This Isn't Your Common Cold (ALL)

[Matthew Grimaldi]

Hell. That's the only way to describe the last two days. Early in the morning a random case popped up of an initially unreported illness of one individual. Vomiting, bleeding through orphaces, fever, dilusions, but before anyone could think of diagnosing it the man had passed away. They wouldn't have had time to anyways. Next thing they knew a nurse who had been treating the man had it, then his wife, then several others who had been at the same movie theater the night before. Cases were popping up everywhere and by the day two New York City was going into a state of panic and lockdown.

Most people hid in their homes (though it was proven that the so called virus was not airborne). It had to be transfered through saliva, blood, or breaking of the skin. It was clear by the coincidence of the movie theater that it had originated there somehow and the building was currently closed up and under quarantine as was the hospital where the 'victims' were being treated behind plexi glass. In order to enter either you had to be in a fullbody contamination suit. It was heavy duty stuff and everyone was in a panic. It was all over the news.

Counter Terror was of course the first faction of the Bureau called as this seemed to be an intentional, yet random attack and the virus, upon study of the strain had been man manipulated. The man was still at large and they had little clues. Not that they had much time to find the man because currently they had to deal with those sick and quarantining everyone, not to mention tending to the worried citizens. So various other factions of the Bureau had been called and this included BAU who should be arriving from the airport any minute.

Matt ran his hand over his neck with a bit of a cringe, the lack of sleep present in his tired eyes as he stood in the middle of CT head quarters where everyone would be functioning from. The control center. Just outside the window he could swear he heard someone scream as someone they loved was taken from their home (when people thought they might be sick they were to dangle a white sheet out of their home and a unit would come to pick them up).

He had tuned out half the briefing but he knew it all himself, he read the file at least a hundred times, heck, he was living it. This was home grown. This was his terf. Matt didn't like it when someome messed with his terf. But now it was his turn to speak to the many 'guests' at CT (not something he enjoyed, being around aother teams) his voice gruff, and serious. "You'll each be assigned to different teams with various functions whether it be pick up or duty at the site. Some of you may even be put on collection.." His dark eyes surveyed the surroundings and behind all of the suit clad bodies he could barely make out the five foot three frame of Krys Robin.

She looked horribly lost amidst everyone who was much larger than she. She was glancing around with worried eyes and remarkably melancholy. Poor kid can never catch a break. On her own birthday too. Matt thought lowly. He hadn't forgotten that her birthday was on this day but with everything going on sometimes you just didn't have time. He felt awful because he had spent so much time picking out a gift and now it didn't look like they'd ever have a spare second. She'd understand though. Matt knew his data analyst better than most.

"Take it away, Robin." He announced, gesturing toward her as the group turned around and out of the corner of his eye he could see some familiar faces from the BAU sneak into the room.

"I uh--" Krys blinked, for a moment startled at being called so suddenly, though she did know she would have to speak being the head of her department. "Right!" As quick as she had been she got right back on track, immediately weaseling through the audience toward a massive whiteboard where a map had been drawn with red dots littering it. She hopped right onto a chair beside it so that she could see everyone and consequently, them her.

"The assumed host site is here-" With a blue marker she drew a circle, her brain going a thousand miles a minute as she addressed everyone loudly, hoping to garner and keep their attention. "The two hospitals that have been quarantined and are taking victims are here.. and... here-" Two more circles as she turned to face out. "Central Head Quarters is here. I'll be on headset all of the time." Catching a warning glance from Matt which screamed that he wanted her to get some rest she of course, ignored it and corrected herself in the worst way possible. "24/7, rain or shine, late or early, even if my shows are on. I'll be there."

Her hands gesturing outward on the chair, the marker in her right hand, she continued to speak as animatedly as possible (though it was quite apparent she was tired despite being hocked up on AMP energy drink). "I've got the entire world at my fingertips so anything you need - ask. You need to be patched to another division, give me a holler." She did not move to step down from the chair though she did quiet, perhaps from her own tiredness her brainw as functioning like usual and she just didn't think to step down. Matt seemed to catch on however.

"Alright. Check with one of the three men from CT, Agent Saunders, or myself to see what faction you are with." He told everyone as their heads snapped around to look at him. "No more formalities lets get to work." Once again the room was hustling and bustling, buzzing with sound.

[Kate Saunders]

Kate stood some feet from Matt watching the crowd in front of her. Her eyes were wide and her heart was racing a thousand times a minute. This was real. The next large terror attack had come. All the deaths that had already happened. All the lives turning to chaos. In this room were all the people that could help. The last defense. It was all so surreal to her. Like a bad dream. Yet she knew it wasn't a nightmare, she never dreamt. This was all happening. The panic the quarantine. She tried to remember if this was what it was like last time. But she was on the other side of the wall that time, she was the victim. This time she was going to save those that they needed to be saved. No one had to lose their family like she had. This was the moment that she had waited her entire life for. But now that it was here she felt sick.

Kate turned her attention back to Matt and Krys enough to here what they had to say. She already know everything. She was just glad that he didn't call on her to say anything because she wouldn't be able to. This was not were she worked. She worked undercover, she fought the bad guys from the inside out, she barely know what to do in a normal investigation. Though this would never be normal. Cough slightly she looked at the hundreds of people crowded into the one room. It was amaze how many people they could force into the CT unit HQ when they needed to.

