Chapter 13

Reid unusually woke up with the urge to use the bathroom. He knew the team's quiet jokes about the power of his kidneys. But he had to go. Rising from his seat, he waited to get his eyes used to the darkness of the jet. He didn't need to profile the team's sleeping habits. He heard Hotch and Rossi softly snoring. Morgan was soundly sleeping, his headphones still on. Making his way aft to the bathroom, he smiled at the four top of seats. JJ and Emily were quieting sleeping, curled up under their blankets. He paused as Matt tossed over. He shook his head. Gideon told me we all have the dreams. He silently walked into the bathroom.

-00CM00-

Matt heard JJ say, "Reid is down!" He moved to their position to see Morgan dragging Reid behind one of the squad cars. He looked at them. "Morgan, you and JJ go with the deputies to get the Preacher. Blake, take care of Reid. I'll cover all of you." Matt dropped his clip and loaded a new one. When he saw Morgan and JJ moving up the side of the scene to enter the front door, Matt started firing, putting the Preacher on the defensive.

-00CM00-

The team began putting things together. "Let's take this outside," Hotch said. Everyone knew it wasn't a suggestion. As they talked, Morgan walked up.

"What's going on," he asked.

"Trust no one my friend," Rossi said.

Morgan looked at Cruz. "Corruption," he simply said. Hotch and Matt laid out who they believed the players were.

Hotch had JJ call Garcia to find Dinah's child while the rest of them walked in. Deputy Bennett walked up to them. "You guys were out there a long time."

"Just getting some fresh air," Rossi said. Bennett walked away.

Cruz looked at Hotch and Matt. "They've got to know you're starting to figure things out," he whispered.

"Meaning," Hotch questioned.

"Maybe you should turn up the heat a little on them," Cruz said.

"I was thinking the same thing," Dave said. Hotch looked at him. "Nothing really overt; just to let them know we're not going away."

Cruz looked at Hotch. "And you've got just the guy to do it," he quietly smiled looking at Matt.

Matt looked at Hotch. "Let me loose," Matt smiled with a whisper.

Hotch thought for a second. "Just send a message."

"Yes sir," Matt smiled, winking at Dave.

JJ walked in. "I've got the info on Dinah's son; but since all eyes are on me," she said, with her voice trailing off. Just then, Alex walked in.

"What's going on," she asked.

"Let's take a ride," Dave said, getting up from the desk he was leaning against. "I'll fill you in on the way." Blake nodded her head. "Send me that info," Dave whispered as he walked past JJ. The two of them left.

Matt, casually looking around the station, saw Deputies Bennett and Lorenzana leaving. Matt pulled out his cell and sent a quick text. Dave, watch your six.

Hotch looked over Matt's shoulder at the text. "Damn, we could use another vehicle. You should be backing them."

"I know Hotch; I feel the say way. But Morgan has got to get to the hospital. Reid and Garcia are vulnerable and they need the back-up more. Dave and Blake can handle it," he said.

"You hope," Hotch said.

"Fervently," Matt replied.

Twenty minutes later, Cruz looked at Hotch, nodding towards Matt who was trying not to pace. "He doesn't wait well, does he?"

"No he doesn't," Hotch said. "Especially when he feels like he should out there backing them. We know they've got trouble following them."

Matt's cell buzzed. He quickly pulled it out, looking at the text. He nodded at Hotch and Cruz with a small smile. You OK? Matt texted back.

Took some doing Dave texted back a few seconds later. Hotch and Cruz joined him. Matt showed him the text. "That's Dave speak for they had trouble and handled it," Matt said to Cruz. Cruz shook his head.

Hotch looked at JJ. "Go get Dinah." She nodded and went to the interrogation room.

JJ came back out with Dinah. Deputy Everett walked up to her. "We've got orders she's not to leave the premises."

"You can tell your boss she's leaving with me," JJ said.

Everett grabbed JJ's upper right arm. "You tell yours she's not," he said with confidence.

"Let go of me," JJ said. Hotch appeared on the scene with Matt and Cruz closely behind.

"Unless you want to be arrested for obstruction of a federal investigation, let go," Hotch growled. Everett did and JJ moved Dinah past Hotch towards Cruz as Matt moved forward to Everett staring at Hotch.

"Get lost," Matt evenly said to Everett. All eyes in the station were now on the scene. Everett turned to face him. "Move your fucking ass," Matt barked. Everett backed down and walked away.

