"Hotch." The elder agent turned back towards his subordinate, watching Spencer look around him.
"What is it, Reid?"
"Something's wrong."
The doctor kept a grim look on his face, almost as if he was trying to hide his worry behind a neutral expression. One of the things about Spencer that Aaron had always appreciated about the younger agent was that, despite everything that'd happened, he still managed to wear his heart on his sleeve. It was an almost childish trait that helped make him seem a little more innocent than any of them really were.
"Do you have something you want to tell me, Reid?"
"I dunno everything just seems… Off."
The way he said it put Aaron on edge, but no other comment was forthcoming. This case was over and the suspect had been narrowed down. This was the final part of the job – Apprehending the murderer. They continued down the hall, guns at the ready. A split in the hall led the two to exchange a glance before Aaron pointed Spencer down one of the halls, taking the other for himself. They separated, scouting out the area. For a few moments, there was silence. No sound of any kind bar for Aaron's steady breathing.
And then came Spencer's yelling.
"Reid!" Aaron couldn't have been very long getting to where he'd heard the sound. The room was empty – It was almost as if Spencer had disappeared in thin air. He moved into the small space, keeping his gun up and checking to see if there were any signs of escape. The window was shut, but the layer of dust was in slight disarray, showing he might have escaped through there.
"Hotch, we got him!" Derek's voice scratched through the intercom.
"Is Reid with you?"
"Wasn't he supposed to be with you?"
"Morgan, search the parameter. Someone else is here."
"What about Reid?" Kneeling down, Aaron noted a few drops of blood on the carpet, almost hidden from view. Still fresh.
"Now, Morgan."
"What'd you find?"
"Nothing, Hotch. If anyone was here, they're long gone," Derek replied. He tossed his things aside, leveling Aaron with a look that demanded answers. "People have been sent out in the surrounding areas looking for anyone with a vague description of Reid. Mind telling me what happened back there?"
"I don't really know. One second we were looking for the unsub, the next he was gone," Aaron explained, "Reid mentioned something about things feeling wrong, but neither of us dwelled on it."
Derek growled. His face screwing into something unreadable, but probably angry, "We gotta find the kid, Hotch."
"Morgan," Aaron placed a hand on his shoulder to try and calm him down, "We will."
"Who the hell knows what's happening to him right now."
"I know. We'll find him."
"Hurts," Spencer whimpered, fingers gripping something. He wasn't sure why he said it – In front of his kidnapper, no less – but he couldn't help himself. It'd happened impulsively.
"Shh. It's okay, Sweetheart. Mommy is here." The voice was feminine and soft. It could have been soothing in another circumstance.
"Stop! Stop!" Spencer pleaded, his skin crawling as whatever she'd injected him with began to enter its final stages. Cool fingers brushed over his overheating skin in a calming motion.
"Shhh. Get some sleep, Baby. Get some sleep."