Chapter Text
There was always a sense of wonder that traveled as you go from place to place. Some worlds you have the most desire to stay in are fictional. Places like Narnia, Hogwarts, and thus taking a part in that story of a fate that wasn't your own. You instead learn to take that world and read about it, listen about it. Take it gently into your heart as you cuddle with a cup of coffee in one hand and a blanket wrapped around you. You try to mimic the experience that these things have. Wanting to believe if you close your eyes. It'll become a reality even just for a moment.
It's a sense of escape. A sense of freedom that intoxicates us throughout our lives. Sometimes though, the little glass cities we build in our heads crumble. And we are left behind, taking a broom to pick up the pieces that were left behind.
Stars Hollow was the glass city for so many. And as tragedy struck because of a person's ill tragedy. You must work them out. “Do we know if they're going to be here for Thanksgiving?” Sookie St James asked as she put out a few items on the lunch buffet. Lorelai offered a small smile to her companion before saying
“We don't. I hope they aren’t because that’ll mean this whole thing will still be happening.” she stated before moving on. “They’re nice, even if the one that looks kinda like a pipe cleaner is probably scared of me.” she moved on to say, setting out a few napkins on various tables.
“And your parasite?” she asked, looking to Hotchner.
“He’s technically Rory’s. Don't worry. She makes sure to take him for walks and she feeds him.”
Hotch rolled his eyes from behind Lorelai. “I can hear you."
“Good.” Lorelai offered as Aaron sighed at the comment.
Hotch did wonder how the rest of the team was doing. If they were going to go insane here like he felt like he was going to. He loved the nature of the town, loved the way they seemed so close. They were family, and to him that was the most important thing.
Going down the halls of this home they realized there truly was quite the path to get from point A to B. Reid thought he could’ve gotten lost in this place if he weren’t careful. “We’re going to need a list of your servers from the party last night, as well as all the guests who were in attendance at the event.” Reid spoke as they walked to Richard Gilmore’s office.
“You know that's classified information.” Emily Gilmore spoke as she walked, her posture stiff and poised in a perfect stance. She was a rose, pretty to look at but they knew if they touched her, she would bite back. Not physically but emotionally or verbally…? Yes. “if I gave that to you, you would have the list of addresses we sent the invites too as well.”
Rossi listened to her talk for a moment before he spoke. “Emily, this is for your granddaughter, please.” he spoke after a moment and she nodded, taking a deep breath.
“Okay, well fine. I’ll get the lists now.”
Reid looked at the older man, confusion scurrying its way across his brow. “How did you do that?” he asked. “You completely softened her.” Rossi wishes he could blame it on being a profiler and knowing how to bury deep into a person’s thoughts to see what intentions lay underneath. But he knew that wasn't the case and he couldn't fool himself all that well.
A ring sat in his pocket as he sat ready for Emily’s graduation dinner. He had gotten her parents permission for this. He knew they were both young. But he also knew that he loved her. He carried a glass of champagne in his hand as his parents and her parents talked. They talked about the weather, the news, everything they could. He listened to them tell each other about their pasts, and he knew if all of this worked out they would also have a wedding to discuss. She walked up to him, hugging him lightly. “I have news Dave.” she stated a small polished smile on her features.
“I just knew she cared for her granddaughter.” he offered plainly as Emily came back, list in hand. Handing it to them. “I do hope you figure out who is behind this.” she said, her posture still the same but a more nurturing look on her face.
Reid and Rossi sat at the desk in the office, making marks of anyone whose name they could recognize right away. From the maid they had met during their first trip here to question Rory to the name of their newest abductie. All of these guests seemed to come from similar backgrounds, wealth scenarios and so on, it was interesting to see, especially for a gated community. This kind of tragedy does one of two things, it either makes a community stronger or it completely destroys it, leaving the community in mourning for years to come. Rossi remembered one of his first cases with the bau, someone kidnapped children from high wealth gated communities and held them for high ransoms. This didn't seem to be one of those cases, but it was still a way for it all to prove it's potency.
“We need to give this list to Penelope. Have her run some of the names.” Reid suggested as they exited the home. He looked to Rossi who looked back at Emily Gilmore who was still standing there. “You left me standing in front of all our friends.” her voice made its way through Rossi’s head.
