Elijah was sat outside the church, replanting the flowers. Father Thomson had asked him to do the yardwork today.

"They're looking good, Deans." Father Thomson walked over.

"Thank you, Father." He hummed.

"How are we feeling today?'

"I'm feeling good." Elijah looked up at him.

"No..Nothing from the Angels?"

"No."

"I'm glad." Thomson smiled.

"When is the service today, Father?" Elijah asked.

"Around three o'clock. The Hansons are coming today."

"I see." Elijah nodded slowly.

"So be nice, okay?"

"I will do my best, Father." He promised.

"I'll see you soon." Thomson nodded, walking off.

Elijah nodded slowly as he got back to his gardening. He knew if he or the angels saw the Hansons doing something they didn't agree with, he knew it wouldn't end well. So he needed them to stay back today. Just for an hour. That's all he needed. He was going to save those children, and Thompson was not going to be able to stop him.

*********************************

"Hansons, welcome back." Thompson smiled as the family of four walked through.

"It's good to be back." The mother, Christina, smiled.

"Jaques, how is the work going?" Thompson asked.

"I'm on track for that promotion." Jaques nodded.

"I'll keep you in my prayers. As will Elijah, won't we?" Thompson looked at Elijah.

"Of course, Father." Elijah agreed.

"Hi Elijah." One of their sons, Julian, waved.

"Julian, it's good to see you." Elijah bent down.

"I missed you."

"Aw, I missed you too."

"I'm gonna make you a cool bracelet." He smiled.

"Boys don't wear jewellery, Julian. Don't be silly." Jaques chuckled,"Only our crosses."

"Come, let's talk over here." Thompson tried to move the conversation along before Elijah could speak.

"Bye!" Julian waved.

Elijah waved at Julian, keeping up his smile. Jaques words always felt too familiar for Elijah's liking.

"Be good." Thompson mouthed as he led the Hansons to their seats.

Elijah sighed as he walked to the back of the hall to grab his broom. The angels told him that he could listen in while pretending to just clean. After the service, Elijah was taking out the trash when he noticed Jaques shouting at his youngest son, Julian. Elijah was practically frozen where he was stood, his grip tightening on the bag.

"I'm sorry dad!" Julian sighed.

"Just shut up!" Jaques hit Julian,"You embarrassed me today, and you better not do it again."

"I just wanted to talk-"

"No more talking, especially not to that freak."

Julian was quiet for a moment before he nodded,"Yes father."

"When we get home, you're going straight to your room." Jaques pointed,"Don't even look at your mother or Zachary."

"Yes father."

"Come on." Jaques pulled on Julian's sleeve.

Julian sighed and followed his father. Elijah finally dumped the bag in the dumpster. The voices grew louder after witnessing the encounter between Jaques and Julian. He knew what he had to do.

*********************************

The Agents sat around the table in the Conference Room as Garcia began to explain their new case.

"Alright folks, we've been called to Colarado after two sets of parents were found murdered in the area, the Creeks and the Hansons." Garcia sighed,"All their children were left alive, completely unharmed."

"Did the kids witness the murders?" Morgan asked.

"No, they were all in their bedrooms or elsewhere in the house at the time."

"Anything in common?"

"Both families attended the same church, manned by a Father Joseph Thomas." Garcia informed them.

"Maybe we need to have a look down there." Fleur sighed.

"Agreed." Hotch nodded,"I don't think this killer is stopping any time soon."

"I'll go to the church with Morgan and Rossi." Fleur suggested.

"We're gonna catch this guy. These kids don't deserve to be orphaned." Morgan shook his head.

"I can go to the crime scene." Reid suggested.

"The rest of us will start up our base of operations with the local police department." Hotch instructed,"Wheels up in thirty."

"Race you to the best seat on the jet." Fleur hummed to the others.

"Oh, you're on." Morgan smirked as he started running.

"He got a head start!" Reid pointed.

"Well, you better start running if you don't want him to win." Emily crossed her arms.

Reid groaned as Fleur ran off as well, him following close after.

*********************************

"Well, this place seems well-kept." Morgan commented as they pulled up outside the church.

"Church's usually get kept good." Fleur hummed.

"I suppose that's true." Morgan nodded as they got out of the SUV.

"There he is." Rossi pointed as Thompson walked out.

"Ah, you must be the Agents the FBI sent. The police chief informed me you'd be coming." Thompson greeted them,"I am Father Thompson."

"Yes, this is Agents Howards, Morgan and I'm Agent Rossi." Rossi nodded.

