A/N: And so we have an interesting scenario - the inspiration for this fic; elements of the FBI (as set up in whatif-ifonly's Roads Series) meeting up with (some of) the RE6 cast. Should be interesting.

The first section or two assumes that it's Resident Evil fans reading this story, not Criminal Minds fans; to any of the latter, bear with me for a bit. That setup does serve a purpose. This chapter also reveals one thing; the damage done by the Tall Oaks disaster wasn't all physical... the friendships in the BAU will be tested by this. It's a long chapter, people... I gotta admit, I honestly couldn't stop writing for this one.

The serpent-themed flash drives once again make an appearance; in case I didn't mention this before, these are meant to serve as substitutes for the Serpent Emblems found in the actual Resident Evil 6.

To those concerned about the lengthy gap between the previous update and now - I apologize. Real life is a bitch at present, and this update fought me at every turn as a result... but I fully intend to finish what I began.

Please refer to all prior chapters for relevant disclaimers, check those same chapters over again if you like a fic with continuity (there have been some mild edits to that effect) - and offer feedback! It lets me know if I'm doing this right.

PS: Bonus points to those who catch the Halo reference.

Resident Evil 6: Rampage

CHAPTER 5: INFO DUMP, CRYO CRY, FIGHTER'S FURY

"You're gonna be much better off than any of us, you know that? I'll miss you." - Aaron Hotchner

"There are things we don't want to happen, but have to accept. Things we don't want to know, but have to learn... and people we can't live without, but have to let go." - Jennifer "JJ" Jareau, "Criminal Minds"

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill

After twelve years, the Quad-Core was reunited... but the mission wasn't over.

Derek C. Simmons, National Security Advisor to the U.S. President and head of an ancient fraternity known only as The Family, had infected Deborah Harper with the C-Virus; a mutagenic toxin whose base components had been created years ago, by members of the fallen international enterprise Umbrella Incorporated for use in bio-weapon experiments... experiments which, over the decades since Umbrella's creation, had destroyed countless lives. With Neo-Umbrella's acquisition, enhancement, and combination of several of Umbrella's viruses into the C-Virus, the risk was greater than ever.

But others had been infected with Umbrella's toxins and survived, with the help of their friends and a good vaccine; Sherry Birkin was the best example. The Raccoon City survivor was one of Carter's closest friends outside the FBI - and any risk of G-Virus mutation on her part had been eliminated by a vaccine years ago, leaving her with an enhanced healing factor. Knowing that a cure was possible was the only thing keeping Agent Myers calm in the wake of Deborah's placement in cryo... just like how in another lifetime, the only thing keeping Helena sane after Deborah's death was a strong desire to see bioterrorists fall - starting with The Family.

In this lifetime, however, Deborah had had a better life; one influenced not just by Helena, but by Carter Myers and Jennifer Jareau as well. With that extra influence and the resulting will to survive, Deborah lived through the C-Virus nightmare to fight again... but getting to the end of the nightmare was the hardest challenge of her life.

With help from JJ and the Behavioral Analysis Unit, will Simmons and The Family be defeated? Will a vaccine to the C-Virus be found, allowing the Quad-Core to remain whole - or will the Quad-Core and the BAU both be torn apart from within?

(June 29th, 2013, late night; a local airstrip near Tall Oaks)

"Well, what do you know? The town put their airstrip at the north end..." Carter grinned tiredly as he and Deborah stumbled out of the forest towards a nearby airstrip... to see a large, pristine silver Gulfstream jet sitting in the only hangar at that airstrip. The couple stumbled tiredly towards it, with Leon and Helena - both just as exhausted - trailing in their wake.

"You ride in that every day?" Deborah asked.

"Every case, Deborah," Carter corrected gently, "Not every day. Cases aside, some days I'm in the BAU bullpen working on paperwork the whole time; some days I'm helping one of my senior teammates teach a class; some days I'm doing consults, risk assessments and such; some days I'm at the shooting range honing my gun skills or in the ring with a teammate; some days I'm contacting informants or kicking down a door to make an arrest... and every day, I'm learning something new - just like with survival training. The FBI, the BAU... it's a very interesting gig, Debbie, and the A-Team's some of the only family I've ever known. That they all requested me on their team and took the time to let me into their lives... for that, I owe them a debt I can never repay."

"I can't wait to join them... and you," a tired smile crossed the lips of Carter's quasi-girlfriend.

"It's gonna be a tough road, Deborah; even tougher than fighting the C-Virus in some ways, but I know you've got the means, the motive and the strength. As for the opportunity... well, what do you say we get a foot in the door for you a little early?" Carter smiled back before turning away from Deborah and yelling towards the Gulfstream as the duo neared the hangar.

"Olly olly oxen-free!"

"Carter, what-?" Deborah gaped at her quasi-boyfriend, taken aback by his uncharacteristic loudness... before she saw Carter's teammates exit the jet.

Two brunette women, one of them clearly biracial while the other clearly needed a tan; two blonde, petite Caucasian women; a petite female redhead; a brown-haired young man; a strong, bald African-American man walking side-by-side with a flamboyantly dressed, curvy blonde; a dark haired, fit older man in a grey business suit with red tie; and two even older men, one of them clearly Italian, both in semi-formal wear with salt'n'pepper hair - walk out of the plane in single-file formation. The women were beautiful; the men were handsome, the group as a whole were slim, trim and fit as any athletes, while dressing in functional style... Deborah was in awe.

"All ahead in the free," the pale brunette woman replied, fully understanding the geeky reference while grinning at Carter and Deborah, "We're all free, Carter."

"Not yet, Emily." Carter chuckled, "BAU Alpha Team, I'd like to introduce you - or in JJ's case, reintroduce you - to my very special friend Deborah Harper, and also introduce my partners for this mission; Leon S. Kennedy and Deborah's older sister, Helena. Deborah, guys," the BAU's newest Agent grinned at his quasi-girlfriend, the senior DSO Agent and Deborah's badass sister, "Meet my teammates, the Behavioral Analysis Unit's Team One; if they'll forgive the rather crude description, we're all basically a bunch of FBI Agents who double as criminalistics experts, figuring out the who, what, and why - among other things - behind each case we're invited into to help ID and nail the unsub- I mean bad guy. From the left, we have BAU Section Chief Jason Gideon (our criminal profiling expert when he's with us in the field); Senior Field Agent David Rossi (our expert hostage negotiator); Unit Chief/Supervisory Special Agent Aaron Hotchner; Tech Analyst Penelope Garcia; SSAs Derek Morgan (the team's bomb guru and obsessional crimes expert); Dr. Spencer Reid (our resident genius), Jennifer Jareau (the team badass; our Pennsylvania Petite) Emily Prentiss (our linguistics expert and terrorist profiler) and Elle Greenaway (our sex crimes expert), and Special Agents Ashley Seaver and Zoe Hawkes, a couple old friends of mine and former BAU teammates. Oh, one other thing; don't make the BAU ladies mad - JJ's nickname aside, they're all badass."

Both groups broke out in laughter as Carter dramatically shuddered, while Elle, Emily, JJ, Ashley and Zoe blushed pink from the playful teasing.

"What's your speciality on this team, Carter?" Leon asked.

"I'm just an Agent for now, Leon," Carter grinned, "Beyond survivalism and military profiles I haven't created much of a speciality for myself yet. I've only been at the BAU a little while."

"He's too modest, Agent Kennedy," Prentiss grinned back at the two men; Carter's reaction to such praise was to smile sheepishly and rub the back of his head as his teammate continued.

"Carter's talents have helped the team a great deal. He's as smart as Reid - in his own way, granted - and just as strong as Morgan; matter of fact, I think they're in a race to see who can kick down the most doors. Carter writes case files at the same speed as JJ and easily sees things from points of view none of us - sometimes not even Reid - look from. Of course, his history kind of helps with that."

"You forgot to mention I'm... how'd you put it once? 'An insular, arrogant pain in the ass who's stuck in his head and more addicted to the hunt than Hotch, Rossi and Gideon put together,' or something like that?" Carter threw his unofficial mother figure a half-smile as her blush darkened to a rosy red - the effect being even more obvious on Prentiss with her paleness, "It's fine, E - heaven knows these two," the young Agent jerked a thumb towards Helena and Deborah, "have called me much worse during much tougher times."

"So you guys are Carter's teammates... his BAU family," Helena smiled softly as the good-natured teasing died down, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you; thanks for taking care of him."

"It's no problem at all, Helena. It's even better to see you're all alive," JJ, one of the blondes, smiled at Helena and Deborah, and nodded to Leon before pulling Carter into a hug, which he returned, "We were so worried when the news broke about Tall Oaks... especially once Garcia found out you guys were all there."

"JJ, you had no reason to worry - I'm tough; we all are. We backed each other up and survived... somehow. And ya know what? It's good to be seen," Carter smiled, "Especially by you guys. I missed you out there, and I'm so glad you came to get us."

"Never leave a man behind, right?" JJ teased, referring to Carter's military motto.

"Carter, leave a man behind? Never gonna happen," Deborah teased back, "Forgot about me so soon, JJ?"

"How could I forget the heart and soul of my old group, Debbie?" JJ retorted with a grin, letting Carter go and pulling Deborah into a surprisingly strong bear hug, which Deborah returned as best she could.

"And the brains?" Helena smiled as she came up behind the former Media Liaison.

"Funny," JJ teased, pulling Helena into what became a three-way hug, "I thought you were the muscle while Carter's the brains."

