The Beauty and the Geek
Elizabeth POV...
"Tell us about the 9-1-1 call." Spencer said from the back seat of the car we were riding in with Nancy Lunde.
"I believe the he that they referred to is the church's leader, Benjamin Cyrus."
"Benjamin Cyrus- no criminal record. No record at all, really. What else do you know about him?" Spencer asked her.
"It's rumored that he's practicing polygamy and forced marriages." Nancy said
"Any idea who the caller is?" I asked, although I was a little distracted by Spence, he had his hair slicked back and was leaning a little close to me from the back so his breath tickled my neck. I still haven't told him how I felt but after Aaron said that if nothing got in the way of work he didn't have a problem with it. I just still can't tell him.
"Uh, Jessica Evanson is the one who the age fits, but... We can't be sure. So I negotiated interviews with all the children. It wasn't easy."
"Well, considering their view on outsiders, It would be best if you didn't identify us as FBI just use our real names, and introduce us as child victim interview experts." I said and we reached the compound.
"I'm looking for Mr.. Benjamin Cyrus." Nancy said as we got out of the car.
"You found him."
"I'm Nancy Lunde. We spoke on the phone regarding the allegation." Nancy said
"Savages, they call us. 'Cause our manners differ from theirs." Cyrus said
"We didn't come here to hear you cite scripture, Mr.. Cyrus."
"Actually, it's Benjamin Franklin." Spencer said
"Elizabeth Hotchner, Spencer Reid. They're child victim interview experts."
"How far from god's word must we have strayed for there to be the need to invent a job called child victim interview expert?" Cyrus asked
"We wish we didn't have to be here." I said
"So do we. But you are welcome, nonetheless. The children are in the school as I indicated."
"Thank you." I said and we walked past him.
"You're using solar power?" Spencer I heard Spencer ask him
"We go to school. We do our chores. And we treat ourselves and each other with the respect god demands." Jessica said as I sat in front of her with Spence behind me.
"But you've never been off of the ranch?" I asked her
"I brought Jessie here when she was 2." Her mother said, 2?
"You've talked to lots of children in your work. Tell me their lives somehow better than ours?" Jessica asked
"We devote ourselves to god. That doesn't mean we're not devoted to our children." her mother said
"We are not here because of your religious beliefs." I said to them
"Why are you here?" Jessica asked
"We received a phone call alleging that an adult male member of your church was having inappropriate relations with the younger women here." I tell her
"You're talking about Cyrus." Jessica said
"What makes you say that?" I asked
"Jessie, come on." Her mother said but she ignored her
"Is it inappropriate for a husband to share a bed with his wife?" Jessica asked
"You are married to Cyrus?"
"Yes. Cyrus is my husband and a prophet. It's an honor to bare his children." She said
"Jessica, you're 15 years old. The state of Colorado requires parental consent." Spencer said and I looked at her mom.
"She gave consent."
Just then one of the male members walks in with some men holding there guns, "Get up! Get up!" The guy said and I stood up feeling Spencer put his hand on my arm but was moved away as the one guy searched us for weapons.
"You heard him! Stand!"
"What's going on?" Nancy asked them
"We just got a very strange phone call from a news reporter. Is there anything you want to tell me? About a raid maybe?" Cyrus asked and looked at us, we were just as shocked as he was, "They don't know."
They ushered us along with everyone else into a tunnel, Spencer was behind me and Nancy was behind him.
"What's going on?" Nancy asked
"I don't know. Just stay calm." Spencer said
"All right, move quietly. Quickly go to the left." Cyrus said and we enter into what looks like a bunker, I move to stand by Spencer, "Everybody stay together. Children listen to your parents. All right, everyone. Down to this end. Have faith."
"Where'd all these guns come from?" I asked looking at the rifles leaning against the wall.
"I don't know. Garcia checked with the state police." Spence said
"Stay together. Remain calm. Everyone remain calm. There is nothing to fear here." Cyrus said to the people
"This is ridiculous." Nancy said to us
"It's OK. Just calm down." I tell her and I see Cyrus talking to the main gun guy.
"All right. Remain calm. Stay quiet. God will protect you." Cyrus said and left.
"It's the state police. I'm an officer of the state." Nancy said to us
"Well, there's nothing we can do right now." I said
"I can talk to him."
"No, you can't. It's dangerous." I said but she didn't listen and heading back into the tunnels, "Nancy, stop! Nancy!" I said trying to go after her and Spencer was trying to pull me back, we get to the front and a man holding a gun stopped us but Nancy made it through.
"Do not fear. We are on the side of the righteous." Cyrus said coming back into the bunker.
"Where's lunde?" I asked
"It wasn't us." He said to me
"What? You can't shoot it out with the cops! You have children here." I said to him
"I didn't start this." He said and turned to the other gunman, "I'll take the roof. You take the tunnel."
