AN: Hi again! I know the last chapter was a little shorter than usual and I apologize for that.
My friend Zephyr4000 helped me a bit with this one so high five to you my friend. You all should go check out her Mass Effect story, Deeds of the Few, fanfic dot net /s/9295367/20/Deeds-of-the-Few. That is the only ad I will ever do in any AN. Do check it out though its great!
There is quite a bit of Garcia in this chapter people. I had wayy too much fun writing her lines- which is ironic because I'm not like her at all- so you may see I went a teensy bit overboard...
Slight cliffy at the end (sorry!) I promise to update soon. This is a small bit of fluffy fun before the shit hits the fan so enjoy!
Stay golden
~shiro
Back in their SUV and on their way to the third crime scene, Morgan's phone rings.
"It's Garcia. Hey Baby-Girl you're on speaker."
"Hello my pretties! Where is my favourite sexy, dark, brooding, and dangerous femme fatale?"
"I'm right here, Pen," Prentiss responds with a slight chuckle.
"No! No! Not you, Prentiss, I meant our favourite assassin."
Emily rolls her eyes, "Thanks, Garcia."
"Oooh ouch! Prentiss, you've been demoted!" Morgan chuckles, and Emily catches J.J out of the corner of her eye trying to hide a laugh by biting her lip and looking out the window.
"Em, sweetheart, don't get me wrong, you are sexy, dark and brooding. But not dangerous. Sure, you may have a gun and badge but you're all fluffy and cuddly on the inside."
"Fluffy and CUDDLY?" replies the dark haired agent as Morgan and J.J now roar with laughter. "I'm not cuddly! How the hell is someone dark, sexy and cuddly?!"
"Sorry, E, but you're a softy at heart, my sweet care bear. That whole butch look that you're trying to pull off doesn't fool the Oracle of Knowledge and Goddess of Quantico over here. I bet you're a snuggler in private. Wait, you're the big spoon huh Em? Yup I can see it Emily Prentiss-"
"Garciaaaa!" Emily says with a groan as she tries to ignore the now hysterical laughter from her colleagues.
"I think you're right, Pen," Derek says in between trying to catch his breath (and failing miserably) while attempting to drive in a straight line, "Prentiss is blushing something fierce over here."
"See I told you I know all. Don't you worry, Em. I know some guys and quite a few ladies are into that sorta thing. Which is good considering you have been single for too long my friend. I mean I'm totally into guys but anyone can tell you are smokin' hot, Prentiss. And really what's with the lack of a significant other?"
"How the hell do you know that I'm single- wait, you know what, nevermind"
"Good, cause I would have stored that potential question in the dumb category which I rarely have to do with you."
Emily grumbled to herself, "Now before I lose whatever is left of my dignity can you please tell us the real reason why you called?"
"Oh right, sorry. I just wanted to update you on some things. Reid and Rossi found no evidence of a break in or of theft, like the authorities had noted, but they did find some scratches on the edge of the balcony where someone could have sat and waited for the victim, or could have climbed up. As for looking for our mystery assassins, that is proving difficult. My babies are working on it though and I will call as soon as they divulge their secrets to me. Toodles peaches! Garcia out!"
"Drugs, definitely drugs..." Emily grumbles, still slightly flushed.
"Aww, Prentiss, cheer up. Do you need a hug when we get out? I mean you are a - ow! Hey I'm driving!"
"Then focus on the road before you kill us, Morgan!"
Emily glances at J.J who's eyes are shining from laughing so hard.
The blonde agent arches a brow and sends a playful wink her way, and before Emily could respond her phone rings.
She looks at the screen and scowls slightly.
Unknown Number.
"Prentiss."
"Agent Prentiss, it's Ace. It seems like we are being tailed. One dark SUV, tinted windows, and from what my people tell me, stolen plates. I don't want to make this sound bigger than it is- after all it could be nothing, but I'm not taking that chance. Can you put this on speaker?"
Emily turns to the other agents, "It's Ace. We are being tailed"
She hits the speaker button, "Ok speaker's on."
"Agents, I don't want to take any unnecessary risks with this. My people are already trying to figure out who's on our asses but while that is happening I want to lose these idiots. One car can't follow two people. Morgan, speed up, and at the next light I need you to make a sudden right, and I mean sudden, then get out of sight. ASAP. The car will have no choice but to follow me and then I will deal with it. I will rendezvous with you and the others there. If something comes up I will call. But if you do not hear from me in the next hour assume the worst. Are we clear?"
"Crystal." replies Morgan
"Hit the sirens to clear traffic for a bit if you have to, but turn it off once you are out of view."
The agent does what he is told, hitting the gas and blaring the sirens as he approaches the light.
"Hold onto your hats, things are about to get ugly."
And with that the call ends
Emily and J.J brace themselves as Morgan twists the wheel sharply to the right, sending their SUV flying on two wheels around the corner. Morgan struggles with the wheel for a bit before he regains control, his foot still firmly on the gas. Emily catches the black BMW and another dark SUV speed past in the rearview mirror.
"Morgan, you can ease up a bit!"
"Lemme get us away from here first, in case that car decides to do a Uey and comes looking for us."
Morgan then guides the car through a couple of twists and turns before setting them on a more roundabout course for the crime scene. With each turn the speedometer creeps lower before settling comfortably on the normal speed limit.
The three, slightly frazzled, agents arrive at the crime scene where Rossi and Reid were waiting.
"There you are. We were about to call Garcia and have her track you down," says Rossi as he approaches them with Reid following behind.
He stops when he reaches them and frowns.
"What happened?" he asks taking in the other agents' demeanor, "and where's Ace?"