"Eh," Helena smirked, "It switches back and forth these days, just like it always has."

The three women indulged in a bout of laughter, and briefly huddled, talking in hushed tones as they caught up.

Carter, meanwhile, looked at his other BAU teammates - who were as put-together as ever - and then down at himself... sweat-drenched, dusty, dirty and waterlogged; his clothes soaked with dust, sweat, water, blood, and heaven knew what else... and then back to his teammates, who were all wearing looks of amusement at his antics as he smiled sheepishly at them; even Hotchner and Gideon were smiling, something Carter had only seen once before. After an instant of thought, the newest BAU Agent shrugged, throwing caution to the wind - and pulled the other blonde woman, his friend Agent Ashley Seaver, into a bear hug of their own.

"You came..." Carter murmured in awe, "I knew the others would show, even Zoe, but you... I thought you were neck-deep in Domestic Trafficking?"

Seaver smiled as she unhesitatingly hugged her good friend back - dust, sweat and all.

"I was - but of course I came. We all came for you; how couldn't we? Don't you realize just how much this team cares about you, Carter?" the younger blonde Agent replied, audibly holding back tears; the hugs Carter gave clearly supplied comfort to more women than just Deborah, and it had been years since Ashley last had the opportunity to get one.

The younger blonde badass pulled back, looked Carter in the eye and continued her explanation.

"Forget the FBI Agent status for a moment - you're our friend... our brother. I for one could never let that go; you helped me through the Academy, and even more afterwards to give me the happy family I always wanted... you and the team. When Rossi called me, explained that Tall Oaks was attacked by a bioterrorist with ties to Umbrella and that you were right in the hot zone, I admit - I panicked... and then, once I calmed down some, I talked to SSA Swann and caught a red-eye flight out to Quantico. Zoe did the same from Boston after talking to her boss. Took a call each from Section Chief Gideon and Director Fickler in her case, but he got the message. On very rare occasions, friendship trumps work - even work you love. You taught us that."

"See, that's why you guys are my friends, Ash," an emotional Carter pulled his former Academy classmate - and current good friend - into another tight hug, "You're loyal, stubborn, tough, kind, and... and simply the best, no matter what! Thank you so much!"

"Carter!" Another voice cried; Ashley jumped back in surprise as her close friend and fellow Agent, Zoe Hawkes, flew past her to tackle their mutual friend in an equally strong hug as the one Ashley had received. That was the cue for further introductions, as Leon, Helena and Deborah were almost literally dragged by JJ to began mingling with the other FBI Agents.

"Oof... good to see you too, Zoe," Carter gasped as the pair fell in a heap, Zoe's long auburn locks - now laced with blonde highlights - covering both of their heads like a curtain, "God, Red, I've missed you and your hugs."

"Forget the hugs - I've missed you, Carter," Zoe smiled, moving her hair away from Carter's face before kissing him on the cheek, as had been their custom since the Academy, "None of my friends or coworkers in Boston are anything like you."

"'Course not, Hawkes," Carter teased, kissing Zoe on the cheek in return, "You know they broke the mold when they made me."

Zoe and Ashley laughed before pulling Carter to his feet as the acquainting and reacquainting continued between the BAU's best agents, the DSO's founding member and the Harper sisters.

As the two teams bonded, staying next to the jet for ease of departure, Leon Kennedy eventually kept the company of the senior FBI Agents while the Harper sisters talked with the bulk of Carter's female teammates. JJ watched over her old friends like a hawk, keeping an eye out for any weakness on Deborah's part... praying that none would come; believing that the younger Harper sister, who was like a little sister to JJ as well, could hold on until they got to the C.C. in Quantico, because they were all in trouble if she couldn't.

Carter, meanwhile, was checking his gear to ensure none of his weapons had waterlogged or otherwise been damaged during the last leg of the escape from Tall Oaks... after all, the guns and blades would be needed in the fight to come. Once he was done, he went to talk to Reid and Morgan; the three men and JJ exchanged smiles after Carter teased the (slightly) older genius Agent regarding Physics Magic - specifically, an incident involving a film canister rocket and Carter's hard head, which had been shaved bald at the time as opposed to his current close-cropped hairstyle. When Emily got involved and recounted how the same incident had happened to her when she first joined the team, JJ grinned as she saw Reid blush pink - and heard a badly suppressed snort of laughter from one of the senior Agents nearby while Morgan broke out in laughter.

The team, indulging in good cheer and celebration (however brief), was whole again... and better than ever before, as the two groups headed to the jet. Carter, as the Agents and survivors moved onboard, explained to his Tall Oaks allies who on the BAU team answered to what form of ID.

(One hour later, aboard the BAU jet over US airspace)

With his left arm across the shoulders of his childhood beloved - who was currently asleep as they sat in the cabin of the BAU jet, Leon and Helena sitting across from them also asleep - Carter was writing a note with his right hand; a note of thanks, to his currently asleep BAU family who had rendered aid to him for what he realized was probably the final time. Oddly enough, his thoughts ran parallel to what he was writing.

'With our deaths faked for now, and us chasing Simmons - into another bioterrorism attack, no less... the three of us will be lucky if we survive, never mind get cleared to return to duty afterwards. And Deborah could be on ice for eternity if I don't do this.' Stopping his writing for the moment, Carter surreptitiously looked around one final time at the group he was proud to call his family.

At Agents Aaron Hotchner and Jason Gideon - his father and grandfather figures; head profilers of the team that had given him such strength eight years before, in the wake of his mother's demise - and would likely do so again after his dad's death, at least if Carter, Leon and Helena survived the trek to China and made it back onto American soil.

'Hotch, Chief Gideon, you both taught me a lot about how to be a man... more than anyone since my dad. I owe you two in particular a great debt for that - hopefully what I'm doing will end up being a step towards repayment, instead of a step towards chaos.'

At Agent David Rossi, his favorite unofficial uncle; a man who (however indirectly, through his books) helped Carter channel his strength into the FBI, and - when Carter got into the BAU itself just over a year prior on his 23rd birthday, with special dispensation from the Director - helped expand the young man's already considerable knowledge base.

'You taught me the basics of hostage negotiation, Rossi,' Carter recalled, 'and through your books - before we even met! - you nurtured the seed that your team planted in my mind nearly a decade ago. I wouldn't be who, what, or where I am today without that influence, and for that I thank you.'

At Agent Derek Morgan; a man who - from their very first encounter in Des Plaines, Illinois over eight years before - Carter considered the big brother he never had, especially after their regular phone contact. Derek's wife, BAU tech analyst Penelope Garcia Morgan, was in a seat beside him - on a rare flight on the BAU jet... to come pick up someone who she had quickly admitted was another little brother to her, second only to Spencer Reid. Dusty, soaked, and biting back tears of relief that he still had family to count on, Carter had admitted to feeling honored to consider Garcia his sister every bit as much as Derek was his big brother, and the rest of the BAU their family.

'Hotch and Gideon taught me how to be a man, Derek, but you two...' Carter's thoughts stalled as the memories banged at his focus, 'You and Penelope taught me everything else. How to vent properly, how to work computers and construction, how to play football and softball, how to fight clean and dirty alike, how to smile and laugh and cut loose... dad taught me how to survive, Hotch and Gideon taught me how to be a man, but you two taught me how to be human. You're one hell of a big brother and sister. As much as with JJ and Doc I wish I was your blood-kin; Jake Morgan... Chloe, Henry and Joshua Reid... they're lucky kids in that sense. But more importantly, I hope that Doc knows how lucky he is to have you as unofficial siblings - that the whole team knows how lucky they are, to have you both on their side.'

Carter's eyes moved again, to another pair of seats at the Unit Chief's back, holding Agents Elle Greenaway LaMontagne and Emily Prentiss Hotchner; two women Carter was very proud to consider unofficial big sisters as well - or in Emily's case a second mother, given she was married to Aaron Hotchner.

'Would still love to know how you and Hotch got that one past the higher-ups, Prentiss; any other team and you two would've been split up long ago to prevent conflict of interest.' Carter mused for a moment, 'But you've done it; done the impossible. You and Elle... you two are so beautiful in body and soul; so strong, so inspiring. You're both so much like Deborah in your own unique ways. You gave me hope that I'd find her again - or at the least, find someone just like her. Thank you both... that hope got me through a lot of pain.'

The young Special Agent's eyes stopped at a couch at the back of the jet, where - as was their norm - Agents (Dr.) Spencer Reid and Jennifer Jareau Reid lay side-by-side.

'Doc, my brother-in-brains... JJ, my dear friend; my sister in all but blood... as much as with Rossi, I wouldn't be here without you. He gave me the knowledge, you two gave me the motivation and the tools. Hell, I still have the damn Baby Glock on my ankle and keep it perfectly maintained... it kept Deborah safe as we were evacuating Tall Oaks; it saved my scrawny ass a hundred times before that in that town alone, and I'm sure it will do so a thousand more times in my life before I have to replace it. Like with the rest of the team, I am so proud to call you both some of my best friends... my family. Thank you so much, for everything.'

Surprisingly, the BAU had - for good, hopefully - picked up a couple friends Carter had made during his FBI tenure. Agents Ashley Seaver and Zoe Hawkes had been in the survivalist's FBI Academy class, and became good friends with him; despite remedial training with different BAU teams (Carter, to his initial chagrin, was trained by the Red Cells while Hawkes and Seaver trained with Team One) and transfers to different locations after graduation (Zoe had gone to Boston's field office, Carter to Indiana's, and Ashley to the Domestic Trafficking Task Force) the two Agents, younger than Carter by a matter of months, had kept in touch with him, and he with them. Agents Seaver and Hawkes were still unofficial members of BAU Team One due to their presence there during remedial training and after Academy graduation; through that bond (and a few incidents over the years) the two of them considered Carter their big brother.

