Chapter 4
edited and reuploaded
The next case took the team down to Miami, several girls had been gone missing off a party yacht and were later found dead in hotel rooms. The new jet was a small upgrade to the old one, a bit comfier and sleeker. Luke settled himself in the corner at the front of the plane for most the flight, he read his book for a bit then rolled up his sweater and leant his head against the window. Closing his eyes, he thought over the past twenty-four hours, he and Penelope had gone from being 'just friends' to lovers to in a relationship. A long-distance relationship at that, it wasn't going to be an easy ride. They were somewhere over North Carolina, the sun was setting on the horizon, she'd be at home packing her apartment.
Who knows how long they were going to be out here, as he read over the file, he knew this case was going to be a hard case, he couldn't help but wonder if she'd still be in Washington by the end of the case? Images of last night flashed through his mind. The feel of her body against his, the smell of her, her lips against his neck. He'd barely left her an hour ago and he was already missing her.
"You right?" Jj asked quietly, Luke opened his eyes, Jj was awake and sitting across from him reading a book. She was Penelope's best friend he couldn't help but wondered if Penelope had said anything to her.
"Yea." Luke replied, he thought about it though. He leant forward lowering his voice, he had to talk about it so he can focus on the case.
"You were talking in your sleep. You said Penelope's name, don't worry everyone else is still fast asleep. Still upset she's leaving?" She asked, Luke's face felt a little bit red that he'd been that transparent. She was however now only Penelope's best friend but also a profiler.
"No, not really upset she's leaving. I'm worried I was too hard on her for not telling me." He told her, revealed to get it off his chest.
"I get that. Still why are you being so hard on yourself?" Jj put the bookmark in her book and moved to the seat beside him so they could talk more quietly. Luke swallowed nervously.
"I asked her out and then we went home together last night. She was didn't mentioned her timeline on leaving the BAU so I was very surprised and I let her know when we were making tea –my mistake. I took it too personal even though I had no reason to, I've known since the day we met that this job hit her hard. I intended to take her to dinner tonight, try make up for being a complete douche. That's not happening now so I'm trying to work out how to make it up to her"
"Yea, okay – you were definitely too harsh. Penelope feels things so much deeper than most of us, if you are going to date her, you need to be aware of that. She puts up a strong wall but she's really a delicate flower underneath. She will forgive you" Jj reminded him, she looked at him. He knew there was a but coming "But you do need to earn that when we land there a little florist not far from her place, red and pink flowers say I'm sorry."
Luke felt the grin on his face spread as he nodded. "Yeah, I should definitely do that"
Luke glanced out the window as they flew over another town, he was another hour apart from her. He'd been told in the past that long distance lover eventually gets used to the feeling of being apart, but he didn't want to get used to being apart from Penelope. After talking to Jj he was finally able to settle and close his eyes for a few hours before he was awoken by Emily calling the team together.
"Alright, lets debrief" Emily said sitting next to Jj. "We've got a serial killer in Miami targeting young blonde females. We have four victims within the last month. Our last victim was Eliza Colson, she had just moved from small town Georgia to Miami to start her Nursing Degree at Dade College." Emily told the team. "She was found face down on the bed, clothes had been forced off of her"
"There's evidence of sexual assault but the medical examiner found no seamen or DNA" Rossi added, reading over the file in front of her.
"At twenty-one she is the youngest of our victims so far." Spencer added. "Statistics show that adults between eighteen and twenty-four are twice as likely to be victims of a homicide then those between the ages of twenty-five and thirty. The rest of the victims have been to the older age of the scale so why go out of your comfort zone?"
"Victim of opportunity?" Rossi offered up. "If he's meeting these girls at restaurants or bars then convincing them to let him take them home. He's playing on their insecurities and exploiting them, making them feel safe."
"The kills are methodical, so he's been doing it for a while. I think he's most likely stalking them until he gets them in a public place when their guard is down and allowing him to charm them, take them back to his room." Luke added.
"When we land JJ and Luke go get set up at the station. Spencer and Rossi go to the medical examiner see what he's got to tell us. Simmons and I will go to the crime scene." Emily told them.
Luke slept the rest of the plane trip, his dreams were full of Penelope, they weren't sexual just glimpses of her: Laughing, rattling of facts about a case. He woke up quickly, shaking his head he looked out the window down below them. Luke looked out the window, they were starting to descend toward Miami airport. Luke's mind was already racing with facts about the case. He looked around the plane, most of the team were still sleeping. Knowing the basic of the case, Luke was glad they were all getting some sleep, none of them would probably get much sleep for the next few days.
