KATHRYN
Warehouse District

Kathryn sighed as she looked at the car wedged between the buildings. She hated this part of the job. She watched the three agents work with the victim. She could see their emotions taking over in the heat of the moment. Sirens could be heard and an ambulance pulled up. Letting the paramedics do their job she started looking at the buildings. She turned to Vin, who was also standing off to the side, "The car's spot is too obvious. I think our perp wanted it to be found."

Vin turned his eyes on Kathryn, wondering what she was up too. Before he could say anything Chris had come up and was speaking with Ezra. After the short conversation he headed over to Ashley.

"C'mon. Knowin' Chris he'll wanna have us scour this whole area for who knows how long."

"Humph," she answered and followed her new partner. She recognized some of the locals that were holding off the curious onlookers. They jumped with shock to see her there in a FBI jacket working the crime scene with the other agents. She gave one of them a wink then turned and started the tedious work of finding and securing evidence. The ambulance had long gone when the finished checking over the last of the scene. There was a quick trip back to the office where a fresh pot of coffee had been put on. The minutes had turned into hours when Kathryn finally gave in. She stretched and stifled a yawn. Seeing the others in the same condition it was mutual consent when they headed over to the Saloon for a round of drinks. After about an hour Kathryn rose and told them she had a ways to drive and needed leave.

"How far?" Vin asked.

"Granger, and if y'all are wondering why so far out, I hate traffic. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Seńorita?" Inez called out.

"Uh-huh," Kathryn turned around.

"Here," Inez handed her a Styrofoam cup, "It's coffee for the trip and you're tired."

"Thanks Inez," she answered and took the offering and headed out to her car.

Tempest walked slowly through the sterile white corridors of the hospital, her scuffed boots making almost no sound on the pale green tiles. She was dog tired, her hair falling lankly around her face, her face smudged with dirt. Her body exhausted but her mind filled with jumbled thoughts. Today was the culmination of all her training, but she hadn’t expected it to effect her the way that it had. She had seen bodies before. It was a part of her training, she had always taken it in her stride before. Today was her first live victim.

Never before had she witnessed the victims suffering, watching the pain that flashed through her unseeing eyes, hearing her tormented cries, and in a selfish sort of way she was glad that for a short time she had been able to pull that girl from the depths of pain she had been suffering and allow her a brief respite.

She cast her mind across the eight hours between then and now. Agent Larabee had been furious with them, and on a purely professional level she could understand his anger. He was right he did have two rookies that had handled the situation on a purely instinctive level, but the sight of Desiree had thrown even the hardened agents that Ezra and Nathan were. Surely Chris must realise how hard it had been for them to react professionally at all. From the moment they had heard the banging from the trunk their only thoughts had been to save the captive. It hadn’t even crossed her mind that the trunk might be booby trapped.

The whole team had paid for their inexperience. Chris had driven them all relentlessly, punishing the whole team. They had scoured the entire area for clues before returning to their office and poring over the new clues, trying to find something anything to link the cases. Finally when they had all been on the point of exhaustion, their vision blurring he had dismissed them for the night. Urging them all to return to their homes, they had moved to the saloon for a round of drinks. Not the usual jovial boisterous drinks they usually partook, but a calming almost sedative relaxant. Not even that could stop the trembling of her delicate hands. Ezra had driven her home, his concern evident when he wouldn’t let her drive her own car. Promising to pick her up on his way to work, he had deposited her in her driveway. As she watched the taillights of his car disappearing into the distance she had plucked out her cell phone and phoned a taxi. She wanted, no needed to see how Desiree was doing before he could even think of sleeping.

A small grin creased her brow as she trudged wearily toward the ICU security ward where she knew Desiree would be. Showing her badge to the two uniformed guards who stood at the door. As she pushed through the door she saw a sight that didn’t surprise her at all. Only one person had been more deeply affected by the days events than her and that was the woman who stood before her. Ashe was standing at the glass viewing window, watching Desiree cling to the fragile hold she had on life. .

