Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds.

Summary: Minimal Loss. What if something went wrong while Cyrus beat up Emily and she couldn't take it a second time. What if Reid spoke up to stop it?

A/N: So this is going to be a lot different from the episode. For my story to work though, Cyrus beat her worse than what he did in the episode and she also hit her head really hard. It's going to start right after she is beaten. Yup, and that's about all you need to know. *Sigh* I really, really shouldn't start another story. Shrugs. All well.

Enjoy….

~ Collide ~

Chapter 1

Her words haunt him. Two simple words. Two damn words that have sealed her fate. "It's me," she had said without hesitation, without fear. She knew very well what would happen to her, and he just sat there while they dragged her into another room. Why didn't he stand up? Why couldn't he be the hero for once?

He is a coward and she is brave, that was why. In certain ways they are polar opposites and Reid envies her for it. However, she of all people didn't deserve what was happening to her now. Whatever that was. The thought of it makes him feel sick and for one startling moment he sways on his feet. A hand steadies him and he shakes off the feeling dwelling at the bottom of his stomach.

"Are you okay?"

The voice soothes him. Light as a feather, an angel's song. She can't be more than fifteen, but she holds a child on her hip. He believes her name is Jessica, but he can't be sure. All of the children look alike here and it's hard to tell them apart. However, under any other circumstance he would have been able to pick her out from the crowd, but the thought of Emily getting beaten drives him into a world of hysterics, making it all the harder to breathe and impossible to think.

"I'm fine," he tells her, just barely bringing the words to life.

Jessica mistakes his fear for a different reason. "God will see us through."

But he hardly hears her. His attention is now focused on another woman who has just entered the chapel. He makes his way slowly over to her, decidedly ignoring the young girl.

Emily's beauty is marred by cuts and bruises that religious freak has bestowed on her. Her left eye is red and puffy while her lip is cut and a little swollen. He wants nothing more than to reach out and heal her with the touch of his fingers, but he knows this is impossible.

"He looks pissed," she whispers to him, her words slur together which makes him worry about her well-being. However, she assures him, "It's not as bad as it looks."

"I'm so sorry."

She turns to shake her head, and that's when he sees the heinous cut on the other side of her forehead. It's still bleeding and without thinking he reaches out to wipe the blood away. He blushes when she closes her eyes, but he soon realizes that it isn't from his touch.

"Emily?" he asks as bile catches in the back of his throat. When she sways a little, he places a hand on her shoulder and that's when she lazily opens her eyes. She looks confused, dazed. The lack of water and food probably weren't helping the matter either. "I think you might have a concussion."

It takes her forever to reply, and when she does, her voice is unrecognizable. "W-what?"

From across the room he sees Cyrus glaring at him and he knows he shouldn't be comforting her, but in all honesty Cyrus could go fuck himself. He wasn't going to let Emily down a second time. It was a split second decision, but he feels that it is worth it. He turns back to her and thinks that she looks unnaturally pale. "Emily, I think you should sit down."

But his warning comes too late, because the next thing he knows is her eyes rolling to the back of her head and in an instant she topples sideways into his arms.

I wasn't going to make this a Reid/Emily pairing, just a friendship but I will if people want me too.

Tell me what you think. Please?