So the BAU have their first meeting with Harry Bennett is this one. Everything will be revealed in the next few chapters, so just hang on in there!
I do not own Criminal Minds. But I do own Harry Bennett.
Chapter Three
Six members of the BAU were reluctantly present at the studio the next morning. They were waiting for the last member to arrive. Derek Morgan.
''Trust Derek,'' Emily said, saying ''Derek'' like a curse word, ''To be late. Has no respect for other people. None at all. It's all me, me, me. Knowing him he's probably hungover after spending the night at some girl's place,'' she spat. She paced around the green room angrily.
JJ got up from her sitting position to walk over to her. ''Em, he wouldn't do that.''
''How do you know? He clearly has no respect for me. I wouldn't put it past him to sleep with someone else so soon after our break-up.''
''Em, he may be an obnoxious, pig-headed jerk, but he's not that kind of jerk. He never cheated on you.''
''So he says.''
''Look JJ it's none of your business,'' Hotch said suddenly. He was sick of JJ constantly spending time with Emily, helping her mend her broken heart. It was Emily's fault they broke up in the first place. Any man would leave if he had to put up with how Emily was behaving in the last few weeks. It was harsh, but true.
''Aaron I'm just helping my friend! I actually care about her, unlike you,'' JJ replied coldly.
''Of course I care about her. I just don't see why you're spending so much time with her when she brought it all on herself. I'm sorry Emily, but it's true.''
''Oh THAT'S why you're so angry about the whole situation! You're jealous! You hate that I'm spending more time with Emily than you!'' JJ laughed.
''JJ, you don't need to spend time with me. I'm over him,'' Emily commented.
''That may be, but you're better company than Mr Jealousy over there. What did you think would happen Aaron? That Emily and I would fall in love while Emily gets over her broken heart? You've been watching too many romantic comedies.''
''I'm not jealous! I've put up with it for so long, Morgan and Prentiss' fight has helped tear the team apart! We've already got in enough trouble over that! I'm just helping Prentiss come to her senses!''
''And you, being a man, would naturally agree with Morgan, even though he's in the wrong.''
''Not in the way I see it.''
''Look Aaron, I'll lay it out for you plain and simple. Morgan is wrong, and you're jealous.''
''That's not-''
''I don't want to hear it,'' JJ said, holding up her hand to stop him. ''Come on Emily, let's go make out in a corner somewhere.''
''Have I missed something?'' The team turned and faced Morgan who was standing at the door with a confused, and slightly aroused, expression on his face.
''Oh, it's nothing. I was just being sarcastic,'' JJ explained, throwing Hotch a glare over her shoulder.
''Ok...so you and Emily really aren't going to make out?''
''No Derek. Unlike you, I wait a bit after a break-up to date someone else,'' Emily said bitterly.
''Oh. Ok,'' Derek said, a hint of disappointment in his voice. He sat down next to Rossi on the couch. ''So when does the torture begin?''
''Twelve. But you would have known that if you were on time,'' JJ answered.
''There was traffic ok?''
''Oh is that what they call it now?'' Emily asked sarcastically.
''Call what?''
''A one-night stand.''
''Emily, I did not have a one-night stand!'' Morgan protested.
''If you say so.''
''Why don't you believe me?''
''You have a habit of lying Derek. I'm sick of putting up with your lies,'' she snarled.
''And I'm sick of putting up with your moods!''
''Then maybe us breaking up was a good thing!''
''Maybe it was!''
''Uh, sorry to interrupt but you have to go out on stage now,'' someone said from the doorway. He was a tall, thin kid who looked very nervous. He was probably new at his job. He looked just like Reid when he started at the BAU. He had an earpiece in his ear and a clipboard in his hand.
Morgan and Prentiss stopped fighting but continued glaring at each other. There was still a palpable amount of tension in the air, anyone could feel it. That made the kid even more nervous.
Sensing no-one was going to say anything, Rossi spoke up. ''We're on our way,'' he told the kid. The kid nodded and showed them to the stage.
The team traipsed out after Rossi who was leading the group. They made sure to keep Emily at one end of the line and Morgan at the other. When those two fought, they really fought. It was like fire and water. They were probably the two most passionate people on the team, and in a way, they were the perfect match. They just had too many issues.
They were brought to the edge of the stage by the kid and he told them to wait. Harry Bennett was explaining their situation to the audience.
Reid peered around the looming figure of Hotch to take a peek at the audience. It was huge, over three hundred people. They were all watching Bennett intently. Reid couldn't help but compare them to a pack of vultures. They just looked so greedy and vicious, like they wanted to take a big chunk out of him. He gulped.
Strangely, Garcia was quite excited. She had never been on TV before. JJ had always told her it was no big deal, but she was on TV all the time. She was used to it. JJ wasn't going to ruin her fun.
''So without further ado, the BAU!'' Bennett shouted in his booming voice. The BAU walked out onto the stage, and a member of the backstage crew gave Reid a helping push, as he suddenly found his feet stuck to the ground.