Tears glazed Carter's eyes as he realized - beyond reconnecting with their old team, the only reason those two Agents in particular were on the BAU jet was for him.

'Ashley... Zoe... I wish I could stay,' Carter swallowed back a lump forming in his throat, 'and reconnect with you two most of all; you gave me friendship where none existed at the time - even after all that I accomplished there, without you I wouldn't have graduated the Academy. But after we get Deborah to cryo and gear up, Helena, Leon and I have got to go to China... the enemy has to be stopped. For all of you, this nightmare has to end - I will not let the C-Virus infect you too!'

Writing his thoughts down on the note word-for-word, Carter sighed softly as his pen scratched against the paper... the long note he was writing was the hardest thing he'd ever had to write down; indeed, what he was doing was the hardest task he'd ever had to do since shooting down his father's undead corpse after the older man's C-Virus infection.

'Words cannot describe the honor you all blessed me with, when my first assignment after only two years and a day in Indiana's field office was to your team. Every one of you put your trust in me, let me into your family, taught me so much over the last eighteen months... and now I've got no choice but to let you all down. The monster who attacked Tall Oaks, killed dad and the President, and poisoned Deborah... he's headed to China as I write these words, and my primary gear is either on me and soaked to the gills, or buried under tonnes of rubble and floodwater in the crater that is Tall Oaks' remains. As much as Leon and Helena, I need to resupply for battle... and then I have to go with them.

The C-Virus nightmare has to end - for all your sakes and your kids' sakes - and I've got to go off the grid with Leon and Helena to help create that end. Even more relevantly, I need to go with them to restore our good names and the Bureau's good name. If we survive, we'll find a way back... and hopefully after the bureaucratic, steaming pile of bullshit that is debriefing is done, we'll all be together again.

It has been an honor to work with you all, to be your friend - and an even greater honor to be called your family, and in turn call you mine. I love you all so much that words alone cannot describe it... and I wish now more than ever that Dad had survived to join you. He'd have loved working with you guys.

If I don't make it back, consider this my will: Derek, Rossi, divide my remaining survival gear between the both of you... you're probably the only ones on the team who know how to use it effectively, though I hope you'll give the multi-tools to anyone on the team who wants one. Ashley, Zoe - split my financial resources between you both... and know how sorry I am that (if this will is enforced) I couldn't make it back to you and the team. Hotch, Emily, the condo's yours if this comes into effect; you know where the deed and the key is. Do as you wish with the place, but do not sell it! I want the BAU kids to have someplace safe to go in the future. Everyone else, give your kids a big hug and kiss from me... and when they're all a little older, tell them about their Uncle Carter. Don't ever forget me, no matter what. Please.

Tell my tale to those who ask... tell it truly. The ill deeds, along with the good, and let me be judged accordingly. The rest... is silence.

Goodbye, my family. I love you all.

FBI Special Agent Carter Myers.'

Pulling his right arm away from Deborah's shoulders, Carter folded the note and, as quietly as possible, left his chair to place the note on the desk in front of the couch... which proved to be his undoing as JJ's eyes blinked open.

'Ah, shit.'

"Should know better than to tiptoe around the parents of a bunch of little kids, Carter - or around an old friend," JJ teased tiredly, "Is that for us?"

"It's for the team, yeah," Carter grimaced, setting the note on a nearby table, "I was just saying goodbye; writing my will... 'cause I don't know if Leon, Helena and I are going to make it back from this."

"Back from what?" Elle asked from in her chair nearby, "We're just putting Deborah in the Cryo Chamber until an antidote's found to the C-Virus, right?"

"That's the first part, yes," Carter admitted, realizing his teammates had all pulled one over on him - indeed, they were probably all at least partially faking sleep the whole time, "But when it's done, Leon, Helena and I have to get a fresh change of clothes, clean our gear, get what sleep we can. Then, we're going to China - the city of Waiyip, to be exact; it's in Lanshiang. There's an outbreak there, no doubt caused by the same Neo-Umbrella bastards that poisoned Deborah, and since our enemy is headed there anyway, we're going in."

"What is this enemy you keep talking about?" Prentiss asked, "Neo-Umbrella?"

"The enemy is Simmons," Helena ground out from in the booth of chairs Carter had left. Carter pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed; he loved Helena - impulsiveness and all - so very much, but there were moments he wished she looked before leaping...

"Hotch, you up?" the young profiler asked his Unit Chief. Said Unit Chief's ineloquent grunt of affirmation as he shook himself awake prompted Carter to ask another question.

"Tell me you had this thing swept for bugs before picking us up?"

"Plane, offices and bullpen every payday since the Ian Doyle case," Hotch replied tiredly, "It's been clean the whole time between then and now. Why?"

"Just wanted to be sure, boss," Carter nodded, "Okay guys, brass tacks. According to data I've found over the course of all this crap - and only just got to read - Neo-Umbrella is a rogue organization, created by Derek C. Simmons' own organization, The Family. Specifically, The Family's former chief scientist, Carla Radames, was the one who made Neo-Umbrella. Simmons... he's responsible for so much ruin over the years. According to files I found, he was the one who pushed for Raccoon City's decimation fifteen years ago. Recently, he used Carla as a test subject in something called Project Ada; apparently it wrecked her life fairly recently, so she's decided to seek revenge. He purposefully created the Tall Oaks disaster that killed my father and the President... and he poisoned Deborah with the C-Virus; his goons injected her personally, out of perverse desire to see what would happen. For three days before that, Simmons held Deborah and Helena hostage, and threatened to harm Deborah if Helena didn't cooperate. He extorted them... coerced Helena into creating the hole in the presidential entourage that allowed the attack on Tall Oaks to harm President Benford. It gets worse, too - Simmons has somehow framed all three of us for the crime."

All the BAU staff sat up and took notice at the last accusation.

"What!?" Gideon growled - actually growled, to Carter's surprise.

"The National Security Advisor?" Garcia squeaked, "Why?"

"What would he have to gain from killing the President, of all people?" Rossi asked in disbelief.

"No idea, guys," Carter grimaced, "No idea at all. But it was him who did all this; Deborah and Helena are both witnesses to that. The President was going to reveal the U.S. Government's part in the Raccoon City Incident. Apparently, the U.S. Government was in cahoots with Umbrella for years before the incident, buying bioweapons from them and quietly supporting the company - President Benford was going to reveal that truth at Ivy University; he wanted to come clean, and start working with the rest of the world to fight bioterrorism on a truly global scale, using not just any one organization but every fighting resource the world has available. Mossad, NCIS, Scotland Yard, the military, average everyday LEOs - you name the organization and he very likely had a plan in place for it to help the fight against bioterrorism. Dad and I were invited as backup to Leon, Helena and the presidential entourage both as guards and presenters. We had a civilian survival kit assembled, and a speech that we were going to present to the public promoting bioterrorism survival methods. The kit was assembled based on dad's experiences in Raccoon combined with the survival skills we learned afterwards; it was lost in the chaos of the initial attack - though there are blueprints at my condo and dad's place - and we never did get to give the speech... before everything went down."

Deborah, now as awake as everyone else on the jet, winced at the pain lacing her best friend's words at that last statement; gleams of sympathy flashed through the eyes of Carter's female teammates as well... while guilt flared up within Helena. When Carter looked at her in curiosity upon sensing that emotion, the Secret Service Agent looked away, shoulders shaking; Carter inwardly noted the reaction, his inner profiler banging at the door.

Something was wrong with Helena...

Derek Morgan, on the other hand, decided to let actions speak for him; standing tall, he walked towards his unofficial youngest brother and pulled him into a hug, waterlogged clothing and all.

"Your dad was tough," Morgan murmured into Carter's ear, "He went out fighting... just like my old man."

"It's not the same, man; I was right there, and I'm a grown ass adult... I should've been able to save him," Carter snarled, "I'm his son, goddammit!"

"And your father was a Marine!" Morgan retorted, pulling back to look his youngest 'brother' in the eye, "He died doing his duty to his overall C.O., his country and - most importantly of all - his son; there is no better way for a man like that to go. He wouldn't blame you, Carter - so stop blaming yourself!"

As Carter straightened himself out once more, five people on that jet - Jason Gideon, Leon Kennedy, Jennifer Jareau and the Harper sisters - knew better than anyone, from cold and painful experiences of their own... it wouldn't be so easy to let go of that guilt. Not until the situation was resolved, and the enemy involved was defeated.

The young Special Agent cleared his throat as Agent Morgan let him go completely.

"Any other questions, guys?" Carter asked.

"If you're headed to China," Prentiss asked, "Is there any way we can help you? Logistics, information, anything?"

"Can we come with you?" Elle added, "Safety in numbers, right?"

"Absolutely not, Elle!" Carter shot Elle's question down flat, "The more infectees going into an outbreak, the greater the risk; Leon can vouch for that, he's been in more outbreaks than anyone I know. Besides, your family would kill me faster than the C-Virus if you went out there and got infected - and I couldn't take you guys in there anyway; you're my family, and you've got your kids to think of. If dad couldn't survive the C-Virus... how can I ask you to try? How can I take you into that shithole and expect you to survive if he couldn't? Simmons has to be stopped - but not at the price of losing your lives. You could probably have Garcia link up with Hunnigan for logistical support; anything the two of them can't find isn't worth finding... but you can't come with us. Hunnigan faked our deaths, remember... and even if she hadn't, in almost every sense we are already dead."

