Discerning

A Criminal Minds Story

David Rossi gave a shaky sigh as he stood over the still form of the young mother who had died just hours before. The shot had pierced the window and struck her in the neck, it was a bloody sight. All the while her two young boys watched as their mother bled out in front of them.

Rossi shook with anger as a strong desire to catch the Unsub consumed his thoughts. At least, they knew who he was now. That was good.

But they hadn't caught him yet.

Looking over he saw a stressed Morgan kneeling down in front of two very shaken children. His lips moved at a slow speed uttering small comforts to them as they tried not to weep. They were trying to be strong; the older one had a firm grip around his little brother.

"Can you tell me what happened?" Morgan asked softly, addressing both boys as he gave them a look he hoped was trusting, "How about before the diner?"

"We were coming home from Grammy's," The youngest one smiled, he's four.

"How far away does your Grammy live?" Morgan smiled, they hadn't heard back from the father yet.

"Far. We stayed there for the week," The older seven year old answered, blinking away tears.

"Mommy said Daddy needed some space," Colton smiled, before receiving a slight nudge from his brother.

"Oh. I see, well that happens sometimes. Can you tell me what happened when you got to the diner? What did you get to eat?" Morgan continued, steering the situation back to the matter at hand.

"Pancakes!" Colton shouted with a wide grin, before he showed his small fingers to Morgan, "They make my fingers sticky."

Morgan laughed, "Of course they did, what other reason is there for pancakes?"

Colton chuckled, but then his face grew sad, "Did the red dot hurt Mommy?"

"The red dot?"

"Yeah, we saw it just before," Cameron trailed off as he lowered his gaze, "I didn't know what it was."

"Will Mommy be okay?" Colton whispered, looking up at his older brother.

"No, Colton. Mommy's in heaven."

"When will she be back?" Cameron's entire body shook as he turned to his small sibling, a tear dripped off of his chin as he turned back to Morgan.

"Agent Morgan? When will my dad get here?" Morgan closed his eyes and gave both boys a sincere look.

"Soon. For now these officers will take you back to the police station where your dad will meet you…," Morgan took a breath before he replied, "You know your mother loved you right?"

Cameron gave the agent a weak smile, before glancing outside at the starlit sky, "I know. To the moon and back. Come on Colton. Let's go."

Morgan watched them walk away, the oldest brother placing a hat on top of the younger before they exited the diner and into the bitter cold night.

"They'll be okay," Rossi added, putting a hand on Morgan's shoulder.

"Let's just catch this guy," Morgan looked over at the older profiler, "Did CSU find any other bullets?"

"Just the one. I think this shooting was just to fill his need and to piss us off. We'll meet here again in the morning with the rest of the team to see if he left any evidence behind. It's too dark to look now. I think this kill was primarily to piss us off," Rossi wondered as he looked over.

"Well it worked. I'm pissed. So we aren't moving in on him tonight?" The younger Agent asked urgently.

"Rupert is supposed come into work tomorrow at eleven. We think that's the best way of catching him, unarmed and vulnerable."

"But if he keeps to his schedule, he'll strike before then. We should get him now!"

"If he's spooked he'll run. There is no guarantee that he is at his house," Rossi added calmly, "Most likely he won't go back. He's hungry, and he'll search until he's satisfied."

"So we're going for a minimal loss situation?" He nodded.

"So we just wait?"

"We wait."

"This sucks." Neither of them liked the idea, but it was their best shot.

Jason Rupert grinned madly as he watched officers file in and out of the diner. He was a brilliant person with an absolutely brilliant idea. Boy, was he proud of himself. Clutching his thermos full of hot coffee in his hands he sat and waited for morning to come.

He knew the FBI was onto him and Rupert would like to call it a gut instinct, but really it was his idiot boss, Williams. After he had received the call asking him to come in tomorrow, he knew. Tomorrow was a Saturday. He never worked on Saturday.

Rupert scoffed at the completely mediocre strategy. Lure him into a place full of guns… it was ridiculous really. And of course he wouldn't be heading home, there was no way. Yet, he also knew he would be caught sooner or later, so pretty much his plan was simple.

Take down as many meddling, incompetent officers as he can.

Starting with the one they call Morgan.

As beautifully sweet payback for knocking him over earlier.

Like he didn't have enough of that already happen in his life, but for no longer. Because soon, all of Virginia will fear him. They will fear Jason Rupert.

Especially the FBI.

Shuddering at his own evil thoughts as well as the cold he settled himself down by the tree, fantasizing about the event that would unfold the moment everyone arrived in the early hour. Oh, he couldn't wait. All of those years of being afraid, of going unnoticed, of feeling like a weak, useless, cowardly bag of slime all coming down to one moment. The moment where he finally became the person everyone was afraid of.

"Bet your proud of me now right Father? I turned out just like you, just like my old man," Jason grimaced as he realized his father might be proud, but his mother definitely would not be.

I'm sorry Mom. He thought genuinely, but as the ugly image of his cackling father loomed over him and the desperate plea of his frightened mother rang through his ears all he could think of was how good it was going to feel when he hears the first cry of fear when they watch as one of their own falls to the ground dead.

Followed by complete and total chaos,

And then maybe, he might just turn himself in…

Maybe.

Well, there it is. Gosh, I can't believe it's almost August. Time really does fly and you don''t even have to be having fun. Can't wait for October though. Anyway, thank you for the reviews and for reading! You're the best. Please let me know if you have any suggestions or criticisms.

Thanks!

-HCB