Disclaimer: I think if I owned Criminal Minds, I wouldn't be stressing over my tuition bills. So yeah, I don't own it.

Profile

Agent Reid paced the front of the room as he spoke. "The Unsub is between 25 and 35, probably male. We know that he has Hypergraphia, which means he has the compulsive desire to write. We believe that he suffers from bipolar disease, and during his depressive periods is when he kills, similar to Ted Bundy."

Morgan nodded. "However, our tech couldn't find anyone who was recently released just before the murders who fits that description, so we think the stressor is something else, like losing a job."

"The Unsub knows the mall, the people who work in it, so it could be he worked there until he was fired. Now he doesn't have a job, something steady and the compulsion to write is so strong he doesn't know how to get rid of it."

"The victims are chosen because they resemble characters," Rossi tapped the photos, "Which means we don't know who the next victim is. They are picked by the Unsub because of that resemblance and we can't guess what the next character is."

"Keep your eyes open for people hanging around where the employees park. Encourage people to walk in pairs, ask about old employees who hang around more than usual."

Joy tapped her pencil against her notebook as the BAU gave the profile. It seemed to fit, but part of it didn't sit right with her. She jumped when Craig brushed her shoulder. "You all right?"

"Yeah." She nodded. "Just thinking."

"Couldn't see the smoke coming out of your ears."

"Oh, you're hysterical." She got up and walked out of the conference room, pausing in the doorway. Tyler and her father were at her desk, playing with Tyler's Ninja Turtles.

"Hey, Joy." Chief Thomas Marriott rose to his feet to kiss his daughter on the cheek.

"Thanks for watching him."

"Well, he's my grandson."

"He was Donatello."

"I see," Joy ruffled Tyler's hair and turned back to her dad. "Want to see my notes?"

"Yeah." He began to scan the tiny script. "Tell me what you think."

She leaned against her desk and bit her lip. "Something feels off. I think they got most of it, the bipolar, the Hypergraphia, the stressor, but… I don't know. Maybe I'm just feeling insecure."

Tom glanced at her. "When have you ever felt insecure?"

"Oh please, Dad." She sighed. "And it bothers me, bothers all of us, that there is no way to figure out who could be next, other than a mall employee."

"It's a big mall."

"Bigger than when I worked there."

He grinned. "I remember. You worked at the Waldenbooks."

"That was forever ago, before college."

Shaking his head, he chuckled. "Only twelve years."

Joy rolled her eyes. "Look, thanks for watching Tyler during the meeting."

"Again, my pleasure." He glanced down at her chair. "Where did he go?"

"Hello?"

Morgan glanced up at the tiny voice. He smiled at the face peering around the corner. Emily and Reid looked up at the same time.

Tyler waved shyly. "Hi, Mr. Reid, Ms. Emily." He turned his attention to Morgan. "Who you?"

"I'm Agent Morgan."

"Morgan," the boy murmured to himself.

"And you are?"

"Tyler Joseph Marriott."

"That what Mama calls you when you're in trouble?"

He nodded and snuck in the room, going to Morgan's side. "What you doing?"

"Talking." Morgan lifted the little boy into his lap and turned the laptop. "See, that's my friend, Penny."

"Oh! Aren't you the cutest? Chocolate Muffin, he could be yours!"

"He's Detective Marriott's." Morgan frowned. "Tyler, does Mama know you're in here?"

The little boy shook his head, slowly.

"Man, you're gonna get me in trouble." Morgan stood and hefted Tyler to his hip.

"Tyler."

Morgan froze as the petite detective came into the doorway. She zeroed in on her son. "You're supposed to say when you're leaving."

"I was just comin' to talk."

"Hmm." She smiled. "Just let Mama and Grandpa know where you're going next time."

"Yes, Mama." Tyler grinned.

Joy chuckled and looked up at Morgan. "He's more or less given free rein of the station. He knows everyone and everyplace to hide. So do I, now."

"You here a lot, Little Guy?"

Tyler nodded. "Every day!"

"Only for a few hours." Joy laid a finger on Tyler's nose. "Let the agents work, all right?"

"Yes, Mama."

"Want me to take him?" she offered.

Morgan shook his head. "He can hang out for a bit."

"Try not to show him crime scene photos," she sighed. "My mother thinks I take him to the crime scenes with me." Turning, she waved over her shoulder. "Just send him out if he gets bothersome."

"He won't, will you?"

"Nope!"

Morgan sat back down with Tyler in his lap. "So, Mama, got anything for me?"

"Oh, you bet I do."

Tyler leaned against Morgan, arms folded over his chest. "What you got?"

Garcia grinned. "You are too cute for words. Morgan, buy him a lollipop for me later."

"Yes, Mama."

"She really your mama?"

"No, it's just a nickname."

"Oh."

"You ready for your information?"

"Yes, ma'me."

Tyler giggled.

Lilly leaned against the oak, drawing energy from the ancient tree. She would need it in order to break the veil and cross over to the Mortal Realm.

Lilly anxiously walked across the parking lot, glancing around her, her keys in her hand. The streetlights…

The sun had streaked her hair with blonde, framing her heart-shaped face.

Out…out…OUT!

The bat swung down.

With a cry, Lilly hit the pavement, right under a light. Quill in hand, a gloved hand filled the shaft and began to write.

The natural earth energy filled Lilly, spreading in from her fingers to her core. The green magic made her eyes greener, the highlights in her hair brighter. She gathered her energy and released it all at once, tearing the veil.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped through into the Mortal Realm…