Nothing to Everything

2: The Deep End

I wasn't told where the round table was so I just followed where everyone else was walking. We entered the last room on the higher level where the offices were for the higher ups like Hotch and my dad. I don't know what I was expecting, but it was more than this. The room had a singular round table with chairs around it, a tv and a filing cabinet. Everyone sat down and I ended up sitting in between my dad and Penelope Garcia. Jennifer Jareau stood by the tv ready to present the case to us. Everyone quieted down and Agent Jareau started talking directing our attention to the TV.

"There have been three murders in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania. All shown to be kept somewhere and tied up before being killed and dumped in the center of the woods." As she says this police images are on the board. Oh no. I recognize the location of the killings, and the MO. I knew I would have to divulge some of my history, but not this early. Hopefully we don't end up where I think we will. While in my own mind I don't hear the end of the briefing.

"Wheels up in 30." Hotch then looks directly at me, "I hope you have your go bag." I don't trust my voice so I just nod.

Thirty minutes later we are on the private jet and taking off. I start reading the file as I missed majority of the briefing. I didn't realize Jennifer sliding into the seat next to me.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." She looks apologetic.

"It's ok, I just was too focused on the file. You're Jennifer right?" I didn't know what else to say, but she doesn't seem to mind. She replied, "please, call me JJ" with a warm smile on her face. Thankfully before I have to reply Hotch calls us all to go over the plan once we land. He gave us all jobs, mine is to go set up at the police precinct with JJ and Hotch. He dismisses us and says we'll be landing in thirty minutes. I go back to sit down where I was in the beginning and this time JJ, Emily and Tara follow me filling the little area of the jet. JJ was the first one to talk,

"So, Izzy, how are you liking being thrown into the deep end on your first day?" She looks right at me waiting to me answer. I try not to sound timid as I reply, "I guess I'll tell you tonight after I've been able to see how the BAU operates, but at least I'm not bored!" I find I have a genuine smile on my face when they start laughing.

Before I know it we are landing and I'm in a black SUV riding to the precinct. Hotch is driving while JJ is in the passenger seat and I'm in the back. I always forget how beautiful the mountains are. It always reminds me of summer vacations. I would come to these very mountains for a few weeks throughout my childhood. My mom worked a lot to be able to keep the roof over our head and food on the table, but one of our neighbors, Frank took me under his wing. He acted as my grandpa, we always joked he was the paternal grandfather I never knew.

I got knocked out of my head by Hotch calling my name. "Izzy, we are here." I got out of the car and follow Hotch and JJ into the precinct. Thankfully none of the officers look familiar from my vacationing days, now hopefully we just avoid the pub that Frank would take me when he disappeared to do whatever he did. One of the deputies shows us where we'll be setting up and I help JJ put photos onto the board. After a little while the rest of the team trickles back to the precinct from their jobs. We all huddle up in the room we have taken over in the precinct.

"Reid, what'd you guys learn from the dump scene and talking to locals?" Hotch asks to start off the summary of the team's findings.

"A lot of the locals seem split on the idea that it's the local gang committing these murders. They all confirm that it seems to be the same MO as some murders around a decade ago that happened." Morgan cuts off Spencer before he can say more of what they found out.

"One local was able to tell us where the gang hangs out, a pub called "Sugar". " I can feel the nausea coming as the memories pour in of the biker gang that turned into my family. I don't even hear everyone else going over what they found out at the different places the rest of the team went to earlier. I zone back in right in time to hear, "Derek, take Ricci with you to go look at Sugar's and try and figure out if there's any information there."