SEATLE, WASHINGTON

SARAH WORK PLACE 4: 00 PM

It's a rush hour inside the building. People are walking around with files in their hands. Few are even having their lunch along with work. Inside the cabin at the right corner, the read head girl probably of 29 years old is sitting calmly on the moveable chair waiting for the picture to download and open on her computer screen. After waiting a moment the picture of Datsun Z opens along with the message from id Z4SALE says: new paint new tires freshly serviced not bad. Huh?

The smile instantly found its way to her face. She has been dreaming about the car for a year and now she just got the lucky shot. The person was selling this car on a quite low price. The thought of the deal being scam crossed her mind and she quickly typed back. "Why so low on the price?"

Almost instantly the reply came back. "Moving. Must sell ASAP. You up for a test drive?"

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Sarah waits patiently for this unknown dealer to arrive. The heavy rain was pouring down the street making it impossible to see far. She was waiting on the footpath near the very famous café of the block. They decided it would be a best spot to meet since the highway was just around the one turn. Sarah unconsciously looks the time again it was three minutes up on six. Come on Sarah he is just three minutes late, he will show up and you will get to drive the Datsun Z, she thought to herself. The cream orange colored Datsun Z suddenly appeared in her sight of view and the man with the hood on his face almost immediately came out of the car to greet her. Seeing the car hypnotized her and she cheerfully said WOW.

The man smiled at her and said, "I am the one who contacted you earlier so you up for the test drive?". He gave her one more smile and waved the car keys to her.

"Yeah sure… I am Sarah by the way", Sarah took the car keys and happily seated herself on the driving seat.

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"That's a 2.4liter 6 cylinder engine. The breaks and gear are just serviced and there are also air bags fitted in the steering wheel" the man explains with gestures. They have decided to take the test drive on the high way. Sarah must have driven 5 km and she was fully satisfied with the car.

"So you know a lot about the car" Sarah sheepishly asked. She knew a lot about the car engines but she was actually not aware of other necessities.

The man sensing her discomfort smiles and said, "That's right. wanna take a look under the hood?"

She smiled and excitedly and said "yes". Little did she know the place she stopped was deserted.

They got out from the car and the man explained more about the car's features. Sarah actively participated and mentally congratulated herself for carrying out a good conservation.

"You know your Z engine; I must say I am impressed. But still you should have your mechanic check it out any way", the man says and opens the side door for her to sit on the seat adjacent to the driver's seat. She got his gesture and happily obliged. "How about I leave you my number and we can set it up?" the man says while she was getting into the car. He before closing the side door removed the lock with one swift movement and hurriedly got into his own seat.

Sarah was relieved and was happy to get such a deal. The man started the car and started driving the car faster than required. Sarah noticed the sudden change in his composure. He seemed to become stiff for some reason. The U-turn was right ahead but instead of taking that he suddenly took the deserted the short cut.

"What are you doing", Sarah asked unsure of what was happening. The man didn't answer neither did he look at her. He just stared ahead keeping his eyes on the road. "Okay just pull over here" she said while keeping her voice even. The man didn't answer again. Sarah tried again, "stop now" Sarah said shakily this time. The man didn't answer again. "Stop please", Sarah tried to say with even voice but couldn't help but the fear to creep it into it. No answer. The thought of jumping out of the car came into her mind and she tried to open up the side door but her attempts were in vain. The door wasn't opening. Suddenly the car came to halt and Sarah head got banged on the dashboard. The dots invaded her vision and she tried to look towards her kidnapper. The fist made contact with her face and she stumbled into darkness.

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WASHINGTON, D.C

NATIONAL CENTER FOR ANALYSING VIOLENT CRIMES, NCAVC HQ

"Mr. Bruce Wayne, what a pleasant surprise? If you would have informed me earlier I assure you didn't have to wait for me that long", Oliver Queen, the Director of NCAVC said while entering in his office. Mr. Bruce Wayne stood up from his sofa and greeted Oliver.

"The matter I wanted to discuss with you is somewhat personal. Dragging you out of work could have drawn unnecessary attention towards us", Bruce Wayne, the Director of CIRG (Critical Incident Response Group), explained with a welcoming smile on his face.

