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He had tried to move on. When he joined te BAU he knew it was a dangerous job, he had been shot, kidnapped, struck, and humiliated. He could do it, after all those years he had built a layer around him to protect himself.
Maeve was dead.
She had been kill.
And it was his fault.
He knew he couldn't keep repeat it, he knew she wouldn't want it, he knew that she wouldn't blame him but he just couldn't stop.
Working was all he could do, travel, catch the unsub, going back, another case, repeat.
The team was all he had.
He had to be smarter, braver, stronger for them. He would not allow another dear person die.
"Spence?" A voice dragged him out of his mind. It was JJ's.
"Sorry, what?"
"Hotch wants us on the plane. A new case pop up."
"Ah, sure." He got up from his desk, grabbed his bag and walked with her.
"Are you okay?" She asked.
He knew, the way her brows slightly frowned and how she pursed her lips, she was concern, they all were and he knew that. He just hoped it wasn't pity.
"Yeah, I was just lost in thought."
She didn't push it.
Charleston was a not so small city, they were in the Jet just about to land, Hotch, as always was explaining everything to the team. Sometimes Reid wondered if he ever got tired of this, he had a son, was he scared every minute of his life for him?
"We will go straight to the police precint. They are already expecting us. Officer Brawn is the one in charge, Reid, Morgan, I want you to go to the morgue. Talk to the forensic about the victims, maybe there's new information. "
Both men nodded.
"We have to find something that conects all girls. The only thing they'd found is a sea shell on their pockets."
"Well, the three of them are totally different from each other, so, it isn't something fisical. Isn't it?" Said Rossi.
"A blonde, a red head and a brunette, all in the same range of age."
"It is not uncommon for an usub to have different "type" of victimology, but there's has to be something that conects all the girls, maybe the age, Nancy Miller and Andy Hills were both seventeen." Said the doctor.
"But Hanna Crauford wasn't. She was already twenty."
"And they aren't even from the same race. Andy was Black."
"I can get the younger girls, they were both from good families, one could consider them easy targets, but Hanna? She was here for collage and working two jobs. What could the unsub get from her?"
"Maybe that's what made her an easy target. If she was working two jobs it's probably that she was too tired to fight back."
"We will ask for defensive marks on the body."
"Okay then, everyone knows what to do. Let's go."
The smell of the formaldehyde was something so caracteristic of a morgue, Dr. Jones was already working on the last victim when they arrived.
"Dr. Johana Jones?"
She nodded.
"Agents Morgan and Reid, from the BAU. What do we have here?"
"Oh yes, well, I was just finishing on the last girl."
"Hannah."
"Yeah, do you see this on the neck?"
Morgan took a step closer, there was a bruse on her neck, the skin was pale almost as white as a paper, the brown hair had no kind of shine.
"She was strangled." Said Reid.
"Yes, but it wasn't the cause of death, as you can see here, her arms were tied up, she couldn't move, then she was thrown to the ocean. She couldn't swim and she drowned."
"All three were found on the beach."
"Yes but she." She pointed at the blonde girl "She didn't have enough water on her lungs, she was already death when she was thrown on the water."
She walked towards her, the two agents followed. She grabbed the head of the girl and slightly turned her to one side. There it was, a red spot, if one look very closelly her skull could be seen.
"She has no marks on her neck."
"And no defensive wounds. The other two tried to fight back, she didn't, that makes me think that..."
"She was attacked from behind." Said Morgan.
"Yes."
Reid's phone rang, he made a sign as an apology and went to pick up. It was JJ.
"Hey, what's up?"
"I will send you an adress, another body was found. Another girl."
"Copy, on our way."
They drove, and that is to say, Morgan drove, as they reached the beach Spencer was starting to regret his choice in clothes, the button up shirt that he was wearing made him sweat, he didn't liked a lot the warm weather.
There was a lot of police cars and a bright yellow tape keeping away the people. They found Alex waiting for them.
"What do we have?"
"No one saw anything, another girl, about twenty. Black hair. Hotch and Rossi are talking to the man who pulled her out of the water." She said as they walked.
"Pulled her out?"
"Yes, it was a diver he's..."
He looked at where Hotch was and for a second he stopped right in his track, it had been eight years but he could still recognize him.
JJ saw him, he took his elbow and look at him concern.
"Spence? Are you okay?"
He wanted to respond, but then He looked at him.
"Doctor Agent Spencer Reid."
When he heard that voice he felt how his heart started to race, his palms began to sweat and he swear his knees shaked for an instant.
Behind JJ, beside Hotch's side was a man, almost as he rememberd him, his hair was a little bit short, but he could still pull a pony tail, he had a wetsuit on but just the down part, he could see the tattos he remeberd vividly and some new scars on his chest. But his eyes, god his eyes, the same shade of sea-green he only saw in him.
JJ and Morgan stood by his side, trying to guard him in some way while Alex stood behind looking confused.
"Percy." He finally managed to say "What are you doing here?"
He wasn't expecting to see him again if he was being honest.
"I work here." He scratched the back of his head and oh god, he was still so gorgeus.
