The Flight

Time to Factor

Realizing they can't leave, they all get out of the helicopters and stand together, looking up at the sky.

They all watch as the third helicopter goes further and further away in the sky, not knowing what to do.

"Is he going to come back with help?" Garcia asks as she steps closer to Morgan.

The rest of the team turns to the two other pilots, wanting to see what they know.

"Do you know anything about this?" Cruz asks strictly.

The man straightens his posture and coats his throat. "I know nothing of this situation. The helicopters won't lift off but Pete and I here will figure it out. We will get you guys out of here. You have my word."

"What's you name, young man ?" Rossi speaks up.

"Dean, sir. Dean Wilson." he replies.

"Thank you Wilson. Do you need us or?"

"No sir, you all may head back to the wreckage if you want to. Pete and I will see what's wrong and call you guys back up when we finish. We'll also try and radio in to see if they know what's going on."

"Thank you," Morgan says as they all turn back, heading for wreckage for another time.

When the team makes its back to the pit where they once slept, they crash into their pads, tired from the walk.

Cruz and Morgan carefully lay Kate on a mat and Garcia sits next to her, holding her hand.

"Aaron, could I speak to you privately," Cruz says as he gestures that they step away from the team.

"What's this about?" Hotch asks as they stand on the other side of the jet.

Cruz crosses his arms against his chest and sighs, looking at Hotch. "Does this seem like a 'regular' plane crash to you?"

"This keeps on going back to looking like a set up situation. I mean, have you seen the pilots? They were dead before the crash. And the fact that we weren't seriously hurt is extremely rare so something is going on. I don't even need to mention the 'copters not starting. "

Cruz nods, "exactly. But who killed the pilots? You were on call with Garcia so none of you could have done it, not that I'm thinking you did anyways. You think it could have been murder suicide from one of the pilots? One goes rogue, jams the steering wheel and ruins the control panel, kills his partner and then kills himself."

"That can't be," Hotch shakes his head in disbelief, "those two have flown us for years! Doug and Marty would never have done something like this."

"Aaron, you need to keep your mind clear and-"

"It's hard to do so when your have a concussion sir," Hotch interrupts.

Cruz shakes that last comment off and continues, "and we need to see this as if we weren't personally involved. That way, we can get out of here faster."

"Yes sir. Is that all?"

Cruz nods again, "yes."

Hotch turns back around and returns to his team, leaving Cruz standing alone.

"What'd he want?" Morgan asks as he sees Hotch.

"Just had some questions," he answers as he sits down on a mat.

He takes a breath and watch his team, who is sitting around hurt, and he can't do anything about it.

"Guys, I understand we have had a crazy several days and you probably just want to sit and rest until rescue comes but we need to try and find out what happened to our jet, what happened to the pilots and why we were not more seriously injured during this crash. Is anyone willing to work with me here?" Hotch asks as he looks around at the others.