Hotch knocked on the door to the room Morgan and Reid were sharing and then waited. Rossi stood behind him. He had called a meeting at nine, and as Reid had been working on narrowing the list of personnel that had been known to be on base at the time of all the incidents, he had told everyone to meet in the room that Reid and Morgan were shaing.

It wasn't long before the door was answered but not by either occupant of the room. As the door opened, Prentiss stood slightly behind it, looking around.

"Come, in. Reid says he's just about done narrowing the list down as much as he can at this point," Prentiss told them. "Morgan just went down to walk his sister out to her car. He should be back shortly."

"JJ here yet?" Hotch asked, as he and Rossi entered the room.

"She wanted to make a phone call. She should be here shortly."

Hotch nodded as Rossi took a seat in the chair at the desk. Prentiss perched at the end of one of the beds. Hotch glanced toward the table, where Reid sat in front of his computer. The unit chief wondered if Reid was even aware he and Rossi had arrived. He wasn't left wondering long.

"Do you know how many people reside on the base?" Reid commented, he eyes not leaving the computer screen as he continued to work.

"No, but I'm sure you're going to tell us," Prentiss whispered from her place at the end of the bed.

Hotch glanced back at her, with a warning look. From his place at the desk, Rossi gave a small amused smile. Oblivious to Prentiss' comment Reid continued not waiting for encouragement.

"There are currently 12,412 people residing on the Fort Knox military base. There are 2754 households, along with those soldiers who are housed in the barracks. Thirty-four point nine percent of those people are under the age of eighteen which eliminates about 4,332 of them from the list of people we need to look into. For every one hundred females there are one hundred and fifty-five point seven males, a ratio which increases to one hundred to one hundred and ninety point three in the population above the age of eighteen. This ratio is typical for an army base so even if we felt we could eliminate the females from suspicion, it wouldn't help us much."

"With the cadets and trainees that are currently on base, the actual population of the base is higher than the 12,412 that reside on base as they are here temporarily. Eliminating the civilians and children from the list, you're left with 5,534 names. Further elimination of people not on base during one or more of the incidents still leaves us with 4,434 names."

"That's quite a few names," Prentiss commented.

"Once we get the profile nailed down more we should be able to eliminate more names," Rossi said, matter of factly.

"Which is exactly what the purpose of this meeting tonight is," Hotch said. He glanced to the sliding door leading out to the room's balcony. With JJ's and Prentiss' room on one side of them and the room he was sharing with Rossi on the other, if they kept their voices low there was little chance of being overheard out on the balcony. "Reid, let's step outside for a moment while we're waiting for Morgan and JJ," he said.

"Ah, yes sir," Reid said, quickly making sure his work was saved before getting to his feet. He crossed the short distance to the balcony door and slid it open. He stepped out of the air-conditioned room and into the warm Kentucky night.

Hotch followed Reid through the door, hearing the hotel room door open as he stepped through. "I didn't miss anything, did I?" he heard Morgan asked as he slid the glass door shut behind him.

The balcony looked down upon the hotel's outdoor pool, five stories below. Even at this hour, there were a few people enjoying the cool water of the pool, the sound of splashing water and murmur of voices reaching the balcony where the two FBI agents stood. Reid walked to the railing, and then turned and leaned against it, looking back at both the hotel and his boss. He was pretty sure he knew what this conversation was going to be about, but he figured he'd let Hotch start it.

"We need to talk about this, Reid," Hotch told him. He had probably made a mistake with Elle, putting her in a situation that she wasn't ready for. He wasn't about to make that mistake a second time. "You didn't really give me an definite answer on the plane. I need you to be honest with me. Know that we will take every precaution we can but there are no guarantees. Don't do this just because you feel everyone else on the team would. If you don't want to do this let me know. I'll simply tell everyone else that we're not going through with it because I don't feel we can sufficiently guarantee your safety."

"And can you?" Reid asked, part of him wanting a way out and the other part just looking for reassurance.

