RED

data dives, red wine and movie nights

double update!!

word count: 1646

Looking at the four stern faces that just walked back into the bullpen, Derek Morgan immediately knew it wasn't good news. The tension in their shoulders was palpable, and the air seemed heavier as Hotch gestured for Derek and JJ to join them in the conference room.

"What's up, boss?" Derek asked, trying to keep his tone light, but the serious expression on Hotch's face made it clear this was no time for jokes.

"Garcia," Hotch began, as he angled the camera in the conference room to include the five other BAU members. "I want everything you can find on Steven Thomas, and I want it yesterday. I need to know where he met Amy and her ex, and I want to know everything that happened in his childhood—every detail."

"On it, sir," Garcia responded with her usual enthusiasm, though the edge in her voice betrayed her concern. "I'll have it for you faster than you can say 'data dive.'"

Hotch nodded, then turned his attention to the rest of the team. "Steven Thomas isn't just another victim in this case. He's the mastermind. He manipulated Amy into committing these murders, feeding her stories to push her over the edge."

JJ frowned, her eyes narrowing as she processed the information. "So, he was pulling the strings the whole time, making her believe she was avenging herself and others?"

"Exactly," Spencer chimed in, his voice tinged with frustration. "He played her, used her trauma to turn her into his personal weapon. And now, he's sitting back, thinking he's untouchable because he never physically committed the murders."

Rossi leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed. "And he's counting on us not being able to prove his involvement."

"That son of a—" Derek began, but JJ placed a hand on his arm, calming him.

"Easy, Derek," she said softly. "We'll get him. We always do."

Derek shot her a grateful look, appreciating her steady presence. "You're right. We'll nail this guy."

"Garcia," Emily added, her voice firmer now. "We need to find any connection between Steven and the unsub—anything that ties them together before Amy's breakdown. We need to show that he was involved long before she started killing."

"I'm on it like a kitten on a ball of yarn," Garcia replied, already typing furiously on her keyboard. "And if there's a trail, I'll find it."

As the team settled into the task at hand, there was a moment of quiet, an unspoken acknowledgment of the gravity of the situation. But beneath the surface, the bond between them all was as strong as ever.

Rossi broke the silence with a wry smile. "Remember the time we thought we had the wrong guy in Cleveland, only to find out he was the one running the entire operation from behind bars?"

Spencer chuckled softly, his tension easing just a bit. "And the look on your face when you realized we had to go back and interview him again? Priceless."

Derek grinned, leaning back in his chair. "Man, that was a mess. But we pulled through."

"Just like we'll do this time," Emily said, her voice carrying a quiet confidence. She caught Hotch's eye briefly, sharing a moment of understanding before they both refocused on the case.

Hotch, sensing the slight shift in the room's energy, allowed himself a rare smile. "We've faced worse. We'll handle this, too."

JJ nodded, her hand still resting on Derek's arm. "We're in this together, as always."

The tension in the room eased a little more as they all exchanged small, supportive smiles. They knew the road ahead would be tough, but they also knew they had each other to lean on—both in and out of the field.