Chapter Text
A new case like always. A new stressful case. Hotch never dropping his facial expression, Emily nervously biting her nails, J.J wishing he was at home with Henry and Will, Rossi(yes Rossi) wondering how many times is it appropriate to get married again, Spencer overanalyzing the case a thousand times over again, and Derek. Well Derek was different this time. He was cold. Very cold. Not his usual, “I’m on a case, I have to be professional but also funny,” self. And it seemed everyone noticed it too.
“Okay, four children were found buried in multiple different corn fields across Nebraska. Ten year old Louis Patterson, eight year old Emmett Wilder, seven year old Atlas Green, and thirteen year old Wyle Mason,” Penelope said. “They were sexually assaulted, stabbed and left there to die,” She added reluctantly. “Anything that connects the kids?” Emily asked. “They all live in one neighborhood,” Penelope answered. “When were they reported missing?” Reid asked. “Louis a month ago, Emmett four weeks ago, Atlas two weeks ago, and our newest addition was reported missing four days ago,” Penelope said. “And the parents reported them missing after they all failed to come back from school,” J.J said. “So we're dealing with a serial pedophile,” Reid said “But why kill them after four days and leave them in corn fields?” Reid asked.
“Could be important to him,” Morgan added. His tone was unable to be read. Like he shut people out from hearing his true attention in what he said. “Yeah but why would a cornfield be important?” Reid asked. “I don't know,” J.J said. “Okay, wheels up in thirty,” Hotch said.
Reid saw Derek looking uneasy like this case physically pained him. “Hey, you okay?” Emily asked. “Yeah, it's just” Reid started. “Does Morgan seem off to you?” Reid asked. Emily sighed. “Thought I was the only one,” She said. “Why do you think he's like this?” Reid questiond. “I don't know. Derek isn't the open type. If somethings wrong he wouldn't tell us,” Emily sighed.
On the plane Morgan kept to himself. Like he was allergic to interacting with rest of the BAU.
“He's off,” Emily mumbled. “Very,” Reid nodded.
“Okay, turns out Atlas and Wyle were Best friends, like joined at the hip best friends. In fact Wyle was the last person to see Atlas alive,” Garcia said over the computer. “What did Wyle say about that last time he saw Atlas?” Hotch asked. “Well that's the thing, Wyle didn't say anything. Like he didn't talk for weeks up until his capture and, god bless his heart, his death” Garcia answered. “Were there any other kids that saw Wyle?” Reid asked. “Thank you for asking, yes. Dylan Macey. Him and Wyle have known each other since kindergarten,” Garcia answered. “Then I guess I know who we're gonna question first,” Hotch said.
While at the police department Emily kept a close eye on Derek. His every move, how he physically recoiled every time they said more about the kids, how he was mumbling to himself, even to his breathing pattern Like he was constantly trying to calm himself down.
“Okay, Derek and Emily. I’m gonna need you guys at cornfield Wyles was found, Reid you're gonna go with Detective Roberts to Louis’s cornfield, and Rossi you go with Detective Mayfield to Atlas’s. Jayje you go question Dylan Macey and his family, while I talk to Wyles parents.” Hotch said.
“Let's go,” Derek said to Emily. It wasn't in a rude manner just in closed way.
And it seemed Hotch was catching on to the way Derek was acting. So did Jayje, and so did Rossi. “Is he okay?” Jayje asked. “I don't know,” Hotch said in typical Hotch manner. “He's been acting like this since we first started the case,” Reid added. “You know, he acted like this on the Simmons case as well,” Rossi said. Something seemed to have clicked it Hotch’s head, but he didn't tell the team. “He's probably just stressed. We all are. Let's get back to the case,” Hotch ordered.
~~~~~~~~~~
Emily felt like she was walking on eggshells around Derek. Like in the car over there he basically snapped at her then pretending like nothing happened. “Hello, I’m Agent Derek Morgan,” Derek said shaking the deputy's hand. “And I’m Agent Emily Prentiss,” Emily introduced.
“Well the boy was found here. Duct tape to his mouth and hog tied,” The deputy announced.
Derek closed his eyes to calm himself down at the thought of that. “Morgan?” Emily said, snapping him back to reality. “ Are you okay?” She asked. He nodded. “Are you sure? Cause if you're not-” “I’m fine!” Derek snapped, cutting Emily off. Emily backed up and went to go examine the field. She was gonna give Derek his space for now.
~~~~~~~~
Back at the Macey house Jayje was questioning Dylan. He obviously didn't want to answer anything, but if he was at risk of being next he had to answer something. “Okay think back, what was the last thing Wyle said to you?” Jayje asked. “He said, ‘Don't follow me this time, find your own way back home,' he would never say that,” Dylan whispered quietly. “What does that mean?” Jayje asked. “He always walks me home, but this time he told me to follow my brother home,” Dylan answered.
