четыре.  star crossed lovers
" background check "

SAT ALONE ON THE PLANE, like no different day when they were on field, was Valentizina. She had been called in early in the morning by JJ for a case. She surely wasn't expecting it that early in the morning but there wasn't anything she could do about it. Her eyes were still closed, sitting on the seat, head facing up. She was listening to Hotch, barely, but she was listening to get some sort of information on why she was sitting on the plane, on the way to another state again.

She'd be lying if she said she wasn't growing tired of travelling from state to state all the time, but there wasn't much she could do about it. Besides, it was for the greater good, she had to remind herself constantly.

"Okay, we got new information on last night's victim. Alicia Jordan, 38. M.O is the same. He was waiting for her to get home, he broke in through the back - subdued her with a gun," JJ walked through the middle explaining the case to everyone. They all seemed to gather around apart from Valentizina who stayed sitting alone, avoiding Spencer Reid at all costs - which was impossible.

It had only occurred to her then that unlike herself, Spencer would definitely be finding every possible way to see Valentine because he actually felt something - while she believed that she didn't.

"Answering machine?" Hotch questioned, receiving a fast answer.

"Left a message about an hour or so ago. I can't imagine being taunted like that in my own house, you know?"

"Well the messages aren't taunts, they're overtures," Gideon explained, "I think we're ready, trust me... He's been sincere."

"Sounds like we're dealing with a power reassurance rapist," Derek informed them.

"To him the messages are courtships. He's introducing himself to the victims."

Replying to Spencer's comment was Hotch who nodded, looking at the images of the victims that they had received so far, "If that's the case, he must've stalked them to know so much about their lives."

"First victims were all college students, all religious... Why change?" Gideon wondered.

"Have the police found any connection between the latest victims?"

"No, nothing yet."

"We have to figure out what made him go off script."

•••

Valentizina was hot at the tail of a tall, muscular officer that led them towards the detective. Her heels had made the eyes of many snaps towards her, admiring the presence of the beautifully dangerous agent. Her slender, almond eyes looked over the station, making eye contact with those who looked at her, quirking her left brow smugly. All the sudden, Hotch and Gideon joined either side of the woman, both looking at her.

"You seemed to have made quite the impression already," Gideon commented with an amused smile.

"Of course I have. When do I not?" she replied sarcastically.

Avoiding Reid was the aim of today - yet the attention she was receiving wasn't helping. And she already knew ignoring him wouldn't last as long as she thinks it would. Breathing out, her eyes snapped back ahead of them, noticing the officer ahead of them slowly stopping as they reached a desk with a woman behind.

The detective tucked a piece of stray hair behind her ear, fixing her sleek ponytail as she gave them all a smile. Valentizina was the first to stop, noticing the woman holding her hand out to the redhead. Yet her green eyes flickered down to the hand the woman was offering and instead, looking back up.

"Maggie Callahan," she introduced herself awkwardly, noticing that no one was shaking her hand, "I'm the detective on this job."

"Hey, Jason Gideon, how are you?"

"Aaron Hotchner."

"Valentizina Alianovna."

"As soon as he changed victims, I knew I could use your help."

"Your thoughts?" Gideon asked the woman who shrugged and sighed,

"Serial rapist usually have a set fantasy, I figured if we can get a handle on what made him change, it would give us our best shot at nailing this guy."

"Is there a place where our team could get set up?" Hotch asked, raising his brows.

"You got it, in the conference room."

Gideon gave the woman a nod, setting of with the two other agents already. They were quick to start walking - but Maggie was faster to stop the strawberry blonde in her tracks as fast as possible.

"Thank you. Oh and Alianovna!"

The redhead paused, slowly turning on her heel to look back at the brunette woman. She stood with her arms crossed, raising her brows at Valentizina with a certain look in her eye that Valentine couldn't exactly work out.

"You're going to have to talk to a lot of victims. It would be helpful to have an extra female presence," Maggie suggested, eyeing the redhead up and down.