"Straight to the business, I see", Oliver said with a gesture towards the sofa, "has a seat please" Bruce obliged. "Coffee", Oliver asked while pouring the coffee for himself.

"The caffeine or nicotine in the coffee interacts with the nerve cells they might help you to feel the sense of awakening but in long term they actually kill them. So, I have to decline my friend", Bruce states the fact with a straight face.

"You could have just said no you know", Oliver smiled at his friend's explanation and decides to address the elephant in the room, "So how can I help you?"

"I am putting up a squad together with the best of the agents we have in all units. As far as statistics are concerned, you know that most difficult criminals to catch are unsubs. So the squad's objective will be to put these culprits behind the bars or into the grave. For that firstly I need your signature on the pact to make it combine squad for both CIRG and NCAVC and secondly I need one of your agents" Bruce professionally presented his needs to Oliver.

"Seems like a good idea. In fact it's a good way to increase the interaction between the two agencies", Oliver got excited about hearing the news right away. He took one more sip from his coffee and asked, "If you don't mind me asking who are the agents you have selected and who you require from my agency?"

"Richard Grayson and Wally West as you already know have proven their worth time to time. Both are excellent marksman in gun encounter and hand to hand combats along with profiling. If there is any physical evidence left in the crime scene, I am sure my boys will be able to identify it and in case of an encounter there is no one else I would rather have at my side to watch my back", Bruce said with a hint of pride in his voice, "Richard also have very good training in the computers department and knows how to dig information. Then there is Zatanna Zattara, she is one of the best liaison I have in my unit. She could handle the media well and is quite capable of organizing and devising search parties and other required events".

Oliver couldn't help but also to smile as he too was well aware of the joy that come with grafting a trainee into the professional and then seeing them succeed. "Yeah I have met them once when they were trainee. Since then I have heard a lot about them. It's just been one year and they both have built quite a repute of themselves. I had no doubts in their abilities but I also have heard profiling is not their strength they both are field agents and you know if there is anything that could help us catching psychos its profiling", Oliver asked skeptically.

"Yes, you are right but I am confident in their skills. Wally West might be a professional field agent but he also is a role player. I have seen him doing that in field quite often. But I know that's not enough we need a little bit more help. That's where you come in. I need your best profiler for my team", Bruce said with confidence but released a cold sigh too. He knew he was about to touch the bee's hive so he was preparing himself for the bee's sting.

"Okay that's not so hard. You already know my son Roy Harper. Right now he holds the number one status in the agency. He is also friends with both of your agent. They would make the perfect team", Oliver finishes his coffee and sat right in front of him. Something inside him warned him about the incoming storm yet he chooses to ignore it. He was sure that Bruce would never ask for her, he was there after all.

Bruce remained silenced for a moment and then met Oliver's eye with the straight face, "I am asking for your best profiler Oliver, you and I, we both know he is not your best profiler" the accusation in Bruce's voice clearly shook Oliver to his core.

Oliver was on his feet in the next moment, "Don't you dare, Bruce, I am warning you, don't you dare ask me to put her in the middle of this", Oliver roared at Bruce.

"Oliver just hear me out! Please", Bruce said calmly, "I know you want to protect her but Linda could help in saving people's lives! Oliver. I am sure if you ask her that's what she would want the most"

At this point, Oliver was shaking with anger, his face was red with fury, "you know everything about her, Bruce… everything….. yet you ask me to put her out in the field….. Her past….. Her…the Reaper …. What if … what if he found her…. what if he is waiting for her….what if….", Oliver was so overwhelmed by rage and betrayal that he was having hard time breathing. His chest was exploding with the tightness that was clutching his soul in the tight grip. His head was consumed by the memories of that cold night, memories of her in blood ….the gun …. The bones… The portray...the knife….his train of thoughts was broken by the sudden pressure on his shoulder. Bruce was standing there with his hand on his shoulder. Oliver roughly shrugged it away. Bruce walked few paces away from him and gave him a little time to compose himself.

