"Silence is the most powerful scream"-Anonymous

Iroh's POV

It had been two weeks since Korra's funeral. Two weeks since Asami had shut us out, not letting anyone in her home but the youngest agent's mom. I had tried talking to her, texting her, going over to her house and standing outside the door for hours but I had gotten nowhere. She didn't want to talk. She wanted to be left alone. Asami felt responsible for Korra's death. We had all tried to tell her that it wasn't her fault, that her injuries had just been too great and the doctors had done what they could. But she wouldn't listen.

I heard someone outside the conference room and spotted Mako talking on the phone. He was the other person who had taken the young woman's death hard, burying himself in his work. Jack was living with him now and I would see him take the case files home, to at least be physically present with his son.

"I'll call back later, let me know if anything changes," I heard him say before looking over at me and hanging up the phone. He walked inside, giving us all case files and turning on the screen to the news. 'Twenty-six high school student missing in bus hijacking', the title read.

"We have two dozen kids, a bus driver and a teacher who've been missing since approximately 1 p.m. today," he informed us.

"I can track it down with G.P.S.," I offered.

"It's been disabled. Also, Saikhan had his officers check the road where it disappeared but they haven't found anything yet."

"Have they sent out search parties?" Bei Fong asked.

Hotch nodded his head. "There's probably more than one unsub involved in this," he continued. "We've tried contacting someone on that bus but all calls go straight to voicemail."

"Their phones are off," I said.

"So what's the plan?" my grandfather asked.

"Whoever did this has a two hour head start. We're still looking for the bus."

"Agent Hotchner!" the Director growled as she barged into the conference room. "How the hell is it that you haven't found that bus yet?"

"I was informed of the case half an hour ago, Director. I'm getting my team ready."

"Saikhan just called, saying they found a backpack full of cell phones, half a mile away from where it was last tracked," she said. "You need all hands on deck. Get Agent Sato on the phone."

"She isn't taking calls," Mako answered. "She's on medical leave."

"I don't care if she's in the Fire Nation, she can use a computer, she's on the case, or she can look for another job."

Mako's jaw clenched and he looked over at me. "You need to talk to Asami."

"She isn't answering anyone's phone calls," I answered.

"You heard the director. Get her on the phone."

I sighed. Come on, Asami...

Asami's POV

"Asami?"

"Asami, come on."

"Agent Sato, pick up the damn phone."

Sigh. "Come on, Asami, talk to us."

"No one is expecting you to just bounce back, but...you can't just keep ignoring everyone. Talk to us."

I stared at the answering machine, hearing but not really listening. I hadn't verbally spoken to anyone in two weeks, and Senna had been the only one I allowed in my house. I wouldn't abandon the older woman just because I felt like this, because if I felt like this, like the oxygen had been sucked out of the air, then she must've felt a million times worse. Korra... Korra had been her little girl, her only child.

"They're worried about you," she said once, when we were at my estate, to which I didn't reply. It had been a week since... since it happened, I was lying on my sofa, dressed in pj's and a robe that I'd been wearing since being released from the hospital. I still needed a cane to walk around thanks to the injury to my leg, so getting up and moving didn't seem worth the effort. I looked like shit.

I had told Korra we'd both get out of there alive. I'd never thought I'd lie so boldly to her.

Senna hadn't said much after that, but she did clear away some trash on my coffee table and did the dishes in the sink. I think it helped, her having someone to take care of. Helped her organize her thoughts. I could only imagine what went on in her head, what kind of hell had been unleashed. I'd almost thought even the meds wouldn't have been able to keep her sane after that.

The phone rang again, and I let it. "Asami," Mako's voice. "We've got this case and Iroh's having a hard time tracing the signal, it's got some sort of encryption on it that he's unfamiliar with. Call me back if you have any ideas."

Not one word about what had happened. Not one word about...

I picked up the phone and pressed redial.

Zuko's POV

We were at the school trying to figure where a school bus could have disappeared to. I mean it was a big yellow bus; it shouldn't have been too hard to find. But the area where it disappeared was mostly all forest, plenty of places to hide. Saikhan currently had officers searching the area but it was quite the chunk of land. My grandson was going over the teenagers phone records, trying to see if there was any phone calls made around the time the bus was last seen. He frequently checked his phone, trying to see if his girlfriend would call back.

I placed a hand on his shoulder, giving it a squeeze. He sighed and put the phone down, clasping his hands under his chin.

"Is she going to be alright?" he asked quietly.

I took a deep breath before nodding my head. "Eventually."