Kate was shaking, and not only from heroin withdraw, in fact she had just a fresh hit not to long ago. The thing was she knew that once the day went on she would find less time to be alone, she wasn't to sure what she would do then. Actually she wasn't sure if she was going to be able to keep it a secret any more. Then again she didn't care if it was found out today. She had gotten to this day and as long as she saved some families then she was okay, after that she was ready to die. This was what she had been waiting for her whole life. Eight years and that day was finally here. The other part of her shaking was from the fear, the heat of the room, and the raw adrenaline that was pumping through her system. She was ready to get out there.

That's when Matt told them all to go to Kate or one of them to get their assignments. Kate suddenly snapped into work mode. Looking down at the clip board with all the names of everyone in the room on it, somewhere categorized as teams such as the BAU team. The first people started to walk up to her and she struggled to find there names and tell them what they were to do with them being able to hear her in the sudden mass of sound that had encased the room.

---------------

This was one call that Reid had been hoping not to get. It was Krys' birthday and he had plains to take a few vacation days that he had saved up and go to New York for her party and just see her for a while. They hadn't seen each other since that day at the skating rink. But even before JJ came in with the official request the news was broadcasting the virus. And the team was on it, taking about profiles and what not. Then JJ got the request and they were flying into the battle zone, ironically enough it was in New York. The whole thing made Reid feel sick. It was total devastation there. What made it worse was his most resent encounter with anthrax in which he was infected and almost died. It only made his heart bleed for all those souls in the hospital even more.

Flying over the place was even worse then he could have expected. White sheets over the house were a sign of an infected person. It almost seemed like a ghost town out there with people to afraid to move. Reid was ware that anyone of them in the plane now could get infected while investigating. They were first of all trying to find the source and the profile, the preliminary one they had formed, said that the attacker would try and take out as many of them as he could before killing himself. It seemed more like a cell of people to Reid, which only made that worse.

When finally they made it to the New York field office and to the Counter Terror unit the "meeting" had already begun. The BAU team squeezed into the crowded room and listened as Krys took over. She was talking about the map. Reid's mind was working a thousand times a minute. Not only listening to what she was saying he was drawing a geographic profile in his mind based on the points that he knew where targeted. Waiting until Matt said to get to it Reid stood staring at the map. Then he looked over his shoulder a moment and looked at the unit chief, Aaron Hotchner. "Hotch, I'll work geographic profile." He said before pushing through the crowd to get to the map. Sure Matt had said they had certain places where they were assigned, but Reid knew that he would assign the profilers to investigating the crime, and what Reid was going to do would help them find the terrorists. Anyway, it was Matt's turf, but Reid responded to Hotch first and for most.

Reach the map, where Krys was still standing, along with a dozen people wondering where they were assigned. Reid had forgotten all about Krys and his "feeling for her". The only thing in his world was the map. "Do you mind if I draw on this?" He asked her pointing to the map, already pulling out her colored markers. "I want to do a geographic profiler. Every point that was attacked has a meaning to the UNSUB, if I can unlock the pattern I can tell you where he should be." He said quickly, barely audible. Already he was starting to see some sort of partern in his head just needed all the points and the map to square them away.

[Penelope Garcia]

Penelope,

It is nice to get your e-mails every so often, and I just thought I would let you know. Thanks for checking up on me! Things have been going reasonably well, finals are coming up...so I am studying for that. Heading up to New York to visit home this weekend. Hopefully I will get some rest then.

Hope this finds you well!

Kara

It was the third message down in her inbox, and it made Penelope smile. She loved to hear from people, no matter how often she heard from them or not. It was quite a nice little way for such a social person to keep in touch with as many people as she possibly could. Computers were truly the greatest creations on earth. She had had a few things left lying on her desk she needed to tend to; some paperwork, a new code she was working on for list-generation---something she was remarkable with already---and her cell phone, to give a certain CT analyst a call. It was Krys' birthday, or so her computer had reminded her. Not that she had forgotten. It was quite possibly one thing Penelope Garcia loved more than computers: letting other people know they were special. She had, of course, taken off the weekend to head on out to her birthday party, though it seemed she might be a bit late. This work pile never seemed to end!

Still, she found time to find her cursor at her reply button and was about to pound out a short paragraph in response to Kara's e-mail when JJ stepped into her doorway and told her they had a case. The blonde immediately snapped to attention and had followed her to the conference room, where it seemed the rest of the team already sat in waiting. What on earth was it this time? A psycho killer who targeted children? Or perhaps a female that was taking out men? Maybe it was a band of killers working together.

Her mind was ready for all of the possibilities.


Except the one that was actually true.

"A virus?" Penelope murmured confusedly and a bit apprehensively. The thing sounded nasty. Almost sure death to any who caught it. But there was only two words that ripped Penelope's heart from her chest. New York?

"Oh my gosh. Kara is there this weekend." She had muttered to herself. Wasn't it bad enough she was going to have to worry about her team? About Krys? Damn. She had forgotten to call. Well, guess she would be seeing her soon anyway.

Wheels up had been only twenty minutes later. Now, she was standing firmly on the New York ground. She held Krys' present in her hands. Something, she had been determined, to keep their spirits bright. It was a few games of tetris--there were many variations!--not to mention some very Krys-like stickers and books she had picked out. But her mind wasn't really on the birthday.

All of these people were suffering. They were right in harms way. She looked to Hotch expectantly as Reid offered to start the geographic profile. "I'm on hospital records." This was dangerous, really. She would compile the names, ages and locations of everyone that had been admitted in the past few days. There was a chance, though slim, she would recognize a few. And that would destroy her.