"Oliver! I want you to understand one thing. Please never doubt my intentions towards her. I would never want any harm for her but unlike you; I am not thinking only about her, I am also considering the lives of other she could save if you allow her. If that makes me an awful friend and a heartless man in your opinion, then I am not sorry Oliver", Bruce said with an icy tone and waited for his reaction. Oliver just stood there looking straight into the ground.

Bruce decides to continue, "I am just telling you what you are too afraid to see! Oliver. I know she is like a daughter to you and only thing you want to do is to keep her away from all of this. But can't you see she has already chosen it for herself. You gave her the permission to choose any subject for graduation yet she chooses psychology. She could have got any other job yet she chooses law and enforcement. She could have done anything, become whatever she wants yet she becomes a profiler and not any profiler but the physiological behavior analyzer. She wants to meet her demons Oliver. She wants to face her past yet you are holding her back. Every one, each and every teacher told you that she is ready and yet you keep her off the field. Keep her caged by making her a teacher here. A teacher with no experience on the field work yet considered to be the best in her work and why the hypocrisy! Oliver? I know for the fact that she has done psycho profiling on many cases for you. You don't allow her on the field yet you provide her the crime photos for profiling", sometime during his ranting Bruce found himself toe to toe with Oliver again. The sadness of letting something go you held for too long, the bitterness of realizing the truth and the hope of everything said to be wrong, Bruce read all those emotion in Oliver's eye with one glance. He felt bad for putting him in this position but he knew he had to do it, "She is not running from him Oliver. She wants the resolve; she wants the redemption and trust me that's the best gift you could ever give to her".

Bruce finishes the staring competition between him and Oliver and walked away from him. He picked up his suitcase and was about to turn the door knob to leave when Oliver suddenly laughed. This stops Bruce in his track and he turns around to face him again. He knew that he had rattled Oliver and now the only onslaught will be rage so he was ready for it. "You are so predictable Bruce. You are a remarkable manipulator. While you are accusing me of such vile accusations have you ever considered the slightest possibility that everything I have done has kept her safe so far? If I had held her back then that might be the only thing that is keeping her alive. We haven't caught reaper yet who knows he might be out there waiting for her to show up? To finish the lone survivor of his? You are the witness of his wickedness yourself I don't need to tell you what he is like. I always thought of you a person who would do anything to get his needs but using her is the low blow even for you." , Oliver asked with threatening tone.

"You could justify your actions by saying whatever you want Oliver. I am not going to argue with you but deep down you know I am right. To save lives that what we do right, no matter what it takes, we always place others' lives prior to our own lives that is our motto. By stopping her from doing so, you are not only doing injustice to her but also to the badge you are holding", Bruce sighed and opens the door.

"The final decision will be yours, of course. The document with my signature on it is resting on your desk. I am sure I will have some case for my squad tomorrow. If she shows up at my HQ then I would consider that you had taken up my offer if not then …. I will have to arrange for a new profiler. But please I urge you make your decision with her consent too. After all everything in the offer has to do with her life", Bruce said and made his way out of his office towards his car.

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WASHINGTON, D.C

CRITICAL INCIDENT RESPONSE GROUP, CRIG HQ

"Dude... this is awesome, our own separate HQ, just what the doctor ordered", Wally West cried in joy and raced here and there to get the good look of their own place. The HQ was spacious and huge and was filled with technological equipment they needed. In the middle was the huge round table with chairs neatly placed around it. The table was touch sensitive and was provided with the three dimensional projector which was connected to the main sever. There were rooms for weaponry, medical aid and interrogation room on the first floor. On the second floor, there were proper rooms for every one with their names written on the door.

Wally west reached the first door and read it out loud, "Richard Grayson, Special agent FBI", he smiled at that and decided to call Richard on that, "Dude they got your name wrong. Shouldn't it be Dick Grayson?"

Richard smiled at his friends stupidity and said, "Come on it was high school man, thought you forget about it", he reached up to the second floor and walked to stand right behind him, "wants to do the honor to be the first one in my room" ,he asked him while giving him a playful smile.

"Sure dude", Wally West flashes a huge grin and stepped in. The moment he stepped into the room the sound of gunshots filled the whole HQ. Wally shrieked like a girl and fell down on his but. Richard starts laughing hysterically behind him and held out his hand in surrender in case of any assault from Wally.

