Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity

Innocence

AN: Once again I would like to thank everyone who has read, reviewed, and/or followed this story. I know the case is moving fast, but the sooner we get the case over with the sooner we get to learn more about the EYU. We'll also get to see them outside of the office. I don't know about you guys, but I'm really excited for that.

:::::::

Question of the Chapter: Who's your favorite EYU member so far?

:::::::

"Aiden and Brandon Hoover were taken on their way home from a sleepover in Salt Lake City, Utah. Trinity Morrison was taken on her way home from summer school in Denver, Colorado," Penelope read off her search. "I haven't narrowed down the other two yet."

"Pull their files, so we can start going through them. Maybe we can find something the original officers missed," Aaron ordered.

The sound of footsteps caused the team to turn around as Libby creeped back into the room. "You can go back to work," She said with a forced grin. "I'm just getting Charlotte's phone."

Emily's expression softened. "Is she okay?"

"She will," Libby paused, "once she calls Jenny." She took the phone off Charlotte's desk.

"After she does will you let her know she was right and we found two more cases," JJ told her.

"Will do," Libby replied before disappearing back to Cruz's office.

:::::::

"So I've narrowed down our list of truckers by if they were in the state at the right time and the trucking company mentioned in the Hoover case, but that's a surprisingly long list," Penelope spoke an hour later.

Everyone looked up from their files. "Try eliminating some with the EYU's profile," Aaron instructed.

"That's still going to be a long list sir," Penelope informs him, "but it's a place to start."

"Based on Charlotte's Zodiac theory it is possible our unsub is dying or is worried he's dying. That could be why he's making a sacrifice," Derek suggested.

"He's young; probably watched someone in his family die a long death and is terrified of the same fate," A voice stated from the back of the room.

Everyone turned to see Charlotte standing next to Libby. Emily offered her a soft smile. Penelope turned back to her computer and typed away at her computer as everyone else waited. "I have two names. Trenton White and Kurt Sawyer."

Aaron started splitting the team. "JJ, Morgan, Reid take Trenton White and Prentiss, Rossi, and myself will take Kurt Sawyer."

"Let us go with you," Libby said boldly.

Aaron turned to look at the EYU. They were all so young, but so accomplished. Many only dreamed of joining the FBI, but these select few had accomplished that dream while still in high school. Now they were asking to put themselves in danger with looks of hope and excitement; they were innocent and naive. They reminded him of his own agents before they were scarred by the demons that the job created. On the thought of his own team he realized that not all their demons came with the job. They were all scarred from their past before even stepping foot into that bullpen.

Taking another sweeping look of the EYU he realized that they too held demons from their past. It was there in the way Matt always kept an eye out for the girls. It was in the way Libby plastered a larger than life smile across her face as she pretended nothing was wrong. It was there in Jamie's timidness; never thinking he was enough. It was in the black and purple of Jackie's hair; a sign of her rebellion. It was in the way Charlotte had reacted to JJ's touch, but now stood next to Libby as if she was her life line. It was in the way he had seen Noah carry Charlotte to Cruz's office. It was in Ro's silence. It was in Clay's body language anytime Ro was brought up. It was in Mia's eyes as she looked up to Kate. It was in them all; and he hated it. He hated that life was so cruel and it scared him because how was he suppose to protect Jack. Aaron was looking at some of the countries strongest teens and they had all been chewed and spit out by the cruel world. If it could take their innocence what chance did he have at protecting Jack? Glancing to the two toddlers happily playing in the corner he understood Elle's decision better. This team had made her feel safe; something his own had supposedly failed to do. Could he really take what innocence they had left?