Previous part of Reading the Bones

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Chapter Six: Pieces of the Puzzle

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"At this time there is nothing to lead the bureau to believe that the two bodies found at the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument are connected. There is also nothing to suggest foul play. More information will be released when we are finished conducting our investigation. Thank you." JJ walked away from the podium even though the reporters kept asking questions. The news report switched back to the local news anchor for the 12 o'clock news.

A fist slammed down on a dining room table in a small, virtually bare apartment on 14th Street, a mere five minutes from downtown DC and all its attractions. "I'll show you unconnected. My message will be received." This is what happens when things are left up to simple-minded infidels.

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"I can't believe this," Mrs. Amy Thomlinson sobbed, hugging herself. Emily guided the distraught woman to the worn, blue couch in the couple's small, but cozy, living room, gently placing an arm around her.

"We are terribly sorry," she offered in a composed, yet sympathetic voice. She needed to calm her down; they still had questions to ask. Morgan and Reid had followed them into the room, electing to stand on the opposite end of the room, a coffee table between them.

"Are you sure its him?" She picked up a photo of the couple off the coffee table. It was of their wedding day, just barely over a year ago. Just before Kirk had been sent to Iraq. The slight spring breeze blowing her loose curls in the wind, the scent of her bouquet of lilacs, his gentle kiss – all were a distant memory now.

"Yes, ma'am, I'm afraid we are," replied Morgan. The photos of Kirk had been a match to Angela's image and Garcia was running a DNA sample through the military's database for extra confirmation. However, because DNA matches can take up to 48 hours – time they didn't have, they were forced to work off of the photographic match.

"But why? Why would someone want to kill him?" she pleaded, looking up at Morgan and Reid.

Reid stuffed his hands in his pockets. He hated talking to the victims' families, he always felt uncomfortable. He cleared his throat slightly before speaking, "That's what we're hoping to understand, ma'am. Can you think of anyone that might have a problem with your husband?"

Amy looked down at the photo again, her fingers gently caressing Kirk's face, trying to be strong. "Nothing comes to mind. He got along with everyone; his unit was like family. You said there was another victim?"

Emily nodded, "Yes. Corporal James Righten."

"Oh god. Is someone trying to target his unit?" Amy asked, panic and fear in her eyes.

Morgan nodded, "It's very possible ma'am. Can you think of anyone that would have a problem with your husband's unit? Did someone or something change while they were overseas?"

Amy looked up at Morgan and sighed. "They all changed, Agent Morgan. Some of the things they saw…" She stopped for a moment, her voice caught in her throat. "Kirk did say something about Mark, though."

The three agents exchanged a quick glance. "Mark?" asked Reid.

Amy stood up and shakily walked over to the entertainment unit behind Reid and Morgan. She picked up a large picture frame containing the unit's official photograph and handed it to Morgan. He quickly noticed all of them looked serious, but that they appeared rather at ease with each other. Except for the man she pointed out to him. He seemed very uncomfortable, almost on guard. "Private Mark Easton. He's the unit's medic. Kirk said something one night about Mark wanting out of the army and that he had been acting strange. Well, stranger than normal."

Emily stood up and joined them. "What do you mean?"

Amy sighed, "Well, Mark was always distant. He didn't really try to connect with the other guys that much. But lately, since they got back, Kirk said he wouldn't even talk to them. Almost as if he resented them for some reason."

Morgan handed her back the photo, "Thank you Mrs. Thomlinson. You've been very helpful. And we promise, we'll catch the person that did this." He placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed slightly, determination clearly written on his face.

Amy nodded, wiping a few tears that escaped. "Thank you."

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"Do you think our unsub saw my press conference?" asked JJ as Hotch and her made their way to the unit's commanding officer, Command Sergeant David Johnson. "I hope my lie was convincing enough," she added.

"It was fine JJ and I certainly hope he did," replied Hotch. "We need him to tell us what his message is and he'll make sure its clear the next time." As much as they didn't want there to be a next time, they all knew they weren't going to stop him before there was a third victim. They didn't have enough to go on yet.

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"What are you doing, sitting over here pouting?" asked Angela. She had strolled over to Hodgins' desk, her heals making slight clanking noises on the glass platform, to see him half studying some random sample. He simply made some sort of grunting noise as he stared aimlessly into the microscope. She wasn't even sure what he was looking at; he had nothing to work on. "Oh, come on it wasn't that bad. You know he just added the last part to get under your skin because you questioned their methods."

Hodgins spun in his chair, pushing away from his microscope and desk, and looked up at her. "But how could I not question it? It's not based on any real science. They could say whatever they want and there would be no real way to refute it!"

"Okay, down tiger," Angela replied. "These are not some random shrinks. They are the top of their field and are requested across the country to help apprehend sickos like the one we're dealing with. Why don't you wait until this case is over to past your judgment on what they do?"

Hodgins nodded slightly, calming down. She always had that effect on him. Perhaps that was one of the reasons he loved her. "Wait…how do you know that they're requested across the country?" All he knew was that they were based in Quantico. Okay, he knew they traveled around the country because he was a friend of Emily's. But, how did she know?

Angela simply shrugged, "So I googled them, it's not that big of a deal."

Hodgins opened his mouth to reply with some smart-aleck comment when Zack appeared, almost out of nowhere. Although it might have just seemed that way because Hodgins tended to lose focus on things around him when Angela was near. "Booth was right."

"Right about what, Zack?" he asked, turning to younger man.

"I compared the bullets we recovered and to M9 bullets since Booth said they looked like them. He was right. Only the Army has that type of gun issued to them," Zack replied.

"So the killer is in the military?" asked Angela. Booth was really not going to like that news. Very few things angered Booth more than knowing a fellow serviceman was taking innocent lives, let alone his members of his own unit. Zack nodded. "You better call Brennan."

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"Well, it doesn't look like Righten lived alone," commented Gideon as the group climbed out of Booth's SUV. He gestured to the two cars in the driveway of the small one-story house, just on the skirts of the DC area.

