Reid and Christina set apart on the plane ride home, glances falling between the two. Morgan runs a hand in front of Christina's face, "Hello! You're turn."
"Huh?" Christina asks, looking back at him.
"What's going on between you and the kid?" Morgan asks, setting his cards aside.
"I'm not sure." She answers honestly.
"Maybe you should talk to him." Prentiss suggests from beside her.
"Maybe you should," Christina says.
"Oh come on," Prentiss laughs a little, "I'm not the one staring and trying to act like I'm not. You're one hell of a profiler, but you can't find love?"
"Who said I'm looking for love?" Christina asks.
"Everybody is looking for love." Morgan answers, "Believe me."
"Look this is nothing." Christina answers. "And if you don't mind I'm going to….go lay down."
Christina gets up and moves to the couch setting down on it and staring out the window. "Subtle guys," JJ says watching her.
"We're profilers, who said we were subtle about it?" Morgan asks, "But she's gonna have to talk to him."
JJ watches Christina rotate her shoulder, before wrapping a blanket around herself, and laying her head against the window, "Guys, I don't think this needs to be profiled."
With that said the group falls silent. Reid glances once more toward Christina, who's gotten out a pen and paper. He found it immensely intriguing that she insisted on everything being hand written, verses typed up first. It was more personal, made her victims more real for her. She had to actually think, instead of just pressing keys on her keyboard. It also dumbfounded him that she insisted on writing down ever case. Idly he wondered if she was writing of her own case, her own incidence. Sighing he goes back to his book, and tries to act as though he's not thinking about Christina.
When they land, as is tradition, the whole group, Garcia included, goes out for a drink. Laughing and joking among each other. Christian figured out early on, she must depend on these guys for her life, and that fact was proved to her today.
Slowly the group trickled down, until it was just her and Reid left. The conversation soon turns to what happened, or rather almost happened, in the hotel room. Christina looks up through her eye lashes, taking in the sight of Reid.
"You want to uh, finish what was interrupted?" she asks quietly.
Reid considers it for a moment, "It could be just the alcohol talking." He reasons.
"I don't care." Christina says, "I want to finish it."
Reid doesn't answer, simply pulls out his wallet throws the bills on the counter, and holds a hand out to her. He wasn't sure what was happening, but he did know that this felt right…..
Ten weeks later….
Hotch slammed the file down on his desk, wheeling around to Christina who's standing in the door way. She crosses her arms across her chest, and raises her head looking at him evenly. "I'm not sorry I saved that kid," She says.
"Not sorry? You're not sorry you put yourself in danger, almost got yourself shot, again?!" Hotch demands, Christina attempts to say something but he holds up his hand to stop her. "Don't!" He shakes his head, "You adamantly dismissed my direct order."
Christina leans on the back of a chair, looking up at Hotch, "If I had obeyed that order, would that kid be alive?"
"I don't know, but I know that you would," Hotch bites out.
"I am alive Aaron. You're not talking to a corpse; they tend not to talk back." Christina stands back up, "You're not upset that I disobeyed you, you're upset that I was right."
Hotch takes a deep breath, "Christina, I am begging you to see this from my point of view. I have to have control of my team, or else everybody on this team is in danger. You can't just go making decisions like that."
"What to save a kids life? What if that had been Jack? Would you be yelling at me or trying to give me a damn metal?" Christina asks.
Hotch pinches the bridge of his nose, "Christina," he says slowly, "Is anything I'm saying getting through to you?"
"Next time let the kid die, got it Hotch," Christina turns to leave.
"That's not what I was saying!" Hotch calls after her.
Christina turns at the doorway ounce more, "Be more careful, don't get myself killed in the process of trying to save the kid?" She smiles a little, "I listen Hotch; I just don't always process what you're saying. But I got it, okay?"
Hotch shakes his head as Christina leaves his office.
Reid's eyes fall on her leaving Hotch's office. Her brown curls bouncing around her shoulders as she walks. His eyes follow her down the stairs, until she looks toward him. She smiles and his heart does that weird fluttery thing again. Reid's not for sure that's really supposed to happen every time she smiles at him, but oh well. He watches her make her way over to him.
"Hey hot stuff," She greets him, "Whatcha thinking about?"
"Who said I was thinking?" Reid asks watching her set down on his desk.
"Please, that big brain of yours is always thinking." Christina says.
"How mad was Hotch?" Reid asks.
"Pissed, but I mean, come on what was I supposed to do?" Christina sighs.
"You could have followed orders," Reid suggests.
"And the kid would be dead," Christina argues.
"We don't know that," Reid reasons.
"We do Reid, and you know that. Don't start with me, not know." Christina says getting off the desk.
"I'm sorry," Reid says, "You just scared the hell out of all of us."