“Do you know why Wyle would say this?” Jayje questioned. He kept his head down. “Remember, you'd be helping us catch whoever took Wyle,” Jayje reassured. “He told me not to say anything,” Dylan whispered. “Your secret would be safe with me,” Jayje said. “He, he had this friend,” Dylan started. “He said his name was Michael. Wyle said Michael would take him out to a cabin. He said they had a….. a cornfield. Michael would let him drink wine. And he said they would have fun playing wrestle,” Dylan admitted. Jayje nodded, writing everything down. Oh shit..
~~~~~~~~~~~
Back at the station Reid was drawing on the board trying to somehow connect to cornfields to each other.
“What do you got pretty boy?” Morgan asked. “So far nothing, I-I mean they're all in a vicinity of each other, but- but they just don't connect,” Reid bit his pen. “Okay, Dylan was very helpful and told me a lot,” Jayje said, walking through the door. “What?” Hotch asked, walking in behind her. “Well, he said on the days before his ‘capturng’ Wyle was talking about this ‘friend’ Dylan told me his name was Michael. Micheal would take Dylan out to his cabin and let him drink wine, then they'd ‘played wrestle’ he also told me the cabin had a cornfield,” Jayje said. “That's why he's dumping them in cornfields,” Reid said, staring back to his map. Emily looked at Derek. He looked like he was either gonna faint or puke any moment now. “You okay?” She whispered. He nodded faintly. Reid and Hotch seemed to notice as well.
Penelope was called. “Hello my loves, how may I assist?” Garcia asked. “We need you to find us a cabin in the vicinity of both cornfields, it-it would go on for miles so extend your search far, " Reid said. “Already on it,” Garcia said, clicking away. “Oh, found you. There's a cabin registration to a Michael Quinn, he lives about thirty miles away from all the cornfields but their paths all lead to his cabin,” Garcia said. “That's him,” Jayje said. “Anything on him?” Hotch asked. “His past is swiped clean,” Garcia said. “Let's go,” Hotch replied, leading the way.
~~~~~~~~~
As cars sped up to the cabin Derek drove slightly faster, and got out of the car at a impeccable speed, out he followed all protocols waiting for his teammates. “1 2 3, FBI OPEN UP!” Derek yelled, kicing the door down. “Clear!” Rossi announced. “Clear!” Emily said. “Clear!” Morgan replied. Jayje heard scratching under the floorboard. “Guys! I got something!’ She announced. She picked up the floorboard and underneath was a little girl. Her eyes dry from crying. “Hey! Hey! I’m not gonna hurt you,” Jayje said, lifting her out.
~~~~~~~~~~
“So he used his own daughter to lure kids to stay at his cabin?” Morgan confirmed. Jayje nodded. “Sick bastard,” He muttered under his breath. “Her mother?” Emily asked. “Amelia’s mother can't be found. Like her birth was never documented,” Jayje said. “He could have been young when he had her 1) that would explain his agility, 2) that would explain her birth never being documented, they were young and scared. She probably left her and Michael when she was born,” Reid said. “That or he killed the mother,” Morgan suggested. “That too,” Hotch said. “Does she know where he would be heading?” Rossi asked. “No,” Jayje replied. A loud commotion was heard outside. Rossi looked out the window. “I’ll take a guess on where he's not,” He said, looking at Dylan Macey’s parents.
~~~~~~~~~~
“He- he was outside playing with his brother then Ryan came back alone to use the bathroom and when he went back out Dylan was gone,” His mother sobbed. “We should have never let him outside unsupervised,” His dad said. “Listen it's not your fault,” Jayje said. “Ryan said he talking to our neighbor Michael last but, we don't know who that is,” She sobbed. “We do,” Jayje admitted.
“It's time for that profile Hotch,” Jayje said, stepping out away frrom Dylans parents.
~~~~~~~~~
“Unsub is a white male in his middle to early thirty's, he appears friendly, often paints himself as a friend or neighbor,” Hotch said.
“He was most likely subjected to the same faith as a child directly or through someone he loves,” Reid added.
“He will talk to you concerned about his family due to the disappearances but don't be fooled he's trying to know what you know to cover his tracks,” Emily said.
“He most likely already made his mark on your children, so it's easy to gain their trust to take them to a remote place alone,” Derek said. Emily looked at him suspiciously. They did not go over that in the meeting room. “Okay, let's catch him and save Dylan,” Hotch said, talking to the people but looking at Derek.
“Morgan, a word?*” Hotch asked. He reluctantly followed.
“What?” Derek asked coldly.
“I think I know what's wrong,” Hotch said. Derek closed his eyes. “What are you talking about?” Derek asked. Hotch sighed.
