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. Some guest beta work from Yellow Smurf.

Chapter Thirty-Five

The moment the team steps off the elevator, there's a loud buzzing sound, and a white blur that speeds towards them. Garcia's voice is even more high-pitched than normal, as a result of her concern.

'She didn't hurt any of you, did she? I swear I'm going to make that bitch wish she'd never been born. Let's see her go on murderous rampage with a super-low credit rating.'

Morgan raises an eyebrow at the swearing that is somewhat uncharacteristic for the fairy, and almost brings up the fact that without Elizabeth, there would be no Emily, but decides against it. JJ shoots him a look that's half-amusement, half a reminder for him to think a little quieter. His thoughts about Emily haven't exactly been the most censored on both sides of the table.

If Emily notices the implications of Garcia's words, she doesn't say anything. She gives the fairy a half-smile, and then excuses herself. Her clothes are still covered in his blood; he realizes – not to mention the torn fabric and the abundance of dirt from their tussle in the forest.

The rest of the team makes their way towards the conference room. The quicker they can solve this case, the quicker they'll be able to go home and get some rest. It's definitely not going to be smooth sailing, though. For one thing, it's the full moon tonight. The Sanctuary is still closed off, which means that there will be shapeshifters in their animal form scattered across the city.

That reminds him – he needs to phone the pack alpha to find out just what's supposed to be happening. It's highly unlikely that they'll be allowed to just lock themselves in their homes – not without some form of sedative. Just the thought of that makes Morgan wary. Even without a killer on the loose, he'd much prefer not having his senses dulled in such a manner.

With a nod from Hotch, he slips from the conference room to make the call.

'Hey, Derek, what happened? I tried calling you,' Andy greets him.

Morgan gives a grim smile, though he knows that the alpha cannot see him. 'I, uh…there was a work thing. It didn't end too well. I lost my phone. Listen, what's happening tonight? Do we have a backup?'

Andy's voice is filled with frustration as he answers. 'No. I spoke to a DHHS rep, who told me that we're going to have to use spell bands. I'm not so sure how well the magics are going to mix, but right now, it's either that, or jabbing everyone with a gigantic needle.'

Morgan swears. Spell band is better than the alternative - he'll at the very least be able to fight back if he's attacked – but he'd much prefer no sedative at all.

'I know, I know. Right now, I'm more worried about getting a hold of some of these shifters. They won't go down with a band even if you bribed them. Your people are going to have their hands full tonight, I guarantee.'

'I know,' he says. 'And it really doesn't help that there's someone out there killing 'shifters.'

'I'll make sure everyone's warned,' the alpha assures him. 'A courier should have brought the band to your office. No less than a half hour before sunset, remember?'

'Yeah, I remember.'

They hang up after exchanging the expected pleasantries, and Morgan notices Emily making her way back from the bathrooms. His phone call must have taken longer than he had thought if she's coming back already.

'Hey,' she greets him. She still seems a little distant, and probably will for a while, in spite of anything physical that might have happened between them. He lets his nose take over; while the smell of blood hasn't completely gone – it'll take a couple of days for that to happen – it seems diminished. Almost a distant memory.

'Hey.' He gives her a smile, which is returned somewhat half-heartedly. She follows just a few steps behind him as they rejoin the team. Though they're running on little to no sleep, they're already working diligently. Reid is sitting noticeably apart, as though he is torn between staying to help, or simply leaving altogether. It's subtle – a behavior that probably would have gone unnoticed by anyone who isn't trained in such detailed observation.

This case is killing the team as much as it's killing the victims, he realizes. Two separate attacks, the clan leader revealing Reid's true nature. Two physical, one mental. Their other cases are dangerous, that's a given – the violence of this one, though, seems so much more coincidental. As though fate is trying to screw with them. Fate, or someone else entirely.

'We're being played,' he says, to the surprise of the rest of the team. 'Someone wanted us to go to the castle, knowing we'd be killed.'

Emily narrows her eyes. 'It's not my mother. Trust me. She's a complete cu-…bitch, but she wouldn't have sent one of her vamps out to kill knowing it would lead straight back to her. She tried to kill us, but she didn't kill those 'wolves.'

'But that doesn't mean the entire clan is innocent,' Rossi points out. 'We still need to question the people on our list.'

'Which we can't do until dark,' adds JJ. 'And even then, we'll be down a profiler.'

'Two profilers,' counters Hotch, causing everyone to turn back to the Unit Chief in question. It's Emily that he directs his next words to. 'I don't think you should sit in on these interviews,' he says. She opens her mouth, as if to argue, but Hotch hasn't finished. 'It's not your judgment I don't trust – it's theirs. I'd prefer if things didn't get violent, and your presence seems to…exacerbate some things.'

She doesn't seem happy at that, but doesn't deny it either; it's the truth after all. Morgan puts a hand on her shoulder, and she seems to tighten slightly underneath his touch. It's Hotch's next words, however, that throw both of them for a loop.

'Stay with Morgan tonight.'

'What?' she asks, before Morgan can say anything.

'He'll be docile; if someone attacks, I'd prefer it if he wasn't alone.'

Morgan's not entirely sure they're killer isn't beyond attacking them in their homes, but that doesn't mean he's happy with this new development.

'Sitting right here, guys.' He turns his attention towards Hotch. 'You know how the bands work; they don't stop me from fighting back if I'm attacked.'

'But they do suppress aggression,' notes Rossi. 'Not to mention the fact that you'll have a wolf mind. You won't be able to strategize; it'll be pure instinct.'

There's a moment of silence. He knows that they're right, but it somehow feels wrong to give in. Feels wrong to admit that he needs protection. But then, he figures, if it's Emily that's staying with him, then something good might come of the night after all.