Chapter 5

BAU Private Jet

Sierra sat back on the couch rather than the chairs on the jet. Thankfully after they left Kansas the aches in her body subsided. "Did you know the drop in barometric pressure that comes with a storm allows soft tissue and fluid around joints to expand, irritating nerves and causing pain, especially at the sensitized site of an old injury?" Reid said more than asked as he took a seat at the table across from Sierra who nodded. 

"Rhodes is everything okay?" Morgan asked her, "Yeah, I'm good" she replied. "How's your knee?" Reid asked. "Less achy, thanks," she replied sending him a small smile. The flight from Kansas to Virginia took a couple of hours before the team landed at the airport. The agents gathered their go bags and departed the jet, making their way over to the federal SUVs waiting for them. 

Agent Sierra Rhodes Hotel Room, Days Inn Motel, Quantico Virginia 

It was the night before Christmas Eve, Hotch sent everyone home to be with their families. JJ messaged her this morning letting her know everything was set for her if she wanted to spend Christmas Eve with them too. 

Sierra was still debating going in general, she felt like she was barging in on their holiday. With a deep sigh, the dark haired agent pulled herself out of bed and got dressed in a pair of black skinny jeans and an ACDC sweater. 

Sierra threw her coat over top before adding her combat boots, she took her wallet, keys, and phone before she left the hotel heading to Washington to do some last minute shopping before the holiday especially if she was crashing someone else's festivities. 

Washington DC

Sierra spent the day going around Washington shopping, at first it was just for Henry, Will, and JJ. It turned into a shopping spree since she figured if she got JJ something she should also get the rest of the team something. What surprised her was the fact she found a watch, a gorgeous watch, it reminded her of her older brother. So she bought it, got it wrapped, and mailed it to her bother's work in Chicago. 

Sierra didn't know what to say to Connor but she also didn't want him to think the worst. Especially if he knew she didn't just leave but she joined the military and got deployed for 5 years, and never said a word to him or anyone about it. After she put all the bags in the truck Sierra decided to stop for a bite to eat before she made the drive back to Virginia listening to music. 

Agent Sierra Rhodes Hotel Room, Days Inn Motel, Quantico Virginia

Sierra got back to her room, took a shower, and crawled into bed watching Home Alone. Halfway through the movie, she ended up falling asleep until the sound of her phone woke her up. "Agent Rhodes," she said still half asleep through the phone. "Hey, I know it's early but we caught a case," JJ said through the line. 

Sierra blinked a few times looking at the time on her phone that read 5:15 am. "I'm on my way in," was all she said before she hung up and threw the blankets off her. Sierra got dressed, and grabbed her go bag, keys, ID, Badge and Gun holstering them on her waist. The agent threw on her coat and boots about to head out the door when she paused looking at the wrapped gifts sitting on her desk. Sierra grabbed the boxes and made her way out of the room and hotel setting the boxes and her duffle bag in the back seat before she took off toward the office.  

BAU Office, FBI Academy, Quantico Virginia

Sierra stepped off the elevator holding the stack of boxes, "Whoa, let me get the door for you," Morgan's voice said from in front of Sierra but she couldn't see him due to the stack. "Can I give you a hand?" Morgan asked after she walked into the office. Before she could answer he took half the pile from her. "So, what's with all the presents?" Prentiss asked walking over to them with Reid and Garcia. "So initially I was only gonna get a couple things because I felt bad for crashing JJ's Christmas and then realized. I can't just get Henry, Will, and JJ something and not get you guys anything so. Merry Christmas," Sierra said with a smile. 

"You got us Christmas gifts?" Morgan asked surprised as Sierra nodded, "Hotch needs us- what's with the gifts?" JJ asked walking over to them. "Rhodes got us Christmas gifts," Garcia said excitedly as the agents made their way into the round table room and Morgan set the gifts on the table along with Sierra who set each gift in front of the team. 