Tempest walked up without a word and stood there watching the machine that she was attached to breathe for her. She watched what was obviously the Martin family sobbing fitfully at the side of her bed. An older woman obviously Desiree’s mother sat by the bedside of the bruised and battered daughter, sobbed at the head of the bed a large framed picture of her daughter clutched in hr arms. A portrait of the girl that Desiree would never be again. Desiree’s father and older brother neither ashamed of their tears sat by her bedside watching her, the machine pumping air into her lungs holding their attention.

“He doesn’t just kill young women” Tempest spoke quietly her southern accent echoing wearily through the empty corridor

“No” Ashe spoke softly “He rips the heart and soul right out of them and then tears it out of their families too”

“Is she gonna be okay?” Tempest murmured her own eyes filling with tears

“Probably” Ashes answered “She’ll never be that girl again. He’s stolen her life from her even without killing her”

“We have to stop him Ashe” Tempest spoke her eyes never leaving the forlorn form of Mrs Martin, knowing that while her daughter’s body might be back she would never get back the girl that had left her home.

“He’s gonna do this again Tempest” Ashe spoke flatly “How can we stop him?” she shrugged her shoulders

“I have a plan Ashe” Tempest turned to look at her new ally “but I need your help”

Ashe looked assessingly at the smaller woman and knew without a doubt that she wouldn’t be asking if she didn’t have a better thought.

“What’s your plan?” Ashe asked a little warily

“You and I both fit the profile” she watched Ashe’s face carefully “I’m going to suggest that they use us as bait”

"Be a cold day in hell before Larabee accepts that" Ashe spoke one eyebrow arched in question

“Seems to me if we hit him as a united front, he might not have any choice” Tempest spoke calmly

“We’re running out of options” she shrugged

“We’re his greenest agents Tempest” Ashe stated

“You think I don’t know that” she said flatly “We’re the only ones that fit the profile” she muttered “You think I want to even give him the chance to do that” she gestured through the window “To either of us”

“We’ll have to convince Nathan and Ezra” Ashe spoke running through their options in her mind

“I can’t see any other way” Tempest shrugged tightly “Are you game?”

A plan now hatched in their minds, neither of them wanted to sleep, both wanted to talk to one of the older more experienced agents while their thoughts were fresh in their minds. Neither of them knew their new partners all that well, but they mutually decided that Ezra would be the one they approached with the plan. The members of team 7 were well known with all local branches of law enforcement and by reputation alone they knew that he was often known to skirt the grey areas between law and crime in order to garner a conviction. If anyone would support them it would be Ezra.

The short drive to Ezra’s townhouse was completed in almost silence, both women playing over their arguments in their minds. It wasn’t until they stood at his door, having banged on it mercilessly when he failed to answer the summons of the doorbell, they realised the probable foolishness of their actions. They looked at each other a question in their eyes before they drew each other into an embrace filled with shared sorrow and a hope that together they could make a difference in the world that they now worked in.

“Good Luck” Ashe murmured softly as she brushed a smear of dirt from Tempest’s face

“You too” Tempest replied “I think we are going to need it”

“What can I do for you two charming ladies?” Ezra spoke as he swung the door open, his hair tousled and clad only in black silk pyjama bottoms “And I must say that I hope it is earth shattering” he yawned

“We have a plan to catch this guy Ezra” Tempest spoke a little more forcefully than she felt as she moved past him into his home

Ezra stepped back and ushered Ashe in with a flourish “Oh please ladies do come in” he spoke wryly

“I didn’t need any sleep tonight anyway”

“We need your help Ezra” Tempest turned and spoke her eyes filled with her fears and her pleading.

“Give me a minute” Ezra spoke softly knowing that he wouldn’t refuse their request, he ran his fingers through his tousled hair as he exhaled slowly “There’s coffee in the kitchen” he gestured as he walked back into the house “Pour me one while you’re there” he looked at their expectant faces “I’ll make myself presentable and then I’ll listen to your ideas” he held up one finger in warning “That is no guarantee that I will agree with them however”

Several minutes later Ezra emerged from what was obviously his bedroom dressed in comfortable sweat pants and a University of Texas Longhorns tee shirt. He accepted a cup of coffee from Tempest and gestured for the both of them to take a seat on his black leather sofa.

