CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR: ASHLEY SEAVER !

6x10
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THE TEAM WAS BEING SENT TO NEW MEXICO AFTER BEING TOLD OF THREE MURDERS OF WOMEN IN THEIR HOMES. The community they resided in was small and anyone was bound to be the murderer.

        Everyone on the team had been ready to leave for the case — Casey packed up a few things for her go-bag. Hotch and Rossi were coming down the stairs after talking in Hotch's office. "Ashley." Rossi said, getting the attention of Casey who was unfamiliar with anybody on the team being named Ashley.

        Casey turned her head and saw a blonde girl with a small smile and a bag along with her. "Agent trainee Seaver," She approached the group as Morgan, Emily and Casey approached as well.

       "Supervisory Special Agents: Prentiss, Willows and Morgan." The girl shakes everyone's hands. "Seaver... I think I remember you." Casey spoke. "We were partners a couple of times during training before I left." Casey clarifies and Ashley smiles, "That's correct." Casey looks at the team. "Youngest pairing and we were the best."

       "I've heard a lot about all of you." Seaver tells, looking at everyone. "Well, I hope it was all good." Morgan said. "Very, sir." Ashley says. "Anything specific? I mean about me in particular." Morgan told and Casey rolls her eyes. "Oh, please, don't encourage him." Emily comments.

       "Agent Seaver is on loan to us from the academy while she's in remedial training with an injury." Hotch explained. "Concussion," Seaver stated. "Hand-to-hand got a little out of control."

       Emily looks at the girl. "How's the other guy?"
       "Don't ask." Ashley says, causing both Casey and Emily to chuckle when Reid suddenly comes up beside Casey.

       "I was remediated in the academy also." Reid states. "Agent Seaver, Dr. Reid." Rossi introduces. "Um, what was your issue?" Ashley asks, striking conversation. Reid begins to think. "What was my issue? Marksmanship, physical training, obstacle course, hogan's alley, you know, pretty much everything that wasn't technically book related. They ultimately had to make exceptions to allow me into the field." Reid explained. "Hm, that does not surprise in the least bit." Casey comments.

"Agent Seaver's going to accompany us to new Mexico." Hotch informs.
"She is?" Morgan asks.
"As a consultant." Hotch nods.
"On?"

       Rossi informs: "She has a unique perspective." Ashley looks in between Rossi and Hotch to the other members. "They don't know?" She asks, causing Casey to furrow her brows in confusion.

"Well, we weren't sure how you wanted to, uh..." Rossi says and Ashley nods and decides to rip the bandaid. "Seaver's not my original last name," She drops the bomb and Casey looks at the other members in confusion now. "It's my mother's maiden name. Mine used to be Beauchamp. My father is Charles Beauchamp."

Casey remembered how big of a case that was. She remembered the details Rossi put in one of his books. Charles Beauchamp... and here was Ashley, the daughter of a serial killer.

"As in the 'Redmond Ripper' Charles Beauchamp?" Reid asks. "That's him." Ashley says, with a look of disappointment on her face. "He killed twenty-five women over ten years in rural North Dakota. I think that you caught him, right, Rossi?" Reid asks, looking at Rossi and Casey had a look on her face.

       Rossi nods, looking towards the leader now. "Hotch was on that team, too." Hotch continued, "Based on her life experience, we were hoping that Agent Seaver might recognize something in the family dynamics inside the community that could be helpful. We have a plane waiting." With that, Rossi leads Ashley to the elevator.

Casey closes her eyes. "Way to blab your mouth, blabbermouth." She said, swiping Reid across the shoulder. "What?" He asks. "Don't you think if she wanted to mention it, she would've talked about it? If she didn't bring it up, it means she didn't want to talk about her father who is a serial killer!" Casey harshly whispers quiet enough so only he could hear.

The team flies to New Mexico and are placed inside of a model home to solve the cases in. It was a small community, everyone knows one another. Obviously, secrets are hidden. Reid, Casey, Seaver, Rossi and Hotch were in the house and Casey stared up at the evidence boards.

