More Than a Team

by Gotta Love a Story

When Persephone Elara Ambrose was a kid growing up in the South East of England, she learnt three very important rules. Rules she promised herself she would never forget, and Persephone never broke her promises. 1. Never trust without due course 2. Always have the upper hand 3. Family is what you make it and when you do, protect it at all costs

5. Chapter 5

Chapter Five: Trouble Over the Hill

Hello! I am alive and this story has NOT been abandoned. I just wasn't sure if people wanted to read it because no one reviewed it. However I am back and should be more regular with my updates (though I am doing a degree) anyway I hope you enjoy. Review please!

Persephone sighed the rest of the team waited for her to brief them for the first time.

"Two months ago, a FBI agent from New Mexico. Based on the length of her disappearance it now believed she abducted. " She explained. A picture of Tamara Davis was put up on the screen behind her.

"Tamara Davis was last seen outside the Albuquerque field office." Persephone continued "The concern for her welfare is great."

Garcia blinked in recognition "I've heard that name before from somewhere before."

"I expected you would. Davis had a interview here, but she never showed. You actually mistook me for her because she was supposed to go before me. Now we know why."

"I have spoken to the Albuquerque field office and with Ambrose's apparent connection and the desperate situation of the case, they have asked us the join the case." Hotch explained.

"I fear that because of my connection, the BAU might be in danger. Agent Davis was due to be interviewed before and then I got a place on one of the most prestigious teams in the FBI. They might not see this as a coincidence."

Hotch gave his newest agent a reassuring glance. Privately he thought that Persephone had been a tad dramatic. He also understood it too. The BAU had fallen out of favour in resent years and there was more than one higher-up that would take any excuse to bring them down. The apparent disappearance of an interview without the BAU being aware was such an instance. Ambrose's job would be in danger before the threat to the BAU became real and Hotch would do anything he could to prevent either from happening.

"Yes, and that's why it's important to appear as a united front. Wheel's up in twenty."

The team made their usual dash for their go-bags, stored under the table as they had already been made aware of the situation. It was late afternoon and by the time they landed it would be nearly midnight. While it meant that meant they couldn't do anything when they arrived, it would save setting off the next morning. As always, every second counted. Before they got to the plane however, Reid approached her.

"Hey! You ok?"

"I'm fine Reid. What do you want?"

"Next weekend there's a Doctor Who convention. Garcia and I are going and we wondered of you wanted too?"

It did sound like fun. But that would been spending extra time with them and she didn't want to chance to get hurt again.

"No I do not. And do you really think now is a good time to ask? There's a missing FBI agnet and you're asking about the damn weekend?"

With that she stormed off leaving a slightly hurt Reid gaping in surprise.

There was about fifteen minutes if small talk before Reid brought them back to the matter at hand.

"Why would anyone suspect Persephone with such little evidence?" Reid asked "Agent Davis had an interview with the BAU but so did ten or twenty or so other people."

"Yes, but not only Davis' appointment before Ambrose's but she got the job." Morgan explained.

Reid scowled. Realistically, he knew Morgan wasn't implying anything but something protective rose up inside his chest.

"That does not mean she did it."

"I know that, you know that, and I suspect, deep down, New Mexico knows that as well. But don't forget Reid, this is their friend, their family member has been missing for two months. When one of your own goes missing for that long you take whatever you can get." Morgan replied. Part of his voice gave Persephone the impression that he was talking from experience.

"Exactly so let's try and give them some to help them." Hotch ordered before turning on the laptop in front of him and patching in Garcia.

"Garcia what do you know about our victim?" Hotch asked the technical analyst when the picture finally appeared.

"Well she was last seen outside her field office. She's 32. She graduated from the academy in 2018 she was 28."

"Four years ago. Mmm." Persephone made a mental note.

"Yes the test scores were pretty impressive and she was matched to the New Mexico Division of the Intelligence branch. She also has the standard degrees in criminal phycology and criminology."

"I remember her resume. I was pretty impressed with her ability and when I spoke to her via e-mail and I built up a picture of her personality. I thought she would be a good fit for our dynamic so I allowed her the chance to interview." Hotch added.

"What about her activity Baby Girl? You know anything about that?

"You wound me Chocolate Adonis. There's nothing unusual there. Just the standard calls and bank activity. That all stops a couple of months ago, conensidung with her disappearance."