But Valentine furrowed her brows before raising one up. Her eyes slightly looked around the room, before shaking her head and looking back at the woman.

"We're good, doll. I'm here."

Walking away from the detective she let out a quiet huff, catching up with Gideon and Hotch with a quick jog. She wasn't about to let someone she had bad vibes about ruin a case that they were determined to nail. Or, she was using that pathetic excuse to hide the fact that Valentizina simply knew she didn't need help. Spencer saw Valentizina heading his way, not exactly to him, yet in his direction making him step in front of her and raise his brows.

Just her luck.

Valentizina paused in her tracks, looking up at the doctor. Yet it was Derek who started the conversation as he swaggered over, an amused chuckle leaving his mouth. His arm wrapped around Spencer, much to Spencer's dismay, and looked between the two.

"Well if it isn't the star-crossed lovers in a duel. Sorry to do this to you, but we're heading to campus."

"Actually, I think Gideon needs Reid to stay. Doesn't he, Reid?" Valentine raised her brows at Spencer who opened his mouth, his brows furrowing. But Derek rolled his eyes, sliding his arm off from his friend and instead crossing his arms.

"No ones staying. Alright? We need to go interview the victim. Now stop the bickering and let's go, children."

Derek turned around, beginning to lead both of them back out of the police department towards the parking lot. Alianovna and Reid both walked beside each other, silent, not saying anything. Because the thing was, they didn't want to be in an argument with each other. But they were both stubborn - and they both wouldn't apologise. It all came down to the champion of the game - who would break the fastest? And unfortunately, they were both as competitive as each other.

Valentizina had finally walked away from Spencer when they entered the parking lot, immediately opening the door to the passengers seat beside Derek, leaving Spencer to stay at the back. Derek ignored their childish behaviour, rolling his eyes and not speaking anything of it. Instead, as he sat down in the drivers seat, he froze at the sound of the two car doors slam, looking between the two of them.

"This isn't our car, you guys do know that?"

He was quick to switch the radio on. Yet Valentizina kicked her feet up on the dashboard, sending a cold look at Derek. Slightly fearing his head being ripped off, he nodded to himself and instead, looked back ahead on the road, turning the engine on.

Suddenly a knock on the window made Derek look beside them.

Of course it was detective Callahan. She just wouldn't give up. He rolled down the window, revealing the brunette's sly smile at the redhead who looked away, ready to gut the detective from the inside out. And truth was, she had no idea why she didn't like her. There was just a bad vibe.

"Mind if I join?" the perky voice asked, Derek smiling.

"Not at all."

Closing the window, the brunette immediately got in beside Spencer, looking at Valentizina who said absolutely nothing.

The car finally began to move, making Valentizina open the file in her lap, re-reading all the information they had so far and what they needed to ask the victim. She'd be lying if she said she wanted to do it. In fact, asking the victims questions was the last thing she wished to do. Probably because she didn't know how to ask them. She didn't know what they felt. She didn't know how to not come across as rude.

Valentizina knew nothing causing her to sigh and close the file, resting her head against the window. She really couldn't grasp the simple emotion of empathy. She had mastered annoyance and anger. Yet not empathy.

"So," Maggie began, sitting up straight to get a good view of the agents, "Tell me about yourself to kill this awful silence. Boyfriends? Girlfriends? Wives? Husbands? Hobbies?"

"Valentine's got someone in mind," Derek joked, starting a world war. Valentizina raised her brows, knowing he was teasing about Spencer. Yet it was Spencer that spoke up.

"Oh yes, he's actually quite charming. Serves coffee, makes coffee. His name's Daniel Xanders. Twenty six. Studied in Cambridge, didn't really get far though. Did he? But-"

Valentizina froze, immediately looking at the rear view mirror at Spencer.

"Hold on... How do you know where he studied?"

Spencer said too much this time, immediately growing silent.