They flew through the night, all of them were awake and ready to go as soon as they hit the tarmac. There were three SUV's waiting for them as soon as they landed, Luke and Jj headed straight to the precinct. Jj decided she wanted to drive and had some idea where they were going from past cases. She put the address in the GPS and started driving. Luke looked up florist near Penelope's apartment and found a bouquet of the flowers Jj had suggested and ordered them to be delivered to Penelope's apartment for that afternoon. Once he knew he'd done it, he sent her a text to let her know that they'd landed safely.
Arriving at the station, they grabbed their bags and made their way into the precinct. Luke hadn't realised how hot he'd felt until the air condition of the PD hit them as they walked in the door. They walked up to the main desk and introduced themselves to the administrator who disappeared to get the sheriff. The sheriff came allowed them through the security door into the offices.
"Agent Jareau?" The sheriff asked, as they enter the precinct, Jj held out her hand and the man took her hand. "My name Sheriff Franks, I've cleared the conference room ready for you and there are two pin boards with all the facts and evidence I've already found"
Luke and Jj thanked him and followed him to the conference room off the main bullpen. The sheriff gave them the run down on how his team had handled the investigation so far and talked them through the particulars they'd learnt so far before being pulled away by a detective for another case. Jj and Luke got busy setting up the evidence board.
Eliza Coleson's photo went up first, they ran back over her story again. Studying to be a nurse, church-going, friendly. She was a beautiful young girl with long blonde hair, she looked like and angel, a crucifix had been placed in her hands. The other four victims names were: Lisa Mayer, Jane Miranda, Vanessa Urkhart and Carolina Vancer,
"Do they all have religious background?" Luke asked Jj, as they stood back and looked over the clues.
"Ah," Jj reached around for the files, she skimmed them all. "Most of them did, I don't have an answer for Vanessa, but we can find out. What are you thinking?"
"I don't know, just the way they are all holding the cross, I think they've been placed after death" Luke replied.
"Eliza Coleson mother just arrived" a detective said knocking on the door. Luke and Jj turned to look the detective and smiled.
"I'll be there shortly" Jj responded, she stood up and collected her files. She walked around to him still studying the board. "I can solo this interview. See if you can find an answer to your question after you call your girlfriend and the florist!"
"Ok, I might go to the victim's apartment, maybe there's something there" he told her. He grabbed his phone and keys. "Don't worry I will call Penelope"
Jj smiled and waved as he made his way out of the room. When he got to the car, he pulled his phone and looked for a florist near her apartment. He decided to order her some bright red roses to be delivered as soon as possible. He decided to take the moment of privacy and call her. Luke prepared a flirty pick-up line in his head, and he hit her number on speed dial, he'd put her on speed dial when they worked cases, so it was easy to contact her. The phone only rang twice.
"Hello" her voice was soft and calming, she could hear her moving about her apartment.
"Are you a moon?" he asked her, she heard her chuckle and roll over in bed. "Because you are most beautiful at night and missing you at day"
"Mr Cheesy, you haven't forgotten about me yet?" Penelope's voice was sleepy but full of wit. He leaned his head back against the head rest.
"Of course not, how could I forget about you and your sexy curves." He said softly. "Are you worried that I'll forget about you?"
"Maybe a little bit. I don't know, I was fine and now you're not here, I am packing everything and it's making me a little bit worried. I think I am just aware of the distance" She replied. Luke heard her sniffle a little bit, she was really struggling.
"Penelope… do you really think I'd forget my faviroute girl?" He asked, he ran his hand over his face. It had only just hit him how tired he was. "Hey, listen, I'm sorry about what I said this morning, I know that you need a change of scenery and job, I've known since we met that you didn't like aspects of this job."
"Thanks for apologising, I know I should've told you. I should've given you all warning, I just thought maybe you'd all talk me out of leaving once I decided" She explained.
"We would or you would talk yourself out of leaving us because you think we need you?" He asked "which we do, but family isn't limited by space and time you know babe"
"I know" she told him. "Do you miss me yet?
"Baby, you're my moon, my whole ocean unbalanced without you. Of course, I miss you the second we got on that elevator." He reassured her.
"Anyway, how are you?" She asked, she genuinely wanted to know.