Still, things needed to be compiled if the team wished to function at full capacity. Krys ahd been leading the little meeting, showing hospital locations and dishing out a few other things that the BAU had not heard before. And she paused for only a moment before waltzing right up to her and thrusting the package into her hand.

"Happy Birthday, sweetie. Where can I set up?"

[Derek Morgan]

DEREKmorgan

When FBI Special Agent Derek Morgan had told FBI Technical Analyst that he hoped they'd seen her soon, he hadn't meant in this way. The man had hoped that perhaps Reid would work up the courage to invite her somewhere one day, or that she might be invited back to Quantico under a circumstance that wasn't dire, as she had for that week last time. In no way had he expected that he'd see the Counter Terrorism team on their home turf, or that it would be under circumstances such as these.

The FBi agent as pretty sure that he'd rather be working any other case besides this one. It wasn't that he didn't want to work this case, because he did - he wanted to help solve it, save the people, find the bastard and fix the situation. He merely wished that the case didn't exist, that the situation was one that wasn't so ... widespread. He hated cases like these- cases where everyone was in danger, even the ones he loved most.

Couldn't she do this from back at Quantico? Derek Morgan's thoughts hissed as his eyes found Penelope Garcia. His baby girl was going up to Krys Robin, talking about what she could do to help, putting herself in danger. Some part of him realized that he was being unreasonable, but he wished he could put her on the next flight back to Quantico.

He knew that she had the same chances, same percentage of contracting an illness as any of the rest of them - just because she wasn't a profiler didn't mean she was in more danger - this time. Guns couldn't protect any of his friends from this threat, not this time, and it nearly killed him inside. He wished any and all of his friends weren't here, but in the childish of ways, he still wished Garcia wasn't here the most.

All this with Reid just having recovered from his encounter with anthrex only put him more on edge. The kid's knack for finding danger had never felt more real.

Derek Morgan shook his head, sighing. There was nothing he could really do about it now - whathe could do was find a way to solve this problem, end the case, and get his team and himself the hell out of New York City.

He closed his eyes for a second, ready to start helping wherever they needed him the most.

The place where the first attack had taken was crucially important - there was the possibility that this was a case of vengeance, as well as it being terrorism - he knew the possibilities were still unlikely, but it was the childish part of him again.

Going through the first victem's lives, profiling them, meant that he could stay with Garcia if only for a moment longer. Make sure she didn't ... didn't what, he wasn't sure. Make sure she was safe.

Derek Morgan moved to follow Penelope, making his way through the heavy crowd of people and came up behind her, placing a hand on her back. he nodded a greeting to Krys, then realized what garcia had told himt hat morning.

"Happy Birthday." He smiled tightly before squeezing Garcia's shoulder. "Baby girl, we need hospital records- and the names of the victems and people who were at the theatre for the first attack, as soon as you get set up. I'll help you go through them and see if I can come up with a profile of victims, if there is one." He sounded doubtful and hopeful all at once.

--

ooc//

by the way? feel free for someone to direct him to a different area. he on't exactly be happy about it, but he'll go along with it if he has to, since he's kind of pulling things out of thin air to try and stay as close to those he cares about. so ... yeah. sucky post, sorry.

[Krys Robin]

Still standing ontop of the chair Krys watched with uncharacteristically dark brown eyes as the various suit clad bodies moved about, murmuring all at once. There was an urgency to it, organized chaos, something she could easily see from the slight height increase by standing on the chair. She couldn't seem to find any words to speak. Nothing came to her. Occasionally the seat was bumped into, and her balance was challenged slightly, but she managed to stay upright. For a few split seconds she caught glimpse of Kate and then Matt, each addressing the others as best they could while everything else seemed to be falling to pieces. If only they could be the outsider looking in like she was right now. Happy Birthday indeed.

To be comnpletely honest her birthday was long forgotten, and part of her wanted it to remain that way. Krys was an oddball in many ways and with these ways came her ability to decompartamentalize (usually) when it came to data and personal. In work she could easily shrug all prior emotions on a topic out the window for the pursuit of facts. That's just how she functioned, it was much like how she survived when being hit by her drunken father. It was just a way of separating herself from a situation.

Turning her head back to look at the map she seemed to be mouthing something to herself as her brown eyes studied the board. Like a football coach coming out with a play. Of course Krys was no 'boy wonder' but she could however appreciate and revel in the importance of data. Data was computers. Data was facts. This was her thing and whether now or later she could prove an asset, not that she was thinking that currently.

"Do you mind if I draw on this?"

If Krys was startled by Spencer's sudden appearance she didn't show it. No, she had been far too wrapped up in her own mental data to seemingly even care. Of course a part of her did, a part of her even would think about hugging the young man in seeing him, but the professional part of her won out and it was all facts. In fact, she was speaking to Spencer like she had never even met him before and he was just another coworker of which she had no friendship or inkling of feeling for. Then again this is probably why they worked so well, but any that knew the two could appreciate the slight bit of humor or oddity in this inneraction.

"Sure. Go for it Picasso." Came her flat, upstate sounding sarcastic voice, though not at all offensive, as she tossed the marker to Spencer half expecting him to catch it. Without even waiting to see if he had she turned back to the map on the board. "I've sketched out the burroughs. The red dots represent locations of the victims infected, green dots represent possible infections via contact with victim not location... Through doing that I've deducted the probably source of contact is here." She pointed to a movie theatre with a spare marker she had picked up.

"Last night thirty people checked themselves into the following hospitals." Point. Point. Point. "Within six hours the first two victims were dead. We're now up to fifteen." God she hated talking about people like numbers but really it was the only way to not get attached. If only she knew about poor Lily. That would be the end of her. Krys would be spent. She did care a great deal for that little girl.