"I'm sorry I scared you Reid," Christina says softly, laying a hand on his chest, "But you have to believe me when I say that I do weight the risks. Then again, I took an oath, and I'd give up my life for a victim."
Reid swallows, not only is Christina very close to him, but she's saying she's willing to die, both make him very nervous. He locks eyes with her, prepared to tell her that she will not die, at least not until they figure out what is between them, but JJ interrupts.
"Sorry guys, I think you'll want to see this."
Christina blinks and turns toward JJ's voice, "We'll be right there."
"Okay," JJ says and starts to walk away, but stops and turns back to them, "And Christina, if you ever scare me the way you did today again, I'll shoot you myself."
Christina laughs, "Well then I suppose I shouldn't scare you like that anymore."
JJ smiles sweetly at her, "I wouldn't if I were you."
"Geezs and to think I thought you were the nice one." Christina laughs again and puts her arm around JJ's shoulders, walking toward the conference room.
"Oh believe me," JJ says as they walk, "I am the nice one."
Reid chuckles to himself following the two girls. Christina glances back and sends him a wink, causing him to blush.
Morgan, Prentiss, Hotch, Rossi, JJ, Reid and Christina are quickly gathered in the conference room. Each one was tired, and already on edge, thanks to a certain brown haired beauties antics earlier in the day. However, none of that mattered, because there was a new case. And this one would stay with each of them, perhaps long past the time they would normally recover. No, there would be no quick recovery from this one.
"I know you're all tired," JJ begins, "But this case is," she pauses, "It's something I felt was of the utmost importance."
"They all are, JJ," Morgan says.
"This one is…different," JJ answers with a sigh. She picks up files and hands it to each person, then goes back to the head of the table. "Four women in Macon Georgia went missing within a week of each other, at first they weren't sure what happened to them, but part of their bodies was found buried in what they are calling a cemetery."
"Did you say part of their bodies was found?" Morgan asks.
'That's exactly what I said, and that's not all, pieces from women from other counties have been found. Not all have been ided yet. The farthest away is Blackwell. And the oldest bones are estimated to be at least twenty years old." JJ looks around.
"Twenty?" Christina asks, "As in the age of the person or the bones?"
"That's how long the bones have been there," JJ answers.
"Shit," Christina says.
"So you're telling me that somebody out there is dismembering the bodies of young women, burring them separately around a plot of land, and has been at this for at least twenty years?" Prentiss asks raising an eye brow.
"To sum it up, yes." JJ says.
"Wow, when you think you're seen it all," Prentiss says.
JJ nods, "I know, but wheels are up in two hours."
"I need to run get some more clothes," Christina says, "And a shower."
Morgan nods, "I could deal with a shower, and maybe a meal before we go out again."
"Okay, then it's settled we all meet back here in two hours," Hotch says.
Two hours later
Christina gives a small laugh into her phone, "I'll keep that in mind Garcia," she says to the bubbly blonde who had just finished telling her in detail how she'd hurt her if she ever attempted the be the hero again. Christina was convinced they all were way over reacting, but then again, they cared, that was obvious. And that felt good.
"Before you go princess," Garcia's bubbly voice says again, "May I ask you a question?"
"Sure," Christina answers climbing the steps onto the plane.
"This guy, this smoking hot guy, asked me out today. Well, I mean I fixed his computer and he said he wanted to pay me back…and…" Garcia kinda goes quiet.
"And you don't think a smoking hot guys can ask you out?" Christina asks.
'No, guys pay me like no attention. And just out of the blue at this coffee shop he asked," Garcia answers.
"Well first off it's their loss, and second, ya know, I think it's cool. Just be careful, follow your gut," Christina says.
Garcia grumbles, "That's what Morgan said."
"Well," Christina says, "I think it's great that he's interested, I also think should you decide to go out with this man, you meet at the restaurant, you do not go anywhere that the two of you are alone, and you'll be fine."
"No one night stand?" Garcia asks with a laugh.
Christina laughs, "Not on the first date Goddess of all things computer."
"Gotcha," Garcia answers, "I'll be here if you need me."
"Thanks," Christina says setting down next to Reid, "So what's up hero?"
"Don't call me that," Reid responds, "I hate when you call me that and you know that, do you have any idea what that means?"
"I'm a bitch I get it," Christina shakes her head, looking up at JJ who laughs.
"That's not what I meant," Reid says, "I just…."
"I was being a smart ass hero," Christina laughs.
"Why do I feel like that's gonna be my nickname weather I like it or not?" Reid asks.
"Cause it is, Hero," Morgan laughs.
"Lets go over victimology," Hotch says.
"Only do we know anything about them?" Christina asks, "Shouldn't we start with what we do know?"