"First: You're not dead yet, Carter - you're standing right here. And second: you're not taking anyone," Rossi retorted, "We're volunteering."

"And the BAU has already received its one warning from Congress regarding rogue FBI elements; I've seen the files on the bullshit hearing that went down 'cause of that Cramer guy," Carter shot back, "I won't let you risk your careers - and a jail term - for us; the Division of Security Operations is probably taking enough heat as it is with its first founding member a suspect in this crap!"

"That would be me," Leon grunted before anyone could ask for specifics.

"We'll take that risk, Carter," Zoe replied, "It's worth it - because we're doing it for our friends. For you, the Harpers and Leon... for your dad, and the President."

"We'll split up," Ashley suggested, "Some of us will stay and continue to work BAU cases, some of us will go with you to China; whoever stays in Quantico can cover for those who leave, and Garcia can help us all from her lair."

"I told you before, Carter," JJ placed a hand on the young Agent's shoulder, causing him to look into her deep blue eyes out of habit... and wilt as he saw the fire in those same eyes, "If you and Helena are involved it doesn't matter where you go or what you're doing - we're coming with you. You might be right; maybe we can't all follow you, but at least some of us can stand by your side in that nightmare."

"As a team we've got Director Fickler's blessing," Gideon revealed, "To use our best judgment in this matter; this is you we're talking about, after all. You're the FBI's star Academy graduate of the last several years, and the closest Jack or I have to a grandson. You've set records as an Academy student alone; you're our MVP," the Section Chief added, to Carter's visible shock, "so we are taking every precaution. Since they're friends of yours and former teammates of ours, Agents Hawkes and Seaver have been temporarily reassigned to the BAU for the duration, and for my part, as BAU Section Chief I'm not about to let one of the most promising rookie profilers my team has go on a suicide run with minimal backup - even if that backup is a promising Secret Service Agent and one of the rare Raccoon City Survivors."

"If Jack Fickler's backing you up on this," Leon admitted wryly, having met the FBI Director on multiple occasions over the years, "Who are we to say no to any help from him or you?"

Carter sighed in aggravation... but after sharp looks from Leon and JJ, wilted under his older teammates' assault, sagging into the nearest empty chair.

"Okay, fine," the young survivalist growled, "You guys win - but only to a point. You're not all coming with; I stand by what I said before, it's too big of a risk to take everyone into the hot zone."

"In that," Leon agreed, "Carter's argument is sound - risking a major increase in the number of infectees is suicidal, especially if it's you."

"What's the plan, then?" Agent Hotchner asked, to Carter's surprise.

"Sir?" Carter gaped.

"You and Agent Kennedy are the survival experts here, Carter," Gideon conceded, "You're the experts - you set the rules."

"In that case," Leon interjected, "We'll need the strongest backup available in the smallest group possible. One person off of your team would be ideal; two at the most, but whoever's coming with us must have the best balance of combat experience, shooting skill and physical and mental ability. Any ideas, Carter? These are your teammates; you know their skills the best."

"Accounting for those restrictions," Carter mused, "Emily, JJ and Derek are the all-around muscle here; prime physical and mental condition, deadly shots and kickass physical combat skill; granted, none of the others are slouches either - Reid especially could run circles around any of us in the brains department - but those three are at their all-around prime. Emily, however, has skills that are more useful to the BAU than us right now, and Derek's got classes to teach; nobody teaches self-defense like Derek Morgan, so..." Carter trailed off as he did some hasty mental math, at the same time recalling his teammates' individual strengths, "Ashley, you want to help out?"

"Whatever it takes to back you up, Carter," Agent Seaver replied, "I'm prepared to do. So is Zoe - we talked about it while coming to get you."

"We're all prepared, Carter - even our kids know you're going to fight the bad guys... and win," Hotch added, "But one way or another, we're all helping you in this."

"I know, boss - but China's gonna be hell on Earth. It'll only just tie with the tsunami in Japan for nightmare fuel, and it'll put Tall Oaks, Raccoon City... every disaster in the last forty years bar Chernobyl and its nuclear ilk to absolute shame. The best way a lot of you can help is by staying in Quantico and doing what you do best; that includes you and Zoe, Ashley - besides, it's easier to cover one absence than twelve." Carter replied, "So here's the deal. We'll make this a team of four in all; the three of us... and JJ."

The former media liaison looked at Carter in surprise.

"You've been my friend, a good friend, since before I even knew about the BAU," the young adult replied softly, but clearly - clearly enough that the whole team could hear him, "And you've been friends with Helena since before that. The BAU can't all come with, so I want you with us - not just for old times' sake, not just because I've missed you every bit as much as the Harpers, not just because we're gonna need a moral compass out there, but because I've seen your strength of mind and body; strength we'll need like never before... so you're with us to gear up after we get Deborah into Cryo."

JJ nodded, understanding Carter's strategy; she had the skills required for the mission (strong hand-to-hand combat training, deadly gun skills, brains, muscle and agility to spare) and her skills wouldn't be missed too much by the team.

"Just like old times, Carter." she smiled, getting a chuckle from the younger Agent.

"The Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance - BSAA for short - is already in China in force as well; we'll get additional backup from their squadrons, including one of their original founding members if my Intel's right." Carter continued.

"But how will we get to Lanshiang?" JJ asked, "Director Fickler didn't grant permission to reroute the jet to China."

"No surprise there," Carter chuckled, "There's no way to know if faking our deaths fooled Simmons completely - so either way, we'd probably have to crash this thing in the middle of the province just to get involved... and Gulfstreams are damn expensive, ya know. Best to contact Hunnigan when we're ready, see about finding another way - and hope that Simmons doesn't notice us on his ass until it's too late."

"We'll get Deborah to safety after we get to Quantico; JJ, if you really want to help us then take the afternoon to get your affairs in order... because to hopefully maintain the element of surprise, we'll likely have to temporarily fake your death too." Leon interjected, "Once Deborah's safe the four of us can gear up, contact Hunnigan, and head out on a flight supplied by the DSO."

"On that front, Garcia and I can cover you on any expenses," Rossi offered, "She can get you on the quickest flight available, timed perfectly to account for when you're ready to go; I'll foot the bill - if one exists."

"Rossi..." Carter gaped, "Thank you. Both of you."

"Just stop this monster and come home," Garcia replied, "For all of us."

"But won't you get in trouble for helping 'escaped fugitives'?" Helena asked.

"Jack and I are more than capable of holding off any heat that comes down on the BAU over this." Gideon replied, "And we'll cover JJ's absence too."

"Don't worry about us, Agent Harper; the BAU has handled politics before," Agent Hotchner added, a wry grin ghosting over his face, "Anyone who fights Agent Gideon on that front is in for hell - but Gideon and the Director?"

"They'd be better off committing suicide, Hotch," Carter chuckled, "It'd be more humane. Ask Jim Wells - he went up against Gideon, Fickler and Hotch all at once... lost horribly, so the story goes."

"Point taken," Helena smirked as the BAU shared a collective chuckle; ex-Attorney General Jim Wells of La Plata County, Colorado, had gotten into a pissing match with the BAU before Carter joined the team. Wells had hoped to run for Governor of Colorado, but in going against the BAU during a hostage situation he lost... badly, and reportedly was still needing defense attorneys regarding his unscrupulous, questionable political and personal methods. Out of the corner of her eye, Helena saw a confident smirk on Jason Gideon's face and threw a grin the older man's way, receiving a smile in return.

"Rebecca going to be able to help with watching your kids, Doc?" Carter asked Spencer as the laughter died down, "I know you'll be busy with JJ helping us."

"Between Rebecca, Haley, and those of us remaining at the BAU," Reid smiled, "We'll be okay. They might not like the short notice, but better them watching the kids than a stranger if a case comes up."

"Your friend in Field Operations Support, Ingrid Hunnigan, contacted us as we came to get you," Elle interjected towards Leon and Helena, "She's sending fresh clothing for you both via air-drop; it should be at Quantico by morning. She thought it best to send it to Carter's address, given the circumstances."

"Hunnigan contacted you guys?" Leon asked in surprise.

"Sweet - we might have a chance after all," Carter grinned, "Garcia, when you get back to your lair call her back and coordinate with her. Between the both of you a way to China should be covered, and once we arrive you'll be able to give us all the intelligence support we need."

"That sounds great," Leon smiled faintly as the flamboyant tech goddess nodded, "But what'll we do for sleeping arrangements tonight, once everything's settled?"

"I'm staying with Carter," Helena replied in a tone that dared anyone to challenge her decision. No one said a word in response, though Deborah did grip Helena's hand in silent support.

"Leon, you're welcome to take a room at the mansion - there's at least three spare guest rooms to choose from," Rossi offered, "Or you can room with one of the others."

"Actually," Carter chuckled, "I've got a few extra air mattresses set up already at the apartment; was going to invite some friends to crash after the Tall Oaks mess, but... anyway, Ashley, Zoe, Leon, Helena; if you're willing, we can make it a sleepover of sorts. I'd offer the rest of you the same, particularly JJ - because it's been years since she and I hung out for more than a day at a time outside of work," he added wryly upon noticing the confused expressions on the group's faces, "But my condo's not big enough for an 18-person sleepover plus kids... and I'm sure JJ and the rest of you have better sleeping arrangements anyway."