"And yet he wasn't reported missing," added Booth as the three made their way to the front door. Gideon nodded at Booth when they reached to door after climbing a few stairs onto the porch and Booth knocked. "FBI, open up."

Brennan peered into the dirty bay window to the right of the door. It looked like hadn't been cleaned in years with layer upon layer of dust covering the panes. It was a miracle that she could see through that and notice something move slightly inside. "There's someone in there," she stated, looking back at the two agents.

Booth pounded on the door this time. "FBI, open up or we're coming in!" They all heard a muffled crashing sound – like a lamp hitting a carpeted floor – and Brennan looked back in the window to see the figure run to the back.

"He's going out back!" she yelled and started down the stairs and around the house.

"Bones!" Booth yelled after her as he followed. Gideon circled the other direction around to the back. "Damn it," he muttered to himself. It was moments like this when he hated taking her with him. She was always so absent of fear or so intent on catching the perpetrator (some days he didn't know which) that she usually never realized or cared that she could be running into something dangerous. "Bones, you gotta quit doing that!" he ordered when he caught up to her in the back yard. No one was visible except Gideon. Brennan just ignored him.

"Are you sure you saw him head this direction, Dr. Brennan?" Gideon asked as they looked around the messy yard. There was an old, mangled chain-linked fence in one corner that appeared to be the former separation of the yard to one of the neighbors until a new wooden one was put in its place. More than likely by said neighbors. In the other corner was a rusty tool shed. The grass looked like it hadn't been cut for months and it was overrun with weeds. The house was beginning to look more like it was abandoned than a place a US soldier, built on order and discipline, lived in.

"Yes," Brennan replied. "I'm positive I saw him run towards the back of the house." Where in the world did that man go? She eyed the tool shed and made her way over there. She reached for the handle.

"Bones, don't," ordered Booth, but it was too late. She had already slid the door open only to have an arm wrap around her neck and have a gun pointed at her head.

***

Chapter Seven: Putting it Together

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"Back off, man, or I'll shoot the chick!" The man Brennan had seen in the house seconds earlier emerged out of the rusty tool shed using her as a shield by wrapping an arm around her neck and holding her close. Gideon immediately noted his appearance – disheveled, dirty, very thin, and jumpy. He also noted something he'd missed when they had gone to the crime scenes earlier in the day. Dr. Brennan was unarmed. Which meant the weapon belonged to this man. Clearly he had planned this move, but why?

"Now why would you want to do that? She hasn't done anything to you," Gideon stated in a calm voice. He didn't notice Booth sending him a sidewards glance.

"Yeah, and besides, do you really want me to put a bullet through your skull? Because I don't, I'm not in the mood to fill out paperwork about why I had to shoot you. Let her go." Booth's voice was far more forceful and agitated. How did she always manage to get herself into trouble like this? He didn't know how many more days like this his heart, not to mention his blood pressure, could handle. Brennan's phone chose that moment to ring.

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"Dr. Brennan isn't answering her phone. Why wouldn't she answer her phone?" asked Zack as he redialed again and paced in front of Hodgins and Angela.

"Whoa, Zack, calm down. She's probably just busy," answered Hodgins. He knew why the young man was frantic. Everyone, except for probably Brennan, could see the small crush he had on her.

"But even when she's busy she answers the phone," he stated. "Something must be wrong."

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"Shut up! Just shut up both of you and back away!" the man yelled, faintly waving the gun at them. When he did so Gideon noticed the track marks down the man's arm and smiled just barely to himself. That explains it. "And make that damn phone stop ringing!"

"It's kind of hard to do that when I'm being held hostage," Brennan argued back, annoyed that this fool had grabbed her. If he would just loosen his grip a little, she'd be fine.

"Shut up!" He pointed the gun back at the side of her head. She could see just enough of it out of the corner of her eye to know it was .38 caliber handgun.

"Hey, buddy, calm down," Booth yelled.

"Listen, we're not here about your drugs. We really could care less. We're here about James," Gideon stated, realizing that he needed to make his move now before things escalated further. The man's eyes darted to him.

"What about James?" he asked, his voice not nearly as angry as it was a second ago. It almost sounded scared.

"He's dead," answered Booth.

"What?" the man asked, fear now clearly present in his voice. His grip around Brennan weakened and he moved the gun away from her head, letting it point to the sky instead. It was all she needed. She elbowed him in the stomach and kicked him in the shin, pulling the gun out of his hand, all in one swift motion. He quickly fell on the ground and Booth and Gideon were on him. Booth moved the man's arms behind his body to cuff him and that's when he began to panic again. "I thought you didn't care about the drugs?"

"I care about you assaulting my partner, you idiot. That just earned you a ride to the Hoover building," Booth stated, pulling him up off the ground. "Bones, give Gideon the gun."

"Why? I disarmed him, I think I can hold on it, Booth," she argued.

"Bones, please," Booth glared at her. Neither noticed the small smirk on Gideon's face at this interaction. They clearly had an interesting relationship.

Brennan looked at Booth for second, somewhat surprised that he was almost begging her. "Fine," she replied, shrugging. She handed Gideon the gun and he made sure to secure it. The group began to walk back to the front of the house as a small chuckle escaped Gideon's lips.

"What?" asked Booth.

"I was going to ask you why she wasn't carrying a firearm out in the field, but I think she answered the question for me. Nice moves back there, Dr. Brennan," Gideon replied with a smile.

Brennan smiled in return, "Thank you. Although I still maintain that should have a gun, but Booth won't let me."

"That's because you shot a suspect with no warning. We've been over this before," Booth replied. "You still want to search the house?" Gideon nodded and they headed up the front stairs again, the handcuffed man in tow.

Brennan's phone rang again before she could respond to Booth's comment. "Brennan."

"Are you okay, Dr. Brennan? Why weren't you answering your phone?" Zack rambled. Booth opened the front door – it had been unlocked the whole time – and the group made their way inside.

"I'm fine, Zack. Why did you call?" she asked, purposely avoiding the second question. They began to look around. The place was filthy, except for the one bedroom Gideon was looking at. It appeared to be Righten's bedroom.