“You kept looking back at her, her words turned kinder when you were around. You tensed both times they mentioned us coming here. Plus your interactions with Lorelai.” Spencer rambled on. “You spent a strange amount of time staring at the wedding portrait on the wall, and you had a very tense handshake with Richard.” he finished. “You had a romantic connection with her.” Reid finished as he looked to the older man. Reid was a smart kid, and with this entire thing, he was also entirely right. He had managed to nail it all right on the head. He wasn't sure why it mattered that he figured it out. It wasn't like his love life when he was younger was any kind of thing to be ashamed of. He was in love once upon a time. Now he could close that book and stamp THE END right on the back of it. But something about all of this felt weird to him. Maybe it was seeing her in this situation. He didn't know...
“You know, for a small town I thought I would have been picked up in a horse drawn carriage. Or like an old fashioned train where there were sights to see from all around me.” Penelope explained as she sat her bags down on the gravel pavement. “Not a taxi.” she gestured to the yellow cab that drove off a moment after she grabbed her last bag and closed the door. Derek walked over hugging the shorter blonde and a moment later Emily did the same thing.
Emily offered a little laugh “sorry princess, it's after midnight the carriage is a pumpkin and the trains all were booked.” she said smiling lightly. Garcia looked around the small inn entryway and noticed her boss and friend standing against a staircase. She walked over to him.
“Garcia .JJ and Morgan will catch you up on the case so far. We have three victims and we need to get this figured out.” Hotch pointed out. “Any questions?” he asked her and she looked at him and then looked at the brunette who was standing nearby. The one she assumed was Lorelai.
“She's very pretty sir.” she mumbled to Hotch who rolled his eyes at the others comments.
“Not a question.” the slightest grin rose on his face. “Now go.” and he watched as she walked off in the opposite direction. He definitely wasn't going to act on the feelings, but Penelope was right. She was pretty. Had brown hair and bright eyes. Had a smile that glowed brightly and freckles that made the stars look small in numbers when in comparison. He wouldn't act on those feelings though, this was a case and her daughter was in danger. Things needed to stay as professional and firm as possible. He didn't want to get emotionally attached to a case. As soon as you let your guard down, things collapse. They go sour fast.
“Well she’s bright.” Lorelai told him about Penelope.
“She's also the best at what she does.” he added in.
He walked into the inn’s dining room. If he was going to be spending the day with the mother-daughter duo. He would look up scandals in this town to see if any involved the victims or their families. If any connected or even overlapped.
Derek approached Penelope again and looked up at her “hey, angel. Did you find the name of our expelled student so we can pay him a visit?” he asked her.
“First, angel, that's a new one. I like it.” she offered with a small smile before grabbing a clipboard from her bag. “Meet Clark Caldwell. Ex Captain of the men’s soccer and rugby team at Chilton and an overall great kid. Before he got expelled for taking part in a fight that wasn't his fault. He’s homeschooled now and going to attend college at NYU next fall. Even though according to message boards his top schools were Yale and Harvard.” a black and white photo of a teen with slight muscular build had a photo on the paper. “Parents threatened to sue the school. But he said it was his fault and they cooled down. He attends anger management therapy despite once again not being the one who started the fight. ” she finished and handed the address and information to JJ.
JJ looked to Derek “let's go pay him a visit.” she said as she and Derek left the inn and made their way to the home.
The home the Caldwell family lived in was tall and had the same cold exterior as a lot of the houses in the area seemed to have. “Hello?” a voice spoke as she opened the front door. Looking at the two agents.
“Ma’am. Jennifer Jareau and Derek Morgan. We’re part of the BAU here to investigate.” JJ spoke as she looked at the woman. “Do you mind if we ask your son a few questions?” she asked, showing her badge just in case. The woman’s eyes did widen just the slightest bit but she nodded, opening the door and gesturing for them to come inside.
“Clark honey, someone is here to see you.” she called as a teen boy walked down the tall staircase. He had an athletes build obviously, dark brown hair and the same dark intensity to his eyes. His eyes landed on the agents as he extended a hand
“How can I help you?” he asked and JJ spoke, shaking his hand.
“Mind if we ask you a few questions about an ex classmate of yours?” she questioned.
“Not at all.” he offered, gesturing for them to follow him into the dining room.
“So tell me about the fight that got you expelled,” she asked and saw the boy’s eyes widen.
“Man, right off the bat. Okay well… I was heading to get ice for an injury I got while in my last soccer game and I walked down the hall, and I saw James and one of his friends picking on a freshman girl.” he began. “I first asked them to stop with words, but they wouldn't listen.” he bounced his foot as he spoke. “I tried again, and again. One of his friends snapped and threw the first punch. I punched back as James jumped in. The girl was terrified and didn't want to speak up due to James’s reputation in the school. The principal and the teachers nearby walked out to see me holding the friend’s collar. The friend and I got expelled and James was treated like a hero.” he finished as he looked at the ground. “So yeah, I was mad that I got expelled. But I didn't kidnap the guy.” he stated his voice firm.