Detective Ruiz began to explain the boards. "These are the evidence boards. As you can see, we're still in the process of moving in. I didn't think the whole neighborhood needed to see the photos." He said. "You're right. It's a lot of work, Detective. Thank you." Hotch tells. "Color-coded and annotated." Rossi adds.

"Yeah, well, I'm not just the primary detective. I also live in the community." The man told. "Really?" Hotch looks up. "Three blocks right up on the left. My wife thought it would be an excellent place to raise the kids. She's changed her opinion in the last couple months."

Casey and Reid had both taken notice of Ashley staring at the evidence boards as well. "You okay?" Reid asks and Ashley turns her head to the youngest members of the team. "Yeah, let's get to work."

"I hope you don't mind, but I also worked up a cursory profile." Casey turns her head to Ruiz. "You did?" Hotch asks. "Yeah, I took an FBI seminar on serial crime in Albuquerque, twice."

"Let's see what you've got so far." Hotch tells and Ruiz unfolds a paper in his hands. "All right. He's organized. He took everything to the scene, he left nothing behind. Which means he lives with a spouse or some kind of long-term partner. Has a steady, skilled job. Physically, he presents himself as non-threatening, but he craves power and control, so he may have a job or an activity that gives him that." Ruiz explains and Rossi nods: "Not bad."

Ruiz sighs: "Unfortunately, I just described 64 of the 71 men who live in the subdivision." Casey looks at the man. "Now, that is the bad part." Her cell phone began to ring and it had been Garcia who called to confirm about the men in the community. Reid went to join her in the kitchen as the papers printed and Garcia was on speakerphone.

As they talked, Ashley went to go to the restroom. "And that is the whole kit and kaboodle on each of your 64 suspects." Garcia told. "Nothing really stands out. They're all pretty plain."

"That's pretty much the main issue we're going to have here." Reid says. "Yeah, vanilla doesn't make your job any easier." Casey shakes her head. "No, it does not."

"So, um, how's it going with the agent whose father was a... you know?" Both Reid and Casey exchanged a look. She wasn't in the room when Ashley was introduced. "How'd you know that?" Reid asked.

"I might have looked into someone's hidden background." Garcia admitted. "Penelope Garcia!" Casey scolded. "What? I am not gonna let some strange new person travel with my family and not find out who they are." Garcia argued.

Reid speaks up. "She seems fine." Garcia paused. "What is that in your voice?" Reid furrows his brows. "What's what in my voice?" He asks. "Oh, my God, you think she's pretty."

Reid's voice suddenly goes eight octaves higher as he denies the accusation. "What? I never said that."

"Oh, you totally do." Casey smirks and laughs along with Penelope. "Haha! P.G. out, lover boy." Penelope hangs up the phone and Casey looks at Reid and begins to chuckle as Ashley walks back in the room to help Rossi with the files.

Chief Brinkman comes up to Reid and Casey in the kitchen. "What's all that?" He asks. "Our technical analyst ran background checks on the suspects." Reid stated.

      "Oh, I could have given you that." Brinkman tells. "We typically gather our own intelligence. Our federal databases tend to have more detailed information." Reid explains.

      "Well, how do you know they're more detailed if you haven't seen ours?" Brinkman questions and Casey's getting uncomfortable with the amount of questions that this dude is throwing at her.

      "It's nothing personal, Chief." Reid says and Casey steps in. "No, we just get everything from our technical analyst. Everything we get back from her comes back pretty clear when she gives them back to us. If she can find anyone, she's the one to go to. You got a problem with that, Chief?" Casey questions.

      "It's just, you could have asked." Brinkman tells. "Next time, we will." Reid assured and with that, Reid and Casey make their way over to Seaver and Rossi as Brinkman walks away.

      "Seriously, in my unprofessional opinion, that guy gives me the creeps." Casey whispered. "Has anyone vetted them?" Reid questioned in a soft tone.

      "Garcia's doing a separate check on police and security staff." Rossi tells as Reid hands him the files. "Why?" Seaver asks. "Law enforcement and security are the kind of jobs that would attract this unsub." Casey clears up.

       "Dennis Rader, BTK, was a compliance officer in park city, Kansas. Kenneth Bianchi, one of the hillside stranglers, worked as a security guard in California and Washington." Reid informed. "Psychopaths love official jobs and uniforms." Rossi stated.