“Now would you two like to explain to me why you have disturbed my slumber at this ungodly hour” he smile at them sipping on his coffee

“We want to be used as bait to flush him out” Tempest spoke softly and calmly refusing to look at her partners eyes

A fountain of coffee sprayed from Ezra as he chocked on the mouthful of coffee he had just begun to swallow. Dabbing ineffectually at the spreading stains on his white shirt he turned almost angry eyes on the young women on his sofa “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that Stormy” he spoke quietly

“Face it Ezra” she spoke starch in her voice “We’ve got nothing except the fact that she was taken from my sports club”

“We both fit the profile” Ashe spoke softly “We don’t have any other options Ezra” she shrugged

“Besides” Tempest reasoned “We both trust all of you to keep us safe”

“Ezra there is no other way” Ashe explained “It’s either us or some poor innocent girl off the streets for him to torture again”

Ezra sat silently for a few moments his gaze flicking from one girl to the other, silently assessing them before he spoke again.

“You’re sure you want to do this?” he watched both girls nod emphatically

“You’re going to have to lighten your hair” he spoke softly to Ashe who nodded again

“This isn’t training” he spoke deadly seriously “It’s not just practice, whatever happens happens for keeps” he stated seriously “You saw what happened to Miss Martin are you prepared to have that happen to you”

“We can’t let this go on Ezra” Tempest spoke

“Someone has to stop him” Ashe finished for her

“Alright” he nodded “If Chris will hear you out I will back you up” he spoke

“Thanks Ezra” Tempest rose and hugged him tightly “You won’t be sorry” she murmured

“God help us all” he murmured briefly returning her embrace before he pulled away

“We’ve got some work to do before you go to Chris” he spoke bluntly then looked to Ashe “Does Nathan know?” he watched her shake her head. With a resigned sigh he settled down to go through all aspects of the case before they presented their case to their leader AUSTIN OFFICES
ASHLEY SPARKES

For the twentieth time in as many minutes, Ashley lifted a lock of her hair, studied it intently for a moment before dropping it again with a sigh.

Nathan glanced over in amusement. "You could have waited to see if you were at least gonna get permission," he said turning his attention back to the road.

"Now you tell me," she replied, examining another tendril of chemically altered hair. "Actually, we hoped Chris would take it as a sign that we'd go ahead with or without his blessing."

That brought a chuckle from Nathan. "You don't know Chris very well. If he doesn't agree, it *won't* happen. I still can't believe you two talked Ezra into helping you with this."

"Tempest did most of the talking. I just sacrificed my hair."

"You look good as a blonde, and it'll grow out. . . eventually."

Ashe sighed again. "So speaks the man with his natural hair color."

They lapsed into silence. Ashe wasn't sure if it was because Nathan had no retort, or was too polite continue. After several minutes Nathan spoke again. "Know what you're gonna tell Chris?"

Ashley shrugged. She'd actually been trying very hard to *not* think about Larabee. "I figured we'd play up the 'lets go catch the mad-man' angle. You know- the whole protect and serve bit. And what's this 'you,' *partner*?"

"So now you want a partner? You and Tempest came up with this one on your own. I'm not invol-"

"You didn't put a stop to it last night," Ashley interrupted. "That makes you guilty by association."

"Well, if Ezra agreed- I didn't stand a chance. Just saved everyone time by not arguin'. Still doesn't mean I approve."

"Do you have a better idea?"

"If I did, would we be having this conversation?"

Ashe grinned at him, feeling better than she had since hearing about the transfer. "See. Rookies do have their uses."

Nathan scoffed. "Yeah, but not usually target practice this early in their career. We like to get a couple years out of them first. At least get training expenses back." Nathan slowed the car and showed his identification to the officer in the security shack of the FBI parking structure.

Ashe rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Oh please. You know very well that if the situation were different, you'd do the same."

