Chapter 4: Fire

As Rossi helped the crying agent gather her things at the office, Morgan confronted Hotch right in the middle of the bullpen.

"Hotch, man, you can't be serious," Morgan protested.

"I know what you're thinking," Hotch said, "I didn't expect it either. But, she is qualified."

"Qualified?!" Morgan exclaimed, "she's a serial killer's daughter!"

"So was Ashley Seaver," Hotch growled.

"Man, you're just pulling out all the stops for her, aren't you?" Morgan shook his head.

"She doesn't have anyone," Hotch explained, "she acts like a big, strong, agent, but she still has traces of a scared little girl."

"Yeah, who's dad just so happens to be the BOSTON REAPER!"

"Morgan," Hotch said, "you need to back off. Give it time."

"Oh, like when you grieved for Haley? Or when you were stabbed in your own damn apartment?"

"George Foyet did that," Hotch growled, "and I had to stop blaming myself for what happened."

"He also left me a bullet," Morgan pulled it out, "and now you're working with his flesh and blood!"

"It. Was. Not. Her. Fault," Hotch growled dangerously, "she never asked to be his daughter." Morgan rolled his eyes.

"But she is! What about Shaugnessy? Haley? Colson? The freaking bus?"

"George Foyet killed them. Not Grace Foyet."

"How did she get this past the recruiters?" Morgan asked.

"They already knew about her past. Like she said, she didn't know the full extent of her father's actions until she was 25."

"Oh, and you just believe her, huh?"

"Agent Foyet," Hotch said, putting special emphasis on the name Foyet, "is more than qualified to be an agent with the Behavioral Analysis Unit. She has experience that no one else has and can give us a fresh set of eyes."

"She brainwashed you, man!" That did it. Hotch yanked Morgan by the arm and dragged him to Rossi's door.

"You see that, huh?" Rossi asked, "that's not the mark of a sociopathic killer. That's a scared, sad girl who doesn't feel she should be here because of her past. Worse, that's a girl who doesn't feel she belongs because ANOTHER AGENT made her feel unworthy of this position! The past does not define you, Morgan. You of all people should know that."

"Sorry, man," Morgan held up his hand in his defense, "I didn't know you wanted to be her father figure or something."

"Well, Rossi had his turn with Seaver, now it's my turn with Grace Foyet," he said.

"You know, saying that name doesn't sound weird to you anymore."

"Maybe it's because I've learned to let it go. I've learned to not blame myself for the actions of George Foyet. I've learned to grieve properly for Haley."

"Yeah, and all this time, we didn't know he had a daughter! How could we miss that? How could we not know that Grace FOYET is in this building, probably trying to finish what her father started?"

"ENOUGH!" Hotch yelled so loudly that Morgan jumped, "Grace has been a valuable asset on this case. She did remarkable for her first case."

"Yeah, because she was all high and mighty at the Innocent Images Unit! Did they know her own father was an ebebophile?"

"That's enough Agent Morgan," Hotch's terse tone set in, "until today, I was proud of you. I was proud to have a right hand man who could take over for me in my darkest time. Now, I'm ashamed to call you an agent. Derek Morgan, hand me your gun and your badge."

"You can't be serious, man!" Morgan exclaimed.

"I am. I will see to it that you never have a job in the bureau again. The FBI's motto is Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity. We are to be loyal to one another. The amount of disrespect you showed Agent Foyet and me astounds even me." Morgan rolled his eyes and reluctantly handed in his gun and badge.

"You will not come anywhere near Grace, or my team again. Now get out of my sight." Before Morgan started to leave, he heard Hotch's voice.

"And take this with you before you go." Aaron Hotchner punched Morgan in the face so hard he fell back and walked off.

"He hates me!" Grace cried, "the whole team hates me!"

"We don't hate you," Rossi assured, "it's just that Morgan takes time adjusting. I'm not gonna lie, this is all gonna take some time getting used to."

"Because all you can see is George Foyet," Grace stated, deadpan.

"No, I see a strong, confident young lady who can do anything she wants to. You could've done anything with your life, but you chose to come to the B.A.U. That says something." He smiled.

"Just give Morgan time," Rossi reassured, "he'll come around."

"He's gone," Hotch announced.

"What do you mean he's gone?" Rossi asked.

"I fired him. Believe me, Grace, he won't be a problem for you anymore."

"What..what did he do?" Grace asked.

"You don't wanna know," Hotch said.

"But-"

"Trust me, you don't."

"Hotch, my father was the Reaper. He stabbed you, for Pete's sake. There's not much I can't take."

Hotch took a deep breath.

"He started badmouthing you and saying nasty things about who you are. He also proceeded to back talk me and question my judgment. I wasn't having either of it."

"Doesn't surprise me," Rossi quipped, "the guy was always scrutinizing you in the midst of..."

"He's right, you know ," Grace said, "if I hadn't been born, none of this would've happened."

"Grace Alexandra Foyet," Hotch said in a stern tone. He walked over to her and place an arm around her.

"No matter what would've happened, your father would've kept killing. That's just who he is. He's a psychopath who wouldn't stop. You couldn't have changed that."

"But, that deal with the detective..."

"He only did that so he could have more control over the investigation," Hotch assured, "control and power were the most important to him. Nothing or no one could change that." A silence came over the three.

"I have his eyes," Grace choked out, "I have his eyes. The only thing I got from my mother was my smile. At least, that's what Uncle Bo told me. Pretty much all my facial features come from...him."

Hotch reached out and cupped her face.

"Grace Foyet, this is not the face of a killer," he brushed away her tears, "this is the face of a strong agent who worked hard to get where she is now. You beat him, Grace! You beat him!"

"I don't feel very strong right now."

"Let it all out," Rossi added, "the anger at your father and Morgan. Get it all out so we can start fresh tomorrow."

"I'm more hurt than angry with Morgan," Grace shrugged, "I thought you guys were like family."

"We are," Rossi said, "and you're a part of it, whether you like it or not!" Grace chuckled.

"Come on," Hotch helped her up, "I'll take you home. Luckily, tomorrow's just a paperwork day."

"I guess I need to brace myself," Grace said, "the team's gonna have a lot of questions."

"Reid will probably want to study you," Hotch snarked, "JJ will treat you like a big sister. Garcia will take time to warm up to you, but once she does, you may be forced to go on shopping excursions with her." Both laughed.

"But we're one man down," Grace said.

"We'll manage kiddo," Rossi said, "we'll manage."