A/N: You guys rock! I really appreciate the supportive reviews, they motivate me! This is probably not going to be the last case in this fic and I hope that they all are as good as you are expecting. :)
"I got it!" Garcia squealed as she popped up on the computer screen, making Reid jump nearly a foot out of his chair and let out a string of curses. He had been sitting in the conference room that had been lent to them for the duration of this case with Morgan, both going over files. It had been silent in the room, aside from the occasional idea thrown out. The rest of the team was out chasing leads and JJ was trying to keep the whole 'supernatural' thing under wraps. Morgan was wearing a light grey shirt and black pants, while Reid was wearing his nerdy glasses and white button-up shirt. Morgan looked up, surprised less by Garcia and more by Reid's reaction. "Reid, do you kiss your mother with that mouth?" She asked rhetorically, smiling.
"Why so jumpy?" Morgan asked. Reid ran a hand through his already unruly hair.
"I can usually sense when people are approaching because of my empathy. I feel their energy from about a yard away, but I can't tell when the computer screen will turn on. It's unnerving." He explained. Morgan understood that. Garcia barked a laugh.
"So, I'm the only one who can get the jump on you, Boy Genius?" She asked, still smiling.
"If you're on your computer." He said.
"You said you got something, Baby Girl?" Morgan prompted.
"Oh, yes, they gave me access to the victims' accounts finally. I'm running a program to see if they all talked to the same person prior to their untimely demises- Yes!"
"What is it?" Morgan asked.
"They all talked to one Jake Hallasy. That's got to be our UNSUB." She said. "Sending you the address to his apartment, now. You two are the closest." She said. They both stood, leaving the room. They hoped that this case would be over soon, that for once they would have an easy arrest.
…
Morgan lifted his foot, kicking the door in with minimal effort. Reid, who was standing on the other side of the door, rushed in. His gun was raised and he cautiously moved into the hallway. He could feel Morgans protective presence at his back until they split, entering separate rooms. Morgan found a bathroom, pushing back the curtain to be sure. It always made him think about how his sisters used to 'check for killers' by opening the shower curtain when they entered the bathroom at night.
Reid pushed open his door and found a spare bedroom. He looked in the closet and under the bed before leaving. He and Morgan silently approached the final room. It was the master bedroom, from what they could see.
"Clear!" Morgan yelled, and it was echoed by the others in the house. He sighed, running a hand over his bald head.
"Garcia said that this was the only piece of property he had under his name. He was fired from his job last week after he stopped coming to work, so he's not at his job." Reid said, brow furrowing.
"We've got to get more information," Morgan said as they exited the plant-filled room. Reid noticed that his sense of other people was dulled with so many plants around.
"Ya know, it's harder for me to sense other people with so many plants in one place. These don't feel like normal plants." Reid told Morgan raised an eyebrow.
"Really? How so?" Morgan asked as they reached the car.
"It feels like… like they have a stronger presence. Almost as strong as people, but without all the emotions." He said, looking fascinated by the prospect.
"Hmm." Was all Morgan said, uneasy at that thought and what it could mean.
…
"There's been another murder," Hotch told Reid and Morgan over the phone. They were heading back to the station to meet up with Hotch and the rest of the team to regroup.
"Yeah, his apartment was a bust. The only thing indication it was ever lived in was the plants." Morgan said. There was the sound of the phone shifting and Reid spoke.
"It could have been a while since he had been there, really." He informed them. "Most of the plants were succulents, which can go months without needing to be watered. They also felt almost sentient, like people but without emotions. I think he may have programmed them to take care of themselves." He finished his little ramble on a sort of disturbing note.
"Get back here as soon as possible. We need to get this guy." Hotch said before hanging up. He turned to Prentiss, who was seated next to him.
"I'm guessing the latest victim was killed the same as the previous?" He asked, and she nodded.
"Yes, but he's getting more aggressive. The victim was nearly decapitated with the force the vines demonstrated. From what I understand, the plants would react to his emotional state." She told him.
"He's devolving," Rossi muttered, still deep in thought. JJ entered at the same time as Morgan and Reid. They all sat down, and Hotch dialed Garcia.
"Who's your daddy?" She said as soon as she answered.
"I'm putting you on speaker," Hotch said, fighting a smile.
"Oh, you are no fun at all." He could hear the pout in her voice, trying to decide whether or not it would be appropriate to facepalm. He put her on speaker.
"Tell us you got something, Mamma," Morgan said.
"I do. He is recently divorced, the man he was married to filed domestic abuse charges, but he wouldn't testify and the charges were dropped. Poor honey." Garcia said. "And, before you ask, he looks like the victims. It's kind of freaky."
"Garcia," Reid said. "Look into if he has any friends that would help him. Anyone who owns property." Reid said.
"Well, he doesn't have many friends, hon. No one he could go to, as far as I can tell."
"We're looking for a hideout, Garcia. Someplace he might feel safe or knows he won't be found." Prentiss added.
"Oh! There is an old house in the country that was owned by his grandparents. He inherited it when they died in a… hiking accident." she gasped. "Mr. Hallasy was impaled by a tree branch after falling down a hill. Mrs. Hallasy died of a heart attack directly after. That can't be a coincidence." She said.
"Garcia, what's the address?" Hotch asked, the rest of the team already standing and awaiting direction.
"Sent to your phones." She still sounded disturbed by what she had learned, but the team was already gone.
A/N: The team is on the way! Whoohoo! Haha, as always I hope you enjoyed and please R&R!