“Morgan I’m a lead profiler, I know when somethings wrong,” Hotch replied like Hotch would if he was talking to a unsub.
“Look, I don't know what you think you know but one rule was we don't profiler each other and you're breaking that one goddamn rule,” Derek argued. He was obviously aggravated by Hotch. Did he know?
“Derek,” Hotch started. He actually called him by his name. He was trying to reason with him.
“I noticed the way you acted on the Simmons case, the Rivarez case, the Sunday Snatcher case. Morgan-” Hotch started. “No, you don't know shit. You don't get to profiler me. When you're done acting like a drill Sargent and acting like you know everything then we can get back to working on this case!” Derek stormed out.
Jayje entered as soon as he was walking out. “Hey,” she said, as Derek brushed past her. “What's wrong with him?” She asked. Hotch sighed. “What is it Jayje?” Hotch asked. “Okay, well another child is missing and what are the chances it's… It's Ryan,” Jayje said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
“I don't get it, he kidnaps two kids, siblings to be exact, on the same exact day right after we finish questioning him it makes no sense,” Emily said.
“It makes perfect sense,” Derek interrupted. “He wants control,” Derek said. “And it helps Ryan was his first target,” Reid said. “Excuse me?” Jayje asked.
“While I had nothing to do but stare at a map Garcia here,” Reid pointed to the computer. “Kept running something on ‘Michael Quinn' and she tracked down his real identity from that,” Reid said.
“Yes my darlings, I figured who this man is. His name is Alexander Frego ‘married last name’, when he was nine his father, get this allegedly murdered his brother in a remote cornfield like a mile away from their cottage or whatever but rumors said the dad didn't actually sexually assault and kill his son and it was quote unquote ‘someone else's oh the spooky part is this is his brother,” Garcia said, sending them the photo. Reid flipped the computer over.
“Oh my god,” Emily out her hand to her mouth. “I’ve seen weird things but that… that takes the cake,” Rossi said. And on the screen was a photo of Ryan and Alex’s brother side by side. Identical.
“But why take Dylan as well?” Jayje asked. “Why not? A child all alone outside of your targets home. Easier to take Ryan. Tell him you have his brother. Ryan is already so guilty he will throw out all doubt and follow you into a active volcano if necessary to find his brother,” Rossi answered. “So where would they be kept?” Reid asked. “A cabin,” Hoch said.
Reid quietly nodded his head. That was obvious. “Garcia, is the cabin still up?” Hotch asked. “Glad you asked, sadly it was burnt down… last spring, rumor has it he was building another one somewhere to be with his ‘family’ but don't know where it is and if it was ever finished,” Garcia replied. “Hey, what about his daughter?” Emily asked. “Oh yeah, he had a daughter Amelia. It was said she had died at birth and her mother is Alira Capun, she changed her last name after Alexander wouldn't change his last name back. She's a real estate agent and left our evil bastard right after the baby ‘died’ but in reality she just left one night and never came back leaving him with Amelia,” Garcia answered. “Besides luring kids to stay, he was a good parent,” Rossi said. “I doubt,” Morgan muttered. So quietly not even a mouse could hear. But Reid and his over observant self heard it.
“Garcia find us a list of cabins far out of the vicinity of when any of the cornfields,” Hotch ordered. “Might take long,” Garcia said, clicking away. “Make it fast,” Hotch said. “And find Amelia's mother. She needs to come get her,” Morgan said.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Hotch was sitting down in a office waiting for the phone to ring a call from Garcia saying she found the place, but nothing but a loud knock on the door. “Come in,” Hotch said, trying to stay awake from all the cases he has done. “Well the whole team is concerned about that fight you and Morgan had,” Rossi entered. “It wasn't a fight,” Hotch said, leaning back. “The heated discussion you and Morgan had,” Rossi said, groaning as he sat down.
“We wanted to know what you guys were arguing about,” Rossi finally said. “If I wanted the whole team to know what we were talking about I would had said it in front of you guys,” Hotch replied. He was protecting Derek's secret.
“You're protecting him,” Rossi said.
“Excuse me?” Hotch looked absolutely appalled.
“Jayje heard what Morgan said before he stormed out. She was about to walk in, she was right by the door,” Rossi said. Hotch inhaled sharply.
“If he wants to say something he can,” Hotch cleared his throat.
“Hotch, you don't think-” Rossi started.
“Rossi, I’m a profiler. I know,” Hotch said. And that just solidify Rossi’s suspicions. And he wasn't gonna tell the rest of the team
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Got anything from Amelia?” Rossi asked. “No, she doesn't know where he is right now but she wants her dad,” Jayje replied. “Poor kid,” Rossi sighed.