"Mister Jackson is the one who found the body." Said Rossi.
"What? How?"
"As I was explaining to your co-workers I was doing my morning swiming and check up of our cleaning filters when I saw her, I immediately swam towards her and pulled her out, I tried to do CPR on her but she was already gone."
"There are no cameras in the area, we have no way to know how long she's been in there." Said JJ.
"Actually, If you let me, our filters have cameras on, it helps us to keep track on the marine life. I can give you acces."
"That would be helpfull, thanks."
When Percy heard his voice he couldn't help but stare, he had missed him, he never called or anything to respect his wishes.
"I can't do this anymore." He said that nigh.
"Yeah no problem, I can text you the adress."
"Why don't you give it us now." Said Hotch with a harsh tone.
None of them knew why they had broken up but they were going to go and protect him anyway.
Percy gave him a look but nodded, Rossi wrote the adress.
"Great, thank you, we'll be there." Said Rossi, Percy nodded.
"Sure. We will have the footage ready. It was good seeing you again, Agent Hotchner, Agent Morgan, Spencer."
He said his name with a different tone and everyone noticed it, he bit his tongue to supress the need to walked behind him.
He just nodded.
Once he was gone Jennifer spoke.
"Spence, are you okay?"
"Yeah, everything fine. I just... I hadn't see him in eight years."
"Well let me tell you something pretty boy, he aged like wine. And I'm saying this in the most straight way possible, he is the most gorgeous man I have ever seen." Said Morgan.
"Am I missing something here?" Asked Blake.
"That tremendous handsome man was Spencer's ex."
"What?!" Said Blake and Rossi at the same time.
"Could we not talk about him? We have a case."
" Yes and we better start working on it now." Said Hotch.
They al nodded.
It was weird, seeing Percy after all this time was like forgetting how to breath, he smiled at him. Even after what Spencer did he still smiled at him when he saw him, because that's how Percy was.
He was the kindest person he knew, well besides JJ.
"The morgue report arrived. It was the same method as Hannah, and they ID the body." He put a photo on the board. "This is Regina Ortega. Twenty six years old."
"Ugh, why the change in victimology? Two girls of seventeen, one of twenty and now a twenty six girl? What are we missing?"
"Besides the fact that three of them are of different nationalities."
"Yeah, and he's getting impatient. He waited two week between Nancy and Andy, but now two days from Hannah and Regina." Said Rossi.
Spencer was watching the map, four different beaches, four different girls, different ages, what did this guy wanted? He tied them up and leave the to drown, he couldn't see them do that, he didn't rape them or abuse them in any way or even robbed them, so what was the point?
What did he get about all of this?
He saw the pictures, all beautifull and pretty girls. Girls with a bright future ahead of them.
Something clicked in his head.
He looked at the files of each of the girls; Nancy Miller, she was a surfer instructor.
Andy Hills, a life guard.
Hanna Crauford, a waitress in one of the sea food restaurants near the beach.
"Guys, do we have any information about Regina?"
"What do you see boy?" Asked Alex.
"Call Penelope." He said to Morgan "I think I found a lead."
Derek did what the younger said, in a few seconds the voice of his favorite blonde could be heard in the room.
"Why hello my delicious chocolate, what can I help you with?"
"Hi gorgeous, i need you to look for a victim's background. Her name is Regina Ortega."
"Just that? You know i can do it while sleeping." They could hear her typing. "Well Regina Ortega, twenty six years old, her parents are from Honduras and Chile, she worked at a super market, she was enroll on night clasess in marine biology, she was currently doing her practices in the beach she was found."
"They all worked at something that made them be on the beach."
"The unsub could be watching over them all the time."
"They were in public and crowded places all the time. They never even knew they were being watched." Said Blake.
Spencer thought about it. Why? Why throw them in the ocean?
Then, Percy came into his mind.
"In greek mythology the goddess Aphrodite could change her appearance according to the beauty standards of the person who saw her. It was a way to tell that beauty could came in every form."
He was a little bit shocked when he learned Percy was a polytheistic.
"She was also born off the sea foam."
He had read all kinds of books to get to understand Percy's religion.
"So is that what it is? The unsub thinks those girls are going to reborn like Aphrodite?"
"Or is a kind of offering."
"Whatever his motivation is, he is going to kill again soon."
"Thank you Gracia." Said Hotch.
"How do we do it? It's not like there are a lot of cameras on the beaches."
"Percy has cameras." He blurted out.
Aaron looked at him.
"I think is better if you take a step back, you shouldn't get involved with someone you know in an active case."
"It's not like he is a suspect. Besides if I come with you to the meeting he may give us acces to his cameras instead of just the recording."
"I thought you had ended up bad." Said Morgan, kindda wanting the gossip.
He remeberd vividly that night.
"I can't keep doing this." He had said.
He shaked his head, trying to push his thoughts aside.
"That doesn't matter, Percy is a good person, he will help us if I ask."
"I mean yeah, but, Spence, you said you haven't see him in eight years, are you sure he hasn't changed?" Said Blake.
