Chapter 15: Love Is In The Air
After Morgan and Prentiss finished their arrest reports and JJ finished talking to Internal Affairs about shooting Cat Adams dead, the BAU family took Garcia out to O'Keefe's bar to celebrate her freedom from the hitman network of four.
"How did you figure out how to save our Pretty Boy's life, JJ?" smiled Morgan.
"When Cat took Spence at gunpoint," said JJ. "It reminded me of the time when Garcia's shooter had taken the IA investigator at gunpoint in the bullpen eight years ago. I figured that I could stop Cat Adams the same way I stopped Garcia's shooter. I told Rossi that I could take the shot."
"And that's why you wanted us to stand down, Rossi," said Morgan.
"You knew that JJ would take her out!" smiled Prentiss.
"Cat was a narcissist," said Rossi. "She wanted to prove that she was smarter than any man she confronted."
"Even our boy genius," said Prentiss.
"Odds were good she could have figured out that our arresting her father was a lie to get her to surrender," said Hotch.
"So, I made myself Plan B!" said JJ.
"You saved my life, JJ," said Reid. "I love you."
"I love you, too, Spence," smiled JJ.
JJ and Reid kissed each other on the lips.
"You saved my life, too, Jayje," smiled Garcia. "Thank you."
"I owed you," said JJ. "You saved Spence's life from that dirty cop and that fake orderly. And, you're family, Pen."
JJ and Garcia hugged each other tightly.
"I love you," cried Garcia.
"I love you, too, Pen," said JJ.
"You were right, Mama Bear," said Rossi. "Nobody threatens our family!"
"Well," said Prentiss. "If all of you will excuse us. Come on, Derek. Let's go."
"Go?" said Morgan. "Go where, Emily?"
"Don't you remember, baby?" smiled Prentiss. "You said that you wanted to take me someplace where we could do some dancing!"
"Emily," said Morgan. "That was a ruse to stop the Bomber. You know that."
"Uh-uh!" said Prentiss. "We're still dressed up for our date!"
Morgan thought that she was joking, but Prentiss grabbed Morgan's arm and she pulled him away from the rest of the family.
"I wanna go dancing, Derek," smiled Prentiss. "Let's go!"
"Since when do you want to hang out with me, Prentiss?" asked Morgan.
"Since we shared that nice kiss to convince Cat that we were a couple," whispered Prentiss.
"Wait a minute," said Morgan. "After all those years of me hitting on you, are you hitting on me, now, Emily?"
"Maybe," smiled Prentiss.
"Well, hold up," said Morgan. "Wait a minute."
Morgan looked up at the ceiling.
"What are you doing?" asked Prentiss.
"I'm looking for the pigs you said would fly before you'd ever go out with me," answered Morgan.
Prentiss gasped and hit Morgan's arm. Morgan laughed.
"Shut up and take me out dancing!" laughed Prentiss.
Morgan took Prentiss's arm while she looked back at Reid and JJ.
"Besides," whispered Prentiss. "Why should we let the two of them have all of the fun?"
Morgan and Prentiss smiled at each other as they left the bar together. JJ and Garcia were completely shocked.
"Uh," said JJ. "What just happened?"
"I...think Emily just took Morgan out on a date," answered Reid.
"Em has never wanted to date Morgan before," said Garcia.
"Now, I'm looking for those flying pigs," said JJ.
"Every time we tried giving Em reasons why she should go out with a guy, she came up with just as many reasons not to go out with a guy," said Garcia.
"Every time," said JJ. "What could have possibly changed her mind?"
"Well," said Reid. "Morgan and Prentiss did share a kiss at the table tonight."
"But, that was just an act to convince Cat that they were a couple," said JJ.
"Maybe the kiss started out that way, JJ," said Reid. "But, maybe they both felt some real romantic feelings from it."
"Spence," said JJ. "That's not a scientific conclusion. What made you come up with that conclusion?"
"The first time that I kissed you, JJ," answered Reid.
"Awww," warmly smiled JJ.
Reid and JJ kissed each other's lips.
"Maybe the love the two of you share for each other inspired Emily," said Hotch.
"Maybe there's just love in the air," said Garcia.
"Or," said Rossi. "Maybe she just doesn't want to be alone and uptight anymore."
Hotch and JJ both looked at Rossi. JJ then looked at Garcia and she put her hand on Garcia's hand.
"Are you okay, Pen?" asked JJ. "Your favorite girl just left with your favorite guy."
"Yeah," smiled Garcia. "Derek and I had our chance to romantically get together those three years Em was away. But, I chose Sam instead. My love for both of them is solid! Besides, if my Chocolate Thunder is going to get romantic with another woman, then I'm happy that it's with my Wonder Woman!"
