A/N: This case will be based on 5x21 Exit Wounds, the story will not be changed to much from the original~ Spoiler warning if you haven't watched this episode yet. Also contains a scene from 5x22 when Hotch makes fun of Reid's hair (I love this scene).
IMPORTANT: I've been putting off describing Crystal physically since I wanted you guys to kinda imagine her the way you want, but I do invision her as Asian (I am Asian). It is talked about in this chapter, you can just ignore those parts if you want since the story will still make sense.
"To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often."
― Winston S. Churchill
Crystal was currently window shopping with JJ, Emily, and Garcia. Crystal shivered a bit as took a sip of her cinnamon tea, she smiled as she listened to JJ talking to Emily. "Are you gonna call him?"
"Maybe-"
"Emily." Emily stuttered, "I- Mick Rawson is an egotistical, arrogant, oversexed man-"
"Who's a hot British dude with a sexy accent who carries a badge and gun, just your type." Emily groaned, they stopped walking and Crystal smiled at her. "I think you two make quite the pair, he seemed nice."
"Yeah flirting with both of us was very nice."
"He wasn't flirting with me Prentiss, he was trying to make it less awkward for you." Emily sighed as she looked at Crystal and then JJ, "It wouldn't go anywhere." JJ sighed, "You don't know that."
"I know our work schedules would get in the way."
"Will and I make it work." JJ gave Prentiss a triumphant smile, Emily sighed as she looked forwards and smiled. "Uh oh." Crystal turned to look too and gave a small laugh, Garcia came up to them with many bags as she looked at JJ. "I know, don't say it but when you see what's in here. It's not my fault, they were on sale and when you think about it that means I'm helping the economy which is more than I can say for you guys because no one else has bags..."
Garcia looked at their hands and Crystal smiled as she took another sip of her tea, JJ sighed with a smile. "Please tell me that those are not all for my son?" Garcia cleared her throat, "They aren't."
"Good." JJ nodded and Garcia guiltily raised up one small bag, "This one's for Kevin..." Crystal laughed as did Emily while JJ shook her head, "Penelope."
"What? Henry is finally at the age where he's fun while opening present and as his fairy godmother I am meant to spoil him, so I'm not taking them back. Give me my coffee and no one gets hurt." Emily handed it over, "Half-calf extra shot venti, two-pump nonfat, hold the whip caramel macchiato."
Garcia smiled as she took it, "Next stop, Xanadu." JJ's phone buzzed and she sighed, "Xana-don't, we just got a case." Crystal sighed, "Well at least we were able to get coffee this time." They started to walk to their cars, Emily had given her a ride. "Maybe I should get a cat." Garcia looked confused, "Cat for what?"
Crystal smiled, "She's trying to think of reasons to not call Mick." Emily gave her a halfhearted glare, "I'll cut you a deal, you kiss Hotch and I'll call Agent Rawson."
"I guess you really will never call him then since Hotch and I have no romantic feelings towards each other." JJ laughed at this, "You two are a mess." Garcia nodded as Emily sighed, "Coming from you two who are in serious relationships, it doesn't help." Crystal shrugged, "I'm not looking for something."
"I'm not either."
"Emily you could have something serious with Agent Rawson."
"And you could have it with Hotch." They finally made it to the cars as Crystal gave Emily an amused look, "What are you nine?"
"Ten actually." They shared a laugh as they got in the car, JJ playfully rolled her eyes at them as she got into her car.
___
They were in the conference room when Rossi came walking in with his bowtie off, Emily gave him an amused look. Hotch cleared his throat, "Sorry to ruin your night." Morgan chuckled as he leaned back in his chair, "Well look at you, working on wife number 4?" Rossi sighed as he took a seat next to Hotch, "I see you people way too much."
Crystal smiled at him, before she could say anything Reid walked in. JJ looked at him shocked, he had cut his hair. "Well, hello." Reid nodded as he took the seat next to Crystal, Hotch looked over at him. "What, did you join a boy band?" The team laughed at this while Reid looked confused, "No."
Crystal ruffled his hair, "I think it looks great Doc." Reid smiled at her as he looked over at Rossi, "Rough night?" Rossi sighed and Hotch cleared his throat, Crystal noticed his lips twitch. "Let's get started."
"Anchorage field office is asking us to investigate a series of murders in Franklin, Alaska. Three people dead in less than a week." Reid frowned a bit, "For a town with a population of 1,476 that's fairly significant. This unsub most likely has already picked out his victims or has planned this for a very long time."
