*Trigger warning*
Chapter Eleven: You Know Me Better

[ Give me Love ~ Ed Sheeran]

So the thing about being in love with someone you hate is, you hate the idea of even loving them in the first place. The whole point of hating someone is to literally fucking hate them. While he did seem to kick her out of his house, he still didn't hate her. In fact she was his constant thought. She was his wet dream consistently and he had his chance to sleep with her right there in his grasp and for some reason the guilt set in. and it wasn't just the guilt for liking someone younger than him, it was the guilt that he still wore his wedding ring. That his wife would be so mad at him for sleeping with this woman, and yet part of him knew she would love Anya because he most definitely did. Anya Holmes was the constant headache that hurt his skull.

He was constantly working on ways at how not to be pissed off by the things she did. After her mental breakdown, she had yet to open up still. To tell people what was truly bothering her. This job was hard for everyone and seeing that it could take such a toll on such a young woman. Broke everyone's hearts. Derek was way too overprotective of her now more than ever. Hotch couldn't blame him; between the two of them they were mildly worried about her sanity eighty percent of the time.

JJ and Emily were concerned but they took her out for drinks and tried to pry open that very closed locked door she had put between herself. When she started this job she was scared of everyone babying her because of her secret, but now, she had so many and no one knew where to start. Not to mention the literal fact that she only told Morgan about her heart condition.

The point of a pacemaker is to give your heart a giant ass electric shock that will literally scare the shit out of you, and wake you up. Now in some cases, the pacemaker isn't enough of a jolt, or there's something constricting it from working. Or someone just needs to give your chest a nice punch a few times to get it to kick on. Anya was a wild card and was constantly throwing herself into the fire like every fucking chance she got. literally , she went head to head with the Fox, took down the reaper with some sick hand to hand combat, and tackled some kid who was kidnapping other kids.

Defused a bomb, took down a sheriff with her hands tied behind her back and still, she was fighting, still she was taking names and kicking ass, all with her sunshiney personality and bad ass attitude. She literally laughed in a serial killer's face. Twice

Challenged another unsub to a game of hide and seek, took down an entire sex trafficking ring by playing phone sex with an unsub, and beat the shit out of a few more serial killers, shot a guy through a glass door. Anya wasn't afraid of anything really. She had her moments. Where anxiety got the best of her and her anger issues took off like a fuckign freight train, but she wasn't afraid, she was blunt without trying, care free, and always ready, it was worrisome when she wasn't those things.

When she wasn't running head first into danger, because she simply wanted to help people, she had this book, of all the people she saved dead or alive they were in that book, it was her book. The book that stopped her from wanting to swallow some pills or putting a knife to her wrist. She had several attempts of her trying to kill herself and none of them worked.

Which part of her was thankful for so she could keep this going, saving people from shitter people than herself. But when would it be enough, when would all those good deeds turn her into a good person.

Because currently, she felt as shitty as the unsubs and nothing was working, nothing was helping her but saving those people. Day in and day out. That's all you can really do is save people. And that's what she was trying to do. The only issue is, she needed saving too, and no amount of hiding her true feelings would stop him from saving her, even if it meant he was saving her from herself.

He would do it, everyday all day. Sure she hated him right now, but not as much as she hated herself and it would take some time before she didn't, maybe she just needed to see herself the way that he saw her.

Everyone was gathering in their usual spots just as Anya entered the round table room. She stepped into the room, her shoes quietly thumping against the carpet, slicked back into a nice bun, a black pair of pants and a long sleeve white shirt under a green vest on her chest. Her signature locket dangled around her neck. She asks where Hotch was and JJ mutters word of a budget meeting.

Derek jokes about him getting the team a raise and Rossi shakes his head about them cutting, not raising, to which Reid says that if they take the coffee he will quit. And Anya says it will probably save them like Fifty bucks anyways, he then scowls in her direction and she sends him a shit eating grin.

Of course their playful banter is ruined by the gory fucking details of the case. As of Last night, three decapitated heads were found in front of a sheriff's station In the small border town of Terlingua, Texas. And yes there were three victims at once. But actually, they appear to be in different stages of decomposition. M. E. Confirmed that one of the heads Is a day or so old.The other two appear to have died a few months ago, But the wound edges suggest that they were decapitated recently. Dirt in their mouth, ears, and nose.

