Morgan was groggy but he heard her order loud and clear. He'd watched her carve up the young rookie agent before his eyes. He pleaded with her to let him go but she just cackled and laughed before carving her initials in the young man's back. Even now the screams still echoed in his ears and even with his eyes closed he could see the blood seeping through the trail that she diabolically carved on his skin. There was nothing he could do her love struck henchman, Elliot had held his head in a vice grip that felt as if his skull was going to crack into tiny pieces. All he had to do was admit the truth and she would let the poor man live; at least that's what she promised. It wasn't true he knew she was lying even when she uttered the words.

She was brilliant in her wickedness! She knew there wasn't enough pain that she could inflict on Morgan that would make him tell her what she wanted to know. But he would never let anyone suffer in his place and so she took her time teasing him and watching him struggle against his bindings as she pressed the sharp knife against the other agent's back. She loved how it made her feel; giddy and exhilarated the bright blood running over her skin the screams for mercy…she was sure he'd not signed up for this and hadn't been taught how to survive in such dire circumstances.

She was tired it had taken a lot out of her making such a mess of the young man. Then there was still the matter of the handsome, strong and stubborn Agent Derek Morgan he had been her new fantasy and she'd planned to take him into her organization…and her bed. But he'd lied and like so many others had thoroughly pissed her off! She had to teach him a lesson he was going to die that was the only way to really teach difficult people lessons really.

As Elliot wiped the blood from her hands he planned how he would take the man's life. It was her orders after all and he wasn't going to fail her. Zelda Cromley was his life and his mission was to do whatever she commanded. He looked at her puzzled and a little hurt as she stepped away from him and toward Morgan and placing a still stained index finger on his chin lifting his head to meet her gaze.

"Elliot, make it quick. I'm sure we'll have company soon."

"Of course, Madame."

She smiled down on her captive and swiftly left the room. Elliot grabbed the knife from the table that his Mistress had just used on Cunningham and turned toward Morgan.

Garcia had traced Morgan's phone to the larger of the two warehouses. Hotch split them up in teams sending them to all of the existing entries. Quietly they entered not wanting to alert anyone and maintaining the element of surprise. Zelda had no idea that they had been located so fast as she attempted to slither out the back door. Just as she unlocked her car door, she felt the cool barrel of a gun against her head and she froze.

"Don't move!" JJ warned.

JJ held the woman in place as Rossi cuffed her and handed her over to a uniformed officer. JJ and Rossi proceeded through the door and began to quietly search the warehouse.

Hotch and Reid heard the faint sound of voices at the end of the hallway and headed toward the only lit room.

Inside, Elliot stood watching his handiwork as Morgan strained against the new pain inflicted on his body. Just as Elliot moved toward him again the door sprung open startling the man.

"Drop the knife! Now!" Hotch ordered.

Reid saw the blood and he saw the still bloody body of the man on the floor. Hotch saw it too and struggled to keep from blowing the stranger's head off.

"Drop the knife! On your knees! Hands on your head!"

Elliot without hesitation complied. JJ and Rossi rushed through the door joining them stopping dead in their tracks momentarily at the sight before them.

"JJ, get something to stop the bleeding!" Reid shouted.

"Oh my god his wrists!"

"I'll call an ambulance!" Rossi shouted and left the room.

Morgan lifted his head slightly and blankly stared into JJ's eyes.

"It's okay it's over! You're safe now."

Without saying a word, Morgan shook his head closing his eyes allowing the darkness to pull him in.

Potomac General Hospital – Much later –

"All I know is if she comes within ten feet of this place I'll strangle her bony ass!" Garcia yelled as she paced the waiting room.

"Calm down Garcia your going to blow a gasket!" JJ pleaded as she followed Garcia around the room.

"Calm down? Calm down? She almost got Derek killed! How can I calm down?"

"I know but let the bureau handle it! We've got to keep it together for Morgan, alright?"

"Yeah, sure! I swear JJ, she better keep her distance or there won't be anything left of her for the bureau to, 'handle'. That's a promise, my blonde beauty!"

Hotch, Rossi and Reid walked into the room and joined the two women. They had stayed behind to make sure there were no loose ends and that Zelda and Elliot were booked and securely behind bars.

"Any word on Morgan?" Hotch asked.

"Not yet." JJ answered.

"Where's Jordan?" Garcia asked angrily.

"We sent her home. We didn't think it was a good idea for her to be here." Rossi answered.

"Agent Morgan?"

The team turned toward the door to see a middle-aged man dressed in worn green scrubs.

"Yes."

"I'm Dr. Abrams I'm the attending on duty treating Agent Morgan."

"How is he, Doctor?" Garcia asked.

"He's doing fine considering what he's been through."

The team sighed in relief as they waited to hear more.

"He was subjected to a large amount of electrical shocks for a prolonged length of time so we're monitoring his heart to make sure there's no lasting effects. The slashes on his wrist were superficial thanks to the duct tape that had him bound to the chair."

"So he's going to be okay?" Reid asked.

"I have no doubt that he'll make a full recovery."

