Coming Together
Disclaimer: I do not own any of characters in this story that you recognize, the ones that you don't I'll take credit for!
Notes: Thanks for the encouragement. Like I promised, here is an update the next day because people seem interested. People seemed to like the first chapter. We'll see how everyone feels after this chapter. Hopefully not too many death threats or disappointment.
Warning: Slight slash. Reid reminds me so much of a friend of mine who is gay that I can't ever see him as straight, even though the show has had him stumbling around two or three girls.
Summary: SLASH Reid had always felt that public speaking was bad for his health, he just didn't know how much. Now he finds himself being held hostage, his team his only hope.
The reaction from the team was immediate; all at once people started talking.
"Where is Reid?" Morgan asked.
"Did someone try his cell?" Prentiss questioned.
"What time was his lecture supposed to be at?" Rossi wondered.
"Hotch are you telling us that Spence is there? Now? That he might be inside the building with the shooter?" JJ asked, her tone sounding a little more frightened then the rest of her teammates due to her lack of ability to hide her emotions when it came to Reid.
"HOLD ON!" Garcia exclaimed, quieting everyone for a moment and causing them to turn to her. She cleared her throat, clearly overcome with emotion at the thought of Reid being caught in the school with a shooter. She refused to think of him and shot or dead but the knowledge that he was in great danger caused her to shiver before continuing. "My little junior G-man is at that school, right now, with a shooter? Why are we all still sitting here? We need to help him, get him out of there!" She exclaimed, a tear breaking free and sliding slowly down her cheek.
"Everyone needs to calm down and think rationally. We do not know for sure that Reid is still inside the building. He might have turned his phone off for the lecture and might have evacuated already." Hotch started, knowing full well that he did not believe what he was saying. "We need to stick with what we do know and then we can move forward. Garcia, I want you to try and get a location of Reid's cell phone, let's know if he is still on campus or not. JJ, get in touch with whoever is leading the negotiations with the shooter or shooters and get us an invitation to help with negotiations, try not to let them know that one of our own might be in there. Morgan and Prentiss, I want you to look at a map of the campus, see where the shooter most likely is and where he might be going next, and remember there may be more than one. We are working this case like we have been invited and as soon as we can we will be out there. Keep a level head, everyone." Hotch said, using an authoritative voice to try and calm everyone down to the point where they would be able to do their job. He surveyed his team, he could see the fear in their eyes and he hoped that he was masking his own well enough. Reid held a special place in everyone's hearts and he didn't know what would happen to his team if something happened to Reid.
The team broke apart to do what they needed to do, all except Rossi and Hotch.
"I have to talk to Strauss, let her know that one of our agents might be in the heart of that shooting and that we will be working on the case. Will you oversee what the others are doing?" Hotch asked. Rossi nodded but kept from saying anything. "We both know how this is most likely to end," Hotch said looking at Rossi.
"Suicide or suicide by cop," Rossi confirms. Both men sighed before standing and straightening up and leaving the conference room to make themselves useful.
** Strayer University ** Woodbridge Campus ** Lecture Hall 1 ** 1:35 pm **
"So are there any questions?" Reid asked after he felt that he had spoken enough about the positive outcomes of having a bachelor's degree in psychology. Four or five hands shot up right away and Reid felt hopeful that his lecture was interesting and students had questions. Reid pointed to a boy with sandy blond hair in the front row.
"What is it like working for the FBI and the BAU?" he asked.
"Um…well…it is very rewarding. I see things that most people will hopefully never have to see in their lives, showing the true depravity of some human beings. But there is always a reason to keep fighting and the cases that we do win allow us to also see the true virtue in people. They are the reason that this job is worthwhile and they are the reason that each and every member of my team get up in the morning and are able to do what we do," Reid answered honestly. He then pointed to a female in the back with long brown hair and bright blue eyes.
"Have you ever killed someone?" she asked. A small shudder went through Reid's body before he answered her.
"We do what we need to do on the job with minimal loss of life. Sometimes that does not always work out the way we hoped or planned it to." He stated. It may have been a political answer but it was also the truth, anytime a member of his team had to kill someone it was in order to save the lives of others. It may not have justified in the loss to some but to them that is how they categorized it.
Reid looked out into the crowded lecture hall for another student to call on, hoping this next question will not be as personal. He decided on a fairly young looking female all the way to the right of the lecture hall in the far back corner. For a brief moment, before he called on her, he wondered why someone so young was at this lecture but remembering his own childhood he overlooked it and called on her.