"Booth was right, the bullets were from an M9, which is only issued to the Army. The killer has to be in the military," Zack answered.

"Great work, Zack," she replied. "Anything else?"

"No. Why didn't you answer your phone earlier?" he tried again.

"Bye Zack," she stated, hanging up before he could argue.

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"This is…unbelievable," Command Sergeant David Johnson managed to get out. It wasn't often that the seasoned military man was at a loss for words. He was even used to hearing about losing people under his command, but never like this. Not in a matter of just days. Not in such a brutal way. And definitely not on their home base.

"Can you think of anyone that had a problem with either of them?" Hotch asked, trying to get Johnson to regain his focus. The slightly older man blinked a little and looked back at him. Hotch could see him pull his strong willed, determined face back on. The one that commanding officers in the military were supposed to have. Some team leaders in the FBI too.

"No, I can't say that I do. Their unit is one of the more polished, well-organized units in my command. Everyone knows what they need to do and they do it. I never had to discipline any of them," Johnson replied. "However, if there minor internal conflicts going on, I wouldn't know. I oversee 12 other unit in the DC area alone. I don't have time to baby-sit. They knew to take care of that themselves. Involving me would only make it worse for all of them." He smiled softly at that as did Hotch and JJ.

"Do you think we could see copies of the unit's service records? Perhaps talk to the rest of the unit?" JJ asked. She knew Garcia could look up the rest of the records, but it would be better if he knew they were doing that.

"Why? You don't think one of their own did this to them, do you?" Johnson questioned. Hotch and JJ exchanged a quick glance.

"I'll be honest with you, sir," Hotch replied, "It's a possibility that needs to be considered. Giving us that information would allow us to rule it out." Or prove it, but he knew better than to say that.

"Well, I suppose I could do that then. I want you to catch the bastard that did this," Johnson stated. "I'll have one of my men pull it together for you."

JJ smiled, "Thank you." That went over better than she thought. Maybe he was still in too much shock to argue further, something they'd easily take to their advantage. If they didn't, bodies could start to pile up pretty fast.

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"Great, we'll see you soon." Morgan hung up his phone as he followed Emily and Reid back into the Jeffersonian. "JJ and Hotch got the records from their commanding officer. We can check them out once we put the profile together. They should be back soon."

"Should I call Gideon and see when he's getting back?" asked Reid.

"Your killer is in the Army," stated Hodgins from the platform, gaining their attention.

"How do you know?" asked Emily. Cam came down the stairs and slid her badge to let them up. "Thanks."

Cam nodded. "Go ahead and tell them, get your smugness out of the way," she stated, looking at Hodgins.

"Why does he get to tell? I'm the one that figured it out," countered Zack.

"Uh, can someone just tell us how you know he's in the military?" asked Morgan.

"I compared the bullets found in the victims' skulls to bullets fired from an M9 like Booth suggested and they were a match," stated Zack before Hodgins could say anything.

"And only the Army uses M9," added Hodgins, crossing his arms with a smile.

Reid nodded, "Makes sense. This level of torture usually coincides with having a personal relationship with the victims. Serving in the same unit would certainly be a close relationship."

"So, so far we've been able to tell you the victims' identities, how they died, including the model of the weapon, and all you can tell us is that the killer knew the victims?" asked Hodgins with a hint of hostility.

Emily raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Gideon really got under your skin with that profile, didn't he Jack?"

Hodgins scoffed and rolled his eyes, "No." This only causes the rest of the squints to laugh.

"Oh, please, you've been steaming ever since we got back," countered Angela. "Let it go and let them do their job."

"Yes, let's do that." The group turned to see Brennan and Gideon coming up the stairs.

"Where's Booth?" asked Zack. "And are you going to tell me why you weren't answering your phone earlier now?"

Brennan tucked some hair behind her ear. "Booth is booking James Righten's younger brother for assault," she answered calmly. Surprise was present on all of their faces.

"Who'd he assault?" asked Reid.

She shrugged, "Me."

"What?" asked Cam, shocked.

"It wasn't that big of a deal. He held a gun to my head – that's why I didn't answer my phone, Zack – He thought we were after his stash of heroin, which Agent Gideon figured out and then I disarmed him." She turned to Gideon, "How did you know that was why he grabbed me?" She was completely oblivious to the stunned expressions on everyone else's faces.

"His appearance and the fact that he was jumpy, twitchy," Gideon replied and she nodded. "That and he had track marks on his arm."

Brennan smiled, "Ah, I should have caught that."

"Um, sweetie, are you okay?" asked Angela, pulling the pair back to the rest.

"I'm fine. Did you tell them about the bullets?" she replied. Zack nodded. "Good."

"Hotch and JJ are on their way back, Gideon," stated Reid.

Gideon nodded, "Let's start pulling together a profile." The BAU team headed back to Angela's office, fully aware that the rest were following them. Once they reached the office, the team assembled around the table they were stationed at. The Jeffersonian group stood over by Angela's desk. "What do we have so far?"

"The unsub is in the Army or has access to an M9 firearm. Both victims belonged to the same unit. The level of torture suggests a close relationship with the victims, possibly a member of the same unit," stated Emily.

"Thomlinson, the first victim, was a newlywed. Never had any problems with his superiors, fellow soldiers, or family. Worked hard; loved his wife. All in all, an average, good guy," added Morgan.

"Although he had a drug addicted little brother, Righten also seemed to be a straight arrow. His room was clean and organized and he loved the Army. He was trying to help his little brother get clean, even though he was failing," Gideon stated. "That only clear link why they were both chosen is their unit." The squints and Brennan continued to watch quietly as they went through this.

"The torture was organized, methodical. There is a reason, a message behind why he cuts them, breaks bones, lights them on fire, and shoots them. The choice of drug, phenotripticol, causes paralysis, leaving the victims unable to cry for help or fight back. Yet because it's not a commonly known drug except in the medical profession, the drug choice also suggests exposure to either a mental health facility or someone mentally ill. It could possibly be through medical training," Reid stated. As he was talking Hotch, JJ, and Booth all silently walked in, Hotch setting down a file box on the table.