Detaching herself from the board she moved down from the chair, stepping along side Spencer. "You do what you do Spence. Today you're King of the Board." She declared simply, her own eyes focused on the board much like her good friend's with a similar serious expression. She felt her breath become caught in her throat and felt how dry it was. A little part of her was nervous that maybe, just maybe, she was getting sick. With an inward cringe she pushed those thoughts as far away as possible. No place for them now.

"I deal with data... Not people." She said aloud very softly, her brown eyes softened a great deal as she stood there, unmoving, as if unable to. Finally, she broke her gaze from the board and looked to Spencer. "I don't do well with people Spencer.. What do I do?" She asked quietly, though it was more of a beg than anything else. Why she had spoken in such a way she really didn't know.

"Happy Birthday, sweetie. Where can I set up?"

Having the gift thrusted into her arms Krys turned out to face Penelope somewhat stunned. Blinking the analyst looked down at the decorated gift and then between both BAU agents. So startled she initially could not speak until finally, out of thin air, she managed to grasp the words. "Uh... Thanks.." Slowly at first. But baby steps was always the best way.

Deciding it best not to deal with the personal and more so the business, which is what she could handle, she cleared her throat. "My lair is your lair. Mi lair es tu lair." She rambled off the limited spanish that she knew just to be witty, or keep herself calm. But really it wasn't helping. Luckily she'd be stuck in the lab away from the people and what made the case so humane. Little did she know later in the day would have other plans.

Turning back around she set the gift on the table. She was extremely greatful for it, and later she'd be extremely excited, but now there was work to be done. "I don't like lying to these people Penelope. I'm not good at it." She confessed quietly as she reached for a few files and then pulled a key out from around her neck (an ID key that is) and held it out for the woman. "My lair key. You guys know what you need more than I do. Matt will tell you different but your my boss today. Tell me what you need."

"Baby girl, we need hospital records- and the names of the victems and people who were at the theatre for the first attack, as soon as you get set up. I'll help you go through them and see if I can come up with a profile of victims, if there is one."

"Agent Morgan." Krys couldn't help but feel, though she was in the little group gathering, that she was intruding on BAU time (though they had all approached her). But even so she was a blunt little thing and often when she thought of something she had to say it. "I believe you're on Agent Saunders and Grimaldis' team." Krys was a snoop and could memorize rosters as well as odd facts, so of course this particular one stuck with her, especially when it had something to do with her team.

"I believe they want to utilize who they have in the best way possible and no offense.. But your double A arms are going to have to be... Out there.." God, she couldn't even tease and jest like she usually did. It just didn't feel right. Nothing did anymore.

Krys felt a buzzing at her side and it was her cellphone. Turning her back as best she could to the three BAU agents she checked the glowing number. In bold print it read: Keith Robin. Krys' brother. Her family was calling her after their move to Long Island. The various scenarios ran through her mind. They could be sick too! Yet she had been specifically ordered not to respond to outside calls. Heck, even if she could others would have told her to avoid her family completely given what most of them had put her through. Krys never dealt with inner dilemas extremely well.

"Robin." Matt hinted in a gruff voice, though not terrifying as Krys immediately tucked her phone away. It was apparent, though his dark and intimidating demeanor, he was looking out for her, even if it wasn't necessarily in the way others would wish. One thing was for sure, Matthew was extremely intense with all of these outside agents bustling about his terf, not to mention a certain Agent in particular who Krys had mentioned a few too many times for his liking.

"They need you in the back running a check through the symptoms and possible disease mutations." He rattled off lowly, Krys now looking like a puppy being ordered not to piddle on the carpet. "Ten minutes ago. You're not supposed to be handing out your key either." That was all Krys needed to depart, doing her best to weasel past the crowd though she was easily bumped about being only five foot three. Matt then looked to the BAU agents with a less than friendly face.

"Agent Morgan you're with Saunders and myself. Agent Garcia I believe you can find where you're needed easily enough. Just follow the trail of soda cans..." His dark eyes glanced at Spencer now. Had the agent purposely been avoiding the young man? "I don't recall seeing your name..."

[Derek Morgan]

derek[morgan]

He should have known from the moment the notion was set in his head that he wouldn't be allowed to stay here. His throat closed a bit, and in a moment of quiet hopefullness, he met Krys' eyes. Maybe she'd understand how much it meant for him - not only to stay close to Garcia, but to stay close to the rest of them, too. To Reid, to her.

Then the CT Unit leader announced that he'd be with them, and he knew that there would be no chance of him staying here. He knew it was unreasonable, but he felt a certain anger towards the man. He quickly swallowed it down and forgot it. He couldn't let personal things get in the way right now, it could jeaporize things.

The man turned to adress Reid, announcing that he hadn't seen him on the list. Was Reid pulling the same stunt that he'd been only moments before? He almost hoped that he was - staying out of the city would probably be a good idea for the kid. Morgan couldn't help but feel that he'd find a way to get himself infected.

"You be careful, baby girl." Morgan said to Garcia, nodding to her before joining Matt.

ooc//

I know. Sucky post, but there wasn't much I could do at the moment. Feel free to respond now or later, doen't matter to me.

[Jennifer 'JJ' Jareau]

JJ anxiously walked into the elevator of the office, her heart pounding as she waited for the lift to bring her to the BAU. She had gotten the news: a widespread terror attack on New York. She worriedly stepped out of the elevator as it dinged, only to see the bureau in such a helter-skelter mode.