"I talked it over with Major Morgan this afternoon. We're confident that we can take enough precautions that having you go under cover would be at minimal risk to you. With the last two incidents having targeted cadets, the base has assigned a military police officer to be with each group of cadets at all times. If you go undercover, Major Morgan plans to stay with your group as much as possible. One of us will also be keeping the group of cadets your with under surveillance at all times. Besides us, the only ones who will know your real identity will be Major Morgan, Colonel Jackson, and a Sgt. Sullivan."

"Sgt. Sullivan has been off base for family leave the past week," Reid commented, remembering eliminating him from his list.

"Right. He was back in Chicago as his Dad has been ill, which eliminates him as the UNSUB. He's also a good friend of the Morgans which is why we're bringing him in on this. His flight comes in tomorrow morning. Sgt. Sullivan was suppose to go back to being a drill sergeant for the flight of cadets that the two victims were from. Instead, he'll be a drill sergeant for the platoon you'll be in, and be able to look out for you."

Reid let Hotch's words sink in. It certainly sounded like they had thought the plan through and was looking out for his safety.

"Major Morgan also suggested giving you a refresher in hand-to-hand combat and self-defense just in case. I've checked out the hotel's gym, there's enough room to be able to do that here."

Reid turned around and looked down at the pool. With this UNSUB targeting a specific physical appearance in a limited area like the military base, it was hard to predict when they would strike again. With the number of people they had as possible suspects, having him strike again was most likely the only way they would give themselves away. Drawing the UNSUB out was the best way to catch him.

"It's the best chance we have. I'll do it," Reid said without turning around. He was sure his face would give away the fear he was feeling. He just needed a few moments to get himself under control.

Hotch remained quiet, not sure what to say or if he should say anything. He was about to go back inside to give the younger agent some time alone, when Reid finally turned back around.

"I've got to do this, Hotch," Reid said, looking right at him. His gaze didn't waiver. Hotch remained silent, holding the younger agent's gaze, wondering where he was going with this. "I've got to face this fear now, or the doubt is going to keep haunting me, no matter where we go. The last thing I want to do is separate from the team. I know what happened the last time. That experience is never going to leave me. I know that. But if I don't do this then I'm letting that control me and if I do that . . ."

Reid glanced away, out into the darkness beyond the balcony. He saw the face that had haunted his dreams and even sometimes his waking hours ever since that experience. He took a deep breath and then looked back at Hotch, willing the demon away. "If I do that, then I should resign because I've got no right to being an agent. No right to expect others to do what I can't do."

"I understand, Reid," Hotch told him, nodding. ~This isn't something I can protect him from. He's got to work this out on his own and if he needs to accept this undercover assignment to do that, its not fair for me to stand in his way. I don't want to stand in his way, because I don't want to lose him as a member of this team.~ "You ready to go back in?" he asked nodding toward the hotel room.

Reid simply nodded and took a step toward the older agent. As Reid approached him, Hotch reached out and let a hand fall reassuringly on the younger man's shoulder. "You're not going to be on your own through this, Reid."

Reid nodded again, not quite able to make himself look up at his boss. Reid reached out and slid open the sliding glass door. He stepped into the hotel room, followed by Hotch. JJ had joined the rest of the team by this time, and as Reid took a seat in front of his laptop once again, Hotch went right into starting the meeting. He knew they had a lot to talk about but he also wanted them all to get some sleep. Things were going to get hectic after tomorrow.

Spencer Reid reached up and tried to get a good hold on the arm that was holding onto to him from behind. He tried to remember everything that Major Morgan had just gone over. Somehow though, practicing the moves separate and trying to put everything together when attacked were like two different things.

~And this is a controlled environment. I know my attacker. I know she's not actually going to hurt me. Maybe that's the problem. Or maybe I'm just hopeless,~ Spencer thought, even as he tried ineffectively to free himself.