        A little while later, Garcia had called Casey up again with some more information about the men in the community. After the info was given, Garcia moved on to more important matters.

       "How's the new agent doing?" Garcia asked. Casey turned her head over to Seaver, who was talking to Reid. "She's doing pretty good. Reid's talking to her right now..." Casey added one more detail quietly as she stared them down. "And they are awfully close."

      Garcia paused, "What was that jealous twinge in your voice?" She asked. "What?" Casey asked, unaware that Garcia heard her mutter under breath. "The way you sounded just now. You're jealous of Reid getting closer to the newbie."

      Suddenly, Casey's voice was now going eight octaves higher. "What? No." She defended quickly. "Ohhh. You like him. You think Pretty Boy's pretty." Garcia added.

      "No, I don't. When did I say that?" Casey questioned. Garcia chuckled again. "You two are definitely a match made in heaven."

      Casey sighs: "Garcia, I'm telling you now: I do not like..." Casey turns around and spots Reid in front of her. "Reid!"

      "Did you hear what Hotch said?" Reid asks. "What?" Casey realizes she's still on the phone with Garcia. "Talk to you later, Garcia." She hangs up. "What did Hotch say?"

       "There's gonna be a community meeting tonight. We're watching out for the unsub to see if he shows." Casey nods to Reid's words. "Gotcha."

        Reid furrowed his brows and looked at Casey. "What were you and Garcia talking about?" He asked and Casey's ears went pink and her eyes went wide.

She hopelessly prayed that he didn't overhear anything. "Nothing." She answered and looked back down. "Absolutely nothing. Just... nothing." Casey exited the kitchenette area and walked towards Seaver, leaving Reid very confused.

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        The team organized a sign-up sheet for the families at the entrance of the church they were going to have the meeting at. Morgan and Prentiss found more evidence and found that their unsub was experienced with technology and the meeting would soon begin. Ruiz and Brinkman hadn't shown up yet.

        Hotch had been speaking to everyone as the team watched the behaviors of the residents. Casey studied nearly everyone and she averted her eyes to Seaver who was standing next to her. Emily and Morgan had been with them as well.

       "Is there anything we can help you look for?" Emily asks, seeing if Ashley needed help "It won't be overt. The kids probably won't be afraid of dad." Ashley told. "They won't? These guys have explosive tempers, don't they?" Morgan questioned.

       "Definitely," Ashley told. "Anger wasn't normal at my house. Usually when it happened, when it exploded, it was an anomaly. A surprise. If anything, my father was overly solicitous. Too nice. And if I wanted anything... bicycles, toys, dolls... all I had to do was ask. In groups, he always held my hand. Always. Sometimes so tight, it almost cut off the circulation. But I can never remember him putting me on his lap, holding me in any way."

        As Ashley explained away, Casey was reminded of her own father. Times when he was temporarily clean and he would randomly have money on him from only God knows what, her father would take her out to lunch or to the amusement park. Casey was only so little that she could barely remember the memories and the ones that were worse memories were still fresh in her mind.

       "And... he'd always have these talks with me. He was terrified someone would take me." Ashley told. "Because he knew what was out there." Casey spoke. "Yeah, men like him." Morgan nodded.

       "You know, maybe this man recently bought gifts for his kids. My dad used to buy me things all the time." Ashley suggests. "What kinds of gifts?" Emily asks.

       "Anything, everything. I told you, there was nothing..." Ashley paused and looked down at the dog that was in front of them in the church. "Ashley?" Casey asks. "My whole life, there's only one thing I wanted that I couldn't have." She told.

       "Which was?" Morgan asks.
       "A pet." Ashley informs.

       Casey and the rest of the team had decided to talk after the meeting and once they could calmly remove everyone from the premises.

       Hotch met up with the team. "What have we got?" Hotch asks. "We're gonna start with the people who didn't show, cross-reference with families with no pets." Emily informs. "No pets?" Hotch looks at Seaver.

      "I remembered I wasn't allowed to have a dog or a pet of any kind. It was more than a rule. It was a big problem for us." Ashley tells. "That could be something." Hotch nods. "I'm sorry I couldn't point him out." Ashley apologizes.

