Title: Criminal Masterminds
Summary: The Adventures of Spike and Flower. An unofficial response to the "Dog Days of Summer" challenge. Part 2/2.
Rating: T, just in case.
Category: Criminal Minds, OC's with a side of Garcia, Reid, and Morgan. Everyone else makes a quick appearance as well.
Disclaimer: I own nothing remotely related to Criminal Minds.

A/N: Okay, the fact that I researched a ferret's vision tells you how crazy I am. Thanks to SunnyInOregon for encouraging me to join the party.

...

Part 2: Just Another Week at the Office

...

"It's going to be another marathon case, Flower," Garcia said apologetically as she unzipped the travel carrier. Flower stood, pressing her front paws against the woman's bent knee and reached up to lick her face. Garcia smiled and scratched at the side of her neck.

"I'll help," the Jack Russell terrier yipped, wagging her tail enthusiastically. "Just don't get too stressed," she added as Garcia stood up.

"Thanks, babe. You always know how to cheer me up." Garcia sat down on her chair and began typing away. Flower ran around the room, sniffing here and there, making sure it was safe. She lapped up a few drops of water from her pink bowl by the door and headed for her fluffy pillow situated under the desk.

"Call me if you need me," she said, lifting her head up at Garcia. The woman looked down, smiling.

"You going to help like you did last time?" Garcia said humorously. Flower barked an affirmative and Garcia laughed. "I'll let you know if I need your nose." Flower wagged her tail again, eliciting another laugh. Garcia turned back to her work and Flower, settling onto her bed, yawned and laid her head between her paws.

...

"Hey, Flo!" Spike shouted, scrambling against the mesh of his leather carrier bag, perhaps a little too excitedly since the carrier crumpled sideways onto the floor. Spike tipped the carrier upright, pressing his nose to the mesh and looking up at Reid.

Before he could curse out Reid, the man spoke up, "Sorry, Spike." Reid righted the bag all the way, and set another bag close by. "You sure he's okay here?"

"Of course, Reid," Garcia humored, her attention on the screen to her left.

"Of course I'm okay here," Spike mumbled around the tab of the zipper.

"Thanks, Garcia. We're heading out now, should be able to check-in in 4 hours."

"Yeah, bye," Garcia replied distractedly as Reid made his exit.

"Not the first time you've left me to fend for myself!" Spike yelled after the departing man. He nudged the tab a little higher. A shadow darkened his vision, and he dropped the tab from his mouth.

"Don't be so dramatic, Spike." Flower grabbed the tab and yanked, pulling it up a good two inches. She dropped the tab, licking her lips distastefully before glaring at the gray ferret. "And how many times do I have to tell you not to call me Flo?" Spike poked his head through the opening and wiggled the rest of his body out. Standing up, he rested his paws on Flower's muzzle.

"Aw, you love it when I call you Flo." Spike winked mischievously. Getting an evil glint in her eyes, Flower stuck her tongue out and gave Spike's entire face a good lick. The ferret fell back to the floor, rubbing his face on the rough carpet. "Ugh, Flo, that's just gross!"

"Serves you right." She shot back with a laugh, trotting away with her head held high. She sat down on her pillow, tucked near the wall under Garcia's table. Spike followed, scanning the room as he went. He stopped by Garcia's chair, standing up on his hind legs.

"Out already, eh, Spike," Garcia observed, reaching down to scratch Spike's head.

"Ahh," Spike sighed contentedly and clawed the air happily. Garcia resumed her typing and attention to the screens in front of her a moment later. Spike got down and continued his trek toward Flower. Flower eyed him as he neared, then passed by and slid behind one of the CPU's.

"Don't go chewing on any wires today," Flower advised. "They're on a case!" she further warned when she heard scratching behind the humming computer.

"You tell him, Flower," Garcia's voice floated down. Spike poked his head out and Flower stuck her tongue out at him.

"So there," she said haughtily, scooting over on her pillow.

"Fine," Spike grumbled. He slunk out from behind the machine and flopped down on the newly vacated space. He tilted his head, eyeing the Jack Russell next to him.

"So, what have you found out so far?" Flower slid her face closer to Spike's.

"Serial killer. Four victims so far, all young males."

"Any leads?"