The group expected Hotch to want a recap, but he apparently had heard enough of the profile to allow it to continue. In fact, he picked up where they left off. "He's dumping the bodies at national landmarks because he wants the bodies to be seen; he wants to show off what he's done. He may also be trying to target the government with his message."

Gideon sighed, "We're still missing that part. What is his message? What is he torturing and killing these men? Why dump the bodies at these particular sites?"

"Isn't being a sick freak enough of an answer?" asked Hodgins. Everyone turned and looked at him. "What? I'm just saying." Angela slightly smacked him in the arm and Emily shook her head before turning back to her team.

"How do you find out the 'why'?" asked Zack.

"Hopefully, he'll tell us," answered Hotch. "JJ's press conference denying any foul play or that the bodies are even connected has been airing constantly. He would be looking to see if his message had gotten out. Her conference will anger him and force him to make his reasons clear."

"How exactly?" asked Angela, not liking where this was going.

"Unfortunately, with the next victim," answered Morgan.

"So you're just going to stand here and wait for another body?" asked Brennan, angered by this.

"They don't really have a choice, Bones," stated Booth, trying to be sensitive to both sides. He knew she hated it when they got new victims. She hated victims being trivialized and treated like pieces of a puzzle. Even if that's not what they were trying to do, that's how it was coming across.

"There is always a choice, Booth," she argued back, her voice at an eerily monotone level.

"Dr. Brennan," started Reid, getting her attention. "With this level of torture, would you agree that the unsub would have to spend a great deal of time with the victim before disposing of the body?"

Brennan stared at him. "Yes," she replied, annoyed. She knew exactly where he was going with this, but she didn't like it.

"So more than likely the next victim has already been taken by him. It's unfortunate that we don't know enough be able to save this victim, but hopefully we'll be able to gain enough information to stop him before he reaches victim number four," Reid finished.

Brennan nodded and opened her mouth to reply when JJ's cell phone rang.

***

Chapter Eight: Symbolism

By Ann Parker

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"Jareau. Already? Where? Thank you." Everyone watched as JJ hung up her phone and turned to Hotch and Gideon. "We've got our third victim."

"Where?" asked Gideon.

"The Three Servicemen statue of the Vietnam Memorial," JJ replied. The group silently nodded and began to head out the door.

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"The message clear enough now?" asked Brennan when they arrived on scene. Booth shot her a look, but she ignored him. "Let's get to work," she commented to Zack and Cam. The three began to take photos of the scene and examine the body…parts. The left leg had been severed below the knee and the right arm just below the elbow. Both limbs were tossed along side the charred body like garbage being tossed on the side of the road.

"He moved up his timeline so how did he manage to do all this and not be seen?" asked Morgan. The unsub had dumped the body, all of it, in front of the statue. And scribbled in blood 'The infidels must pay for their sins' on the cement in front of it. A copy of the Koran was placed neatly in front of the message. It was all starting to become clear.

"Looks like they were doing some construction in the area so it was blocked off from visitors. None of the construction workers saw anything, but that's because most were getting ready to leave, if they hadn't already," stated JJ as she rejoined the group. She had been talking with the officers that had first arrived on scene.

"The unsub obviously has knowledge of the facilities then," stated Emily.

"Not necessarily," countered Reid, studying the message on the ground. "The hours of these places are easily accessible on the internet and if he lives in the area, which based off the timeline he'd have to, he would know about the construction. Everybody knows construction crews work 9 – 5 so he would know he'd have this window of opportunity."

"Then what's the significance of the time from the last two victims?" asked Hotch.

Gideon smiled ever so faintly, the last piece of the puzzle finally coming together in his head. "Evening prayers," he replied.

Reid nodded, "Exactly! If the unsub is Muslim, more than likely a recent convert to Islam, he would have to do his evening prayers right after sunset. Right now the sun is setting around 7:40 every night."

"So he let's his victims slowly die while he prays and then shoots them in the head execution style before dumping the body? That's just cold, man," replied Morgan.

"I think I know what this is all about," stated Gideon. The team looked at him and waited. "We need Garcia."

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"Well, this is definitely a victim of the same killer," stated Cam to Zack. The pair was in Cam's lab examining the body. They had headed back to the lab with the body as soon as it was cleared to move in order to get a jump-start on the examination. "The knife wounds appear to be a match." Brennan had stayed with Booth and the others at the scene to make sure they had collected everything that could possibly be significant.

"The only main difference to this body and the previous victims is the severed limbs," added Zack. "They appear to be removed via an axe, but I'll know for sure when we removed the flesh."

Cam nodded, "I'm just about done with the initial exam and then he's all yours."

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"Speak, oh fortunate one," greeted Garcia through the phone.

"Garcia, I need you to see if there was some sort of incident involving the victims and Iraqi causalities," stated Gideon as they walked into Angela's office. The rest were starting to go through the files Hotch and JJ had obtained. "More than likely, we're looked for a bombing."

"Yes sir, give me just a second," replied Garcia as she typed away. She was always more formal with Gideon. Only a few seconds past before she had something. "Both Righten and Thomlinson were part of a tactical group that was ambushed near a mosque. The team tried to take out their attackers, but one of the terrorists set off a bomb before they could."

"How many casualties?" Gideon asked, getting the team's attention.

"Twenty-five. One of the soldiers, Private First Class Dan Haroon, and three members of the terrorist group. The rest were women and children, the oldest child was eleven," Garcia replied with a sad sigh. "Forty more were injured."

"That's probably it. I need the names of the rest of that team," Gideon replied.

"Already sent it to Morgan," Garcia smiled. Just then Morgan's cell phone beeped and he pulled up the list of names.

"Thanks, good job." Gideon hung up and turned to the rest. "Righten, Thomlinson, probably our third victim, and our unsub were ambushed near a mosque where a terrorist exploded a bomb, killing one of their team and twenty-one women and children. Forty others were also injured."

