In Name and Blood

'Reid?' JJ asked confused, waking up Reid as he slept in a lounge chair in Gideon's office.

'What are you doing here?' JJ asked confused.

'Gideon didn't answer his phone. I called him twice' Reid explained.

'Have you been here all night?' JJ asked.

'We were supposed to play chess' Reid explained.

'Here?' JJ asked.

'Uh, he hasn't been back to his apartment since, um...' Reid said trailing off.

'Right. I need to brief the team, so...' JJ said holding up some files.

'Is Hotch here?' Reid asked.

'Uh, he's not due for a half hour' JJ said as they walked into the conference room to find only Morgan.

'What, no Hotch, now no Gideon?' Morgan asked.

'No, not yet' JJ said.

'These guys have been out 2 weeks. You'd think the least they could do is be on time' Morgan said.

'Yeah, because you're never late' Reid joked.

'So, where's Fallon?' Morgan asked.

'Her phone keeps going straight to voicemail' JJ explained.

'Reid?' Morgan asked.

'We, uh, haven't really spoken to me in a few weeks' Reid said awkwardly.

'Well, this room just keeps getting smaller and smaller, doesn't it?' Morgan asked.

'Should we wait 15 minutes?' Reid asked.

'We can just brief them on the plane. Right now the police taskforce in Milwaukee needs our help. They've had 4 murders over the past 3 weeks, and in addition, another woman has been missing the last 2 days. They've all the women are in their 30s, married with children' JJ asked.

'Any connection between these victims?' Morgan asked.

'Just that they've all been abducted from the area of Wauwatosa, all from very public places, but there's no witnesses' JJ explained.

'How are we even certain it's the same killer?' Reid asked.

'Well, for starters... all of the bodies have been dumped in the city's third ward. And there's this' JJ said getting up a photo.

'Is that what I think it is?' Reid asked shocked.

'All the hearts have been cut from their bodies' JJ explained. Morgan, Reid and JJ left the conference room to head to the plane when Morgan saw Hotch.

'Hey, am I glad to see you' Morgan said happily.

'Where you headed?' Hotch asked.

'Milwaukee. Looks like an ugly one. I'll catch you up on the flight' Morgan said.

'I'm meeting with the section chief' Hotch explained.

'Ok, so I'll wait. I'm just glad you're back. Trust me when I tell you things have been a little bit shaky around here' Morgan said.

'Morgan, I'm requesting a transfer' Hotch said.

'Is that a joke?' Morgan asked.

'No, it's not a joke. Strauss has suspended me once already. The writings on the wall' Hotch said firmly.

'Hotch, we both know that suspension was bogus' Morgan said shocked.

'You'll get a new unit chief' Hotch said simply.

'What if we don't want a new unit chief?' Morgan asked.

'Well, maybe the next one won't be such a drill sergeant' Hotch joked.

'Look, man, are you a pain in my ass? Yes, sir. But wanting to hang out with you and needing you to lead this team are two very different things' Morgan said honestly.

'It's been a privilege' Hotch said simply before walking off and meeting with Straus in his office.

'I was hoping you'd do the right thing. Have you given any thought to what department you'll request?' Strauss asked.

'I was under the impression that if I left the B.A.U. I'd have my choice of posts' Hotch said.

'Well, I'll consider it after I fully complete my investigation. You were a prosecutor. What about heading up a white collar crime taskforce? That'll get you home at nights at a reasonable hour' Straus said before Lilith walking into the room.

'Sorry to interrupt' Lilith said looking at Straus.

'Sir, I've decided to resign from the FBI, effective immediately' Lilith said.

'I don't understand' Hotch said confused.

'I'm applying for a job in a local sex crimes unit. With my history, I have a pretty good chance of getting the job' Lilith explained.

'Fallon, I think that's a mistake' Hotch said.

'Well, don't try to talk me out of it. Garcia saw my name on the list and she already tried. If she can't talk someone out of doing something, no one can' Lilith joked but on the inside she was dying.

'Sorry for the interruption. But, sir, it's good to see you back. The team needs you. Ma'am' Lilith said more for Straus's benefit then anyone else's.

'I'll be overseeing this case until I can assign a replacement' Straus said.

'You don't have any field experience' Hotch said.

'My job is to protect the bureau. If I have to hold the team's hand for one case, so be it' Straus said.

'Ma'am, in order to function effectively, this team needs stability' Hotch said.

'The B.A.U. Has some very talented people and they're bureau assets. And I believe it's time that they were out from underneath you and Jason Gideon' Straus said firmly before leaving the room.

'Is it appropriate to ask whether I could talk you out of it?' Garcia asked as she walked into Hotch's office to find him packing.

'Heard you got a bigger office' Hotch said.

'A swanky new map and everything. It's the Milwaukee file. JJ wanted me to give it to you' Garcia said.

'I'm not working it' Hotch said simply.

'I'm just following orders. They found a new body this morning. The others are headed straight to the scene' Garcia explained before leaving.

….

'You know, from this angle, she almost looks human' JJ commented as they sat on the jet and watched Straus read the file.

'Has anyone talked to Lilith yet?' Reid asked.

'She was gone before I heard the news. She never told you her plans?' JJ asked.

'No… not a word' Reid said sadly, thinking that she was leaving because of their kiss.

'I told you, Reid, now we're down 2 agents and Gideon's M.I.A' Morgan said as Straus walked over to them.

'Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it's protocol to brief everyone before we arrive at the crime scene' Straus said.

'Yes, ma'am. This unsub is abducting women from very public places, with no witnesses. He holds them 48 hours, with no sexual assault, and then he dumps their bodies with their hearts carved out of their chests' JJ said as Morgan handed Straus a photo.

'There's an obvious dichotomy in the skill the unsub exhibits in abducting these women and the fact that he cuts their hearts out so crudely' Reid said.

'We're probably looking at someone in a psychotic break. Could be a butcher. Might be a hunter. Somebody who's very comfortable being around blood, but as you can see, he obviously doesn't have the skills of a surgeon' Morgan explained.

'So, do we have a working theory?' Straus asked.

'Sure we do. Somebody really doesn't like women' Morgan said before walking off to get some coffee.

….