Mako's phone rang and I could tell whoever it was surprised him. He walked over and I immediately knew who it was. He held out his phone, putting it on speaker.

"Asami."

"Have you checked text messages, Iroh?" she asked, her voice strictly monotone, scratchy and rough from disuse.

"Uh, no I've been checking calls."

"Look at the messages and check what towers were activated. That should give you more information."

"Will do," my grandson answered. "Asami, how are you?"

A pause. "I have to go." Click.

He sighed and I patted his shoulder. The road to recovery was a long one it seemed.

Lin's POV

Thanks to Asami's tip we were able to triangulate an area and narrow down the search. The unsubs drove away from the area, closer to the city to throw us off the trail, but at least know we had a start. The team and a few of Saikhan's officers split up in search parties to look through the woods.

Only half an hour had gone by before I spotted a very bright yellow bus. I asked the group to stop and whispered into my ear com the location, we would have them surrounded. Once they told me they were standing by we all moved in and I was surprised by what I found.

The school teacher and bus driver were shot dead, but huddled and tied up together were a group of teenagers. I quickly put my gun away, ordering my group to search inside the school bus before untying the kids. The girls sobbed uncontrollably and the boys looked pale as ghosts, completely startled. I pulled back and did a head count as Hotch approached me.

"There's only fourteen here," I told him. "Ten are still missing."

He looked up at me and I nodded my head. This was not a good sign.

Iroh's POV

After we found the kids we had paramedics check them for any injuries and the coroner take away the bodies. There were still ten kids missing, so my grandfather and Lin had decided to interview some of them to see what had happened. Mako was talking to the Director on the phone and he was arguing about something with her. I sighed and looked at my phone to see if Asami had decided to call me or text me but still nothing. I had informed her about finding some of the students but she hadn't gotten back to me. Seemed like her work was done and I had to admit that if it wasn't for her, we wouldn't have found them.

The team came over to where I was and offered what information they had gotten. A man and his car were on the middle of the road, it seemed like it had broken down. The bus had stopped and opened the door for him but as soon as the door was opened another man with a mask came inside and shot the bus driver. Both, masked, went inside and drove them to where we found them. They tied them up and began to choose teens, putting collars around their necks and taking them away.

I hummed thoughtfully as all the pieces came together. "Abducting a bus, a form of transportation," I began. "Gas masks, shock collars, dividing people into teams…this sounds a lot like Gods of Combat." Everyone gave me confused looks. "It's a video game."

"So these guys are replicating a video game?" my grandpa asked.

I nodded. "In the game you take over a form of public transportation: subway, train, bus, anything. That's how you get your players."

"Wait a minute," Bei Fong began. "You actually played this thing?"

I rubbed my neck sheepishly. "I might have…once or twice."

"So what does the game consist of?" Mako asked.

"Five players: Captain, Lieutenant, a pair of soldiers and the pawn."

"What about the collars?" grandpa questioned.

"They're used to keep the players from straying away from their mission," I explained. "The object of the game is to destroy as many of your opponents as possible. The one with the highest body count, win."

"We need to find these kids and fast," Hotch told us, before looking at me. "Get Asami back online. We need her."

I sighed. That was an understatement.

Asami's POV

I looked at my phone, seeing that Iroh had texted me 'thanks' and that they had found some of the missing kids. I didn't reply as I leaned against the couch and looked around.

My home was a mess. Books were thrown everywhere, chairs, any furniture that had gotten in my way after my boyfriend dropped me off. I had used my cane to bash several glass vases and other breakable objects. I took a deep breath when I heard the door open, knowing who it was. Senna smiled at me and I managed a nod before she sighed and took all the empty dishes like she usually did. She offered to clean up the mess but I wouldn't let her. I had done that; I'd take care of it, eventually.

I let out a grunt as I stood, walking towards the kitchen to get a glass of water when I bumped into a table. I let out a string of curses, having jostled my leg but then I looked up and saw the picture frame and suddenly I felt a knot in my throat. I lifted the frame and studied it. It was Korra and I when we were teenagers. My arms where wrapped around her neck from behind, both smiling. My eyes closed and a tear fell before I put it back in its place, face down.

Senna came over, handing me the cup of water as I wobbled back into my seat. She pulled out a chair and sat next to me as I stared off into the distance. If it wasn't for her I would have probably drank myself through a few more bottles but after she came to visit me the first day they had all magically disappeared. And I knew she was responsible for it.

"Asami? Sweetheart?" she called. I took a deep breath and looked over at her. She placed a hand over mine. "I think you should go back to work."

