Another chapter, lalala~

xD Erm, I have to point this out, even though this chapter is labeled Case 2, Mattie has been part of three cases with the BAU, including the first. This would be her fourth.

Enjoy and review please, they make my day, whether it's criticism or compliments. :D

Risk

[risk] adj.

The possibility of meeting danger or suffering harm, exposure to this.

"I'm telling you Spence, the whole idea of an actual world in the center of the Earth seems a bit far-fetched, don't ya think?"

"Well, it does seem like it...but it's possible." He turned a page. "There's so much cryptology in the novel…did you know Verne demonstrated his love for coded messages by—"

"Using them as a plot device, I know." Mattie smiled at her friend, who was reading Jules Verne's A Journey to the Center of the Earth.

Reid nodded, leaning back against the library sofa. Mattie sat across from him, The Da Vinci Code open in her lap, as she read it for the third time. "He goes a long way to explain not only the code used but also the mechanisms used to retrieve the original text, did you know that?" The genius' finger trailed down the pages of the book in seconds. It always amazed Mattie how fast Reid could read.

"No." Mattie laughed quietly. "I didn't know that." She grabbed her coffee and took a sip, smiling at the warm feeling in her stomach as the hot coffee ran down her throat and to her stomach.

After her first few cases with the BAU, Mattie had managed to make one good friend, Spencer Reid. She enjoyed spending every other morning at the public library reading books with him. Books were one of the things the two bonded over. Over time, Reid had managed to overcome his social awkwardness with Mattie and Mattie had managed to stop being as mysterious as she was before.

Of course, she still had her many secrets. And she was still a complete riddle to figure out, and she was told so often. Mainly by Reid.

They exchanged stories whenever they had free time, which wasn't often. Mattie had already heard about his bullying experiences, like the time he was tricked into going to meet a girl he liked behind the school field house, where the entire football team was waiting for him. They had stripped him naked and tied him to a goal post. In return, she had told him about the time she had been curiously wandering a bathroom where one of the mean girls had told her a ghost resided. Instead, the girls managed to lock her inside until a janitor discovered her the following morning.

Mattie's phone rang. She looked down at the caller ID. Prentiss. A few irritable librarians narrowed their eyes and pointed to the exit. She smiled apologetically and answered the phone, walking outside. "Emily, what's going on?" she asked in a low tone, glancing around her surroundings.

"Hotch wants you and Reid at the office ASAP. We have a case," Prentiss replied quickly.

"We'll be there in five." Mattie pocketed her phone and walked over to Reid. "Alright Lidenbrock, you're going to have to postpone your journey to the center of the Earth. We have a case."

The music blared and she winced. She wasn't a fan of parties, but this was apparently where this damn case had gotten her. In a fucking strip club, she thought bitterly, crossing her arms.

She sat at a table, slowly kicking her black stilettos under the table impatiently, glancing around. She made an effort to not to be obvious. After all, the unsub could be watching her. Her grey eyes settled on her drink, which she hadn't touched. This is perfect. I'm in a slutty outfit, there's a colossal amount of perverts in here, and I don't have a gun on me.

Of course, even though she was burning with annoyance as a man winked at her, she couldn't blow her cover. Oppressing a scowl, she managed to smile coyly. He approached her, leaving his previous female acquaintance sitting alone at the bar. "All alone, sweetie?"

I swear, I'm going to get all of them back for this, Mattie thought to herself as she touched the man's arm with one hand, brushing a strand of her raven black hair behind her ear with the other.

"Garcia says he's attending the Di'Angelo Desire tonight," Emily said, shutting her phone. "He reserved the VIP section of the club, as well as a room backstage."

"He's killing again tonight," Morgan concluded, leaning back on his chair.

"Why can't we just come in and arrest him? We know who he is and what he's done," JJ asked, her chin in her hand, as she glanced at some gathering reporters outside.

"Because our profile of him indicates he won't go down without a fight. He's armed, and he'll kill people in the club if we approach him openly. We have to get him alone." Hotch sounded a bit edgy. Something was bothering him.