"Did you run a background check on the guy?" Valentizina questioned, raising her brows at the boy whose cheeks were growing red in embarrassment. His quick spluttering seemed to have scored Valentine another point in their game, because it seems as if Spencer blurted out something he probably shouldn't have. Derek immediately burst into a fit of laughter, whistling and shaking his head.

"No! It-uh-it wasn't like that. I didn't. I asked him. You know. People ask each other. I asked him and he replied after I asked him. I was just making sure. You know? That he's not a criminal!"

"You were making sure?" Maggie raised her brows, tilting her head.

Both Maggie and Derek continued to laugh at his embarrassment. And Spencer stayed silent.

Yet his eyes found themselves locking with Valentizina who was looking at him through the rear view mirror. She didn't smile. She didn't laugh. She just gave him a look. Because she knew that after all, Spencer cared about her. He cared enough to run a background check on a guy she didn't even like because he was worried and interested. And after everything that Valentizina said to him, he still found himself caring.

Many people would give up. But not Spencer Reid.

"Pack it in, both of you," Valentizina ordered, finally tearing her eyes away from him and looking back ahead of the road, "And focus on the case, not laughing at people's personal lives Maggie."

"Fine then, Miss Moody," Derek chuckled one last time, "What do we have so far?"

•••

Walking down the steps of the college, she walked beside Spencer, in fear of saying anything wrong to the victim. She looked around the bright area, thinking about how something so glum and disgusting could take place in what seemed like such a jolly, bright place that was supposed to be a safe place for people. The sun had shon down on them, yet the weather wasn't fixing the bad day everyone was seeming to have...

"When the attacks first started, they put guards on all the campus gates on campus. But that man still somehow got in the dorm rooms," Emily explained, trying to fight back the tears in her puppy dog brown eyes.

"Have you noticed anyone new on campus?" Spencer asked, earning a distasteful comment from Maggie.

"We've already talked about this, I know it's hard, but sometimes it helps to go through it."

"Maybe someone quiet who seemed like he was always just a little too close?" Spencer questioned, the college girl shaking her head.

"I don't think so."

"What about anyone that's suddenly not around anymore?"

"Before that man did what he did, he told me I should get a dog for protection. Then he said or maybe you can let your parents have Dexter stay with you..."

"Any males that you could have told about the family dog?" Valentine asked, earning a cold look from the young girl.

"I don't have experience with boys. There's no one I would've told!"

Valentizina nodded at her small outburst, looking at Spencer and taking it as their queue to leave. The pair nodded and walked away fast, knowing that neither of them are good candidates to talk to the woman. Instead, they walked further out into campus, surrounded by all different types of people. The redhead stayed standing, doing absolutely nothing and reacting at no one or anything at all. He raised his one eyebrow at her, watching the way her eyes traveled around everything.

"You're just going to stand there..." Spencer wondered.

"What do you suggest we do?"

"Find a vending machine."

"First smart thing you've said all day."

"Actually, there were probably plenty of other smart things I said today."

Ignoring his comment, they both walked towards the main building in hopes of there being any type of machine that would give them food or drink. It wasn't like they needed it; but with a few minutes to spare, it gave them something to do.

"Did you really mean it when you said you weren't my friend?"

His question made her grow silent, slowing down her pace that Spencer immediately caught up on. He looked down beside her, yet she carried on looking forward.

"Like I said, I'm not here to make friends. I'm here to do my job."

"Got it," he muttered, opening the door to the building, being met with three vending machines lined up along the wall and luckily for them, a coffee machine maker. Yet playing up on his face was a tiny, tiny smile, making Valentizina press her lips together into a thin line.

The two made their way towards the coffee machine, Valentizina leaning against it, letting Spencer make them two coffees.

"For these two weeks that we've been working together, you're the only one who hasn't gave up on trying to talk to me. Why?"

Her question made him look at her, awaiting for the coffee to pour inside of the cup.