"Well, I guess we will figure it out."
"Whatever you say boy genius. I'll ask Penelope either way, see if she can find more cameras in the zone."
He didn't actually remember when the rain started, he just remeberd the fight.
It had been his fault, like most of the things that went wrong in their relationship.
Percy was caring, kind and he had so much patience with him. He was perfect.
That's what scared Spencer.
For years he had fallen into his most paranoid side that something bad was going to happen. That some unsub were going to find Percy and do something to him.
He used to woke up in the middle of the night, scared, he used to saw Percy sleeping by his side, passed a hand by his hair, concentrating on the white lock of hair that was peeking out. He used to just looked at him, memorizing his face, his scars, the way he breath.
He just couldn't stand the voice in his head saying that if something happend it would be his fault.
"Please, Spence, just talk to me." He had said.
He thinks that was after the rain.
"I can't. I can't bear it. You'll be much better without me. I'll be putting you in danger."
"I am already in danger! I'm always in danger! With or without you in my life. Just...let me be your safe place."
"I cannot ask you that. I cannot..." he had let out a sob "I'm sorry. I am really sorry."
He had been a coward. But what happened to Maeve had just proved him right.
It was a white bulding, modest, not desing to attract atention, just the a name on the front "Delphi Association."
They walked inside, there was a lot of plants, photos decorated the walls, some of the beach, some of rivers, in some were Percy.
"Hi, can I help you?" It was a woman, she had black hair and green eyes, she was young, maybe on her mid twenty's.
"Yeah, I am Agent Aaron Hotchner, we came to see Percy Jackson. "
They kind of expected some nervousness to be born in the girl, it often happened when they approached younger people. But she didn't reacted at all.
She just smiled.
"Oh right, he said you would come. Well my name is Valentina Diaz, you are welcome to Delphi Association. Could you sign here? It's just a security messure."
They all signed.
"Great, let me just call Percy and tell him you arrived."
She took the phone and press some buttons, a seconds later she was speaking.
"Yo barnacle boy, the FBI is here. Where do I send them, yours or Leo's?"
Rossi was a little shaked by the lack of professionalism.
" 'kay, on their way."
She grabbed four credentials and handed them to them.
"You have to wear them, other wise the elevator won't work. He's on his office in level -15. Is the thirth door on the left."
"Did you say -15? Like down instead of up?"
Valentina laughed.
"Yeah. He doesn't like heights. But it has a great view, you'll see." She winked.
They walked into the elevator, JJ pressed the button -15, they could see the number were from 15 to -15. A red laser scaned them before they moved.
"Acces granted." Said a robotic voice.
"Jesus Reid, is your ex freaking Tony Stark?" Said Rossi.
There was no music, he remeberd Percy say that he hated when elevators had music.
They got to level -15 pretty fast.
Once they got out there was another laser.
"Acces granted. Level forge."
They figured out what the views were. Right in front of them the walls were made of glass, they were deep in the ocean, there were all kinds of fishes and sea animals, just existing.
It was beautifull the way the light of the day could be seeing, it made everything glow in a shade of blue that could took anyone's breath.
"Wow." Said Rossi "This is really something."
"Yeah. I honestly didn't expect this."
They follow Valentina's instructions. While they were reaching the thirth door they could hear voices.
"Come on man, I'm just saying. Maybe there is a chance they could help us."
"We don't need that. Will we give them the footage and that's all."
"Don't be such a seaweed! They are the police! They could do something!"
"They are the BAU, it's a different thing."
Hotch turned at him.
What they were talking about?
They suddenly stopped talking and in a instant the door opened.
"Agents." Said Percy with smile "Welcome, come on in."
They got inside. The office wasn't extremely big, they had met CEO's that had an entire floor just for them.
One of the walls was made of glass so you could see the sea, he had all kinds of photos, a lot of them with Annabeth.
Spencer rememberd Annabeth, Percy's best friend, and ex.
On the desk, right in front of the computer there was a man. Brown hair and eyes, pointed ears, more slim than Percy. For what he could recall of Percy's friends, this one was Leo.
"Let me introduce you to Leo Valdez. He is my principal engineer, and well, head of tecnology development."
"Hi." He said.
"Leo this are Agent Hotchner, Agent Rossi Agent Reid and Agent Jareau."
"It's cool that you have to say "Agent" before your names." Leo said the he turned to Percy "I want to be called Agent Leo from now on."
Percy laughed.
"First become a detective and then we speak. It's bad enough that you want everyone to call you captain Leo."
"I built an entire ship with my bare hands, of course I want to be called captain!"
"You built a ship?" Said Rossi
Leo nodded and pointed a photo behind them.
The four of them turned and looked.
There was a gigantic ship made of wood, the front was carved in such a way that it resembled the head of a dragon.
Rossi knew there was no way that young man could built that.
In the photo were other three people, two girls and one blonde guy, they all looked so young.
"I also sailed the Argo when you disappeared, shouldn't they call me captain too?"
"Are you in that picture?" Said Leo
Percy sighed.
"No. And you know that."