JJ looked back at the team, "This is their first murder investigation on record." Crystal's eyes widen at that, Rossi nodded his head. "Who're the victims?"
"Jon Baker, a hunter. Dedaimia Swanson, a schoolteacher. Brenda Bright, the first mate on a fishing boat. New victim every 2 days." Crystal hummed as she tapped her pen against her leg, "Is there anything connecting these victims?"
"Unfortunately in a small town everyone's connected, but they're killed in different ways." Emily frowned at this, "There's gotta be something that stands out." Morgan looked down at the files, "Says here that the first two victims were both shot with a rifle, but Brenda was stabbed twice with an arrow?" Rossi nodded as he looked up from his file, "Are we sure it's the same guy?"
Hotch looked over at him, "All three victims were found in heavily trafficked areas, the unsub wants them found sooner than later." Emily picked up her file, "Baker's body was left exposed to the elements, but the women were buried under trash. Why?"
Crystal shrugged, "Could be trying to make a statement, he sees women as trash." Morgan nodded, "Believes he put them where they belong in his mind." Reid tilted his head, "It could also be a sign of remorse, cover their bodies so he doesn't have to face what he's done."
JJ sighed, "Well we can't be sure of anything yet, Franklin is an isolated fishing community that's been hit really hard by the current economy. Add a series of murder and everyone's on edge, the local sheriff's out of his depth."
Hotch cleared his throat, "Alaska hasn't handled a serial investigation since Robert Hansen in the eighties, we're flying out tonight. Everyone can sleep on the plane." Hotch looked at Garcia, "Garcia, I need you with us." Garcia's eyes widen, "Sir?"
"I've tasked a satellite uplink and it's your job to keep us connected." Garcia gulped and nodded, "Yes sir."
"This town's on the brink and if the pattern continues we've only got another day until the next murder, let's finish this fast." The team nodded, as Crystal stood up Hotch cleared his throat. "How was your doctor's visit Archer?" Crystal looked down at him with a smile, "I've been cleared for the field, it's been a week and concussion is gone. I've been advised to still not strain myself since my rib is still bruised, but it should be fully healed in another week."
Hotch nodded, "Good, do you have your clearance paper on you?"
"Can't you just trust me?" Hotch's lips twitched as he raised an eyebrow at her, Crystal mocked a sigh as she placed a file in front of him. "Fine, if you really need it." Hotch eyed the file with a suspicious look, he looked at Rossi. "Dave, open the file please."
Rossi looked confused, "Why? It's just a file Aaron." Morgan chuckled as he stood up, "Last week there was a small war declared, Hotch had put a paper frog under a piece of paper and it scared Archer a bit when it jumped out of nowhere. Archer's supposed to return it, but it's been a week and you could say Hotch's a little paranoid."
Crystal tilted her head, "Why Hotch, it sounds like you don't trust me." She batted her eyelashes as Emily let out a small laugh, Hotch's lips twitched before he carefully opened the file. Nothing happened and Crystal shrugged, "See? All that build up for nothing." Hotch sent her a small smile before clearing his throat, "Wheels up in 30."
He walked past Crystal who had a triumphant smile on her face, Garcia was giving her a look. "When did this war happen?" Crystal hummed as she turned to walk out the room, she went to make sure she had some warm clothes.
This has been a fun week, wonder when I should return the frog.
Crystal sat down, she felt the presence of someone in front of her. "Hi Garcia."
"You didn't answer my question." Crystal sighed, Emily smiled as she joined them. "At work after she spent the morning with him and Jack." Garcia's eyes opened wide, "Why didn't you say anything? When? How? What happened?"
Crystal turned to look at Emily with raised eyes, "Garcia did you know Agent Rawson has asked Emily on a date, but she hasn't responded?"
Garcia gasped as she turned to look at Prentiss, "What!? Respond! Is that what you guys were talking about while I was shopping?" Emily's jaw opened as she sent Crystal a look, "Why, just why."
"You threw me under the bus first, I simply just dragged you down with me." Crystal shrugged as Emily sighed at Garcia's questioning, Crystal smiled at Emily and she smiled back. Garcia eventually left, but not without lecturing them both on hiding things from her.
Crystal touched the frog on her desk and smiled, she gently picked it up.
Should I take this little guy with me?