"Let me conference call Hotch and Garcia first. They both need to hear this," Prentiss says. She calls Hotch first and then links up with Garcia.
"What can I do you for, my cuddly little panda bear?"
Emily blushes slightly as J.J and Morgan giggle at Garcia's antics, while Rossi looks on amused and Reid looking slightly confused.
"Garcia, you are on conference call with Hotch and the rest of us."
"Oh hi guys, that means my fave little assassin is there. I wanted to ask where she got that sick jacket from. I mean I loves me a nice leather jacket, don't you Em? They-"
"Garcia! Ace is not here with us. That's why we are calling."
Emily then explains how they were being followed and Ace drawing them away from the agents.
"She said that she would meet us here and if there had been no contact with her in the next hour to assume the worst," she checks her watch, "It's been about half an hour since we separated so we should expect something soon."
There was silence among the agents for a moment before Hotch spoke:
"How did she get your number, Prentiss?"
"I don't know, Hotch, but I think this girl knows quite a bit about us, and has the resources to find the info she needs. Assassins are nothing without information after all."
"Hey guys, sorry to interrupt, but I've just been looking through some feeds to see if I can locate our stormy-eyed friend and it looks like someone has reported a black SUV that had crashed into a fire hydrant about 15 miles from where you split. No reports on injuries, looks like the driver fled the scene."
The agents let out a collective sigh of relief as they hear the news. Just then they see the familiar sleek BMW roll up next to them.
The assassin steps out of the car and pulls on her shades, then turns to the agents who are looking at her expectantly.
"What?" she says, almost nonchalantly, and with that small smirk of her's, "do I have something on my face?"
"We are on the phone with Hotch and Garcia. What the hell happened?" Emily replies.
"The guy who was tailing me didn't realize that his stolen SUV doesn't handle like my ride does, and took a turn going faster than he should have. He ran off before I could do anything though, and I could hear sirens in the distance so I came right here after. Traffic was a bitch on the way here," she says with slight amusement but then her face becomes serious.
"Agent Hotchner, I had my suspicions from the start of this case but they grow with each passing moment. After we check out this scene I would like to debrief you and your agents privately. Things may be a lot more complicated than expected."
"That can be arranged. When you guys are finished, head to the precinct. I have our stuff set up in the back room," Hotch says through the speakers, "Stay safe."
"Don't forget to call me when you have your secret meeting, my lovlies! Glad you're safe A! Garcia is also out!"
With that the call ends.
This crime scene was bustling with more activity as Jessica Scheckter was only found three days ago. The agents talk with the local authorities but nothing new had come up in the investigation.
"Don't you guys find it ironic that this victim was assassinated in front of the Lincoln Memorial?" Reid asks, "I mean it's dedicated and named after one the most famous assassination victims in history, President Lincoln, who was shot in the head by John Wilkes Booth on Good Friday, the exact date being-"
"April 14th 1865" Ace states to Reid's surprise.
"Right, but what few people remember is that Booth had two co-conspirators who were assigned to kill the Secretary of State and the Vice-President. With the death of these three figureheads, he hoped to revive the Confederate cause. Luckily neither of the other assassination attempts succeeded."
The others contemplate Reid's uncharacteristically short history lesson while they continue to try and glean information from the crime scene. Unable to find anything of significance they head towards the precinct.
As they pull up to the precinct Ace's phone rings. Frowning she picks it up.
"Speak."
She stops walking and swears.
"Fuck it. Where? Shit, ok, I want you and Tiny to work on this. You know the drill. Any red flags mean-" she rolls her eyes, "I know you know but that doesn't mean I don't have to remind you," she pauses for a brief moment, "Who's the boss?" slight pause, "Yeah and watch your asses, remember the last time you guys fell head first into 6 feet of shit?" pause, "No I am never going to let that go. Cover your tracks and keep me posted."
She hangs up and sees Agent Hotchner walking out of the precinct towards them, hanging up on his cell as well.
He looks at Ace and nods both with grim expressions.
Hotch speaks to his team, "This case is now being handled by the F.B.I. Homeland Security, and the C.I.A have also offered to help but we have declined. That would generate too much buzz that our unsub might catch on to."
"Wait, how did this go from local to the Bureau? We don't normally take cases unless-" J.J pauses, "There is another body isn't there."
Hotch and Ace nod glumly. Rossi and Morgan swear colourfully while Reid and Emily frown.
"Where?" Prentiss asks slight anger in her tone.
"Buffalo, NY," Hotch answers, "The vic was a federal agent and this time our unsub has left a message."
"Who will hunt the hunter? I am but a piece. A man with a part to play. Progress demands sacrifice. Family is a bond of blood." the assassin recites from memory, " He is quoting the game again, or at least partly. Agent Hotchner, I have called in some reinforcements of a sort. My team will be assisting with your investigation but their main goal will be your team's safety." she stops before continuing, apprehension crossing her face as she considers what she is about to say
" I was hoping to have this conversation later and in a more private location but it looks like this will have to do. I wasn't completely truthful with your team earlier. It wasn't a trust issue per say I just wanted more facts before I could make any conclusions. That message confirms my suspicions. I know the identity of our unsub."
She puts her hand up as the agents begin firing questions at her.
"We can discuss the finer points later on the jet to Buffalo, but you all need to know this for your safety and mine. I have been tracking his movements for some time now and that is what initially led me to this case. I heard a little while back that he had moved to the D.C area. Didn't believe it at first for various reasons but looks like the rumors are true. What I can tell you is that you all are now potential targets. Partly for being involved in this case but mostly for associating with me."
"What the hell would this bastard have against you? Same mentor and all" Rossi asks
Ace replies with a cold chuckle "You could say that my brother and I don't get along."