"So far, the only commonality is the victims have tattoos, but they're not the same nor are they from the same artist."

Spike laid his head down, Flower doing the same a moment later.

"How do they die?" Spike asked quietly. Flower sighed.

"The Unsub injects them with a compound to stop their hearts. And then he poses them in all kinds of outfits in different rooms of the victims' homes."

"Then there should be lots of evidence," Spike chimed in enthusiastically. "I should go with Spence, find something like I did on the case last month." The ferret stood. Flower shook her head.

"That serial killer targeted hoarders, so it was easy for him to miss something. This guy's been scouring the homes before he leaves, sterilizing with industrial cleaners and getting rid of any perishables or personal items. The victims' DNA can't even be found." Flower laid her head down again. "Besides, you weren't supposed to be there. You almost compromised the case by tainting the evidence."

Spike flopped back down on the bed and said impatiently, "so what should we do?"

"We'll have to wait and see." Spike laid his head down again, the two silent but alert, listening to Garcia type away above them.

...

"What are we looking for?" Spike asked, scrambling up the Flower and Spike-sized step ladder by Garcia's desk.

"I don't know yet. Anything Mommy may have missed." Flower stopped in front of the mouse and pointed at the keyboard. "Let's open up the folder."

Spike dutifully positioned himself behind the keyboard's arrow keys. Walking around the mouse, Flower nosed the object so that the pointer on the screen hovered over one of the desktop folders. Standing on the right side of the mouse, she pressed the left button with her paw twice. The folder opened to reveal more folders. Flower selected the first one; this folder opened, revealing hundreds of pictures tiled in the new window. Flower clicked on the first one.

The duo scanned through the photos, some copies of the photos the Unsub had taken of the posed victims and others taken by the crime scene investigators. Spike clicked the arrow button every time they were ready for the next photo, occasionally coming around to get a better look at the screen.

"Try the next one," Flower said from her seat next to the keyboard. When the picture didn't change, Flower glanced over at the ferret. He stared at the picture, then hopped over the keyboard, getting as close to the screen as he could. Flower stood and stepped closer. "What do you see?"

Another moment of silence passed before Spike spoke, "see that?" He pointed to the upper left side of the picture, away from the victim dressed in an evening gown leaning on the piano in the foreground.

"See what?"

"Through the window," Spike prompted further. Flower came closer.

"You know my vision is terrible," Flower grumbled.

"Mine's not much better," Spike shot back, glaring at her. "And we're both colorblind."

"You can see red sometimes."

"And you have depth perception." Growling, Flower lifted a paw to Spike's head, nudging his attention back to the screen.

"Just tell me what you see," Flower ordered slowly. Spike swatted her paw away with a huff.

"I think it's a car," Spike offered, now pressing his paw exactly over the portion of the image he was looking at. Flower squinted, trying to see it.

"Can you make out any details?"

"It's got to be light colored," Spike surmised as he stepped back.

"Is it the back?"

"I think so."

"Maybe we can get a license plate." Flower got behind the mouse again. "I'm going to need your help." Spike scurried over. "I've only watched Mommy do this. When I say so, press that button and don't let go. I'm going to have to move you and the mouse to select that part of the picture."

It took a couple tries, but they managed to box-select the portion of the photo with the window. Once isolated, Flower instructed Spike on which buttons to press on the keyboard to zoom in and increase the resolution.

"That's the best I can do," Flower said when they had come back around the keyboard to look closely at the screen.

"I still can't make it out," Spike pouted. "Maybe an '8'," he said, more a question than statement.

"Well, Mommy will be up from her nap soon. She can probably fix it up some more." Flower stepped back. "And even if it's a partial, it'll help," she added optimistically.

Just then, the door opened and a tired looking Garcia came into the room.

"What are you two up to?" Garcia asked, not angrily.

"We found something," Flower barked excitedly, wagging her tail. Garcia approached and sat down on her chair.

"Maybe the Unsub's car," Spike added, raising a paw to the enlarged portion of the picture. "Can you enhance it more?" Spike chittered.

"It's probably only a partial," Flower supplied.

