Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the ideas.
This is my Christmas Gift for MelloJason, as part of the gift exchange on Chit Chat on Author's Corner. The prompts I was given were: Wizards in Winter (Trans Siberian Orchestra), snow, blizzard, snowed in for Christmas. My pairing is Reid and Morgan.
As promised a second update for today.
. . .
The night had been nothing but frustrating. Morgan and Reid had been stopped from making their way towards the scene, having been told to come back in the morning. Rossi and Prentiss fared slightly better; though had plenty of local tales to wade through before they could establish any facts. Few of the emergency crews were willing to acknowledge Hotch and JJ's present, making it obviously that they distrusted the interference of the FBI.
Gathered once more in the police station, everyone hugging a mug of coffee, even Prentiss had relented on her caffeine free existence. They had fed back the meagre information and now they all looked weary on the cold Christmas Eve morning. No-one spoke, as they inhaled the steam from the inky liquid in front of them, silently milk and sugar was passed round and added as necessary.
The atmosphere spoke for them.
Clearing his throat, Hotch lifted his head, glancing round the room. The thought of missing Christmas with Jack was adding an unbearable edge to his already foul mood.
"We need to focus on the few leads we have today. I don't need to remind any of you that today is Christmas Eve."
"But you will anyway," muttered Derek, earning him a glare from his ill tempered boss.
"Prentiss and JJ, can you two make arrangements with the Principle and head over to the school, look into the background of the children from each family. Did they all get on? That sort of thing. Fire-starting is often an early warning sign for worse to come; there may be something in past records that could head us in the right direction. I will get Garcia to continue her search of the juvenile records. Rossi, you and I will head to the Recreation Centre; all of these families have strong ties to various sports. Reid and Morgan you can head back out to the cabins, especially the Larson's Cabin from last night. Any questions?"
The lack of response was interpreted as a no.
. . .
Taking the winding roads back up towards the forest, Reid stared out of the SUV's dark windows. The heavy clouds overhead worried him, even if they received a Christmas miracle and solved the case today; the likelihood of them being snowed in for Christmas seemed to increase by the hour.
"Right so I'm pissed coz right now I should be at home being pampered by my Mom, what's your excuse?" Derek asked the obviously thoughtful Reid.
"Just because my Mom isn't likely to produce some extravagant meal, doesn't mean my Christmas would be any less important than yours," he bit back.
"Whoa, I didn't mean any offense, sorry."
The rest of the journey passed in silence, until they were joined by a local Ranger, McConkey, at the entrance to the site. Derek kicking himself for making such an insensitive comment, knowing that tiredness was obviously clouding his judgement.
"I'll take you up to the Larson's Cabin, but I won't be able to stay with you," the female Ranger explained, "Some of the families have decided to make the move back to town. I think the combination of the killer and the possibility of the worst weather in more years then I can remember, have somewhat dampened people's spirits. I'm helping out closing cabins down. Guess if no-one is out here he'll stop right?"
"You lived here all your life?" Morgan asked casually, deliberately avoiding her question.
"Sweeney born and bred - finished High School and came out here. I always loved my time here with my family, so getting paid to spend my days in the woods, somehow seemed a bonus."
"So what's your take on all this? Any bad feelings we should know about?"
The Ranger shrugged her dark ponytail swishing as she shook her head gently.
"You know what life's like, in communities that work and play together there is always some back scratching and back stabbing going on. Do I think I know anyone capable of doing this? No, God I hope not. It's common knowledge around here that we all get together at Christmas in the woods. The Lodge puts on events, we go round each others, walks, whatever. It's a whole family thing; even my friends that went away to university or collage are back. If whoever is doing this knows us, then they know that each cabin holds the whole family at this time of year."
"From the information gathered so far we are finding it difficult to establish a motive for the fires," Reid begun to explain, "We need to know if the deaths are intentional, so whether the fire is a weapon or not? Has there ever been a problem with fire setting in the forest?"
"The usual stuff, as far as I know," McConkey answered, "BBQs and campfires that have got out of control in the summer months, but nothing deliberate that I can think of, especially not at this time of year, time of peace and goodwill and all."
Derek nodded.
Getting out at the bottom of the drive to the Larson's cabin, Derek grabbed a scarf as the freezing air bit into him. Looking up at the darkened sky the snow filled clouds threatened to burst at any moment.
As if reading his thoughts, McConkey commented:
"Looks like it will be a bad one when it comes; we either get nothing or feet of the stuff. Haven't had a white Christmas since I was about ten."
"Great," Morgan muttered as they begun to trudge up to the remains. It wasn't that he didn't like snow, just the thought of it hindering any chance they had of heading home was enough to add to his already fraying temper.
By the time they had reached the burnt remnants of the log cabin, the first flurries had started. Each flake settled on the cold ground, yet the still warm ashes, kept the fresh crime scene clear. McConkey left the two agents to do whatever it was they were supposed to do.
Looking back over her shoulder she watched as the tall skinny one begun leaning into the charred wood, while the burly one stood, planted to the spot as solid as any of the surrounding trees.
"For what its worth I'd get back down and head home as soon as possible," she called as she left.