Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds, any of its characters or any references I make to the contents of the TV show belong to the people who created them and the networks that produce them. I just can't resist borrowing them on occasion.

I do not own Supernatural, Jensen Ackles (sigh of disappointment) or Jared Padalecki (second sigh of disappointment) whom I've based Dave and Jared on. I just couldn't help myself. I've changed things but you'll still recognize the Winchester brothers and their alter egos.

I DO own Sheriff Hicks (think Michael Biehn), the Wests (Mary, Doug, David, Danny and Donnie) as well as Rachel Dunn.

Deputy Cullen is based on Skeet Ulrich. I again, couldn't help myself. But, think Paul Callen from Miracles. As always, I don't own the characters or the actors. But I sure would like to.

THE SCAVENGERS

Exhausted beyond words from pulling the two men up the hole, Sheriff Hicks dropped the rope and wiped his slick hands on his trousers. Once they were moderately clean, he wiped at his brow where sweat had built up during his exertions.

"Are they okay?" Hicks called out to his deputy. He could see the two men sprawled in the wet grass but he wanted his subordinate to confirm his hypothesis while he worked at untying the rope. Who knew, they may need the stupid thing again. Now that the rain was falling harder, he was having trouble pulling the short end out of its knot.

"Well, okay is a relative term," Cullen responded as he moved over to Hotch. The FBI agent seemed to be in the worse shape of the two of them. It was hard to examine him, though, Reid wasn't letting go for anything. As he knelt down on the other side of Hotch, Cullen realized that Aaron had a death grip on Reid's arm. Apparently he didn't want to be separated either. It had been a very long journey for both of them. "They're both alive. I think Dave may even be able to walk on his own, for a little while anyway."

"That's goo....." Hicks was cut off when he felt something cold and round bury itself into his right shoulder blade. Going still as a statue, Hicks scanned his immediate area with his eyes. All he could really see was the damned tree trunk, he'd still been arguing with the knot.

Instantly on alert, Cullen turned toward his boss. All he could see at his current position was Hicks crouched beside the tree, completely still. That in and of itself sent warning bells through the deputy's mind. Hicks wouldn't just be standing there if he had a choice. With the rain and the raid, they needed to get the two agents and the bounty hunter someplace warm and safe. Preferably somewhere that was highly populated by law enforcement personnel.

"What do you want?" Hicks said, a little louder than necessary. He wanted to make sure his deputy heard him.

"You," came a guttural answer. The rifle left the sheriff's shoulder long enough for the butt to impact the back of his head. Darkness descended.

What the hell? Cullen thought as he came to his feet. As he watched, Hicks crumpled to the ground. In his place was a man holding a rather impressive looking rifle. He was wearing fatigues that had seen better days but had the bearing of a soldier.

"Put your gun down," the man barked, pointing the rifle at the prone Hicks. Even from this distance Cullen could tell that the sheriff was unconscious.

"Who are you?" Cullen asked being careful to keep his hands away from his body. He also tried to move a little toward the man who was standing along the tree line. Then he heard a rifle to his right being cocked. Their assailant wasn't alone. Going still, Cullen looked toward the sound. A second and third fatigued man stood there, rifles pointed at him.

"Well now, that doesn't matter much. Just give us your gun and we won't hurt the other three," the first man said, a very satisfied smirk on his poke marked face.

Knowing something bad was happening, Reid pulled Hotch a little closer and gazed through his wet bangs at the men. They were survivalists, even more hard core than the colonists below them. Glancing down at his boss's face, Reid was relieved to see that Hotch too was aware of something going on. "There are three of them," Reid said quietly as he continued to scan around them.

"Make that six of them," Dave said from behind Reid. He'd reacted instantly, gaining his feet and trying to put himself between the threat and the two injured agents.

It was while Dave scanned the tree line all around them that he'd spied the last three riflemen. They'd made sure to surround the group, taking out the most obvious threat first. Now they were concentrating their attention on the next logical threat, only occasionally glancing at the three men who were obviously injured. Dave wasn't sure but he thought he might be able to turn that to his advantage. It was better at the moment when they were outnumbered to play sick. They'd underestimate him in the long run.

"Don't do anything to antagonize them. We're out numbered and out gunned," Dave grated. He hated feeling this helpless but there wasn't anything he could currently do about it. The exchange between Deputy Cullen and the riflemen continued but Dave concentrated all his efforts on pulling his cell phone out of his pocket without letting any of their captors see. There was no signal. Somehow that didn't really surprise him but as stealthily as he was able, he took pictures of all six men and then hid the cell under a long tuft of grass that the rope had pulled through. With any luck, when Jared came looking for him he'd find the cell and have some idea what had happened. He hoped.