Aaron POV...
I was on the none when I hear Morgan yell my name, I hung up and walked out the door.
"The TV. Elizabeth and Reid." He said and I looked at the TV.
No one knows for sure how many people are inside. It is believed at least 3 of the child service members are still trapped within the compound.
Oh no. I thought just then everyone's phones and pagers went off, "All right that means we're the lead with hostage rescue and support. Let's go." I said and headed down the stairs.
Elizabeth POV...
I stood there in front of Spencer and I was chewing on my nail when I heard one guy talking to Cyrus as they came back.
"Miles is dead. He was locking the door when they shot him. Lauren and Robert were asleep in their bed. The bullets came through the wall."
"What about the baby?" Cyrus asked
"I have her. She was at the school." Jessica said coming in with a little girl.
"Hello, darling." Cyrus said walking up to the little girl, "It's all gonna be all right, honey. Mommy and daddy have gone to god. Ok? It's all gonna be all right." He looked at Jessica, "Take her to the temple and pray." Jessica left, "Distribute weapons and ammo. I prayed this day would never come. But it has. God will see us through."
Aaron POV...
"Dave, they've left the choice of negotiators up to me." I tell him as we get to the setup command center.
"I taught most of the hostage negotiation unit. You want a recommendation?" He asked
"I'm making you the lead negotiator." I said
"Me?"
"Why go to the students when I have the teacher?" I asked
"Because the teacher is emotionally involved. So is the agent in command."
"I know I am and believe me I want Elizabeth out of there safely as well as Reid. This is a unique situation. We have 2 agents who could affect the outcome on the inside." I said
"True. But I can't be objective! I know them too well."
"This outcome depends as much on our ability to predict the moves of Elizabeth and Reid as Cyrus. That's why you're the best man for the job." I tell him
"Assuming that Reid and Elizabeth are still in a condition to make moves. I know how bad this is."
"That's why I want you doing the talking." I told him
"All right."
Elizabeth POV...
We got moved to the chapel, I was sitting next to Reid when there was a knock at the door.
"Dave? I'm Ben. Come on in." Cyrus said and I turned my head to look at Rossi, "The children. And our guests."
"I'd hoped you'd let me take the children." Rossi said to him
"Nah, their our protection. I remember Waco. We all do." Cyrus told him
"This isn't Waco."
"They stay for now... While I pray for god's guidance. Please don't try to force us out." Cyrus said to him
"No one's gonna try to force you out of here. Trust me." Rossi said
"Trust is earned." Cyrus said
"It is."
"Tell them I'm not crazy. Tell them I'm just a man living by god's law." Cyrus said to him
"I will." Rossi said and held out his hand, Cyrus shook it then Rossi left.
"Prepare the wine." Cyrus said, me and Spencer managed to move behind everyone and stood there watching two men pour wine into everyone's cup, "We are celebrating. Everyone drinks. Everyone rejoices. Because today we are one day closer to being with him."
"Look at jessica's body language. The way she looks at him." I told Spencer
"She literally worships him. There's no way she made that 9-1-1 call."
"Trust in god with all your heart. Lean not on your own understandings. Trust in mine." Cyrus continued and I see Jessica's mother stand up and walk over to her daughter.
"Look how she comes between Cyrus and her daughter. She's inserted herself between them." I said
"Acknowledge him in all things, and he will guide your way. Drink to acknowledge him. And I will guide our way. We will be with him soon. We have drank the poison together." Cyrus said and I blanched looking at Reid, "Mothers... Fathers... Children, though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we fear no evil. For thou are with us. And god will wipe the tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death nor sorrow nor crying. And there will be no more pain. For all of the former things have passed away."
"What do we do?" I asked Spencer
"Nothing."
"We have to do something. These people just took poison."
"Cyrus just told them he did. I think he's just bluffing." SPencer said
"Why do you think that?" I asked
"Just after he told them about the poison, he waited for them to start to react. Then he nodded to Cole. And he started writing. Look." He said and I saw the guy writing things down, "They're scanning the audience looking for reactions."
"They're writing down the names of the people who are crying."
"It's a loyalty list." He said
"So he knows who will follow him to the end." I pointed out
"Be still. There was no poison." Cyrus said, "Instead a test of faith. Because your adversary, the devil, waltzes about as a roaring lion! Choosing whom he may devour. Watch each other for signs of weakness. You are your brother's keeper."
Later me and Spencer are sitting by ourselves in the room we were in before the tunnels when Cyrus walked in.
"Which one of you is it? Which one of you is the F. B. ?" Cyrus asked and I looked at Spencer.
"Why do you think one of us is an F. B. I. Agent?" Spencer asked him
"God will forgive me for what I must do." Cyrus said and pointed a gun at Spencer, making my heart jump.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about."