"Well we know he chops them up," Morgan answers, "But why, easy disposal?"
"I don't think so," Christina answers, "I've been looking over this case, and what they've found, finger, toes, ears, feet, hands, it's all meat that, well you wouldn't eat. We found bones from the legs and arms, but we haven't found meat on those bones."
"Wait," Prentiss holds up her hand, "Are you saying that, he's eating them?"
"Well," Christina says, "I think maybe."
"That's just sick," Morgan says.
"Makes me rethink eating meat," JJ says shaking her head.
"You and me both," Reid makes a disgusted face then looks at Christina, "Are you sure he's eating them?"
"There's one way to be for sure," Christina answers, "Have the coroner look at the bones for teeth marks."
"Okay, eww, please don't go on," Prentiss shakes her head holding up her hand, "Please don't."
"You deal with blood and guts everyday, all day long, but you can't deal with teeth marks?" Christina asks raising an eye brow.
"No, it's just…sick," Prentiss shakes her head.
"Well, it could be reality," Christina says looking down at pictures, "There's something else."
"What?" Morgan asks.
"If the bones had been cooked then…..there would be a difference in color, like a chicken bone or something. There was no change of color on these bones," Christina motions toward the pictures in the file.
"Are you saying that not only do you believe our unsub is eating is victims, but he's eating them raw?" Hotch asks looking down at the picture, "I don't think we've seen anything like this."
"But he's been killing for twenty years," JJ says, "Wouldn't he have some sort of disease?"
"Mostly likely, also, I think this could be a child of the original killer," Christina says.
"Makes sense, he passed it down, maybe they even stopped it for a while," Reid says.
"Okay, I'm going to find out who the land belongs to, if it's been in a family for years or what not," Rossi says, "Then we'll know more where to start."
"Good idea," Christina says, "I'm going to go with JJ to the station first, if that's okay, I want to see something."
"Reid, Morgan and Prentiss can go to the sight," Hotch says, "And I'll go with you and JJ help set up the local office."
"Good," Christina nods a little.
"Are you okay?" Reid whispers looking over Christina's semi pale face, "You look pale and you're sweating alittle."
"I'm fine Hero," Christina gives him a small smile.
"If you say so," Reid sighs, and goes back to reading the files.
The flight is for the most part uneventful; each one tries to wrap their heads around the latest case. Christina leans her head against Reid's shoulder, reading the file in his hand. It wasn't often that the team saw any indication that they were together, but everybody on that team new they were. They hadn't formally announced but you can't be around a group of profiler's everyday and them not realize something was up.
That night Christina opens her hotel room door. It wasn't really even a hotel, it was a little back road motel, that had been cleaned up some. But it was a place to sleep that was somewhat clean. She wasn't going to argue with that, because she was exhausted. Just as she's about to close the door, Emily pops her foot in it, "Can we talk?"
Christina tries not to sigh as she nods her head, "Sure why not."
"Are you okay?" Emily asks promptly once inside the door.
Christina chuckles a little, "What?"
"Are you okay? You were kinda….upset at the crime scene today, and you've been distant the rest of the day." Emily explains taking a set on the bed to watch Christina's expression.
"Don't profile me Emily," Christina answers more sharply then she'd intended.
"I'm not, I'm being a friend." Emily answers giving her a 'this is your big sister' look.
This time Christina does sigh, "I'm sorry," She answers, "I guess it's just this case or something, but I'm exhausted."
Emily frowns, "Maybe you should take a break?"
"It's not about a break, it's not a mental exhaustion, it's physical." Christina frowns then sighs, "It's just thrown me off a little. And I think this case is getting to all of us. I mean, they keep finding evidence that our unsub is eating his victims."
"I know, it's so," Emily pauses to think of the right word, "Wrong."
Christina sets down beside Emily, "We see a lot of wrong in our business, I just wish we could see the right too ya know?"
"Yeah," Emily answers taking her hand and giving it a friendly squeeze.
Christina lays her head on Emily shoulder, "Aren't you going to ask about the fight with me and Spencer?"
"I figured it was personal." Emily answers with a shrug. "If you wanted the team to know you'd tell us. Just like if you wanted the team to know you guys are dating you'd tell us."
"Well, I didn't figure I had to," Christina laughs setting up then getting up and moving to the window, "Emily, do you ever get a feeling like something different?"
"What do you mean?" Emily asks coming to stand beside her.
"I can't explain it." Christina shakes her head frowning, "I just feel like something in my own body is different."
"You're sick?" Emily asks worried.
"No, God no, I'm not sick, I just…." Christina rolls her head back and looks up at the ceiling.
"Look, get some sleep, and we'll talk tomorrow." Emily says putting a hand on Christina's shoulder and giving her another gentle squeeze.
