Chapter Two: Wood and Clay
"Build it up with wood and clay,
Wood and clay, wood and clay,
Build it up with wood and clay,
My fair lady."
"What do you want me to say, Reid? She's an old friend and I visit as often as I can." Derek sighed, head rolling to the side so he could look at the younger man. Reid stood defiantly nonetheless, pale arms crossed over his chest. Had Reid been anyone else, Derek probably would have taken the look to be threatening. But, Reid was Reid and well - the Kid was about as threatening as a snail.
"You were worried about her. How close is this friendship? Is the friendships one of those friendships where if you weren't who you were, you'd be together? Are you the kids dad? Why haven't you told anyone else about this? Does anyone else know? Why are you keeping this a secret?" Question after question was fired off, leaving Derek dizzy and with a throbbing headache.
"Look, Pretty boy, Riven and I are just friends. Nothing more, nothing less. Let it go." Would they be together if he wasn't who he was? It was no secret, to him anyways, that he did in fact have feelings for his friend. He'd also been there as often as he could for Callan, treating the boy as he'd treat his own son. So... would they? Maybe if he'd never joined the FBI they could have given it a shot - then again, would she only care about him because he'd saved her life? That's the reason that brought him knocking on her doorstep a week after the incident. He wanted to see her then - wanted to make sure she was okay. What he found was a jittery ball of nerves and a slightly swollen belly that he figured was from the attack but quickly learned it was the start of a pregnant-belly.
Derek's thoughts turned thicker and thicker as he entered the Dickson County Police Department. He'd not been in the ivory walled room for many years - he'd hoped he'd never have to return. Returning meant they might be in danger, and perhaps they would be. He felt Reid brush past him and found himself pushing those thoughts back. If anyone could read him, it was Hotch and Reid - both together, well that wasn't a good mix at this point in time.
"Derek Morgan!" A gravely voice, hoarse from years of use and old age, bellowed and a silver haired man with a receding hairline waddled out from one of the few offices in the department. The man's belly was rounded with a slight jiggle to it as he walked, and his fingers were short and stubby, kind of like Pork sausages, as they grabbed Derek by the shoulders, pulling him into a warm embrace that smelled of cheap Bourbon and Whiskey. "It's been a long time," the man mused as he pulled away from the embrace.
Derek offered a small smile, clapping the man on the shoulder. "Chief Wester, it's been a long time," he concurred before turning to his team. "Chief Wester, this is SSA Agents Rossi, Hotchner, Jareau, and Dr. Spencer Reid. We're here to help in any way we can." The chief shook hands with each of the agents, casting a curious look at Reid before returning his attention to Derek.
"When the first body showed up, I knew I had to call you," he cocked his head and lead the team back into the office he'd just exited. "Riven and her boy were out first concern, given the circumstances, so it just seemed right that we call you," he continued. "Of course, Barik is still in Saint Feris, but this was just too similar."
Derek gave a jerk of a nod, arms folded across his broad chest. "Has there been any -"
"Pardon my interruption," Rossi spoke up, syrupy voice laced with a sort of politeness that one must give when working with the FBI, "but we're all quite unsure as to what is going on, and why Morgan knows this case and you requested our team? This is, after all, just one case."
"It's not just this case," the familiar angelic voice caused Derek to tense and his jaw to tighten. "Almost seven ago Leional Barik raped and murder seven women. There would have been an eighth had the BAU not been able to deduce who the killer was and get to his next victim's house in time. However, they were nearly too late. At the time, however, a Squad of Marines were passing through, all on their way to their own homes. One of those Marines had decided to take a jog to cool his thoughts, and he heard the screams. The Marine showed a great amount of courage and bravery when he successfully stopped Barik - however, the damage had been done. The woman was injured and rushed to the hospital, and a week later found out she was pregnant with Barik's child. Barik didn't know he had a kid for three more years - the child, in turn, didn't know who his father was, but instead believed it to be the Marine who had saved his mother's life. When Barik found out, he went into a fit, swearing up and down to have his revenge and that he would find his boy. The Marine, however, continued to stick around. When the boy was four, he learned who his father - his real father - was. Now, there's suppose to be a copy-cat killer, if the recent murder is anything to go by."
Derek's hands were curled tightly into fists, his shoulders squared and his jaw set. "That's right, I remember reading about this case in one of the files. Gideon was one of the agents, am I correct?" Rossi spoke up once more, his voice filled with recognition.
"That's right," Chief Wester confirmed.
"But what does that have to do with Morgan?" It was JJ's sweet, motherly voice that drew the dark skinned man from his silence.
"I was the Marine."
"Derek saved my life then, and has continued to check in on me whenever his job allows." Riven confirmed softly.
"What are you doing here, Riven? Where's Callan?" Derek finally grumbled, turning to face the woman only to find her son not present.
"This was dropped on my doorstep, just a few minutes after you left, and don't worry - Callan's just out in the lobby." She responded, handing over a small pastel envelope. "I don't think it's a Copy-Cat, Derek. It's him..." she whispered, hands stuffed into the thin jacket encasing her lithe form.
Reid took the envelope from Derek and read through its contents, a from marring his lips as he read and reread the note inside. Hotchner and Rossi spoke silently to the Chief while JJ smiled warmly at Riven and took her aside to question her some more. Derek sighed and moved to the lobby, taking a seat by a groggy looking Callan who clambered into the agent's lap as soon as he was seated. This was going to be a tough case.