Title: The Poison Apple

Author: innocent choir girl Is a past offender after the BAU team?

Category: General

Genres: Angst, Crime, Drama, Hurt/Comfort,

Characters: Aaron Hotchner, David Rossi, Emily Prentiss, Derek Morgan, Jennifer Jareau, Spencer Reid, Penelope Garcia

Rating: PG-13

Chapter Six - "Close to Home"

Author's Note: What was the last chapter called? Flu…that's exactly what I have… So, if something doesn't make sense, I blame the flu.

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January 16, 2008

Duluth Police Department

Duluth, Minnesota

"We think we have a lead on the unsub," Morgan reported before downing some coffee the minute he saw Hotch enter the station. "What did the doctor say about Prentiss?"

"Is JJ any better?" Reid asked. "Statistically the flu only lasts an average of five days. That's been about how long JJ's been in the hospital. Some people do stay sick longer… Did you know that—"

"She's still in the hospital," Aaron told them. He figured it was a better idea to come out and explain what was going on with JJ and Prentiss rather than holding back from his team. It would only cause problems in the long run if he hid things.

Morgan's phone went off and he immediately looked at the caller ID and answered it, "Baby Girl, let me call you right back. Hotch is gonna tell us about JJ and Prentiss."

((Put me on speaker! I want to be kept in the loop, too.))

"On speaker," Morgan said and turned back to Hotch.

"JJ doesn't have the flu…she's sick because of E. coli," he told them. "The doctor says she's just got to ride it out. They'll keep her comfortable in the meantime. The reason she passed out on us was because she hadn't eaten before and her blood sugar dropped."

"So, they're making sure she's eating now?" Morgan asked.

"Mostly jell-o, but they've got her on IVs, I'm sure she's getting all the nutrients she needs," Hotch told them. He didn't want to add to it that it was possible that JJ was poisoned by the E. coli, which would just keep them all thinking about their team mates. Their current attention needed to be about finding the unsub. "Prentiss probably has the flu…but the doctors are keeping her overnight for observation. Rossi's keeping them both company and we'll get an update as soon as they know anything."

((But they're going to be okay?))

"Yes, Garcia, they'll be fine. JJ's probably up for you to call her if you like. Rossi's there with her," Hotch offered. He knew that probably out of the whole team, JJ was probably the closest to Garcia in knowing her. They both shared the same vacation schedule and were the only on the team who were not profilers. "We should all be back soon."

((Alright, you keep me updated on my girls.))

"Alright, Baby Girl, we'll talk to you later," Morgan said before closing the cell phone. He focused his attention on Hotch. He didn't like this. It was almost worse than when Garcia had been shot. At least then, Garcia knew who the culprit was. In this case, there was no culprit other than viruses running loose. He looked over at Reid, who merely looked concerned, "Let's find this unsub."

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January 18, 2008

Duluth Police Department

Duluth, Minnesota

They'd found the unsub and in time to save one life. It was a small comfort after so many lives had been slaughtered in their attempt to locate him. Morgan and Rossi were in with the unsub trying to find out exactly how many he'd killed over what period of time. It was information they'd need in order to possibly identify the few who weren't and to give peace and closure to families that still thought their loved one was out there.

The ringing of his cell phone pulled his attention away and he pulled it open and put it to his ear, "Hotchner." What he was being told was something that he didn't like. He had thought that the E. coli had started with JJ and ended with Prentiss, he'd told himself that somehow they'd shared something and Prentiss' system had just fought against it harder than JJ's had. He'd attributed it to the little more sleep and routine meals that Prentiss had. But this, this put a huge flaw in his theory. "I understand," he said. "We'll be there as soon as we can. Yes, thank you." He closed his phone and stared through the one way window. He wasn't sure how he'd tell his team. JJ and Prentiss would be ready to be released and would be fine to fly back to Quantico, but just as everything had started to look up, this happened.

Moving around to the door, he opened it and stepped in to address the two members of his team inside. "A minute." He stepped back into the small confined room that stood behind the one way mirror/window. He waited until both men followed him and the door was shut behind them. "I'm afraid I've got some bad news…"

"What is it?" Morgan asked expecting that he'd hear that JJ or Prentiss would require a longer hospital stay or something of the sort.

He pulled in breath before speaking; knowing what he was telling them was huge. The impact would not only impact their team, but their sense of safety in some ways. "Garcia's in the hospital…" he told them calmly.

"What?!" Morgan spat out. "What's wrong? She's going to be okay, though, right?"

"It's the same, isn't it?" Rossi spoke up in the calm of the silence looking to Aaron. "Garcia's been poisoned the same way as JJ and Prentiss were?"

Hotch nodded, "They've got her in her own room under guard. The doctors are making sure her food is tested before it goes in. They're making her comfortable and treating her as much as they can. She'll be okay, she's just going to be sick for a while like JJ and Prentiss have been."

"It hit JJ hard, though," Morgan said. "What if whoever's doing this is stepping it up?"

"The reason it hit JJ so hard was because she was exhausted and hadn't eaten. Her blood sugar dropped. They say Garcia's going to be fine," Hotch said hoping to keep Morgan calm.

"When do we leave?" Rossi asked.

"As soon as we can get JJ and Prentiss released," Hotch responded quickly.

"Are we sure none of this is coincidence?" Morgan asked after a few minutes of letting himself calm a bit.

Hotch wanted to tell him that it was possible, but it didn't seem like it. "The CDC's been investigating the area, but haven't come up with any other viable option at the moment."

………………………

TBC…