A/N: thanks for the reviews! Yes you're allowed to love the unsub, villains tend to be my favorite in tv shows too!

Chapter 3

The occupants of the car were quiet. Tension was not so tight today. The man's confidence seemed to have stabilized having made it through the previous day uncaught but he was still nervous. He didn't ride with a knife to Spencer's throat anymore but the gun was still out and ready if he needed it. He had Derek driving cuffed to the steering wheel again. They were going south now. He didn't know if their chaotic route constantly turning around on itself was to evade authorities or indecisive circling. They had passed the Virginia line several hours ago and were in North Carolina now headed towards Tennessee. They were changing directions and cars too fast too often. It would be real hard for the team to track their movements. Today the unsub hadn't demanded any stops, no robberies but the more time that past the more Morgan felt like something was going to happen. They startled at the abrupt loud crackle of paper as the unsub unfolded a map. He began to mutter to himself about what to do next. Spencer glanced at Morgan hoping he had a plan but the almost imperceptible shake of head didn't give him the answer he wanted.

"You, kid, you're FBI right? Right?" He jabbed Reid in the head with the gun finding he enjoyed the way the kid jumped with each touch.

"Y-yes, I'm a profiler"

"Alright Mr. FBI profiler, what's my next move?" he hissed.

"It depends on why you're running, what you did. The motive of guilt affects the path of escape" Morgan shot him a warning glance.

"You're trying to trick me! You want me to confess? Huh kid?" he yanked Reid's head back sharply.

"N-no, I can't, outside a court of law there's nothing I can do to you, it wouldn't be admissible to any court but I need to know to understand what you need to do to escape" The unsub gripped his hair tighter and twisted it around a few hairs pulling free.

"I don't believe you. You're a fed and you'll always try to hurt me!" both agents gulped seeing the knife reappear dangerously close to Reid's eye.

"I can't, you're in control here, you've got the gun and the knife, my friend is cuffed to the wheel and powerless. You are in charge here, just you" Spencer grimaced as he dragged the knife down his cheek drawing more blood then stopped as if to think.

"You're right, I've got the power here, and if you try anything, even if I just think you're thinking about trying something"

"We won't, we know when we're outmatched" Morgan interceded.

"Good, now, what next kid?"

"You need to slow down, all the car swaps and robberies will draw attention to yourself" Everyone went silent for a few minutes. Morgan kept his eyes on the pair the knife still too close to his friend for comfort and the gun clearly visible in his near hand. A car's horn screeched along with wheels smoked as Morgan drifted into the oncoming lane both cars barely missing. Morgan froze at the whoop of a police car immediately following the near miss.

"Shit!" the unsub hissed.

"What do you want me to do?" Morgan glanced at the other two biting his lip seeing the knife nearly drawing blood from his friend's neck again. The police car blipped its siren again pulling closer. He could hear the man digging through the bags suddenly followed by a grunt from Reid as he was suddenly scrubbing the blood from his face and neck haphazardly then changed to sit behind Derek.

"Pull over, keep it nice and calm we're just on a road trip." He complied taking a chance look at Spencer again once they were stopped but there were still traces of blood on him. The man gave Reid the keys to his cuffs which were quickly tucked out of sight. Tension was thick as the cop approached the car.

"License and registration sir" Morgan didn't say anything as he fumbled for his wallet. He held his breath as the man walked away and again a few minutes later as he walked back. Derek lurched away from the window neck sizzling from the heat of the gunshot burning his skin. The cop dropped fast.

"Get his guns and cuffs. Keep your back to the cop car I know they got cameras and get your wallet too, I don't want them tracking us" Morgan moved slow afraid to spook the man watching traffic infuriated. Why didn't anyone notice? He knelt by the man heart sinking to see him already dead as he pulled the demanded items from his belt. At the wallet he hesitated, hands shaking, then flipped his open and deftly switched the driver's licenses praying the unsub didn't notice. He had to leave a trace for the team to find them. He got back inside and they sped off unnoticed by commuters.

They stood over the bodies frustrated. Inside the third house had told them numerous details about their unsub. They didn't have his identity yet but they'd found a couple in the home bludgeoned to death clearly in a rage.

"It's either the woman's husband or lover, probably in a jealous rage. I'm betting he came home early and caught them in the middle of something and then got trapped when we hit the other crime scenes. Used Derek and Spencer to ensure his escape"

"He's disorganized, panicked, this is a single event that got out of control"

"Guys, a cop was just found dead on the side of the north highway, it lines up perfectly in a cluster of convenience mart robberies along with two banks" JJ burst into the scene.

"What's that got to do with this?"

"Because Morgan's driver's license was found in the cop's wallet, Garcia's already got the tape from his car cam"

"JJ you look into the robberies, they may be connected, Hotchner you handle the cop shooting, I'll work this scene, if they're connected they're sure to give us enough plenty for a profile" Hours later they reconvened, tired and worried.

"What do we know?" Gideon began.

"Each of the robberies was done by the unsub. He pulled up to any location that had two cars similar or the same in appearance. I didn't get a great look but it appears Derek swapped the plates from the two identical cars then loaded Morgan and Reid into the vehicle. I can't see for sure but it looks like he knocks them out then goes in and commits the robbery and they take off in the new car" JJ detailed. "No injuries at any of the robberies"

"The house was the stressor. The husband was fired from his job so he came home early and found the wife in bed with another man and suffered a break killing them both and we arrived moments after"

"The cop pulled them over because Morgan, whom is apparently driving, nearly struck a vehicle when he drifted into the oncoming lane. They didn't pull over right way and when they did Morgan gave his wallet over with registration. When he came back a single shot was fired, origin of the shot is unknown. Morgan gets out keeping his back to the camera and seems to take the wallet, gun and handcuffs then they drove off"

"This guy is all over the map, what's his plan?"

"He doesn't have one, he's devolving fast and out of control. He's acting on impulse. We need to catch up with him fast he will probably escalate and fast now that he's killed a cop and kidnapped two FBI agents" JJ's phone interrupted the meeting.

"Hello….What? No…Yes…Aright thank you"

"What was that?"

"There was another bank robbery but this one was different"

"How so?"

"The bank robber came in with a hostage, none of the employees or customers resisted but after he took the money he killed everyone but the hostage he came in with"

"It's our guy isn't it?"

"we got photos of this this, the hostage was Reid"