At some point, these two heads were buried. And then dug up. Which is creepy as fuck, let the dead stay dead and the living keep living and mind our business. And here's the big question. Why the sudden need to display them? To which the beautiful and talented Penelope walks into the room with her laptop, she explains how in Mexico. 2009 alone, ten heads in coolers, And the people belonging to these heads were killed just hours before they were found. Result of a battle between feuding drug cartels. But considering the different decomposition, This might not even be about drugs. Which makes everyone go over the fact that the victims are two males, one female, So no gender preference.Staging the heads in front of a sheriff's station...That's aggressive.

All three victims are hispanic. And unidentified, which is going to be hard because. Terlingua has a large illegal population. It's made I.d.ing the victims that much harder. Which begs the question of if he might be trying to make some type of political statement. So what they have is hundreds of miles Of unincorporated desert And an endless supply of anonymous victims Crossing the border every day. It's a serial killer's perfect storm.

"a lion's work hours are only when he's hungry. Once he's satisfied, The predator and prey live peacefully together." Chuck jones.

The jet ride consist of Anya wanting nothing more than to trade seats with Reid and Reid being oblivious as to why, he accepts her offer just as they are about to land which was so fortunate for Anya because the tension between her and that man was so thick she felt like he had his hands around her throat. Which if they kept going the way they were he just might. Half way through their second debrief Derek pulls about Mp-5's and Anya is basically drooling. She hops up from her seat and walk over to where Derek is

"The lugo cartel killed two DEA agents last year. We're going to need to watch our backs. To cartels, feds are fair game. There's even usually a bounty, so... We're going to bring in the toys." He holds up the MP-5

"Be careful with those. I don't need broken mp-5s on our budget."

Anya picks up the gun from Derek's hand and admires it, like a child in a candy store.

"Princess?"

"Hmm?" She doesnt take her eyes off the weapon.

"You got a little." Derek points to the side of her face smirking and she hits him before taking the gun apart and reassembling it with such ease.

"Okay you officially scare me." Rossi speaks up as everyone chuckles.

"Guys, here's the thing. I don't think I technically have authorization To carry a weapon like that."

"You don't." Hotch and Derek say at the same time, as Anya pouts at Reid handing the gun off to Derek and patting Reid on his head,

"You know, we're going to have a victim pool That is extremely hesitant to talk to us."

"Prentiss, you, Holmes, and Morgan start with the migrant community, See what inroads you can make. Stress that we're only there to catch a killer. Rossi and Reid, the M.E. is waiting To show you the heads."

After talking with a million people, Anya seemed to get the hang of getting people to talk to her quickly. She spoke about ten different languages and Spanish seemed to flow off her tongue so effortlessly. Hotch explained how they were greeted by the members of the cartel outside after their Leader Omar was hauled into the station by the deputies the sheriff did not think Omar was behind it and after settling into their hotels, they got a call from the sheriff in the morning there on her porch was a head, propped up on a spike that was holding her fence together. She was beginning to think she had pissed off a lot of people. And the deputies were beginning to think it was still Omar, but the BAU didn't think it was Omar either.

It was time for the unit to give the profile. They were searching for a personality type called a human predator... In the classic sense, a hunter. All the victims we've been able To conclusively tie to him Have been older or handicapped in some way. This suggests he waits for someone to separate from the pack, Looks for the weakest. Like a lion or something. Except a lion hunts food. This type of predator hunts power. It's not about serving a need, And everything is a means to that end. The unit also believes that he makes his victims run through the desert In order to weaken them. He may not be capable of taking them on in their strongest state, Despite their age or infirmity. This suggests that he's possibly handicapped in some way himself. Certainly weak, maybe small or even thin. And an unsub who creates chaos and then attacks typically carries this through to all aspects of his life. He's unlikely to be in a relationship. If he is, it's an abusive one. This guy gets off on control. He will have tried to stay very close to the investigation. He's well aware that the sheriff has started looking into the missing illegal immigrants. It's probably why the decapitations started, As a countermeasure. He's trying to throw off the investigation. It's typical in an organized offender like this.Now to the segment were the resident pretty boy genius says some facts,

" Cary Stayner, the Yosemite killer, Drove more than fifty miles to dump cigarette packs And driver's licenses at intersections to throw off suspicion."

The unit suggested that the five deputies. Start by looking back at everyone you've talked to In connection with these killings. They need to start with people Who are familiar with the immigrant journey. The problem is that the coyotes (the local cartel) want this guy caught.He's hurting their business. And if the advocates really care about the immigrants, They're gonna want to find whoever is responsible as well.

The sheriff goes on to say that there's one guy who could help. He runs an outreach program called libertad. Prentiss and Morgan go over there with a deputy named Clyde, who was a complete prick just like all these other gun ho deputies.