"Okay, okay," Garcia said with a chuckle as she looked at the screen. "Did you guys do this?" Both animals verbalized their answer. Garcia laughed again. "Okay, settle down. Let me take a look." Both Flower and Spike sat down, giving the woman the quiet she needed. Garcia made a few more clicks with the mouse and tapped several buttons on her keyboard.

"This is good guys. I'm going to send it to the team right away."

...

"Hey, buddy," Reid waved through the video call. Spike stood up tall from his spot near Garcia's shoulder, lifting his left paw in a vague wave.

"Hi," Flower yipped from her perch on Garcia's lap.

"Thanks for keeping an eye on him, Garcia."

"We've done this a few times already. You don't have to thank me every time," Garcia said with a roll of her eyes. "Besides, they love each other."

"No we don't," Flower and Spike interjected, looking at each other. Garcia and Reid chuckled.

"Ms. Doolittle," Morgan joked, coming into view behind Reid. "How are the wild animals?"

"As fiesty as ever," Garcia shot back with a wink.

"We got your message. What have you got for us?" Reid chimed back in, getting down to business.

"The car. One of the Unsub's photos had a window. It's only a partial plate, but I've got the make and model-99 Chevy Astro, white. Plate number's last two digits are 82." Garcia typed at her computer. "I'm sending over the DMV list of potentials."

Reid looked down at his phone before answering, "got it."

"Thanks, baby," Morgan said.

"Thank these two," Garcia said, pointing at Flower and Spike.

"Can't wait to hear the story behind that," Morgan said with a chuckle.

"I'll make sure to bring home an extra special treat for them," Reid added.

"Yes," Spike chittered excitedly, lifting his arms into the air. Flower barked her agreement, standing up on Garcia's lap. Reid frowned.

"I keep telling you they understand more than you think," Garcia teased with a chuckle.

"I suppose," Reid said doubtfully. Morgan laughed, squeezing Reid's shoulder playfully.

"Bye, angel," Morgan said and the screen went blank.

...

"Where did you find that?" Flower asked, lifting her head as Spike entered the room, shiny object held in his mouth. He dropped it in front of the dog before answering.

"Found it in the women's bathroom."

"Spike!" Flower stood, towering over the ferret.

"What?" he asked innocently.

"The women's bathroom?"

"Yeah, so?"

"It's the women's bathroom," Flower repeated as if it were obvious.

"I made sure no one was in there," Spike remarked. Flower snorted in frustration and laid back down. "Any idea what it is, anyway?" Spike asked, rolling it under his paw.

"It's a needle," Flower supplied easily after a quick glance. "People use it to sew." Spike shrugged and picked it back up. He headed to the small box Garcia had given him weeks ago; he'd immediately taken the gift and put it in the farthest corner of the room, under the table and behind a couple unused CPUs and a monitor.

"Wait," Flower started, and Spike halted. When Flower didn't continue, he turned and headed back to the terrier.

"What?" he prompted.

"What about the needles? Where do they come from?" Flower finally asked, standing up again. Spike looked at her confusedly. "The tattoo needles," she elaborated.

Catching on, Spike dropped his prized object and added, "Where did they come from? Has Garcia looked into that?" The terrier and ferret looked at each other hopefully.

"This could be it," Flower said with a smile.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Spike jumped out from under the desk. "Let's tell her!" Flower followed and the two scrambled up the small step ladder. They stopped when they reached the top, waiting for Garcia to finish typing. The woman looked up with a tired smile a few moments later.

"You guys are getting really good at that." Flower trotted over to Garcia and nosed her chin affectionately. Spike positioned himself by the keyboard. "What's up?"

"Mommy, what about the needle?" Flower asked. Garcia merely scratched her neck, but Flower ducked her head out of the way. She jumped onto Garcia's lap and pawed at the skirt that covered the woman's right hip, where she knew a tattoo resided.

"What is it, Flower?" Flower jumped to the floor and licked at Garcia's left ankle, along the ring of ivy and roses.

"You want me to pull up the tattoos?" Garcia asked.

"Yes," Flower yipped happily. She darted back up to the desk as Garcia pulled up the pictures of the victims' tattoos.

"They're not the same. The artists aren't the same," Garcia mused. "The artists aren't even in the same town, nor are the victims." Flower waited patiently for Garcia to figure it out. When Garcia opened up a variety of websites, ones from the different tattoo parlors and artists, Flower moved closer to the screen. Spike turned from his position by the keyboard. Both dog and ferret watched the screen as Garcia scanned the information and clicked on more pages.

