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 Six
'I don't like this, Hotch,' is the first thing that Morgan says to his Unit Chief, as if it hadn't been perfectly obvious from the altercation in the hallway. 'There is no way in hell we can trust her. Not after what happened.'
'I have my suspicions too,' admits Hotch. 'But all evidence suggests that Agent Prentiss keeps little to no contact with other vampires, and from what JJ could sense, she isn't about to slaughter us all mercilessly.'
Morgan responds with a look of surprise, but does not say anything. Hotch wonders if the 'wolf trusts JJ's abilities enough to accept that conclusion.
'That doesn't mean that I'm going to drop all barriers and trust her completely. I'm going to give her a chance to prove herself, because from the looks of it, no-one else has.'
Hotch knows what it's like to be ostracized because of species. These days, there are a lot of people that consider pure humans as nothing more than glorified pets. He worked hard to get where he is, and he'd be a hypocrite if he denied someone else the same opportunity, vampire or no. Hell, he even gave Morgan the same opportunity, in spite of the 'wolf's less than flawless background.
Morgan's silent, and Hotch gets the idea that Emily Prentiss isn't the only thing he's thinking about. He had been mysteriously absent from the bullpen for a good part of the morning, something that's probably related to his bad mood.
'What else is going on?' Hotch asks, 'And don't tell me it's nothing.'
'A 'wolf was murdered in the pla- the Sanctuary today. Andy asked me to take a look into it. Garcia's checking out the files for me. If it's a serial…'
'We don't have any other pertinent cases,' says Hotch. 'At the very least, we can check it out.' There's a moment of silence, and, noting the look on Morgan's face, the Unit Chief adds, 'All of us.'
'It could be a vampire killing these 'wolves, Hotch.' He's not ready to let go of the matter so easily.
'And 'wolves can be serial killers too, Derek.' He's calling the younger man Derek. Letting him know how serious this is. 'If anything, having a vamp on the team will give us better insight – for this case and others. But don't mistake acceptance for me letting down my guard.'
There's silence between them as Hotch adds something he's not quite sure he really wants to say. 'If she makes a wrong move, we'll be ready.'
***
When Morgan makes his way back down to the bullpen, JJ and the vamp – Emily – have already returned, JJ presently showing their newest agent the small kitchenette at the far side of the unit. Emily is smiling, which only serves to pique his curiosity. She's not your traditional vampire; that he knows. Though he's tried to avoid them since the death of his father, he knows that there are a few out there who shun vampire culture almost entirely. He's not quite sure he's ready to believe that she is one of them.
'What do you think?' he asks Reid, who is sitting at his desk, looking in the same direction as Morgan.
Reid gives a slight shrug. 'She seems nice.'
'You don't think she's rogue?'
'Statistically speaking, if all the vampires in this city were rogue, there is no plausible way for the human population to support their level of bloodlust. That's the main reason why blood consumption is closely monitored by the Department of Health and Human Services.'
In spite of himself, Morgan grins. 'I know the laws, kid. A simple "no" would have done it.' 250mL per day, unless otherwise allowed by the Department. All blood must be processed by the local DoHHS Nutrition Center, or "bloodbank", as they are colloquially known.
'What do you think?' asks Reid, and for a moment, Morgan almost forgets that he's talking to a machine.
'I don't know,' says Morgan. 'The timing is a little suspicious, you've got to admit. And the rest of her family…Every part of me is saying to run, regardless of what's in her file, or what JJ can read off of her. There's something dark there, Reid.'
'But you're not running.'
'No,' says Morgan, and for a split second, his eyes lock with hers across the floor. They're dark. Deep. For a moment he almost feels like letting all his suspicions fall away, and welcoming her into the fold. Not for long, though. Just that split second.
Then Emily breaks the connection, and the moment is lost.
It's enough to make him wonder, though.
What is she really hiding?