Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.
That was it. He was going to find Reid and kill him. It was that simple and when Morgan opened his eyes, he knew that was his goal. Seeing that he was in a hospital he knew the only way he was getting out was by arguing with Hotch. He felt fine and he was pretty sure the unsub either took Reid or a very brave pedestrian decided to help Reid out. Morgan shook his head. It was most likely the unsub.
He was glad to see JJ when she walked in. Now Operation "Get Out of Bed" can be in effect.
"Hey how are you feeling?" JJ asked with a small smile. Morgan knows that she had been crying. He felt bad, he had lost her best friend.
"Hey I'm fine really. I need to get back out there. We can figure out who did this. Reid gave us enough details and we can have Garcia track Reid's footsteps and find out where our unsub lives," Morgan said quickly.
"Don't worry, Hotch already signed for you leave once you were ready," JJ said with a surprised smile.
"Really? Why?" Morgan said in confusion.
"Because he knows that Reid was right about this guy. Reid was the only one who understood this guy's actions. We have to figure out the rest before Reid is... um… Well, the unsub has him," JJ said quickly. Morgan nodded.
"I helped the unsub out by cuffing Reid. If the kid woke up, he couldn't fight back," Morgan said getting out of the bed. He was glad that the doctors didn't bother to put him in the hospital gown. Then again, they probably knew that there was nothing wrong with him.
"Yeah, well the unsub left us another note and since Reid gave us a name, and a family member, we might have enough details to find him. I'm just here to pick you up. Hotch and Rossi are at the scene and uh—they are a bit confused. The unsub wasn't in the same car, he was in a truck this time around," JJ informed.
"I noticed. He couldn't have practically totaled the SUV with that small thing," Morgan agreed as they quickly walked out of the hospital.
"Yeah so either it's the same guy or there's a partner, but you're lucky you didn't get hurt," JJ informed. She didn't exactly agree with Hotch allowing him on the case so soon, but considering how bad the day sucked for the older man, she didn't want to make it worse.
"That's because the guy hit Reid. Between the two of us, Reid's the one who might need medical attention," Morgan informed and JJ simply nodded. She didn't want to think about that, she just wanted to find her friend.
"I know all of this happened because of me," Morgan admitted and JJ looked at him in confusion.
"Reid isn't generally a hostile person, but I pushed him. I forced him to keep talking to me and eventually I think he lost control of his own anger towards me and his frustration went out on Hotch, hence Reid decided that he needed to cool off. Then, I forced him to come back and now someone else decided to take him," Morgan explained knowing he did push Reid too far.
"Spence has always been a little emotional, you know. He doesn't handle emotions too well, so don't be too surprised and definitely don't beat yourself up. Hotch knows this and I'm sure Rossi understands Reid's mindset. Now they probably don't know why he's acting that way, but they knew something was wrong ever since he left early on Monday," JJ informed.
"That was because of me," Morgan frowned at her.
"True, but Spence let's things build until he has to get it out. Consider this his way of getting it out," JJ said unsure of what else she needed to say to help Morgan feel better. She couldn't do Garcia's job. She wasn't Garcia.
"Reid gets kidnapped when he needs to cool off," Morgan mumbled.
"We are going to find him," JJ said trying to believe it herself. She did have to admit Reid did find most of the information and their original profile was completely different from the one Reid had explained to them. The only thing Reid left out was an address. If this man was as smart as Reid said he was, then they would need someone who was just as smart as their killer.
They entered the police department and headed to the conference room where it seemed like chaos was brewing.
"Anything?" JJ asked and Prentiss gave Morgan a hug.
"Glad that you're back, Morgan," Hotch greeted, "And nothing. The unsub left a note and I don't exactly know what it has to do with anything. It's completely different from the one Reid brought in," Hotch explained.
"What was the note Reid gave us?" Morgan asked.
"Here you go," Rossi said handing it too him.
"This one is different. This time he didn't use his own words. He just took a quote out from a book, but it's pretty obvious that it agrees with what Reid says," Prentiss explained.
"In the discovery of secret things and the investigation of hidden causes, stronger reasons are obtained from sure experiments and demonstrated arguments than from probably conjectures and opinions of philosophical speculators of the common sort," Morgan read out loud mainly for himself.
"Reid was right. Profiling will not do anything but buy this guy more time," Morgan finally agreed.
"Then what do we do?" JJ asked unsure. So far they've always profiled the unsubs.
"We look at facts," Hotch answered.
"What was the one found in the car?" Morgan asked looking at the table full of paperwork.
"Here you go," Rossi said handing him the other note. Morgan scanned it multiple times. It made no sense whatsoever.
"We may need some help. We need to speed up this process before Reid ends up as one of the victims," Rossi said in thought. "We can solve this case, but when time is of essence, then…" Rossi looked around.
