"Nothing is easier than to denounce the evildoer; nothing is more difficult than to understand him."- Fyodor Dostoevsky

November 2nd 1983

It's been four months since his mutual divorce and David Rossi still didn't have any true regrets. He'd recognized how much this job was straining their relationship and completely understood when Carolyn said it was enough. Though as he was packing up the car with his co worker and good friend Jason Gideon he knew something. He wouldn't have given this job up for anything. There was something truly enrapturing in diving into the psyche of psychopaths that he recognized would always be keen to him.

"-si."

Besides, if he had any luck he'd be able to enjoy a nice glass of wine once he got home at the nice club near the airport back in Virginia.

"-ossi."

Hm, maybe he can call ahead and see if they had that band that played last ti-

"David."

Finally his attention got dragged away from his thoughts as he looked up into the face of his colleague. Gideon and he had just finished up this local spree killer in Lawrence, Kansas. Man kept saying he was doing what was right. That if he didn't worse would happen. Just another psychopath trying to convince himself that he did nothing wrong, Rossi thought.

"Huh?" Rossi asked before seeing Gideon nod to the Detective standing next to them. "Oh apologies you were asking something?"

"Yeah, I just got a call in. About some house fire or something. Neighbors heard screaming and shouting beforehand. You two mind coming with me before I drop you off?"

Gideon waved the concern away. "Not at all. Any details as we go?" The three men piled into the car together before they took off.

"House is owned by a local family. A mechanic, former marine, stay at home wife, recently brought into the world a newborn and another boy."

"History of abuse?" The detective shook his head to Gideon's question as he sped up seeing the smoke in the air. "How about family enemies?"

"This is Lawrence, Agent. We don't exactly have enemies. I mean sure we'll get pissy with each other for a day or so but we ain't gonna qualify as enemies after a grill out."

"So no personal motive." Rossi noted as he scribbled into his notebook right before they arrived and the three piled out walking forward. The fire department was trying to battle the flames that seemed to have started on the second floor of the house. Gideon watched for a second squinting. For a moment it had seemed as if the flames were almost taunting the firefighters letting them extinguish enough before coming back in force. "You wanna speak to the family or me, Jason?"

"You do it…" Gideon had a far away look even as he stood there.

"You good?"

"Never…better…" Rossi shrugged at the response and simply figured Gideon had simply gotten into the mentality he usually did. Slowly Rossi made his way over to the family. A father in pajama bottoms, a shirt sleeve shirt, a robe on his shoulders, a watch probably an anniversary gift or last gift from their father. Late 20s early 30s, he estimated based on the physical look of the man. His stance and his constant eye movement is exactly what Rossi expected from an ex marine but yet it always returns to the house or his kids. Victim is most likely his wife based on how he's twisting the ring on his hand. No shoes. So he was in a rush once the fire was discovered.

"Sir?" Rossi finally asked, seeing the man turn to him. "My name is Agent David Rossi, I'm part of the FBI's BAU team."

"I….oh dear god ... .My wife she was…" The man was starting to come apart Rossi held up a hand.

"Hey, listen. You need to Be strong right now. For your boys." He gently patted the man's back. "I have to ask a few questions if you don't mind…" Rossi led off not knowing the man's name.

"J-John…my name is John."

"John." Rossi nodded and noted it down. "Now John, I need you to best describe the situation as much as you can."

"I-I… was down stairs. We had put our son, our youngest Sam, down for the night. I wasn't tired yet so I sent Mary to bed after being home all day with the boys. I sat down to watch the game a bit and destress from the day and at some point- I just fell asleep. Next thing I know I hear Mary screaming and I run upstairs and through my son's door." He shuddered and took a deep breath before exhaling slowly. "I found Sammy just laying there then…then I found something dripping into his crib. It was blood and when I looked up there was my wife on the ceiling! How does that even happen?! Then the flames. They just appeared around her! I grabbed Sammy and rushed him out. I must have woken Dean because he was in the hall. I told him to take his brother and run. I tried to run back in the room to help Mary but the fire kept growing and growing. I ran outside and grabbed my boys before the fire exploded out…..dear god….how does this happen? How does a woman die-"

"Sir, I need you to breathe. Sir. " David gently touched John's shoulder. To help calm the man down and refocus him. "Everything will be okay….we'll figure out what happened. Right now. Your boys need you." He nodded over where Jason had knelt down and had been speaking to the boys…or well at least the one who could speak to him. "Gideon." Rossi called and the other agent and father swapped positions before the gentlemen approached the house since the fire was more in control now.

"So?" Gideon asked as he looked at Rossi.

