Bring Them Home Chapter 2

BAU Section Chief Mateo Cruz had joined Morgan at the conference room round table. Derek quickly filled him in with what little he knew. He was running out of patience he knew what needed to be done and wasting time with Cruz was not going to bring his family home. He was going to have to go toe to toe with a sadistic killer who enjoyed watching his victims suffer slowly before brutally killing them.

“Don’t even try to tell me I’m not working this case!”

Cruz hadn’t been around long but he knew enough not to try and reason with SSA Derek Morgan when his mind was made up. He couldn’t blame him his entire team had been kidnapped as an act of revenge against him. It was personal and even before he’d taken over as Section Chief he’d heard about the relentless fearless agent who was willing to bend and in this case break the rules to bring down an UnSub.

“The FBI will be conducting their own investigation and we can’t have agents going off on their own…”

“Cruz, this is my team! My family! I’m going to do whatever it takes to bring them home! If it means I have to turn in my badge to do it then so beit!”

Cruz looked at Morgan standing unblinking in his face. Under any other circumstances he would demand the agent stand down. He’d also remind him that he was still his superior and still in command of the BAU, but now was not the time.

“What do you need?”

Morgan stepped away and took a seat and rubbed his hands over his face.

“First place I went when I got that call was to Garcia’s office…I need somebody on those computers helping me find my team. “

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Unknown Location -

Hotch and the rest of the team had finally managed to sit up bracing themselves against the walls of the small room.  Their heads had cleared from whatever drug they had been given. Their eyes had also adjusted to the dimly lit room.

“Anyone want to guess why we’re here?’’ JJ asked.

“And where are we?” Reid added.

“Where’s Morgan?” Garcia asked, voice trembling.

“Hopefully, looking for us.” Hotch answered.

Their conversation was halted by the creaking sound of the door as it slowly opened.  Three men stepped in staring down at the agents. One of the men dressed in an expensive suit with matching Italian leather shoes, was obviously in charge. The other two men were well-built men who stood close behind the leader waiting obediently for orders.

“I’m glad you all have managed to make yourselves comfortable.” He glanced at his cohorts and the three chuckled.

“What do you want?” Hotch asked in an even authoritative voice.

“Aaron Hotchner, I presume. I’m Andrew Kirkwood.”

“Is that supposed to mean something to me?”

“It will.”

Kirkwood shifted his attention to Garcia moving and standing in front of her. He loved the fear in her eyes it made him giddy and excited.

“I’m an old friend of Agent Morgan’s.” He continued.

“Where is he?” Rossi asked.

“Unfortunately he wasn’t able to join us. Apparently he decided at the last minute not to join you all for lunch. But no worries he’ll be joining us soon.”

“What do you mean?” JJ asked.

“It means that he is pretty pissed off that I planned this little reunion and he’s missing all of the fun.” He smiled amused at himself.

“Stop playing games, Kirkwood! What’s going on?” Hotch barked.

Hotch was caught off guard by the hard kick to his ribs from one of Kirkwood’s goons, which blindsided him. He doubled over in pain while the others sat quietly and shocked.

Kirkwood motioned to his men as he kept his eyes on Garcia.

“I hear you’re quite the actor.”

Garcia trembling sat silent staring at the madman above her.

“Today is your big debut. The biggest role of your mediocre career.”

At the snap of his fingers the two goons moved quickly and grabbed Garcia by her arms and began dragging her toward the door.

“NO! She screamed not meaning to but she couldn’t stop her sound of panic and fear.

“Where are you taking her?” Yelled JJ.

“Leave her alone!” Aaron moaned still doubling in pain.

Andrew Kirkwood took a moment to look triumphantly down at his captives then turned on his heels and left with a screaming hysterical Penelope Garcia in tow.

BAU Headquarters – Later…

He didn’t think it was possible for a human being to go without breathing this long. He couldn’t remember taking a breath; he’d watched the video three times now and still he hadn’t inhaled…or exhaled for that matter.

“Hey…hey…Derek”

She was crying uncontrollably mascara streaking down her face, clothes wrinkled and disheveled. He couldn’t comprehend, didn’t understand, only thoughts of killing Andrew Kirkwood consumed him…and was that blood on her face, bruises under her eye?

“Derek…I’m scared…he’s going to kill us…if-if you don’t come…”

She looked to her left up into her captors face.

“Please don’t make me do this!” She pleaded.

“Do it!” He barked.

She swallowed hard trying to compose herself, trying to be strong but it was too late she had already shown that she was terrified.

Then Derek watched helpless as Andrew Kirkwood came into view standing behind Penelope towering over her seated body. He leaned into the line of sight placing his face close to hers. Then he grabbed her and jerked her head back. Smiling into the camera and then back at Garcia. Morgan saw the knife in his hand; saw it as Kirkwood pressed it to her neck.

“I could kill her right now…I’d love to kill her right now…I know you’re still watching, agent!”

He pressed the knife harder on her neck and a small spots of blood beaded onto her pale white skin.

“How’s it feel to know that I can do anything I want to her and there’s nothing you can do about it?”

Morgan’s heart beat madly in his chest and squeezed the phone in his hand like he wanted to squeeze the life out of Kirkwood.

“Derek!  Please…Derek…I’m so sorry!”

The cackle of his high-pitched laugh sent Morgan to another place. He had never felt so much rage in his life. She was his life, his love…his everything and he hadn’t had a chance to convince her…to make her understand.  If Kirkwood wanted to punish him and make him pay than he had found the way.

“You have twelve hours, agent! Twelve hours to find me…face me…man to man! I want you dead! So…if you want to save your friends then come and find us! Your life for theirs!”

He laughed again as he leaned down and licked the dripping blood from her neck. Derek cringed watching, dying inside to see her being terrorized by this lunatic.

Kirkwood pressed the knife against her neck again drawing more blood, lots of blood and screams…gut wrenching screams just before the video went black.

“PENELOPE!!!!”