___
They were currently on the jet and Crystal stood next to Hotch, Garcia and Reid sat on the bench, JJ sat next to Morgan, and Rossi sat next to Prentiss. Emily was looking down at the file, "This guy's all over the map, he crosses sex and race boundaries. He changed his kill method, says to me he's disorganized yet there weren't any prints at the crime scenes."
Crystal nodded while Rossi put down his file, "He made sure he was also isolated."
"Wearing gloves and making sure there aren't any witnesses are no brainers, what concerns me is his evolution." Morgan stated and JJ shot him a confused look, "Evolution?"
"He started with easy prey, Jon Baker was in his mid sixties, he's a low-risk for a first-timer. Dedaimia Swanson was in her early fifties, wouldn't have been that difficult to overpower her."
"He didn't have to overpower either of them, both victims were shot." Reid stated and Morgan nodded, "Which is my point exactly, he killed both of them at a safe distance. Brenda was younger and more athletic, but he chose to stab her. She would've been able to put up more of a fight, so why not shoot her too?"
Hotch gave a small nod, "Supports the disorganized theory." Crystal shrugged, "Maybe the first two victims were to build up his confidence, once he attained it he moved onto something more confrontational." Rossi sat forward, "Maybe he didn't get what he wanted from his first two victims, Brenda Bright was an attractive woman. He stabbed her with an arrow instead of shooting her with it."
Hotch looked at the team, "When we land in Anchorage there'll be a float plane to take us to Franklin. When we get there Morgan and Prentiss work the crime scene, we need to know how exactly he ambushed the victim. Reid and Rossi head to the bodies, find out everything you can. JJ, Archer, and I will work on victimology while Garcia works on town records."
Garcia cleared her throat, "I should let everyone know that the reception in the area is unreliable at best, so I'm giving everyone a satellite cellphones for communication. I've preprogrammed all your digits on speed dial, guess who's lucky seven."
They all nodded before Reid looked over at Crystal, "Technically you would fit into his victim pool Archer." Crystal raised an eyebrow at him, "Excuse me?"
"Brenda Bright was also a young, attractive, Asian woman and you almost fit into the age he's now hunting for. You have a lot in common physically with the victim, if he went a bit younger for the egotistical boost you could become a target." Reid stated and he looked proud that he noticed this. Crystal would've made fun of him for complimenting her as 'attractive', but she felt Hotch's stare.
"Why thank you Doc, not like I didn't need to give Hotch another reason to be watching me like a hawk." Crystal sighed as she looked over at him, "He goes after all genders, ages, and races."
"Reid's observation is correct."
"Hey, I'm not the only one who has something almost in common with one of the victims." Crystal looked at Rossi who stared at her with a 'are you serious' look, "This isn't about me, leave my age out of it."
Crystal sighed as she looked back at Hotch, "I'll be fine, you don't need to worry. He doesn't have a specific type of victim Hotch."
"I'm worried because you're not fully healed, Reid's right with his observation on your physical features being similar to Brenda. You shouldn't wander off by yourself without another member there with you, you're still injured." They heard someone clear their throat, they looked at Morgan who was smiling. "When you say her features are similar, are you agreeing that she's attractive?" Hotch and Crystal both gave him a look, now wasn't the time to be poking fun.
Morgan put his hands up in surrender as Crystal turned back to look at Hotch, "What, you think I'll injure myself without you there? Doctor says I'm cleared as long as I take it east, I can take care of myself perfectly fine."
It was as if the universe heard her because the jet shook a bit, Crystal fell towards Morgan's chair. Crystal wouldn't have been able to catch herself without hurting her side, luckily Hotch reached out and grabbed her while gently wrapping his arm around her waist to keep her steady. Once the jet was stable again Hotch gave her a look, "How's taking care of yourself perfectly fine?"
"Going pretty good." Hotch's lips twitched a bit as he let go of her waist, "Just until the unsub's hunting period is done, that's all." Crystal sighed, "Is this an order?"
"No, right now it's a request from a friend who's worried about your well being. If the only way you'll listen is for it to be an order then it can be."
"Rossi?" Rossi put his hands up as he smirked at Crystal, "Hey, I'm not the one in charge. I will say, it wouldn't hurt to be safe just incase." Crystal shook her head with a smile, she turned to look at Hotch. "Fine, but you'll realize that you're all worrying for no reason."
Crystal looked towards the team who were giving her an amused look, especially Garcia who looked the most enthusiastic. "What?"
Garcia looked at Morgan excitedly, "I'm so happy to finally experience this in person." Crystal looked confused, she turned to Hotch who just shrugged. Crystal went to got grab her some tea and Emily followed her, "Sure you'll be okay?"