So, here she was in the plane, without having to explain anything to any of her fellow team members. She glanced at those around; Reid, Garcia, Morgan, Hotch and Prentiss. Her teammates, and her family. She was going to make sure none of them were hurt. The plane was landing in the midst of NY now, and JJ held her breath, ready to step out into this vastly infected city.

Her eyes traveled to Garcia, who seemed to be giving a brunette a present. JJ hadn't been on the whole island trip, so she didn't know Krys that well. She waltzed up to the two technical analysts and nodded for Garcia to head over to the tech room. She was worried right now, which was why she was a little snappy with her birthday greeting.

"H-Happy birthday. Krys, was it?" she said, forcing a smile even though she felt like killing someone. People were dying and they needed to celebrate a birthday? JJ knew this was probably important to Garcia so she tried to keep cool, but she couldn't really feel happy for Krys.

Looking around the place her eyes settled on Reid, who was on some geographic profile. JJ felt lost around here, not knowing what to do. She headed to Reid and sighed.

"Spence, I'll read out the locations so you can draw 'em up, kay?" she managed to say, even speaking the nickname she gave him, though it wasn't really a time for that.

(OOC: You know, I find it ironic that JJ cares so much for her team, yet I'm the same guy playing the person who's out to kill them. =D)

[Dr. Spencer Reid]

((ooc: So I just wanted to remind everyone that Hotch is gone till the 10th so leasts not give her to much to catch up on, by no means does that mean we can't still continue, just try and take it slow. ))

Reid missed the marker Krys throw at him by a mile, but he had a punch of colored markers so he didn't pay it any attention and left it sitting on the floor. Then he looked up at the map, not even seeing the Technical analyst next to it. There was no time to let his feelings for Krys get in the way, he was worried, sure, but he couldn't let that get in the way. That's when Krys started to go over what she had on the map. Most the points were on there with stickers, including hospitals. For now they could rule out the hospitals, as far as they knew this had nothing to do with where those people were stationed now, but remembering the last terror attack it had ended up being the hospital that was under attack, the chances of that happening again where so far fetched, though. Listening to what she said he started to put things together in his head. thirty people infected in the last 18 hours, two victims were dead in the first six hours. Those would have been the first to be infected, by most chances. Now fifteen where dead, and near a hundred were in the hospital. His mind was working a thousand times a minute. If he found the first point of contact then he could go off that.

Pulling the case files out of his messenger bag he started to look through them for accurate positions of people, he forgot the world around him, missing Morgan and Garcia wishing Krys a happy birthday. At one point Reid would remember what day it was, but right now he was to far into his work to realize. He had also gotten her a present that he thought was much better than the skating rink. When she said, "Today you're King of the Board." he remembered it. Looking over he was able to say it but JJ walked up and seemed annoyed, so he decided that now was not the time or place. He didn't know what to tell Krys when she said she wasn't good at handling people so he acted like he didn't know and started to draw some lines on the map. Then JJ offered to tell him the points. He smiled and handed the case file to her and said, "Thanks JJ, start with the first two dead and go from there." He then turned back to the map and started his work, which to anyone but him looked like a mess of random lines and dot.

Then Matt walked up. Reid stopped in his tracks. Looking over at the man who obviously was not happy about all the shirts on his turf. "I don't recall seeing your name..." he said and Reid could feel the tension on him. This was not the kind of guy that Reid wanted to be face to face with. Looking around slightly for Hotch, but not seeing him he answered, "Spencer Reid, sir." He wished Hotch was there to throw interference for him and help get him out of what ever Matthew was about to force him into. Right now he was most useful here. Looking at JJ he figure she was going to be through into a team as well. He was so wrapped up in the old man that he didn't even see Krys leave. He wonder where the rest of his team was going to be stationed. Suddenly Reid was afraid that JJ might get put in the field, she had a son now... what if she was killed? Reid felt the blood drain from his face as he thought about all the different people that could be infected, including Morgan who he already knew as in the field.

--------------

Kate finished listing out all the people that had come to her. She looked around the large room that had emptied quite well in the time frame. It was at least empty enough to hear yourself think. So she decided to go and join Matt who she figured would be getting his team together now. It kind of looked like he was over whelmed though, maybe that wasn't the right word. Mad seemed to fit better. Kate couldn't help but think that all the stress he was putting on himself wasn't good for his back. Finding her spot next to him she started to listen into the conversation at hand.

[/blockquote]

[Penelope Garcia]

"My lair is your lair. Mi lair es tu lair."

Coming from an analyst, this was just about the most hospitality that one could expect. Garcia herself was rather territorial---she imagined many a tech was the same way. She offered a small, and somewhat forced, smile to the birthday girl before nodding. "Thanks. I will try to stay out of the way." Lairs normally meant minimal space; she didn't want to become a bother. She felt Morgan's hand on her shoulder and she turned to offer him a quick glance as he spoke to her on the victim lists. Victimology, she was learning, was the starting point for any basic profile. You always had to start with what you know...and normally that was about all you had as a starting point. She was about to speak, but Matthew had beaten her to it, calling her best friend out to a different line of duty.

Mama Duck was having enough of a hard time knowing the rest of the team was going to be out in the open. Having Morgan with her for victimology was going to be a little load off of her already frantic heart. Still, it seemed that was not where he was destined to be. Matt told her she could find her way to the lair, and she held Krys' ID tag in her hand as living proof she was sound enough to be off on her way. But she didn't want to leave the rest of them yet. "You be careful, baby girl."

