Valentía (Spencer Reid Slow Burn)

Riding the Lightning

Summary: The team of investigators interview husband and wife serial killers with their execution date set for two days time but then they start to speculate that things aren't as clear as they seem.

Warning: Implications of past sexual assault, Implication of a past sexual psychopath, Mentions of teenage victims, Flashbacks, Flashback to a twelve-year-old being injured, Mention of J.D., Mention of Abuse

"An abusive man is not a reliable source of information about his partner." — Lundy Bancroft

The team was driving down to Central Florida to interview a supposed serial killing couple just before their execution.

JJ, Elle, Gideon, and Morgan took one car.

"Sarah Jean and Jacob Dawes butchered what, twelve girls?" JJ asked.

"Thirteen, counting the girl that was just found. Hilary Dickson." Gideon said, "Disappeared fifteen years ago. Buried her under Sarah's mother's living room."

"You think that was their last victim?" Elle asked.

"Well, that's what we're here to find out."

Alexander, Hotch, Zoe, Spencer, and Garcia took the other car, much to Zoe's annoyance, as Garcia would complain about leaving her corner.

"There's nothing about the dynamics of Sarah Jean and Jacob's relationship." Spencer noted.

"The state isn't interested in dynamics or profiles. They just want this case to go away." Zoe said, cynically, fidgeting.

"They were caught. They confessed. They got the death penalty." Hotch said.

"You guys do realize that visiting death row is not part of my job description?" Garcia complained.

"Mmm." Zoe hummed, tilting her head in disagreement.

"Garcia, this will be the first serial killer couple ever recorded for ViCAP." Spencer said.

"They slaughtered thirteen young girls with blonde hair. Hello?" Garcia said with judgement and disgust and gestured to her own blonde hair.

"Stop complaining, Garcia. Those girls were way ­younger than you." Zoe said, unintentionally insulting Garcia.

In 1990, when they were caught, the media called Sarah Jean Dawes, "The Ice Queen" because that's how they had interpreted her demeanour during the trial. Zoe saw different, though. Even though, she had only been five, she had watched the video of the trial. She hadn't seen her demeanor as apathetic... more traumatized. Like she would become in so soon in life.

She had only confessed to killing her two-year-old son, Riley but she was still charged with the murders of those girls. However, there had no evidence of Rile

When they arrived, there was a crowd outside the prison, most of them declaring their hate of the couple but there were a dozen blondes, proclaiming their love for Jacob.

"They call themselves the Women of Jacob." Zoe said, rolling her eyes.

"Try to look like his victims."

"Creepy." Garcia said.

"It happens more than you think. It's called hybristophilia. Richard Ramieraz killed twelve people but had fans who would write him and pay him visits, including Foreen Lioy who married him in San Quentin State Prison. Carol Ann Booth married Ted Bundy the day before he was sentenced to death and conceived a daughter while he was in prison." Spencer said.

"Oh yeah, I met her very briefly." Zoe recalled and then nodded to the women, "There's only twelve of them. Should we tell them they're one short? At least?"