AN: So does anyone else thing its WEIRD the writers decided to name this unsub? Because usually our favorite profilers don't name their unsubs. In fact they usually yell at people for it. Sigh. Anyway, more 8x16 spoilers ahead. Another shorty. Because I figure something is better than nothing (or reruns!)

Chapter 13

Derek stepped outside of the precinct and took a deep breath of fresh air. Damn, this case was sucking the life out of them. It was absolutely frightening to know that this unsub was targeting them all. He knew Hotch and J.J. were worried for their children. Hotch felt a huge responsibility on his shoulders to keep everyone safe. Reid had been uncharacteristically quiet. Rossi was frustrated. Blake was bothered, but she didn't completely grasp everything the rest of the team had been through together. And although he tried desperately to focus, Morgan spent as much time worrying about Garcia as he did thinking about catching the Replicator.

He tried not to think about the fact that she had had fucking Agent Anderson drive her home for a shower. Agent Anderson, who had driven Elle Greenaway home after it was clear the team was being targeted by someone. Agent Anderson, who had left Elle at home, alone, where the unsub had shot her. Where the unsub had written a message in her blood. Elle had survived, but she had been irrevocably altered and lost to them after that. Hotch had assured Morgan that he had given Anderson specific orders regarding Garcia's safety, but it didn't make him feel any better. Their main suspect had just suicided. And based on the way things went down, Donnie Bidwell wasn't the Replicator. Yes, he had definitely insanguinated the nurses. But he was not the Replicator.

He took at his cell phone and thought for a moment. He hadn't called Garcia for anything not related to the case. He knew that Strauss would be watching them closely—they could not afford for their relationship to come out right now, when the powers that be were already pushing for the team's removal from the case. But damn it, he wanted to hear her voice. He needed to reassure himself she was okay. He needed to make sure fucking Anderson was still there watching over her.

"Mogan!" He turned to see Reid holding the front door to the station open. "Hotch needs you."

He clutched his phone, sighed, and put it back in his pocket.

xxx

Garcia leaned forward at her desk and pressed her fingers in to her temples. This was the part she hated more than anything else. The waiting. Right now, the people she loved were willingly walking in to an incredibly dangerous situation. Sometimes she got to be in their ear when they went in, but today wasn't one of those days. She knew Strauss was listening in, but someone would call her if they needed something. There were times, in the past, when no one called her to tell her the important things. Like when Morgan had been shot. Yes, she understood it had been in his bullet proof vest, but it would have been nice to get a call. Instead, she had overheard a couple of random people from communications talking about shots fired during a BAU operation. She had almost come unglued while she waited for more information. Then she had proceeded to ream J.J. a new one for not thinking the incident warranted a call.

She glanced at the clock again. It had been ten minutes since they had gone in. She looked at her cell phone. Nothing. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and counted to ten. She tried to think of something else to do to occupy her time, but came up with nothing. Then she heard heels clicking in the hallway. Strauss came through her door, causing her to shoot up from her chair.

"Ma'am?" she half asked, half exclaimed.

"Ms. Garcia," Strauss began, "I just wanted to let you know that the team has cleared the building. Nothing else is needed tonight."

"But . . ." she felt so confused. Why was Strauss even here? She could have called.

"I know how you feel about your team Ms. Garcia—how all of you feel about each other." Strauss said. "I just wanted to let you know, in person, that they were fine."

"Was he there?"

"No, he was not."

"But . . . "

"Go home, Ms. Garcia. That's an order. Agent Anderson is waiting for you in the bull pen." With that, Strauss turned and left.

Penelope looked around, completely dazed. She checked her phone again, willing a text from Morgan to appear. She turned off her babies, looked around once more and headed out the door. She could only follow orders, and hope that someone would call and explain something to her sometime soon.