"Not you too."
"Just let me know if your side starts to hurt, okay? I won't overly look at you," Emily smiled, "Looks like Hotch already has that covered for you." Crystal smiled as she shook her head, as much as she didn't like the thought of being looked after she didn't complain.
Crystal sat down as she remembered her and Hotch's conversation three nights ago, she took a sip of her tea.
Crystal had noticed Hotch would glance at her every so often, so she tapped his knee. "What's up Hotch?"
"Sorry?"
"You've been looking over at me every 2 minutes, I decided to finally ask what's wrong before you give yourself permanent neck problems." Crystal smiled at him and he gave a small one, Hotch sighed as he put down his pen.
He picked up his spoon, he played with his cherry ice cream a bit. "I've been thinking of ways to apologize to you."
"Why? You've done nothing-"
"I let you go alone to the river Archer, you got injured because of me. I should've accompanied you, I should've taken better care of myself because maybe if I wasn't sick I could've been more useful when we were on the run out there."
"Hotch, don't be ridiculous. You saved my life out there, if you would've went with me then Prentiss and Reid wouldn't have known that they were close, also the unsub would've had both of us. Everyone gets sick and you were plenty useful, you helped me not freeze to death." Crystal shrugged and Hotch's lips twitched, "I still feel like I need to make it up to you."
"You don't need to, but if you really want to then you can take some ice cream back to Jack when you leave."
Crystal smiled at that memory as she took another sip of her tea, she looked next to her to see Hotch reading the file. Crystal smiled as she looked out the window, she knew Hotch still blamed himself and was worried that something might happen. If him keeping an eye on her for awhile on this case will put him at ease then so be it, Crystal would be lying if she said she also wasn't worried about Hotch since the last case.
Guess we both still are worried after a night in the woods.
___
When they arrived at the docks Hotch helped her out of the plane, Crystal ignored the teams stares, and they split up to their destinations for the case. When they arrived at the station Hotch got out of the car first and shook the Sheriff's hand, he then smiled at them as he shook their hands as well. "I can't tell you how grateful I am that you all are here, the people around here are really starting to act up. I'm afraid our town's a powder keg."
JJ nodded, "Where would you like us to set up sir?"
"There's not much room at the station since it's also the post office, but I've made arrangements for you to work at Carol's tavern right over there." The sheriff pointed behind them and Hotch nodded, "Thank you."
"Well thank you, appreciate it." The team grabbed their bags from the ground, but before Crystal could grab hers Hotch had already gotten to it. Crystal gave Hotch a look, "Hotch."
"Humor me." Crystal smiled over at him as she still reached out for it, "I can take care of myself."
"I never said you couldn't."
"Well you sure are acting like it." They all kept walking to the tavern while JJ, Ross, and Reid stayed out of their conversation. Hotch sighed as he turned to look at her, "Think of it as a friend helping you carry your bag because he's worried you'll end up in the hospital by overworking yourself."
Hotch opened the door for her as she bit back a smile, he saw it anyways. "Archer you don't accept help and I get that, but just accept mine please. Think of it as putting my mind at ease." Crystal looked at him for a bit, he turned to return her stare. Crystal sighed, "Okay, but no more. I'm not some damsel in distress Hotchner."
"I know that Archer." Hotch's lips twitched and Crystal smiled over at him, she turned to look at the rest of the team who were giving them an amused look. Crystal raised an eyebrow at them which made them turn away, a woman came over to greet them. "You guys must be FBI, I'm Carol the owner."
She motioned them to sit down on the couch, "We don't have a whole lot of space, but you can use this area for your investigation. Promise to stay out of your way, my son also works here but he's out at the moment."
Hotch nodded at her, "Thank you." Carol nodded as she left, when she was gone Hotch turned to the team. "Let's get started."
___
Hello! This was meant to be posted last night, but I fell asleep writing this lol. Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, I want to emphasize again that I have made Crystal Asian, that's what I envisioned her as when writing this book. I've left out descriptions so far because I wanted you guys to envision her the way you want, so if you don't like that then you can disregard her being Asian if you want. The story will still make sense if you ignore the parts I added with her being Asian.
ALSO: Thank you guys so much for 5K readers! I'm so happy that you guys are enjoying this book and I hope to continue to write it in a way you all can enjoy~ 💖💖
Don't forget to vote and comment if you enjoyed this chapter~
See you in the next update!