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"Zack, do we have our bones yet?" asked Brennan, just about bursting through the doors of the lab for cleaning bones. Currently, the bones were being cleaned by Zack's favorite – the flesh-eating beetles. Booth followed her even though he didn't really care for that particular lab. Too many creepy things.

"Just another couple minutes. They were really hungry today," replied Zack. Neither Zack or Brennan noticed Booth grimace at that comment.

"Okay. I want you to take the skeleton and examine it and comparing it to the other victims. I'll take the skull and get the markers for Angela," stated Brennan. Getting the victims identity was their first priority at this point. She noticed Booth looking around, trying to not study anything too closely and rolled her eyes. "You know Booth," she started, getting his attention. "You could join your FBI buddies." She was still slightly angered at the situation. This person shouldn't have had to die like this.

"Bones, I work with you. You're my partner," he countered, knowing she was still upset. Truth be told, so was he, but he also knew the other agents were doing their job to the best of their abilities. "We can join them when we have the skull."

"That shouldn't be too long then," stated Zack, pulling the now clean skull out of the clear box, shaking off a few of the beetles in the process.

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"So our unsub is blaming the members of his team for the deaths and injuries of those women and children?" asked Emily after Gideon's information sunk in. "That's an odd stressor, considering everything they probably saw over there."

"It just takes one event," stated Hotch. "And now he's making them pay by mimicking what happened to them."

"The cuts from chards of glass, the broken bones from impact, which would also fit with the latest victim's severed limbs, and burns from the explosion," added Reid. The group didn't notice Brennan, Booth, and Angela had walked in the room shortly after Gideon had hung up from Garcia. Brennan and Angela went over to her desk with the skull Brennan had carried in. Booth stood by them near the table, listening.

"What about the bullet wounds then?" asked Morgan.

"Unfortunately, innocent people get caught in the middle of gun fire during those situations all the time," stated Booth, now being noticed by the team.

"He would know that from experience; he was an Army sniper," added Brennan from Angela's desk. She had just finished the facial markers and now Angela was typing away on her computer.

"Bones," groaned Booth, shaking his head.

Gideon smiled faintly, ignoring Brennan's comment, "Thanks Booth. And the drugs were used to symbolize the fact that these victims weren't prepared, that they couldn't even cry out in pain it happened so fast."

The team was silent for a second, absorbing in the profile, before Hotch spoke up again. "Okay, let's start going through the files on the list of names from Garcia." The whole team and Booth each grabbed a file, flipping them open. Silently, they all studied their files to see if the profile matched the paperwork in their hands.

"I've got a face for your latest victim," interrupted Angela after a few minutes. They all turned to her and studied the holographic image of a young man with hazel eyes and sandy brown hair. Booth stared at it for a second and then flipped the file in his hand back open.

"I think I've got him," he stated. Hotch and Gideon looked over his shoulder at the photo in the file and then back up at the Angela's image.

"Private First Class Evan White," stated Hotch. "We should send that to Garcia to verify before notifying the family." Morgan walked over to Angela and Brennan to get it sent and flipped open his phone at the same time.

"Hey sugar," he greeted.

"Gorgeous, you must be psychic. I was just about to call you with something," answered Garcia. "You might actually want to put me on speaker phone for this."

"Okay." Morgan changed the settings on his phone to speaker while gesturing to Angela send the image, which she did. "What do you have?"

"So I went ahead and ran the remaining names in that group to see if anything odd came up," she started. "Apparently one of the men had to be pulled away from the scene of the explosion, away from the body of an Iraqi woman. There are a few warnings in his record after that incident and he placed a request to be discharged once they got back to the States."

"The woman was probably his lover," stated JJ, receiving nods.

"That would be a much bigger stressor than just being there at the explosion," added Reid.

"What's the name, Garcia?" asked Hotch.

"Private Mark Easton," she replied. "Oh, and I just got your image and compared it. It's a definite match for a Private First Class Evan White."

"Thanks Garcia," Morgan stated, hanging up.

"Wasn't that the same name Mrs. Thomlinson mentioned?" asked Emily, looking at Reid and Morgan.

Reid nodded, "Yes it was." He flipped open a few more of the files on the table, "Here's his record." He skimmed it over for a second, using his ability to read faster than any person should be allowed to his advantage. He glanced back up at Gideon and Hotch. "This has to be him."

***

Chapter Nine: Team Work

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"What makes you so sure?" asked Brennan as everyone's attention went to the young genius.

"Private Mark Easton, age twenty-seven. Raised by his mother, a nurse at Bethesda Medical Center," Reid started.

"Explains choosing to become the unit's medic," commented Emily.

"Oh my pretties, that explains even more," stated Garcia through Morgan's phone, which was still on speaker. "Anna Easton, RN, has worked for over 20 years in Bethesda's psychiatric ward. And isn't your drug, phenotripicol, used ---"

"Used to subdue patients during psychotic episodes," interrupted Gideon. "That's how he knew of the drug, perhaps even got his hands on it."

"Ah…yes," stated Garcia, startled at Gideon interrupting her. "And, as it happens, I have a report from Bethesda stating a case of your drug went missing a week ago."

"We need to go pick up this guy," stated Booth, getting ready to head out the door.

"I agree," stated Hotch. "Reid and JJ, notify the latest victim's family. Garcia, see if anyone else from that unit has been reported missing. Easton is devolving and fast."

"Devolving?" asked Angela.

"Falling apart," supplied Morgan. "It means he's becoming more frantic, more reckless, and all the more dangerous." Angela nodded.

"The rest of us are going to pay him a visit," finished Hotch, grabbing the file with his address from Reid and quickly heading out the door. Morgan, Gideon, Emily, Booth, and Brennan all quickly followed suit.

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"Oh my god," Krista White whispered, taking a shaky step backwards. Reid and JJ both reached out to steady her, but Reid let JJ take over and steer the distraught woman to the nearest chair – one at the couple's dining room table. "But I just talked to him this morning. Are you sure it's him?"

"DNA will provide a 100 confirmation, but yes ma'am, I'm afraid we are," replied Reid.