Once again, chuckles came from most of the Agents onboard. Especially since Carter was right; they did have better sleeping arrangements. Deborah and Helena both grinned at Carter, who grinned back in return.

"Listen," the young survivalist explained as his grin faded, "Except for Garcia - who we all know belongs in her Batcave for situations like this - I would love nothing more than to be 100% wrong about the risk of taking you guys to Lanshiang. I would love nothing more than to throw caution to the wind and bring every last one of you with us; I know you can all hold up under a great deal of pressure because I've seen the evidence time and again, from eight years ago until mere hours ago. But you're too important to completely risk on this... the BAU is too important."

"Then why do you have to go at all?" Zoe asked softly, "You're important too, Carter; I thought you knew that by now."

"Dammit, Myers," Ashley added, heat lacing her voice, "You set records as a Cadet. You inspired us all, lead our Academy class to becoming the best we could be all-around when there were people who wanted to quit after day one - why are you going on a suicide run that, on the surface, flies in the face of everything we've been training together for!?"

"It's because of us," Deborah replied from beside Helena, "My sister and I."

Helena, taking over from Deborah as the latter sipped from Carter's canteen, launched into a basic summary of the past twelve years; how she, Deborah, and their mother - a tomboy like them - moved to East Allegheny, and then years later moved states again because they couldn't comprehend how their best friends (JJ and her family) could push them away in the wake of the suicide of JJ's older sister. How the two young girls had, after moving to Indiana, met and befriended a stone-cold, fiercely disciplined Carter Myers and gained a father figure in Frank Myers... how that friendship between the trio and their parents helped both families as it rapidly grew and evolved over the 18-month period they'd lived in the same city; the Harper family's reconnection with (and forgiveness of) JJ and her family when Wes Johnson, Carter's cousin, called the young survivalist to East Allegheny six months into that time period, in order to help prevent JJ herself from burning out; each and every adventure the Harper and Myers families had over the twelve-month time period afterwards... until Helena and Deborah's mother had been forcibly transferred to another location by the company she worked for, forcing the two families to part ways.

Interjecting here and there with bits and pieces of their own history, Carter and JJ came to epiphanies; Carter came to realize just how important the Harper sisters (and to a lesser extent, JJ herself) were to him; how important they and the BAU considered Carter in return, and the great lengths they'd go to for one another. Lengths to which the Harpers and Carter had already gone for each other during the Tall Oaks disaster... the same lengths to which JJ was going for Carter now, by unhesitatingly leaving her BAU family behind for a brief time to back he and Helena in battle.

JJ herself realized that which her actions had shown all along; just as Helena and Deborah were younger sisters to her, Carter was her brother... not bound to her by blood, but by friendship, bravery and love - just like the Harpers. The Media Liaison-turned profiler promised herself that she would not let her family down... there was too much at risk. Deborah, the Quad-Core's little sister, was infected with a new virus courtesy of the National Security Advisor; a fact that made JJ's teeth clench with rage... but thanks to Carter, there was an opportunity to avenge that - even stop it cold.

"So you guys are close like siblings and fiercely protective of each other - we get it, believe me. What is this China trip, then; a mission of revenge?" Morgan asked, "You're gonna kill the guy who had his goons infected your girlfriend and extort your sister?"

"That's not how we do things, Carter," Hotch added sharply.

"Then it's a good thing I'm not entirely on a mission of revenge, Hotch," Carter replied with equal heat, "I'm on a mission to bring back the Bureau's good name, and help stop Simmons from using the C-Virus anywhere besides where it's already hit. If that means gunning him down, so mote it be; we've hit the point multiple times where we've had to shoot an unsub, as I recall. Remember, boss, Simmons didn't just frame Leon and Helena; he framed me too - and any evidence it was him who did all this was torched in Tall Oaks. China's the only way we can find evidence to clear our names... though I won't deny wanting to gut that bastard like a bass for causing the ruin he has."

"By framing you," Gideon mused, "He's casting a light of suspicion on the entire Bureau, especially if this news gets out to the public; in their eyes, if a treasured soldier's son, a disciplined fighter and survivalist turned star FBI Agent can commit an act of bioterrorism, then no one in the Bureau can be trusted. Every division in the FBI will be regarded with more suspicion than we already are... everyone will be affected."

"Affected be damned," Rossi added, his voice laced with shock, "We'll all be out of a job. The Bureau will be destroyed slowly and painfully if this gets out without you three clearing your names."

"And the same logic applies to the Secret Service and the DSO," Leon added darkly, "Even the CIA to a lesser extent."

"I was a CIA Agent once... one of seven considered for recruitment into the Department of Security Operations," Helena revealed with a sigh, "Until I fucked up. My superiors transferred me to the Service as a result, in an effort to set me up to fail... from a certain point of view, it could be said that the transfer was the start of all this. If someone with authority subscribes to that point of view, Simmons' framing of the three of us could result in the eventual collapse of every single major law enforcement agency in the U.S. - because no one will trust us."

Deborah looked at her sister with wide eyes.

"You mean that...?"

"The Family could destroy this world anyway - which according to their files is counter to their actual goals; they just want to keep the U.S. stable at the top of the food chain." Carter grimaced, "Guess they didn't realize terrorism is a destabilizing agent."

"Let me guess," JJ deadpanned, able to read Carter more than adequately after twelve years of friendship, "They do their 'job' by any means necessary including the illegal, right? In order to keep their riches and resources?"

"Exactly, JJ. According to the twelve flash drives that I've picked up on our journey so far, they're a real piece of work in regards to getting that done. Stupid," the young agent added, "in that they even left this info unattended in the goddamn apocalypse for anyone to find, but still a piece of work. I don't know how, but the information on these drives..."

"What is it, Carter?" Hotch asked, noticing his newest teammate/friend's confused and distressed expression.

"Garcia," Carter asked the tech analyst, "You're the tech goddess here; is there any way for information on a flash drive to update itself?"

"Self-updating...?! None that I've ever heard of," Garcia replied in shock.

"Well, somebody found a way," Carter replied sardonically, "Someone very tech-savvy. That or there's so much information on these drives even the Bureau's technology can't process it fast enough - and personally, I'm hoping for the latter, because the former would be kind of a scary thought. Information on flash drives that could be updated from an external source besides where it's connected, while it's connected? A good hacker lacking Garcia's ethics could use that to send anything to any device that drive came in contact with... I'll have to replace my iPad, just to be safe."

"What's on the drives, Carter?" Elle asked.

"Information galore, Elle," Carter smiled faintly, "Nothing to clear our names, but plenty to prove The Family's existence, Simmons' leadership of that group, their methods, the reasons for those methods, and so much more... and even their efforts to infect Deborah. Gonna have to keep these drives safe, though; even if it won't clear the three of us, this is critical information that will come in handy later on."

"I'll hang onto the drives after you leave; toss them in my lair under lock and key," Garcia volunteered, "Maybe I can sort the information out for you while we all work."

"Anyone who can break into Baby Girl's lair..." Morgan added wryly, "We'll have a lot more to worry about than some ancient fraternity's data if someone successfully beats Garcia's security."

"Dude, if Garcia's lair is broken into we're all fucked!" Carter lamented dramatically, "There's God-knows-what in there that enemies could use."

Garcia blushed; the rest had a good laugh.

"Anyway, if you could hang onto these, PG," Carter disconnected the flash drive from his iPad and set all twelve of the matching drives on key rings, which he hooked onto a spare carabiner, "We'd all greatly appreciate it."

"I'll keep them safe - you have my word," Garcia promised, gripping the drive collection in one hand before sealing it in a section of her purse.

"Thank you," Helena nodded with a smile.

"How long until we land?" Leon asked Hotch.

"We've got a couple hours left, Leon." Hotch replied.

Carter sighed, a dark expression clouding his face as he remembered what'd be happening upon their landing. The others then remembered as well... Deborah would be taken to the C.C. and put on ice, to halt the virus in her system until a cure was found. As that realization took root, Carter - apparently moving on autopilot - walked towards Deborah, took her hand, and guided her to the couch at the back of the plane; Helena followed, and neither Leon nor JJ stopped her. As Reid prepared to object - the couch being his and JJ's traditional sleeping site since they began dating with the team's knowledge - JJ shot him a sharp look before turning to Morgan.

"You think we'll find a cure out there for the C-Virus?" JJ asked softly.

"We've got to," Morgan rumbled, "I don't know if Carter will survive otherwise... he and Deborah are like you and Pretty Boy; in love to such a ridiculously sweet degree it almost gives ya cavities. That love gives him great strength just like it does for the rest of us couples, but right now it's his greatest weakness."

Morgan winced as JJ elbowed him in the gut none-too-gently.

"It's sweet, Morgan," JJ retorted softly, "He fought tooth and nail for twelve years to get the chance to see her and Helena again, to back them up in battles that they all trained long and hard to fight; while he was still training, the day I turned 17 he and his cousin Wes - two of the only true friends I had back then - came to my place, dragged me away from my schoolwork and kept me from working myself to death over my sister's suicide; all the memories of that day came back to haunt me at once... the anniversary of my sister's suicide was hell, but Wes and Carter both made that day special just the same," the Pennsylvania Petite revealed, "and even though the Harper sisters didn't join the fun that Carter helped create for me, both of them - the only sisters I've got left besides in-laws - have fought just as long and just as hard to get back together with him. Now Deborah's fighting to stay alive... to beat the C-Virus and be with both the people she loves."

