Title:
Power
Play
Rating:
R
Fandom:
Criminal
Minds
Universe:
Creatures
of the Night (Part 1)
Pairing:
Morgan/Prentiss;
JJ/Hotch
Genre:
Supernatural/Drama
Summary:
Tensions
are running high when a vampire joins the BAU, but all differences
must be put aside as the team investigate a series of suspicious
werewolf murders. AU.
Author's
Notes: Betaed
by Windy City Dreamer.
Chapter Two
Derek Morgan is a werewolf. It's one of the first things he tells people upon meeting them; "Hi, I'm Derek, and I'm a werewolf." Of course, some don't need to be told. They can sniff it out themselves. Such methods of introduction save awkwardness later on in the relationship. Sometimes there's awkwardness anyway – like if a prospective date is allergic to dogs. That had put a real damper on the evening.
He's in the break room now, stirring sugar into his coffee, and browsing the newspaper headlines. Less than a month until the presidential election. Human versus vampire. Hundred to one odds on the vamp. It's eight a.m, and the only other person there is Reid, he too making good use of the coffee machine. Reid intrigues Morgan sometimes, though he would never mention it to the younger profiler. The last time they had tried, they were forced to requisition a new agent, and that's how they got Spencer Reid. For now, they just let him think that he's human. For a droid, though, the kid sure drinks a hell of a lot of coffee. Sometimes Morgan wonders if the caffeine circuits will ever overload, if maybe one day, that mechanical body will decide that enough is enough.
Morgan hopes that never happens. In spite of the young profiler's artificial origins, he kind of likes the guy. He doesn't judge, doesn't hate. Is innocent without being naïve. Sometimes, Morgan wonders whether that's just the programming, or whether Spencer Reid is modeled after a real person.
'Did you know that coffee was first consumed in the ninth century, when it was discovered in the highlands of Ethiopia?' Reid asks conversationally, as if it's the most natural thing in the world. He does this sometimes – sprouts facts for no reason other than that they are tangentially related to the situation at hand. 'Of course,' he adds. 'That was all before the Fall of Man.'
Morgan raises an eyebrow. 'You think the introduction of supernatural creatures into the ecosystem had some sort of impact on coffee growth?'
Reid shrugs, smiling. 'I don't know,' he says. 'Maybe.'
Morgan holds up a single finger, effectively pausing the conversation. He can hear his phone vibrating in his pocket. One benefit of having super-human senses.
'Morgan?' he answers, tone professional. After a few seconds, his expression changes noticeably. His eyes widen, his jaw loosens. 'Where?...Okay, I'll be right there, Andy. Don't go anywhere, and don't touch anything.'
His mouth is still open when he hangs up the phone. He's surprised, no matter how much he wants to hide it. 'I have to go,' he tells Reid.
'You have thirteen files left in your inbox,' the younger profiler protests. Under any other circumstances, Morgan might have cracked a smile at the exactness of the statement. Right now, though, he has other things on his mind.
'Tell Hotch I had to go. I'll call when I know more.'
And just like that, Derek Morgan has left the building.
***
Jennifer Jareau, media liaison, runs into Hotch just moments after he leaves Strauss' office. It takes JJ all of half a second to realize that her boss is pissed as all hell. It's not even a vague guess – it's a thought that is overpowering her mind.
'Hotch, could you…' she trails off, with a hand to her head. It's not like she's had a long time to deal with these new abilities. It has been less than two months since she got pelted with a burst of psychic energy. She'd never wanted to be a profiler, but it turns out being able to read minds is a million times worse. You hear everything. She's been taking night classes. Has been learning to block out all the unwanted thoughts. It doesn't really help though, when a man like Aaron Hotchner storms past, cursing his supervisor to a slow and painful death.
'What did she want?' JJ asks. She already knows the answer to her own question, thanks to Hotch's rather vocal thoughts. Still, she's not about to admit to the gross invasion of privacy.
'A new agent is joining the team.' Hotch doesn't even try to keep the irritation out of his voice. 'A vampire,' he adds, a little unnecessarily.
JJ bites her lip. It's bad news in more ways than one. As it stands, the team is in a pretty bad position. They're smack bang in the middle of the country's political capital, trying to avoid getting stabbed in the back. Their luck has lasted this long, and right now, it looks as though it isn't going to last any longer.
'She's coming in this afternoon,' he continues. 'I was wondering…' he hesitates, and even without psychic powers, JJ can tell he's not quite sure how to phrase the question.
'You want me to check her out?' JJ asks. He grimaces in reply, and with good reason. With some vampires, giving them a remote brain scan is like offering yourself up for a meal.
'Just a surface scan. I don't want to know her deep, dark history yet. I want to know whether or not I have to tranq her for trying to rip my throat out.' His hand goes immediately to his neck, where there are scars from his last encounter with a vampire. They're not pretty little puncture wounds, either. He had almost died from blood-loss, and spent the better part of thirteen hours in surgery. Every time she closes her eyes, she can still see his blood staining her hands.
Though she'll never admit it to Hotch, it had been one of the most terrifying nights of her life. Not because of the rogue vampires she had encountered, but because Hotch had been just inches from death. Inches from undeath, if she had wanted to look at it that way, which she didn't.
'Of course,' JJ says, without even really considering it. And her co-operation, more than anything, seems to make Hotch relax a little. 'And did you want me to get Garcia to run background on her? There's bound to be more than what's in her file.'
Hotch nods. 'Strauss isn't too happy about this either. From what she says, I gather that this particular vampire doesn't hold much credence with the rest of them.' He isn't at all comforted by this, JJ knows.
Her brow furrows. 'Then why put her in the team at all? They won't get any political gain out of it.' And that's the issue of concern.
Why.
The unit chief shakes his head. He doesn't know.
'I'll go talk to Garcia,' JJ says. 'What time is she supposed to be coming in?'
Hotch checks his watch. 'In an hour, or so.'
JJ nods. 'I'll be there.'