"What the hell man…. You scared the hell out of me", Wally complained while getting up from the floor. "You truly hurt my feelings Bro I was actually looking forward to be the first one to enter into your room. With a saint like me to be the first one into your room it would have become the home of blissfulness for you but now as you has already polluted it sorry man I can't do much for you bro", Wally wined and acted like he was actually doing a favor to him but now as he has wronged him so he is depriving him off something precious.

"You wants my thought on that, I think I just saved my room for getting a bad luck for a year", Richard laughed at his friend once more and entered into the room.

"You do know that it is actually a myth among the people from 1800-1920's that if you get your home blessed with some priest no evil force could enter into your house till the death of that priest. They used to perform rituals for that", Wally states a fact while entering into the room. The room was also spacious with one desk with one comfortable looking chair occupying one side of the room and set of sofas and another small round table occupying the other. The room was well carpeted with one of the four side completely made up of the glass acting as a large window. The view of the sky got the attention of both the room residents. The strange joy overwhelms both of them and they found themselves face to face with the sky with just a hurdle of glass between them. They become engrossed in the serenity with only silence as their companion and strangely they were okay with that.

Richard let out a sigh and finally broke the silence after three minutes, "I finally got it. I always wanted to make him proud. I finally did it Wally. When he told me about establishing a squad I sense admiration in his voice and when he told me that I am a part of it. All I heard that he is proud of me", Richard voiced his inner thoughts while staring at the sky ahead.

Wally turned towards his friend and presented him a genuine smile, "you earned it man", he put a hand around his shoulder and ruffled his hair, "that's for giving me a scare of the year". They both share a good laugh at this then finally Wally asked, "How did you do it?"

"Logged in the server of the main computer down in the middle, downloaded MP3 for the gun shots, played it on the speaker of the room… piece of cake Huh?" , Richard explained the process while Wally starts walking out of the room.

"you played it on speaker dude, we are on the 52nd floor of this mountainous building with the whole secret agency right beneath us and you pranked me with the gunshots sounds, how is that possible that whole agency is not here pointing their gun at you?" , Wally asked impatiently.

Richard smiled once again, "because we are not on the same grid as they are. The HQ is completely separated from the rest of the building. The only way in and out is the elevator which requires a special key. Even our main computer frame and server is different from the building and as far as your question about them not hearing anything is concerned, dude our floor is sound proof".

"So cool", this got Wally excited once again. "Come on man let's complete the tour", he said with enthusiasm and enters into the room with the name plate of "Wally West, Special Agent FBI". He was disappointed to find it exactly the same as Richard's room. He quickly got out again and stopped at the name plate of "Zatanna Zattara, Special agent FBI", a devilish smile found its way to Wally's face. "Dude check out who else is with us on the team".

Dick had a hitch that what is Wally up to now and was now mentally cursing himself for telling him about his secret crush to Wally. "Yeah Yeah I know Zatanna is with us on the team too", Richard tried to sound all nonchalant about it.

"And please don't even bother telling me that you are not excited about it", Wally playfully supplied and nudge him with his shoulder.

"It's good to have her here I guess", Richard was having hard time in keeping his excitement hidden from Wally but managed anyway.

"You guess….Man you have been day dreaming about the girl for 6 months now. Grow a bone and ask her out already. She is obviously interested in you too.", Wally urges his friend to make a move and moved towards the next rooms.

"Whatever man, drop my love life and complete your tour. I haven't got all day", Richard pushes him forward and disconnected himself from getting any further love advices from love doctor.

The next four rooms were just like their rooms but no name plate was present on the door." So, whose rooms are these?" Wally asked to Richard knowing very well that he will have the answer like always.

"One room is for our chief profiler. Bruce didn't tell me who he is but he said that we will know soon enough. The room on the end is for our dear psychologist, Mr. Cameron. In case of any psychological trauma we are supposed to confide in him. He will occasionally be here. The other rooms are for any additional members we could get along the way", Richard explained with gestures towards room time to time.