"Can we see him?" Garcia asked.

"Yes but please don't stay long he needs his rest."

"Thank you doctor." Rossi added.

The five of them followed the doctor to Morgan's room with Garcia leading the pack. Her heart was beating out of her chest and she couldn't get to him fast enough. Their eyes locked as soon as she stepped through the door she quickly closed the distance between them rushing and wrapping her arms around him careful not to disturb the monitor leads and IV connected to him. The rest of the team entered the room smiles of relief across their faces.

Everything hurt but he didn't care he slowly wrapped his arms around her and held on ignoring the pain it just didn't matter; he was safe with her and his family.

"Hey Handsome!"

He wiped the tears that had begun streaming down her face.

"Baby Girl."

JJ stepped to the other side of the bed and grabbed his hand she fought back her own tears relieved that her friend was safe and was going to be okay.

"No tears both of you. I'm okay."

Hotch, Rossi and Reid watched the women lavish Morgan with attention smiling because there was no surprise that even in a hospital bed he was the center of attention with the ladies.

They all saw the fatigue and pain in his eyes then the seriousness brought a brief halt to the reunion.

"Agent Cunningham…"

He couldn't go any further the memories of what had happened to the young agent came flooding back as he closed his eyes momentarily. His teammates remained silent then looked to Hotch to break the news.

"Agent Cunningham is dead, Morgan."

"Damn! Damn, he was so young, man."

"Morgan, there was nothing you could have done." Hotch continued.

"She cut him up like… like he was…she didn't even flinch…she just laughed every time he screamed."

"Morgan." Garcia wanted to console him.

"I couldn't get her to stop…I tried but she just kept cutting…she just…"

"It's okay, it's okay…she can't hurt anybody else ever again." Garcia assured him.

The monitors spiked enough to alert the nurse and she hurried into the room scolding them all like children and threatening to throw them out. Her antics were enough to distract them all forcing them to restrain giggles and smirks. Shortly after the nurse checked his vitals they all filed out; all except Garcia who remained by his side watching as he slowly dropped off to sleep.

She was glad she'd thought to bring her laptop she had some unfinished business; a wayward, despicable agent had a lesson to learn and she was just the one to teach her. Jordan Todd had put her man in danger in fact, if the team hadn't found him in time he'd be dead. As it was a young rookie agent did lose his life. This had been Cunningham's first field assignment he should have never been give the assignment in the first place. Jordan was a self-centered bitch hell bent in proving that Morgan was hers and hers alone even though he had made it quite clear to her that he was in love with someone else. It didn't matter she wanted what she wanted and she was going to get it at all cost.

She watched him as he peacefully slept the love of her life the man who had rescued her heart from despair. She held his hand and silently promised that she'd never make him go through anything like this again just to prove his love he had already proven it so many times. Her insecurities had nearly cost him… cost them both a future and for that she would never forgive herself.

One Week Later…

Things were getting back to normal around the BAU Morgan had been released from doctor's care to return to work after recovering from his injuries and smooth talking his way through therapy. Garcia was managing to keep her promise to herself to not let her jealousy get the best of her and the team had successfully closed a case in Utah.

Garcia had kept another promise as well. She worked her cyber/hacker magic and got Jordan Todd transferred to another office. In fact, she had been named the new head of Counter Terrorism…at the North Pole! The FBI had never had offices there but somehow the director had been convinced that there was a possible terror threat and Jordan was 'highly' recommended to open the offices there.

Each morning Jordan's day began with gathering lumber to start a fire…she'd never, ever in her life experienced such bone chilling cold. Construction was minimal to say the least, her office was nothing more than a ten-by-ten self-storage unit with a small generator that pumped just enough power to turn on the small lamp on her rickety desk and heat up the hot plate that she used to brew a small pot of coffee each day. Her hours were long and uneventful…the North Pole had never seen or heard of a terrorist…until now. Jordan's assignment was to seek out all threats known and unknown or else.

She hated her job more than anything. She'd screwed up but her blind determination to have a man…one man in particular had made her do some foolish things and but somehow this felt more like revenge than punishment. A suspension or a reprimand in her file she could understand but this? No, this could only be the work of a highly pissed off blond techie geek! She couldn't prove it but it didn't change the fact that she had messed with the wrong woman's man.

She carefully turned the key in the lock and pushed the half frozen door open. It was colder inside than it was outside she thought as her eyes surveyed the small room. Her eyes fell on a familiar sight, the large gift basket she'd bought for Derek. She remembered clearly the day she'd asked her co-worker Sheila to deliver it for her; she was upset when he personally returned it to her without even a second thought. Now, here it sat in the middle of her rickety tin desk the only bright thing in the dreary office. Confused she wondered how it had gotten here before her. A card with unfamiliar writing was attached to the plastic wrap. It was addressed to her and it read:

Dear Agent Todd:

Welcome to the neighborhood! It will be a cold day in Hell before you make it back to Quantico!

Sincerely,

PG

/

"Men are not punished for their sins, but by them." ~Elbert Hubbard

THE END