"I think I know who we can call," Morgan said calling Garcia. She could track anyone and right now, he needed someone's phone number. The team waited in silence, whatever Morgan was doing, it might be their best option.
Reid finally opened his eyes. However he couldn't see a thing. He stayed quiet and realized that he was alone. That was a good sign. Morgan wasn't taken as well. He wondered if he should move, then again he still wasn't getting along that well with the dark. For all he knew there could be a ditch or a dead body, and Reid just wasn't in the mood to find out.
But as if he was being watched a door opened and the light turned on.
"Hey Mitchell," Reid greeted dryly. "Nice to see you again."
"Well, I'm surprised you're not angry with me, mate," Mitchell smiled happily.
"Uh—I'm starting to get used to this happening. So, you knew all along that I was an FBI agent?" Reid asked wishing he could remove the cuffs.
"Well, at first I wasn't sure. For a second there I really thought you were a mail sorter. An FBI agent wouldn't walk around in the dark when there are a bunch of killings," Mitchell stated raising an eyebrow.
"Some FBI agents aren't that smart," Reid shrugged.
"No, you are that smart. You knew I wouldn't try to kidnap you," Mitchell said taking a seat.
"Then why did you take me today? Change of heart?" Reid asked sitting up and ignoring the pain that radiated throughout his body.
"Well, I was going to kill you as I had promised anyone who decided to cut up my bodies, but I like you. You're a little different. A little feisty," The man explained. Reid frowned at that. What was he to this guy? His new pet?
"Well, I wasn't exactly having a good day, so I will agree to being a little upset," Reid admitted trying to keep whatever relationship he had with his kidnapper friendly.
"Yeah mate, I noticed. I figured you might just want a break, so I took you!" The man smiled maniacally.
"You could have just kidnapped me in a less painful way," Reid added in. The man looked away slightly.
"Yeah, it was a last minute decision and when I saw you getting arrested I knew I had to do something," The man shrugged.
"I wasn't being arrested. I was being forced to go back to work because I was acting like a child and being stubborn about everything," Reid explained and frowned at his own words. Wow he could easily figure out what was going on with him when he was talking to his captor. Why couldn't he figure this much out when he was trying to be civil and talk to Morgan? Baby steps, he figured.
"Well, I just want you to know that if you're sick of those people always telling you what to do and how to do it. You are welcome to join me on my real extravaganza. Those bodies are just a test. I needed to know how long it would take for you people to be called in and how much longer it would take for you guys to get close to figuring me out," The man explained.
"Well answer this real quick? Do you work at a funeral home?" Reid asked. "Or are you a grave digger." Reid knew that was the team's original hypothesis, but he had to know.
"I'm neither. You know, I am a janitor at the local funeral home, but I studied geology at Yale. I know how to dig up a body without putting much work into it," The man explained. "Plus, some of these grave diggers are lazy and they don't exactly put people 6 feet deep, so that makes my job a bit easier."
Reid nodded. It was a pretty smart idea. However he did have more questions, but there wasn't really a point in asking. Either the team will find this guy or they won't. Reid will either be released or he won't.
"So, do you want to join me?" Mitchell questioned.
"Not really. I mean, I am not mad with the people I work with. My boss tells me what to do because he is…my boss. Sure every once in a while I get bored with my job, but I don't want to go around killing people because of it. Why are you doing this anyways? What is your real plan?" Reid asked hoping he didn't offend the man. Reid knew he came off as a bit sarcastic.
"You see, this needs to stop. This democracy. Us smart people are always being looked down upon, trapped and forced to abide by society's rules. The people… The normal people have no respect for us until they need help or a cure for a disease. My plan is going to be huge. I will emerge in every major city. Disease shall erupt and in another violence. The next city will be fear and the trend goes on. Lastly, I will become ruler. After I hit Washington D.C.," The man explained.
"Um, all by yourself? I don't think that would work," Reid said in a rather bored manner. "If certain cities become diseased, air transportation would shut down. How are you going to leave with all the highways jammed? When you "erupt violence" you'll only have idiots killing idiots, but you might get killed in the process. For something like a government take down, you need an organization. Except you need a bunch of smart people who can help you organize your plan," Reid disagreed. The man stared at him in surprise.
"That's a good point. You probably just saved my life," The man said.
"Yeah, well what else can I do while cuffed in a basement," Reid grumbled realizing that he just helped this man formulate a plan for mass murder. 'Good one Reid, you just helped protect the unsub from screwing up all his hard work.' Reid thought to himself.