"So either the Un-sub is paying for everything or she's dead."

"This can't be a one off. Look at the reports. He defiantly takes out the cameras and waits until she's in a secluded area. Clearly he knows what he's doing. He takes out clear forensic counter measures. We aren't even certain where exactly she was taken from." Reid pointed out.

"Agreed. This is defiantly an experienced Un-sub. He's serial."

"Garcia could you look into crimes involving female agents, specifically ones from New Mexico?"

"Well physically, totally but their techs are going to be on high alert and if I get caught snooping in their database if might look bad."

"Wait on that Garcia. We'll get you access. We don't want to give them any more reason to suspect Persephone. This whole connection to the BAU is likely a coincidence and they'll properly see that but I'm not taking any chances."

"Got it chief over and out."

Hotch turned back to the team. "There's not much we can do until we land. Get some rest. Remember NM will be suspicious of Persephone and consider her a person of interest. We'll need to appear like a united front if we need to change their view."

Persephone settled down into the chair. Hotch seemed very concerned with the reputation of the BAU but he kept casting glances over to her and mentioning her name. Maybe he was concerned about her too. Or maybe he doubted her and wanted to talk to her later. She was not looking forward to that conversation. She tried to close her eyes and get some sleep but the only thing she could think of The Automatic's song Monster expect it was trouble that was coming over the hill.

The next day, the BAU arrived at the field office in New Mexico. They were quickly greeted by a rather sceptical looking agent who, after Hotch introduced them, gave the team a pointed stare. His glare stayed on Persephone a while longer. It seemed like he was assessing her, which he probably was.

"So. You're the new agent. You don't look like much and I don't see how you'll be much help."

Morgan stood taller, automatically reasserting himself as the alpha-male. Persephone may be new to the team but she was one of them now and he was damned if he let that jerk speak to her like that. He didn't have the chance to comment or more towards the agent because a voice sounded behind him.

"Alfonso! Play nice. You want Tammy found right?" It was commending. Judging by way every other agent in the vicinity straightened up, the voice belonged to someone in charge.

A women appeared. She had brown hair tied into a neat bun. Behind her exuberance the a concerned frown. She wasn't fooling any of them. She hod it well but they weren't profilers for nothing. She was deeply concerned for her missing agent and it was eating her up. Not that they blamed her.

The agent, Alfonso apparently, reluctantly bowed his head in submission at the rebuke.

"Of course I do boss." He retorted, clearly offended by the implication that he didn't. "Which is why we should be out there looking for her. Not inviting every man and his dog to have a creak at the whip!"

"Edward, please. The BAU are here to help us. Try and work with them, for Tammy's sake."

Alfonso nodded softly but said nothing and the women turned to face Hotch, automatically picking out the leader.

"Agent Hotchner, I presume? I'm SSA Jean MacTaylor. This is my second in command SAA Edward Alfonso. We're grateful for your assistance."

"Thank-you. We'll do anything we can to bring your agent back home safely. Our technical analyst will need access to your records. Is that ok?"

"Tell your technical analyst they can have whatever they need."

With the political pleasantries required for a smooth partnership over with, the team set to work. As always time was money and they were already behind on that front.

It was clear that Alfonso neither wanted nor trusted their presence. He kept casting mistrusting glances towards Persephone and more then once did he address her in a tone that was less then civil. By the time Garcia called Morgan (and strangely enough Reid too) was all but ready to punch his lights out.

"He's skilled. This clearly isn't his first Rodeo. So maybe this is fifth or sixth. They must have been successful so he was obviously strong. If he was too young or old he might not have that strength."

"Try in the last 15 years." Hotch advised "It's a long time frame but we will have to narrow it down after."

"Unsubs like these usually have a type."

"And then there's motive. There's been no ransom note. Whatever the motive is for the Unsub it isn't for monetary gain. There has to be another reason. Obsession?" Perspective added. She then noticed something in Alfonso's eye. He sifted his posture too. He was hiding something.

"Agent Alfonso is there something you're not telling us? Something that might tell us his motive?"

Alfonso clearly did not take kindly to being questioned especially not from Persephone. He glared at the Brit and took a threateningly step towards her. It was a clear tactic to intimidate her and Persephone who had no intention of being intimidated glared straight back. She had faced far scarier men in far more dangerous situations to be intimidated by this wanker.

