Twenty Seven Minutes
A Criminal Minds Story
Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds
It all happened so quickly.
Their entire world flipped, turning inside out in exactly 27 minutes.
Only 27 minutes.
Special Agent Aaron Hotchner of the FBI stood completely oblivious in the middle of the chaotic crowd. People were running and screaming from all different directions. Everyone was a blur as they whirred past him shoving and pushing. It was tangled mass of legs and arms as they all tried to reach safety. Hotch could vaguely hear the urgings of other agents and officer as they secured a perimeter getting the citizens out of harm's way. He had gotten there as quick as he could, but it would be too late.
Four gunshots resonated through the air.
Three seconds of absolute silence followed. All eyes were on the bank as they waited for some sort of sign.
"Agent down," A pained voice rasped through the microphone attached to his ear that allowed Hotch to communicate with all of his team. Hotch opened his mouth to yell when another familiar voice screamed,
"NO!"
Aaron started to run towards the bank doors, all thoughts on his fallen agent inside, but instead of bursting through those doors and carrying his agent to the waiting ambulance he was stopped by 2 officers. He fought to push them off.
"Agent Hotchner. You can't go in there, it's not secured," The HRT Captain yelled.
"Watch me." Hotch stated pushing back Agent Bentley.
"Stand down Agent. If you go in there now, you will put everyone at risk, including your agent inside and the other hostages. You got that, so stand down. Let my team handle it."
"My Agent is injured and could possible need immediate medical attention, along with what could be other injured hostages. So either get out of my way, or I will make you."
"If you do that Agent I will have no choice, but to make it my priority to get you and your team fired from the bureau. You're just going to get your agent killed and other hostages. So Let me do MY job."
It was a battle of will and authority. The two highly ranked men not willing to back down. Hotch breathed in slowly. He knew the HRT member was right. He looked at the bank doors one more time. Then he looked to his right where an angry Agent Derek Morgan was fighting his way through five officers and Agent Prentiss was battling through three others. Dr. Spencer Reid stood with his fists clenched by the side of Agent Rossi who desperately tried to get the Unsub's back on the phone to see what happened.
Turning back to Agent Bentley, Hotch nodded.
"You have 20 minutes to resolve this situation or my team and I go in … and if anything happens to my agent I will make it my priority to get you kicked out of the Bureau," He warned turning away from the agent who began barking orders. At that moment Agent Hotchner repeated two words that he would regret for a very, very long time. "Stand down."
And his team did.
They stopped trying to get inside that bank.
They stopped screaming for their friend.
A mutual understanding passed between them as they gazed at their boss.
But as another muffled gasp of pain vibrated through their microphones,
One agent found the opportunity and took off, sprinting towards the bank doors.
"No! -"
The desperate cry of four FBI Agents was drowned out by the shrill crack of thunder erupting through the air.
As their running agent neared the large doors another gunshot rang out and the sound of shattered glass pierced through the thunderous storm.
Okay! How is it?
Thank you for reading!
-HCB