Suddenly he felt his feet go out from under him. The next thing he knew he was pinned face first on the mat. Almost as soon as he was aware of what was happening he felt the pressure on top of him disappear. Reid turned over on to his back and looked up at Major Morgan.

"I don't think this is going to work. I don't have the right build for this."

"Self-defense isn't about size or strength, it's about proper body mechanics and using it to your advantage. They teach that in the self-defense classes at the academy, speaking of which, you would have had to have passed in order to graduate."

"Do you realize how long ago that seems?" Reid told his fellow agent, as he moved into a sitting position.

"Maybe I need to suggest to Hotch that the whole team attends the next Self-Defense class I teach back home as a refresher."

"Great. You going to protect me from them when they find out I'm the one that sparked that idea?"

Derek Morgan smiled at Reid's comment though he realized there was probably a spark of truth in it.

"Spencer you did fine with all the individual exercises," Rebecca Morgan said, drawing the conversation away from the banter between the two agents and back to the current task. "All you've got to do is put them together. Use them to stop me from attacking you."

"Easier said than done."

"Why? Do you not see me as a threat because I'm a female"

"I wouldn't say I don't see you as a threat but I was raised that it is wrong to hit girls," Reid told her.

"Then maybe we need a new "attacker"," Rebecca said, shifting her gaze from Reid to her brother.

"Morgan? I wouldn't stand a chance," Reid said incredulously.

"Scared, Kid?" Morgan asked, smiling as he looked down at the younger agent.

"No, but if I can't free myself from her," Reid said, motioning to Major Morgan, "what chance do I have against you?"

"Probably a better chance. I quit sparring with her a few years ago because she kept kicking my butt," Morgan responded.

"That's not very reassuring."

"Come on. Let's give it a try," Major Morgan said, motioning for Reid to get to his feet.

"You know, all of the victims so far were killed using indirect methods. The UNSUB has never actually physically attacked any of them so far."

"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail."

Reid recognized the quote. Recognized it and instantly got her meaning for saying it. Seeing his co-workers quizzical look at his sister though, he had a feeling that Morgan didn't. "Benjamin Franklin," Reid informed him, as he stood up. "Let's try it."

"I'll go easy on you, Pretty Boy."

"Good, because if we've got to call Hotch and tell him I'm at the hospital I don't think he's going to be very happy."

Ten minutes later things were going the same way. Even with Major Morgan trying to coach him, Reid still wasn't able to break away from Morgan. As he watched Reid getting to his feet once again, Morgan decided to try a different tactic. Instead of Reid knowing the "attack" was coming, he decided to take the kid by surprise. ~Maybe survival instincts will kick in,~ Morgan thought, realizing that as it stood right now this little session had probably done more harm than good. Sure they had gone over the self-defense tactics but this whole session had probably done very little for his self-confidence.

"Can we stop?" Reid said. "This isn't getting us . . ." his words trailed off as Morgan grabbed him from behind as he had started to turn toward him. "What the hell," Reid said even as he tried to free himself from the other agent's grasp.

"Come on, Kid, Penelope would give me more resistance than you are right now," Morgan told him, trying to make him angry. "Hell my eighty year-old grandmother . . ."

Morgan's taunt trailed off as he felt Reid take a step back toward him. A moment later he felt a skinny, bony elbow make contact with his midsection. Morgan forgot all about taunting his opponent and turned his concentration on countering Reid's attempts at breaking free. He had promised to go easy on him, but he didn't want to make it too easy. He just didn't want to hurt the kid.

To his surprise though, Reid was making things harder on him than he had expected. Apparently his plan to light a fire under the younger agent had worked. Before he knew it, Reid managed to break the hold Morgan had on him and slip out of his grasp.

"There you go. See you can do it," Morgan said as he looked over at Reid, standing a short distance away in a defensive stance. Morgan had a feeling his friend wasn't quite ready to let his guard down which was good. "You just needed the right circumstances."

"What?"