A small sob escaped Krista's lips and Reid sighed softly to himself. This was the one part of the job he truly hated and here he was already visiting his second victim's family in one day. He just never really knew how to handle their emotions. All he could hope was that they would catch the unsub before he had another home to visit. "Ma'am," JJ's soft, caring voice pulled him back to the task at hand. He watched as JJ glanced at him, silently asking a question. He nodded and JJ turned back to Krista. "Ma'am, do you know a Mark Easton?"

Krista's head snapped up at the sound of that name. She opened her mouth to reply when a rapid knock came from her front door.

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"Easton! FBI, open up!" yelled Booth as the group flanked the fifth floor apartment door. All were wearing their kevlar vests except for Brennan, who was ordered to stand in the back, much to her annoyance. There was no response at the door.

Morgan pounded on the door. "FBI!" Still no response. Morgan turned the doorknob easily, but the white door was still deadbolted shut. Morgan turned to the accompanying Swat team to have them bust open the door, but Booth stopped him.

"I've got a faster way," Booth commented and stepped back from the door to the opposite side of the hall. A gunshot rang out and soon all was left was a bullet hole.

"Nice shot," stated Morgan with a slight smile as he proceeded to kick down the door. "FBI Easton! Come out with your hands up!" Morgan and Booth were the first to enter the apartment. As they started to go through the living and dining rooms, declaring them all clear, Hotch, Gideon, Emily followed them in. It didn't take them long to determine that the apartment was empty. Brennan was quick to enter the apartment upon hearing that. In the spare bedroom, facing east, Gideon found a prayer rug and the Koran. The apartment was sparsely decorated other than that. A small 13" television sat in the living room with one chair. A circular, wooden table and chair adorned the dining room. A small dresser and a mattress with crisp, white sheets sat in the middle of the otherwise bare bedroom.

Brennan did a brief walk around the apartment before meeting Booth and Hotch in the dining room and declaring, "This is not where he kills his victims."

"I agree," stated Gideon, emerging from the living room. Morgan and Emily joined them from other locations in the apartment. "He wouldn't want to soil where he prays to Allah."

"That and how could he possibly get a charred, dismembered, and bloody corpse down five flights of stairs without being noticed?" she retorted. Booth just rolled his eyes, deciding to not comment.

"We need more information on this guy," added Hotch. Before he could even say a word, Morgan had flipped open his cell phone.

"Hey gorgeous."

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"What are you doing?" asked Zack, approaching Hodgins who was examining the few remnants they were able to obtain from the last victim. Hodgins continued to comb through the few pieces of fabric.

"There has got to be something here to help catch the guy. If he sped up his ritual, as they called it, then he probably made a mistake. I have to find it," he replied. He didn't even hear the doors of the lab open to reveal Angela and Cam as he spoke.

"You just want to show them up," stated Angela. Hodgins ignored her and picked up the chuck of the shoe sole that didn't get completely destroyed in the fire. He placed it back on the table with the sole facing up and grabbed his magnifying glass to examine it.

"Jack, do you actually think you're going to find something?" asked Cam as the three watched him. Hodgins simply grunted as he continued to look it over. He noticed what appeared to be small flecks of metal on the heel of the boot where they had been dragged. As he continued to look it over something red reflected light back at him, causing him to chuckle. The other three exchanged a concerned look.

"Jack, sweetie?" asked Angela.

"I got it!" Hodgins exclaimed, digging out his cell phone.

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Reid led Krista to the front door, looking through the peephole to make sure it wasn't Easton, which it wasn't. It was, however, a young man of with slightly long, black hair – much like himself – and a pair of glasses. He nodded and Krista opened the door.

"Oh thank god you're home, Krista," the man blurted out, walking past her, oblivious to the two agents in the room. "Have you seen Tina today? She was supposed to pick up Cory from soccer practice a half hour ago, but she didn't show and she's not answering her cell phone." This came out as a rambling speech as he paced in front of them, running a hand through his hair.

"I'm sorry I --" Krista's voice squeaked slightly, her ever-present tears leaving streaks down her face. "I haven't, Sam." The man really looked at her this time, taking in her appearance.

"Who is Tina?" asked Reid, making their presence known to Sam.

"My wife. Who are you? Why are you crying Krista?" asked Sam, the panic previously in his voice now being replaced with fear.

"Agent Jareau and Dr. Reid of the FBI, Mr…" started JJ, coming over by Krista and steering her back to a chair.

"Morris, Sam Morris. My wife Tina serves with Krista's husband," Sam supplied. Reid and JJ exchanged a quick look.

"She's in the same unit?" asked Reid, pulling out his cell phone. Sam nodded.

"What's going on?" he asked, taking a seat next to Krista. JJ sighed softly as she began to fill Sam in on the situation. Reid took that moment to walk out of the room and call Gideon.

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"What exactly am I supposed to be looking for again?" asked Garcia as her fingers moved at lightening speed across her keyboard. Various screens popped up with information.

"We need to find some location he might choose to use as his torture chamber," replied Morgan.

"Oh, sugar, you didn't need to remind me of that detail," Garcia grimaced. Morgan smiled faintly. "Okay, I've got his mother's house on the upper west side. Wouldn't that be a present for mommy?"

"Too far away. We need something close to the dump sites," Morgan stated. Just then two cell phones went off behind him and he turned to see Dr. Brennan and Gideon answer their phones.

"Brennan." Morgan watched the doctor as Garcia continued to type away. Gideon turned from the group, walking away to hear easier. Morgan, and just about the rest of the group, noticed a small smile appeared on her lips. "Great work, Jack."

"What did Hodgins find?" asked Booth as she hung up.

"He noticed small metal fragments and a shard of tail light glass in the sole of the last victim," she replied, glancing at Morgan as she said this.

"Garcia, does he have any connection to a place with cars, like a repair shop?" asked Morgan.

"Let me see," she replied and he could hear her fingers move at an ultra fast speed. "Uh huh, his uncle left him his auto repair and towing shop about 2 years ago. It went under while he was still in Iraq; no one has bought the location from him."