“Yeah Garcia what do you have?” Derek said, putting her on the table and on speaker.
“Okay, so guess what? I found one that was built fifteen years ago, when his brother ‘his name is Liam by the way’ died, and then one built five months ago,” She said.
“Before the first kidnapping,” Reid said.
“Yup, also here's the fun part they're both addressed to Liam Quinn, y’know the dead brother. And I decided to dig even more deeper. Apparently they were sexual abuse claims. They had people come to their house multiple times, but the dad was such a important person in the community, I’m talking outstanding civilian, takes care of the kids. Swimming coach in the city,” Garcia said.
Reid looked up and noticed Morgan was gone. How long has he'd been gone? And what made him leave?
“Reid, where you listening?” Hotch asked. “Of course I was,” Reid said.
“Okay, you Morgan, and Emily go to newest cabin, Rossi, Jayje and I will go to older cabin,” Hotch said. Reid nodded turning to Emily, but no Morgan.
~~~~~~~~~~~
“Morgan! There you are,” Emily said. “Oh yeah,” He said. “Come on, we got a mission to do,”
On the car ride there Morgan was driving extremely fast but nobody said anything. He got out before anyone else even the detectives, Emily caught up easily but he was still significantly faster.
“Clear!” Emily called.
“Clear!” Morgan called.
Reid looked around a little and saw a little loose panel. “Hey guys! I think I found something!” He yelled. He moved in and there was a hatch with a ladder. He climbed down and it was really spacious. “You're back,” He heard someone sobbed. A child. “Hey, no I’m not here to hurt you,” Reid said. The child moved back. “I-I’m Dr. Reid. You-you spoke with my teammate Agent Jennifer Jareau. Jayje. We're here to help,” Reid said. “I don't want to talk to Jayje,” He said. “Then you don't have too,” Reid said. “But first let's get out,” Reid said. He heard Derek and Emily calling his name from above the hatch. “I got Dylan!” Reid announced.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“He won't talk to anyone, not even his own family,” Jayje said. “But he trust you,” Reid said. “Doesn't want to talk to any women,” Jayje replied.
“Morgan you go,” Hotch said. “Huh?” Derek was shocked. “You did this before with the OCD case remember. You can do it again,” Hotch replied. “Okay,” Derek said. Rossi knew the real reason Hotch sent Morgan, but kept to himself.
“You think Derek can get something out of him?” Reid asked.
“I hope,” Hotch said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Hello, I’m Agent Derek Morgan,” Derek said. “Where would you like me to sit?” Derek asked. Dylan pointed to the chair farthest from him. “We know about Ale- Michael, and how he took you, and your brother,” Derek said. ”Is he gonna hurt Ryan?” Dylan asked. Morgan nodded. “We just want to know what happened,” Derek said.
Dylan put his head down. “I’m here to help you,” Derek said. “Well you can't,” Dylan said. “I know how you feel,” Derek said. “You trust him enough to let him take you somewhere, all alone even after hearing about Wyle. He lets you drink a little wine, never had that before, he brushes your thigh one too many times, lays you down and asks you to do something when you don't he tells you ‘Man up boy, look up to the sky’ it haunts you forever,” Derek said. Dylan looked surprised. Half of that stuff didn't even happen. What was Derek talking about?
~~~~~~~~~~~
“What are you doing?” Emily asked, upon seeing Reid staring directly into the room. “Trying to read lips,” He admitted. She covered his eyes with her hand. “Morgans?” She asked. “No, he's turned to us. Dylan's,” Reid said. “He's confused,” Reid added. “He's young, he doesn't know what's going on,” Emily said. Reid wasn't buying that. Dylan didn't know exactly what was going on but what Derek was saying confused him even more.
“He's taking a long time,” Reid admitted. “Dylan's probably not talking a lot,” Jayje replied. “He is,” Reid said. “How do you know?” Rossi asked. “His lips have been moving ever since Derek entered,” Reid said, not taking his eyes of the room. “Then what's taking Derek so long?” Emily asked. “He's getting valuable information,” Hotch said. He knows that a half lie.
~~~~~~~~~~~
“How do you know all of this?” Dylan asked. “I had my own Michael, his name was Carl Buford. He's in jail for the murder of kids, just like Wyle, Louis, Atlas, and Emmett,” Derek admitted. “Did he do the… things.. Michael did to them, to you?” Dylan asked. Derek was reluctant but eventually nodded.
“If Carl could have been put away then Michael can,” Derek said. Dylan smiled. “He gave me wine and tried to brush my hair but Ryan stopped him, Michael knocked him out then put him in his truck, I asked if he was gonna take him to his other cabin he said, ‘No, they're gonna know that's where he is’ he's taking him some place special he said, ‘A place where Ryan belongs with him,” Dylan said.