"Then nope, you are not to be called captain. And you know well that I didn't disappeared."
They tensed for a second.
The agents could tell it was a sensitive topic.
"What is that?"
JJ's voice distracted the pair in front of them.
Right in the corner there was a small golden table, in top of it there was two figures of men, one with a trident in his left hand and the other one had a hammer, there was pearls, dried star fishe and a couple of black feather, there was also a piece of charcoal and something that appeared to be cooper.
Both of them looked at the corner.
"Oh yeah, that's our altar." Said Leo.
"Altar?" Said Hotch.
"Yep. We are too deep in the ocean, we must pay respect." Said Percy.
"So, the trident one is Poseidon and the other?"
"Hephestus." Said Leo with a smile.
"The Greek god of fire, forging, craftsmanship, manual creativity and industry." Said Reid, it was the first time he spoke.
Percy looked at him. Yes, years had passed but for the son of Poseidon Spencer was still beautifull.
"Yeah well, we found something that will help your case." Said Leo, wanting to help his friend stop yearning someone who didn't know what he wanted.
That caught the agents attention.
Leo turned the screen so they could see the footage.
A couple of fishes passed, the seaweed moved, there was a little light but the background was dark.
It was 1:56 am when Regina was thrown, she moved, trying to swim, bubbles came out of her mouth. At 2:00 am she stopped moving.
"Gods..." said Leo.
"Can you send that to our tech analyst?" Said Hotch
"Sure." Replied Leo "Do you guys need anything else?"
Reid looked at the others. Hoping his recuest could be acomplished.
"Do you have the map of all your filters?"
Leo looked at Percy first, when the sea-green eyed nodded he started to type, in seconds they could see a map with red points, basically, there was a spot on every beach and body of water in the city and the state.
"We will need that too." Said Rossi.
Spencer took a breath before speaking.
"We were hoping that maybe you could give us acces to your security system so we could stablish surveillance." He said with a serious tone, trying to keep everything professional.
"σου είπα" Leo said. (I told you)
"κάτσε ήσυχα." Percy replied. (Shut up)
Spencer wished he knew greek.
"Of course, everything you need. I just need a minute to inform my boss."
"I thought you were the boss." Said Rossi.
"Ha!" Leo laughed "There's no way he could keep this together."
Percy made a face to him before exit the room.
"Yo, Spencer, right?" Leo's voice was settle but there was a little of a rude tone behind.
"Yes."
"He's still in love with you."
He crossed his arms while Spencer bit his lip, wanted to disappear.
"Do you think that you being here, looking at him like that is easy to him? If there was any other agent, and excuse me if that's rude, here asking what you are asking he would tell them to fuck off. But yeah, congrats. You still have him in the palm of your hand."
Leo was never known for being coarse to people, but when Percy showed up at his door and didn't move from his couch for three weeks he knew Spencer had broke him.
Percy and him didn't started at the best terms, but as the years past they grew pretty close.
"Hey, you can't talk to him like that!" JJ said.
"I am not talking to Agent Reid, I am talking with Spencer. I am not trying to be a piece of shit, but you knew what you were doing coming here. It doesn't take to be a Behaviour Analyst to know that."
The door opened Percy walked in with a smile.
"Okay, Annie said to give you everything you need so you can give Leo Penelope's number."
He sensed the akward silence in the room.
"Is everything alraight?"
"Thank you for your willingness and support, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Valdez. We will contact you if we need anything. Good day." Said Hotch in the politest way possible.
Once the detectives were out Percy let out a sigh and fell on the chair in front of Leo.
"Do you think they'll notice?"
"I mean, they would be pretty shitty detectives if they didn't notice it. It's gonna be pretty fast too."
"Yeah, we have a couple of hours. I'll handle everything, already told Annie to get the lawyer."
Leo laughed.
"I told you we should've just tell them everything right away."
"They are working on something else, besides, is not exactly their expertise area."
Leo saw his friend thinking.
"Don't." He said to the son of the sea god.
"Don't, what?"
"Percy, don't be a migajero."
"What?"
"Yeah, don't go for the crumbs."
"That's what migajero means?"
"Yep. Don't be one."
He whined while throwing his hands in the air.
They were back at the precint, Rossi and Blake went to ask some friends of the victims if they had saw something.
"Hey, are you okay?" Said Hotch.
"Yeah, he didn't lie, you know? I mean, that was exactly what I was doing there."
Aaron was quiet, it was a weird the time when he asked something personal.
"You are just doing what you think is best for the case. Don't let it get into your head."
"Leo had a point. I broke up with Percy, I don't know why he is helping."
"Well, you said it, Leo had a point."
"He's still in love with you." He had said.
"Do you think I could do it?"
"I think this job has already took a lot from us."
He clenched his fists.
"Guys." Morgan appeared on the door "Penelope found something."
The two of them went to the conference room with the others.
"What is it Gracia?"
"Well..." she sounded a little bit nervous "Turns out your guy has recording of the other girls, all were thrown at the same hour, like the exact same time."
"So it is a ritual."
"How could they no see it? The first victim appeared almost a month ago."