"There," Flower yipped excitedly. She ventured closer to the screen and lifted her paw to a picture that had appeared. Spike joined her and pointed his much tinier paw at the needle and the apparatus the artist held.

"The needle?" Garcia asked.

"Yes!" both Spike and Flower cried out. The two stepped away from the screen as Garcia began typing and clicking her mouse furiously.

"They aren't the same type, but I didn't check the manufacturer," Garcia added, more to herself than either dog or ferret. "Why didn't I think of this sooner?"

"Because you need to sleep more when you're on the case," Flower admonished lightly. Spike rolled his eyes.

"You're such a mother hen."

"Why must you insist on insulting me?" Flower snapped.

"That wasn't necessarily an insult," Spike attempted to placate.

"You called me a chicken."

"So?"

"I'm a dog!" Flower huffed indignantly.

"That much I figured out," Spike snarked back. Flower pawed the desk frustratedly.

"Guys, as much as I appreciate the help, I could use some quiet now," Garcia broke in, still staring at the screen and typing.

"Sorry," the two said in unison, sufficiently chastised. Flower led the way down the step ladder and the two took up their usual positions on Flower's bed.

...

"Derek? Emily? Reid?" Garcia called out frantically. "Someone tell me what's going on," she ordered, pulling up as many views as the traffic cameras could offer. Garcia tapped her earpiece and glanced at the console of lights and buttons to her left to ensure it was in working order. Spike and Flower stood on either side of the keyboard, watching the screen with the woman.

"Garcia, emergency response is two minutes out. What have you got?" J.J's voice sounded over the speakers, the noise from the police station in the background.

"Nothing yet. I lost them on the traffic feeds." A white van suddenly flashed across one of the camera views. Garcia clicked her mouse over the screen and the pictures changed, now following the vehicle careening down a large thoroughfare in an Atlanta suburb.

"Hold on," Garcia added distractedly. A large black SUV followed closely behind; Garcia pressed a few buttons on her keyboard and clicked the mouse. A close-up of the SUV's license plate popped up, eliciting a sigh. Flower bent down to lick at Garcia's fingers comfortingly. The woman returned the gesture with a gentle pat on the terrier's head.

"Dave and Emily are okay," Garcia said quietly. She didn't have to point out that that meant the overturned SUV in the camera view that remained at the top left corner contained Morgan and Reid. Fortunately, J.J was at the police station; Hotch was at the last crime scene, the team making it in time to save the latest victim, but not catching the perpetrator. Another sigh and woman, dog, and ferret watched as flashing lights reflected off the SUV's cracked windows and emergency personnel came into view.

The van came to an abrupt halt in another view, and several police cars followed shortly, their lights flashing. Garcia's attention, along with Flower's and Spike's, was drawn to the other scene. Dave entered from the right, his gun aimed at the driver's side. Emily followed close behind.

"Be careful," Flower whined, pacing in place.

"I know, baby. They'll be okay," Garcia said as she scratched the terrier's neck. Spike slid over to stand next to the dog.

"Don't worry," Spike advised, no hint of teasing in his tone. The scene unfolded quickly and relatively smoothly, as the Unsub exited the vehicle with his hands up, clearly surrendering. The local police swiftly handcuffed the man and took him away. Emily lifted her wrist to her mouth.

"Sorry, Garcia," Emily's voice sounded from the computer. "We got a little busy."

Garcia took a deep breath before answering, "No, you're good. I got you on the video feed."

"Look," Spike exclaimed, pointing at the video of the overturned SUV.

Garcia's attention followed just as Prentiss spoke again, "Anything from Morgan and Reid?" Morgan appeared, having been helped out of the driver's side by two firemen. He was walking, though with a limp.

"I see Morgan," Garcia rushed to inform Prentiss and J.J. "He's up." Spike closed in on the screen.

"Where are they?" Prentiss asked.

"Intersection of Tallman and Fourteenth," Garcia replied.

"We're on our way." Prentiss and Rossi disappeared from view.

