The Photographer
folder
1 through F › Criminal Minds
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
23
Views:
1,820
Reviews:
1
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
1 through F › Criminal Minds
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
23
Views:
1,820
Reviews:
1
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Criminal Minds or any of the characters, nor do I make any type of profit from this.
XX
RAPPAHANNOCK GENERAL HOSPITAL
Richmond, VA
Reid tapped his foot nervously on the linoleum floor as he willed the time to pass. He wanted Morgan to call him and tell him he had caught the UnSub and Hotch was safe. He also wanted out of there before his superior began talking to him about a certain narcotic. “Reid, calm down… Let’s talk.” Too late.
Aaron met the young doctor’s nervous eyes, knowing he’d anticipated what was about to be discussed. “Spencer, I don’t think any less of you. If anything… I’m prouder of you than… I was before.” Reid’s eyes carefully darted back to Hotch’s as if he were trying to make sure he was being honest, though remained silent. “Look, I realize how addictive that drug can be… I’ve felt it. And just because you got hooked and I haven’t… yet… doesn’t make you weak.” His hard eyes stared into Reid, trying to ensure the message was getting through the genius’s thick skull.
Spencer sighed, tapping his fingers nervously before responding. “It’s just… you went through so much more than I did… and you’re not even begging for a fix. I’m not strong eno –“ “Reid, shut up.” Hotch’s stern words brought Spencer to a rare moment where he was lost for words, allowing the Unit Chief to speak. “Spencer, you may not have… gone through as severe physical trauma I did, but you went through… psychological hell which made you more vulnerable.” He didn’t need to remind Reid about his psychological torture. His voice cracked as fatigue began to set in, but he fought it off. Reid needed to hear this. “And… who’s to say I’m… not addicted? I’m hyped… up on so much… morphine right now… any craving I might have would… be satisfied.” Aaron’s voice held a serious air of unarguable seriousness that couldn’t be ignored. Before Spencer could even respond, Hotch closed his eyes, speaking in a whisper. “Go get yourself some of your… sugar coffee, Reid. It’s going to be a long night…”
The scrawny man stood as a weight seemed to vanish from his shoulders. Not only did Hotch understand, he was proud of Spencer for what he had overcome. He was proud of him.
---
INTERSTATE 95
Richmond, VA
“Try him again, Emily.” Rossi had turned on the red and blues along with the symphony of sirens as he flew down the interstate to the address Morgan had given them. He had told the younger agent to wait for them, but that argument, much like the one about waiting for SWAT, had proved to be futile. Now, he wasn’t answering his phone. “Still no answer and we’ve got ten more miles.” Prentiss grabbed the door handle to steady herself as Dave pushed the accelerator even further. They were not going to lose another agent. “Try Detective Neal. Morgan was supposed to be meeting him.” Emily nodded as she dialed the Detective’s number, strumming her fingers impatiently as the phone rang.
-- “This is Neal.”
“Detective!” Emily’s voice came out rushed as she released a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. “This is Agent Prentiss. Are you with Morgan? He said he was meeting you somewhere and now we can’t reach him.”
-- “Uh, no, Agent Prentiss. I’m stuck in traffic downtown. You think something happened to Agent Morgan?” He was concerned.
Emily shook her head to inform Rossi that Neal hadn’t seen Morgan. Dave drove impossibly faster. “We’re not sure. Just let us know if you do hear anything.” She closed her phone and pressed it against her forehead in an attempt to suppress the oncoming headache. “Seven miles, Rossi.”
---
3065 EOS WAY
Richmond, VA
Derek moved into the kitchen slowly and placed his gun on the kitchen counter per the Photographer’s orders. He turned and faced the man he hated so much. The man he had suspected. “Detective Neal.” Fury filled his features as the man who had earned a shield, just to use it as a cover, laughed sickly. “Tell me, Derek, did you think you’d be the one to take Aaron’s place? I certainly didn’t. I mean, you didn’t do anything to me. Not like Hotch.” He waved his gun, indicating for the black agent to have a seat in the dingy recliner. “What exactly did Hotch do to you?” Morgan was rigid as he focused on the man before him, formulating a plan in his mind. For now, he needed to get Neal talking.
“What did he do!?” Neal’s voice was incredulous. “He gave all the credit of my work to that bastard Ferracci! I was ok with it at first, when it wasn’t national knowledge. I figured this was a second chance for me. I could live a normal life. Until that fucking book came out and was a national hit! It cited Hotch as the reason for the most sadistic serial killer ever being dead. He took away the infamy and launched his own career, while I rotted here in Richmond. So, I decided to bring things crashing down around him in the best way possible.” He sighed in satisfaction as his eyes searched Morgan’s grim features.
