deep end, cm [ 1 ]

001. extreme aggressor

Jessica is curled up on her couch, a pint of ice cream already half gone. Her eyes remain glued to the TV as she continues to eat her sweet treat, enjoying her night off.

Zoned in on the horror movie, she jumps when her phone rings. Pausing the movie, she quickly grabs the phone and answers it.

"Hello?" She greets, her mouth full of ice cream.

"Taylor." Hotch's voice comes through. The woman winces, mentally scolding herself for greeting her boss of seven months with a mouth full of food.

"Hotchner. Hi." She says.

"We got a case. Meet us at the academy in 20 minutes." Hotch orders.

"Yes, sir. I-I'll be there." Jessica says before he hangs up. "Your mother taught you nothing." She scolds her herself, stuffing another spoonful of ice cream into her mouth.

+++

"I looked the case file over. I'll get some thoughts to you ASAP." Gideon says.

"You're gonna be with us in Seattle ASAP." Hotchner counters as he, Derek, and Jessica walk in. The woman gives Spencer a small smile, standing next to him. Derek shows Gideon the photo of the victim.

"22 year old Heather Woodland." Derek informs as Gideon takes the photo.

"Before she left for lunch, she downloaded an email with a time delayed virus attached." Hotch explains. "The killer's virus wiped her hard drive and left this on the screen." Hotch hands Gideon a photo of what the computer says.

""For Heaven's sake, catch me before I kill more. I cannot control myself."" Gideon reads as he walks over to a frame on the wall that holds a photo of the same thing written on a bedroom wall.

"He never keeps them for more than 7 days, which means we have fewer than 36 hours to find her." Hotch says.

"They want you back in the saddle. You ready?" Derek asks.

"Looks like medical leave's over, boss." Spencer comments.

"They sure they want me?" Gideon asks and Hotch nods.

"The order came from the director." He states.

"Well, we'd better get started." Gideon says.

+++

"His first victim was 26 year old Melissa Kirsh. Stab wounds, strangulation." Spencer says as the five are on the jet and going over the case.

"Okay, wait, wait, wait. Back up." Derek says. "He stabbed her... and then strangled her to finish her off?"

"Other way around." Gideon says. "Why do you think he started using the belt with the second murder?"

"Strangulation with your bare hands is not as easy as one would believe." Spencer says. "He tried, probably found that it took too long, so he stabbed her instead."

"And realized it would be hours cleaning up the blood. So next time he has a method -- the belt." Jessica says.

"He's learning, perfecting his scenario. Becoming a better killer." Gideon says.

+++

They get out of the car and head into the precinct, Derek holding the door open for the others. They go through security, Gideon a few paces ahead of the other four.

"He never stands with his back to a window." Derek notes. "When I was between him and a doorway, he asked me to move."

"That's hypervigilance. It's not uncommon in post traumatic stress disorder." Spencer informs.