them in a blanket Emily spends a few moments watching them before heading back out of her office and heading to the roundtable room.
"The kids are asleep," Emily says as she walks over and sits down next to her wife. "Pen, I can call Monty, or another Analysist," Emily suggests, even though she knows Penelope isn't likely to agree, she has to try.
"No, I have to help," Penelope responds, and as she does the team walk in.
"What have you got?" Tara asks.
"Multiple routes they could take out of the state," Emily explains. "Based on the size of the truck Pen described we're talking two fuel tanks filled with diesel," Emily explains.
"Those tanks could be anywhere from fifty to three hundred gallons, and they get roughly seven miles a gallon average," Luke says.
"Yeah, we're looking at 1,200 to 1,800 miles before they need to refuel," Matt comments.
"They won't want to risk stopping. They'll stay inside that radius," Tara says.
"They're using trucks for transport because of all the supplies, so they're setting up a new compound," Emily realises.
"Agreed, but where?" Rossi asks.
"Where will they be at ten twenty-three?" Penelope asks.
"Well, five hundred miles in any direction," JJ say. "Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, Georgia, Kentucky," JJ says.
"Only connection between those states is that there were victims killed there," Luke explains.
"Emotional history's in Colorado, but that wouldn't connect to ten twenty-three at all," Matt comments. "But they can make it to the ranch without refuelling," Matt reveals.
"It's too risky," Rossi says. "They know it's the first place we'd look," Rossi comments.
"I… what about this?" Tara asks. "Do you have any idea why they'd want to kill three hundred victims?" Tara asks curious.
"It feels like the ultimate sacrifice," JJ comments.
"Cyrus was a history buff," Rossi remembers. "He choose Franklin as his middle name after a founding father," Rossi comments.
"Three hundred is a recurring number in history," Matt says. "Spartan's guard of the King, it was three hundred men," Matt says.
"Three hundred invisible soldiers of Gideon. Coincidence?" Tara asks.
"Gideon was no longer on the team when we were at the ranch," Emily says. "It could be connected, but…" Emily says, sounding uncertain.
"If this is about a believer's rebirth, babies are born with three hundred bones, and they're taking the hyoids," JJ comments.
"And the hyoids we had in evidence are missing, which means Merva needed them back, and that means they mean more to the end game than we thought," Tara comments.
"But why did Reid need us to know it happened at ten twenty-three?" Penelope asks. "That's got to be important. It was the last thing he said to me," Penelope explains, sounding frustrated.
"Listen, you're right," Matt says, putting his hand on Penelope's shoulder. "It means something to him. We're trying to figure it out," Matt says in a calm voice.
"You better," Penelope says, before getting up and heading gout of the room.
"Keep working everything," Emily instructs before hurrying out of the room.
"Pen!" Emily calls, catching up with her wife as Penelope gets to the kitchen. "Hey, talk to me," Emily requests, getting to her side. "Pen," Emily sys in a gentle voice as she pushes Penelope's hair out of her face.
"I wanted to trade places with him," Penelope reveals. "But Spence wouldn't let me," Penelope explains. "Reid risked everything to keep me safe, we have to find him," Penelope says.
"We will," Emily says, before hugging her wife. "We will, Babe," Emily says, believing that.
"This is all my fault," Penelope admits.
"Oh, no, It's not Pen," Emily assures her as she continues to hold Penelope.
For a few minutes Penelope and Emily stand in the kitchen holding each other, until they finally break apart.
"I was serious about getting Monty to help, but I know you, so I know that you're going to want to do everything you can to help Reid yourself," Emily says to her wife. "So, are you ready to do that again?" Emily asks.
"Yeah," Penelope says and the two of them head back up to the roundtable room, Emily holding Penelope's hand as they go. As they walk back into the room Rossi walks over to his daughter and hugs her.
"None of this is your fault, Kiddo," Rossi assures his daughter as he kisses the top of her head.
A little while after Penelope and Emily returned to the round table room the entire team are working to try and figure out where Reid would have been taken.
"All right, thanks," Matt says, hanging up the call he is on. "Still no sign of any prep at the old Liberty Ranch or nearby," Matt reveals.
"Well, if this is about rebirth, they'll choose a new place," Luke comments.
"Well, given their adoration of Cyrus and his love of the country, he'd want them to stay without our borders," Tara comments.