"Yeah, but the C-Virus is gonna split Deborah apart from Helena and Carter again. If it's temporary, that's fine; it'll be something for us all to look forward to. But if it's permanent..." Morgan shot back, "A person can only handle so much, JJ; even Carter."

"Maybe, but whatever happens he'll be okay; he's got us, after all. Leon, Helena and I will be with him every step of the way in China as the cure is found and Simmons is stopped - and I'm certain the rest of us will be there for life after that," JJ replied confidently, "I've got faith in him given that fact. Don't you?"

Given his history - especially regarding faith - Supervisory Special Agent Derek Morgan had no answer to that question.

Meanwhile, Carter and the Harpers were having a quiet private conversation of their own... or trying to, at least. They were on a jet with eleven other Agents, after all, most of them trained in profiling.

"I could be on ice for awhile, you know," Deborah murmured.

"Don't you say that!" Carter hissed sharply, "We'll find a cure for you, Deborah... a way to beat this thing for good."

"But if you don't..." Deborah gulped, taking another swig of water from Carter's canteen, "I don't want you two to hold onto me forever if a cure isn't found. Find someone to love; live your lives, keep fighting the bad guys, keep being all you can... please, do it for me."

The two Agents shared a teary-eyed look... and as a familiar surge pooled in their bellies, they joined hands and nodded.

"This goes entirely too far against our better judgement, Deb... you know that, right?" Carter asked, his voice husky with unshed tears.

At Deborah's nod, Helena continued, her own voice tense with pain.

"We both want you to live, Deborah... live with us, live the life we were all denied twelve years ago. But if you're right and you're on ice forever... then we'll do it. We'll keep on living, for you."

An equally teary-eyed Deborah broke down, and crushed the two people she loved the most in a three-way hug.

"I love you both... so much!" Deborah sobbed.

"As we love you, Deborah..." Carter gasped through his own tears.

"We might live our lives, but we won't give up on you - do you hear me?" Helena growled as tears fell from her own eyes, "We'll find a cure; whatever it takes!"

"But...!"

"No!" Helena glared at her sister, "Giving up on you is not something we're ever going to do! Not us, and definitely not Carter's team!"

"...Thank you..." Deborah smiled through her tears.

"I promise you, Deborah," Helena added, "No more tears... not from me."

"Or me," Carter nodded as he wiped Deborah's tears away, "Not until Simmons is gone - not until we've avenged this... not until you're cured, and we have our lives back."

With that, the trio's not-quite-private conversation was over... and as JJ and Reid moved to sit with them, the bonds between the BAU and the DSO solidified that much more. Spencer Reid's own brown eyes met the fluctuating hazel/brown orbs of the Harper sisters as he exchanged nods with them both... and then the Harper sisters felt more eyes on them, and turned towards Derek Morgan, who had moved to stand beside them.

"The team might not be going with you in full, Helena," Derek rumbled, "But JJ is, and so is Carter. Through them, if you remember nothing else, remember this; you're one of us now... you're part of the BAU family, every bit as much as Seaver and Hawkes. I know JJ; I trained her in hand-to-hand myself - she'll be doing everything in her power to back you up in China... and Deborah, whether you're on ice or not after tomorrow we'll all do the same for you and Helena. When this is all over, all either one of you have to do is say the word... and at least one of us will drop everything and come help you in whatever challenge lies ahead. If you're really lucky, we'll all help out."

"Thanks, Agent Morgan," Helena smiled faintly.

"Derek," the explosives expert retorted gently, "My name's Derek. Hell, given that my first name's the same as your enemy's right now, at least drop the Agent bit and call me Morgan; there's no need for formalities between friends when we're not in the field. That goes for everyone you've met here today... both of you."

Carter grinned faintly.

"Just don't call Hotch or Gideon by their first names too much," the young agent chuckled, "You might get glared at."

"Private men?" Deborah asked, amusement lacing her voice.

"Intensely," Morgan rumbled. Carter smirked.

"So was I... and so was dad. These two," the young survivalist jerked a thumb at the Harper sisters, "They fixed that fast."

Placing a firm hand on Deborah's shoulder, Carter smiled at his quasi-girlfriend and kissed her on the cheek before leaving her in Helena's capable hands and going to talk with JJ as Morgan talked with the Harper sisters.

With that, the BAU had officially joined the fight against bioterrorism... and as Carter and Leon briefed JJ and the BAU on what was needed in order to survive in an outbreak, allowing JJ to plan out what gear she would need to aid her closest friends, the senior Agents of the group - Hotch, Rossi, Gideon, and Leon - looked at their newest teammate with pride.

As much as JJ, Seaver and Hawkes were becoming excellent profilers and Agents, and the BAU's newest friends were an amazing team, Carter was becoming an equally great leader. It bode well for the future... if they all survived what was to come.

(Two hours later, BAU Headquarters, Quantico)

"I'd hoped using this would never be necessary." Gideon grimaced.

"Unfortunately," FBI Director Jack Fickler murmured, "the Cryo Chamber is all too necessary... thanks to Umbrella."

The Director inserted a key card into a slot beneath the floor selection keypad. Inserting that card revealed a scan-pad, onto which the older bald Agent placed his hand. Once his palm print and fingerprints were confirmed, the Director pushed a button; the first elevator, containing Leon, Carter, the Harper sisters, JJ, Gideon, and Director Fickler, went down... and stopped at a hidden floor.

"Jason, Carter, Leon, Agent Jareau, Agent Morgan, Helena, and Deborah," Director Fickler spoke, his voice all business, "What you're about to see is classified tier-one. Outside of your respective teams and each other, no one may know about this place. Understood?"

"Understood," Deborah nodded firmly. Recent events being what they were, she fully intended to join the FBI - specifically, the BAU - one day once her situation was resolved; the younger Harper sister knew that doing so meant keeping secrets... and was grateful that the only friends she had left would be able to hear those secrets.

"We'll keep the secret, sir," Helena nodded.

"No unnecessary personnel will know," Leon confirmed.

Gideon and JJ nodded to the Director, which was good enough for him - but Carter did one better.

Extending his unused hand to Director Fickler (the other arm being used to support Deborah, who had begun to feel fatigued), Carter looked his superior in the eye and made a vow.

"On my honor as an FBI Agent... this secret will not be divulged beyond need-to-know, sir. Not by my friends, and especially not by me."

A stiff smile crossed Jack Fickler's face for the first time in months, as he shook Carter's hand.

"Thank you, Agent Myers."

"Carter..." Deborah gulped, drinking the last of the canteen before handing it back to her beloved, "Helena..."

"We're here, Deborah," Helena murmured as Director Fickler opened the doors, "Don't be afraid."

"I'm not," Deborah retorted, her voice laced with calm, sensual confidence, "I just want you two to know something... I know you're blaming yourselves for what happened to me - don't! Blame the one who infected me - hell, blame the one who made the C-Virus, but don't blame yourselves; I certainly don't blame you! You didn't do this!"

"But I assisted in the-" Helena started.

"No, Helena!" Deborah retorted firmly, "Simmons, his goons... they used me as bait to get you to do what they wanted; that's extortion, not assistance! And you," Deborah looked Carter in the eye, "In all the years I've known you, you've been a hero... my hero. You've fought side by side with your dad all your life for truth, justice and the American way; you fought to save our closest friend from burnout, fought harder than anyone I've ever known so that the four of us could all meet again - don't stop fighting now! This isn't over; a cure's out there! Believe that, Carter Myers, and we will meet again."

Deborah turned so she stood front of Carter, and placed a hand on his cheek.

"I don't care how long it takes... I will see you again."

Throwing caution to the wind, she kissed him on the lips... the first true kiss that the two had ever shared. Absent the fact Deborah's body pressed flush against Carter's during the kiss, revealing to him that his childhood crush was all woman after twelve years apart, there was no visible passion; but unknown to the other Agents (who looked away as Deborah and Carter pressed against one another), that kiss would still change Carter's life forever.

Unknown to anyone, naturally-formed antibodies in Deborah's DNA - similar to those in others who'd survived infection during viral outbreaks - had been created all that time through a combination of two factors: the herb-boosted water that Deborah had been drinking... and the younger Harper's astonishing natural resistance to the C-Virus. Those antibodies were a part of her genetic structure by the time she kissed Carter, and also a part of every cell her body created... so as the kiss grew more intense, and Deborah's tongue poked into Carter's mouth to dance with his own, shards of her DNA transferred between her body and Carter's... the both of them wishing that their kiss could last forever; that they could stay in that moment.

As Deborah slowly pulled away from Carter - who was stunned at what his childhood love had just done - she hugged Helena, JJ, and even Leon, kissing each of them on the cheek - and subsequently transferring the antibodies to them as well, albeit in a much lesser volume. Over the next day, the antibodies would grow and evolve, equalizing in volume between the four Agents as they merged with each of their individual genetic structures, granting them an increase in strength and stamina - as well as a similar degree of resistance to the C-Virus as Deborah already possessed. Little did any of them know that that strength and resistance would improve exponentially over time as they kept up their skills... and in the process, that power would save the group going to China.

It wouldn't make a viable vaccine - not on its own. However, it would help them survive... and even help save the world.

"Take care of each other... all of you," Deborah ordered the four Agents that made up the China group, "And Agent Gideon, Director Fickler, take care of yourselves and the team... Carter's going to need you guys."

JJ, Fickler and Gideon nodded.

"Helena, Carter..." Deborah continued, "Remember, I don't blame you - so stop blaming yourselves. Get yourselves out there, finish Simmons, clear your names and get home in one piece, ok?"