There were several moments of thick silence before Morgan spoke up again. “The only thing I don’t understand is how you received the call from the UnSub in front of five officers.” Neal chuckled darkly. “I prerecorded the conversation and memorized it. Then I set up the computer to call me when I knew I would be with the officers. All I had to do was respond at the right times as I scripted and viola! Bye-bye suspicion!” Warren grinned at Morgan’s bored glare. “So now you take another FBI agent? You couldn’t finish Hotch off. What makes you think you can finish me?” He narrowed his eyes at Neal as he began to laugh again. “Tell you what, if you can beat me in a fist fight – no weapons – I’ll let you go. But, since you won’t, you’ll be my latest victim.” Neal tossed his gun out the open kitchen window as Morgan stood from the recliner. He was going to enjoy fucking up the arrogant Detective.
Neal threw the first punch, connecting with Morgan’s stomach. The FBI agent was at a disadvantage due to his left arm, but still connected his right fist with Warren’s jaw, sanding him reeling. “Nice hit, Derek. That was your one shot.” He threw his left fist out at Morgan’s broken arm, causing Derek to double over in pain. Warren followed up by slamming both fists against the agent’s injured shoulder repeatedly, sending him to the floor. Morgan tried to prop himself back up but Neal delivered a solid kick to his stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Morgan was more fairly matched physically to Neal than Hotch was. Neal was about 6’4”, 245 pounds and built very strongly, much like Morgan. He realized how lucky Hotch was that he hadn’t been killed when he was abducted. This man was very strong. “You’re pathetic. No wonder Carl Buford found it so easy to victimize you.”
Derek’s eyes lit up with rage as he swung his leg out and sent Neal to the floor. He immediately tackled Warren, holding him down with his legs as he delivered punch after punch to the Detective’s bleeding visage until he was unconscious and unrecognizable. “Fuck you.”
“This is the FBI, open up!” Emily’s warning wasn’t even given enough time to be given a response before Rossi kicked down the door, his gun falling back to his hip as he spotted Morgan. “Oh all the bull headed, dumb ass, career-ending stunts to pull, why do you choose this!?” He carefully helped Derek to his feet as Emily put cuffs on the unmoving assailant on the floor. She looked back at Morgan incredible. “What the hell happened!?” Morgan shrugged his right shoulder, looking at the unconscious man with burning hatred. “He said I was weak.” Emily chuckled as Rossi shook his head and rolled his eyes. The hunt for the UnSub was finally over.
Richmond, VA
Reid tapped his foot nervously on the linoleum floor as he willed the time to pass. He wanted Morgan to call him and tell him he had caught the UnSub and Hotch was safe. He also wanted out of there before his superior began talking to him about a certain narcotic. “Reid, calm down… Let’s talk.” Too late.
Aaron met the young doctor’s nervous eyes, knowing he’d anticipated what was about to be discussed. “Spencer, I don’t think any less of you. If anything… I’m prouder of you than… I was before.” Reid’s eyes carefully darted back to Hotch’s as if he were trying to make sure he was being honest, though remained silent. “Look, I realize how addictive that drug can be… I’ve felt it. And just because you got hooked and I haven’t… yet… doesn’t make you weak.” His hard eyes stared into Reid, trying to ensure the message was getting through the genius’s thick skull.
Spencer sighed, tapping his fingers nervously before responding. “It’s just… you went through so much more than I did… and you’re not even begging for a fix. I’m not strong eno –“ “Reid, shut up.” Hotch’s stern words brought Spencer to a rare moment where he was lost for words, allowing the Unit Chief to speak. “Spencer, you may not have… gone through as severe physical trauma I did, but you went through… psychological hell which made you more vulnerable.” He didn’t need to remind Reid about his psychological torture. His voice cracked as fatigue began to set in, but he fought it off. Reid needed to hear this. “And… who’s to say I’m… not addicted? I’m hyped… up on so much… morphine right now… any craving I might have would… be satisfied.” Aaron’s voice held a serious air of unarguable seriousness that couldn’t be ignored. Before Spencer could even respond, Hotch closed his eyes, speaking in a whisper. “Go get yourself some of your… sugar coffee, Reid. It’s going to be a long night…”
The scrawny man stood as a weight seemed to vanish from his shoulders. Not only did Hotch understand, he was proud of Spencer for what he had overcome. He was proud of him.