"How do we do that?" Mattie asked. Everyone looked at her. She looked confused, then the thought dawned on her. "Oh no."

Reid looked uncomfortable. "There's probably another way…" he said quietly, his voice cracking. He didn't like the idea of sending her straight into the unsub's clutches.

"We don't have time." Rossi sighed and looked straight at Mattie.

"Why the hell can't JJ or Emily do it?"

"Because he only tears apart the young ones, remember? He wouldn't go for JJ or Emily," explained Rossi, pressing his lips together. Hotch sighed. He would rather hire another agent to do the dirty work for them, instead of sending his own niece to some sadistic murderer that rapes and chops off the women's body parts. But Rossi was right.

They didn't have time.

He was going to kill again, and soon.

Mattie looked murderous, glaring at her team with eyes like daggers. If looks could kill, they would all be dead. Prentiss suppressed a tiny smile. She had been in her position a while ago. Except, it wasn't the unsub she was meeting.

"Fine." Mattie's answer was abrupt and it teemed with irritation. "I guess I get to play dress-up then, huh?"

"Zip me up, will you?" Mattie called out to Reid, who had entered the room she was changing in accidentally, dropping all his papers.

His face burned, but he shook his head slightly, taking a small breath and stepping forward. Mattie was wearing an incredibly revealing dress, which showed off almost all of her of her legs, and most of her cleavage. It was ripped across her torso, exposing her pale skin. Reid fumbled with the zipper as he trailed it up the agent's smooth, white back. Mattie let out a small chuckle, amused at the doctor's embarrassment.

She, too, was embarrassed, but masked it expertly. "Thanks, Spence."

"Ah, it's n-nothing." Reid turned away, trying to ignore how exposed his friend was. Running a hand across her loose, thick hair, Mattie managed a small smile when he held the door open for her.

"Wish me luck."

"Do you work here?" the unsub, Richard Lewis, asked her. Mattie poked at her drink with a straw. "Occasionally." The original man that had approached her had left, and now the man she was with was the sexually sadistic unsub. She tapped her fingers against the smooth black table, trying to keep calm.

The man reached out to her, grabbing her chin in his hand gently and tilting it up to look at him. "Oh? I bet you get paid quite a lot then." Seductively, he smiled at her. Mattie giggled softly, licking her lips. "Not really," she whispered to him, leaning in closer.

"Hm…" The man's attention towards Mattie faltered as a beautiful brunette walked by them. Mattie cursed under her breath, then said, "Wanna get out of here?" She ended her question with a little smile and she trailed her hand down her chest, fiddling with a silver necklace. The unsub looked back at her, following her hand, and tilted his head a little. He's deciding if I'm good enough to tear apart, Mattie thought to herself. Lovely.

"Of course, baby. I know exactly where to go." He took her hand, pulling her close to him. She felt his hand grab her ass. Mattie lifted her fist to punch him, but set it down, reminding herself she couldn't hit him. Not yet, anyway.

From a distance, Morgan and Reid were watching her interact with the unsub. Morgan shook his head to the side, clenching his jaw as he saw the man touch the younger agent. "He's definitely going to get it," the agent muttered, standing up. Reid stood up as well.

"He's taking her to the back room," he said, observing the two. He hoped Mattie would be alright.

"Well, let's make sure he doesn't get far." The two agents got up and followed.

Mattie was shoved into a wall, the man trailing rough kisses down her neck. She shuddered. She couldn't punch him, he was armed. She could see the gun tucked into his pants as she was lifted. Oh God, he smells awful. Where the hell are Reid and Morgan?

They weren't at the room yet. They were in a hall, a cold, vacant hall. Some drunk guys stumbled in, hooting and wolf-whistling as the unsub kissed Mattie. She was repulsed. He smelt like beer and cigarettes. But she kissed him back. She was dead if she didn't play along.