"Enough!" the first man barked, startling the four conscious men. "Get them on their feet."

Silently, the other five men entered the clearing. It was hard to pick out features. All of the men's faces were painted with camouflage paint. All that they could really see were their eyes but that didn't give them any feeling of comfort. To a man, their eyes were icy and hard.

They skirted the well and advanced on the agents and Dave. Deputy Cullen was itching to go check on his boss but he figured that wouldn't go over well. Instead, he allowed one of the riflemen to relieve him of his department issued side arm and his gun belt. Dave had been right. There wasn't any point in fighting. Gritting his teeth, Cullen stood quietly, one of the riflemen shadowing him, while the other four moved in on Reid, Hotch and Dave. It took every ounce of self control he possessed to keep from tackling the nearest one.

"They're injured. Please be careful with them," Cullen said. He watched as Hotch was pulled from Reid's grasp and the young genius pulled to his feet. As soon as he reached an upright position, Reid's leg almost gave out. The rifleman who'd pulled him up had been watching. Instead of letting him fall to the ground, he belt, got his shoulder under Reid's stomach and pulled him into a fireman's carry. Sputtering, Reid tried to protest but had trouble pulling breath in the awkward position. All ready his hip and thigh screamed in protest.

"They're going to be a whole lot more injured if they give us any trouble," the first man said. He prodded Sheriff Hicks with the toe of his boot. The only response was a low moan. Cursing under his breath, the man kicked out, connecting with the sheriff's left side, hard. The motion rolled him over onto his back. The rain falling on his upturned face forced Hicks to slowly come back to himself. Bending down, the man relieved him of his gun belt. Inside were his radio, cuffs, tazer, cell and night stick.

"Just so you don't cause any trouble," the man said as he peered down at the sheriff's face. Taking the cuffs in hand, he rolled Hicks onto his stomach and used his own handcuffs to secure his arms behind his back. Satisfied, he pulled the man to his feet and propelled him toward where his companions were.

The back of Hicks' head was on fire. The blow had ruptured the skin, leaving a trail of blood running down the back of his neck. As well, a large goose egg was developing. Hicks knew from the way his vision was swimming that he probably had at least a mild concussion. Shit, just what he didn't need at the moment.

"You seem to be very concerned about trouble," Reid said, having gained control over his breathing. "What kind of trouble are you expecting?"

"Oh, you're one of those ones are you?" the man asked as he strode up to the genius, his long hair hanging over his face as he continued to be suspended upside down along the rifleman's back. "I'll give you one warning. Keep your mouth shut. The more you talk the more trouble you'll be in."

"Be careful with him!" Cullen ordered as he automatically stepped forward. Two of the riflemen were hoisting Hotch between them. As soon as they put pressure on his side, Hotch cried out and struggled weakly to get away.

"Shut up!" the first man screamed. He struck out at Cullen, sending him rocking back on his heels. He had to stagger back a couple of steps to keep from falling. While Cullen was disorientated, the man spun him around, caught hold of his cuffs and similarly restrained him. Damn but these cops were trouble. "You all keep your traps shut otherwise I'll be putting something in them."

"Get 'em going," the man instructed his fellow riflemen. With a shove, Dave was propelled in the direction they wanted him to go. Just when he thought they were safe. He should have known with the way their lives had been going that no place was safe. Another shove and Dave was scrambling to remain upright. Ahead of him, Hicks and Cullen allowed themselves to be forced into the trees. They weren't willing to take a chance of the two agents being hurt and they were all ready several yards in front of them.

The rain had started to let up, the lightning dissipating during the entire encounter. But now that they were back under the tree branches, the water that had gathered on the leaves dropped to earth. It never failed that they somehow found the one spot on the captives' clothes that allowed them to travel under their collar, down the spine or anywhere else that was particularly miserable. Within minutes, all five of them were trembling with cold. Their captors ignored this, however, and continued to push them further into the dense forest. What light had been available from the dark clouds quickly vanished, leaving the three of them stumbling over downed trees, rocks and undergrowth. They'd gone from heaven to hell in a matter of minutes.

Okay. What do you think? Have I stretched it too far? Also, I wanted to apologize in advance. I keep switching Dave's name for Doug. Don't know why but if you see it please ignore it. I'm doing my best!

Susanne