Copycat//Criminal Minds FanFic

Penelope

Reid watched the body of the little girl be placed in the body bag and from there to the ambulance. He shook his head and turned back to the rest of the team. JJ was on the phone, probably checking on her son. Prentiss was watching the ambulance; blood was splattered on her clothes from when she had tried to give the girl CPR.

"We were so close," Morgan said, stepping up to Reid. "I feel like we could have stopped this." He shook his head.

"Let's go find try and find something at the crime scene," Reid said, trying to draw Morgan's mind away from those dark thoughts.

"Why is it kids?" Morgan asked as they made their way through the woods. "They're innocent. Especially these little ones."

"I think that's why they're attacked. The unsubs who do things like this could be trying to regain some of the innocence for themselves. They aren't right, of course, but you've seen how the mind can twist things. However, in the original Jeffery case, if I recall correctly, he was mad at his peers for having a real family. His mom left, and that was his trigger."

"Then what's this guy's trigger?"

"If he was dismissed from the FBI like I think, that could be the trigger. There could have been a death in his own life recently, or if he doesn't have mental stability, it could have surfaced recently, causing him to start this," Reid answered as he ducked under a branch.

They had reached the scene of the crime. Rossi and Hotch were already there looking around with some officers. Reid and Morgan walked up to join the search.

"We can't even find a characteristic note from this guy," Rossi said as he bent down to search a pile of leaves.

"Did you check the girl?" Reid asked as he searched around a tree.

"Yes, right before she was taken away," Hotch assured.

"Maybe we're not thinking outside the box enough," Morgan said as he squinted up at the top of a tree. "What's that?" he asked pointing.

Reid, Hotch, and Rossi all paused as they looked up to the top of the tree. Just barely visible through the leaves was a balloon. Without waiting for anyone else to take the initiative, Morgan grabbed the lowest branch and swung up on it.

"Just be careful," Hotch called. "I want to fill out the paperwork."

Morgan waved a hand and continued climbing. He made pretty good time. He was noticeably slower as he got higher up with the skinnier branches. He didn't go any higher than he had to. Morgan reached up and snagged the balloon. Morgan looked at the balloon he was holding, then at the way down, then back at the balloon. Seeming to come to a decision, he took out his gun and tied the end of the balloon to the handle. He let go and the balloon came flying to the bottom.

Hotch reached out and caught it just before the gun touched the ground.

"Some on down," Rossi yelled up. "We got it."

Morgan saluted and started his decent.

Reid and Hotch were already examining the balloon. Without a word, they had a discussion with their eyes. Reid nodded and Hotch sighed, knowing Reid was right. They watched Morgan come the rest of the way down, and then confronted him.

"Don't freak out," Reid began.

"Freak out about what?" Morgan looked to Rossi, who shrugged his own confusion.

"It's not going to happen," Hotch continued.

"What's not going to happen?" Morgan was getting annoyed, now.

Hotch turned the balloon so that the writing on it Morgan had missed earlier was visible.

P.G.

"P.G.?" Morgan asked in confusion. Then it dawned on him. "Oh, no. Not her."

Hotch's face didn't change. Reid looked at the ground and then back at Morgan.

Morgan was already dialling the phone.

"Being of Impossibilities, how can I help?"

"Garcia, don't leave that office. Don't look out the window. Don't talk to anyone."

"Morgan? What's wrong?"

Morgan ran a hand over his eyes. "He's copying Battle."

"Battle?" Garcia's voice cracked at the last syllable.

"I need you to be careful, baby girl. I'm coming back to look out for you," Morgan asked Hotch at the same time he told Garcia. Luckily, he got a nod of approval. "I'll be there soon. Do. Not. Move."

"Okay," Reid Garcia whisper. He could practically see her locking the door as the call was disconnected. He shivered, reliving that night in the hospital waiting to hear if... He shook himself said goodbye to Morgan as he took off.

"Where's Morgan going?" JJ asked as she and Prentiss walked up.

"We found out that the unsub is planning on copying Jason Battle."

JJ and Prentiss both looked shocked.

"Morgan is going back to Quantico to watch over her. Hopefully the killer will either give up on this, or we'll catch him when he tries to copy Battle," Hotch explained.

No one's saying what his copy will be, Reid realised. It was amazing how one case could affect them all like this.

"Did you find the note?" Prentiss asked.

"No," Hotch started, but Reid quickly interrupted.

"I believe it's in the balloon." For emphasis, Reid shook the object. There was a small sound as something moved around inside.

Rossi took out a pen and Reid passed the balloon over. Reid winced at the loud sound of the popping balloon. As he thought, a small piece of paper had been inside. Prentiss picked it up and handed it to Hotch. Reid read it over Hotch's shoulder.

"You brought this on yourself. You shouldn't have been watching me!

I'm sorry to those who are innocent for what I have done. I didn't have a choice.

Please forgive me."

"It's different. Something's changed. The end is the same, but the unsub's added two lines to the beginning." Hotch shook his head as he tried to understand this.

"That's not the only thing that seems weird. I wasn't going to say anything, but doesn't it seem a bit too obvious for him to go directly after Garcia? In all the other murders, he's left hints, but he's never exactly stated his victim. Something's not right." Reid's mind was working on overdrive. It's too obvious. It has to be someone on the team. He's been true to sticking within the general groups...

Reid's head snapped up. His eyes were wide.

"Reid?" Hotch asked, but Reid wasn't listening as he dialed his phone.

Please pick up, please pick up...

"Morgan."

"Morgan! Don't go to the jet. He's after you!"

"Reid? What are you talking about? I just got to the jet. What do you mean he's after me?"

Reid shook his head in annoyance. "I'll explain everything later; you just need to trust me. Don't get on that jet!"

"Okay! Okay! I'm turning around. You owe me a bi-" Morgan's voice cut off as a gunshot sounded.

"Morgan?" Reid asked as he looked at his phone, searching for answers. "Morgan?!?!"

I feel kinda evil right now.... oh well. It will pass... right?