He lifted her legs around him and carried her to the room. Slightly dizzy, she blinked several times. They were now in the room. The unsub shut the door, locking it.

Shit.

Mattie looked around desperately. She needed a weapon.

The man pushed her down on the bed, whispering something dirty in her ear.

She couldn't take it anymore.

She punched him hard, and felt a sickening crack as her fist collided with his nose.

The unsub howled in pain as he held his bleeding, broken nose. Mattie lunged for his gun, which he had set down beside the bed. But the man was quicker. He grabbed her leg, pulling her towards him again, and grabbed her arms roughly.

"You feisty little bitch…I'll cut you up nice and good, alright?" A twisted smile spread across his face. "Like you did to all those other girls?" she sneered. The unsub's grin enlarged. "No. I'll make you pay for that punch, you bitch."

Mattie was about to scream for help but the unsub kicked her into a wall, grabbing a knife from the nightstand's drawer. She crumpled to the ground, holding her stomach as the man lifted the knife above her horrified face.

"Drop the knife!" Morgan shouted, bursting in through the door, aiming his gun at the unsub. Behind him, Reid had his gun out as well, and he glanced at Mattie, concern flooding his face. The unsub turned towards them and Mattie saw her chance. She darted towards Reid rapidly, grabbing the gun. The young agent caught her just as the unsub dived towards Mattie, his blade missing her back by a centimeter or two.

Morgan grabbed the man by the shirt and threw him against a wall, disarming him of the knife. "You're under arrest, Richard Lewis, for the abduction, rape, and murders of Isabelle Snyder, Laura Santos, and Michelle Haurper," he spat at the cackling unsub.

"I'll get you!" he shouted at Mattie, a crazed grin on his face. Reid stepped in front of her, frowning defensively. "I'll feel you up, nice and good, and the chop you up like all my other masterpieces!"

"Get him out of here!" Morgan growled, pushing the man harshly at two police officers that had entered the scene.

"You alright?"

Mattie, who was sitting in a bench next to the club, tore her eyes from the sky to gaze at Reid, who stood a few feet behind her, hands stuffed in his pockets. He gave her an awkward smile.

She smiled back tiredly. "Yeah, I guess."

The flashing lights of the police cars lit up their faces. She pressed her bare feet against the cold, rough pavement. "Damn heels, I'm gonna have blisters for days," she mumbled irritably. Eyebrows raised, Reid couldn't help but laugh. "You just got molested by a sexual sadist, almost got killed, and you complain about how much your feet hurt?"

Mattie looked up at him, pulling her legs up to her chest. "Well they do," she sniffed indignantly. Reid smiled and shook his head slightly, sitting down next to her. "Here." He handed Mattie her black trenchcoat. "Can't have you showing off like that, can we?"

She laughed, thanked him, and pulled it on. They sat there in silence for a while, staring at the police shove the man into their car. "What took you and Morgan so long anyway?" Mattie asked, turning to Reid. "If you'd arrived a few seconds later, I'd already have a knife in my face!"

"We ran into some of his…er…acquaintances," replied the young genius. "We caused a bit of a scene."

Mattie nodded, and the silence took over again. She glanced up at the stars, trying to find a familiar constellation. "Sorry," Reid muttered suddenly. Mattie looked at him, raising an eyebrow. "It's alright. It's not your fault the acquaintances attacked you." She smiled slightly but Reid shook his head. "No, sorry you had to go in there. I should've objected or sent in another person or..." He looked down.

She patted his hand. "Nah, it's fine, Spence, really. Someone had to do it, and we were short on time. It's not your fault at all. 'Sides, I'm perfectly fine." Mattie smiled assertively. He looked at her, scanning her face. He hated the fact that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't read her as easily as others. "You're sure?"

Mattie rolled her eyes. "Yes, I'm sure. Now c'mon, I've rented some Star Wars movies that await at my apartment. Come must you." She flashed him a cheesy grin and stood up. Reid laughed a little, standing up next to her. "Throw in some Starbucks and I'm in."