     "We don't expect you to point him out. We're hoping you can help us once we have things narrowed down." Hotch stated and Reid walks up to the team.

      "Guys, of the 64 suspects, 18 of them didn't show up." Reid tells and looks over at Casey. (THE BLOOPER😭)

       "Okay, Willows, take Ashley back to the model home, go through the eighteen names and add the pet information." Hotch orders and Casey nods: "Ya got it, boss." With that, Casey nudges for Ashley to follow her and they head back to the model home.

The car ride was silent as Casey drove and so, she decided to break the ice. "That was good stuff back there, what you said. It was helpful." She told, assuringly. Casey would've liked somebody she could've related to when she first began at the BAU — it was what Ashley could use, as well. "Was it?" Ashley asks.

"Yeah," Casey says. "Profiling is a process. I've been here almost four years and I'm still learning. It's about puzzle pieces, things that don't look like they fit until they do." She explains. Ashley shakes her head. "I still don't know how anything I said will be helpful."

"Well, you never know. If we have a subject in interrogation, knowing that he's a father who's a serial killer who might be a tad overprotective, that could be the perfect way to get him to talk. The truth is, I... I never actually thought about them being fathers at all." Casey told. "I don't think anyone does." Ashley says.

"Is he still alive, your father?" Casey decides to ask. Ashley sighs, "North Dakota does not have the death penalty. And the answer to your next questions is no, I have never been to see him. He writes from time to time, but... I haven't opened any of the letters."

"Do you keep them?" Casey asks. "Yes," Ashley says as she thinks, "Is that wrong?"

Casey shrugs. "I don't think there is any right or wrong answer when it comes to that." She looks back at Ashley as she looks through the window and then decides to admit her truth. "My dad's in prison, too." Casey tells.

"He was arrested when I was eight. I stopped seeing him when I was twelve. I never responded to any of his letters either. You know, I was so angry at him. For years. But a good friend of mine helped me realize that holding onto anger, it's... it's burdening."

Ashley looks at the girl, she was glad she could relate to somebody in a way. "Did you forgive him?" She asked.

"Eventually," Casey sighs. "Time went by and I send him letters back every now and then. Part of me forgives and forgets. And part of me forgets I have a dad sometimes." The two women chuckle.

"We would've been good friends if you stuck around at the academy." Ashley told. Casey nods in agreement, "We definitely would've." There's a pause. "Seaver, if you ever need anything at all, anyone to talk to, I'm there. I know a few things about dads."

Ashley smiles in response and looks out the window. "Can I ask you a question?" She asks and Casey shrugs, "Sure." Ashley looks towards Casey. "When you catch them, do they ever say why? Do they have an explanation?"

"Never a good one." Casey replies.

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The two had arrived at the model home and Casey's eyes averted to the files. "Okay, let's hope the occupancy listings show pets. This is the pile of suspects we need to weed the eighteen from."

Ashley's eyes go to the other files. "What are these?" She asks. "Victim information, of the families of the three women who were killed." Casey told. "Families." Ashley repeated. "Yeah, families are the hardest part about this job." Casey nods.

Casey looked at the file in front of Ashley. "Drew Jacobs. Morgan and Prentiss talked to him this afternoon. His wife, Aubrey was the third victim." Casey informed.

"She's never going to have a mother around." Ashley told, talking about the child in the folder. "I know." Casey said. Her head nudges towards the laptop on the table. "That was her laptop. Garcia, our tech, she ran a remote data sweep of it. We're gonna have to take it back to the house."

"Meeting over?" A voice says behind the two girls, making them jump. Casey turns to see Brinkman — who didn't show up to the meeting. "Relax. It's just me." He told. "How'd the meeting go?"

"We missed you there." Casey stated, looking him up and down. "Well, I thought it would be a good time for a sweep, you know, while everyone was busy. What are you girls looking for?"

"Whether or not any of the no-shows have pets." Ashley answers. "Pets?" Brinkman asks. "Those reports aren't gonna show that."