"Where is it?" asked Morgan, taking the pen and paper from Hotch, who already had it out. He could tell by the look on the younger man's face that she had something.

"About three blocks from the dump sites," she supplied. She then proceeded to give him the address as Gideon returned to the group.

"You rock, girl. Thanks," Morgan hung up. "I've got a location."

Gideon sighed, "And I've got the name of the next victim."

"What? Who is it?" asked Emily.

"Private First Class Tina Morris. She's a neighbor of the White's and her husband came looking for her while JJ and Reid were interviewing the widow," Gideon replied.

"Let's move," stated Booth. The whole group nodded and started to head out the door. When they had just about reached outside, Hotch started to call in for back up to meet them at the location when Brennan appeared next to him.

"Tell the paramedics to make sure they have a vial of antihemeramine with them, it will counteract the phenotripicol," she stated. Hotch nodded and relayed the information as they all climbed into their SUVs.

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She wanted to scream so badly; the pain was excruciating. He had cut her at least seven times, but it was all starting run together so it could have been more. She had been just about to get in her car at the base to pick up her son when she heard her name being called. She turned, only to have someone grab her and inject something into her neck. She pasted out slightly from the shock and woke up in the back of a truck watching the stars go by. They were just now starting to appear in the night sky. It took her only seconds to realize that she couldn't move, she couldn't even scream or cry. She was denied even those basic abilities.

Now she was propped up on some metal table as someone she thought she knew was hurting her. She had always suspected that Mark wasn't exactly normal, but she never thought he was capable of the torture he was putting her through. He was supposed to be the unit's medic, the one that took care of the injured, not the one inflicting the pain. She knew combat had changed him; it had changed her. But this…it was incomprehensible. And yet she could feel her warm blood touching her skin and her clothing sucking it up like a dry sponge. He moved her arm, hanging it off the table, and went to grab something. She knew it wasn't good, whatever it was.

Wait, did she hear sirens in the background? Someone couldn't possibly be coming to rescue her, could they? Probably not, sirens go off all the time in the city. It wasn't until she heard some banging and shouting and felt a cool blade on her throat that she knew they were here for her.

"Drop it, Easton!" a strong, male voice yelled. She couldn't see them, her eyes permanently fixated on the rusty ceiling.

"She must pay! They all must pay! The infidels must pay for the innocent blood on their hands!" Mark exclaimed behind her. If she could have cringed, she would have. Infidels…why hadn't she seen this sooner? Why hadn't anyone else on the unit notice the change in him when they had to pull him away from that Iraqi woman's corpse? Any more thoughts on that stopped as she felt the blade press against her neck.

"What about the blood on your hands, Easton? You think Allah will reward you for your vengeance?" asked another male voice, this one much older sounding.

"They weren't believers of the faith, they are of no consequence," Mark spat out, his voice laced with venom. "Just like her!" She felt the blade press against her skin deeper and pain and fear shot through her body once more. A gunshot rang out. The blade slipped away from her throat making a large clanking noise on the ground.

She heard several voices and shuffling around until a warm hand applied light pressure on her neck to stop the little bit of blood from escaping. Green eyes met hers and a soft, caring voice filled her ears. "You're going to be okay, Tina, I promise." The woman placed another hand on her cheek and smiled. "You're going to be okay."

***

Chapter Ten: The Profilers and the Squints

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"Oh, that's great! Thanks Hotch. Yeah, we'll meet you here at the Jeffersonian." Reid hung up his cell phone and turned to JJ. They were back in Angela's office, compiling all their files to head back to Quantico. They had been too far away to be of any help at Easton's auto repair shop so they had returned to wrap up things on this end. Everyone but Angela had left to help collect evidence after Booth had shot Easton through the shoulder and they had him in custody. Gideon and Bones had gone with Tina to the hospital. The squint in question had wandered away about ten minutes ago, leaving them alone in her office.

"Hotch just said that the doctors think Private Morris will make a full recovery. They were getting ready to head back after getting Gideon and Dr. Brennan," Reid informed her and she nodded with a smile.

"This has been one crazy day," she stated, boxing up all the files they had obtained from Command Sergeant Johnson, except for the files on the victims and on Easton.

"You're telling me." JJ and Reid both spun around to the office's entrance at the sound of Garcia's voice. There she stood, arm in arm with Angela. Both had large smiles on their faces.

"Garcia, what are you doing here?" asked Reid.

"You'll find out soon enough, sugar," she teased. Angela laughed as she walked over to a cupboard and grabbed a box. It was full of glass beakers and stirring rods. Okay, now his interest was peaked.

"Finish up and tell everyone to meet us upstairs," instructed Angela as the two technical whizzes left the office. It was then that the pair noticed Garcia was carrying two large grocery bags.

"They can't be up to any good," commented JJ with a smile. A slight chuckle escaped Reid's lips as he nodded. JJ's cell phone rang and she wandered down the hallway to answer it. Undoubtedly the press. Reid sighed as he watched her walk away. Because of that, he didn't realize that a curly haired scientist was watching him. He turned back to the paper work and finished boxing up the last few files that would be needed for Easton's prosecution.

"Don't wait, man," Hodgins stated, slightly startling Reid as he walked into Angela's office.

Reid furrowed his brow and looked at him, "What are you talking about?"

"Don't wait on asking her out. Go for it. Believe me, don't waste time," Hodgins replied.

Reid's mouth gaped open for a second, "How did you--"

"Spence," JJ chose that moment to pop her head back into the room. "The rest are back. Time to figure out what those two girls are up to."

Reid nodded, "Yeah, okay." JJ left the room and Reid looked back at Hodgins who simply smiled and patted him on the arm as they left the office.

"Wait, what did she mean by 'those two girls?'" asked Hodgins as they walked over where the rest of the BAU team, Booth, and Brennan were. Zack and Cam walked out of another lab. Although they had managed to save the last victim, it wouldn't have appeared that way to anyone that had seen their faces. All looked fatigued; their eyes full of sorrow for the victims lost and for the man responsible. This case had taken a lot out of all of them. Even though they were all used to seeing horrendous things, it was clear that this particular case would be one that would stick with them for a while.