"I just don't believe that behind that cold, arrogant exterior you put on there isn't an actual human being with a good heart."

"And how far are you willing to go to see that?"

"As far as I need to because I don't want to see someone ruin themselves in front of me while I'm not doing anything about."

Passing her her coffee, Valentizina gripped it, awaiting for him to make his own.

She didn't say anything else, keeping her gaze on the coffee cup, his words never leaving her mind. He was the only one who was willing to help. To do something. To at least try and get her to feel something positive. He cared. And that was what shocked her the most. What she took to heart the most...

Someone, in this cruel world, for the first time in her life, cared about her.

For the first in her life.

They cared.

Spencer gripped his coffee, giving her one last look before turning around, the redhead joining his side as they walked out of the building, through campus, back to the women that were probably awaiting for them to come back.

•••

The case was taking longer than they had hoped it would. Because the morning of the next day had finally rolled around, and all the agents looked completely exhausted. After a night of everyone trying to work the case in their hotel rooms, they ended up with nothing but a lack of sleep and a knack for coffee. It seemed that every agent Valentizina looked upon, including her, had a coffee mug glued to their hands in the meeting room for a quick briefing.

Sat down at the meeting with all officers and agents, she looked at the standing agents explaining what type of person they were looking for. If they wanted to save more women, they needed to act faster than they were. But they still had absolutely nothing that could lead them anywhere.

"We just want you to hear what the FBI has gathered and get you on the streets. So the guy we're looking for is a classic power reassurance rapist," Hotch began, Spencer continuing on.

"This differs from a power assertive rapist who attempts to humiliate and traumatize his victims, as well as the anger retaliatory rapist and the sexual sadist, whose attacks are also random and excessively brutal. The reason that's important for you to know - he's the only kind of rapist who targets a specific victim."

"He fantasizes that he's in a relationship with these women," Derek took over, "Now, he doesn't come across them by accident. This is someone with access. He's the cable guy, or the locksmith. Delivery men, lawn crew, handymen did the school share workers with any of the recent victims ? Because he sees these as relationships, he most likely lives alone. He's the guy who reads the gas meter. He can describe exactly what these women wear and how they smell. These details are what feed his fantasy. Now, we need you to look for the overlap between the sets of victims. And living alone allows him to indulge his delusion that he's in a relationship with these women."

Continuing on from Derek, Valentizina stood up, looking around the room and clearing her throat before she began speaking, "We're sure that there is some overlap. Because of the discrepancy in the victims'ages, we can only pinpoint his age somewhere between 20 and 40 years old. It's possible that he has a profession that he finds emasculating. So look for someone in their lives with a job that deviates from normal gender roles, something like a secretary."

The agents grew quiet, making the detective speak up, looking around the department as she stood up to walk towards the FBI agents.

"All right, that's square one," she called out, "Re-canvas and be sure to relay information on shift change. Thanks very much."

JJ walked up to Hotch and Valentizina before she handed them a file, breathing out nervously, " I looked into the idea of rapes that went unreported like you asked. And at holy trinity committed suicide. She wasn't one of the reported victims, but her suicide corresponds almost exactly to when the campus attacks stopped. Maybe there are more victims out there..."

•••

Valentizina finished writing down every bit of key information that she had remembered from the two interviews her and Derek had sat through with two 30 year old victims. The redhead made sure to slide the pen behind her ear, reading back the information that she had wrote down, double checking everything was correct. Both the women had gone to a fertility clinic within 5 days of their attack. And that was the key information.

With that, Valentizina knew that they could quite possibly figure out who the rapist was based on the fertility clinic. It could most likely be someone whose had access to their medical reports and Valentizina was sure to look into it.

She stood up, noticing Gideon, Elle and Spencer walk through the gateway, causing her to pick up the file and lead the way into another room with Derek.

"Derek and I interviewed another 2 victims in their 30's. They had both gone to a fertility clinic within 5 days of their attack."