Rossi looked at Hotch.
"First Jennifer and Spencer," said Rossi. "And now, Derek and Emily, too? This romance ride just got twice as interesting!"
"That must have been some kiss," said Hotch.
"Well," said JJ. "They're just going out dancing tonight. It's not like they're going to become lovers overnight."
At 2 am in Prentiss's apartment, Morgan and Prentiss were passionately making love in her bed. Her iPod was playing Barry White songs on her clock radio speaker. The two of them were kissing and caressing each other under the covers while both of them were trying to catch their breath. Prentiss looked into Morgan's eyes and they both laughed from the afterglow feeling.
"Oh, my God," whispered Prentiss. "This was the best dancing date ever!"
The following morning, the BAU team were called into Quantico for a new case. Internal Affairs cleared JJ for shooting Cat Adams dead. The BAU team came into the round table room one at a time. JJ and Morgan were talking to Garcia.
"How are you doing this morning, Baby Girl?" asked Morgan.
"Great," smiled Garcia. "It felt so good sleeping in my own bed last night! I haven't felt this rested and refreshed in weeks!"
JJ hugged Garcia. Hotch and Rossi were coming from their offices. Hotch told Rossi that Beth Clemons was coming back to DC to visit him and Jack. Rossi told Hotch that Hayden Montgomery was coming to DC to visit him. They abruptly ended their conversation walking into the round table room. Reid came in giving JJ a smoothie shake that she asked for. Then Prentiss walked in and she sat down next to Morgan.
"Good morning," said Prentiss.
"Prentiss," said Morgan.
"Good morning, Emily," said Reid.
"Hi, Em," said Garcia.
"Good morning, everyone," said Hotch. "Garcia, let's get started."
Garcia presented the case to the BAU team. A young woman and an old man were found dead in a lake just outside of St. Augustine, Florida. The woman had her blood completely drained. But the man didn't. Because the bodies were found by a fishing couple, Rossi theorized that both bodies were not meant for anybody to find. Prentiss theorized that it might be a message between rival drug gangs. Morgan theorized that it might be a voodoo ritual. Reid theorized that it might be a human sacrifice team at work. JJ theorized that it might be another unsub who was drinking the drained blood. Garcia theorized that she needed to watch some cute kitten videos to drown out all of their icky theories from her brain. Hotch wanted JJ to use her press liaison skills to convince the local press and media to stop calling it a devil worshipping cult murder or a human sacrifice team.
"Wheels up in 30," said Hotch.
As everybody else started leaving the round table room, JJ observed Morgan and Prentiss's micro expressions and movements. Reid walked over to JJ.
"What are you thinking, JJ?" asked Reid.
"I'm thinking I was wrong," blushed JJ. "I think that those two did become lovers overnight!"
In St. Augustine, Florida, the coroner told Prentiss and Reid that the two victims were fed through an IV. The man, George Henning had his own blood drained and replaced with the woman, Cheyenne Pravato's blood. They were both reported missing three days ago. Sgt. Carol Gridley told Hotch that another young woman, Andrea Gambrell was reported missing. Gridley thought it was related because Andrea and Cheyenne waitressed at the same restaurant. JJ got the local press to stop panicking the public with the cult murder or human sacrifice rumors. Morgan and Rossi got from the surviving friend interviews that George was a loner who had Hypertension and Parkinson's disease. Cheyenne was a vegetarian who was getting into any New Age lifestyles. She had a way of disappearing before without telling anybody for a week or two. Hotch theorized that the unsub was using medical experimentation on his victims. He asked Garcia to look for any doctors in the medical field who were either kicked out or were in a red flag for violating the Hippocratic Oath. The coroner called Prentiss saying that George also had jellyfish and turtle DNA in his bloodstream. Reid theorized that if Andrea was the next young victim then the unsub might already have another old victim captive. The unsub returned from work to where he was holding Andrea and his next senior man. He wanted to try his blood transfusion experiment from Andrea into the senior man. But the senior suddenly suffered seizures and he died on the table before the unsub could do the blood transfusion.
Rossi and JJ were sent to where the senior's body was dumped. Rossi noticed the bruising caused by CPR attempts on his chest. The extra bruisings on the rest of the body meant that the unsub was losing his temper. JJ found a medical ID on the body. His name was Harold McDermott and he had epilepsy and corticobasal degeneration: A rare brain disease. The BAU team profiled that the unsub was a young man in his 20s or 30s who was either into playing God in helping cure seniors from diseases, or he wanted to make money for creating a new cure for people. He might have been a member of a disbanded group that Garcia found online called, "The Mad Scientist's Club." The club members were mostly students from the Florida College of Medicine in Jacksonville who met in a cemetery for their meetings. And, Andrea Gambrell said she was going to meet someone in a cemetery the night that she disappeared.