"No?" Casey asks. "But I can find out for you. Got all that information in the security office at the gate on the South end. I'll show you." Casey looks at the man as he begins to walk and Casey looks at Ashley. "I'll be back."

There was something off about this guy. Could be his behavior or the fact that he walked around thinking he owned the place. But Casey was smart, she had her gun and she was ready to fire it at any time if she needed to.

Brinkman pulled the files out. "Pets, pets, pets. I know they're in here somewhere." He told and Casey tries to step in. "Maybe I should take a look." She offers. "Relax. Why you gotta be in such a hurry?"

     "Um, 'cause we're trying to catch a killer?" Casey stated the obvious. "Yeah." Brinkman nods in understanding. "Here it is." He hands the file to Casey and before she walks off: Brinkman stops her. "Wait." Casey stops in her tracks. "Yes?"

"How hard is the background check to get into the FBI?" Casey furrows her brows. "I got arrested once. It was supposed to be expunged, but it wasn't. It was really all just a big misunderstanding."

"Oh, well, you know, if it was a misunderstanding..." Casey smiles. "Really?" Brinkman asks and Casey's smile fades. "No."

"Is that why you're so obsessed with the files and the junk and all this and whatnot?" Casey asked. "Excuse me?" Brinkman questions. "Just a question. You've been on edge since we got here so..." Casey begins to walk off.

"You got all that just from my behavior?" Brinkman questions. "I was a sociology major in college... I know a thing or two." Casey told.

Casey walks back in the room and sees that the rest of the team and Detective Ruiz had shown up. "What's going on?" Casey questions. "There was another murder." Morgan informs. "What?" Casey asks. "During the meeting." Rossi adds.

Casey takes a notice of everyone in the room and scans but Ashley is nowhere to be seen. "Where's Seaver?" She asks. Hotch decides to call her and see where she is.

She answers her phone as Hotch speaks. "Ashley, where are you?" He paused. "Where are you?" Casey looks at everyone in anxiousness. "Can you get out of there? Ashley." Hotch hangs up. "Jacobs has her. She has no gun. Let's go." Everyone on the team begins to exit.

"You know, I babysat for ten years, never lost a kid. Now, I lose a trainee in under a day. I'm a terrible babysitter." Casey rants to Reid as they exit the building.

Successfully, Ashley had gotten out alive but unfortunately, Drew Jacobs was killed in the process. On the plan ride back, Ashley had a conversation with both Rossi and Hotch that caused them to reprimand her like a child. After the coast was clear, Casey decided to talk to her.

"You know if I had a dime every time they had that conversation with me, I'd be rich." Casey commented, causing Ashley to smile as she wiped her cheek. "Don't worry, we all come across that conversation every now and then."

"When did you know?" Ashley asks and she looked up at Casey. "When you were ready to talk to your father? When did you know? I don't think I could ever be ready for something like that."

Casey begins to think. "I don't know. Something told me that maybe I should. And when I did, I had him admit his mistakes before I did. Even now, I don't really talk to him as much. He's my dad, but... I still can't forget what he did. How my childhood was. But I think of my mom... and I miss her a lot. And when I think of my mom, it's like she's pushing me to talk to him, you know?"

"Growing up, I thought... what if I turn out like him? But I'm not him. Only thing we share is a last name and that's it. He doesn't define me. I define myself. And that's why I'm the person I am today. Without your dad, you probably wouldn't have been the person talking to me today." Casey assured.

The two pause. "So, do you think you're gonna stay with the unit?" Casey decides to ask. "I had that opportunity... so I don't know if it works for you, too."

"I might," Ashley told. "I think I'm gonna talk to Agent Hotchner about it." Casey chuckles, remembering that Hotch didn't even sign the papers that she needed in order to be an intern for the BAU - she had to convince him to do so. "Good luck with that."

hey, lovelies!
now ik what you're thinking
"ew seaver" "hate her" "ugh why is she here"
imo i kinda liked seaver🧍‍♀️ - literally all she does is breathe and y'all hate her-
sure sometimes i dislike her but she's really not that bad-
anywayssss
thank you for reading
i had a really crappy day so i went home early from school and then i decided to update my book cuz yea
i'm so happy with how this turned out
i love you all❤️
-mya <3