Author's Note: I wish I could say I owned Criminal Minds…but I can't without getting sued for everything I own.

Chapter 7 The Phone Call

Morgan frowned at the ringing phone. "Are you expecting any calls?" he asked.

"Not until tomorrow," Olivia replied, "It's probably a teller marketer, they always call around dinner time. Just let it ring."

Nobody ate, but listened anxiously. The ringing stopped and clicked to the answering machine.

"Hey," Olivia's voice said from the speaker, "You've reached the residence of Olivia, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Galileo. No one can come to the phone now but leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Thanks!"

Silence, then a mechanical beep.

There was a pause before, "I know you're there Olivia."

Olivia froze up. The voice was electronically enhanced so no one could figure out who the caller was, making them sound like Darth Vader. It was the unsub.

"I'm watching you right now," the voice continued, "How come I wasn't invited to this little dinner party? Stir fry is a favorite of mine, you know. Please pick up, I want to talk to you, hear your sweet angelic voice."

Morgan whipped out his phone to call Garcia and Reid stood up, closing all the blinds as the unsub said, "If I can't see you, at least let me hear you. Pick up the phone Olivia."

"Garcia, I need you to trace a call on Dr. Tusconi's house phone," Morgan said quickly.

"Olivia, listen to me," Spencer said, looking at Olivia who was shaking, "You need to talk to him, okay? Garcia needs time to trace the call and he won't stay on the answering machine long enough."

"I can't, I can't," she said, shaking her head and staring at the phone in horror.

"Yes you can, you need to," Reid said and Olivia shuddered violently, nodding. "Be sympathetic, tell him you know Sally's death was not meant to happen," Reid said quickly while she nodded more, "He'll be on speaker and I'll be right here if you have questions, okay?"

"Okay," she whispered hoarsely.

"And most importantly, don't show fear," he said, "Be confident and let him know with your tone that he doesn't scare you."

Olivia nodded one last time, her face set. She walked over to the phone, picked it up, and pressed the talk button and speaker button.

"Hello?" she said, surprisingly calm.

"Ah good, you picked up," the unsub said, "You have no idea how wonderful it is to hear your dulcet tones once more."

"I would return to compliment, except I don't know who you are," Olivia replied. Spencer smiled encouragingly and mimed writing on paper. She pointed to the table in the television room and he dashed over, grabbed the stuff, and came back quickly.

"All will be revealed soon, hopefully very soon," the voice said, "Tell me, I saw Sally's dog is with you and I want to know how he's doing. Is he adjusting all right?"

"As good as can be expected, I guess. He'll whine sometimes and run around the house looking for Sally, but I think it helps that he's with someone he knows. Listen, about what happened to Sally," she said, "I know it wasn't supposed to happen. It was an accident."

"I wasn't expecting her, I was waiting for you," he said, "I panicked, it was an accident. Can you ever forgive me for that?"

Olivia glanced at Spencer and he wrote "Yes" so she cleared her throat and said, "Yes, of course. I understand. Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course my dear."

"Were those other women accidents too?" she asked, ignoring Reid shaking his head at her.

"No, they weren't. They were people who got in your way."

"Got in my way…?"

"You applied for jobs at those places and they turned you down," he said, his voice growing angry, "They chose those women over you! What did they have that you didn't? They looked like you although didn't come close to your beauty, they were good students yet you were smarter, they even were part of the same organization as you! Those women were not worthy to work at those places."

"Not worthy?" she asked, "Who are you to decide who is worthy to die? Only God should decide when people die!"

"I did this for you! Don't you appreciate it?" he cried.

"Why me? What have I done to you?" she cried, "Why do you want me dead?"

"Ah I see, those FBI agents have fed you lies," the unsub said with a laugh, "I don't want you dead at all. I went to the zoo to take you with me. I want you alive and safely with me. This is what you wanted too, you've told me so."

"You're mistaken, I don't know what you're talking about," Olivia said shakily, "I've never told anyone that in my life. I don't date, I just work and take care of my pets."

"Never aloud, no you have said nothing. But with your smiles, with your looks, you've told me all."

Olivia didn't answer but looked helplessly around at the agents. Morgan was talking softly to Garcia in the next room so the unsub couldn't hear them. Reid wrote down four words and held them up.

Get off the phone!

"Why did you call me?" she finally asked.

"To tell you that no matter how many agents are around you, I will have you. It's our destiny to be together. I will not rest until you and I are together!"

"Please, stop-"

"I will not stop, don't you get it? If I have to kill more people, so help me I will if it means having you to myself! Here's my message to those two agents who I know are listening to this: she's mine! Try to stop me and you will die!"

The phone clicked off and Olivia hung up. She was white and shivering. Reid quickly took out his phone and called Gideon.

"Gideon, it's Reid. We have a situation. The unsub made contact at the house and we need to leave. Can you get some officers for back up and to take us to a safe house?"

"Hotch is working on it now. Garcia alerted us when Morgan called," Gideon said, "Reid, did you learn anything?"

"He's extremely determined to get what he wants," he said grimly.

"And what does he want?" Reid was silent so Gideon said, "I see, we'll bring extra cars then. Call us when you get there safely."