---
INTERSTATE 95
Richmond, VA
“Try him again, Emily.” Rossi had turned on the red and blues along with the symphony of sirens as he flew down the interstate to the address Morgan had given them. He had told the younger agent to wait for them, but that argument, much like the one about waiting for SWAT, had proved to be futile. Now, he wasn’t answering his phone. “Still no answer and we’ve got ten more miles.” Prentiss grabbed the door handle to steady herself as Dave pushed the accelerator even further. They were not going to lose another agent. “Try Detective Neal. Morgan was supposed to be meeting him.” Emily nodded as she dialed the Detective’s number, strumming her fingers impatiently as the phone rang.
-- “This is Neal.”
“Detective!” Emily’s voice came out rushed as she released a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. “This is Agent Prentiss. Are you with Morgan? He said he was meeting you somewhere and now we can’t reach him.”
-- “Uh, no, Agent Prentiss. I’m stuck in traffic downtown. You think something happened to Agent Morgan?” He was concerned.
Emily shook her head to inform Rossi that Neal hadn’t seen Morgan. Dave drove impossibly faster. “We’re not sure. Just let us know if you do hear anything.” She closed her phone and pressed it against her forehead in an attempt to suppress the oncoming headache. “Seven miles, Rossi.”
---
3065 EOS WAY
Richmond, VA
Derek moved into the kitchen slowly and placed his gun on the kitchen counter per the Photographer’s orders. He turned and faced the man he hated so much. The man he had suspected. “Detective Neal.” Fury filled his features as the man who had earned a shield, just to use it as a cover, laughed sickly. “Tell me, Derek, did you think you’d be the one to take Aaron’s place? I certainly didn’t. I mean, you didn’t do anything to me. Not like Hotch.” He waved his gun, indicating for the black agent to have a seat in the dingy recliner. “What exactly did Hotch do to you?” Morgan was rigid as he focused on the man before him, formulating a plan in his mind. For now, he needed to get Neal talking.
“What did he do!?” Neal’s voice was incredulous. “He gave all the credit of my work to that bastard Ferracci! I was ok with it at first, when it wasn’t national knowledge. I figured this was a second chance for me. I could live a normal life. Until that fucking book came out and was a national hit! It cited Hotch as the reason for the most sadistic serial killer ever being dead. He took away the infamy and launched his own career, while I rotted here in Richmond. So, I decided to bring things crashing down around him in the best way possible.” He sighed in satisfaction as his eyes searched Morgan’s grim features.
There were several moments of thick silence before Morgan spoke up again. “The only thing I don’t understand is how you received the call from the UnSub in front of five officers.” Neal chuckled darkly. “I prerecorded the conversation and memorized it. Then I set up the computer to call me when I knew I would be with the officers. All I had to do was respond at the right times as I scripted and viola! Bye-bye suspicion!” Warren grinned at Morgan’s bored glare. “So now you take another FBI agent? You couldn’t finish Hotch off. What makes you think you can finish me?” He narrowed his eyes at Neal as he began to laugh again. “Tell you what, if you can beat me in a fist fight – no weapons – I’ll let you go. But, since you won’t, you’ll be my latest victim.” Neal tossed his gun out the open kitchen window as Morgan stood from the recliner. He was going to enjoy fucking up the arrogant Detective.
Neal threw the first punch, connecting with Morgan’s stomach. The FBI agent was at a disadvantage due to his left arm, but still connected his right fist with Warren’s jaw, sanding him reeling. “Nice hit, Derek. That was your one shot.” He threw his left fist out at Morgan’s broken arm, causing Derek to double over in pain. Warren followed up by slamming both fists against the agent’s injured shoulder repeatedly, sending him to the floor. Morgan tried to prop himself back up but Neal delivered a solid kick to his stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Morgan was more fairly matched physically to Neal than Hotch was. Neal was about 6’4”, 245 pounds and built very strongly, much like Morgan. He realized how lucky Hotch was that he hadn’t been killed when he was abducted. This man was very strong. “You’re pathetic. No wonder Carl Buford found it so easy to victimize you.”
Derek’s eyes lit up with rage as he swung his leg out and sent Neal to the floor. He immediately tackled Warren, holding him down with his legs as he delivered punch after punch to the Detective’s bleeding visage until he was unconscious and unrecognizable. “Fuck you.”
“This is the FBI, open up!” Emily’s warning wasn’t even given enough time to be given a response before Rossi kicked down the door, his gun falling back to his hip as he spotted Morgan. “Oh all the bull headed, dumb ass, career-ending stunts to pull, why do you choose this!?” He carefully helped Derek to his feet as Emily put cuffs on the unmoving assailant on the floor. She looked back at Morgan incredible. “What the hell happened!?” Morgan shrugged his right shoulder, looking at the unconscious man with burning hatred. “He said I was weak.” Emily chuckled as Rossi shook his head and rolled his eyes. The hunt for the UnSub was finally over.