"One of you does. Who is it?" Cyrus asked.
"Me." I said and Cyrus and Spencer looked at me, "It's me."
Cyrus put his gun away, walked over to me and grabbed my hair dragging me away, I saw Spencer try to stand up but I shook my head. I was brought into a storage room.
"I told you not to put me in this position!" Cyrus said and smacked me across the face making me fall backwards.
Aaron POV...
I hear Elizabeth grunt as Cyrus hit her, "We gotta go in there." I said taking my headphones off.
"We'd be risking the lives everyone in there." David said to me.
"Get up! Proverbs 20:30 tells us blows and wounds cleanse away evil." Cyrus said
"I can take it." Elizabeth tells him
"Oh, you can take it?" Cyrus asked and I heard her grunt again, What are you doing Elizabeth? I thought to myself.
"Wait-wait. Listen to what she's saying."
"I can take it."
"She's antagonizing him." Morgan said
"She's not talking to him." Rossi said
"She's talking to us. She's telling us not to come in." I said hanging my head
"Pride comes before the fall." I hear Cyrus hit her again, "Tie her up. Put her upstairs."
Elizabeth POV...
I hurt everywhere, Jessica's mother comes into the room to clean my face, she sits down on the side of the bed and puts a rag to my face.
"You should have told Cyrus who you were. He's a prophet. He predicted satan's armies would come and lay siege to us." She said
"There's a name for that kind of prophecy-self fulfilling." I said to her
"You don't know how dangerous it is to lie to him."
"I know it would take a brave woman to defy him, knowing the consequences. And that that woman would have to have a damn good reason to do it." I said and She left.
I'm sorry Aaron.
Spencer POV...
I listened as Cyrus beat Elizabeth, my heart hurt hearing it, why did she have to do that?I continued to stand there when Cryus came back in sitting down to clean his hand, "Did you know she was FBI?" he asked me.
"Nancy told me the woman was a child abuse interview expert from Denver. In 4 years I worked with her, Nancy never lied to me before." I said
"As far as you know. Their law says that a 15-year-old girl is a child. 50 years ago that same law said a 14 year old was an adult. Have children changed so much in 50 years?" Cyrus asked me standing up.
"I can't tell you the number of times I've investigated abuse charges against small religious groups. Almost all of them turn out to be false." I said to
"What do you think of that?" He asked
"Doesn't really matter what I think."
"It does to me." He said
"Why?"
"Because god wants to save you. I mean, that's why he sent you here. That's the reason." Cyrus said
"On the next call, you should test them. Test the negotiator. Make him prove that he isn't a liar." I told him
"How would you suggest I do that?"
"Ask for the identity of the FBI agent." I told him,
"No. We already know her identity." Cole said
"They don't know that." Cyrus said
"Yeah. But the FBI would never tell us." Cole said
"They keep on asking you to release people. Tell him you'll release a kid, and you won't harm the agent. And if they really care about the children, they'll have to tell you." I said
"You're trying to get us to release a child." Cole told me
"It's one kid. If they don't hold up on their end of the deal, you know they can't be trusted."
"He has a point." Cyrus said, "What is it, Christopher?"
"Some have been talking about...Leaving."
"Leaving?" Cryus asked
"Yeah."
"Wake the baby. Let's let them meet the orphan that they've made." Cyrus said
We waited until his phone rang and he answered it, "I will release a child if you tell me the identity of the FBI agent. I promise no harm will come to them from this point forward." There was a pause, "I will send the child now." I see him look out of the chapel then walk back towards me, "Trust is earned." he said, "There's a good chance we can work this out, Dave. I'm gonna provide another sign of good faith." Cyrus said looking at me then hung up the phone.
"Assemble everyone in the chapel. Get Agent Hotchner down here." Cyrus told Christopher and we all gathered in the chapel.
"It has come to my attention that some of our brothers and sisters have lost their faith in god. That they no longer love us. They want to abandon us. So when I call out your name, please stand." Cyrus said and held up a piece if paper, "Todd sutters. Melanie sutters..." He reads names off and I see Elizabeth being brought in and my heart broke looking at her face, I walked over to her stilling looking at her, even with a bruised face she was still beautiful.
"He looks pissed." She said to me and looked at me, "It's not as bad as it looks."
"I'm so sorry." I said
"Don't be." she said and smiled, "Look at who he's releasing." she said and I looked around.
"Wyatt rayborn."
"It's the ones who failed the loyalty test." I said
"Doris beasley."
"We'll get word to the team. Wait for a sign from outside to indicate what time the raid will come." I said to her
"Willis farwell."
I walked over to Cyrus, "I told her she shouldn't have lied to you like that." I said to him
"To either of us. Take her back." Cyrus said and one of his men grabbed Elizabeth and took her away, "Those of you that are standing, please collect your belongings and report to the front hallway immediately."