Nathan seemed to consider it as he pulled the car into his reserved spot. "But we're talking about *this* situation. You know. . . Chris could call in more experienced agents who fit the profile. In fact. . ."

He climbed out of the SUV leaving both the statement and Ashe suspended in disbelief. Ashe scrambled for the door handle and hurried after him. Placing herself firmly in his path, she said, "You wouldn't. This is our case too. If it were any of the others, would you object?"

"They have more experience. This is not a game. Trolling for killers is dangerous. Even veteran agents get hurt. . .or worse."

Ashe squared her shoulders. "'Dangerous'? What are you- my mother? No, I take that back. Not even my mother would hand me a line like that. I've been running in and out of burning buildings with 30lbs of dead weight on my back since I was 18. *That* is a dangerous situation. But I did it gladly. Know why? Because if someone on the crew- anyone on the crew, didn't pull their own weight, someone *would* get hurt." She chewed at her bottom lip, watching to see what impact her words were having. "The same principle applies here."

Nathan gave her a long appraising look. "C'mon," he said, stepping toward the elevator bank. "Tell it to Chris that way and you *might* have a shot at convincing him this idea isn't as insane as it really is."

AUSTIN OFFICES
TEMPEST DUMAURIER

The girls both looked at each other, their trepidation evident in their eyes. They each stole a glance at their partners who although following them into the room, hung back. Making it clear that the fight to play the case out their way was their fight. Chris leaned against his table watching them keenly. One thing was evident to both of them. Chris was not a happy man.

“Agent Larabee” Tempest spoke her voice formal “We believe we have a plan that will flush our perp out”

“I know what the two of you are gonna say” he spoke and walked back around the desk “The answer is no”

“You haven’t even heard us out” Ashe spoke up from beside her newfound ally

“You think that you two can waltz in here both looking blonde and angelic and think that I don’t have some sort of idea what you are up to?” he answered her fixing her with a steely glare,before turning his eyes on their partners

“Did you two idiots have a hand in this?” he shook his head at them

“I am afraid that the whole situation is of the young ladies making” Ezra spoke “However, I am unable to find another solution to our problems” he frowned at his team leader.

Chris sighed deeply and turned back to the two women, walking closely past Ashe he lifted a lock of hair “Nice colour Sparkes” he smiled “What originated this sudden desire to join your dizzy sisters?” he asked almost laughing as he watched Tempests lips thin in anger

“My devotion to my duties sir” Ashe spoke seriously

Chris moved back behind his desk and leaned on his fists “You two are aware that this isn’t Cagney and Lacey aren’t you?”

“You can’t put yourself in danger and just expect that the scriptwriter will pull your asses out of the fire, because the good guys always win” he looked at them sadly

“I’m not prepared to put the two of you in such danger” he spoke gently “Whether you want to or not I won’t use you that way. And I sure as hell won’t lose you that way”

“You don’t have much choice Chris” Tempest spoke quietly “With or without the team I am a prospective target” she continued

“I jog at the same track, I fit the profile, I signed on to give my all to the Bureau” she paused “My All. Good or bad I am willing to give my live to catch that sick bastard. If that’s what it takes to stop him than that will be my privilege” she continued “But whether you give the go ahead or not I will” she stated firmly “I will be setting myself up as bait for him” she looked into his eyes looking for the answer she needed “I would be much happier with backup and your blessing”

Chris stood and searched her face for several long minutes before he turned his gaze on Ashe “you feel the same way?” he asked softly

“Yes sir” she nodded her head “I feel exactly the same way” she paused with a smile “If I didn’t I wouldn’t be sporting a new hair colour”

“If we do this” he stated “And it’s a big if” he looked from one to the other “It is with the agreement of the full team” he continued “You will be wired at all times and never out of your partners sight”

“That’s hardly necessary is it?” Tempest spoke a little angry

“You want to play” he spoke “These are the game rules” he shrugged “There will be no heroics, no grandstanding and no secrets” he moved to stand directly in front of both of them “Do we understand each other?”