"I going to give them the benefit of doubt. There is a lot of recording, I'm speaking about 365 records by filter by beach. I found it because I had all the data."
"They probably didn't know they had to look." Said JJ.
"Yep, but...well this is where it gets amm... weird."
"Weird?" Said Reid.
"Well, they have cameras in all the beaches except one, that happens to be the place where Nancy was killed. They have a filter there according to the map but there are no footage, at least not in the last ten months."
"Could it be a error on the sistem?" Said Morgan.
"Well, maybe but, they do maintenance once a month. How could they not notice? Unless..."
"They're hiding something."
"Uh, guys?" Said Blake "I think we have something."
"Yeah, us too."
"Well, turns out, Regina had applied for an internship in Dephi Association." Said Rossi.
"They worship greek gods." Said Rossi "Could one of them be so extremist to start killing in their name?"
"I think Mr. Jackson has some answers to give." Said Hotch.
"Bring him to questioning." Said Reid.
"Are you sure?" Said Morgan.
"Maybe Blake was right, maybe I don't know him anymore."
He was outside the building, sitting on a bench.
"What is he doing?" Said JJ
"I don't know." Replied Morgan "Is he aslepp?"
"You know I can hear you?" He raised his voice.
"How?" Wispered JJ
They approached him, his eyes were still close and he had a little smile on his lips.
"Took you less that I thought." He said, opening one eye "No Spence? Thought you might think to bring him, make me more cooperative."
"So there is something happening here."
Percy sighed.
"Yep, but no what you think it is. Not conected to your case. At least I don't think so."
"And how would you know that?"
"Could you take off you badges? I don't know if they're watching, they can't see me leaving with the FBI."
Morgan looked at JJ, she shrugged but took her badge off. Morgan did the same.
"I'll go with you, don't worry. The more discreet we are, the better."
He breath loudly and got up.
"Well then, lead the way."
Once they got in the car JJ spoke.
"I hope you know this is nothing personal. I actually used to like you."
Percy laughed.
"Yeah, I like you guys too. No heart feelings, I understand, it's your job. Spence always made clear that the BAU was first."
No one talked after that, they all knew that their job was a difficult one, more when your partner didn't knew the kind of life they lived.
They arrived the precint and lead Percy to a questioning room where, on the other side of the glass, was already the rest of the team.
"What do we think?" Said JJ.
"Well, he confess that something is happening. But said that it has nothing to do with the case."
"Who is getting in?"
"I'll go." Said Rossi.
"No." Replied Reid. "Percy has a conflict with any figure that reflects any kind of authority. He may not respond to you."
"Well, then I'll go." Said JJ.
Percy was looking directly at the glass, he wasn't threatening, he was just there, waiting patiently.
"Does he know we are here?" Said Blake.
"Yeah, probably, he's been in questioning before." Said Spencer "JJ, go with Blake."
"Why? Does he have some kind of conflict with women?"
Reid laughed.
"No, you guys look kind. And to be honest, Blake kindda looks like his mom, he cannot be rude to his mom, besides, he alredy knows JJ."
Hotch nodded.
"Fine, go."
Both nodded and got in the room.
They took sit in front of him.
Blake was the first to talk.
"Hi, Perseus, I'm..."
"Percy." He interrupted. "Please call me Percy."
She blinked a couple of times before nodd.
"Okay, Percy, I'm Agent Alex Blake from the BAU. And I think you already know my partner Agent Jareau."
He nodded.
"Yep."
"So, Percy, you know why are you here?"
He smiled.
"Leo said this would happen, I honestly hope that you didn't found anything. What were the odds."
"What did we found, Percy?" Asked Blake.
"All those bodies of water, but just one doesn't have footage. It was a long shot."
"So do you admit to tampering with your own company's security cameras?"
"Oh, it wasn't just me. We all knew."
"Knew what?"
"I mean, we didn't knew at first. That was kindda on me. That's why I took the deal."
"The deal? With who?"
"Are you guys recording this?"
Blake was impressed, the guy in front of her didn't appeared to be bad, he was so calm.
"Yes, this is being record."
"I don't want that."
"Why don't you want that?"
"Cause there's rats in this precint."
They looked at each other, in a moment JJ's phone was ringin.
"Yeah?" She answered
"We will pull off the cameras, record with your phone insted." Said Hotch.
"Wait, JJ, tell him that. Tell him we are the only ones who can access the recording." Spoke Reid.
She nodded and hung up.
"So Percy, they turned down the cameras in here, but I still have to have record of this so I'm gonna use my phone, is that okay?"
He nodded.
"What do you mean by rats?"
He took off his jacket before answer, they could see his bare arms, the tatoo Spencer rememberd was slightly different, a few lines were added below the SPQR letters.
"We have a base in every state we've been, so far there is one in California, another in New York, one in Florida and then there's this one here. We opened a year ago, my job is to see every base is in optimal condition for operation before I go to the next base. I never stay in one state for longer that a year or six months."
He took a sip of the bottle of water in front of him.