Elizabeth POV...
I was laying on the bed in the room I was in before with my hands tied behind my back. I lifted my foot to the blinds to get someone's attention.
"If you can hear me, I know you're coming. I can try to get the women and children down to the tunnel, But I need to know when you're coming." I said and waited a few more minutes, "I can try to get the women and children down to the tunnel, But I need to know when you're coming. If you can hear me, I know you're coming. I can-" suddenly I saw a red dot on the wall, "- . I got you. What time? What time?" the dot blinked three times, "3:00 A. M.?" it moved up and down indicating yes, "Understood. Reid is on the first floor somewhere with Cyrus. And please remember there are children here." Just then I hear a noise outside my door, "Someone's coming." I said and put my foot down.
Spencer's POV...
I looked down into the box and saw a message on a container, 3AM.
Just then Cyrus tosses an empty box on top of it and looked at me, "I know what you're thinking. You don't have to be a part of this. You can go." He said
"I think I'd prefer to stay. Somebody needs to tell your story." I told him, also I needed to make sure Elizabeth got out.
"And I'm glad it'll be you. Now that the false believers have been cleared from our midst, we make our final preparations." Cyrus said.
Elizabeth POV...
Jessica's mother enters the room with a glass of water, I sit up as she walks over with a chair sitting down and helping me take a drink, "Cyrus is planning a mass suicide." I told her, "You made the 9-1-1 call."
"This is all my fault. None of this would have happened if I hadn't of made that call." She said
"You were trying to protect your daughter." I told her
"There were other girls before Jessie. He-he would marry them in secret. And after a while, he'd take another. And we weren't permitted to speak of it. And so when she asked for my consent, I wanted to just take her and run. But I was afraid she wouldn't leave him." She said
"You wanted us to take her?" I asked
"Well, I-I wanted to save her from Cyrus."
"I can give you another chance. The FBI is coming here at 3:00 A. M. I need you to gather Jessica, the kids, the other women-" I said and she shook her head standing up, "Get them into the basement just before 3:00 A. M."
"Why are you telling me this?" She asked
"Because I have faith that you are a strong enough woman to do the right thing for Jessica." I said and she left.
A few moments later she came back into the room, "You were right. They're setting the place to blow up. I told Jessie that Cyrus wanted her gather the women and children." She said to me untying my hands.
"Where is the man I came in with?" I asked her
"He's in the chapel with Cyrus. It's 2:45 though. We gotta hurry." She said grabbing my hand and we ran out of the room.
I stood at the end of the hallway and signaled everyone to come forward once I knew it was safe.
I walked first into the tunnel entrance and saw Morgan and Rossi, "Elizabeth. Are you okay?" Morgan said.
"They've wired explosives" I said
"Everybody come on. Let's go this way." Jessica's mother said to everyone, "Let's go kids. Ok. This building's gonna blow up."
"Where's Reid?" Morgan asked
"He's in the chapel with Cyrus." I said to him
"We gotta get you out of here." Rossi said and I shook my head.
"No. We've gotta get Reid!" I said
"Elizabeth, I will get reid. Get out of here. Get to Hotch. Get to safety. Go now." Morgan said and Rossi grabbed my arm trying to get me to leave.
"Cyrus didn't call for this. You lied to me!" Jessica said to her mother
"No, Cyrus lied to you, honey." She said to her daughter
"He can't-he's my husband." Jessica said and headed back inside.
"No!" her mother yelled but Morgan stopped her as she tried to go after her daughter.
"I will get her for you. Rossi, get her out of here." Morgan said.
As we exited the building it blows up, I turn and look at where the chapel used to be.
"Spencer!" I yelled, "Morgan" Come on. I thought to myself as I continued looking for them. Just then I saw Spencer and Morgan stand up, I put my hands over my mouth and let the tears fall. I walked up the steps and Spencer saw me, I wrapped my arms around him in a hug which he returned. Thank you. I looked at Spencer one more time before I heard someone yell my name.
"Elizabeth!" I turned and saw Aaron coming towards me, I let go of Spencer and ran into my brothers arms.
I pulled away when I saw Jessica's mother looking at the building, hoping to see her daughter. My heart broke for her, I walked up to her, I opened my mouth to talk but nothing came out.
Later on the jet I walked out of the back and saw Spencer sitting there reading a book, I sat down in front of him, "Hey"
He gave a quiet hey and looked back at his book, I moved his hands down forcing him to look at me, "I need you to listen to me. What Cyrus did to me is not your fault. It was my decision, and I would do it again. Do you hear me?" I asked and he gave a half smile and looked down. "Thank you." I said still holding his hand, I didn't want to let go, I thought I was never going to see him again. A part of me wanted to tell him, screamed at me to tell him, I just...I can't.