Nietzsche wrote, "The irrationality of a thing is not an argument against its existence, rather a condition of it."

Korra's POV

The sunlight streaming in through the window was what woke me. I looked around, not finding my mom but noticing the tell-tale smell of bacon and eggs wafting through the air. I smiled before turning to lie on my back, whimpering when I jostled my midsection. I carefully sat up, wincing at the pain before walking over to the large mirror, raising my shirt to find what I'd already suspected: bruises. I carefully pulled the shirt down before walking out of the room to find my mom in the kitchen.

She smiled at me and I did the same before going over. Mom kissed the top of my head and I kissed her cheek, peaking into the pan to find pancakes.

"Morning, sweetie."

"Morning, Momma."

"Did you sleep well?"

"Like a baby," I answered with a grin. It was true, I hadn't had a good night's sleep in years. And today I had woken up more refreshed than I usually did. "I'm going to shower," I said when I noticed the time.

Not long after I emerged once again, gun on my hip and jacket in my hand. I sat at the table, rubbing gentle circles on my sides. Mom served me a plate and I grinned up at her. I hadn't bought any food yet so I didn't doubt Asami had stocked up until I got a chance to.

My mother sat next to me, pouring me a cup of juice and watching as I ate. I looked up and smiled, complimenting her on her cooking skills. The food was just as good as I remembered it.

"I tried making coffee but I didn't know how to work the machine," she admitted. "I hope you don't mind."

I shook my head. "That thing is just for show, never been able to work it either."

We laughed and I checked my watch. I had thirty minutes to get to headquarters. I took a few more bites before standing up to put the dish in the sink only to have Mom take it, telling me she'd take care of it.

I grabbed my jacket just as the nurse walked in. I greeted her, handing her the folder Tenzin had given me which had the meds and the dosages my mom had to take before telling her where they were. Mom hugged me tightly, kissing my temple before giving me a rather large paper bag which contained my lunch.

"I'll see you later, Ma," I told her, kissing the top of her head.

"Be careful, Korra!" she called after me.

Traffic wasn't bad so I was there in less that fifteen minutes, giving me some time to spare. I walked into what would be my office, finding a box on the desk with all sorts of frames. I smiled when I noticed they were mostly of Asami and me but there was one, on the very top, with my mom. I took it out first and set it on the desk, scattering the rest around the room.

I opened the paper bag to find two juices, two apples, tupperware with spaghetti and meatballs and another with same. I smiled. Guess Mom had packed lunch for Asami too. I leaned back against my chair before I heard a knock and looked up to find the leader of the team.

"We're going to get started," he said. I nodded and followed him into the conference room. "Has everyone met Agent Morgan? She's going to be joining our team."

"I'll fill her in on protocol," Asami said, sitting next to me.

Everyone else nodded at me and I did the same before Hotchner spoke once more. "We have a case here in the city," he began. "Four women have been abducted in the last four months. He keeps them alive for seven days before he kills them. We have a new victim, Heather Moore, she's been missing for four days."

"Means we have seventy-two hours to find her," Lin stated.

Mako nodded. "We're going to split up," he said. "Rossi and I will talk to the Co-Workers that reported her missing, Asami you stay here and find everything there is on Heather. Lin and Agent Morgan, you go to the crime scene, see what you can pick up from there."

"There was no forensic evidence found where the bodies were dumped," my best friend added. "That means you two have to pay close attention to the abduction site. That's going to give us the most information."

"Then it suggests our suspect has either a criminal record or works with law enforcement," the younger Bei Fong said thoughtfully.

"Or that he watches television," I retorted.

Soon enough we were on our way and I felt a hand on my shoulder, turning around to find my best friend giving me the look. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. Here we go.

"Don't let your history get in the way of the case," she told me. "There's a girl out there and we need to find her before this guy kills her."

"I know," I answered, turning to leave. "Oh, and Mom packed lunch for the both of us. I already had an apple."

"Good luck."

I took a deep breath. I was going to need it.

Lin's POV

The car ride to the victim's house was a long and quiet one, not to mention uncomfortable. The girl wouldn't even spare a glance at me though I was relieved she hadn't asked Mako to switch. But of course she was somewhat of a professional and knew she wouldn't be able to avoid me all her life. I thought about starting a conversation but knew that the moment I tried she would shut me out and right now I was just happy she was even willing to sit in the same car with me.

Finally, we arrived at the scene, being met with Saikhan and the other officers. The girl narrowed her eyes at him before grabbing a pair of gloves and heading inside. I sighed and did the same. The house was located in the middle class area of the city and had neighbors all around and I had to wonder how no one had heard anything.

"It's amazing how no one witnessed her abduction," I commented.

"Or maybe they just didn't care," Korra replied.

I flinched. She was a crack at me, letting me know that she was not happy to have to work this case with me and that I'd be wasting my time if I tried to talk to her.

"If talking about it will end the tension, maybe we should-"

"He had to have a good ruse to get inside," she continued, ignoring me. "So he's probably good looking, maybe she even knew him."

"Charm is quite the killer."

"So is fake concern."

I took a deep breath and remained silent for the rest of the investigation. Korra spoke a few times after that but it was more her talking out loud than to me. She noticed a laptop and turned it around but found the screen had been eaten away by what looked like digital bugs. She frowned but placed it in an evidence bag.

"Are we going to go to the dumping sites?" she questioned.

"Yes, the park isn't too far from here."

The kid didn't reply, simply left the house, talked to an officer about taking the laptop and then waited for me outside the car. After taking another quick look around I joined her and we started toward the place where the latest body had been found.

"This place is away from the main trail, kind of isolated," Korra began, looking around. "Based on the broken branches from the bush she put up a fight. She was alive when she was brought here."