"Okay, bye." Reid hung up and turned to Morgan saying, "No trace?"

"The bastard used a disposable cell phone. He paid in cash at a local electronics store."

Reid nodded. He had expected as much. This unsub was meticulous and smart. There would be no paper trail to him. They would have to rely on what he gave away in the conversation and Olivia. He looked at the doctor. She looked so alone and scared. Reid sat down beside her.

"We're going to get you to a safe house where he can't find you or contact you," he explained quietly, "The police escort is on its way so we're going to wait for them before we go."

"And my animals?"

"I can arrange for someone in the BAU to look after them if you like," Spencer said and she hesitated before nodding.

"Michelangelo needs his medications every morning. I have his pills already cut and the pill pocket treats in a bag. Sally was going to take care of him while I was in London with my sister. It's in my room."

"I got it," Morgan said and left. There was a pause before Olivia spoke again.

"He said I told him with my smiles and looks," she whispered, "Did I lead him on without meaning to?"

"You have to understand that this unsub is delusional," Spencer said, "He thinks you are in love with him because of what you do every day. You might've smiled as you said good morning to him and he thought that was your secret way of saying, "I'm in love with you". You did nothing wrong except caught his attention by working with him."

Olivia didn't speak or react so he took out his cell and called J.J. He knew the blonde loved animals too and would love to look after them for the doctor. She agreed instantly and asked to speak with the doctor.

"I want to make sure she feels comfortable with me," J.J explained, "And then she can tell me what exactly I have to do with the cat's medicine."

"Okay, hold on. Olivia?" he asked and she looked up, "My friend wants to talk to you to make sure you're okay in letting her look after your pets and so you can explain everything to her."

Olivia looked pleased and took the phone. Once Reid was sure the doctor was all right, he joined Morgan in the bedroom where his friend seemed to be hiding out for a bit.

"How's she holding up?" Morgan asked when Reid sat down on the bed.

"She's talking with J.J now so she'll be better in a bit," said Reid, "J.J knows how to make others feel all right after a tough situation. Hey Morgan, you think we'll catch the unsub before he has to kill again?"

"Yeah I think we're closing in on him," Morgan replied, "His reaching out to the doctor was his final desperate attempt to get what he wanted. He's becoming sloppy because of the pressure. Don't worry Reid, we'll catch the son of a bitch before long. We almost always do."

"I just don't know how much more Olivia can take," Spencer said, "This is a lot of emotional strain."

"If it weren't for you, she'd be a lot worse off."

Reid sighed and Morgan's phone went off. He answered, said "Okay", and hung up.

"The cops are waiting outside for us. You get Olivia and I'll make sure the officer takes care of the animals. I'll meet you at the house in a bit."

Reid got up and found Olivia was just ending the conversation with J.J. She had a small smile and Reid was glad.

"Thank you again Ms. Jareau, I can't thank you enough for this," she was saying, "I'm glad I could talk to you too, I know the animals will love you…You too, bye!"

She hung up and saw Reid standing there awkwardly. She got up and handed him the phone back.

"She seems like a really sweet lady," Olivia said, "Thank you for doing this for me. You have no idea how much I appreciate it."

"It's no problem. It's my job, right?" he said with a smile.

"Yes…yes of course," she said, looking down and Reid almost slapped a hand to his face.

Nice going genius, he thought furiously.

"Um…the escort's here," he said, unable to find a way to make up for his blunder, "We should go."

"Okay, can you give me a moment to say good-bye?"

Reid agreed and looked through his suitcase for something while Olivia hugged each animal and kissed their heads.

"Be good for Mommy, all right? I love you guys so much," she whispered and Reid could have sworn he heard a sniffle. But when he straightened up, the doctor's eyes were tear free.

"Here, put these on," Spencer said, handing Olivia a FBI jacket and baseball cap, "It's kind of cold out and the hat will help you blend in with the police if you put your hair up in it."

"Gifts from the FBI, how nice," she said sarcastically and put them on. Reid helped her with her jacket and she said, "Thank you."

They got into the car and an officer drove them away. As they drove, Olivia turned to Spencer and he could see her eyes shining with unshed tears.

"Will my life ever be normal again?" she asked in a shaky voice.

"Normal is a relative term," Spencer replied, "Things will physically go back to how they were before Sally died, but it will feel different for you because she's not there. The unsub will be out of your life, but you'll always remember him. You'll be different, changed by him."

"I guess one good thing has come out of this mess," she said and Reid looked confused, "I've met some of the nicest members of the FBI."

She wiped her eyes and looked out the window as they drove past buildings. Reid cautiously moved his hand over to hers and laid his fingers on hers. Olivia looked over at him, down at her hand, and blushed bright red. They sat that way the entire ride down, each happily thinking of the other and glad to be in each other's company.

Author's Note: Aww, aren't they cute? Just a bit of fluff to lighten the mood at the end. I have some sad news folks, I am going on a retreat until Friday where I will be cut off from the world and forced to leave my computer at home. Therefore, I cannot update until then. That's why I did the double update tonight and I hope it makes up for it. Thank you to my awesome reviewers, my amazing sister, and I hope to see some reviews in my inbox when I get back! :)