"You come here. You take over our investigation and accuse me of hiding things? You want to say that again? You are the one with motive. So why should I trust you - a suspect - with that information?" He barked looking like he wanted to knock Persephone to the floor. Well that wasn't happening.

"Hey man! We're on the same side here. You're worried for your friend, believe me I get it. But we're not to enemy here." Morgan put a calming hand on Alfonso's shoulder, trying not to give into his desire to punch the guy.

"What's going on here?".

SSA Jean McTaylor appeared at the doorway, apprising the situation.

Hotch turned to her.

"We have reason to believe that your agent is hiding something. Something that will help us work out a motive."

"Alfonso? You mean to say you've not told them? I will deal with you later. Inform the BAU. Now."

Alfonso sighed. This wasn't going to be good.

"A few weeks before she disappeared she told me someone had been harassing her. She didn't say who but it was some sexist bigot."

"What makes you say he was sexist?" Reid asked

"Because apparently he was always saying that she was women and a women would be better suited to being a personal assistant then an FBI agent."

Persephone glared at him. If looks could kill they'd have the death of an FBI agent on their hands. He had been hiding something and when she called him out on it he had the sheer audacity to question her innocence.

"And why may I ask, did you think that this was not something we needed to know?"

"Because we've all been harassed by people and I don't trust you."

Hotch eyed him with his best 'I-won't-stand-for-this-nonsense-glare.' Alfonso squirmed under it.

"Not everyone has been abducted though have they? We are here to help you. I'll thank you not to make our job harder then it already is." Hotch scolded.

There was a battle of silent wills before Alfonso's unit chief interrupted it.

"Alfonso go home. Rest. When you come in tomorrow come and see me."

Alfonso looked like he was going to argue. He then realised it wasn't a good idea and left the room but not without making his displeasure clear. Clearly he was going to reamed out tomorrow, his unit chief just refused to do it in front of anyone.

MacTaylor turned back to Hotch with a grime look on her face.

"I do apologise Agent Hotchner. Edward and Tammy were-are- very close. I will be heading this investigation from now on. I only let Edward lead it because he begged me and insisted that he wouldn't let his friendship with Tammy get in the way. They are like brother and sister. I should have said no but well..."

"There's no need to explain yourself Agent MacTaylor. I understand. It's hard when it's your own."

"Jean please."

"Jean it is."

"Errr sorry to interrupt this love fest but I believe were were narrowing down suspects"Garcia's amused voice filled the room.

"Yes. Now we know what the motive is, we can narrow it down to those related to sexism." Hotch suggested

"That's where we got stuck. The ones that were clearly motivated by gender left notes."

"I didn't say motivated by gender. I said sexism." Hotch explained

"Isn't the same thing?" Jean asked

"No. There can be lots of reasons why a unsub goes after him. They could worship them for example. The face that he was so clearly enraged at Agent Davis' success tells us he is sexist and that likely he sees her as inferior to him." Reid explained.

"The note thing is a good point though." Morgan responded "We know these Unsubs tend to leave them. They are usually narcissistic and it's their way of gloating."

Persephone thought about something just then.

"What if does leave notes?" Persephone asked.

"We checked there wasn't. Are you saying we missed something?" MacTaylor demanded clearly ready to defend her team's work.

"You misunderstand me. I said what if he does not what if he did."

"You mean what if he does he just hasn't yet?" MacTaylor asked

"Exactly. Garcia. Out of all these victims how many left notes after a body was found?"

"Four."

They were:

Michaela Fox accepted into Intelligence Agency in 2008 abducted on 5th August 2008 found dead 18th November 2012

Maria Smith accepted in National Security branch 2009 abducted on 17th January 2009 found dead 2nd May 2013

Angela Mason accepted into National Security branch 2010 abducted on 3rd March 2010 found dead 16th June 2014

Alice Tyson accepted into Intelligence Agency in 2011 abducted 23rd February 2011 found dead 8th June 2015.

Each were strangled, and by the body a note, while slightly different in wording all talked about how the victim was 'chosen' and how he was angry that they didn't pick him.

"You see the pattern too don't you Persephone?" Reid asked.

"What that they were killed the same year they were accepted into the agency?" Morgan asked.