"Well I would uncuff you, but I think you might run," Mitchell admitted. "Then again if you try I could just kill you… Slowly and painfully and if you want I can mail pieces of you to your friends. I did a bit of research on you. I think your mom might just enjoy the head of her beloved son…Oh wait, won't that make her crazier?" The man taunted. Reid simply looked at the man. Reid had to admit he wasn't exactly listening and all he heard was "make her crazier"… It was an awkward moment for Reid.
"Uh, yeah," Reid said nodding hoping the man would think he was listening. The man squinted and got up.
"Either you're a sociopath or you don't love the people you call friends, but Dr. Reid, you're not leaving alive. Make a decision and soon. No is not an option," Mitchell stated and Reid watched as he left.
"Then what's the point in asking me," Reid pouted. Guess he was back to choosing who would die. His team or whoever Mitchell can get his hands on. However, things could be worse, Reid realized. This guy wasn't as bad as Tobias. This man was delusional and he hated the world. Arrogant towards the people who weren't smarter than him or smart enough to get close to him. Reid knew that Mitchell had to be the smartest person that Mitchell knew. So what would happen if he met someone smarter than him? Reid didn't want to find out.
After a good three hours the team watched as a man who looked sketchy as hell walk into the conference room. He walked as if he was bored and had nothing better to do. In a way he appeared slightly dangerous.
"Morgan who is this guy?" Emily whispered.
"Guys, this is Ethan. A friend of Reid's," Morgan said glad that the man actually showed up. Ethan never gave him a definite answer, but Morgan had hoped he would come at least to help them find Reid.
"Morgan how can this guy help us?" Hotch asked eying the man carefully.
"He uh went to the academy," Morgan shrugged.
"Did he mention the fact that I dropped out the day I showed up?" Ethan smirked. Morgan frowned at the younger man.
"Hotch he can help us. He's practically Reid. Just not… Reid," Morgan shrugged. "It's the best we got, unless you guys know any other genius who is smart enough to reach Reid's level," Morgan said. When no one said anything he nodded. They would have to use Ethan.
"I'm not getting paid for this," Ethan mumbled as he looked at the board. "Reid was cutting open bodies? I knew he was a little sick in the head," Ethan said wrinkling his nose.
"Does the words underneath the bodies mean anything to you?" Prentiss said unsure if this guy could even help them.
"Do they mean anything to you?" Ethan questioned her, raising an eyebrow. "Didn't the evidence come in or something?" Ethan asked. The team glanced at one another and Hotch handed Ethan the paper work. Ethan skimmed the pages and looked at the bodies once more.
"There isn't any evidence of who your bad guy is, but there is enough evidence to tell you where he holds them. Each body had a similar substance on them meaning that he doesn't change the location of his killings. Is there a map or something. A computer maybe?" Ethan questioned looking around the room.
"Here you go," Prentiss said handing the man Reid's map.
"Oh he has no pattern," Ethan mumbled as he stared at the different locations on the map.
"What did Spencer tell you about this guy?" Ethan asked.
"He's smart, doesn't care about the killings, everything he does is like a story-he's creating it, we can't find him using profiling, because he's not doing anything that is personal to him," JJ said unable to quit staring at the man. He reminded her of Spencer, just in a darker way. It was also seeing something of Spencer's past. It was something he never speaks of.
"So…" Ethan said glancing at the evidence findings and the map. "This guy took Spencer? Which direction did he come from?" Ethan asked. Morgan looked at the map and pointed at a line.
"He came from that street and hit us there," Morgan informed.
"Okay, which way did he speed away in?" Ethan asked. JJ stepped forward and pointed at the exact same road.
"Garcia was able to pull up that he turned around after he grabbed Spence," She informed.
"Okay…" Ethan hummed as he grabbed a pencil. "The evidence Spencer found indicated that they were held in a rainy swampy area. Now given the direction he drove and the swamps on this maps, you have three choices of where they are held," Ethan explained.
"But he could have easily turned around and went elsewhere," Prentiss disagreed.
"He's not trying to fool you or play tricks. He already knows that you would think that," Ethan explained. "You people are so predictable. Don't over complicate the situation. That's why he wrote that note. He's basically telling you guys how to catch him. Isn't that what Spencer told you?" Ethan asked unsure if they really needed his help. This was too easy.
"He didn't tell us we were overthinking the case. He basically told us that we won't find things using a profile," Rossi explained.
"Well, Spencer isn't the best at explanations. What he meant was ignore the situations and just look at what you've found. You guys found another body right?" Ethan asked. Morgan nodded.
"This guy isn't exactly done yet. He'll probably kill one more person and dig up another grave. So just hide at the graveyard or fake a recent girl's death. Give him an opportunity to kill. In fact, let one of your ladies get taken in the process," Ethan shrugged.
"We can't risk any more agents," Hotch frowned.
"We also don't know where he picks up his victims," Rossi added in.