"Did you take care of all the evidence?" asked Brennan, turning to Zack and Cam. Zack nodded.

"It's all bagged and tagged and ready for the bureau to take," replied Cam.

"Why did I see Ester in the parking lot?" asked Emily once she spotted Reid and JJ.

"Because Garcia and Angela are up to something," replied JJ, tucking some of her hair behind her ear.

"Where is she?" asked Morgan, a smile already creeping across his face.

"Up here, stud!" exclaimed Garcia. Everyone's heads snapped up to the balcony above them to see Garcia and Angela leaning over the railing. Both had a beaker with some liquid in them. The stir rods appeared to have some sort of food attached to them, probably olives.

"What are you up to, sweetness?" Morgan asked for everyone.

"Just some glug, glug, woohoo," replied Angela, twirling a finger of her free hand as she grinned. Zack, Hodgins, and Brennan all smiled.

"Glug, glug, woohoo?" asked Gideon, the words sounding foreign in his mouth. The rest of the BAU team also appeared to be confused.

"It's time to partake in some beverages that will help us relax after dealing with such a brutal case," replied Zack.

Emily raised an eyebrow, "Come again?"

"Time to get drunk, man," replied Hodgins as he turned to go upstairs. The rest of the squints and Booth all began to follow. The profilers looked at Hotch to gauge whether or not they should stay.

"I could use a drink," Hotch sighed and the group quickly joined the rest. What they found when they reached the balcony was a bunch of beakers next to some various bottles of alcohol and bags of chips on the two round, glass coffee tables. One was a little larger than the other. The green, cushioned couches and chairs surrounded the tables, forming almost two separate circles in the process.

"So, what brought this on?" asked JJ.

"Pen and I got to talking and with the way this case turned out we both decided everyone could use a little relaxation," answered Angela. Garcia and her clunked their glasses, well beakers, together as they sat at the larger circle with Hodgins and Zack. Brennan, Booth, and Cam were around the other circle. The profilers took their seats around the tables, this time a little more mixed up. Morgan slid in next to Garcia, with JJ taking a seat next to him. Reid sat next to her and Zack. Emily took a seat between Zack and Hodgins. Gideon and Hotch sat down next to each other, with Brennan at Gideon's other side and Cam at Hotch's.

Morgan picked up one of the beakers and eyed it. "These haven't had any body parts or weird fluids in them, have they?" he asked.

"Not today," replied Zack with a grin. Morgan studied him as the rest laughed.

"I believe he's kidding, Morgan," smiled Reid as he poured himself a small drink.

"No really, genius?" Morgan teased, roughing up Reid's hair. Reid rolled his eyes at the older man as he poured JJ's drink as well.

"Thanks Spence," she replied and they exchanged smiles. Hodgins sighed to himself. That was apparently going to take some work.

At the other table, a slightly more sober conversation was taking place. At the moment, Gideon was studying Booth. "Booth, what made you decide to go for his shoulder?" Gideon has expected Easton to not make it out alive. Brennan turned to her partner, waiting to hear his answer. She too hadn't expected that.

"Easton didn't deserve to die that easily," Booth stated, looking down at his drink. "No one does after what he did."

"Very true," commented Hotch as the group took a drink. Laughter from the other group pulled them out of their thoughts.

"Oh, this is too much fun! Okay, Zack, your turn," stated Angela. "'I have a very bad feeling about this.'"

Zack smirked, "Too easy, Angela. Luke Skywalker in Star Wars IV: A New Hope." Reid nodded in agreement. "Drink!" Everyone but Reid and Zack took a sip of their drinks as laughter continued to fill the room.

"Okay, I've got one for you Reid. 'Not bad for a little fur ball,'" stated Morgan. Everyone stared at Reid, even the other table, now very amused at the Star Wars quote battle going on.

Reid rolled his eyes, "Please Morgan. Han in Episode VI: Return of the Jedi." Morgan groaned, signaling to everyone that Reid, as always, was right. They all took a drink.

"This is too easy for them," complained Emily.

"What isn't?" asked Angela.

"I'll drink to that," added Garcia, clanking glasses with Angela again as the group laughed some more.

Cam smiled, turning back to the calmer group at her table. "Looks like everyone is finally getting along." The group smiled, taking sips of their drinks. All recalled Hodgins' slight annoyance at his profile, among others.

"That reminds me," started Brennan, turning to Gideon. "How were you able to get all that information on Jack? Did you have Garcia feed you some or did Emily tell you about times with him?" She still doubted that he was able to build that accurate of a profile after just meeting him.

Gideon smiled ever so faintly, "You don't think I could have figured that information out on my own?" Brennan shook her head. "Can't you tell a person's life story by just examining their bones?"

"Yes, but I have scientific procedures to back my findings," she countered.

"And countless interviews with killers and the study of the brain aren't scientific?" asked Hotch, now also smirking. Even after the day they'd had working together, she still didn't believe in their science.

"Well---"

"Bones," injected Booth. She turned to him and he flashed one of his signature grins at her, making her heart skip a beat for just a second. "Just let it go, okay?" He clanked his beaker into hers and smiled again. She smiled in return and shook her head.

"Well, regardless," she started, changing what she was going to say. "I still don't believe in psychology, but I think you did a good job." Gideon and Hotch smiled.

"As did you and your team here, Dr. Brennan," replied Hotch.

"In fact, I wouldn't be overly opposed to working with you again," she added.

"Oh, I would be," countered Booth, taking a swig of his drink. She turned to him, confused.

"But you just---"

"What I think he means," added Cam, "is that working with them again means there is a need for the teams to work together again."

"Something none of us would wish for," finished Gideon. Brennan nodded in complete agreement.

"I'll drink to that," Hotch stated and the group laughed slightly while taking a drink.

They all knew that come tomorrow morning they would be returning back to their corners of the crime universe. There would be another criminal to catch; another victim to avenge. But for now, sitting together as laughter filled the air, things were at peace for the profilers and the squints. And that was just fine with them.

***