"Even if we could find a safe house, You really think someone who just crossed is gonna talk to us?" The sheriff enters the room.

"Well, there's a good chance that last night's victim didn't cross alone. Someone may be missing him."

"If last night's illegals are still at safe houses, We can find the route they used And we'll know the unsub's hunting grounds." Reid says,

"The whole point of a safe house is it's a secret. If I could find them, I'd shut them down."

"All right, if it's the first stop, We should start with homes that are closest to the border." Hotch presses four on his phone before placing it down on the table.

"I could pull land deeds. Might take a while."

"We've got something faster." Rossi says.

"Sir."

"Garcia. We're looking for illegal immigrant safe houses in Terlingua." Hotch begins.

"Mm-Hmm. What are the parameters?"

"Start with homeowners and renters with criminal records." Rossi speaks up.

"Uh-Huh. That's a start. Give me more."

"Morgan said they're always moving. Look for homes With short-Term leases." Anya says.

"and spikes in utilities. If they're housing illegals, There'll be a higher usage of power and water."

"Uh-Huh. Uh-Huh. I'm crossing with all texas utility companies. And I have three. And I just sent the addresses to your phones."

"Thanks, Garcia." Hotch picks up his phone and hangs up.

"If you're looking for a gift to get me, One of her would be greatly appreciated." Sheriff Ruiz jokes.

"We're pretty sure they broke the mold."

Derek and Emily come back with one of the safehouse keepers, only he was raping the women and that just really pissed about everyone off, more so the little firecracker that is Anya. The minute they bring the man into the room, she is eager to interrogate him, with Derek.

"Now, you're gonna listen to me. If you don't want to talk to me, that's fine. I don't care.But you're facing rape, kidnapping, weapon charges, and numerous counts of federal conspiracy To smuggle and harbor illegal aliens. This is your last chance to help yourself, my friend." Derek was playing the good cop.

The guy just stays quiet.

"Yo asshole, Realmente no quiero estar hablando con un gilipollas de gambas como tú, pero mira dónde estoy ahora hablando." (I really don't want to be talking to some shrimp dicked asshole like you but look at where I am now talk.)

The look on his face makes him angry and he tries to lunge forward only for Anya to slam his head against the table. Before getting up and walking out, Derek just shrugs trying to refrain from laughing, while the man is huffing up a storm.

It was a new day when the unit pulled up to a quiet police station. Wondering where the hell everyone was and why they weren't around. They figured they couldn't have possibly found another head seeing as they didn't call them. Hotch goes into the station with Jj the receptionist explains how the Sheriff is missing and Boyd radioes the unit five minutes later explaining how he found the sheriff, she was dead, her throat slashed so hard that her head was almost off. The evisceration was so violent it was exactly how Omar Morales the drug trafficker that Hoth first spoke to said he would mutilate the body.

"We did profile the unsub would be someone close to the investigation." Reid explains.

"But only Ruiz and I heard him say it."

"So Omar looks good for this?" Rossi asks.

"Except why would he kill the one person in town Who didn't think he was the unsub?"

JJ walks up to the group. "Garcia says there's no activity on the sheriff's cell past 9 p.m"

"Does anybody remember who was at the station last night when we arrived?"

"The station?" JJ asks.

"The sheriff's body was mutilated exactly the way The drug trafficker said he would do it."

"Oh, no, all of it? The tongue, too?" JJ replies as Emily nods.

"You heard that?"

JJ nods, "Yeah, Anya and I were at the window when you were talking to him. There was a speaker on the wall."

"Was anybody else there?"

Anya nods. "Yeah, deputy Boyd."

"Deputy Gannon, where's Deputy Boyd?"

"Him and Gentry went to pick him up." Gannon explains.

"Pick up who?"

"Omar morales." he explains as everyone partners up Going after Boyd.

Anya made the mistake of calling Gentry only for Boyd to Answer. Anya was driving with Morgan when they arrived at the shop where Omar worked and it was a bloodbath. Anya was on look out with Reid and JJ by the cars in case Boyd came back. He didn't but he did kill Gentry and try to make it look like Omar did it. Everyone was having a small debrief around the SUV's, while Garcia was tracking Boyd's phone.

"We profiled him as a hunter." Emily starts off.

"Well, now he's the hunted."

"He'll go someplace he feels safe." Derek says.

"Someplace he knows he can control."

"Home?"

"No, I think it's a preplanned location." Anya explains.

"Sir, I've got him. He's heading northbound."