"How old are you?" she asked, Reid almost didn't hear her because she spoke so softly. She seemed to be attempting to announce her question but her small frame and soft voice made it hard for him to hear.
"I'm 28, as of last week I am 28," he answered; it seemed like a slightly strange question and certainly seemed out of place.
"And you already have 3 PhD's and 2 bachelors?" She said, not waiting for him to call on someone else.
"Yes?" Reid answered with a questioning undertone, lowering his head slightly to hide his blush. This is was not an unusual question for him to have to answer. However, when he looked back up at her she did not look at him like he was a freak, instead she looked amazed and awed by his intelligence.
"What are you? A genius or something?" the sandy haired boy in the front asked with an extremely confused look on his face, this was a look he was more familiar with. It made the small girl's look of wonder stand out even more in his mind.
Reid let out a breath that he didn't realize he was holding and was about to answer the question that he had heard time and again but he was cut off by the sound of an automatic gun going off nearby. The gunshots lasted less than two minutes but it seemed like a lifetime. Reid immediately dropped into a low crouch and moved closer to the desk for cover, one hand going automatically to the holster holding his gun.
Looking around the class he realized there were no windows. He had no idea if the shots came from the second floor of the first and he didn't know if he should take charge or let the teacher. Knowing that professors were trained specifically for this situation he allowed Professor Jones to take charge.
The students were panicking. They were quickly scrambling from their seats and looking for exits. The professor looked to Reid for instruction or some kind of sign that this wasn't as bad as he thought it was but Reid offered no hope. The fact that he had to reach for his gun in the first place left him wondering how bad this day was going to be and if he was going to make it out alive.
Professor Jones quickly took action and told the students that it is standard procedure that no one leaves the classroom until they are told to. If there was a shooter, and he stressed the "if," they would be safer in the classroom until someone could clear their exit. He appointed three students closest to each exit to lock each of the doors leading in and out of the classroom.
Reid looked around as two boys from opposite ends of the front row locked each of the doors on the bottom of the theater seating. The young girl that asked Reid about his age was climbing back up to the top of the theater to lock the door at the top. Just as she reached the door it flew open and two boys, each carrying a weapon ran inside and locked the door behind them. One had blood splatter on their clothes, brown hair, brown eyes and shabby clothing; the other looked relatively clean, wearing what appeared to be designer clothing, blond hair and blue eyes.
The boy with blood on his shirt seemed exhilarated yet panicked, his breath coming out in large gasps while the clean boy seemed calm and resigned to his fate. Reid quickly took note of these differences. He stored them in the back of his mind hoping that he would be able to use this information later on during negotiations, if they happened at all.
"Everyone down at the front," the blond haired boy yelled. Some students screamed in fright but most began to move to comply, "On your knees, facing us," he instructed. They all seemed to pause when they noticed that not everyone was being so compliant.
Reid stared at the one boy that did not move, he stood there staring at the shooters as if he couldn't believe what was happening.
"Seriously?" he seemed to mutter out. Reid analyzed his body language easily; he didn't see the shooters as a threat, even though they had guns pointed at him and his classmates.
"If it isn't one of the masterminds?" the lighter haired boy sneered.
"Jesus, you two fags still crying over that?" he bit back. Reid's eyes widened, shocked that this kid was taking on two very armed shooters. Had he not heard the shots fired earlier? Did he think they were just warning shots? Did he think they were not capable of killing someone?
"I told you; until they pay they will never see the error in what they have done. Go ahead, show him how serious you are," the calm boy said softly to the other boy.
He didn't reply his eyes ablaze; he no longer looked crazed or panicked, just angry. Reid took notes that with this target in front of him his whole demeanor changed. He just slowly lifted the gun and let a round fly. The boy that refused to comply and had the nerve to talk back was hit at least three or four times, from what Reid see, and fell quickly. Reid didn't have to check for a pulse, the boys lifeless eyes were staring at him and Reid felt like he was blaming him for not doing something. Reid shuttered and turned away from his gaze, trying to focus on how to keep the rest of the students safe. No one else was challenging the shooters and he moved to also comply.
Knowing his gun and credentials would be a red flag if the shooters were to find them Reid quickly and silently placed both in an open drawer of the professor's desk. With just his messenger bag strapped over his shoulder he looked like one of the students or perhaps a teacher's aide (something he had once joked about), for once his small stature and young age was an advantage.
He quickly joined the other students on his knees. He knew this was a bad sign, they were setting them up for execution, showing no remorse by having the victims face the killer.