Carter nodded, "We'll keep the core safe, Deborah... you just rest well. We'll be back soon."

As Deborah sat on a stretcher and was sedated by a medic, she held Carter's hand... and as the rest of the BAU came into the waiting room, they saw JJ sink into a plush chair nearby, her eyes haunted and dark... and a stoic group of Agents following Deborah, the Director and the medic into another room.

"Carter!" Ashley and Zoe cried, moving to run after their friend as Reid rushed to comfort JJ; the two youngest female Agents in the group ended up being stopped by Morgan and Prentiss as Unit Chief Hotchner followed in Gideon's wake; protocol demanded that the heads of any team needing to use the Cryo Chamber not only escort the affected person(s) down, but also stay with them as the cryo process began.

"Hey, stop - stop!" Morgan ordered as the two younger women struggled fiercely against the more senior Agents.

"You two can't go in there!" Prentiss added, grimacing as Zoe stepped hard on her foot.

"But he needs us!" Ashley retorted.

"What he needs," Morgan replied, "is time to say his goodbyes - there's no way to know if a cure will be found for Deborah!"

"But-"

"Imagine if it were you," Prentiss added, "Bad enough Carter's got to put the woman he loves on ice - but to have his newest friends and his bosses there as he does it..."

"He'll be crushed," Zoe gasped, "and he'll try to hide it. He wouldn't want his bosses around to see him break down, even over this - who would?"

"But we're not just his coworkers; we're his friends, his family - he said so himself!" Ashley objected, "None of us would abandon him because of a few tears!"

"He's had friends and family bail on him because of less, Ashley," Morgan grimaced, "His own mother tried to brainwash her beliefs into him and his father for over a decade regardless of their wishes; Helena and Deborah were pulled away from him because of a job their mother had at the time, and the Pennsylvania Petite right there? The one and only time she ever laid a finger on Carter before FBI sparring matches was when they were kids, because he and his cousin Wes tried ridiculously hard to keep her from burnout - and these are his three closest friends we're talking about, closer than any of the rest of us... except maybe you two. The fact that the three of you went separate ways after the Academy probably made it worse; in his mind, if close friends can hurt and abandon him..."

"Then anyone could," Zoe realized, ceasing her struggles instantly as her eyes filled with tears; the thought of her good friend being hurt like that almost made her break down completely, "Oh my god... Carter..."

"We have to help him," Ashley added softly, her voice husky with pain, "Zoe, he has to know we're not gonna bail - we've got to make him see he's wrong; that we're not going anywhere!"

"We will," Zoe nodded, shame transforming into confidence, "We've got to."

And as Leon, Helena and Carter came out of the C.C. proper, each of them was hugged by an FBI Agent; JJ hugged Carter after noticing he'd come back, Ashley and Helena (who had connected surprisingly well for a first meeting) exchanged bear hugs as well, and a tearful Zoe - who Leon imagined could've passed for Claire's sister or daughter - hugged the former RPD officer.

As promises were made by the others to watch over Carter, JJ simply held onto her unofficial little brother as he fought to regain control.

(Earlier, inside the C.C.)

"I'll miss you, Debbie..." Carter murmured, looking at the sole active cryo-pod in the massive underground room as he fought back the urge to place his hand on it, "Rest well... I love you."

"We'll get you home in no time at all, Deborah... Carter and I will see you again, with a cure - and without Simmons haunting us." Helena added softly, taking Carter's shaky right hand in her left; knowing that he'd lose his inner battle if she didn't.

"Rest easy, my friend," Leon finished, "We'll be back soon - with your ticket out of here."

As the three remaining (uninfected) Tall Oaks survivors exited the room, Hotch stepped towards the cryo unit... and with Jason Gideon as his sole witness, gave his own speech.

"I don't know if you could hear them... hell, let's be honest - I don't even know if you can hear me," Hotch sighed, "But I hope you're not on ice too long, Deborah... Carter's a good man; the best Agent to join the Bureau in years. No Agent on my team since JJ has analyzed and written up cases so well, or done so much for our team. He's helped us all in large and small ways; he's made a difference, made us happy again... and you make him happy, Deborah Harper. I hope when this is over, you're out of this icebox and making him happy again - and that your wish to join the team becomes reality."

"When you're ready, Miss Harper, and your training is complete," Gideon added softly, "There will be a desk at the BAU, on Hotch's team, with your name on it... you have my word, Jack, Rossi, Hotch and I will make it happen."

The two senior Agents shared a glance... hoping that their faith and the faith of Deborah's friends would come through once again, and that the young woman who had indirectly touched the lives of the entire BAU team for such a brief time would be free of her icy sleep.

After all, for all the good nature and good humor he possessed, Carter had smiled far too little in the months before the Tall Oaks incident, just as Hotch had smiled far too little until the team's individual arch-enemies were all defeated. It took Emily Prentiss the full eight years she'd worked with Hotch, dated, and then married him to pull the more carefree, good-natured and good-humored individual loose around the team.

It was obvious to both profilers - hell, to the whole team! - that the Harper sisters both shared a strong bond with Carter; stronger than anyone currently on the BAU team bar JJ, at least... but with Deborah on ice, and Helena focused almost exclusively on the battle to come, how long would it take for either one of them to make Carter smile again?

As they exited the room - which went dark except for a single glowing cryo chamber upon their departure - Gideon, Hotch, and the BAU team as a whole, prayed it wouldn't be too long. The young man who had come into their lives eight years before, and returned six-and-a-half years after that, had made too much of an impact too quickly to fall to burnout.

Upon exiting the room, though, Hotch and Gideon saw JJ - the only one of the Quad-Core who hadn't gone into the Cryo Chamber proper - holding the young survivalist tightly.

The team could only watch, as the strongest young man they'd seen in a long time, losing the fight to hold onto that strength, mourned for all of his losses. After gaining his trust all over again, the BAU team had learned that for over twenty years Carter had forced himself to be strong, fierce, smart, and controlled; the best he could be in order to survive. At the same time, he'd developed a wicked sense of humor and a strong loyalty to every half-decent boss he'd ever worked with. Those qualities had gotten the attention of Director Fickler; the connections to the BAU, combined with Carter's own merits and skills, got him onto the team years earlier than even the most seasoned of FBI Agents, and the team's bond with Carter, forged years prior, put the young man in their family almost from the beginning... that bond and the resulting environment had made the young Agent better than ever before, and helped him perform almost superhuman feats in his time with the BAU.

However, now the team and Director Fickler had received a sharp reminder. For all of Carter's excellent qualities, for all the experience and knowledge he possessed at his age... like them, he was only human. And in any human, the pain of loss could only be bottled so long before it seeped through the cracks and broke free. Losing seventy thousand souls to a bioterrorism attack, finding his childhood beloved, and then surviving the attack with her and their friends before having to lose her again (however temporary the latter loss might have been) had clearly momentarily fractured whatever control he had left over his emotions.

"JJ..." Carter gasped, "Don't go... n-not again...! Please, I've already lost Deborah - I can't...!"

"I'm here, Carter... Helena and I, we're both here," JJ replied with a mix of soothing calm and fierce determination as her friend cried, "So is Spence. So are Ashley, and Zoe, and the entire damn team including Leon... none of us are going anywhere."

"You've got eleven friends on this team, Carter, for as long as you want us around - counting Leon, Helena and the Red Cells, you've got even more," Zoe murmured into her friend's ear, "We both know that those two and the BAU will back you for life. Some of them might not be here in body right now, but their spirits are always, always with you."

"I promised you I wouldn't leave again," Helena added, her hand caressing Carter's back as she softly spoke into his other ear, "I wouldn't be much of a friend if I broke that promise, would I? You're stuck with me for life, Carter Myers... I'm not leaving again. Not without you; I... if I have anything in common with Deborah at all, it's that I love you too much."

"Helena..." Carter gulped, before he flew from JJ's arms into Helena's... and while whatever he told her was said too low for anyone else to catch, Helena's teary-eyed expression of surprise spoke volumes.

There wasn't a dry eye in the room by then; at that point, as she and Reid held each other, shedding their own tears as they mourned for their friends, a seed of thought entered JJ's mind.

As much as Carter loved Deborah, what the hell were his feelings for Helena? Given his actions, they had to be strong - but was it platonic love... or romantic?

Unfortunately, the only one who could answer that was Carter himself... and that same young man, who had survived struggles and pain unimaginable, had started sobbing into Helena's shirt. Helena, meanwhile, was silently shedding tears herself... wishing she'd been stronger, more able to stop herself and Deborah from being held hostage and manipulated by Simmons.

"We've got to finish this," Leon rumbled, "Do any of you know where Carter's place is?"

"Hotch and I'll take you there," Prentiss replied, "Morgan, Seaver, Hawkes - you with us?"

"Is it really going to take seven people to get into his condo?" Helena asked hesitantly, wiping her tears as the Agents in question nodded.

'I've already wrecked Carter's life with what I've done... now I'm going to compromise his Fortress of Solitude?' Helena grimaced, recalling what her childhood friend had dubbed his home, including the retort that he "damn well [knew] the name's taken; it still sounds cool!"

"Someone's gotta keep an eye on him en route there, Helena, whether he wants it or not; Zoe, Ashley and the both of you are headed there anyway, Hotch and I have to check on our condo," Prentiss replied softly, noticing the distress her suggestion had caused the younger brunette, "And you and Leon need to rest up; you look like hell."

