Hello there my lovelies,
So I am not exactly decided on how long this story will be. I do believe it is going to be of decent length because I have a number of ideas brewing! I'll just keep writing and with your help (hopefully) I will gauge where to go!
As for technicalities, the current team will consist of Hotch, Rossi, Morgan, Reid, Prentiss, JJ, and Garcia. This shall take place some random time after the conclusion of season 2. Later in this story, there is going to be a Reid concentration. Other members of the team will also be involved, so fret not!
I will post warnings at the beginning of each chapter, but I do not believe anyone uncomfortable with a T rating should read. Overall, the plot will remain an M rating.
Of course, I do not own any aspect of Criminal Minds or affiliated characters.
Reviews are always, always appreciated! I enjoy the criticism!
Warnings and Ratings: T – Minor language. Mainly for safety!
"I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity."
~Dwight D. Eisenhower
Each morning at precisely 8 am in Quantico Virginia, the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit springs to life. The team routinely filed into the bullpen, scattering to their offices and desks appropriately. On this particular morning, each member of the team silently prayed for a paper filing day. They'd had two incredibly difficult cases back to back with each one lasting just about a week. Of course, involvement of children in each case certainly added a cherry to the top of the emotionally draining sundae. Typically, Hotch would do everything in his power to approve a day off for his team after such circumstances. Unfortunately, he had personally received a new case the team was not yet aware of.
By quarter past 8, Hotch was briskly walking out of his office and down the balcony overlooking the bullpen. "Guys, conference room," he stated plainly.
"Hotch, you've got to be kidding me," Morgan groaned, as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He could nearly taste the tension headache growing behind his eyes.
"I wish I was," Hotch added as he continued walking towards the conference room. Though he never showed it, the man was just as drained as the rest of his team. His mind continuously wondered home to Haley and Jack when any child case was presented, but three consecutive cases? The male's fatherly instincts were flooded with anxiety and adrenaline ready to explode at any moment.
"This has to be a new record," Morgan continued on, glancing to each of his team members. They all shared solemn looks of disappointment.
"It's actually just a tie from a few years back," Reid began. Morgan's incredulous glace kept his speech short. "but the uhm, victim's weren't children... so ah, yeah, it's like a new record." Reid nodded to himself before pocketing his hands and following after Hotch.
"I'll get the coffee started," JJ offered, making her way to the kitchen. She already had her phone in hand, feeling rather horrible as she sent off a quick text to cancel plans with Will once again. Clearly, she was expecting the worse considering she had not received direct information about the case.
Begrudgingly, the team assembled in the conference room, arranging themselves in the typical seating pattern. JJ returned with the coffee, placing a cup in front of each of her coworkers. Garcia was last to enter the room, surprised Hotch would be briefing the team today.
"Strauss sent this file directly to me this morning," Hotch began, eyes never once leaving the folder in his hands. The team shared an assortment of looks. If Strauss sent the file, this couldn't be good. Hotch began pulling pictures up on the projector, flashing more graphic images of two young males in front of the team. "Two bodies have been found on opposite ends of Oregon. Joshua Styles, fifteen, on the northern end and Stephen Smith, eighteen, on the southern end.
"Okay, this is getting ridiculous," Prentiss chimed in, briefly glancing away from the screen. "Three child victim cases in the same month?"
Hotch gave one affirming nod in Prentiss's direction, "Somewhat. Strauss is asking us to consider the possibility they may all be connected."
"Are we talking about a gang?" JJ asked, unsure of how to process the idea.
"Possibly," Hotch responded.
"It's almost unheard of for a gang to work separately like this. Number of kills typically establishes a hierarchy in such social settings. They'd want to brag about it as frequently as possible," Reid informed, perplexed by the thought of these three cases holding gang affiliation.
"Which is why I don't believe we've found the leader yet, if this truly is a gang setting," Hotch added, posting pictures from the previous two cases. "Different age ranges, killing tactics, yet the same preferred gender, and each male was white with light colored hair and hazel eyes..."
"But they're getting older," Rossi noticed, pointing to the screen. "The first guy Seth attacked 6 to 8 year old boys, the second guy Glen targeted 10 to 13 year old boys and this UnSub is looking for 15 to 18 year old boys. It's like the gang leader is building confidence."
"Maybe the leader's actual target is an older adult and the gang is staging attacks in bordering states to make this look slightly less suspicious," Reid offered, gaining nods from his neighboring team members.
Hotch snapped the file shut, "Well whatever this is, gang or not, we'll need more conclusive evidence. Wheels up in thirty. Expect a potentially longer stay than the last two. If this is a gang, we need to find him for certain. Garcia, I would like you to join us on this one. With three states to cover, we'll need all the help we can get."
"Yes, Sir," Garcia complied, hurrying off to pack up her array of technological necessities.
The team scattered from the conference room in search of go bags and paperwork.