"No. The fact that each person was kept for 15 weeks." Reid answered.

"The exact time that it takes to complete training at Quantico." Persephone replied.

"How did we miss that?" MacTaylor demanded

"That doesn't matter right now. We nearly there. Maybe 'being picked' refers to being accepted into the FBI Academy." Hotch suggested. "Garcia get a list of the male applications to the FBI that didn't make it in."

"That's a pretty big list. Can we limit it down?"

"The first victim is usually the most important. So maybe he applied for the class of 2012."

"That's still quite a lot.,"

"Garcia were there any other reports of similar abductions from 2015 to now?"

"No. Why do you ask?"

"Because if he stopped in that time it was for a reason. Were any of the incarcerated i that time?" Hotch asked.

"Sorry boss, no."

There was a silence as each person tried to collect their thoughts."

"What if the Un-sub got accepted to the academy? What if he tried each year and failed and that fuelled him to start killing?" MacTaylor "and what if he got kicked out of the FBI and that triggered him to resume killing?"

"Garcia?" Asked Hotch.

There was a sound of clicking and typing before she answered.

"Got it! One hit. 30 year old Clive Matthews. He didn't in 2012 and has been trying each year. He got in 2016. And apparently wanted to apply for a place on the team but hr was fired for gross misconduct and sexism."

"Garcia..."

"I've sent the address to your phones."

Hotch ended the call and started getting his team in motion. Persephone came up to him wearing a Kevlar vest.

"May I speak with you sir?"

"Ambrose we haven't got time..."

"Alfonso's place is on the way. I know if it was someone I thought to be a sibling then I would want to be there."

Hotch sighed. "Very well. But if he starts arguing we will leave without him. We haven't got long. She's already been held for 10 weeks."

Thankfully, Alfonso did not argue and came along with them to Clive's house. It hadn't taken long to find Tamara who thankfully, while not unharmed in the slightest was still alive. She would have a long fight a head of her, healing both physically and psychologically but something told Persephone she would be ok.

Clive Matthews on the other hand was not ok. He committed s by cop but no-one seemed to think it a massive loss. The BAU didn't blame him.

"Are you ok?"

It was Morgan. Persephone hasn't heard him approach but her reflexes and instincts stopped her from jumping.

"I'm fine just feeling guilty."

"Guilty? What for?"

"Bringing this at your door."

"Firstly you don't have to apologise. Secondly it's our door. We're a team. Earlier when Alfonso went home, Hotch stopped him and reminded him that you are the reason we are all here."

Persephone's eyes rose in surprise. Just before Garcia interrupted them he gone out of the room for a bit. She assumed he had gone to the toilet but now she knew why. She turned around and walked toward her boss.

"Hotch. Is it true you told Alfonso I'm the reason we're all here?"

Hotch chuckled. "Let me guess Morgan?"

Persephone nodded.

"The answer is yes. I did because that's the truth. Just like I told Strauss I wasn't going to fire you just because of some Coincidences."

That was news to Persephone.

"What?"

"She called me when we landed and suggested that I did just that or at any rate suspend you. But that wasn't going to happen because you didn't do anything wrong. You may not think you have earned your place on the team but you already did that or I would've have hired you. And yes, I would have still hired you even if you had been the last person I saw because I knew straight away you were right for this team."

"Thank you."

"You don't need to thank me. But if you do could you try to trust us?"

"It's hard."

"I know. But you'll never regret it. Now I need to talk to MacTaylor."

Persephone saw Reid chatting to JJ and approached them both. JJ cast an annoyed look at and the Brit assumed she had heard about how she had refused his previous invitation.

"I'm really sorry about earlier when you were asking me about the Doctor Who convention."

Reid smiled and JJ relaxed.

"It's ok."

"No it isn't. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that." Persephone sighed. Maybe it would be ok if she did try and get a little closer to them.

"Persephone?" JJ asked. She had heard about what had happened and wasn't exactly happy with how she reacted to Reid's invite but she had apologised and now clearly something was on her mind.

"I'm just wondering if that offer is till on the table? Because if it is I would love to go to the Doctor Who convention next weekend."

Reid gave a massive smile. It wad big and so genuine that Persephone could not help but match it.

"Of course it is. We'd love for you to come!" He assured her and for the first time in years she felt a warm feeling inside her chest and she never wanted it go away.