"Says his wife was killed on the ceiling and then set ablaze while he looked up at her." They looked around and there wasn't much fire damage to the rest of the house. It wasn't until they were outside the nursery did the damage become distinct. However, they both took note of the fact a smaller pair of slippers was at the base of the steps as if thrown off in speed.

"Ridiculous notion…almost nonsensical…."

"Yet…" Rossi hesitated as he looked around the room a bit before stopping in the middle of it looking back at the door and to the crib.

"You can tell he wasn't lying…and he doesn't feel or talk like a murderer. There's true empathy and sadness in his voice. This is a man mourning. Not a man covering his actions." Gideon surmised. "His son, Dean, heard the screaming from his room…." These were the cases that hurt him the most. The ones with kids like this. Who has to realize there is darkness in the world so early in their life.

"So Dad's out cold downstairs and Mom's in the bed too. What would get Mom to wake up and come out of her room?" Rossi asked aloud.

"Her newborn child." Gideon answered as with a glove he picked up a baby monitor.

"Yet why would she go downstairs and not back to bed? Those shoes were too small for a grown man like john. And why did she run back up?" They started to visualize everything now. "So the mother wakes up from the baby crying." Rossi walks from the parent's room over to the baby's room.

"Nothing is out of order when she gets there. Or so it seems." Gideon continued. "She leaves and heads back to the room." He begins walking back towards the room faking exhaustion before stopping noticing a flickering lightbulb. "Was probably flickering earlier too. So she stops and taps it. But she doesn't continue to the bedroom because-"

"She hears noise from downstairs." Rossi begins to walk down the steps before coming to a stop the moment he could see where the legs would be in the chair and the tv. "And something she sees here makes her rush back upstairs to her baby's room."

"Her husband."

"Her husband." Rossi agreed, coming to the same conclusion. "She runs up and the unsub is in the room and attacks her. All the windows were in tact everywhere and not open. Hell they were even locked so how'd he get in pass her?"

Gideon stood over the Crib with a hand stretched down into it as if to touch a child. "Unless she thought the I was her husband. Already here to coddle the baby.."

"So he was already inside the house. He'd have to have a key or lockpick a door." They stood now over the burnt body of Mary."First attack caused the bleeding at the abdomen which resulted in the blood dripping down to the baby ... .but there's no marks of blood anywhere from what John said. So the weapon would have to be pressed into her and then she'd be lifted at the same time to the ceiling."

Gideon grimaced. "Then how was the fire and accelerant put on her?"

"Maybe it started from the window and John could tell due to the lighting? They ignite it from outside the window and it travels up to her body." Rossi thought but then frowned. "But that's not possible since John is pretty sure the flames appeared around her. Not to mention this is the second floor."

"Trauma causing him not to remember fully?"

Gideon suggested but even he didn't sound convinced. He sighed. "There's nothing more we can figure out until more evidence is found if there is any ... .for now let's go home and keep an eye on this case."

Rossi began following them out as he saw the crucifix on the wall and wondered slightly "Very biblical family, John, Mary, Sam, probably short for Samual, and then Dean. A religious issue?"

"Possibly. Issue here is that this isn't a case for us. It's the city until another pops up or they invite us in again. I've never heard of a case similar to this."

"Likewise….something just doesn't feel right here." David pointed out as he looked at the house as they stepped out of it. Then Gideon looked at the father who now sat on the hood of his car clutching his son close to him as the other sat beside him for comfort.

"Give the detective our cards so he can contact us if he needs help." Jason finally said before approaching the now only male family. "If…if you all need anything." He held up his card and wrote on the back of it. "This has my partner and my own work numbers and I put my personal on the back…. If I hear anything I'll let you know."

"Thank you…" John muttered now quietly his tired voice strained from the emotion turmoil.

"By the way my partner never got your last name."

"My wife's maiden was Campbell but she took mine."

"And what is it?"

"Winchester."

"Thank you Mr. Winchester."

"Please. Just call me John."

"John." Jason put his hand on his shoulder and gave a soft squeeze before he walked to the car with Rossi.

"Remember that name Rossi. Winchester. I feel we'll need to come back to this case at some point."

Little did all of them know a being watched from the distance with yellow eyes, a grin spreading across his face. He'd have to keep an eye on this child. Oh yes. He will.

What is this that stands before me?

Figure in black which points at me

Turn 'round quick and start to run

Find out I'm the chosen one

Oh, no!

Big black shape with eyes of fire

Telling people their desire

Satan's sitting there, he's smiling

Watches those flames get higher and higher

Oh, no, no, please, God help me!

Is it the end, my friend?

Satan's coming 'round the bend

People running 'cause they're scared

The people better go and beware

No, no, please, no!

"Black Sabbath"- Black Sabbath.