Discerning

A Criminal Minds Story

"So, how do we get ahead of this guy?" JJ questioned as she sat, with an icepack to her bruised head. Her blood spattered shirt reminding them all of the how close she had come to death just hours before.

"He paid for his motel room in cash under the name Rupert. We have the clerk with a sketch artist now and CSU is going over the scene, but we doubt he left any prints and if he did he probably isn't in the system," Morgan grumbled, "This guy thinks he can beat us."

"What time did he check into the motel?" Prentiss asked.

"Around eight, what's on your mind?" Rossi wondered. He knew the look that her face was currently carrying.

"A whole hour before the conference, he knew when it was and where it was going to be," Emily stated the volume of her voice rising, "He must have some sort of inside source."

The loud tap of heels rushing into the room turned their attention to the door to reveal a polka-dot clad Garcia. Her computer bag clutched to her chest as she placed it on the table, her flustered gaze immediately finding her blond co-worker.

"Oh, Jayje, are you alright?" Garcia squealed as she saw large bruise forming all across the side of her friend's face.

"Pen," JJ smiled weakly as she shooed away Garcia's fussy fingers, "I'm fine."

"Garcia." Hotch looked over at his most unique member of the team, his eyebrows raised. Garcia immediately stood up, slightly embarrassed as she looked her boss in the eye.

"I know. Sorry Sir, I just had to check on my ray of sunshine and my other crime-fighting…," she paused as she realized that this wasn't the time, "Okay. But I, the ever-talented Goddess of all things wonderful have just found a connection that could make you forget any reason for being angry with me and plus I was feeling helpless and falling asleep and then Jayje and…"

"What did you find Garcia?" Hotch interrupted. His patience level was pretty high, but he did not understand how it has survived her all of these years.

Yet he wouldn't take another TA even if they were calmer and as equally talented. Hotch chuckled inwardly, because there probably wasn't another even close to her capabilities.

"Right. Well it turns out that each of the crime scenes have something in common," Garcia smiled as she saw everyone straighten up and smile a bit, "Each of them were holding some kind of event or promotion that would attract lots of people. The park was holding a company barbeque, the gas station was having a free Hot Chocolate after nine to promote the coldest November Virginia has had in forty years, and of course the press conference, and those just gather lots of people anyway."

"We profiled that he probably worked around firearms, and the only people who knew about the conference were the press and people in this station. We also profiled that he wasn't afraid of Law Enforcement," Rossi added, his brain turning.

The small squeak of a marker running across a white board caught their attention as they turned to see Reid working furiously. They each stayed silent as they watched him circle and mark different parts of the board until he turned around a smile lightening his features.

"What is it?" Emily asked as she eyed the rest of her colleagues.

"Based on the Geographical profile, each of the scenes are within an hour of each other. Which would normally suggest that the Unsub's comfort zone is here, but then I realized that with each strike he has gone bigger, the biggest being here," He shot a look at JJ, "I think he lives here, in Quantico."

"And he probably heard of the press conference through a grapevine, cop hangouts…. He's probably inserting himself into the investigation," JJ added, wincing as she turned her throbbing head.

Hotch nodded as he glanced at his watch, "Garcia, how many events are happening in that area in the next few hours. He's been hitting twice a day, I'm hoping the release he felt from his last attack will be enough to hold him off for awhile, but we all know that isn't likely."

Garcia furiously typed away on her computer as she compiled a list, "We have four major events happening in the next three hours and six other smaller promotional items that could draw a crowd."

"Start with the bigger ones, those will be his top priority," Reid stated.

"That would be a concert being held in a park that has been much anticipated, A rooftop company dinner, a art gallery viewing, and a grand opening for a prestigious new club."

"Okay JJ I want you to call the concert and the club, get them to cancel it. Prentiss you call the other two. The rest of us will communicate with the smaller ordeals and talk with everyone around here to find out who they have talked to and where they hang out."

A darkly dressed young man waltzed into the police station a large duffel bag swung across his shoulders. Pulling off his hood he smiled at the chaotic, disorganized bustle of the officers at work. They each looked stressed and exhausted at having been worked to their limits. He felt like he was walking on air, because he was the reason behind their depleted energy, there strained faces.

He was the cause of all of it.

Continuing to smile he walked unnoticed. His heart rejoiced in the overwhelming sense of urgency the blanketed the air around him. Passing a large office he peeked through the window to see a board plastered with photos of his handy work and several agents around it. One he recognized, it was the blonde from the television, his heart rate sped up as he noticed the large icepack that she was holding gingerly to her face and her blood stained shirt.

And a familiar twitch clouded his mind as he suddenly felt the urge to… he glanced at the clock. He could wait… for three more hours and plus the complete confusion and utter helplessness he was giving these officers was just too savory too ruin by pulling a gun out and shooting down the station.

Yet he still felt the need to pry as he urged himself closer to the team in order to hear what they were saying. The Agent Jareau was now on her phone as several others were now exiting the door that he was right by.

Oomph!

The young man groaned as the tall, dark agent slammed into him sending him flying to the floor. His duffel bag clattered as the items inside hit the ground. He clenched his fists as he tried to quell his growing anger.

"Hey, kid… watch where you're going," The Agent stared him down, while picking up his duffel bag.

"Let go of that," The darkly dressed man yanked the bag away as he stood up.

Morgan eyed the kid suspiciously as he let go of the bag, "What's in there."

"None of your business," he screeched angrily as he began to stomp away. Morgan reached out and grabbed him by the arm.

"Drop the attitude," Morgan demanded as he pulled out his badge, "What's in the bag?" His gut telling him that something was up with this kid.

"Hey Jason, over here," Captain Williams called out, rushing over to the group, "I thought you weren't going to show."

"You know this kid?" Dave asked.

"Yeah, he works for the station. He cleans weapons, helps file paperwork, even gets us coffee sometimes," Williams added as he took the duffel from Jason and swung it over his shoulder, "I had asked him pick up our order of new ammunitions and such from the store."

"Happy," Jason spat as he stomped off.

"Sorry, he's been working with us for about a year now. I was a friend of his mom's; she died about a month ago. She had asked me to help him out as he was struggling with finding a job, he's a bit," Williams sighed, "Well let's just say his people skills need work. He can be very disrespectful at times."

Morgan nodded and looked out the front doors that the kid had just exited from. He just had a feeling, but he couldn't quite place it.

Then again, maybe he was just tired.

So I just watched the rerun of the premiere for season 7 and it just made me miss Emily more. And also wonder how the new girl will fit in the coming 10th season, but I guess we will see. Anyway, thank you for the reviews and for reading. Please let me know if you have any suggestions or criticisms. They really can only help a story be better.

Thanks!

-HCB