Hotch and Rossi walked in right as she sat down, "What's this?" Rossi asked picking up the gift with his name on it. "Rhodes got us Christmas gifts," JJ said causing Hotch and Rossi to look at her confused. "Can we... open them?" Garcia asked, "Of course! um if you don't like what you got I can always get it exchanged- Oh my gosh!" Garcia squealed cutting her off. "Are these those kitty ear gaming headphones that light up?!?! You're the best!" Garcia said before hugging Sierra. 

"Are these the new Jimmy Chu shoes?!?" Prentiss asked, "Are these real?" JJ asked in shock looking at the butterfly necklace she got made completely out of diamonds. Morgan got a weekend trip to Vegas all expenses paid with the casino, Reid also got a weekend trip to Vegas but to visit his mom. Eat at the finest restaurants. For Hotch, she got him and his son a trip at Disney land along with JJ's son Henry. And for Rossi, she got 2 bottles of aged whiskey 3 times her age and cost more than she'd care to admit. 

"Rhodes you didn't have to do this," Hotch said still shocked by the Disney weekend passes. "I know but, I haven't been able to celebrate the holidays in a while..." she replied. "This must have cost you a fortune," Rossi adds looking around the table. "We can't- yes you can trust me," Sierra replied. "All of this had to cost over $600 grand," Reid replied unsure, "and?" Sierra replied with a shrug. 

She watched her family blow twice that amount on a Tuesday, the room was quiet. "You said you grew up in Chicago?" Rossi asked her earning a slow nod. "You're from Chicago? where abouts?" Morgan asked. "Lakeshore drive," Sierra replied already knowing where this was going. Morgan sent her a wide eyed look for a moment. "Rhodes as in...? Dolan Rhodes?" Morgan asked as Sierra got quiet but nodded yes. "Dolan Rhodes?" Garcia asked confused, "As in the department store? My second wife loved shopping there," Rossi said.

 "Speaking of Chicago, three victims all male, all found early this morning," Garcia said as photos appeared on the screen. Sierra flipped through the photos noticing the bodies looked frozen. Which made sense for December in Chicago. 

"He used an underwater disposal site?" Rossi asked looking at Garcia. "Mmhmm, he weighed them down with rocks and then he hid them under the shrubbery from around the lake's edge," Garcia replied. "that's pretty risky, keeping a graveyard on a very popular lake, especially one that borders another country, This guys showing confidence early," Rhodes says going through the case file on her tablet. 

"Well, we should run priors in the area, this might not be his first party," Morgan replied. "All three victims were reported missing last week, and each of the bodies was discovered more than 30 miles from where they went missing," Hotch informed them. " Any indication of sexual assault?" JJ asked him. "No external signs, but time in the water might have destroyed evidence. Autopsies are being conducted now," Hotch replied. 

"And I'm gonna make matters worse. This is Nick Skirvin and he was abducted early this morning." Garcia adds. "Witness reports indicate a blitz attack. His friends were ice skating in Millennium Park and they saw a figure strike Nick from behind just before they lost sight of him." JJ replied. "That's a high traffic area did anyone else see the abduction?" Rhodes asked. "Unfortunately nobody other than Nick's friends," JJ replied. 

"Could they give a description?" Morgan asked, "Probably white, definitely male," JJ replied.  "Nothing more specific, they said the unsub dragged Nick away by the time they got off the ice and over to him," Hotch replied. "Fast and efficient, and he's unafraid of a crowd but also police presence," Prentiss said. "If he's dumping the bodies in one location, it's a good bet the area means something to him, he probably lives on or near the lakefront," Rossi replies. "Wheels up in 20," Hotch told the team. "And Rhodes, thank you," the unit chief added referring to the gifts. "No problem," she replied with a smile before she took her go bag and made her way out of the room. "Rhodes," Morgan said causing her to pause in the doorway, "Thank you," he said along with the rest of the team. Sierra nodded not really sure of what to say before they left.