"Some people, though they learn the skills of self-defense just fine, don't do any good at sparring. They don't see the point in fighting someone you know, in a situation that feels safe. However, put in a real situation that there is real danger, they can put those skills to use just fine," Major Morgan said. "I've seen it before. I've had fellow soldiers that on base, while we're practicing, they're easy to beat but out in the field, when your life is on the line, they're the ones you want guarding your back."

"Kid, your only problem is you think too much. The gym, sparring with Becky or me, your mind tells you you're not in danger. When I took you by surprise and then got you angry, you stopped thinking and relied on your instincts. I have a feeling if our UNSUB does get bold enough to attack you directly, you'll hold your own against him."

"Then does this mean we can put an end to this," Reid asked, finally letting down his guard and standing up straight.

In a matter of seconds, Morgan had closed the short distance between him and Reid. Not long after that he was behind the younger agent, pinning him against him, with one arm across his throat. Reid's hands instantly grabbed a hold of Morgan's arm.

"Just make me one promise, Kid."

"What?"

"Don't let your guard down for a minute while your undercover."

"I won't," Reid said.

"Good," Morgan said, letting him go. "I say we all head up to the room, shower and order something to eat."

"I also want to check with Garcia and see what she found out about the cadre that are associated with cadet's Magunsen and Warden's battalion," Reid added.

"You really think its one of them?" Rebecca asked as the three of them walked out of the hotel gym. They were alone, most of the hotel occupants out of the hotel at this time of day.

"It's a possibility though their association with the cadets alone doesn't necessarily make it any more likely than anyone else on the base that fits the profile," Reid responded.

"So what would raise a red flag, so to say?"

"Well, for one thing we need to locate a stressor in the UNSUB's past. Could be recent past or it could be something more recent."

"As its likely this particular UNSUB has been a functional member of the army for at least several years, the stressor is probably something more recent," Derek Morgan added, as they reached the elevators. He pushed the up button as he continued talking. "Something probably happened in his personal life that set him off."

"With him targeting a particular physical type, its likely that the stressor is somehow related to that physcial appearance."

"What would you consider a stressor?"

"Recent death of someone they cared about, some kind of accident, a broken marriage," Reid responded stepping onto the elevator.

"Great, you just described about half of the soldiers I've served with, especially with the current over seas operations."

"Yeah, Penelope and I have discovered that," Reid said as he hit the button for the fifth floor. "Which is why we're also looking for some link to the victim's along with the presence of a stressor. Being the cadet's cadre, maybe they served with them at some point in the career in the case of the other victims. Could be as simple as they had a brief conversation at one point."

"Sounds like looking for a needle in a haystack to me," Rebecca commented.

Derek Morgan saw Reid open his mouth, and spoke up before his friend could say anything. "Don't, Reid."

Rebecca looked at Reid and then glanced at her brother. "Did I say something wrong?" she finally asked.

"No, I just don't want to listen to him pick apart a figure of speech," her brother said.

"How do you know I was going to do that?"

"About five years of working with you and the fact that you did so the one time I used that expression around you."

"Fine," Reid said. He looked away from his co-worker and at his sister. "Anyway, looking at the backgrounds of base personnel doesn't seem to be getting us far anytime soon. Given the random nature of the attacks, there is no telling when the UNSUB will strike next unless we set up an opportunity for him."

"So by you posing as a cadet, you're hoping to draw him out."

"We're giving the UNSUB the target. Chances are, he won't be able to pass up the desire to strike. With any luck, he'll give himself away before he's able to carry out his plans," Morgan replied.

"And if he doesn't?"

"I'd prefer we not discuss those outcomes," Reid said as the elevator door opened. He stepped out of the elevator and headed down the hallway.

The two siblings exchanged a knowing look. Rebecca mouthed the word 'sorry' to her brother before the two of them followed Reid down the hallway.