Rossi was the first member out, and he walked out to thunderous applause. Reid was the last, and he stumbled onto the stage to laughter. He smoothed his shirt and awkwardly walked to his chair, keeping his head down and refusing to look at the studio audience.
After Reid sat down, Bennett began talking again. ''The BAU everybody! So guys, your lovely boss tells me that you've been having a few problems,'' he began as he sat down as well. Half the team scoffed at the words, he really didn't know who Erin Strauss truly was.
''Now she also tells me that Agents Morgan and Prentiss are the main cause of the problem,'' he continued, looking at all members of the team since he didn't know their names yet. Usually he would, and he would have a background on them, but not this time.
''Oh she did, did she?'' Prentiss asked, raising an eyebrow. Bennett guessed she was one of the two agents.
''Yes, she did. Now who may you be beautiful?'' Bennett asked with a sleazy grin.
''Do you flirt with all your guests Mr Bennett? Because if you do that's taking advantage of your position,'' she answered.
''Hmm...anyway, your name? It's helpful for the audience. And if you want, you can give me your number.''
''My name is Supervisory Special Agent Emily Prentiss, and you can usually reach me on 911,'' Emily answered with a smile.
''I see...so which one of you is Agent Morgan then?'' Bennett asked, turning his attention away from a smirking Emily.
''I am,'' Morgan answered, holding up his hand lazily. He looked utterly bored. The only reason he watched this show was the occasional nudity, and it was certain there would be no nudity today. ''But you can call me Derek.''
''Ok Derek, so can you tell me why you and Emily, can I call you Emily?''
''No,'' said Emily sternly.
''Ok then, Derek can you tell me why you and Sweetcheeks over there are fighting?''
Emily sighed and rolled her eyes. Morgan felt a mixture of emotions. He was amused that Emily was getting pissed off, and she was sure to make sure this guy never forgot her. And not in a good way. But he also felt jealous because this guy was hitting on his girl. But she wasn't his girl anymore...
And as much as Morgan was mad at Emily right now, he wasn't going to air their dirty laundry in public. He wouldn't do that to her. Plus he was sure Strauss was watching. If she knew they were in a relationship and this was why the team weren't performing as well as they used to, she would have no qualms in transfering one of them. Or even both of them.
So in response to Bennett's question, Morgan said ''We have issues.''
''What kind of issues?'' Bennett asked. Harry Bennett was famous for getting the truth out of people. These people would be no different.
''Just issues. I don't see why it's any of your business.''
''Oh but you see Derek, it is my business. You're on my show, and it's my job to make sure that you leave here with all your problems solved.''
''No, it's your job to make sure we reveal everything about ourselves so you can have a juicy show, and therefore more viewers.''
''Not true, not true, I'm all about the people.''
''If you say so.''
''So since Derek isn't sharing anything with me, how about you Sweetcheeks? Why don't you give me some sugar?'' Bennett asked, turning away from Morgan back to Emily. He winked at her as he spoke.
''First of all, I could have you arrested for sexually harassing a federal officer. Second, our private lives are not going to be put on show in front of millions of people!'' Emily stated.
Hmm. These people were tough. Bennett would have to trick them. That method never failed.
''Were you two in a relationship?'' he asked.
''No,'' the two agents replied simultaneously.
''You seem pretty certain about that.''
''Because we were never in a relationship,'' Morgan explained. Bennett saw something in his eyes that led him to believe that Morgan was lying. The hot one on the other hand, she seemed as cold and stony-faced as ever. She was just playing hard to get. She wanted him deep down.
Derek seemed to be his best shot. He would go for him.
''Derek, can you describe to me the nature of your relationship with Agent Prentiss?''
''We're co-workers, friends,'' Morgan replied.
''If you're such good friends why are you fighting?''
''I told you, we have issues.''
''Ah yes, issues. Every couple has issues.''
''We're not a couple.''
''But you were, at some point, weren't you?''
''No.''
''Oh so was it friends with benefits then?''
''What? No!'' Morgan said. Bennett was pushing his buttons. He was starting to get angry. Bennett sensed that and continued with the questions.
''But the two of you have had sex right? Because there's this chemistry between you two, there's definitely more to your relationship than you're letting on. So it's friends with benefits right? Or was it just a one time thing? Just one night of steamy sex, a jaunt between the sheets and that was it? You got what you wanted from her so you left her and hung her out to dry? Was that it Agent Morgan?''
''NO! I would never do that to Emily!''
''Why not?''
''Because I love her!'' As soon as the words left his mouth Morgan regretted it. This wasn't how it was to come out. This wasn't how he wanted to tell her. Morgan groaned and placed his head in his hands. What had he done?
Everyone in the audience and the whole team stared at Emily who was staring at Morgan with her mouth wide open. She didn't know what to say. She was shocked. She felt like the room was spinning. She didn't even know what she felt. She was just too shocked.
She was about to say something when Bennett cut across her. ''Ooh now we're getting somewhere! Secrets are being revealed! Don't go anywhere, we'll be right back after the break!''