"Please, come inside." Thompson beckoned them,"It's more private, the church's handyman is in there too."

"Oh really? Who would that be?" Morgan looked ahead.

"His name is Elijah." Thompson told them as they entered the church,"He's struggled to find work so I let him help out around the church."

"That's nice." Fleur smiled,"How long has that went on?"

"Probably since the boy was eighteen, that's when his mother passed away."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Fleur sighed.

"It can't be helped." Thompson shook his head,"She was a drinker, tripped and fell down the stairs."

"Shame." Morgan tutted,"So, you were the last people to see the Hansons?"

"Yes, they came for the service at three o'clock." Thompson nodded.

"What were they like? Calm? Disturbed?"

"They were normal, very dedicated to their faith. They were good people." Thompson sighed,"Jaques could be firm with the children but he did love his family."

"I understand the Hansons weren't at church for a period of time?" Fleur raised a brow,"How come?"

"It was a mix of reasons from what I was told. They took a spiritual vacation, but then fell ill." He explained,"They'd only recently recovered."

"Did the Hansons have any enemies?' Rossi asked.

"No." Thompson shook his head,"Being around Jaques made Elijah uncomfortable but I wouldn't call them enemies."

"Is there a way we could speak to Elijah?"

"Of course, just.. Be careful with him." Thompson lead them towards where Elijah was sat,"He's a little sensitive."

"Of course." Fleur nodded.

"Elijah." Thompson called to him,"These Agents would like to ask you some questions, alright?"

Elijah nodded slowly, setting down his book.

"Hi Elijah. My name's Fleur, this is Derek and Dave, but he only let's his friends call him that." Fleur chuckled.

"It's nice to meet you." Elijah looked at them all.

"We just wanna ask a couple of questions, is that okay?" Morgan raised a brow.

"Of course." He nodded.

"Thompson said you didn't get along with Jaques Hanson, correct?"

"Correct. He was.. Loud. And he was a bad man, Father wouldn't listen to me." Elijah shook his head.

"How was he a bad man?" Rossi tilted his head.

"He'd shout at his children, especially Julian, the youngest." Elijah told them,"I saw him.. Hit Julian today."

"He hurt his son?"

Elijah nodded,"The policeman said he'd 'look into it'. He always says that."

"And he never did?"

"The policemen never listen until it's too late."

"What do you mean.. Too late?" Rossi blinked.

"There have been a few children that I've noticed being harmed. I tell the police. They 'look into it' and nothing changes.. And then they disappear." Elijah explained slowly.

"What do you think happens to them? To disappear?"

"Maybe they run away."

"And leave their kids behind?"

"Maybe.." Elijah nodded,"But maybe someone gets rid of them."

"Who gets rid of them?"

"I don't know." Elijah tilted his head,"But it seems neither do you, since you're asking me."

"We just want to know some things." Fleur assured him.

"Well, be careful. There's something bad going on around here, I just know it."

"I'm glad you've helped us." Morgan nodded.

"I'm always happy to help." Elijah smiled softly.

"If we need to speak to you again, can we get you through Father Thompson?"

"Yes." He nodded,"Or come to the Church, I'm usually always here."

"Of course. Thank you." Rossi hummed.

"You're welcome, sir."

"Sir? That's new." He chuckled.

"Just being polite." Elijah hummed.

"Well, thank you, Elijah." Rossi smiled.

*********************************

"Garcia, have you got anything?" Hotch asked her.

"Yes! So do we remember Benjamin Ganet?" Garcia questioned.

"Hard to forget a guy like that." Rossi shook his head.

"Well, he had two sons, one being Elijah Ganet. However, Ganet's last victim was called Michelle Deans.. What's our Elijah at church called?'

"Elijah Deans." Morgan nodded slowly.

"Viola. We have our UnSub."

"But why would he do any of this?" Emily asked.

"He was abused as a child by his mother. You know the one that died? Which I think wasn't an accident, but she was a horrible horrible mother. And we have evidence that the parents were abusing their kids."

"I think we need to pay Elijah a second visit." Rossi shook his head.

"Who do you want going?" Rossi turned to Hotch.

"Well, from what we've seen, he's capable than a lot more than he looks." Hotch sighed,"Rossi, take Reid and Howards. They might be a more calming presence for him."

"Got it." Reid nodded.

"Remember, he may look non-threatening but he's killed at least four people."

"At least." Fleur sighed.

"Well, he won't be killing anymore." Rossi assured them.

"Let's go."