"Okay, well where do these chicks live?" Ethan questioned. With each address given he put a pin there.
"Okay, so have someone walking around this neighborhood and the other neighborhood," Ethan said pointing at the two locations.
"One of you men could be in each location. One at the grave, one in neighborhood one, and the last in neighborhood two. One of you are bound to see something and once you do, just send it up. Also, if you guys have any of that spy shit you won't tell America about, you should use it," Ethan shrugged. It was too easy.
"It might actually work," JJ said in slight shock.
"It will work. He's only killed six people. One more would just make it better. Not better but I could never kill six people. It would have to be seven or nine. I like odd numbers and considering the fact he took Spencer, he's dying to leave another note to taunt you all about your lack of common sense. Just don't die in the process," Ethan finalized. "I'm sure Spencer gave you a name and hopefully you'll have his address. Now, I did my job, good luck," Ethan said with a two finger salute. He wasn't very fond of cops or FBI agents. They always seemed sort of sketchy.
"Hey, um Ethan?"
He turned to see a blonde running towards him.
"What do you need?" Ethan asked as he kept walking, JJ followed him though.
"Um, aren't you worried about losing Spence? I mean, aren't you guys really good friends?" She asked with a frown. Ethan stopped walking and faced her.
"He wanted to do this job, so he knows what may happen to him. Spencer is also more than capable of taking care of himself and he could handle a good beating. He'll be fine and if he dies then… he dies. We are all going to die someday anyways. So I won't exactly lose him. You should relax a bit more," Ethan stated as he walked out of the police station and into the cold. He was happy to be out of that place. It was a ticking time bomb.
"Well, let's hope he didn't set us up," Prentiss said dryly towards Morgan.
"I don't think he did. Do you guys?" Morgan asked. He trusted Ethan's judgment, but Ethan was really strange. What was he supposed to do?
"It's possible, but it's worth a shot," Hotch agreed.
"We just need a possible address. If we are using JJ and Prentiss as bait then we need to only have Morgan or one of us go to the suspected house," Rossi said carefully.
"Well, should we get Ethan back? I mean if this unsub took Reid for getting close, Ethan would be a threat. It's also possible for the unsub to be watching us," JJ said looking around.
"Well, I'll talk to the possible Uncle to which the other note was addressed to. Hopefully Garcia will have a location. Morgan—no, Prentiss, bring Ethan back before we lose him too," Hotch stated. Prentiss nodded and headed out.
"What about us?" JJ questioned.
"Just go over the notes and see if there's some pattern or basic information in them," Hotch explained as he walked away. He doesn't know what was going on with Reid, he doesn't even know if Reid is still in love with profiling. Hotch knew he was going to find him though, and he was going to figure it out. He knew Reid was frustrated, and by what is the main question.
Reid waited for what felt like hours before Mitchell came back.
"You're time is up," Mitchell said as he walked in. "Are you going to help me? Or just be a waste," Mitchell asked. Reid looked up at the man. He knew the friendly relationship he had with the unsub was going to disappear. It may cost him his life, but Reid wasn't about to help this man kill anyone or try to live out the fantasy of taking over a government.
"I guess I'll be a waste," Reid said watching as anger filled Mitchell's eyes.
"Over here it sounded as if you were saying no. Let me give you another chance. Join or die," Mitchell repeated.
"Nice, it's like trying to unify the thirteen colonies," Reid mumbled and the man took a step closer. "Look, I get the fact that maybe you were looked down upon. I mean I get it. I had my fair share of hatred, but… It has nothing to do with the government. Maybe, you should have done something more productive with your life. You had a chance, but you let your stupidity and ignorance get in the way of your common sense," Reid explained knowing that he should shut up. Then again, why should he? This guy decided to go and kill people with a dream of taking over a country. Maybe this man needed someone to slap him back into reality.
"You're going to wish you never said that," The man growled getting dangerously close.
"Do your worst, I already said what I needed too," Reid shrugged. Once again his mind told him to shut up and play nice, but Reid ignored his better judgment.
"I should kill you!" The man shouted as he grabbed Reid, jerking him to his feet. In a split second Reid found the man's hands around his throat and Reid didn't bother to fight back. He kept the man's stare. Reid knew this man wanted to scare him. Reid wasn't going to let that happen. He would have to be killed if the man wanted to cower him. Reid was tired of people trying to cower him.
Reid held the stare even as his vision became blurry, he could tell that the man was smiling.
"Goodbye Dr. Reid," The man chuckled and Reid kept his stare until he couldn't see anymore.
The man dropped Reid once he became limp. The man pulled out his phone and didn't hesitate to snap a picture. He knew Dr. Reid's team would love the little update. He knew they would also love his secondary surprise.
Happy New Years!