"For my part, the last time I didn't see a teammate home safely..." Hotch grimaced, throwing a sidelong glance in Elle's direction for an instant, "It almost didn't end well. I won't make that mistake again - Agent Myers is a part of this team, and no matter what this team will be kept safe."

"Carter's my brother." Morgan added. That alone explained it all.

With that, Helena nodded as Carter clenched his jaw, slowly blinking the tears away as he got a measure of control back - though it was an unspoken truth within the group that the guilt in Helena's eyes was visible to all, and it'd be up to the exhausted profiler at her side to get to the truth of that matter.

As the group headed back to the elevator, Helena, Leon and most of the BAU stood with their one common ally - FBI Special Agent Carter Franklin Myers - and mourned his loss, their loss, together. Several members of Carter's team/family volunteered to escort him and Helena out in the first elevator ride back up - but in the end, JJ, Reid, Morgan, Leon, Prentiss, Seaver, Hawkes and Hotch walked in an eerie synchronization with the younger duo, the FBI Agents serving as the body of a large square.

JJ and Morgan stood at the front, with Reid between them, Seaver and Hawkes at the sides, and the Hotchner couple at the back. At the core of that square, Helena stood side-by-side with Carter, Leon slightly behind them; the last barriers between Carter and the enemy. Carter's left side was empty.

That gap in the impromptu assembly was meant to represent the group's (currently) lost friend, sister, and beloved, Deborah Harper. Even as the group stopped in front of the elevators to disperse, Carter stood tall; bottling the pain until he could grieve in private, as he'd done multiple times before. Nodding towards the elevator, he let the others go first; each and every teammate gave him a hug, condolences, or a pat on the shoulder; Fickler (in an uncharacteristic show of emotion from the usually stoic man) pulled Carter into a strong hug, and afterwards Hotch and Gideon tousled the short pile of hair on Carter's head, almost as if he really was a son to either man...

...but JJ, Morgan and Helena stayed - after all but pushing Leon, Seaver and Hawkes into the second elevator car with Fickler, Hotch and Prentiss.

"Carter?" JJ asked, seeing the excessive tension in her old friend's body language.

"...Morgan, you were right." Carter ground out through a clenched jaw.

"About what?" the bomb expert asked.

"Why I'm going to China," Carter sighed, "Leon and Helena could easily finish this themselves... but I've never done sitting on my ass."

"You like keeping busy," Morgan nodded, "I understand that."

"It's more than that, though," Carter added, tension rolling off his body in waves, "This crap that Simmons has pulled, it's affected someone I love. It's killed my dad, the President, and over seventy thousand people, and put my girlfriend on ice... for every last one of those souls I can't let that go unanswered. I have to finish this... we all do. Deborah, dad, the President... they must be avenged."

"Then we go together," JJ nodded, placing a hand on Carter's vest-covered shoulder, "Leon, Helena, you and me... all four of us."

Carter hesitated, torn in two by the warring thought processes in his mind and in his heart - processes he hadn't let run during the strategy session on the jet. On the one hand, he wanted JJ with him in the coming challenge every bit as much as he had wanted Helena and Deborah back in his life - but on the other hand...

"JJ... you know I respect you and your skills almost as much as Reid does," Carter gulped, looking his old friend in the eye, "But even with that... dad was the best soldier and survivor I've ever known, and he still died to this nightmare. How can I ask you to risk your life in an environment even he couldn't survive? Helena, Leon and I have nothing to lose anymore - but you've got Reid... the team... and Chloe, Josh and Henry... how can I even consider splitting you from them over a quest for revenge? How can I even think of letting you join in this fool's crusade?"

Morgan tried valiantly to signal his distraught little brother, as did Helena; to no avail as JJ (for the second time since joining the BAU, and the third time since meeting Carter) lost her patience completely, and (with her increased strength since the last time such an incident occurred with Carter), slammed the tired survivor into a wall.

"Ow!" Carter cried as his back and shoulders flared with pain, "JJ, what the hell!?"

"I told you before, Carter Franklin Myers," JJ ground out, her voice low with anger as her eyes lit up with fiery anger, "I don't care how old we are or how long we've been friends; you don't let me do anything. You don't try to protect me, you don't try and wrap me in cotton wool to keep me safe! You're not asking me to do anything, Carter; I'm volunteering for this - volunteering to help you, just like you helped me in Pennsylvania all those years ago!"

"But-"

"No! Don't you get it, Myers!? You're one of the best friends I've ever had outside the team!" JJ continued, "No matter how hard I tried to shut you and Wes out, the both of you kept pushing back ten times as hard - you two kept me from burnout while the whole of East Allegheny waited to see me fail! Now the shoe's on the other foot; now you need my help and you want to shut me out - after you were the one to suggest me going with you at all!?"

"That was a mistake," Carter growled, "I should never have asked you to come with us... not for this. I can't take the chance that you'll go out like my father, JJ... I won't tear apart a family I love or see my sister die. Not over this."

"Dammit, Carter, you loyal, stubborn cuss of a man..." JJ groaned, seeing her friends grimace as well out of the corner of her eye, "You won't be tearing a family apart; you are part of the BAU family! Spence knows how close we are - hell, the whole team knows, and they accept it; they're just as close to you! And the kids, they love you! They're all old enough now that they understand the concept of fighting the bad guys, and that we all help in that fight... that we all go on cases. This is just another case."

"Yeah," Carter snarked darkly, "Just another case... with a psychotic National Security Advisor and a ridiculous B.O.W. presence."

"It's worth the risk for you, Carter," JJ retorted firmly, "Maybe it's not the same - maybe I don't love them like you do, but I still love Deborah and Helena; they're my sisters, not just your friends... and if I can help avenge what happened to them, I will - with my family's blessing, no matter what happens."

"...All right," Carter sighed, "If you're so set on doing this, let's go topside, get our gear set up and catch a few Z's."

With that, JJ released the younger Agent from between her and the wall, pulling him into a hug in the process.

"Don't push us away, Carter... please don't shut us out. We're a family, always - don't throw that away over this."

"I've never had a normal family before," Carter admitted sheepishly as the four headed to the elevator, "What if I mess up, and lose you again?"

"Never going to happen," Morgan retorted, "I mean, yeah, you'll mess up - everybody does. But you will never lose this family, Carter - you're stuck with us for life."

"All of us," Helena added as Carter turned to look at her, "I'll bust my ass to join the Bureau side-by-side with Deborah, if that's what it takes to prove it to you."

Carter grinned tiredly, exhausted from the sheer volume of emotional honesty in the last few hours.

"You guys are... amazing, ya know that?"

"We've heard it a time or two before," JJ teased. Morgan's throat rumbled with (badly stifled) laughter, and Helena grinned at her old friend.

"I remember a certain kid thinking that 'those girls make the sun shine, the moon glow, and my stomach do flip-flops,' or something like that... you did say that to your dad, right? 'Cause Deborah and I both heard you."

"Helena!" Carter groaned, scrubbing a hand over his face as he heard his BAU teammates break down in laughter, "Yes, I did tell dad that - but damn... I didn't know you two heard. That's almost as bad as JJ's battle to get EAS access in LA!"

"Oh yeah," Morgan recalled wryly, "How'd you put it to Hotch, JJ? A 'bureaucratic pile of steaming-'"

"Derek!" JJ shot the older profiler a warning glare even as the group broke down in full-out belly laughter, Carter pulling JJ into another hug.

"They don't mean anything by it," Carter chuckled, "They just want to make me smile again - and they did. Thanks, JJ... for everything."

"Anytime, Carter," JJ grinned, "Now let's gear up and get to your place... we've got a battle to win."

And as Helena, Carter and the BAU linked up again, that's exactly what they began to do.

As she finished the entry and gave Helena back her diary, JJ blinked away tears of pain.

"I barely remember that last incident..." she breathed, "I remember everything else about that mess, but..."

"Your mind probably blocked it out somewhat," Deborah replied softly, "Too much emotional honesty, too much pain to handle... and it has been awhile."

"Even you aren't invincible, JJ; nobody is." Helena added gently, "We all learned that about ourselves in China... especially after meeting Chris Redfield."

The trio sobered at the memories; Deborah had only met the BSAA SpecOps Unit Captain after her stint in Cryo, but thanks to Carter and Frank the Harpers and JJ had known of the battle-hardened ex-cop and soldier by reputation, culminating in an encounter between the four Agents, Chris himself, and his second-in-command Piers Nivans in China. The three women had recently met up with Chris after the China disaster at his request; seeing what he'd become as a result of China and Edonia - all his losses, really - had been rather saddening. That soldier's strength, while still impressive, would never be the same.

"That could've been any of us," Deborah nodded soberly, "It almost was Carter, until he realized who he's really in love with... and the type of man he wants to be."

"When I was forced to accept a promotion to the Pentagon," JJ recalled, "I promised I wouldn't walk around angry - even if the promotion wasn't what I wanted. So I did... for myself, and the team."

"So do it again, JJ," Deborah smiled faintly, "Don't walk around angry, or sad or anything but relieved and happy; that's what we're all doing. Our part in 'that bioterrorism bullshit' as Carter called it... it's over, JJ; we're all free to fight the good fight in our own way now."

JJ grinned, recalling the news Helena and Deborah had given her regarding their final placement as newly-minted FBI Special Agents; indeed, the Quad-Core would be fighting the good fight their way, by joining BAU Team One at the request of its Unit and Section Chiefs. After all, BAU Team One only had the best of the best - and there was only one thing better than maintaining a winning team.

Improving on it.