“We believe you. Is there anyone who would want harm for James?” Derek asked.
“Half the student body” he deadpanned. “But no, not anyone I can name…”
“And no reason you would have anything against Rory Gilmore?” JJ asked, adding in.
“I’m sorry. I don't know the name. I hope you find your answers though.” he shrugged.
“Hotchner you don't have to stay here all day with us.” Lorelai offered, “though I’m flattered you want to spend so much time with us.” she stated with a slight giggle. He looked at her and sighed, staying where he sat in the Gilmore residence.
It took him a moment before he decided on what he wanted to say in retort. “I said I would protect you two, and that’s what I’m doing.” even if it tested him greatly. Both women were vibrant and intelligent individuals but boy did they test his patience.
“You're like some kind of superhero protecting us.” the daughter added in “... you're Batman” she threw out as she sat down next to her mother. Draping her legs over where she sat. Aaron rolled his eyes. “I’m not Batman.” he decided on though.
“That sounds like something Batman would say.” Those two were taking a lot of pride and joy in this whole thing. “Want anything from the kitchen when I’m up mom?” Rory asked her mom.
“Ooh. Get me one of the microwavable pizzas. And get one for our guest too.” she threw in and before he could reject the offer, a flurry of brown hair was off into the kitchen. He found their bond to be a little odd. But he didn't want to question it. Maybe it was because when he was growing up he never had that great of a bond with his parents. Maybe it was because he didn't have that kind of bond with his son yet. Which was something he wanted to work on. He just couldn't get the time to do so. It felt impossible as he got older and as Aaron’s own life got busier.
He finally though after realizing they had been sitting in silence for more than a moment he should figure out the town's dynamic to pair it with the case. “So what makes Stars Hollow home for you two?” he asked and she pulled her knees to her chest as she prepared an answer.
“I was a teen when I had Rory…” she started as she looked at him. “I didn't think my parents would want me under their roof. And I didn't want my child to grow up under the conditions I did. So I found myself at the inn with her...and everyone was so friendly and nice that we decided to stay. It hasn't been easy with it being just us. But it's worth it. Even when there is a psychopath out there who’s threatening her life.” she finished. He had a lot of questions, but they weren’t exactly close so he didn't want to overstep or be nosy. There would always be critical people, he didn't want to be one of them.
He looked over to her about to open his mouth to ask a follow up question, but as he said the first “I -.” Rory walked back in holding three little pizzas in her hands.
She sat back in her original position, handing the pizzas out before turning to her mom. “Jess is coming over if that's okay?” she asked her mom.
“Yeah, that's fine.” she shrugged off.
Jess, the kid from the diner. Looked decent even if in some ways he reminded Hotch of … himself. It wasn't a bad thing, the kid just needed to learn discipline before it caught up to him and when it did. There would be no sign it was stopping.
“I can't believe you're my son!” his father would scream out at him. Yeah, he couldn't believe he was either, he promised himself. He would be everything his father wasn't. And what a mess he was making…
The thing Lorelai found herself learning about Hotch was that though he was a man of little words, he sure as hell knew how to use his words. He knew when to speak up and how to start a conversation. It made Lorelai wonder if she was being profiled under his thumb or if she was just being too cautious. Either way he seemed to be a great guy. The thing that entertained her now was the banter he was happening between Jess and Rory. They were having a conversation about classic literature as Hotch offered his own voice.
“Why don't we play a trivia game? Wouldn't that be fun?” she asked as she looked at the group in front of her. Jess and Hotchner both shrugged before staring in front of themselves. And she sighed. Running a hand through her hair. “Great, I’ll go get the box.” she said, trying to sound somewhat cheerful. “For teams, I’m thinking Rory and Jess versus Hotchner and yours truly.” she gestured as she sat the box down.
The game while a good idea in theory… lacked that idea in retrospect. “What do you mean you haven't seen Die Hard?” Jess would state and then less than thirty seconds it would be
“The Beatles recorded their albums in Abbey Road!”
“I didn't know that!”
“Clearly.”
The usually calm man sitting next to her was more competitive than she would have thought and as she looked over to Rory, neither of them knew whether to be amazed or scared that trivia did this to both men.