"Who's in charge here?" Asked the calm one. He had a look in his eyes that Reid didn't like as he watched the boy scan the crowd, clearly looking for an older individual.
Professor Jones snuck a small sad smile in before raising his hand and standing up tall, "That would be me boys." Reid tried to motion to him not to say anything but the look of resignation in his eyes lead Reid to believe he knew what he was getting himself into. He was motioned to move forward and he did so without complaint. Reid shut his eyes and looked away; not having the stomach to just sit by and watch what he knew was going to happen next.
Those were his last words before a quick round of bullets quieted him forever. He dropped to the ground less than six feet from Reid. As much as he wanted to check on him he stayed put, at this time the shooters thought all authority figures had been taken care of and if he identified himself then he would be the next target. He knew he was no good to any of these students dead.
Reid saw some students look to him, hoping that he would do something but he discreetly shook his head. He knew he had to assess the situation before anything else.
The dark haired boy seemed to be even more panicked as he watched the blood pool around the professor's body. Reid took this remorse as a sign that the professor was not necessarily part of the plan. His clear panic showed Reid that he wasn't fully committed to what was going on, he would be the weak link and who Reid would address in hopes of getting him to give himself up.
Reid wasn't the only one who noticed some dissention in the dark haired boy's eyes. His light haired counterpart recognized the look and anger bloomed within him.
The panicked boy looked ready to shoot himself as he paced back and forth running his hands through his hair; he was mumbling something that Reid couldn't hear. Apparently his partner could hear and after shooting the panicked boy a look of anger and disgust he charged down the stairs and grabbed the small girl who had failed to lock the door before they entered. He dragged her back up the stairs and placed the gun to her temple. She let out a cry of fear and tears started to stream down her face as her eyes locked eyes with Reid's.
Reid knew that he brought her back up the stairs to solidify his position above his victims, to assert his power. He also knew that the fact that he had a hostage would make things so much more difficult when negotiating. She looked so frightened in his arms and Reid feared that he would be watching this little girl die today. What happened next was something he did not expect.
"Mikey?" The small girl who was being held said. Reid automatically honed in on the conversation, memorizing every word. If she knew the shooter he would be able to use their interaction to understand them better, why they are doing this, and how he can stop them. One name down or at least a variation of the name, and one more to go.
"Lizzy, what are you doing here?" The boy, now identified as Mikey or Michael, stated. He now looked extremely agitated with a hint of fear.
"Why are you doing this?" Lizzy sobbed out. Her body shook with sobs and her eyes were blurry with tears. Mikey's hands went up, in a sign of surrender, as he approached. She flinched away from him and he stopped.
"Let her go Jim," Mikey said, sounding stronger than his dominate partner for the first time. Reid categorized yet another name alone with the behavioral patterns he was beginning to notice. Mikey appeared to be the submissive on in the relationship but was taking on a dominate persona when addressing Jim in regards to Lizzy. Jim was not faltering; he still seemed determined and strong.
"You know I can't. You know this. Don't be stupid Mike," Jim said.
"She wasn't supposed to be on campus today, she didn't even have classes, let her go." Mike said back, still keeping his own with his dominate partner.
"They are all guilty, maybe she didn't do anything to us yet, but she would have. They all do, in the end," Jim sounded detached. Reid knew that he was not going to give himself up; he planned to go out in a blaze of glory and take as many other people with him as possible. He focused his attention on Mike, he was uncertain and sweating, clearly the submissive partner in the relationship. The only reason that he seemed to be speaking out of turn now was because of Lizzy's presence. Reid knew that Jim would soon tire of him and shoot him; he was ready to shoot anyone who got in his way. He did not expect what happened next.
"She wasn't guilty! Not even close! She was a victim like us!" Mikey exclaimed once more. Agitated, he grabbed his gun again and pointed it at Jim and Lizzy. She screamed, praying that it wasn't meant for her. Reid moved to stand, now that their attention was not focused on the group he might be able to get his gun and disarm Jim. He moved slowly towards the desk as he listened in on the boy's angry confrontation.
"You going to turn on me too? You going to try and take me down a peg? Just like everyone else? I see your true colors now," Jim said as he released Lizzy slightly and pointed his gun at Mike.
Three shots were fired rapidly, the students screamed, and Reid knew he was too late.
So a little more information in this chapter. You also got to see how much hot water Reid was in! Next chapter gets the team involved and reveals who was shot. As usual I like to know that people are reading and enjoying so let me know. I will reward with quick updates. If I see people liking it, there will be an update by the evening or the early the next day.