Cruz slid up to Matt. "A little Marine training showing there," he asked with a small smile.

Matt looked back at him. "Hotch gave me the OK to turn up the heat," he winked. They all left to go to the safe house to meet Rossi and Blake.

Everett looked at another deputy as the agents walked out. "Let's go back up Owen at the junkyard." The deputy nodded. "That big asshole is mine."

Less than an hour later, they all gathered at the safe house. Morgan, via his cell phone, updated them at what happened at the hospital. Hotch and Matt looked at Cruz. "Texas Rangers are thirty minutes away."

"Matt," Hotch said. "Your call."

"JJ, get Morgan there to back us." She nodded.

Rossi looked at Matt. "Need an extra hand?"

"Thanks Dave, but no. We don't know how many of the deputies are in on this. You, Blake and Cruz lock this house down."

"Done Matt," Rossi said. "Stay safe." Matt nodded. He, Hotch and JJ moved to the SUV.

"Morgan, we've got a location for McGregor. I'm sending you the address now," JJ said as she got in the back seat.

Hotch guided Matt to the junkyard with the GPS coordinates that Garcia had sent. "We're two minutes out."

Matt, concentrating on driving, said, "JJ, get Morgan." JJ hit her speed dial button and put her cell on speaker.

"Morgan," he answered.

"Morgan, its Cob. I know I preach to all of you to back your partner. This is one time that we each have to go solo. Keep your heads on a swivel and your comm's open. You get in trouble, hunker down and holler for help."

"Roger that Cob," Morgan said. "I'm less than five minutes behind you."

"Got it Cob," JJ said, shutting her cell off. She adjusted her Kevlar.

Matt took the turn off the street and made his way to the entrance. "Cut the lights," Hotch said. Matt was already reaching for them as he pulled the SUV in.

"I'll take the left side; JJ you take the right. Hotch you got the middle." They all nodded at the plan. "Play it smart you two," he said as he killed the engine and opened his door, jumping out. Hotch and JJ were right behind him. They fanned out.

Matt heard the rapport of JJ's Glock being fired. The smaller size of that weapon that fit her hand had a different sound than his or Hotch's. When it stopped, Matt talked into his comm. "JJ?"

"I'm good Cob."

Matt moved up a few feet, stopped and listened. "You want me Everett? Show some balls and come out. Let's do this man to man." His answer was a bullet that sailed high over his left shoulder. Thank you idiot for giving away your position. Twenty second later, Matt tapped him on the shoulder. Everett turned to get an Irish punch that broke his nose, leaving him unconscious. Matt threw Everett's weapon over the junkyard fence, rolling his body on his stomach. He cuffed him as he heard three Glocks now in a gun battle.

"Report," Matt asked into his comm.

Morgan looked at JJ that just shot a guy ready to shot him in the back. "Cob, I just put a deputy down. JJ covered my back. We're clear here."

"Move up to cover Hotch; he must have McGregor." The three joined up thirty seconds later as they heard another shot. "That's Hotch's back-up weapon," Matt said.

The three of them ran into a clearing to see Hotch kicking away McGregor's gun. Matt moved up and checked McGregor's carotid artery for a pulse. He looked at Hotch, shaking his head. "You OK?" Hotch just nodded. "Thank God this is over." Morgan lightly touched his shoulder as Matt rose from his crouch.

"Let's go home," Matt said. "This isn't our mess to clean up."

"It will be the Texas Rangers that have to do the clean-up," Hotch said. They all turned to hear the sirens of the Rangers approaching the scene.

-00CM00-

Matt woke to the jet starting to descend. He pushed his blanket off, blinked at the light coming from the galley as he swung his legs to the floor. He kept his eyes open to adjust to the light and smelled coffee brewing.

Dave walked out of the galley and looked at Matt as he scratched his cross country facial stubble. "Good morning you," Dave quietly said. Matt looked to see Hotch awake as well. The dawn light was starting to creep in the windows of the Gulf Stream. "How'd you sleep," Morgan asked, walking by Matt on the way to the coffee.

"Like a well-trained Marine," Matt smiled. "I conked."

Dave and Hotch just looked at each other, shaking their heads.

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A/N: Angels was written by Rick Dunkle, Breen Frazier and Janine Sherman Barrios. Demons was written by Erica Messer.

Thank you, thank you for all of the reviews and alerts! Once again, I appreciate all of you taking the time to read!

See you again in a few weeks. ;)

*Knightly bow*