*********************************

Elijah was sat at one of the church pews, looking up at the cross. He promised to always listen to the Angels but.. Was he doing the right thing?

"Elijah? May I come in?" Thompson walked closer.

"Of course, Father." Elijah nodded.

"Elijah.. The Agents are here to speak to you again."

"That's nice." He hummed.

"Elijah.. You haven't hurt anyone, have you?"

"I had to, Father. They told me to."

"The Angels told you?"

"They saw what Jaques did, we saw it."

"It doesn't- Elijah, that doesn't give you the right to kill them." Thompson cursed.

"Julian and Zachary are safe now." Elijah shook his head.

"They're in foster care, potentionally with worse conditions than with Jaques."

"I'll find them. I'll make sure they're safe." Elijah stood up.

"No, Elijah, you can't." Thompson shook his head,"You can't."

"I will."

"The Agents are going to take you away."

"I'm not going anywhere until Julian is safe." Elijah pointed.

"Julian's in foster care right now."

Elijah stayed quiet as he went to walk past Father Thompson.

"Elijah." Thompson grabbed his arm,"Please don't do this."

"No- Don't touch me." Elijah yanked his arm away.

"Elijah please."

"God wills it, Father. I'm going to protect him."

"God would not will this." Thompson pointed,"You're like a son to me, I do not wish this."

"God wants to protect the innocent. That's what I'm doing." Elijah shook his head as he started to walk.

That's when Rossi, Fleur and another Agent Elijah hadn't met before walked in.

"Agents, I have something important that I must get to." Elijah told them.

"You can't go anywhere, I'm sorry." Rossi shook his head.

"I have to, I have to protect Julian."

"Julian is safe." The boy with greasy hair assured him.

"..Are you sure?" Elijah asked him.

"Of course." He smiled.

Elijah nodded slowly,"That's all that matters."

"Why don't you come with us?"

Elijah nodded again, but he stayed quiet.

"My name's Spencer." Reid nodded.

"Spencer."

"Yes." Reid smiled,"We'll take you some place nice.

"I'd like that." Elijah smiled softly.

Reid held out his hand,"Come on."

Elijah reached out, gently taking Reid's hand.

"Let's go." Reid hummed.

*********************************

Elijah was sat in the interrogation room, rocking back and forth as he stared at the mirror. The Angels kept whispering, saying he was being watched.

That's when Agent Reid, Spencer, walked in,"Elijah?"

"Spencer?' Elijah looked up at him.

"Hi, remember me?"

"Yes. Yes, I remember."

"I just wanna ask some questions, is that okay?"

"Mhm."

"So.. You know why you're here, right?"

"I did bad things." Elijah nodded.

"Yeah, but Father Thompson told us some..Angels tell you to do these bad things?" Reid asked.

"They speak to me, tell me what to do, if I should punish myself." Elijah nodded slowly,"They're loud. I have to obey them."

"What happens if you don't obey them?"

"I punish myself."

"How?"

Elijah looked down at his arms and rolled up his sleeves to reveal cuts and burns at various levels of healing.

Reid sighed,"I'm sorry."

"No, it's okay. I deserved it." Elijah assured him.

"No, no. You didn't deserve it."

"But I did, I didn't listen."

"The Angels aren't nice, I don't think we like mean people."

"But- But they help me, guide me." Elijah told him.

"They guided you towards the wrong things, Elijah." Reid shook his head.

Elijah looked down,"Mi dispiace.."

"Italian?" Reid raised a brow.

"Mother.. Didn't let me speak it in the house." Elijah pulled his knees to his chest,"But I am Italian, at least a bit."

"How come?"

Elijah shrugged,"She never liked it."

"Was she Italian?"

"Mhm."

"Oh, right." He nodded,"Y'know, Rossi? He's Italian."

"That's nice." Elijah tugged on his sleeves.

"The Angels..Did they tell you to hurt the Hansons?" Reid leaned forward.

"He hurt Julian."

"So the Angels told you to hurt them?"

"Yes, he needed to be punished."

"Okay.. But can you see why that's not right?"

"..Yes." Elijah nodded.

"Despite what the Angels think, that's not the way to solve things."

"I just wanted to save him. Nobody else would've done anything." Elijah shook his head.

"I understand. Did you tell the police?'

"I tried, but they don't listen."

"Yeah, cops aren't always the best." He sighed.

"They never listened.." Elijah looked down.

"But we did. We listened." Reid reminded him.

"They weren't there when Julian needed help, when I needed help.