Reid researched what the animal DNA could medically be used for in people. Prentiss talked to a woman from the club named Diane Haller who said that they were talking about advancements in medical research. The club members met in a cemetery because it made their meetings feel spookier. Prentiss asked Diane if she remembered anybody who was creepy in the club. Diane said there was one member who was local theorizing that they were in the most magical place on Earth. He was nicknamed, "The Magic Man," but his first name was Richard or Robert. The other club members were from out of town, so they didn't know what he meant by a magical place. Prentiss had Garcia narrow her red flag search from doctors to medical students named Richard or Robert.
Morgan and Prentiss were sent to a hospital for a missing person named Dr. Laura Braga. There was blood on the floor of her office and a locked prescription medicine cabinet was forced open. She was a neurosurgeon. Morgan profiled that the unsub broke into that cabinet to steal her brain medicine and Dr. Braga caught him in the act and he silenced her permanently. Prentiss checked to see if she was George Henning or Harold McDermott's doctor. They asked Garcia to look for any Richards or Roberts who worked in that hospital. And, for the names of all of Dr. Braga's patients because one of them could be the unsub's next senior victim.
Reid's animal DNA research had him thinking about Territopsis dohrnii: The immortal jellyfish that endlessly recycled it's own cells through a process called transdifferentiation. It was known as lineage reprogramming. Reid told Rossi and JJ that the jellyfish, turtle, sea urchin and scarlet macaw DNA were all known for having a long life span. Longer than a human's life. Meaning that the unsub wasn't focused on curing a single deadly disease, but promoting longevity in human lives. The three of them realized that the "Magic Man" thought that they were in a magical place because they were near the legendary Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine, Florida. The unsub was trying to make a Fountain of Youth blood transfusion for senior people to help them live longer. Garcia found out online that a scarlet macaw bird was reported stolen from a private zoo near St. Augustine. The zoo owner suspected that an ex-employee named Robert Boles stole it. Boles flunked out of medical school during his first year. He was home schooled from age 7 and up. He had lots of childhood trauma therapy from seeing a scary old man when he was 7. And, he worked as an orderly in Dr. Braga's hospital. He was the "Magic Man" unsub.
Prentiss, Reid and Rossi checked out Boles's home address but they came up empty. Morgan found out that a saltwater aquarium was delivered to a closed medical facility. Boles might have been the one who ordered the aquarium. Morgan, Hotch and JJ went to the facility to check it out. In the closed medical facility, Hotch and Morgan arrested Robert Boles and they saved the life of Andrea Gambrell. JJ untied Andrea and comforted her. Morgan took Boles out to the SUV. But, Hotch and JJ saw the latest senior victim, Eileen Kebler die in front of her husband, Ben Kebler. He was devastated from watching her die. After they got a statement from Ben, Morgan and Hotch booked Robert Boles while JJ returned to the St. Augustine police department looking for Reid. JJ ran over to Reid and she hugged him tightly.
"Oh, Spence," cried JJ.
"JJ," said Reid. "What's wrong? Was it too late to save Andrea's life?"
"No," tearfully answered JJ. "Andrea is fine, considering what Boles was doing to her. But, Hotch and I witnessed the death of an old lady named Eileen Kebler. She died right in front of her husband, Ben. Eileen was sick and Dr. Braga told them that she only had six months left to live. Boles promised Ben that he could save Eileen with a blood transfusion, prolonging her life. Ben was hopeful that Eileen could be saved this way. He said at first, it was working. Eileen felt better for a couple of hours. They took a walk together outside and they shared one last dance together. But later, Eileen felt even more sick. Boles had Ben bring Eileen to that closed facility for another blood transfusion. Boles's experiments wound up cutting her life short instead! I could tell that those two were deeply in love with each other. Ben said that they were getting ready to spend their retirement years traveling together before Eileen got sick. Watching her dying devastated him. It...it's just not fair!"
JJ buried her face into Reid's chest while silently crying.
"People dying from natural causes, diseases, accidents, suicide or murder and leaving their loved ones behind is never fair, JJ," said Reid. "Like it or not, it's the truth of our existence."
"I want to marry you now, Spence," said JJ.
"What?" asked Reid. "JJ, are you sure? We're both still young."