Wally snickered at the mention of Cameron; he never did like that guy, "that mind wrecker is going to be our psychologist, unbelievable. It's a good thing he is not here permanently or else I would have just quit right now", Wally snorted and then smiled suddenly, "our profiler it's going to be Roy isn't it?" Wally asked enthusiastically.

"Yeah I think. Bruce did go to NCAVC today with Zatanna", Richard explained.

"It's Roy I know it….could life get any better. It would be like high school again Dick. We are goanna be the best BAU squad ever", Wally said excitedly while Richard smiled along with him.

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WASHINGTON, D.C

FBI-BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE UNIT, TEACHING FACILITY

Zatanna was bored out of her mind. First she has to wait with Mr. Bruce Wayne for Mr. Oliver Queen for 2 hours. Then when she though that she will be attending the meeting with Mr. Oliver queen alongside with Mr. Bruce Wayne, he provided her the visitor pass for the teaching facility and asked her to attend the lecture of some Prof. Artemis Linda Queen. When she asked for the reason the only answer she got was that it will be informative. So here she was sitting in the lecture hall waiting for the lecture to start.

The lecture hall was deserted right now and considering the fact that the lecture was going to start after thirty minutes she expected it to be that way. She found a comfortable seat at the end of the hall and starts examining the hall. The hall was quite big and was provided with multimedia projector at the front. Zatanna estimated that the number of seats in the hall must be 400 so that means someone with quite an experience were about to give lecture in the hall. An image of an old lady with yellowed teeth and with a bent back giving lecture on profiling crossed her mind and she instinctively snorted at that. At least the topic of lecture is interesting, she thought to herself. About twenty minute prior to the lecture the hall started filling in and about 10 minutes to the lecture it became almost full to its capacity. The other interesting fact she observed was that not all of them were trainees few were special agents like her and few were in simple clothes not giving any idea about their designation. The filling of hall before the given time was also a surprise to her because as a trainee she never wanted to attend the lecture of old field agents bragging about their experiences.

Right on time, a tall heighted girl of probably 24 walks in the room with the remote of the projector. Zatanna was surprised beyond words. The teachers whether in the BSU or in BAU are mostly those old agents who are physically unfit for the field work or who are suffering from any post traumatic event. The girl doesn't fit in both the categories. She herself was just promoted from the trainee to a field agent. To see a girl of her own age working as a teacher stirred the curiosity in her and she suddenly found herself observing her from head to toe. She was a lean girl with the standard zero figure wearing an expensive high heels probably to create a sense of intimidation in her listeners. Her hair was of golden color which were in high and neat pony tail. Rectangular glasses black in color matching to her dress was sitting on her nose giving her a scholarly look. Her gait was so balanced and so full of confidence that for a moment she couldn't help but to admire her. She pressed the button and light in the hall starts fading. A moment later, the lecture started.

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The projector was projecting several pictures of murdered men and women from different angles. The dimmed light and the grimness of the blood pouring out of each of the victim's eye created a cold silence in hall. Artemis moved into the center of stage and asked the listeners a question, "does anybody here recognize these faces?"

The girl sitting next to Zatanna answered it for everyone, "Victims of the footpath's killer". Zatanna remembered reading a report on him about a month ago.

"That's what Virginia's newspapers are calling him. We will refer to him as an unknown subject or unsub", Artemis smiled at the girl and said, "The Virginia P.D has reported 9 cases so far in which all the victims have a shotgun bullet to the head or more specifically… to the eye. All the victims are found in the bottom of mountains or other isolated small paths. No physical evidence was found on any of the crime scenes. The women were properly clothed before dumping. There is also no evidence of any other physical or sexual violation of women. The police couldn't find any connection between the victims and all the leads ended up wasted. If you are given the task to profile this unsub how are you going to do it?" Artemis waited for the good five seconds and then starts again," I told Virginia P.D that we are looking for white male in his 20s who owns an American made truck in disrepair. Works a menial job. I told them when you find him don't be surprised to hear him speak with a severe stutter"

Zatanna was listening attentively the whole scenario and couldn't help but to raise the question, "not to sound skeptical but come on …. A stutter?", she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes a stutter. Recall where the murders have occurred. Hiking paths. Isolated places", Artemis confidently replied, "if I am a killer who had to use an immediate application of overpowering force, even in the middle of nowhere, I lack confidence, that's why my design of killing is rather quick as compared to other unsubs. I need my prey to be alone; I also need a deserted place to do it. I can't charm them into my car like Johnny bravo; I can't because I am ashamed of something. I can't…" Artemis talk was cut off by someone switching on the light. She was surprised to see Oliver standing in the hall entrance. She quickly excused herself from the class and left the room.