"Julian and Zachary will be safe now. But we.. We gotta send you somewhere safe too."

"I don't really want to hurt people.."

"So let's help you."

"Why do you want to help me?" Elijah asked him.

"I help people. It's what I do." He hummed.

"I wanted to help people." Elijah nodded slowly.

"You still can." Reid assured him.

"I can?"

"Of course."

Elijah smiled,"I want to help people."

"We're going to take you to a safe place where you can help people."

"Okay."

"Would you like that?" Reid smiled.

"Yeah, I'd like that." Elijah nodded.

"Let me talk to my boss and I'll see what I can do. Are the Angels okay with that decision?"

Elijah looked to his left before back to Reid,"Yes- They said that's okay."

"I'm glad. I'll be back, 'kay?" Reid got up from his seat.

"Okay." Elijah hummed.

Reid walked out to the others,"Well?"

"Well, I don't think prison would do him any favors." Rossi shook his head.

"Mentally, he's not all there." Fleur sighed.

"The kid hears voices and bases his every action on what they tell him to do." Morgan crossed his arms.

"I hate to mention it, but maybe a ward?" Hotch raised a brow.

"It would probably be a safer place for him." Emily nodded slowly,"He'd probably need supervision to make sure he didn't hurt himself."

"Poor guy." JJ sighed, looking at Garcia.

"I.. I looked into his childhood and I don't think I ever want to go back there." Garcia shook her head.

"No one does."

"How could someone do any of that to a child?"

"Evil people." Fleur sat down.

Rossi sighed,"I put his dad in jail. I never even thought that was going on behind the scenes."

"Did you meet young Elijah then?" Reid asked.

"He was quiet, didn't speak much." Rossi nodded,"I just thought he was scared of all the Agents and cops everywhere, always asking him questions."

"He was probably scared of what would happen if he told anyone what really went on." Emily sighed.

"I'd stopped thinking about it but he always has this look on his face. That boy has seen some things."

"I just wish someone would've listened." Reid looked at Elijah through the glass.

"That's the problem with these cases." Hotch shook his head,"So many lives could have been saved if one person listened to his grandmother."

"Things could've been different." Fleur sighed.

"Yet here we are."

"I can contact the ward." Reid raised his hand.

"Good." Hotch nodded.

*********************************

"I'm here to visit Mr Deans?" Reid asked as he stood at the ward reception.

"Oh, he should be in his room right now. Do you know where it is?" She tilted her head.

"I believe so."

"Alright, just be careful. He's not been in a great mood."

"That's okay." Reid hummed, going towards Elijah's room.

Elijah was inside, gently rocking back and forth on his bed.

"Elijah? Hi, it's Spencer." Reid waved.

"Spencer." Elijah smiled up at him.

"You remember me?"

"I do- You're nice to me."

"I hope I'm nice." He chuckled.

"You are."

"How are you feeling?"

"Not good, people kept touching me." Elijah crossed his arms.

"We don't like people touching us." Reid shook his head.

"No, its not nice." Elijah sighed.

"I understand."

"And it's loud too." Elijah looked up at him.

"Very loud..Speaking of loud, have any Angels came out recently?" Reid tilted his head.

"Not after I take the stuff." Elijah shook his head.

"The medication?" He raised a brow.

"Mhm." Elijah nodded.

"I'm glad you're doing good, Elijah."

"Are you doing.. Good?" Elijah asked, playing with his sleeves.

"I have been." Reid smiled,"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Have you been going to the group activities? Made any friends?"

"Nobody really talks to me. I don't mind it." Elijah shrugged.

"I think you're great once people get to know you."

"I am?" Elijah blinked.

"Of course you are. Look at us."

Elijah smiled softly,"I've never really had friends.. Other than people I saw at the church."

"Well, I'm glad to be your friend." Reid hummed.

"Friends." Elijah chuckled slightly.

"Now you're extra cool because you have a friend like me."

Elijah clapped,"I have a cool friend."

"You're happy?" He chuckled.

"Very happy."

"Have you eaten today?"

"..Yes."

Reid tilted his head.

"They told me I wasn't allowed to." Elijah mumbled.

"They don't get to tell you what to do anymore." Reid sighed.

"I know- But they were shouting at me."

"You know what we do when you hear them? You take deep breaths and tell them you're not going to listen to them anymore. Because you're better." Reid told him.

"I'm better." Elijah nodded slowly.

"See? Now that's all you need to say."

"Okay.. Okay, I will."

"Great." Reid smiled.

"Thank you, Spencer." Elijah smiled at him.