“I think we’ve had enough trivia for one night.” she stated after a moment. Putting the box back on the shelf. She looked back at her daughter who offered a shrug to the entire situation. Both knew not to mess with a fired up Jess and mostly just to let things cool down until he could focus again. This seemed more like competitive anger more than anything else.
November 22nd at 9:58pm
Here's the thing about the towns that look the sleepiest, even in those ones there are people who lay wide awake. Waiting for the next move. Even small towns like these ones have the evil that separates them from everyone else. Whether it's an urban legend like the man with three faces or it's something that lies under the radar. It's there waiting for whatever comes next. Whether it comes immediately or not.
In our town, a little market sits with employees staying late to earn extra cash, for dances where they can take the prettiest girls for a whirl. Or even to provide a life for loved ones. “Tell Taylor I'm taking my fifteen.” one of the employees called to the team that stayed inside, a new mom can be heard calming her newborn as she gets formula for it, and there’s college kids getting booze and snacks for the game that weekend. Either way, this place looks like paradise. And even the prettiest of paradises have their own personal hell.
“Haha very funny. The whole footsteps to creep me out prank.” Dean stated as he rolled his eyes before trying his apron for the market. “Jess I know that’s you. I said I’d stay away from her.” he stated. Hearing the footsteps get closer. “Dude this isn’t funny.” he exclaimed one more time.
Everything else happened in a flash. From the pan hitting Dean to getting his arms tied behind his back. All that was left behind was a photo.
Rory tossed and turned in her bed. She turned one way. And immediately when she couldn't find herself comfortable flipped the other way. They were chasing her, they kept going and going. They were the hunters and she was the fox, needing help but not being able to reach it. She thought she lost them, that they were off her back. But she froze as one stood in front of her. About to fire away. She jilted awake, staring at the wall in front of her. She struggled to catch her breath as she looked at the same spot on the wall. The wheels kept turning and turning in her head. She just felt stuck. Deans disappearance, the disappearance of the other boys. They were her fault…? Did she do something? Was she not a good enough daughter, granddaughter, friend, girlfriend or student? Did she not do enough to stop this?
She sat up, her heart feeling like it was pounding in her chest. And she did what she always did when she couldn't sleep. She walked into the kitchen. Allowing her feet to carry her as she entered into the dimmed room. Hitting a light that sat above the stove she looked at the room dimly being lit and grabbed a cup from the top shelf. Standing on her tiptoes to be as quiet as she could. She didn't want to disrupt the sleeping adults. Well — too late. Clutching her chest she looked back "sorry if I woke you agent hotchner…" she told him and saw him shake his head.
"I've been awake… and for the record. You can call me aaron?" He offered and she looked at him. Her eyes widening slightly.
"Penny for your thoughts?" She asked, handing him a glass of water. The brunette looked at him with curiosity and warmth. The same warmth he got from her mom. He knew at that moment there was no doubt she was her mother’s daughter. As a profiler the thing he noticed were the eyes. They always seemed to tell stories. Rory’s looked more fond and doe like when her mother’s looked like she had seen some demons, and they were similar to the ones he had seen. He had to remind himself not to make comparisons on this kind of thing. That showed you were getting attached, and that was the thing he knew not to do.
"I don't have much on my mind." He admitted. He didn't want to be so open to a stranger. But at the moment...she had to learn to trust him. So why not. "It's my first Thanksgiving away from my son." He admitted, saying this lightly. There was a lot more on his mind, but none of them were things she could help with, and most he didn't think she would want to listen to his problems.
"Oh?" Rory asked "and how does your wife feel?" She asked perching herself on the counter.
"She passed a little over two years ago." He told her. The memories still haunted him to this day. There were a lot of things a person could forget. This… this was not one of them. He would always have a place in his heart for her. As everyone would, at, least if they were in his place.
"My condolences…" the brunette girl spoke. Seeing him shrug lightly, as to say it was what it was. As they spoke, Lorelai stood from the staircase. Listening in, but trying not to disrupt. Both seemed stressed. This would be good for them to talk, she allowed herself one more minute to listen in. She walked back up the stairs and headed back to bed.
Something about the general gist of their situation didn't sit right. From how it had gotten significantly darker and stormier in the last few hours. To how when they first arrived in the town, people were running around and now… the streets seemed to be a little more vacant and scarce. It almost gave a horror movie-like effect to the situation at hand.
The team minus Hotchner all gathered in the office of a Stars Hollow police unit, it was small, and definitely cozy. It had the same vibes as the rest of the small town. JJ and Emily were off questioning members of the Police unit who were on patrol the previous night. Asking if any of them had seen anything. They also questioned Dean’s family and friends of his. Which proved to leave more questions than answers. Penelope sat at a desk working on tracing the type of camera the photo had been taken from as the rest was maintained in front of the map of the town and surrounding areas. There was definitely a lot of ground that needed to be covered, and dots to be connected.