"Same one each time?" Gideon asked about the clinic, earning a yep from Derek

"Have Garcia run down employment record," Gideon ordered, "They might be looking at someone who works there or who has access to their medical records."

"You got it."

"What's the significance of the 5 days?" Elle questioned, Spencer immediately speaking up.

"The most popular fertility drug is Clomiphene, and the clinic would most likely have a policy not to attempt insemination until the drug regimen is complete."

"So then getting there before they begin the insemination process - would guarantee the unsub paternity," Derek nodded.

"He's trying to get them pregnant," Elle added on.

"He hasn't changed his fantasy, He's merely found a way to perfect it."

"Well, that explains a change in victimology. He's targeted young, ultra-religious girls, who he assumed wouldn't want to have an abortion."

"So when shelly killed herself, he decided change it up and go after women who were desperate to have a baby."

"The unsub knew Shelly Norvell was pregnant, means he's still watching his past victims," Valentizina finished, "Elle, talk to Callahan, tell them we need patrols monitoring everyone - on that victim list."

"You got it."

"You ever seen anything like this before?" Derek asked Reid and Valentizina. Yet the redhead shook her head, looking at Spencer instead.

They knew that Spencer knew it all, so perhaps he could get an idea of what they were really dealing with. And like expected, Spencer had an answer prepared for them all.

"Gary Heidnick in Philadelphia. He kept women in a dungeon prisoner for years - with the hopes of impregnating them."

"Heidnick was a sexual sadist. He tortured the women and even ended up eating one of them. This is a power reassurance rapist," Gideon cut him off, correcting Spencer.

"So in this guy's twisted mind, these are love stories?"

"Of course, they are. He's starting families."

"Thank you, pretty boy," Valentizina called out to Spencer, immediately slipping out the door. And Spencer was left with a small smile, looking at the figure of the redhead was jogging out of his sight.

And he guessed that they were okay.

Or as okay as they could be without Valentizina freaking.

•••

Standing in the clinic, she breathed in the scent of some sort of air freshener and... Well... That awful clinic-y smell that no one really liked. She looked around, noticing the place was rather empty yet the patients that were there were being treated and spoken to. The vibe was warm and people looked happy, yet it was sad to think what goes on inside these rooms... She crossed her arms over her chest, feeling the presence of Spencer join her side in interrogating the doctor standing behind the desk.

"I'm sorry, but whoever's committing these crimes couldn't work at this clinic," the doctor spoke, shaking his head in negation, "I'm the only man here."

"But that doesn't mean there isn't a connection. We need your help to figure out what it might be."

"Could you excuse me, just a minute?" the man interrupted Hotch, turning around to a woman who was awaiting for his presence.

The redhead watched as he slid a sheet of paper over to the woman, quietly speaking to her to not cause too much noise in the quiet clinic, "Can you just fill that out ? That's great, just right there." He turned back around, breathing and placing his hands on his hips, "Look, what's happening is just horrible, but the margins on the clinic like this are incredibly slim. And if word gets out there's a connection to this rapist, - my practice would be ruined-"

"To be honest I don't care about your practice. Three women were raped after coming here. That's not a coincidence. It's a pattern," the detective scolded the elder man.

She had a point there and Valentizina was not going to fight it.

"If you're implying that I could be a suspect, I should let you know that I had a vasectomy 25 years ago."

"We just want to know if there's anyone in and out of this clinic who fits the profile," Hotch explained, Derek immediately listing the type of man the unsub looks out to be.

"Quiet, lives alone, awkward with women, yet hangs around the office a little too long just to be near them."

"No, it's just a small clinic. I only hire women. My patients are just much more comfortable around them."

"What about elsewhere, computer support, janitor?"

"My daughter handles all of the technical business and I have a cleaning crew of two women. Sorry."