"Remember, Benjamin Cyrus wasn't his real name, and he wasn't born into the cult," Penelope says. "He and his mom arrived there when he was a teenager. He was kicked out for molesting girls. And then he served prison in Kentucky," Penelope says, and as she remembers back to what she found back then. "So, he was technically reborn in Kentucky, and that's in the area." Penelope says. "Maybe that's where they're headed?" Penelope asks, looking up at Emily who is standing behind her, with her hands on Penelope's shoulders.
"Let's find out which city he was born in or where he was in prison and we'll spread out from there," Luke says.
"Great work, Pen," Emily says to her wife, sounding proud. "Get in the air, we'll narrow down the city before you land," Emily instructs, making it clear that she is not going with them. "We should also circle back to the religious component that Cyrus brought to the Cult," Emily instructs. "Reid and Cyrus quoted scripture a lot. Ten twenty-three could be a lesson," Emily explains.
Not long after the team left they are on the jet doing research while Penelope and Emily, who are on video call with them, are in Penelope's office doing the same thing.
"We're approaching Kentucky," Rossi reveals. "The pilot needs to know where to touch down," Rossi reveals.
"We're still looking," JJ says.
"Uh, proverbs ten twenty-three, "A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom," Matt reads. "Doesn't fit," Matt realises.
"Jeremiah ten twenty-three, 'I know that the way of man is not in himself," Luke reads.
"Corinthians, 'Do also the glory of god," Tara reads.
"Uh, hey, guys, listen to this," JJ says. "Matthew chapter ten, verse twenty three, 'When you are persecuted in one place flee to another," JJ reads.
"They're going to the next town," Emily realises.
"Flee to another? But which one?" Penelope asks, looking at her wife.
"Their end game is also a new beginning," Rossi realises. "Cyrus brought religion back to the cult," Rossi says. "They'd honour that by wanted to start fresh, like the garden of Eden," Rossi explains.
"That's how three hundred fits," Tara realises. "That was the number of angles that protected the garden of Eden," Tara explains. "Are there any Edens in Kentucky?" Tara asks.
"Uh no," Penelope answers, after checking. "But there are two synonyms, Canaan and Arcadia," Penelope explains.
"Which one's closer to where Cyrus was born?" JJ asks.
"Arcadia," Penelope answers.
"Okay, that's where they're going," Emily realises. "Pen, pull land deeds. I'll notify SWAT," Emily instructs.
A little while after Emily said that she would all SWAT she and Penelope are sitting in Penelope's office, both of them are sitting side by side and are desperate for news; both desperately hoping that Reid is okay. Suddenly Penelope's phone rings and so she quickly presses answer, which puts the phone on speaker.
"We've got him; Reid's okay, we've go him," Tara says, and as soon as she speaks Penelope starts to cry.
"Thanks Tara," Emily says, hanging up, as she moves closer to her wife and holds her as Penelope completely falls apart.
A little while after they got the call from Tara Penelope and Emily have moved to Emily's office where they are just watching their kids sleep, while holding each other, waiting for the team to return.
While Penelope and Emily are watching their kids the team are on the jet back. Sitting across from Spencer JJ is just holding his hand, so glad that she got her two best friends back.
"You okay?" JJ asks concerned.
"Yeah, I am," Reid confirms.
"It'll take a while, but those will fade," JJ says, referring to the bruises. "You look kind of tough," JJ teases, remembering when Morgan said something similar to her and how it made her feel better.
"Thank you. That's what I was going for," Reid says with a grin. "I always had a hard time saying what I feel. I think maybe it's because I'm afraid of being disappointed," Reid admits. "But I've never said how much I love you all," Reid reveals.
"That's the beauty of family, we already know," JJ assures him.
A little while after JJ and Reid's conversation day has broken and the team are arriving at the BAU where Penelope and Emily are waiting. As soon as the elevator doors open Reid and Penelope walk up to each other and hug, holding onto each other for dear life; both being glad to see the other as the rest of the team watch on.
It takes a while, but once Penelope and Reid finally break apart Emily hugs Reid and Penelope walks over to Tara.
"Please don't tell Gideon what happened," Penelope requests.
"I won't lie if he finds out, or asks, but I won't tell him," Tara tells Penelope.
"Thank you," Penelope says relieved.
Many hours later, trying to comprehend what has happened over the past thirty-six hours, Penelope and Emily are lying in their bed together, but they are not alone. With the exception of Casey, who is too little, all of Penelope and Emily's kids are lying in their bed together. As they lay in bed together both Penelope are thinking the same thing, that they are so beyond grateful, to be back together, as they were both so terrified that they were never going to see each other again.