Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds
"This button answered the call and this one mutes our end," Reid explained how the trap and trace machine worked to Mr. Davenport. They had set up shop at his house because they didn't want to be splitting time between there and a field office. It was almost 8:00, and the team was ready. JJ and Morgan were in the kitchen, talking.
"So, you think she's crazy because she thinks she can feel her sister's anxiety?" JJ asked once he finished his story about what happened when he and Prentiss went to see her.
"I didn't say that." He defended.
"It was implied." She gave him a look. "Either way, is it really that crazy? I mean, I can control fire and water, Prentiss can change shape, Reid can feel other people's emotions and move stuff with his mind. You're pretty much Superman, for goodness sake! Her sensing her sister is a lot less outlandish when you think of it that way." She said. He nodded, acknowledging her point. He was about to say something when Reid interrupted.
"Uh, guys, it's almost time." He told them, leaving again with them following him this time. They all entered the living room. Hotch was coaching Mr. Davenport on how to answer the call and Prentiss was comforting Cheryl. The clock turned to 8:00 and everyone waited tensely.
"He said he would call." Evan Davenport said, sounding distraught. He looked at the agents.
"He will. He just wants you on edge." Hotch said. Just then the phone rang. Mr. Davenport took a breath and answered.
"Hello?" He said.
"Hello, Mr. Davenport." The man said. Mr. Davenport closed his eyes.
"Are you the man who has my daughter, Trish?" He asked carefully.
"Yes." The Unsub said.
"Can I ask-" He began but was cut off.
"You may not ask me anything. I don't want to speak to you." Mr. Davenport looked around, panicked.
"Who do you want to speak to?"
"Put her on the phone." He said. "Put Cheryl on the phone." Hotch hit the silence button.
"What his he doing?" Mr. Davenport asked.
"He's doing what all these guys try to do; establish dominance," Hotch said.
"But why would he want to talk to Cheryl?" Rossi asked.
"Yeah, it doesn't make any sense. She isn't an authority figure." Morgan agreed.
"Let me do it." The girl in question stepped up. Prentiss shook her head, as did Hotch.
"No." He said resolutely.
"I think we should," Reid said.
"I'm waiting." The Unsub said.
"I want to help my sister." Cheryl said.
"No." Hotch said, and then gestured JJ forward. "JJ," He said, pointing to the chair. She nodded and sat down. Pressing the un mute button, she answered.
"Hello? This is Cheryl." She said.
"You're not Cheryl. Get off the phone." He sneered. She pushed the mute button again and looked at Hotch. He grunted.
"Okay, Cheryl, come here." Hotch said after a moment of deliberation. She hurried over as JJ vacated the chair.
"Okay," Prentiss said, walking over with her. "You need to be calm. Talk about Trish, say thing like 'my sister Trish.' Humanize her. Agree with everything he says and, as hard as it may be, empathize." She nodded and Prentiss pushed the button again.
"Hello." Cheryl said.
"Hello Cheryl." The man said fondly. She repressed a shudder. "How are you?" He asked. She paused and then answered.
"I'd be a lot better if I knew my sister, Trish, was okay."
"Yes, you have a lot of empathy don't you Cheryl?" He asked.
"Yes." She whispered.
"What is your favorite color?" He asked. She looked up. Prentiss pressed the mute button.
"Don't answer that. Keep this about Trish." She pressed the button again.
"If I answer that will you let me talk to my sister?" She asked.
"Maybe." He said.
"I like blue." She finally choked out. He hummed.
"So ordinary." He murmured.
"Can I talk to Patricia now?" She asked.
"Do you like chocolate, Cheryl?" He asked. She was quiet. "Do… you… like… chocolate?" He asked again.
"Yes." She just barely kept in a sob. The other end was quiet until there was the sound of wood creaking. "Trish?" She asked desperately.
"Cher?" Came the voice on the other end. She couldn't keep in the sob this time. "Oh, God, Trish, are you okay? What do you see?" She asked.
"I see… the moon." Her words slurred slightly and the sound of footsteps was heard.
"Trish? Trish! Trish, answer me! Put her back on the phone, you bastard!" She screamed.
"You will have 50,000 dollars ready. You will answer the call in 15 minutes and follow the instructions you are given." And with that, the line went dead. Cheryl sobbed and leaned into her father's embrace. The others sighed.
"Well… that could have gone worse." Rossi said once the Davenports had left the room.
"He sounded like he was reading from a script." Reid said.
"Yeah, until he was talking the Cheryl. He sounded relaxed with her." Morgan agreed.
"So, what? He knows her?" Prentiss asked.
"I'll get Garcia on it." Morgan said, leaving the room to make the call. 15 minutes later, the Unsub called just as he had promised. He instructed Cheryl to gather the money and to drop it off.
"There is no way I will let her go into the field," Hotch said, shaking his head.
"I agree. It's too risky." Rossi voiced his opinion.
"Well, does anyone have a better idea?" Morgan asked rhetorically.
"Actually… I do." Prentiss said. "But I, uh, can't say what it is in a room full of people." She told them quietly. Hotch nodded and he and the rest of the team followed her outside. Once Reid confirmed that there was no one in the immediate vicinity, she began.
"What if I went?" She said. Everyone gave her blank looks except for Reid, who was looking at her like she was the smartest person he had seen all day.
"Um, I hate to break it to you, but you look nothing like her." Morgan said.
"Not yet." Now Reid looked gleeful. "I think you all forget; Emily's a shapeshifter." He said. Everyone just stared.
"I thought you could only turn into animals!" Morgan said.
"I did too, until a few weeks ago. I can turn into anyone I see." She told them.
"Are there any problems that you could think of that could arise from this?" Hotch asked.
"The longer I hold a shape, the more difficult it becomes. But that shouldn't be a problem." She said. Hotch nodded.
"Well, then, get ready." He said.
A/N: Boom! Kinda plot twist. I like it when the team gets to use their powers, haha. I completely forgot that I never specified what Prentiss could do. As always, thank you all for reading and I appreciate every review!