"I don't want to wait anymore," said JJ. "Ben and Eileen Kebler reminded me that life can be short sometimes. We've already wasted ten years before we even became a couple! Yes, we're both still young, but I don't want some future unsub cutting either one of our lives short! Hastings and Askari almost killed me. And Deputy McGregor and Cat Adams almost killed you. I don't want to lose my chance to marry you! I want to be your wife as soon as possible. We both have our marriage licenses and our wedding rings. Let's go to the courthouse and get legally married as soon as we return to DC. Just you and me! We can give our families a big wedding ceremony sometime afterwards. Please, Spence?"
"JJ," said Reid. "I can't say 'No' to you. Okay."
JJ looked up at her Spence's face.
"Really, Spence?" smiled JJ.
"Really, JJ," smiled Reid. "Let's elope as soon as we can."
JJ happily kissed Reid. Neither one of them noticed that Rossi was listening in on them.
"I love you, Spencer Reid," smiled JJ.
"I love you, too, Jennifer Jareau," smiled Reid.
JJ and Reid hugged each other tightly. Rossi slipped away before they noticed him observing them. He phoned Garcia.
"I live to serve you, sir," said Garcia. "What do you need?"
"Penelope," said Rossi. "I need a huge favor from you."
"Anything, sir," said Garcia. "Anything!"
Rossi told Garcia what he wanted her to do. Then, he texted Hotch, Morgan and Prentiss in secret without Reid or JJ knowing about it. Hotch finished booking Robert Boles. He silently read Rossi's text on his phone.
Rossi texted, "I'm announcing a family party for Hayden Montgomery at my mansion tonight after we return from Florida. But, the party is really Reid and JJ's wedding night. It's a surprise. Don't tell them it's their wedding."
During the flight home from Florida, Rossi made his family party announcement to everybody.
"Jennifer," said Rossi. "I've decided to take your advice and bring Hayden Montgomery to my mansion for a family party. And, all of you are invited. I've already told Penelope."
"Uh, oh," said Morgan. "Your second ex-wife and Joy's mom?"
"Dave is trying to spark an old flame!" teased Prentiss.
"That's great, Rossi," smiled JJ. "When is the party?"
"Tonight at 6 pm," answered Rossi. "Hayden is flying in from Paris and Joy is bringing her family in from California."
"Tonight?" asked Reid.
"That's great, Dave," said Hotch.
"Thank you, Aaron," said Rossi. "I want you to bring Jack and Beth to the party."
"Of course," said Hotch.
"And, Spencer and Jennifer," said Rossi. "I want you two to bring both of your mothers and Henry to the party."
"But..." said Reid.
"Yes, Dave," said JJ. "Of course we will."
"And, it's a formal party," said Rossi. "I want my family to give Hayden a good impression."
"You got it, Rossi," smiled Morgan.
The jet landed safely in DC. Reid and JJ discussed the party/eloping overlap in her car.
"But, JJ, I thought you wanted us to get married immediately," said Reid.
"I do," said JJ. "But, I suggested that Dave should try making a good family impression for Hayden Montgomery. I want him and Hayden to have a chance to be happy together just like we are happy together. And, it won't be like family if we're not at the party to help support him. This is for Rossi."
"But, what about our eloping together at the courthouse, JJ?" asked Reid.
JJ took Reid's left hand into her right hand.
"Spence," said JJ. "The courthouse isn't going anywhere. We can still elope first thing tomorrow morning before we go into Quantico. I think we can both wait one night before we can get married."
"All right, JJ," said Reid. "For Rossi, I will wait one night. But, I can't wait until tomorrow morning."
"Neither can I, Spence," smiled JJ. "Neither can I!"
Reid kissed JJ's hand. JJ giggled from the goosebumps it gave her. They both proceeded to pick up Henry, Sandy and Diana for Rossi's family party. At 5 pm, Rossi brought Hayden Montgomery to his mansion from the airport. He gave her the grand tour of his mansion ending in his backyard.
"Your mansion is beautiful, David," said Hayden.
"Thank you," said Rossi.
Garcia came out looking for Rossi.
"Sir," said Garcia. "Joy just texted that they've landed in DC safely. They'll be here in about an hour!"
"Thank you, Penelope," said Rossi.
Garcia left Hayden and Rossi alone.
"Besides seeing our daughter's family," said Hayden. "I don't understand why I am here, David."
"I wanted you to see how much has changed the last 30 years," said Rossi.
"You're still in the FBI, David," said Hayden. "That will never change!"
"No," said Rossi. "But I have changed. I want you to meet my team. They're the only family I have besides you and Joy. Plus, there's a family event happening here tonight that I wanted you to see."
Rossi took Hayden's right hand and he kissed it.
"I walked away from you 30 years ago," said Rossi. "I'm not walking away this time."
Hayden smiled at Rossi.