"And then there is Lt. Gonzalez. His little girl was killed by a hit and run driver while he was in Afghanistan. Before he could return home, his wife committed suicide. It happened about a year ago. He was on medical leave for three months before he returned to duty and was stationed at Fort Knox. He still sees a psychologist once a month. He is currently assigned as 3rd platoon TAC officer in the same battalion of the two cadets that were attacked. He and Lt. Mitchell also went through Army Officer Candidate School together. Seems they were rivals throughout it."

"Any connection to the other two victims?" Morgan asked.

"Sorry Sugar Daddy, but there's no connection that I can find at all to the other two."

"Okay, thanks Baby Girl. Keep it up."

"Do you realize how many names are on this list of people you have me looking into their backgrounds?"

"There were one thousand and nineteen names on the list I forwarded to you. We ruled out a thousand and two names by the profile we came up with and I took the other thousand people still left." Reid said, not looking away from the computer screen in front of him. "I'm about half way through the list."

"Well, you're doing better than me Data."

"Data?" Morgan asked.

"I believe Garcia is making a reference to the character on Star Trek the Next Generation, Data who can read and process information at a super fast speed do to his positronic brain. Despite the fact that I read faster than most people my reading speed is nowhere near that Data."

"Just take the fun out of it, why don't you," Garcia said, faking a hurt tone. Morgan smiled

"I'll let you get back to your searching," Morgan told her.

"Gee, thanks. Talk to you later."

"Bye, Garcia."

Morgan ended the call, closed his cell phone and placed it on the table next to Rebecca's. He sat down in the chair across from Reid. "What about you? Making any progress?"

"Not really. Becca was right about the presence of stressors being prevalent in a soldiers life. It's kind of depressing to see just how many soldiers spouses leave them while they are serving overseas not to mention other things that happen."

"Becca?" Morgan questioned, focusing on the shortened version of his sister's name that Reid used more than the rest of the statement.

"What? She told me I could use her first name. Like I said before, the FBI and army are two separate organizations, and ranks don't coincide so there is no protocol being breached."

"That's not it, its just that outside of those in the army with her, everyone she knows either calls her Rebecca or Becky. I've never once heard someone call her Becca."

"So? It's just a simple shortening of her true name. I'm simply removing the first syllable . . ."

"I know how you came up with it," Derek told him, cutting off the explanation. Before he could say anything else, the bathroom door opened. Seeing his sister walk into the main area of the room, now back in her uniform, he let the conversation he had been having with Reid drop. "Your phone rang while you were taking a shower. It was Eric, so I answered. Wanted to hear his reaction as we haven't spoken in about a year. Hope you don't mind."

"No, its fine. Did you tell him I'd call him back?"

"Actually, I just told us to come meet us here at the hotel. You can fill him in on what's going on without any worry of anyone overhearing. I also figured he could meet Reid before hand."

"Sounds good," Rebecca said, as she sat down on the end of Morgan's bed. She reached up and started pulling her burgundy hair back so she could get it pinned back up. "Now what about lunch?"

"We were waiting for you to decide what to order," Reid said, finally looking away from his computer. He picked up the room service menu that had been sitting next to his to his laptop.

While the three of them discussed what to order, Derek Morgan found himself watching the interaction between his friend and sister. Becky had long ago come out of her shell, and was always at ease with people she was talking with. The same couldn't be said for Reid. There were times when the young genius was still awkward even around members of the team, more so Prentiss and Rossi more than the rest of them nowadays. Yet, right now he seemed perfectly at ease while talking to Becky.

~He's been at ease with her all day,~ Morgan admitted to himself, as he thought more about it.

"Derek?"

"Yeah?" Morgan asked, as his sister saying his name brought him out of his thoughts.

"Is that choice okay with you?" Rebecca asked.

"Yeah, whatever you two decide is fine with me," Derek replied, not about to ask what it was they had decided on and let them no he hadn't been paying attention. He got to his feet. "I'm going to go wait for Eric down in the lobby," he told them heading for the door.

Derek Morgan stepped out of the hotel room, leaving behind two confused people.