"I'm okay, this case is messed up, we've barely started and my brains reeling, this last victim I don't know. We aren't even sure where he's meeting them, and he's got a type." He felt bad bringing up the case to her, she'd literally just left this profession to get away from all the gore and sadness and here he was talking to her about that very thing. He was about to apologise but she spoke as well.
"What's his victimology?" she asked, Luke swallowed. She didn't need to know that the unsubs type was Luke's type. That if the unsub came across his bubbly and bright girl that he would take the chance on her. She'd left the job because of this psychological torture.
"It doesn't matter, I am heading to the latest victim's apartment to find out some background stuff and thought I'd give you a call while I can" he told her.
"I am glad you found time to call me but baby if it's bothering your it is important, and I want you to share that with me" Penelope told him softly.
He took a deep breath and begun to share with her how this guy's victimology seemed to match her to a t. He was trying to put some distance between the victims and his girl. He wanted to not think about it.
"Baby, talk to me about something else" Luke whispered, his voice close to breaking. Even when they worked together, she was good at putting out cheesy and punning lies that would distract him from how horrible their case was.
"What do you want me to talk to you about?" she asked softly, she had gone quitter and he felt bad about telling her.
"Anything, what are you wearing?" he asked pulling the first thing out of his head. If he could imagine what she was wearing it would distract him from his thoughts.
"Do you want me to lie or tell you the truth?" She asked
"Whatever you think will sound better." He responded, it was the phone, she could tell him anything and he'd believe it.
"Well, I've got on the really cute lacey see through bralette with matching G-string and I'm wearing a silky cover-up" she told him, her voice was low and seductive. He felt his breath catch, as he pushed himself deeper into the car seat she continued. "I was thinking… maybe you should change professions with me then."
Luke felt himself smile softly for the first time all day. She sounded so serious, but he had a feeling there was a joke or pick up line coming. He
"What would I do instead, babe?" He asked, she'd brought it up so obviously she had some sort of idea what he should be doing.
"Well, I hear that they're looking for hot and sweaty firemen for next year's calendar… I'd order them all of course" she whispered softly. If she was trying to turn him on it was working, the car was starting to get to stuffy and humid for him. He turned the car on and put the air con on.
"All of them?" Luke asked, he couldn't help but smirked at her comment, that was his girl. He was glad for the break in tension, he missed her fluff and jokes.
"Alllll of them" Penelope said, drawing out all. "You'd don't really expect me to share the Greek god that is Luke Alvez, do you?"
"You think I would let anyone else touch this mess?" Luke asked, he lent forward and put his head against the steering wheel. Penelope laughed followed by a dead silence between the two of them. Luke knew he should probably go and help Jj but right now he'd rather go to the hotel and move this convocation up a few ratings. Luke bit his lip softly. "You know what else firemen are good at?"
"Lots of things, I hear they good with big, long hoses" Penelope replied. Luke smirked, he glanced out the door to double check that nobody was heading his way and about to walk in on their convocation.
"No, they're good at climbing things" he whispered.
"Mmm, do you want to climb me Luke Alvez?" she whispered, Luke glanced out the car window to double check that nobody was coming. Her voice wasn't sad anymore which made him feel a bit more, she sounded like she was tired. Packing had obviously taken a toll on her. He could imagine her sitting in her lounge room dressed in a flowing comfortable dress, boxes and bubble wrap surrounding her.
"To help you pack or worship you like the goddess you are?" he lowered his voice, he knew he shouldn't be talking to her like this now. He was supposed to be working.
"Oh pack – I want to see those muscles working" she teased. "Only after I have stood over you with a whip can you worship at my throne, Luke Alvez"
He laughed, there was his girl, he closed his eyes and leaned back into the chair. He couldn't help but imagine her standing over dressed in a black one piece with a whip in her hand. He clenched his fist and bit his lip.
"I should go. I wish I'd rather climb into bed with you though." He whispered,
"Okay." Penelope whispered.
"Are you feeling better?" he wanted to check she was good, make up for the way he'd left last time.
"Definitely. Be safe." She told him; Luke could hear Penelope shuffling around on the other side of the phone. "If only I could find where I put my vibrator"
Luke groaned, he knew that she was playing with him, leaving him thinking about what she would be doing next.
"I love you girl" he whispered; Luke heard her chuckle.
"I love you too, sir knight" Penelope told him before she hung up.
Luke put his phone down and started the car. He looked down at his lap and wondered if he should make a stop at the hotel before heading to the apartment. Luckily once he got moving and think about the case again his problems went away.