“The unsub seems to be moving a lot quicker.” was the first comment out of Rossi’s mouth as he looked at the map in front of him. There were four pins on the map, each one showing a different place someone was taken. The newest pin, a blue one right in the heart of Stars Hollow. “There’s no pattern to how they’re taken. It's almost as if this is one big game to them.” he spoke as he studied each thing. Members of a local police office working around them.
Derek Morgan looked at him and offered a nod before saying what he had to “well, looking at the pattern, they seem to be getting people closer and closer to the Gilmore girl.” he pointed at them, this much was obvious. Going from acquaintances to classmates to now an ex boyfriend . “And now they’re leaving things at the scene of the crime.” he gestured to the board where a photo of Rory and Dean talking was present. The photo wasn't too far away, and probably was taken from inside a moving car. Looking at how different things were angled. Another thing that was reviewed during an examination was that there were no signs present of DNA. Absolutely nothing transferred from the person to the item.
“The leaving of the photo could be to show dominance. In certain cultures members used to leave items belonging to their victims as a sign of superiority. As a gesture that they had the upper hand.” Reid suggested as he looked from his coffee cup to the board. ‘It also left as a mark to stake territory, as to jab in saying ‘watch out.’” he finished before taking a sip of his coffee.
“Essentially then, it is a symbol that they view this as a game.” Rossi added in. Sitting back down in his chair.
As they looked at the board Emily walked in with JJ. “we have a connection. Jess Mariano was seen having an argument with Dean thirty minutes before his shift at the market. People who were nearby swore Jess commented that Dean would regret talking like he did to Rory.” she spoke as she looked at them.. “The issue, Jess has an alibi.” she pointed out.
“And that would be?” Derek added in.
“He was with Rory, her mom, and Hotch.” JJ stated. “So that connection falls flat.”
Penelope offered in “there might be another source of connection. I did some digging into the files of some of our victims. James Newton attended a dance at Chilton with one miss Paris Geller, who is on teams of different varieties with Rory. This includes Model UN, the literature club, the list goes on really.” she stated. “She also isn't the biggest fan of Rory currently according to messages she has sent to friends over the message board.” she finished.
“So Paris could be doing this as some kind of scheme against Rory…” Emily offered.
“Precisely.” Penelope led on. “Private school girls can be catty. This could be a plan to get her out. Strike fear.”
“Looks like Emily and I are taking a trip to the Geller Residence. Penelope can you pull up an address?” she finished.
“One step ahead of you.”
“As they do that, Penelope and I will go check in on student files at Chilton and Dean’s school.
Rossi and Spencer you two go back to the market and check in there.” Derek stated, his voice firm as they moved to stand up and head out.
Rossi took one more glance at the pins on the board and sighed, taking a glance at the area near where Emily Gilmore and her husband Richard lived. If there was one thing he regretted about how things ended with her, it would have been letting her go. But she was happily married now, and in his mind she was the one that got away. He thought through different things in his life to where they were now. If this wasn't a case, would he still find his way to seeing her again?
“We were something, don't you think so?” he thought to himself while looking at the board before going to catch up with Reid who was outside by now.
Her parents never agreed on the relationship, but there was something magical about all of it. There was something magical to something forbidden. His family was only supposed to be in the area for a few months. Those months turned into a few years.
“Dave… DAVE. ” she stopped him as she took his hand. “I got into Yale…” she said and he looked at her. He didn't want to let her down.
“I’m proud of you Em.” he left plainly.
“Why have you been acting so cold?” she asked as she looked at him.
He had a lot of problems in his life, he didn't want to drag her down with him.
November 26th
Rory tried to figure out where she was at that moment. She didn't recognize any of this. The walls were high and looked to be made out of wood. There were nets hanging around, and there was an odor. She didn't get to put any thought into the situation before their capturer walked back in.
“Letters to Romeo. Hasn’t anyone told you that story is a tragedy.” they spoke as they approached her. Running their hand alongside her face. “It's Shakespeare's greatest one, tied with Hamlet. Isn’t that right Rory?” the voice now sounded a lot more feminine. But still as mocking as it was before.
“How do you know my name?” she asked, looking at the voice’s source.
“You mean, you don't recognize me?” she stated, taking off a mask covering her face. The blue eyed girl’s eyes widened.