A/N: I know this is a short chapter. I wanted to get things moving along before I dive into the final few chapters. The story is coming to a close. I won't make an estimate on how many chapters are left because that always seems to create writers block in my head. And we don't want that, now do we? Enjoy!
Chapter 11: Sleepless
The two analysts stand in the early morning light, leaning heavily against the porch railing. The picture sits between the two of them, glossy surface almost mocking them for not seeing the evidence sooner.
"This really was here the entire time?"
Ria props her chin on her hands before replying to Spencer. "Unfortunately, it was. What makes me feel better was that it wasn't until very recently that we discerned that there are indeed other victims. And burying them near the kill site is highly unusual, if I understand the data right."
At the word data, Spencer's eyes light up a bit, losing the dulled, sleep deprived look they have held for the last hour. "Indeed. The probability of an unsub burying victims near the kill site is rather low. I'd spit out actually numbers, but its too early for that."
"I agree," Ria says with a large yawn. "I vote we put on a pot of coffee, and not that crappy stuff Mrs. Kindstrand tries to make."
"Hear, hear. Some police stations have had better stuff; and they're notorious for bad coffee."
Ria laughs. "You travel too much. Let me guess – you rate the quality of a police station by the variety of available snacks and quality of coffee."
Spencer shifts his gaze, getting a little red in the cheeks. "…do not," he says childishly.
"HA! So Penny was right."
He snaps his head back to look at Ria. "Garcia said what?"
"She told me that you, as a team, rate your visit by the quality of the coffee you receive."
Spencer busies himself with cleaning up the evidence folders before answering. "It is one of the few ways that we can separate ourselves from the severity of the crimes that we see. Why do you think we're so close-knit? We need to have those very human connections in order to not go crazy or fall to pieces."
Walking into the kitchen, Ria rifles through the cabinets trying to find a different variety of coffee. "I'm not saying that you guys can't be human. I just find it amusing." Packages crinkle and tins clank until Ria finally yells out in triumph. "AH HA! I present to you, Spencer Reid, REAL coffee!"
Following Ria's humorous tone, he chimes in, "Praise God! Quickly madam, before our subterfuge is found out!"
Giggling like schoolchildren, Ria and Spencer begin brewing the first pot of coffee. As the aroma of fresh brewing coffee wafts throughout the house, the other team members slowly wander down into the kitchen.
"Is that…coffee… I smell?"
Filling a mug, Spencer presents it to Morgan. "Why yes, good sir. It is indeed the coffee you seek this fine morning."
"Why the hell are you so chipper?"
"Sleep deprivation."
The rest of the team groans into their coffee mugs. A sleep deprived Reid only means one thing: insanity. All of the team members are still in their pajamas, except Hotch who is all buttoned up in his suit as per usual.
From across the kitchen island, Hotch looks directly at Ria. "Do you have anything for me this morning?"
Stifling a yawn, Ria straightens up and looks at Hotch. "In fact I do. Last night, with the help of Reid, we were able to discover some rather important information about our current situation. Firstly, we have a positive ID on out Water vic. She's Jezzica Vaughn, age 28 and worked at the Clinique counter at Macy's. Penny is still trying to get an ID on the Fire vic. Also, we have determined that the other bodies are buried near the ritual site." She motions for Spencer to bring the picture forward. "This is one of the pictures that JJ had taken the other day. If you look at the edge of the picture, just where the path drops off, you can see mounds in the forest. Those are almost certainly burial mounds of the previous two victims. Does that satisfy you, sir?"
Hotch stares at Ria. "You discovered all of this last night?"
"I'm a night owl sir. I do my best thinking at night."
Before a verbal brawl could break out, Gideon turns to Ria. "Excellent work. If Garcia went to bed last night, give her a wake up call and tell her to get moving on that ID for Fire. We need to start looking into our victimology. Prentiss, Morgan, you two are on victimology. Keep in close contact with Garcia. Reid and Ria, you two are coming with me to those burial mounds."
An hour later, after numerous fights over showers and lack of hot water, the team rolls out onto the streets of Salem with a mission. Armed with more information than they had previously, they feel confident that their investigation is moving in the proper direction.