"Interstate?" Rossi asks.

"No, he is not on a road at all. He's driving through the desert."

"Keep tracking him, Garcia."

"He's running." JJ speaks up.

"Not home for sure. He lives in a trailer out west of town."

"So where's he running to?" Rossi asks.

"Morgan, Prentiss, Holmes, Reid...Deputy, You take them to his house, see what you can find.I need your radio." The deputy hands Hotch his Radio.

"What are you gonna do?" Anya asks.

"Keep him busy."

The deputy takes the four agents to Boyds trailer and the minute the door opens. The group is hit with the worst smell ever.

"Oh, god." Emily gasps coughing.

"Well, we're definitely in the right place."

Reid helps Anya up the rickety steps by pulling her up the rest of the way, they enter the trailer. And she winces, holding her breath at the smell.

"Just breathe through your nose like normal. Smell is the weakest sense. In a few more minutes, you won't even notice it."

Anya crunches up her face. "What about the taste?" She covers her mouth.

"I think that's in your head."

"All right, spread out. Let's find out where this guy's headed." Derek says as the group looks around the small trailer. The smell was coming from the back bedroom, where he was decapitating people, there remains wrapped in blankets, and blood all over the place, Reid points them in the right direction like always some news clippings about the Golden Harvest farm, a big farmhouse with a sun on it, whose foreman died leaving the place to be abandoned. The foreman being Boyd's dad, it didn't take an idiot to realize that's where Boyd was headed. So the group splits up, Reid and Emily stay at Boyd's place seeing as there were graves in his yard as victims scattered about in his home and Anya and Derek take off towards the Grain and Feed Barn. Anya was driving as they saw Boyd headed towards them on an ATV.

"Princess, look out!" Derek shouts as the Atv is coming straight for them.

"I got it, Derek." She presses her foot down on the gas as Derek shoots the Mp-5 in the car, the car comes to a stop. And Boyd tumbles and falls to the ground as the pair get out.

"You all right?" Hotch yells as everyone approaches Boyd guns aimed out.

"Yeah!" " No!" Anya yells at the same time as Derek.

She cups a hand over ear. "Are you out of your mind? You blew out my eardrum."

"What did you want me to do? He was coming right at us."

"I told you I had him."She grumbles.

"He was shooting at us, Anni."

"Well, you could have given me a heads-Up." She grumbles more.

"The loaded mp-5 and the lunatic shooting at us wasn't enough? Come on." She just rolls her eyes walking off. H6tch goes over to where Anya is standing, she was looking at the process and everything was a mess. Her ear was practically thumping loudly, her chest was hurting indicating that she was most likely having a heart attack due to all the excitement and the loud ass drawl from the mp-5 in the car didn't help.

She can feel herself about to faint and starts pulling off her vest. "I need Morgan.'' That's the best she can get out before she hits the dirt, Hotch calls Derek over and he runs over just as Hotch is hovering over Anya.

"Anni hey?" He places an ear to her chest. "Anya," he begins undoing her bulletproof vest. Placing his entire head on her chest. "Anni Honey.." he does a small pat to her shoulder before he starts shaking her.

"Should we call an Ambulance?"

"No," Derek places his ear to her chest again, "Anya!" he yells before punching her in the chest, her body shakes a bit and she gasps for air blinking a few times, Before wincing.

"Damn Der, you didnt have to punch me so fucking hard."

He sighs, hanging his head down low. Before helping her up off the ground. Hotch looks concerned and bewildered by the entire thing.Along with just about everyone else.

"You just passed out and you're acting like it's no big deal."

Anya sighs as she looks at Derek. "Yeah It's a long story." Derek nods, beginning to walk away.

"I'm sorry there's a story behind that."

Anya nods. "Mhmm. I have low blood sugar sometimes and I pass out. I made it known to Derek and told him exactly what to do when the situation arises." Derek nods, this was the lie they came up with in case people started to ask questions.

"I'm sorry you told Derek over us,"

"Yeah, who's to say I didn't want to punch you in the chest," Emily teases as Anya hits her in the shoulder she laughs and the rest of the crew walk away with her. JJ kept asking if she was okay and checking her temp with the back of her hand and Rossi was just rubbing her back. Aaron wasn't believing her story one bit and he was determined to get to the bottom of it, because he loved her and he needed to make sure he had all the tools on hand to protect her at all cost, even if it meant going behind her back and looking through her sealed file with Garcia later.

Because you do anything for the person you love, sometimes even betraying their trust.

"Many people have the wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose." Helen Keller.