She turned her eyes up to Derek once more, setting her lips in a straight line. "I'm not going to be the one running around out there. How about you be careful?" She tried for her normal light tone, though it seemed lost. Or at least not genuine. Cases always made her nervous for her friends. She imagined she would never get used to the danger that came with them. Still, there was no greater terror to her than her team facing a disease. She had almost lost Reid a few months ago. Dammit if she couldn't contain her heart rate! Sending them out there to fight it was sending them out to go against an invisible force that no guns could save them from.

"I will have list to you soon. I'll call you when you need to check your phone," she added quietly to Derek before she began to move off. She gave one last look to all of her team and quietly said, "Be careful," and bolted out the door. No sense in wasting time. People were counting on her to make sure this ended fast.

It was, surprisingly, a quick route to Krys' 'lair', which much to Penelope's elation seemed to remind her of her own back in Quantico. She let herself down in a chair, there happened to be two. Perhaps Krys was expecting such company? Eagerly she whipped out her laptop and busily began setting it up. "You here....here....alright...and..." the computer whirred to life and Garcia let out one final sigh before letting her fingers fly over the keyboard once more.

OOC: I will have her send the list laterrr. =]

[Krys Robin]

"Spencer Reid, sir."

"I know who you are. Just said I don't recall seeing your name." Matt was being intentionally difficult and he was well aware of it. No matter, he had his reasons and he was a stubborn man, he wasn't about to go against his own gut. "For a profiler you sure don't do an awful lot of listening." This was him being tired, purposely snappy. He didn't like the assistance of other teams (and many men in other departments were the same way) he was just territorial, and protective. Particularly of a certain data analyst. Certainly certain other people could relate.

Clearing his throat he shook his head, he wasn't going to leave room in the conversation for him to be snapped at in return. "You go wherever your team wants you. Just stay out of the way." He announced before breaking away from the group, eying Kate for a moment (to see how she was holding up) he discovered that she had taken his spot amongst the group. Oh well, maybe she'd be able to tolerate them better. He then moved toward the back of the bullpen. He was ready to go when they were.

Krys wasn't dumb. Back in the main room, CT's 'bull pen', she had seen the angry look in JJ's eyes. For part of a profiling crew she hadn't been very decent at hiding detest. Despite all that was going on Krys couldn't help but worry that she had done something to deserve such an expression. She had not asked for any birthday presents, nor any wellwishes, in fact she had barely mentioned it. Was she honestly going to be punished over something that she had no control of her? If someone was to ask her outright Krys would have bluntly pointed out that her birthday was not important. Not celebrating her birthday, sadly, would be the norm for her. She never celebrated it before, so she wouldn't know what she was missing. Besides, she was too tired to worry anyways.

Since the first death in the virus outbreak she hadn't slept, they were now well on their way into day three. Occasionally she could barely summon up the energy to speak full sentences and that was with four Amp Energy drinks coursing through her system. Krys walked through the hall, which was surprisingly empty when she felt suddenly light headed, something she wasn't exactly used to, and then made herself stand on the side. Her back against the cool bring she fwapped herself lightly in the face with one of the folders she was carrying, trying to get her head back in the game.

"Tomatoes are fruits, not vegetables." She murmured the fact to herself quietly in a tone of disdain, aimed at herself. Shutting her eyes for a moment she tried to gather herself, her wits and her focus which currently she was struggling with. She was just so tired, but she knew she had to push herself through this. She wanted to help... But why did she always get stuck in the lair? How could she help anyone from inside the Bureau? It was beginning to get redundant.

[Dr. Spencer Reid]

Reid felt his checks turn red when he realized he had misunderstood Grimaldi's question. It was an easy mistake, how was he to know that Matt knew who he was. Reid had never meet the man before ((ooc: I'm going off the fact that In the Park when Matt was play his music they never meet, because, well, they didn't. . If you want them to have meet then just tell me.)) But then Reid was "best friends" with krys so he was sure Matt knew about him, or at least Reid hoped so, that would mean that she wasn't embarrassed to know him, and what not. In truth Reid hadn't talked to him teammates much about Krys, though most of them knew who she was because she often came by the BAU for technical help. Then there was the fact that Morgan was convinced that he had caught them on a date, though Reid still refused to think about it that way, even though the idea gave him an odd warm feeling.

Reid knew that in truth the mistake had been a simple one, though he couldn't help but feel like in all his genius he should have understood what Grimaldi had meant. In truth the CT agent was just being mean because he was annoyed with all the people in his home, it was something that the BAU team had gotten used to. The best way to deal with it was not to back door them and make it seem like they were in charge, which wasn't hard when he really was in charge, in a way. Something wasn't quite right, though, there seemed to be something else bothering Matt and that something seemed to be Reid. He had just meet him, how could he already hate him? "Sorry sir, won't happen again." He muttered feeling a little like a child talking to his abusive father. Spencer couldn't see how Krys looked up to this guy. Yet being the profiler that he was he could tell that he wasn't like this all the time.

Nodding he turned back to the map for a second then at JJ. "Is it just me or was there something wrong with the way he's acting?" he asked her, but Morgan was also in hearing distance. Also Kate was there to. Reid knew Kate from the plane crash. In fact Reid had saved her life. Other than the fact that she was teammates with Krys Reid didn't like her either. There was just something about her that seemed wrong, something that was so close to he tip of his tongue that he could taste it, yet he didn't think about it to much. It was wrong to profile others anyway, leave that to the people who deserve it.

