I'd Die For the Man

Chapter One

Flashback…

"So, I don't suppose you're going to tell me just where you two bumped into each other," Emily Prentiss stated as she looked at Mick while the two of them were surveying the crime scene.

"I'll tell you, I trust the man with my life," Mick answered resolutely as he looked back at her. "I'll tell you, I'd die for the man."

End of flashback…

This was a brief conversation that took place some time ago between the man Sam Cooper considered one of his closest friends, and a former member of the BAU on another team which theirs worked closely with to solve a case of special interest to Coop, a conversation that no one ever knew took place besides the two that had it. However, Cooper always suspected and feared that Mick might bring this to pass one day and didn't need to overhear what was said between the agents to worry. He just never expected it to happen like this…

Two days ago…

When Prophet walked into the team's office two mornings after they had finished closing a case that took them three days to solve, he found his boss, Sam Cooper, and teammate, Mick Rawson, sparring like they did whenever Cooper suspected that Mick was bothered by something and refused to share with anyone what it was. This was something everyone else on the team seemed to recognize early on, but somehow was completely lost on the handsome, brooding Brit.

Once he finished putting down his bag, Jon walked over to where their coffee machine was placed, poured himself a cup, then pulled a chair around and sat to watch the remainder of his friends' match. By the time it was over, both Gina and Beth had arrived and were sitting down to enjoy the show as well.

When Sam had Mick pinned down to the floor, everyone clapped and cheered and Mick slowly rolled out front beneath their leader, then spoke up saying, "You three ought to start watching mixed martial arts on television or something like it if you want to watch a couple of clowns in a bloody circus."

Beth laughed at her colleague's humiliation as she replied, "Watching Coop kick your butt suits us just fine, thank you."

"When are you ever going to learn that you can't beat him?" Gina asked as she and the others began to pick up their chairs and place back around the table so that they could begin their day.

"Leave the man alone," Sam finally said as he wiped a rag along his neck to wipe away the sweat. "He's beaten me in a sparring match plenty of times. Just never when something's upset him."

Mick looked at his friend in confusion as he quickly asked, "What are you talking about?"

Cooper smiled as he responded, "Come on, Mick. You can't honestly think that we don't know that you're worried about something. Spill it."

"I don't know what you're talking about," the sniper answered as he walked to the table and was about to take a seat at the end until he stopped when he was startled upon seeing a young woman walking into the room and quickly stood straight as he stared at her in surprise. "Jenna, what are you doing here?"

"Jenna, as in, your sister Jenna?" Beth asked as she smiled and walked over to introduce herself. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you."

The newcomer shook Beth's hand, then Prophet's and Gina's as she replied, "And you. I've been anxious to meet each of you and disappointed with my brother for not allowing me the chance before now."

Mick tried to defend himself as he responded, "It isn't like you haven't been busy with school, or work, or…"

"Or with my fiancé?" Jenna stated giddily as she raised her left hand to show off the engagement ring while she and the women of the team suddenly erupted with joy. "He proposed just last night. I'm so happy!"

"Congratulations, sweetheart," Sam answered as he finally came over and gave her a hug, as he was the only one of the team the young woman actually knew, and pretty well ever since she and Mick had moved into the states from Wales a few years ago. "That's wonderful news, isn't it Mick?"

The sniper smiled coldly at his boss, then hugged his sister tightly as he replied, "Indeed it is, Jenna. It's wonderful. But you know that I'm going to have to meet him, soon. Don't you love?"

She nodded and then responded, "Yes, Dad. As soon as I know that you're not going to interrogate him or threaten to shoot him should he say one word you don't like as you've done to all of the other men I've dated."

"He sounds like my father and most other men who simply want to make sure their daughters or sisters are safe," Gina spoke again as Cooper picked up his cell phone from the table as it beeped, indicating that he had just received a text, then nodded at his team to say it was time to get to work. "Come back and visit us again."

"And try not to be so hard on Mick," Beth said sincerely before following after her teammate. "He's only worried because he loves you so much."

Jenna nodded as the older woman turned and walked away to follow after Gina, then Jon shook her hand, followed by Coop, who kissed her cheek and added, "It was so good to see you again. I hope you will allow us a chance to celebrate with you before you leave town again."

The young woman nodded and answered, "I would love to. Good luck with your case."

"I'm glad that you finally got to meet my friends, Jenna, but I really wish you would have called before you simply showed up here at our office," Mick stated finally once all of his friends had left the room so he could say goodbye.

"If I hadn't have come today, I never would have met them," she replied in frustration. "Look, I know you're busy right now, so I won't try to figure out what's got you so worried about me getting married right now, but… If you can, I'd like to talk to you tonight, or whenever it is you get home from where it is you have to travel to. Until then… Promise me you'll be safe, alright?"

Mick pulled her into a hug and then responded quietly, "I'll do my best. Tell that man of yours he needs to join you here. As I said before, I want to meet him as soon as I return, do I make myself clear?"

She nodded, then watched her brother walk away and finally turned to leave herself. When Mick walked into the conference room where his teammates were waiting for him to join them for the briefing, Cooper began without another word being spoken about Jenna's visit. The Director of the RED CELL teams, Jack Fickler, appeared on screen as he did so.

Their leader looked around at his team as he said, "It looks like we're going to be heading down to New Orleans. Five men have all been killed in some kind of voodoo rituals and the local police are dumbfounded, as their unsure if their dealing with one UNSUB or twenty."

"So, we could be dealing with a cult then?" Prophet asked as he looked between Sam and their Director.

"It's possible," Fickler answered. "That's why I need your team to go down there and find the ones responsible, before people continue to die. They are scared and begging for answers."

When the screen went black again, Cooper turned back to his friends and replied, "You heard the man. Pack your things. I have a feeling it's going to be a long one."

Mick grumbled, then stood up after the rest of his teammates did and responded sarcastically, "That's just what I needed right now."