I looked away and closed my eyes. I couldn't. Work was where Korra and I had spent most of time together. It was where she would make fun of me and crack jokes. The place had too many memories for me.

"Asami," the woman tried again. "Korra…she wouldn't want this."

I opened my eyes and sighed. "It just hurts so much," I managed to answer.

She pulled me close to her and I let her, resting my head against her shoulder. "I know, sweetie, I know." I didn't say anything as we stayed this way. "But you can't hide here forever. Your team misses you. They need you."

I sighed again, eyes closing as my mind went back to that day. The day I lost my best friend…

"Promise you'll stay at the B.A.U.," she had whispered. "Promise you won't cry...at the funeral."

I pulled away, wiping away the tears. I had already broken a promise to Korra, I wouldn't do that again. I used my cane to stand, looking over at my best friend's mother.

"I'm going to get ready," I informed her.

She smiled. I looked over to where the picture frame sat, still face down. 'This is for you, Korra.'

Lin's POV

I have to admit I was surprised when I saw the Sato tech and Senna walk through the door. After we found the school bus and some of the kids we had decided to go back and try to figure out where the rest of them was. She was still using a cane to walk around and there was black under her eyes. I sighed. She hadn't been sleeping. Not that I was surprised. All of us had a hard time sleeping since Korra's death. But she looked the worst. I shared a look with Mako and he shook his head. This situation was not one I was comfortable with.

Iroh immediately shot up from his seat, going over to his girlfriend and helping her sit down. "How-how are you?" he asked.

"Better," Asami answered quietly. "Thank you for keeping me updated." She paused and looked over at us. "And for everyone's concern."

"Asami, I didn't expect you back this soon," Mako stated. "Are you sure you're ready?"

Senna placed a hand on the raven haired woman's shoulder. Asami gave her hand a squeeze and sighed. "No. But I know you need help and it's…it's what Korra would have wanted."

I felt as if the air had been knocked out of me. I looked back at the case file, focusing my attention on it. Mako cleared his throat and I looked up at him and sighed, nodding my head. Had to keep my head on this case.

Iroh's POV

After careful thinking and telling them everything I knew about the game, Hotch and the rest of the team had come to the conclusion that whoever we were dealing with had a major video game history. So, being the genius I was, I started to check in my computer for any players that spent a lot of time playing this game and cross referencing them to our foster system. After a few minutes I had a list to go off of and one by one started to eliminate them based on the profile: two white males, possible criminal record, and a violent history. We found a match and I pulled them on screen.

"Joshua and Mathew Moore," I said as their pictures came up. "Their parents divorced when they were kids, they played online with each other and together which explains why the same server kept popping up."

"Send us their address," our team leader said as he left through the door.

I looked over to Asami, placing my hand over hers, giving it a squeeze. She looked up at me and managed a small smile. I could see the pain, the guilt in her face and I pulled her close to me and it was just moment before her body began to shake with sobs. I looked over at her best friend's mother, a flicker of something in her eyes as well. The same thing that I saw in my girlfriend's: guilt.

Not long after I got a call from the younger Bei Fong, informing us that the two brothers weren't home. I took in a deep breath, going back on my laptop to see if I could track down high levels of frequency and wavelength. It wasn't long before I began to get irritated, slamming my hand on the desk. I looked over to my girlfriend, watching as she raised a brow before I handed her my laptop.

"I've checked every frequency and wavelength and I haven't been able to pick up anything," I told her.

"You've checked audics?" she asked. I nodded my head. "Nano systems?"

"I've checked everything."

Her lips twitched and she shook her head. "Not everything," Asami answered. I raised a brow. "All these systems are above ground. We need to search underground and there's only one frequency that is low enough to be used underground."

The screen showed a map a blinking red dot immediately popping up on screen. I gave her a quick kiss before, pulling out my phone and calling Hotch, telling him what we found. Despite the sadness I could see hints of the over confident tech I had met, and I knew that with time she would be okay.

Asami's POV

After I helped Iroh find the location of the unsubs I went right to work to see if I could get in contact with any of the kids. It wasn't going to be an easy task. I had to hack into their system, get them offline just long enough so that I would be able to speak to someone, and hopefully that someone was one of the kids. Iroh didn't say a word as I worked my magic, my attention completely on the screen. I had to save those kids. No one else was going to die because I couldn't do my job. Finally I managed to freeze their system, giving me ten minutes.

"Hello?" I asked. "Can anyone hear me?" Silence. "If someone is there please answer me. My name is Asami Sato, I'm with the F.B.I."

"They're listening to us," a voice finally whispered. Whoever it was, they sounded out of breath, terrified.