"Honestly? We didn't do our job very well. We look out for marine life, but we forgot about the human life. We forgot that not everyone is trying to change things for the better."
Then, he started doing something that made JJ want to back off.
He unbuttoned his shirt.
Before Blake could do something he pointed at his left pectoral, there was a scar there.
"Yeah, well, turns out that beach, the one with no cameras is a drug cargo exchange point."
Reid felt like he couldn't breath for a second.
What the fuck?
"When they saw what we were building they got mad, It was stupid." He laughed "I tried to negotiate with them. And then I was shot."
He actually counted the scars right there.
Six bullet wounds.
"Yeah, I was death for like 57 seconds or something like that. My people came here to report, for some little time we thought thay had catch them, but one day Leo was there in the beach, cleaning the tubes, they came back and threaten Leo, they said that if we didn't want more trouble we shouldn't report anymore, or they would come to the building and kill everyone inside."
There was no smile.
No sarcasm.
No shine on his eyes.
No trace of the brilliant guy JJ had met years ago.
"We could only made a deal, no cameras, just the filter. We wouldn't say anything. That's what Leo wanted me to tell you. He thought maybe you could help."
"But, then...about those girls, you know nothing?" Said Blake.
He shrugged.
"I told you it had nothing to do with your case. I doubt it's drug related."
"Why didn't you called Spence?"
A sad smile grew on his face.
"You guys already have so much in your plate. And well, for what I remember, you have to be invited by the local police. So..."
"The shrine." Said JJ "Poseidon and Hephestus."
For the first time, his look turned a little to the side, trying to avoid the question.
"Yeah? What with that?"
"Do you have altars to other gods?"
He blinked.
"Why? I mean, no. We just do altars when we want the protection of a god. We put some simbolic offerings and that's all."
"Like the perls and copper in the one in your office."
"Yeah."
"Why those things?"
"Well, pearls to Poseidon 'cause you know, they are made at the sea. And copper to Hephestus."
"And what else could be considered an offer?"
Percy passed his hands by his hair, visibly uncomfortable.
"I mean, technically, it could be anything. I just do elements and food."
"Just that?" Asked Blake.
He nodded.
"And what about this."
She pulled out photos of one of the girls. Percy's face passed from confusion to horror and the hate.
He shook his head.
"I would never do that. No one I know would ever do that."
"This was found in all of the victims pockets."
Inside a small bag there was a pink sea shell.
Percy took it.
"Aphrodite." He mumbled.
"So, you know who is for." Said JJ.
"I mean, it's one of the elements to..."attract her attention", she was born off a sea shell. But...killing girls? This is someone who knows absolutly nothing about this religion."
The was a knock on the glass.
"Excuse us a second."
Percy nodded, he couldn't keep his eyes off the photos and the sea shell, obviously offended by the use of his believe sistem.
"What is it?" Said JJ.
"We just got a report." Said Morgan "A girl went missing four hours ago, Yui Yamada fifteen years old, her mom says she must've been at home at three pm and doesn't answer her phone. She was a swiming instructor at the beach."
"She's even more younger than the others."
"At least we know Percy didn't do it." Blurted out Reid.
"Let him go, but tell Garcia to keep an eye on him. Let's move, we have to search for that girl."
"If he follows his ritual, then we have like four hours to find her." Said Morgan.
"We leave in five."
JJ got in the room.
"That would be all, thank you for your cooperation. We would be in contact."
Percy raised his eyebrows.
"Really? Great." He got up, and before Jennifer could get out he let out something that weighted in his chest "Is he okay?"
JJ looked at him, her blue eyes filled with something Percy couldn't quite decipher.
She smiled at him.
"I want to believe that he is. We all do."
She left the room and Percy left the precint.
"So, they are offerings to Aphrodite."
"Yeah."
"Isn't she the godess of love? Is that what the unsub want?"
"Or beauty." Reid said.
"So, we are ready to give the profile." Said Aaron.
Before they left they gathered all the cops.
"We are looking for a man, mid thirties, he has trouble maintaining social relationships, specifically with women. It's likely that his physical appearance isn't attractive, perhaps due to a visible scar or blemish."
"We think that is why he kiddnaps young girls, he offers them to the goddess Aphrodite in exchange of love and beauty."
"His ritual is very methodical, he threw his victims at the exact same hour so we are going to establish surveillance points on all county beaches."
"Try to be discreet, we have to caught him, not scare him away."
"We have four hours to find them."
"Let's go."
Once he got out of the precint he went to Leo, he got into his office and threw himself on the couch his friend had.
He let out a grunt.
"So...they know?" Said Leo, without dropping whatever he was doing.
"Yep. Also..." Percy didn't knew if he was breaking any law or something but he felt he needed to say it "That serial killer? He is killing in Aphrodite's name."
"What?" Now he was looking at him.
"Yeah, that psyco is leaving sea shells in those girls pockets as some kind of offering."
"What the fuck? Why would he do that?"
"Well, it must have to be a mortal. A demigod isn't as dumb to do that shit."
"Mortals surprise me every day. I mean, they don't even listen to their kids, they really think they will listen to them?"