"She screamed but no one helped her."

"Wonder what that's like."

"So this is the suspect's way of acting out." It was my turn.

She looked over at me but didn't say a word before she left. I sighed and shook my head. Probably shouldn't have said that. The drive back to headquarters was even longer than the one to the crime scene and disposal site. I could feel the tension all around me. When we arrived she got out the car I called after her but she ignored me.

"Look kid, I know this is difficult but-"

"Look, do me a favor, and leave me alone."

"Kid, it wasn't-"

"It was personal to me," Korra answered. "And don't call me kid. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to show this to Asami."

This was going to be harder than I thought.

Mako's POV

Zuko and I had gone to Heather's work place in hopes of finding out more about her and establish a profile for the killer. We arrived, greeted by the owner of the company that seemed concerned about his employee, but one quick look at him and I knew that his only concern was to his company getting a bad reputation. The elder agent shared a look with me and I told the owner that we would like to speak to the employee that reported her missing.

"Rebecca," the young woman introduced. "I share and office with Heather."

"This is Agent Zuko Rossi and I am Mako Hotchner," I said. "When did you notice Heather was missing?"

"The first day, she didn't come in," Rebecca answered. "Heather never misses work. She loves her job."

"Did you notice any change in her behavior?" Zuko questioned. "Anything that was out of the ordinary."

The victim's co-worker furrowed her brow thoughtfully before nodding her head. I looked around at her side of the office, noticing how she had pictures all over her desk while the missing woman had none.

"She was a lot happier," she finally said. "Said she met someone online. Heather didn't really get hit on by men."

I nodded my head before I received a phone call. I stepped to the side. "Agent Hotchner."

"Hotch, I think we got something."

"We?" I asked.

"Korra brought Heather's laptop, she was on this dating website and she had agreed to meet this guy named Timothy Vogel."

"I was just talking to her co-worker, she mentioned something about dating."

"Well, guess what our Vogel guy does for a living?" Asami asked.

"What?"

"He's a prison guard."

"That would explain why he's so careful about leaving evidence," I deducted.

"And a good looking one too."

"That's probably his ruse," Korra chimed in. "He's got the looks, and a nice car too."

"The perfect man."

I heard a slapping sound and our tech analyst muttering a complaint. I smiled. Guess the new member hated her flirting as much as I did.

"Korra and I are going to head to his home," I heard Lin say.

"Asami-"

"I'm sending you the address as we speak. Be careful."

"Thank you for your time," I told Rebecca before looking at Rossi. "We have our guy."

Lin's POV

After letting Mako know that Korra and I were going after Timothy Vogle we got into my car once again. The Sato techie decided to come with us, acting as the GPS. She informed us that Vogle had a boathouse at the south side of the docks. Mako and Zuko were on the other side of town and would probably be a while which is why I decided to act. That girl didn't have much time left and we had to intervene.

We arrived at the docks soon enough and Korra jumped out of the car with me, strapping on her bulletproof vest as I did the same. Asami told us she'd stay in the car and wait for the rest of the team while the kid and I took out our weapons and asked what the man's boathouse was called. Once we had a name and a location we quietly crept into position.

Korra split from me and I tried calling after her only to hear a scream. I quickened my pace and saw how a bloodied girl tried to run only to be caught by her hair by a man with a gun. That had to be our guy. I raised my weapon as I yelled out to him.

"Stop!"

"Get back, or I'll shoot her!" he yelled, pointing the weapon at her head.

"I wouldn't," I answered. "You shoot the girl and you're left with me. I can tell you right now that wouldn't end well for you."

"Get back, I said!"

"Why don't you take a shot at me?" I taunted. I was buying myself time, hoping Korra would come and he'd see he was outnumbered but there was no sign of her. He shook his head. "What you aren't a good shot?"

"You think I'm stupid?"

"I think you're an absolute moron."

The girl cried for me to help her but he put his palm across her mouth, shutting her up. I had to think fast so that we would all walk out of this one. Where the hell was the kid?

"I have a shot," I heard a voice whisper in my ear piece.

I shook my head. "She's too close," I whispered.

"Back off! I will kill her!"

"I know I'll about you Tim," I began tauntingly. "You're at the gym five times a week, you drive a flashy car, you stink of cologne but you can't get it up, can you?"

His jaw clenched and I knew I was getting to him. "Not even Viagra is working for you is it?" I laughed and shook my head. "What did the girls in high school call you, eh? When they saw how little you had to offer."

"Shut up!" he yelled.

"Short Stack? Very Little Vogle?" I continued. "Oh wait, I got it! Tiny Tim!"

He pushed the girl aside, leaving himself wide open and that's when I heard two shots ring out before he fired a third, clipping me in the shoulder. I fell to the floor and Korra ran over, checking to see where I'd gotten hit but I told her I was fine, showing her how the vest had protected me. She nodded her head before going over to Vogle, kicking the gun out of his hand and cuffing him before going over to the screaming girl, telling her who she was and that she was safe now.

Hotchner, Rossi and Asami arrived shortly after, helping me stand. The paramedics arrived and treated the son of a bitch and me. Apparently he would recover in time to face a judge. I knew Korra had counted on that when she shot him. She was a good shot, if I did say so myself.

"Not bad, rookie," Mako complemented. "Lin told me you saved her life, and you kept the suspect alive."

"I was doing my job."

"Nicely done," Zuko.

"Kid?" I called. She stopped but didn't turn around and I sighed. "Korra." She turned. "Thank you."

"I was doing my job," she repeated.

I couldn't help but smirk. Her job didn't say she had to save my ass.

"Measure not the work until the day's out and the labor done." Elizabeth Barrett Browning.