"Thanks," Christina smiles, "Goodnight Emily."
That night Christina tossed and turned in her sleep as she dreamed of babies being eaten by teddy bears. She woke up before her alarm went off, feeling as though she hadn't slept at all. She looks at her clock, four thirty AM. Sighing she throws her feet off the bed, and gets up to take a shower. Once out of the shower she starts to go over her notes, they weren't suppose to be at the station till nine, so she had plenty of time. When she moves her papers her calendar falls out of them. Christina bends down to pick it up, noticing the date. Going back and looking through it she realizes why she feels different. "Oh shit," she mumbles, throwing clothes on she grabs her purse and heads out the door.
Morgan had just stepped outside his hotel room when Christina nocks into him, "Hey, what's the hurry?" he ask glances at his watch it's was only six am.
"Uh nothing, nothing, sorry," Christina says running a hand through her hair.
"Is everything okay?" Morgan asks again.
Christina sighs, "Yeah, Morgan, I'm fine."
"You are not fine," Morgan says, looking her over. "I was about to go for a run but…."
"Listen, I'm really okay, I just need to go out for a minute or two okay? I'll meet you at the station." Christina answers.
"Why don't I walk you?" Morgan suggests, then turns and walks toward the town, figuring she'll eventually follow. Sure enough she does.
The two walk in silence, through the small town. They round a corner and are surprised by a young man, attacking a young girl.
"Hey!" Morgan calls, both agents drawing their gun, "Let her go."
The girl screams but the guy doesn't even seem to notice. When they get closer they realize he's biting her, biting chunks of flesh off actually.
"Let her go," Christina says.
"Can't," The young boy answers before sinking his teeth into the girl again.
"You can," Christina insists, "Please, let her go."
"I can't, I'm starving!" the boy answers.
Morgan and Christina glance at each other, "Okay, listen to me," Morgan says, "If you will just let her go, we'll get you something to eat. But you gotta let her go man."
The young man looks up at Morgan, "Promise?"
"Yeah, yeah man we promise," Morgan answers.
Christina lowers her gun, "Just let her go," she says quietly, "just let the girl go."
The young man does, and Morgan is able to take him into custody, while Christina calls for EMT's. There's huge gashes that are gushing blood on the young girls arms and shoulder, she's shaking and going into shock. Christina tries her best to stop the bleeding, and keep the girl alert. Finally the ambulance shows up carting her off to the hospital, and then the young man is carted off the jail as the rest of the team shows up.
"What were you doing out here?" Hotch asks.
"Taking a walk," Christina answers, "Is she going to be okay?"
"I don't know about okay, a man tried to eat her," Morgan answers.
"It doesn't make sense, he said he was hungry, he was just hungry." Christian shakes her head.
Emily frowns, "Actually it does, we all wondered why a guy would eat human beings, I guess he was just really hungry."
"That's sick," JJ answers.
"But it isn't as sick as doing it just to be doing it, there's got to be some type of mental problem behind it." Emily answers, "I hope they put him in an institute."
Reid nods, "It does sound like a mental disorder," he looks at Christina and frowns, "You okay Christina?"
"Uh, I'm uh…" Morgan, who's standing beside her, catches her before she hits the ground.
"Christina!" Morgan slaps her face, "Come on, wake up, what's wrong?"
Reid bends down beside her, just as her eyes open, "Don't worry, the EMT's are going to come and check you out, are you okay?" He ask taking her from Morgan.
"I'm fine, I don't need the EMT's," Christina answer setting up, trying to act as though everything is not spinning.
"You will be checked out," Hotch answers, as the EMT's come over, "We'll meet you at the hospital."
"I'll ride with her," Reid says helping her onto the gurney.
(Two hours later at the hospital)
"I'm fine, go back to the station," Christina says, shooing Morgan away.
"You aren't fine, people don't pass out for no reason," Morgan says.
Christina groans, as Reid, JJ, Emily and Hotch walk back in, "The doctor won't tell us anything." Hotch announces.
"Maybe there's nothing to tell," Christina suggests throwing her feet off the side of the bed as the doctor walks in.
"I'm afraid you can't go just yet," he says with a slight smile, "Soon enough you can, maybe I talk to you in private?"
"You might as well go on doc, they'll figure it out eventually, or bug me till I tell them what's wrong." Christina answers grudgingly, pushing Morgan away again, but holding onto Reid's hand.
"Okay," the doctor reluctantly answers, "Congradulations, you're pregnant."
"Pregnant?" Christina asks, swallowing hard, as Reid's hand lets hers go. She looks up just in time to see him fall to the floor.
"I'm guessing he's the father," the doctor asks, as everyone nods.
Note: Sorry it took me so long to get it up, maybe the next one won't take as long.