He shrugged, pressing his lips into a fine line before collecting the questionnaire that the woman had filled out. He was about to place it onto a pile of other questionnaires before Valentizina stopped him, tilting her head.

"What is that, doctor?"

"It's just a questionnaire we hand out to learn more about our client base."

The redhead took it out of his hand, reading over it. The contents of the questionaire asked questions about their favourite movie, alcohol beverage and more... Information that was strange to ask but fit into the case significantly. The attacker knew the victims as if they were friends and the questionaire might have just confirmed that the unsub must have been in contact with these questionaires.

"This is everything the unsub knew about the victims. Who else sees these?" she asked, carrying the conversation with him.

"I don't compromise the medical privacy of my patients."

"I asked you a question."

He grew silence, cowarding over her cold tone as she stepped closer to the desk, slamming the piece of paper on the table to get her point across. He looked around and sighed, quietly speaking.

"Well, I sell the forms to a direct marketing company called First Hand Media. They just target buying habits. No medical information changes hands. It's not illegal."

"Yeah," the redhead scoffed, "But the margins on a place like this, word gets out, your practice would be ruined."

•••

"I'm not doing this," the redhead snapped, leaning back in the chair.

She was surrounded by her whole team who gave her a look of disapproval. They had all kindly asked her to play the part of a woman and risk getting raped, using the excuse it's okay, you're able to protect yourself. Yet looking at all their annoying faces, she rolled her eyes, crossing her arms.

"Why can't Elle do it?"

"Yeah, why can't I do it?" Elle questioned with Valentizina, raising her brows at everyone who stayed quiet and looked back at the girl sat down.

"Can I get payed extra?"

"You've got enough money as it is."

"Okay fine, what about a raise?"

"That's exactly what you've just asked."

"You're telling me that as if I'm stupid."

"We'll let you lead the next case."

"I lead every case without asking."

"You can-"

"Whatever, I'm bored. I have everything. I'll do it."

Her answer made them all sigh in relief.

And that's why, Valentizina was walking towards a house in clothes she hated, not armed and totally unprepared for a fight. Her long curls bounced up and down with every quick step she took, knowing that Spencer's eyes never left her in case of anything happening. She didn't look around, making a bees line towards the front door as she took out the house keys from her handbag.

With a few twist and turns, she was in, closing the door behind her.

What now? She thought....

She looked around, sighing and flopping onto the sofa, surfing through the channels till what seemed like next year...

•••

It was finally time for her to leave, the moment she's been waiting for. There was no sign of forced entry, no one in the house but her, all the curtains were open, allowing the unsub to look in but nothing happened. She breathed out, switching off the television, swiping the bag off the table and heading towards the front door. She made sure to pick up the keys from the window ledge, opening the door and locking it behind her.

Yet all the sudden, she saw Elle leave her vehicle, alarming Valentizina and Morgan who immediately looked at each other. He was sitting inside the car, not knowing what to do.

"Elle!" Valentizina called out, whisper-shouting.  Yet V noticed how Elle was speeding up as she made her way towards a certain suspicious car. But Elle wasn't listening, immediately pulling her gun out.

Valentizina took off sprinting towards the brunette, yet the damage had already been done.

"FBI, put your hands where I can see them!" Elle screamed, almost ripping the car door out as she forcefully opened it, "Get out of the car! Right now!"

All the agents and officers immediately came out of their cars and hiding spots, Morgan sprinting towards the redhead, another gun in his hand. He tossed it to the woman who immediately caught it with one hand, pointing it not at the unsub but at Elle instead.

"Elle! We have no reason to take him in, put the gun down and step away from the vehicle!" Valentizina warned her, yet she didn't budge.

The unsub crawled out the car, being kicked onto the ground by Elle.

"Get on the ground! Put your palms up!"

"I was just looking at my map!" he cried out. Yet Valentizina lowered her gun as a group of officers picked him up, handcuffing his hands together. They were fucked... Thank you Elle.