“Crystal Clear Sir” both of them spoke at once a slight smile on their faces realising that they were one step closer to the fruition of their plan

”You can lose the smug ‘cat that ate the canary grins’” he smiled back at them “The whole team has to agree or its not on” he sat back against the edge of the desk “go and round up the others” he looked briefly at his watch “Team meeting in five minutes” he spoke then turned his attention to the two men who stood in the background. He knew that beyond a shadow of a doubt if he had rejected the girls plans, either or both of the men where there to back them up and plead their case. At least this way he had control over the situation. As much control as he could manage against the whim of a madman anyway”

He watched the two women leaving the room, almost expecting to see them high fiving each other on the way out. He looked at the smug faces on the two men he saw as unwitting allies in his team and almost smiled at their equally smug expressions. “I’ll deal with you two later” he spoke and moved back around his desk. The door of his office closed behind the two men as he pulled a bottle of painkillers from his desk drawer. Dropping three into his hand he slipped them into his mouth and swallowed them dry “This is gonna be a long day” he muttered as he strode from the room towards the conference room.

AUSTIN OFFICES
KATHRYN

Kathryn sat down at her desk as she watched the four agents head out of Chris’s office. Stormy and Ash had a smug look about them, almost like they got what they were wanting. Looking at what Ash did to her hair it did not take much for her to figure out they were going after the serial. She shook her head at the apparrent eagerness of the two agents. She hoped it would not be their downfall. She looked up to Vin and saw he was watching the two at the same time. Seeing Chris come out of his office a moment later and heading for the conference room Vin took it as a given and rose to follow his leader and friend to the same room. Kathryn rose and followed.

“We got a plan now?” she asked.

“Don’t know yet,” Vin answered. He continued, “You look like somethin’s on your mind, care to share?”

Kathryn hesitated a moment when she heard the same comment she heard early that morning. She looked into his expectant face. “Um, it’s nothing,” she stuttered slightly.

He snorted slightly, “Well your ‘nuthin’ looks pretty big to me,” he teased.

Kathryn looked back at him, “Look, someone said the same thing to me about an hour ago, okay? It just threw me a little off guard.” She did not want to mention her contact just yet, maybe later though. She looked around the conference room and sat down in one of the chairs. Vin followed and sat down beside her waiting for the rest of the agents to file into the room. AUSTIN OFFICES
JOHN

JD entered the conference room, noticing that his uncle was already seated. He glanced his way and John gave him a smile and slight wink, then raised an eyebrow and motioned towards Ashe with his eyes. JD knew he refered to the new hair color and it suddenly sank in what the two agents were up to. The two were planning on acting as bait!

John fiddled with his pen and pad as the rest of the agents walked into the room and took their seats and Chris began the meeting. John already knew that he would argue for the two female agents if need be. They may be a bit green yet for this type of case, but Larabee had a good team. They'd be okay and maybe, just maybe, there would be a chance of them catching this guy.

AUSTIN OFFICES
KELLY

Kelly sat restlessly beside Buck at the conference table. The last team meeting hadn't sat well with her and she wasn't eager for a repeat. Putting on a game face for Ash's benefit had almost been more than she could manage. As the other team members filed into the room Buck lightly nudged her arm and slid a folded piece of paper towards her. Hesitantly Kelly accepted it as she began reading the quickly scribbled message she grinned.

I KNOW WE GOT OFF TO A ROCKY START BUT I PROMISE TO BE ON MY BEST BEHAVIOR IF YOU'LL HAVE LUNCH WITH ME.

Kelly stared skeptically at Buck but finally relented when he gave her a dazzling smile.

"You swear Buck Wilmington?" she leaned towards him and whispered.

For a moment he looked as if she had offended him but then his smile returned.

"Absolutely"

"Done"she replied.

Her attention was drawn towards the blonde beacon that entered the room. Her mouth gaped open at the site of Ash's new color and a wave of dread began to build at what it meant. The new case...The blonde women.....Ash was prepared to set herself up as the bait.