Reid looked around for Hotch for a second, he was the one that would decided who would go with Matt and Kate and who would stay here, though Reid was already sure that he would stay here to finish the geographic profile.

-----------

Kate watched as Matt moved away. He seemed to have taken a shine to this Spencer Reid, as well as the rest of his team. It was going to be hard to work with Matt when he was being so frustrated and unreasonable. In fact Kate was thinking that today she was the one that was going to have to lecture him, an odd change of event. Yet Kate wasn't much better. She was trigger happy, the moment she saw the jerks that did this they were dead and no one was telling her different. Luckily no one know this because no one knew her past.

Smiling at Reid she said, "Matty's just being difficult." She knew if Matt heard her call him Matty she would be dead, but luckily she doubted that he could hear her. "That means that he likes you." She added with a wink. Some might think that now was not the time to be making jokes and being sarcastic, but Kate thought that there was no better time. As long as she wasn't putting anyone in danger there was no harm in it. She leaning against a near by desk and waited to see what the small group of profilers would decided to do. In the back of her mind she was aware that they could probably learn more about her by her actions then she would like them to, but there was no time to worry about that now.

[Derek Morgan]

--
ooc// Alright, Krys, I'm not sure where Matt wants Morgan, so... I'm just going to respond to Reid right now, and then tell me (in a pm or otherwise) what exactly I'm supposed to be doing, before my head implodes from lack of sleep. Which is quite possible. It'd be messy, since I'm in a library. And i want to go rent the first season of Dharma and Greg. Yup.

Oh, or Hotch tell me where to go. I'm so confused. Someone help the poor lost puppy. (or if you were to ask garcia, i'd be a cat. meow. help.)
--

She was telling him to be careful - and in all honesty, that was probably the correct assumption. He was, after all, the one going out on the field, but he couldn't help but feel as if she were the one in danger, as if somehow she'd still get sick. It was the same sort of thing he felt with Reid, and it was a trust issue, he knew that - as if only he could protect them from getting sick, but he shook the notion from his head. There was no time for that now.

"Tensions are high, kid. They hadn't had such a global threat like this since Reid's infection, and that they'd stopped before it could get as bad as this. This was already at a stage that they were losing control of - there were dead and there were sick, and it was taking place in one of the most crowded cities in America. This was a situation that could only be described as hell. "And we're on his turf." Morgan added, after a second. he guessed that the man didn't like people encroaching on his turf, his team. Despite the territorial feelings, and despite the fact that Morgan was gritting his teeth in response to being forced to a different location and Matt's harsh words towards Reid, they'd have to force themselves to all get along, for the greater good. And they had to get themselves going, soon.

"Sooner we get going, sooner we can stop this son of a bitch." Morgan said, throwing his next words over his shoulder. "Hotch, where're we needed?"

--

ooc// that sucked. i thought i'd drag hotch into it, since she's back from vacation and planning on posting today.

[Matthew Grimaldi]

Matthew Grimaldi was territorial, like a stocky bulldog. This was all too much to process for a man who usually worked with one other partner or his team of five to six individuals. Currently in his 'home' there were well over a hundred packed, and that was bound to stress even the most seasoned of professionals in the field. The threat of the disease spreading was stressful enough without having so many bodies that he didn't recognize to work alongside of, let alone try to keep safe. The odds would be stacked against him, he didn't need Krys and her computers to tell him that much.

Turning back to look at the group Matt grunted out orders, rattling them off so he could get them over and done with. "You and you.." He looked to JJ and Morgan, purposely not looking at Spencer. "You'll be on a team together.." Now his dark eyes glanced over to Spencer with a slight roll before he looked to the other two 'adult' agents. "You can take the kid with you if you want. Or he can stay behind here with the squints, whatever works for you." So he didn't respect Reid at all? Or was there something more to this?

Matt certainly didn't harbor romantic feelings for Krys, then what was it? Was he tired or just protective? He may not have been a profiler but he could see how people looked at one another, and for apparently being a profiler himself this kid wasn't too good at masking emotions, Matthew was quickly learning. On several occasions he had seen the look in Krys' eyes when she regailed about their spontaneous adventures.. He knew her side as well. He wasn't liking the scenario that it was adding up to, then again he was just ridiculously protective of her. Someone had to be. Lord knew she'd been through enough already.

"We'll be heading out to the hospitals to question the victims, see if we can get a grasp on how it's spreading or anyone who may have looked suspicious in the areas where they were contaminated." Matt went on, his face rather stern then again this was a very diar matter. "Meanwhile whoever's back here will be running tests on the strain and trying to limit down the suspect pool. Sound good?" It really wasn't a question, though his voice inclined slightly. Truth was they really had no choice. They were outmatched as a bioengineered weapon was far different and much more difficult to trace than a gun. Something physical and tangible.

"And I don't like you." Matt corrected Kate's words about Spencer. He hadn't meant them to come off as cold as they did but he didn't enjoy being spoken for, let alone being made out to be some sort of softie with a heart. No, that pleasure was reserved for certain special people. He was glad when Morgan looked to Hotch. Good, another babysitter, and with that he moved away from the group to get ready to go.

