The Boy in the Box

Three

I walked into  the middle of the hotel room. "You haven't changed." Ron said bringing me out of my head. "What do you mean?" I asked as he closed the door. Dave went to go and get the team up with another member if the team. So, we were left alone. "You haven't changed at all. You do that pacing thing when you get anxious. You still carry a knife on your right ankle. The only thing that's changed is that you have a boyfriend." He said as there was a knock on the door.

He went to the door and opened it. "Sorry for waking you up guys. But we may have another victim on our hands." He said opening it wider letting everyone in. A tall young man with brown long hair, the woman I knew to be Jennifer, another woman with black hair and kind eyes, a darker man who was damn good looking, and Dave all walked in.

"Guys, this is-" Ron started but the tall kid cut him off stepping in front of him with his hand out to me. "Saskia Collins. The best agent the BAU has ever seen. Hi, I'm Dr. Spencer Reid. It's a pleasure to meet you." He said as I shook his hand. "No way. This is our next victim? She's not in the age range." The darker man said and I smiled. "Wow, rude." I said making him look down. "Not me. My brother. Don't say anything yet. Let me explain." I said and they let me take the floor.

I explained everything and they listened carefully until I was done. "Okay, let me get this straight. Your brother went missing, and you think that the UNSUB that's out there who likes females has taken him?" The darker man asked. "UNSUBS actually." I said looking at one of the files Ron had on his desk. "What?" Ron asked and I turned around. "This is the work of two people. Not one. One is more confident than the other. I'm guessing a Male-female duo. One is right handed and the other left. The right handed is most likely the Male but, he isn't the confident one. The Female is." I said putting down the file.

"And I don't think. I know." I said looking him dead in the eye. "Listen, I know you think it's a long stretch but I'm pretty sure I'm right here." I said not breaking eye contact. Apparently the dark haired girl picked up on the tension and cleared her throat. "How did you get all that from one picture?" She asked and I smiled at her.

"The cuts. There is a significant difference between them. You probably thought that it was the use if different tools. But, its two different people. Two completely different personalities. Fascinating." I said going back to the file. "Okay, Sas, we will look into it. Where are you staying?" Ron asked as I was looking through the file. "Wait. They were chopped up. Not by hand though. Which means that it's just a forensic countermeasure. Not a compulsion." I said reading the corners report. This is crazy. I thought I saw everything.

"I'm uptown actually. Just off the park. Ron, please find him. If you don't, you know I will and you won't like it. This isn't like 2004. I don't take orders from you anymore. If you find anything, please let me know. And if you have questions, I'm glad to answer them." I said trying to hold back the tears that were in my eyes. I cant lose the one person I'm closest to.

"Of course. Let me walk you out okay." He said and I nodded. "Wait. I have a question actually." Emily asked and I nodded my head. "Shoot." I said with a tight smile. "How do you know it's two people and not one?" She asked and I grabbed the file once again and pulled out the pictures. Walking over, I picked one. I sat down next to her and everyone including Ron crowded around.

"Where do you see the cuts change?" I asked and she looked closely pointing her finger to a new cut. "Yeah, okay good. Is that one deeper or more shallow?" I asked and she shook her head. "I can't tell." She said frustrated. "It's more shallow." Morgan said from behind me. "Exactly. And it's from a different angle. This one goes one way and this one, goes another. You see there? That's a man's cut and there is a woman's." I said and I looked back at a smiling Ron, an amazed Reid, an understanding Morgan, and a stumped Dave.

"Alright. Class is over guys. Thank you for looking into my case. I appreciate it." I said getting up from the bed. "Alright. Let me walk you out Sas. I'll be right back guys." Ron said as we walked out. "You should come back." He said as we got on the elevator. "I got off that train after 2004." I said with a sad smile. I won't do that again. "That wasn't your fault Sas." Ron said carefully. It was my fault and we both knew that.

"I could've saved her and you know that." I said as the elevator doors opened. "No. No you couldn't have. You were drugged and beaten half to death. I'm lucky that I got to you. I have no idea what I would've done if I lost you. And that was my call. Not yours." He said and I let the small tear slip down my cheek.

Ron and I walked out of the hotel and he walked me to my bike. "You still have this death trap?" He asked and I laughed but the tears I was holding back came flooding out and I tried stopping them but I couldn't. I'm scared of losing my brother and I miss my old job and what I had there.

"Its okay. We'll find him okay? We'll find him." He said pulling me into a hug and rubbing my back. "You can't ride when you cry. We both know that. I'm going to grab coffee. Let me take you home." He offered but I wasn't going back to the apartment. "I'm not going home yet. I-" he cut me off and finished my sentence. "I'm going to look through some things. Yeah yeah, I know. Let's get you to a hotel then." He said and I nodded. "Fine. Thanks." I said and he nodded guiding me to the black SUV.

The car ride was silent. "Here will be fine. Thanks Ron." I said going to get out as he pulled in but he locked the doors. "Do you love him?" He asked and I couldn't believe what he just asked me. "Wh- what?" I asked. Frankly, the answer to his question was no. I do not love Michael but, it comes with time. I'm hoping. "Do. You. Love. Him." He repeated and I just smiled tightly.

"I don't know Aaron. I don't.-" he cut me off from my explanation. "You think he's gay. Why are you with him then?" He asked and there was a pit on my stomach. He wasn't wrong. "Because sometimes I'm wrong." I said wringing my hands together. "Right. Okay. Sas, I don't want you hurt. And seeing you now, you're getting hurt because you know he's cheating on you. And you know it's not with the opposite sex." He said and I looked up at him.

"Thank you for the ride. Keep in touch please." I said unlocking my door and getting out while grabbing my bag. He was right. Again. But, I'm not worried about that right now and I don't care. I want to find my brother and bring him home. I will do that. No matter what.