"He's going to be fine, Spike." It was Flower's turn to comfort. Garcia stroked at the ferret's back. Various firemen and EMT's were working around the vehicle, and Morgan disappeared and reappeared. He was holding something to his forehead. Garcia tapped at her keyboard and suddenly ringing was heard through the speaker. On screen, Morgan pulled his phone out of his back pocket.

"Hey, baby girl," Morgan answered somberly.

"Derek, what did I tell you about scaring me like that again?" Garcia demanded.

"Oh, you know me, once a cowboy, always a cowboy."

"You know you've got more than one person worrying after you now, right?"

"Yeah!" Flower piped in. Morgan chuckled.

"Okay," he relented. "I'll do my best," he added sincerely.

"Good," Flower replied.

"How's Reid?" Garcia asked.

"Should be fine. Just having a hard time getting him out of the car." At that, one of the fireman stood, pulling away the entire passenger side door. With the aid of another fireman, Reid tumbled out of the car. The two paramedics who were hovering nearby began checking him over.

"Is he okay? Why aren't they letting him get up?" Spike asked in a rush.

"They're just making sure he didn't injure his back," Flower reasoned quietly. "Uncle Derek said he should be fine." Morgan had pulled his phone away from his ear and seemed to be listening to the paramedics talk.

"Just a lot of bumps and bruises," Morgan said after a few moments. "I should get going. I'll see you at home."

"You better believe it," Garcia said by way of goodbye. With that the line went dead. The three continued to watch the video until Reid was helped up by the emergency responders and he and Morgan were escorted out of view.

...

"Uncle Derek, you worried us," Flower admonished as soon as the man came into view. She hopped out of Garcia's arms and Morgan barely caught her in his. Hotch and J.J. followed closely behind and stopped to exchange greetings before heading to their respective offices.

"Hey, little lady," Morgan greeted as soon as he had a firm grasp on the terrier.

"Don't you 'little lady' me," Flower huffed angrily, despite allowing the man to settle her onto his arm. "You're supposed to be more careful."

"Okay, okay," Morgan said with a chuckle. He leaned over and kissed Garcia's cheek. "Angel," he greeted.

"Whatever," Garcia sassed back, though she pressed a gentle hand to his temple, where a bandage still covered the wound. "You better listen to her," she warned. "She's telling you off for me."

"Spence!" Spike slid out of his carrier and onto the floor, running toward the man who appeared out of the other elevator. He pawed at his pant leg until Reid bent down to pick up the small creature. Spike stretched his neck and licked at Reid's chin, eliciting laughter from both Morgan and Garcia, as well as Prentiss and Rossi, who had taken the same elevator.

"Hey, buddy," Reid greeted, letting the ferret lick his fingers and stick his nose into his shirtsleeve. He moved closer to Morgan and Garcia, as the others filtered away after more greetings aimed at Garcia and Flower.

"You okay, Reid?" Garcia asked kindly. The man nodded.

"So, helping out on the case again," Reid prefaced, looking at both animals and offering a smile to Garcia. "I believe I promised treats." He reached into his bag and pulled out a small pink flower and set it on Morgan's arm, as he was still holding Flower. The terrier sniffed at it, then tentatively bit it. It was soft and squeaked.

"I love it," Flower cried out, biting into it so that it emitted another small squeak.

"Oh, lord, she's going to drive me crazy with that," Garcia moaned.

"Don't worry, Mommy, I'll only play with it when you're not in the room." She looked pointedly at the ferret who was now trying to slink into the bag to see what other things he could find. "And when Spike's trying to sleep." He looked up at her and stuck his tongue out. She squeaked the toy again, causing everyone to laugh.

"Don't worry, I got something for you too," Reid spoke up again, pulling the ferret back out of the bag. With his free hand, Reid pulled out a wad of shiny string and proffered it. Spike took it eagerly, scurrying up Reid's arm and perching on his shoulder.

Pulling the new treasure from his mouth, he said, "Thanks, Spence," before licking the man's chin again. Running back down the arm and hopping onto the floor, he darted down the hall. "Come on, Flower, I've got to put this in my hiding place," he called behind him.

"I'm coming," Flower replied, grabbing her new toy and scrambling out of Morgan's hold. She raced after the ferret, leaving behind three laughing people.

...

(end)