[Aaron Hotchner]

» Earlier this morning... «

Aaron Hotchner sat behind his desk, having arrived only ten minutes ago and with a half hour to go before everyone else would begin to arrive. He settled down in his chair, already picking away at the files for today, filling out things here and there, looking over cases that could need his attention. The case files always seemed endless - the work continued to pile up, day after day, and no matter how many files he could get through in one day, the number seemed to double overnight, and be waiting for him in the morning. This particular morning found the unit chief of the BAU looking over potential case files, a routine job that the profiler always had trouble classifying as "routine". The thought of classifying child murderers, arsonists and serial killers as "routine" wasn't something that Aaron Hotchner could ever bring himself to do. No matter how many cases of domestic or child homicide he had to leaf through over his twenty plus years in the bureau, murderers could never be just another routine.

He had been deliberating over two cases for the past two days, both state parties having sent the files to be considered. This was a part of the job that Hotchner didn't particularly like: choosing which case took precedent over another was never a simple decision to the unit chief. He honestly considered every angle and facet of the cases he was to choose from and no matter which case was decided upon in the end, it was never an easy choice to have to choose one over another. But he had learned to accept it as just another part of the job, thinking of the successes with the cases they'd chosen, instead of dwelling on the losses and the cases pushed aside. It was impossible to do the job otherwise.

But just because he accepted it, didn't mean he had to like doing it. It was a welcome relief when J.J. knocked on his door and pulled him from his thoughts and his work. But the relief didn't last. The moment the media liaison entered his office, pale and grim-faced, he knew something was wrong. He worried for her, but it wasn't her health that had her looking ill, he had learned. It was the file she had brought him. There were times when certain cases jumped out of he pile, and demanded to be taken over others. And while Hotch didn't like to choose, sometimes, there was no choice in the matter. And while the elimination of options made the decision easier, the case itself was that much worse.

This one in particular could hardly be any worse.

As Aaron read over the file J.J. had offered him, his stomach was churning. And the decision was made without any further exchange. They would be taking this case.

» In New York «

Not ten minutes later, Hotch had the rest of the team gathered at the round table, all grim faces and racing thoughts. The briefing was quick, and twenty minutes later they were all on the jet, heading towards the chaos in New York. The plane ride was made in almost complete silence, interrupted only by a brief ten minute discussion in which they went over precautions and cracked weak jokes to avoid thinking about what they would actually find once they landed. Hotch tried not to think about all of the tell-tale white sheets hanging in windows.

And then they were walking through the doors of the CT headquarters, right into the middle of things. More than once Hotch had to pause to avoid a crash collision with someone bustling about. They’d made it just in time for the meeting. The unit chief of the BAU listened to the CT members explain the situation, feeling unease settle hard in his stomach. It was going to be one of those days.

It seemed as soon as the briefing had begun, it was over and everyone was rushing away. Hotchner’s mind was running at full speed now, running over the information they had so far, thinking, analyzing. Reid’s voice broke through his train of thought, "Hotch, I'll work geographic profile." and he turned his attention the younger agent long enough to nod an affirmative. He had just been about to suggest it. Garcia stood in front of him a moment later, a determined look on her face. ”I’m on hospital records.” He offered her a ”Thanks,” before throwing himself into the foray of people as well.

He came upon Matthew, the CT division leader as he was dishing out orders. "Agent Morgan you're with Saunders and myself.” Hotchner listened, pushing aside the slight spark of irritation that came with having his agents ordered around by another person. But he was on Counter Terror turf right now, and by default that put him, and his team, under the other man’s orders. He didn’t miss the unhappy look on Matthew’s face, either. But Aaron knew well the feeling of being unwelcome. Working for the Federal government had earned him and his team enough of luke-warm receptions to understand the feeling of intruding on one’s territory. But New York City needed all the hands it could get right now, working this case. This wasn’t the time for territorial disputes.

"For a profiler you sure don't do an awful lot of listening."

Hotchner had half an ear on the current exchanges, and could only take Matthew’s snappy commentary so far. He stepped up and offered a hand. ”Special Agent Aaron Hotchner," He gave the CT leader a level stare. ”I’ll go with you and Agent Morgan to the hospital, ” he said to Matthew when he explained about the victim interviews. ”Reid, you and J.J stay here and work on building the geographical profile. We’ll keep you updated.” he promised, heading towards the door with the others.

Yes, this was going to be a long day.

ooc: sorry this took so long, and sorry its rushed, but I got fed up with it. I probably skipped over something or other along the way, I haven't read everything thoroughly yet. But hopefully its enough to work with for now, because I'm done with it and going to sleep.

[Derek Morgan]

Morgan's dark eyes sent Hotch an appreciative glance. His unit cheif had, in two or three sentences, done what Morgan had only been thinking about doing: setting the precedent for the whole territorial despute. The younger agent was glad to know that there was going to be none of Matt's backtalk taken; he'd also effectively taken J.J. out of the field - at least for now. Their media liaison had a son, and couldn't afford to catch this disease. It was a risk that they all took, but at least some of them could delay that risk for a bit longer.

The FBI profiler was also grateful that it wouldn't be just him, JJ, and Matt - with Hotch going along with Morgan and Matt, there would be alot less of the terrotorial dispute going on - he hoped. After all, having the other unit cheif there could mean that he would want to butt heads even more. Morgan sighed, hoping the other agent would put it aside for awhile while they were interviewing victims - always one of the more disturbing parts of the job. Those victims weren't just victims - they were people, they had lives, friends, families - and he knew from the case file that there was at least one kid involved. It was always worse when there were kids involved.

He ran a hand over his head, then turned and faced both heads of teams, a grim look on his face. "Ready when you are."



ooc// crap post, sorry. just wanted to get something in there quickly - are we going to make a thread for interviewing hospital victims next? just wondering. i'm going to be online /all day/, so feel free to contact.