"I wouldn't know."
Leo sighed.
"Well, this day must've caotic. Do you want a stress relief?"
Percy partially stood up using his elbows.
"Why? Are we gonna make out?" Said with a smile and a tone higher than his voice usually was.
Leo laughed, throwing a ball of rubber bands at him.
"Grow up dude, you are like fifty."
"Hey, I'm just two years older than you."
"Whatever. This filter needs maintenance, if you need to take a break you could dragg your fish butt there or I will call someone else."
Percy sighed and looked at the map, it was a near beach, a five minutes ride.
He indeed could use some time out.
"I'll do it." He got up. "Hey Leo." He said before exit the door.
"What?"
"Thanks dude."
Leo smiled at him.
"When ever you need, dog."
He went to gather all the tools he would need.
While loading everything into the car, he started to thought, why Spencer had such effect on him?
He had been with other people after him, women, men, hell, even nymphs and naiads. But he always thought about Spencer.
His hair, his pale skin, his moles, the way he got excited while reading or watching star wars.
He missed that.
Annabeth had told him he had a type.
He liked smart people, sue him.
When he arrived to the beach he took a moment to fill his lungs with that particular smell of the beach.
The sun was setting, everything was dark apart from the small orange, almost red point on the horizon.
The sea had started to be more unraveling, less restrain, unwelcoming to who's not belong in its realm.
He had his neoprene swimsuit, not because he needed it but you could never be too cautious.
Once he put a foot on the water he felt just like in home.
The ocean didn't try to push him, insted it welcomed him, he didn't felt the coold he was supposed to feel when you got in at this hour.
The sun was gone.
The moon and stars decorate the sky.
"Hi, Zoë."
He dive in.
The thing about the ocean was that one could feel the way in which pressure was applied against one, almost like a hug.
He swam towards the filter, if he were someone else he would need an oxygen tank to go that deep, but being a child of Poseidon meant he go as deep as he wanted.
The filter had its own light, faint so it wouldn't bother wildlife.
Once he was there he started his job.
Sometimes, when it was just him, he would sing.
He learned he had the "siren song" when he turned twenty. They all went to a karaoke to celebrate, when was his turn everyone fell in some kind of trance, willing to do what ever he wanted.
That scared him, so he never sang again in front of anyone.
He felt the need in his chest, so he was singing "Haunted" by Taylor Swift.
"Stood there and watched you walk away
From everything we had
But I still mean every word I said to you."
Yeah, maybe he was a "migajero" as Leo had said.
Sue him.
"Come on, come on, don't leave me like this
I thought I had you figured out
Something's gone terribly wrong
You're all I wanted."
He was almost finished and didn't knew how long he had been in there, he just sang that song over and over.
"You sound so good my Lord." Someone said from his right.
It was a sea perch.
"Oh, hi Eugene, didn't see you there."
"It's okay my Lord. Is a little late for you to be here, isn't?"
"Well, I..." he realized he didn't even knew the time.
He looked at his watch and saw it.
1:35 am.
"Yeah, in deed you are right. I'm almost done."
"Well, your partners are here."
"What?"
"Yeah, they are out there in the beach. A man and a woman, even thou the woman has her arms tied, I don't know how will they help you like that."
Percy let go the wrench he had in his hand.
He used his powers to surface. He was a little bit far form the shore, but he could see a man there, and a girl.
The man was blonde, he couldn't see his face but he saw that he had a gun in his hand, he was screaming and the girl was crying.
He approached, going under a small wooden dock.
"...up! Shut the fuck up!" Yelled the guy. "Just shut up and let me think!"
"Please! Please, I'm begging you! Don't do this!"
He submerged again.
"Fuck! Fuck fuck fuck!"
He swam up, he looked at his watch and thought, his phone was in his car, but he could still call.
"Come on. Come on, Spencer."
Surprisingly, the call connected.
"Spence." He wispered, he put his watch against his ear.
"Percy? What is it?"
"Track my location, now. I have your serial killer right in front of me."
Spencer, who was with Hotch and Morgan stopped.
"Spence? What?"
"Call Garcia, now!" He said "Tell her to track my call. Percy is with the unsub."
They ran towards the car, Hotch riding. Spencer put his phone on speaker.
"Percy! What do you see?"
They could hear the sea on the background, the crashing waves.
"He...he's gotta a gun and a girl with him. She's young. She's crying and has her arms tied." He wispered. "He is...eh...blonde, tall, I can't see his face. I think I can go closer."
"No! Percy don't do that."
"Garcia has the location, we are at five minutes."
"Percy, don't go any closer, we are going to be there soon. Don't hang."
"Spence, this guy...he's..." he mumbled "He appears to be insane. He..."
There was a loud sound, a big wave.
"Percy? Where are you?"
"Under the dock. I think they are approaching." He wispered "Spence I think he is going to shoot at her."
"Make sure he doesn't see you. Percy? Percy?"
They could only hear the waves for a second.
"Yo! Man! Everything alraight?"
It sounded distant.
"Fuck!" Yelled Reid.