Morgan continued to voice his distaste for the current work load in Reid's general direction. "Man, I haven't even finished paperwork from the first case, and we're on the third already?" He shook his head while stuffing file folders and writing implements into his bag.
"Neither have I," Reid agreed, pushing an assortment of things into his go bag before slinging it over his shoulder, "I think a month of vacation is in order after this one."
The darker agent flashed Reid one of his characteristic smiles, "That sounds about right, Pretty Boy. Let's get going."
On the jet, the team spent additional time considering the case. It was a lengthy flight back out to western coast, allowing them plenty of time to go over the details of their plans.
Hotch eventually assigned each team member a task as he scribbled away on a small pad. "This is going to be a tough one, guys. We have three states to cover. Morgan, and Prentiss," he addressed, gaining nods from the team members. "I want you to begin in Washington to Speak with Seth. We will then have you sent south to California to speak with Glen. Try to get confessions of gang affiliation out of these inmates or perhaps the names of other men involved. We need to establish what sort of hierarchy this is."
Morgan and Prentiss looked to one another with affirming nods.
Hotch continued on, "Rossi, Reid, and I will head to the crime scenes in Oregon. JJ and Garcia, we'll set you up to deal with the press and technicalities in Oregon as well." Each person absorbed the plans Hotch was describing, committing them to memory.
Hotch paused for a brief moment. He released a sigh and glanced to each of his team members with gentle eyes. When the Chief began speaking again, his voice was filled with earnest concern, "Keep constant contact every step of the way. Call as frequently as necessary." The Chief's main concern was the well being of his team members and he despised the idea of breaking them up like this. Even with local police detail. "Take some quiet time," Hotch finally decided after they had exhausted everything else.
The team dispersed at the recommendation. Reid nestled into a corner of the plane, scanning his eyes across the pages of a lengthy novel. It seemed easier for Reid to clear his mind when he was not focusing on reality.
Morgan sat in the seat across from Reid, listening inattentively to his music and staring blankly out the window. His mind wondered home to his mother and two sisters as he realized he should make time to see them after this case ended.
Prentiss, Garcia and JJ chatted lightly, trying to ease their minds of the current case.
Hotch and Rossi continued bouncing ideas off of one another. Hotch was nearly certain he would go crazy if his mind was allowed to drift away from the task at hand. Not only was he separated from his biological family, but the equally important family surrounding him was soon to be separated as well.
Eventually, Morgan removed his headphones from his ears and glanced across the table at Reid. He studied the younger male for a while, relaxed by the sound of pages turning. Morgan assumed the feeling stemmed from his mother reading him plenty of books as a child. "Hey, Kid?" He finally asked, resting his elbows on the table and lacing his fingers together. Reid continued to scan the pages rhythmically. Morgan rolled his eyes, "Earth to Pretty Boy," he called, raising his voice an octave while pulling at the corner of Reid's novel.
"Huh? Oh, sorry!" Reid cleared his throat, blushing a light pink as he closed the book and set it aside.
"What's that thing even about?" Morgan asked curiously, though immediately regretted this decision.
"Glad you asked! It's about this concept in quantum physics called the three body problem..."
Morgan tried to cut Reid off but he wasn't successful in his efforts.
Reid held up his index finger to Morgan, "No, it's really cool! I promise! Ready?"
"This oughtta be good. Let me hear it, Pretty Boy." Morgan sat back in his seat, arms crossed with a slightly amused grin.
Reid couldn't help but smile, raking a hand through his messy hair. Morgan and JJ were typically the only ones who allowed him to ramble on. "Thanks. Anyway! The equation uses this initial set of data, specifically positions of location over a given field, and both the velocities and masses of three separate bodies in any given time and determines their motion. With relation to Newton's laws of motion and gravity, of course. Historically speaking, the first three masses studied were the sun, moon and earth, helping to calculate their movements, distance, and time from one another. How cool is that!?" Reid finished with a silly grin.
Morgan's eyebrows narrowed, "Uh-huh. I see. Very interesting."
"Well, I think so," Reid added with a shrug.
Morgan finally cracked his infectious smile, "Kid, I wish I understood an eighth of the stuff that goes on in that brain of yours."
Reid blushed and shrugged once again, "Aside from my own benefit, it's mainly useless."
"It's still impressive," Morgan corrected, unable to deny the simple fact.
Reid's face darkened to a light red, "You really think so?"
Morgan nodded, "Yeah, Kid. Of course I do."
Reid drew his knees up to his chest. He relaxed back in his seat and glanced out the window of the jet. He could use the confidence boost.
Sooner than everyone would have liked, the plane landed in Oregon.
"We'll meet back up later this evening," Hotch informed once the plane came to rest.
"Be careful over there, guys," Morgan felt the need to add. He of all people was having a difficult time splitting off into three separate states. If anything happened while he was away, he wasn't sure what he would do.
"You, too," Rossi agreed with a nod.
All but Morgan and Prentiss exited the plane as the two groups departed on their assigned journeys.