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 Thirteen
Emily accompanies the rest of the team, minus Hotch, down to the parking garage. The Unit Chief had told them of his intention to "finish up some stuff," but they all know that he'll probably be sleeping in his office tonight. JJ had almost stayed behind as well, but without the media liaison, Garcia has no way home. Most cars aren't exactly built for someone less than a foot tall.
In her peripheral vision, she notices that Morgan is still eyeing her carefully. His suspicion turns to guarded surprise when she remotely unlocks her car. The black BMW had been damn expensive, and she's glad that someone has finally noticed it.
She reasons that he's probably not interested in it because he's big on cars. It's probably something to do with the fact that she can afford a BMW on an FBI salary. Screw him, though. If he wants to know, he can ask. She's not going to start telling him her life story just because he's getting all mistrustful.
'I'll see you all bright and early,' JJ says. She's attempting to smile, but despite the stellar press face, no-one's really buying it. Garcia flits in through the open driver's side door, strapping herself in with a modified seatbelt.
Rossi gives a grunt in reply, but it's an amiable grunt. Morgan doesn't say anything as he slips his motorcycle helmet on. Reid is parked one level up, and had given his own farewells as he stepped off the elevator.
Emily herself gives a short, 'See you,' before opening the door and sinking into the leather upholstery. She's going to wait for everyone else to leave, out of a long held sense of security, rather than anything else. She doesn't want to be followed.
Her apartment building is in Bathory, a fairly mixed district in the city's west, that isn't rife with gang violence like some of the other regions. There are a few murders ever now and then; mostly isolated incidents, with clear-cut motives and offenders, but you get that wherever you live. That's human nature, even if the human in question drinks blood, or is a wolf for one day of the month.
She's not driving there now, though. She's driving north – towards the sanctuary. Her abilities had been severely diminished by the sunlight, and she wants the chance to take a look at the scene under the cover of darkness. For the time being, the sanctuary can't be used for its traditional purpose; last Emily heard, the alpha of the pack had been scrambling to make other arrangements for the full moon in two nights time. It'll be tricky. There isn't exactly an abundance of fenced in land for fifty or so 'wolves, 'tigers, 'lions and other varieties of lycanthrope to simply roam free. If worse comes to worst, then they'll be sedated and locked down for the night. That's an option that no-one is really that happy with.
She parks at the entrance, her headlights illuminating the yellow crime scene tape. There's no one else there, but she knows that the tape is spelled to only let in authorized personnel. Technically speaking, she fits that criteria, but that doesn't means she's supposed to be there.
Her heart sinks slightly when she hears the motorcycle pulling up. She's not surprised that he had come here. She is surprised that he made it here after her. Though, she reflects, he probably took a detour through Bane. It's a longer route, but it would have kept him in 'wolf-friendly districts.
As suspected, he's not happy to see her. 'What are you doing here?' he asks, not bothering to hide the annoyance from his voice.
'It's a nice night,' she shrugs. 'I was thinking of maybe having a picnic.
Great use of tact there, she thinks, watching as his brow furrows. Her failed attempt at a joke certainly hasn't helped the situation. Seven hundred years, and you can't even have a proper conversation?
'I'm a little more useful when the sun's not hanging around,' she amends, staring upwards at a moon that's almost full. Thanks to a nifty bit of magic from some of the city's wizards, the light pollution doesn't affect stargazing. There are millions of tiny dots scattered across the sky. With enhanced senses, it's truly a beautiful sight to behold. 'I wanted to see if there's anything we missed.'
He tenses slightly, and she wonders if it's because he thinks that she has actually come to cover up evidence, or to sabotage the scene in some way.
'Give me some credit,' she says, not bothering to hide her own irritation. 'If I wanted to betray you, I would have done it already.' The brutal honesty seems to relax him somewhat, but not enough for him to let down his guard. It's no consolation that he'd be on edge even if she weren't here.
Sighing, she checks that her weapon is firmly fastened to her hip, and walks calmly towards the crime scene tape. Though she can't see him now, she can sense that he is still standing still.
'Are you coming, or not?' she asks. 'We haven't got all night.'
He's at her shoulder in less than ten seconds. She can feel his breath upon her neck. When he speaks, his voice is soft.
'This doesn't mean I trust you.'
In spite of the situation, she gives a slight grin.
'I never said it did.'