•••

"You know, you're pretty. In fact, you're the most beautiful woman I've ever saw. And maybe if that man in the window wasn't glaring at me, I'd-"

"We know you work at First Hand Media and you had access to information about all these women."

Valentizina was sat opposite the unsub, her arms crossed, leaning against the table, close to the unsub. Very close to his liking. His face dropped at her comment, head shaking in anger. She watched the way his body tensed, his words coming out through his gritted teeth.

"But I didn't do anything wrong," he spat out, making the redhead nod.

"We know that. We apologise for it. We know how much you you care about these women. You do care about them, don't you?"

Her question made him grow silent, a small smile building up on his once angry face. His mood swings was something to be took under account. He was able to fake emotions fast. Or just able to change the way he feels almost too fast. He was a perfect choice for a psychopath. He was a dangerous kind with unpredictable behaviour.

"Well let me tell you something-"

All the sudden, the door burst open, revealing a man storming in.

He had the footsteps of doom.

Her lips parted as she stood up faster than lighting watching the way he grabbed the unsub.

"Don't say another word. This is over. I'm advising my client not to answer any more questions."

She moved out to the side, opening her mouth to speak. Yet she was forcefully pushed aside by his lawyer, in shock of what just happened. And she couldn't do anything about it. They were about to let him walk free. After everything he's done. Valentizina immediately turned around, jogging out of the room towards Reid, who stood in shock.

She breathed out, watching the way the lawyer carried his client out as if it was nothing. As if he did nothing wrong. As if he wasn't the unsub who raped all those women.

They lost.

"It's over," Spencer muttered, Valentizina crossing her arms, muttering back to him.

"We lost."

They watched Elle who stood there, astonished that they even dared to let the man go free. Her fingers twitched, slowly curling into tight fists, clenching in exasperation. She couldn't believe what she was seeing.

"You're letting him walk?" she roared, feeling betrayed. Her feet stomped towards Hotch, making both Morgan and Alianovna to step in front of him.

"Back off, Elle," Derek calmly spoke out.

"You don't know what he's done!"

"The only reason he's walking is because you panicked," Hotch admitted, Elle scoffing, shaking her head in disbelief.

"I'm supposed to believe that you've got my back?"

"What are you saying to me?"

"The last time you sent me home, Hotch, it got me shot!"

"Walk with me, now," Gideon ordered, grabbing Elle's arms and pulling her away from them all, leaving the group in silence.

Losing was a rare occurrence that they went through as the FBI. They normally solve cases the right way, serving justice correctly, locking up the people that needed to be locked up. So they were standing in silence, looking at each other in regret. They let him get away. Someone who took away lives. Someone who took away their purity. Someone who hurt women. Someone who deserved to be locked away but couldn't.

They failed to get justice for the women who deserved it the most.

Valentizina was the first to do anything and the first thing she did was walk away. Her heels filled up the silence in the police department. Next up was Spencer, who like always, seemed to follow. Derek went the opposite way, not making eye contact with anyone, simply wanting to find JJ and leave. And Hotch stayed standing, awaiting for Gideon.

Walking into an empty room, she sighed, taking a seat, Spencer doing the same right beside her.

They didn't speak for a while, thinking about what had just happened, letting it sink in.

"So this is how losing feels like," Valentizina quietly whispered, not wanting to grow any louder.

"Welcome to the team."

•••

Valentizina pressed onto the gas pedal harder, Derek spotting the crime scene from the passengers seat. They had gotten a call from Elle. He attacked her, and she shot him. Yet Valentizina knew murder far too well. Murder was her former friend. And she knew that this wasn't an accident. This was done on purpose. Elle felt far too much anger.

They immediately pulled up, her foot stomping on the break. Valentizina almost jumped out the car, freezing as she saw the view.

Elle was standing there with a gun in her hand, looking at his dead body.

The redhead felt Derek stand next to her, making her mutter only a few words to him.

"What did you do Elle..."

•••