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"So not to pry but what's the occasion? You getting me out of the class just to drink coffee with me, that's new", Artemis said with a smile and took the coffee handed by Oliver while sitting on the sofa in his office.

"What a father can't have a coffee with his daughter now?", Oliver smiled and sat right next to it.

His artificial smile doesn't stand a chance in front of her. Artemis knew straight away that something is not right. "Dad what's wrong?" she asked with concerned voice.

Oliver didn't answer her at first instead he kept staring at her for a while like he was searching for something. Artemis suddenly felt judged under his heavy gaze and was about to ask him again when he released a tired sigh and broke the eye contact. He took one sip from his cup and said, "Bruce visited me today. He is making separate squad for catching unsubs who are giving problems to the authority. Any unsolved case with active unsubs, the squad will have the authority and permission to work on. They will also have jurisdiction of both the agencies", Oliver stopped for a while and said again, "he also wants you to be the squad chief profiler". Oliver finishes and waited for her reaction. He was disappointed immediately.

Artemis didn't believe what she was hearing. She was waiting for this kind of opportunity all along. "Wow so, I am going to be out there in the field and you are letting me. You did say yes didn't you?", Artemis asked excitedly.

"No I haven't said yes and how could you be so excited about it? You don't even know how to use a gun. Heck I would be surprised if you know how to hold it properly", Oliver asked dejectedly.

"I am a specialist profiler. We both know there is no compulsion for us about the knowledge of using guns. I could name lot of profilers who are working without an assigned weapon. Besides my work is profiling I am sure there will be field specialist in the squad for that", She angrily replied, "Ollie come on, stop making my decisions for me. I am not that broken girl anymore you found dying in the shed…not anymore" . Artemis and Oliver, both were standing face to face right now.

Oliver was the first to turn away. He released another sigh and said, "I thought the last thing you would have wanted to do is to be out there in field. I don't want you to relive your past Artemis. I am just trying to protect you. The ski-mask reaper ….", Oliver was cut off by the outburst from Artemis.

"Don't you get it Ollie? He is the reason I want to be out there. It's the only way I get to prove myself. All my life I have been compared with him and I am sure the reason you are not letting me out there is also because you are afraid that I might turn out like him don't you? I am tired of all this bull shit Ollie", Artemis nearly screamed at him.

"I never compared you with him. Get that in your thick skull and never …ever dare to compare yourself with him again. You heard me", Oliver shouted back at her. Artemis took a step back and found the floor more interesting than anything in her surroundings. "The only reason I am against this offer because I know that this field work, it sometimes shook you up. Seeing the worst of humanity is exactly not that easy kid and with your history I just don't want to take any chances", Oliver explained calmly this time and sits on the sofa once again.

"Ollie please I want to do this. I would have never asked you if I wasn't sure of handling it. I need to do it. For my mom I need to please", Artemis said while avoiding eye contact with Oliver, "But still if you think I shouldn't be out in the field then trust me I wouldn't do it". After her response silenced surrounds the room once again. Again it was Oliver who broke it.

"Fine knock yourself out", Oliver said while rubbing his temple, "But if you ever feel the need of getting out just know that I will be there for you. Roy, Jade, Diana, me we all will be there okay and don't hesitate to call us in case you need any sort of help", Oliver said while looking straight into her eyes.

Artemis smiled and hugged him tightly. She knew he wouldn't put up a fight against her. "You are the best Dad ever", she said and hugged him once more, "I love you"

Oliver hugged her back and said, "I love you too kid". He silently prayed to God for her protection and smiled along with her.