"No," I assured. "I've isolated the signal for now, they can't hear us. What's your name?"

"Billy," the boy answered. "You have to help us. Two of my classmates are dead."

I nodded my head even though I knew he couldn't see me. "Listen Billy, there are agents on their way as we speak. Just hang tight, okay?" I heard a sound of confirmation, though it wasn't too optimistic. "Are you wearing a collar?"

"Y-Yeah."

"I'm going to help you take it off, okay? Just give me a sec," I replied as I typed into the computer.

"I tried that already, it keeps shocking me."

"Billy, listen to me, they can't hurt you anymore. Just hold still, okay. I'm going to shut down their system and I won't be able to talk to you anymore but as soon as that happens, you take it off," I told him. "You're going to be fine. They're going to get there any minute now and you'll be fine."

"Thank you," I heard Billy whisper before I shut it down.

I looked over at Iroh as soon as I did. "Talk to Hotch, I need to know they're going to be okay. I need to know Billy is going to be okay."

"They just arrived."

"Well tell them to hurry up!" I snapped. "They need to get to Billy!"

"Asami, calm down," Iroh replied.

"No! They need to save Billy! They need to get to him! He can't die! Not…not…not like her…"

Iroh's arms wrapped around me and I held him tightly as the dam finally broke. I whispering soothing words and I felt a hand on my shoulder and I knew it was Senna. I nuzzled my head under Iroh's neck as he held me before letting me know that they had found Billy, that he was okay, and the rest of the remaining kids were as well.

Not long after everyone arrived and they all tried to make me feel better, telling me how if it wasn't for me there would have been more consequences, and that Billy was grateful. I asked Senna and Iroh to take me home and the rest of my team members asked if they could come along and I nodded my head. We arrived and I asked all of them to come in before turning to look at them.

"I'm really sorry that I've been…distant, lately," I told them quietly.

Lin shook her head. "Don't be. We understand."

"Asami, I want to apologize for any inconvenience I caused you today," Hotch began. "I know you are on medical leave but…we really needed you." I nodded and he paused for a moment. "If there's anything you need…all you have to do is ask."

I looked at mess and I nodded my head. "Actually there's something I need a little help with."

"Name it," Rossi replied.

I watched as everyone helped me pick up the mess I had made and I helped as well, picking up some books, lifting the picture frames that I put face down. I could see a hint of hope in Korra's mother eyes and I managed a smile. Soon everything was back in its place and everybody began to say their goodbye's including her. She was going to join her husband in the Southern Tribe, he had left to take care of business and she wanted to be with him. She asked Iroh to take care of me and I hugged her tightly, sad to watch her go but she told me she was just a phone call away.

Iroh and I remained and he helped me get to my room and onto the bed before laying down next to me. I took in a deep breath as I rested my head against his chest. I only had a few weeks left in my medical leave but I didn't want to be here. I was going to go back to headquarters first thing tomorrow morning. I was going to keep my promise.

Mako's POV

Director Bei Fong had called me in after I left Asami's home because she needed to talk to me. I sighed before calling Jennifer and letting her know I was going to take a little longer than expected before heading back to headquarters. When I arrived I saw that Opal was still here, surrounded by books while she typed on her laptop. She smiled at me and I did the same, knowing she was probably working on a paper of sorts. I went in her grandmother's office and she gestured for me to shut the door and I did, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Agent Hotchner, I called you in to let you know who will be joining your team tomorrow," the elder Bei Fong began.

I straightened. "So soon?" I asked. Korra had only been gone two weeks and she already had a replacement?

"Crime doesn't stop because we lose an agent," she answered bluntly. I nodded my head. "His name is Bolin."

"Bolin?" That wasn't possible. My younger brother was a detective in the Metal Clan. He had just been promoted a year ago. How was he already getting a chance at the feds? "Are you sure he's qualified?"

"My daughter thinks he is. He's had some trouble but I was informed he was a fast learner."

"I don't think he's ready to have this job," I replied. "He still acts like a boy."

"Well you don't have a say in my decision," Toph Bei Fong informed me. "I'm just letting you know so you aren't surprised tomorrow when he walks into the briefing."

"You making a-"

"Agent Hotchner, I did you a favor. I lent you the department's personal plane and provided out best marshal's to accompany the people inside that plane. You will accept Bolin Sean Hotchner onto your team. Understood?"

I clenched my jaw, reluctantly nodding my head. "Yes, ma'am."

"Sometimes the hardest part isn't letting go but rather learning to start over."-Nicole Sobon