"Get back! Don't come any closer!" Other voice said.
"Hey, I'm just trying to help you." Percy's voice sounded shaken, trying to appear as calm and serious as possible.
"Percy go!" Reid yelled again trying to be heard.
"You are doing this to catch her attention, right? Aphrodite."
"How.."
The man lowered the gun just a bit.
"She send me. She knows you've been trying so hard to caught her attention. Here I am, you don't have to do it anymore."
There were tears on the man's eyes.
"Did she?" His voice was fragil, while the girl tugged his arm.
"Yes. My name is Perseus, what is yours?"
"I...I am Justin."
"Justin, what a wonderfull name."
"Garcia, are you listening?"
"Yes, looking into it right now."
"Justin, why don't you let that beautifull girl go."
The gun was now pointing at her.
"No! I want her beauty! I need it now!"
"Hey, hey. Let's calm, you...you will have it!"
"We're almost there." Said Hotch
"Percy? Did you listen? We are almost there."
He didn't reply.
Hotch stopped the car and in that moment Reid opened the door and ran, Morgan right behind them.
They saw Percy in front of the man and girl, he had lowered the gun, responding to whatever Percy was saying.
Spencer and Morgan arrived just in time to see the man charging at Percy, pushing the girl towards the water.
Morgan took of his vest and dive in to safe her.
"No!" Screamed the man. He and Percy fought for the gun.
"Percy!" Reid scream.
There was a gunshot and then the two of them fell on the water.
"Percy!" He ran towards the water, ready to jump in but a couple of arms stopped him.
"Wait, you can't go." It was Hotch.
"Please Hotch, he could be wounded!"
Morgan got out of the water, he did CPR in the girl in that instant.
Sirens could be heard, cars and ambulances.
The girl breath, choking on water while Derek tried to calm her.
"Everything is alraight, you are okay." He said while she cried.
"Hotch. They aren't emerging." Said Reid, his voice filled with nervousness.
He was beginning to tear out his vest when they emerged.
Percy didn't take breaths of air, he just swam towards the shore, draggin Justin with him.
Reid ran, he didn't care if he got wet, he just wanted to see if he was okay.
Justin coughed, he tried to push Percy and ran but the demigod pulled him and punched him in the face, leaving him unconscious.
He grabbed him by the arm and throw him to the sand.
"Hey." He said.
His hair was wet, his eyes somehow shined thanks to the light
Spencer couldn't help it, he hugged him, tightly, wanted to feel his heartbeat, the way his lungs filled with air.
"Why did you do that?"
"He was threatening that girl."
He didn't knew why but he felt a rage born inside his chest, he pushed him.
"What the fuck Percy! You cannot do that! That's my job! You shouldn't have to run towards the danger!"
Spencer didn't knew in what moment his eyes filled with tears.
Percy took the detective's nape and pull, caressing his hair and putting his chin on the top of his head.
"I am fine." He said. "Nothing bad happened. I'm fine."
He separated from him and scanned him with his eyes, he found a small hole in the right bicep of his suit.
"He shot you."
"What? No, it's just a graze."
Spencer took his arm and saw, in fact, the wound was superficial, not deep at all.
"Anyway, we're going to get you checked out."
There were two ambulances, one inspecting the gir and in the other was Justin.
"Justin Golberg. Was caught in a fire two years ago, suffering burns mainly on his face." Said Morgan.
"That's why he wanted beauty." Said Percy.
"Yeah, good job. You broke his nose."
Percy laughed.
"Always a pleasure punching bad guys in the face."
Hotch approached.
"He has other wounds. Did you punch him in the water?"
Percy nodded.
"Olympic medalist, remember? That guy had bad luck. I could be down there for thirty minutes more but I figured he would die so..."
"Well, thank you for that." Said Hotch "We apologise for any inconvenient we might cause you."
He got closer.
"I spoke with some friends on the DEA, they will handle anything from now on, without committing yourself or anyone in your association."
Both man shared a handshake.
"Thank you Agent Hotchner, really."
Morgan gave Spencer a clap on the back and both agents were off.
"So..." Percy said.
"I was worried about you." He let out.
He felt like he had a bomb in his chest, he needed to explote or else he was going to die.
"Spence..."
"Wait, shut up. I need to say this. I am so sorry. I'm sorry, I never wanted this to happen, the only think a ever wanted was to keep you safe. Seeing you there...I...Percy I fucked it up. I fucked up so bad. And I'm so so sorry."
To Percy, he looked like a wounded puppy.
"You don't have to forgive me. I was so unfair with you and I don't deserve you, I never did. I just...I had to let it out my chest."
"I don't have anything to forgive. Look, thanks to Agent Hotchner I have one less thing to worry about. So I can go to the next base, North Carolina, Edenton. Maybe, I could go to Virginia one day or we could meet in the middle. I think we have some things to talk."
Spencer felt his heart skipped a beat, he smiled.
"Yeah, I would like to."
"Then it's settle. I like the haircut by the way."
They laugh, and for the first time in a long time, both of them knew that good thing were on their way.