A little POV from each character.

Happy reading!


Jennifer couldn't lift her eyes from the contrasting movement of shadow and light that was created on the faded green carpet. Her eyes blurred in and out of focus. Sleep had begun to threaten again when a familiar vibration took hold. The thumping sound became louder and as its intensity grew her body began to move with the vessel as it it reacted to the oscillations. Her curiosity was heightened but she didn't look up. Instead she kept her eyes on the sunlit floor. She found comfort in the light beating the darkness.

A large shadow interfered with the ones she was staring at. A slight sense of irritation took hold. She looked up only with her eyes to see what intruder blocked the welcoming warmth. A dark figure stood over the two of them. She flinched as it came into view but slowly calmed as her blue eyes met his soft brown ones.

She heard her name and felt his touch. It was so distant but it slowly set her mind at ease. She watched his movements and listened to his voice but she could not comprehend any of them. She suddenly became aware of other people moving hurriedly around her and Emily. Strange people came into her eye line. She closed her eyes in fear and tried desperately to hold onto what was familiar.

When her hand was removed from Emily she reacted and pleaded. "No!"

The hands began touching and pulling at her. His voice was back and she turned all her focus to understand his words.

"JayJe, it's okay! You're safe now! Let them help."

She opened her eyes and felt relief in her final recognition of him.

"Derek." She breathed out.

"Yeah baby, it's me. We're going to get you out of here."

JJ relaxed enough for the men to put her on the hard board. She welcomed the warm blanket and closed her eyes again in conceit.


The pace in which they approached the scene was not quick enough for Derek. They had made visual contact miles ago. The two Coast Guard rescue helicopters made it first to the isolated boat. It was drifting lifelessly almost a non-existent dot in the vast expanse of blue surrounding it. He watched the choppers circling the boat sudden regret filled him for not pushing harder to be on board one of them instead of the rescue boat.

Morgan traded from pacing to looking through his binoculars. He was frustrated that he couldn't see any movement or anyone at all. He looked over to Hotch, which fueled his irritation even more. He stood standing motionless arms crossed staring into the distance. The only emotion was the scowl on his face. He really couldn't expect much more from him, but with two of their own in a dire situation he wanted someone else to reinforce his own overflowing emotions. A voice over the radio got his attention and he paused to concentrate on the words.

"Confirmed, three bodies. Single male two females."

Derek's heart raced and he turned to his still unmoving leader.

"Bodies? Hotch!" He could not hide the frantic nature of his words.

Aaron leaned on the rail. "Morgan." Was all he said a slight warning in his tone.

"Hotch how are you so calm? Emily and JayJe are out there and there is no confirmation they're even alive!"

Hotch turned his eyes to the dark agent. "We're not going to do them any good by losing our cool. We don't have all the facts yet."

Derek was going to argue his point more when the voice returned.

"We have movement, one potential survivor."

The lack of description was tipping his anger. He could care less if the pathetic man on board was alive. He needed to know the movement was from JJ or Emily and hopefully both.

He heard Hotch responding to the radio chatter. "Male or female?"

"Female, blonde."

"Any movement from the other female?"

"Nothing voluntary at the moment. We need to board and extract any survivors. Requesting deployment."

Derek looked at Hotch. "We need to get there!"

"There's a problem, we don't know where the other Turner brother is."

Derek wanted to punch a wall. Time was of the essence, every minute that passed was one too many. JJ was confirmed alive but for how long he didn't know. Emily's state was still unclear. His throat tightened at the possibility.

"So we board with caution prepared for the Unsub to still be on the boat."

Hotch didn't acknowledge Derek and pulled his radio up again. "Reid, do you and Rossi have any information on the other brother?"

"No," Reid responded.

Derek watched as the two boats the agents occupied came up feet from the floating vessel. Spencer and Rossi stood as ready as Derek did to board.

When his eyes landed on Rossi he felt a strong desire to blame him. If he had not been on vacation, Emily would not have been alone to check on JJ. He tried to shake the feeling; he knew it was irrational. JJ had Morris with her and everything still unraveled. He was aware that blaming wouldn't do any good. He just wanted to find a constant train of thought that gave him any comfort.

Everyone's eyes were trained on the two women now in full view. It was clear the man was dead. Emily lay in an almost fetal position; her head lay on JJ's leg. JJ was sitting in an upright position leaning against the steering column.

A slight movement caught his eye. JJ's hand slowly swayed back and forth on the bare arm of her companion. He could not tell if her eye were open, although it looked like they were but fixated on a spot on the floor.

His observation was broken by Spencer's voice over the radio, "Coast Guard just found a body floating a quarter of a mile from here. It's male; his face is badly beaten and unrecognizable. His build and height consistent with James Turner."

"Good enough for me," Morgan said under his breath.

Hotch nodded at him and he took the signal and boarded the boat. He nearly flew to the other deck. He leaped over Dale's body not giving it a second look, his entire focus on the fallen agents.

In his anticipation to get to them he realized he wasn't fully prepared for what the realistic condition he would find his friends in. They were briefed on what they might expect, he knew what the animals were capable of. He has seen hundreds of victim photos, and bodies of what men like this can do. All of them were victims, nameless people he could detach himself from. He knew he was far from detached and the feelings that swarmed his body were ones he never wanted to experience. They were of dread, fear and hopelessness.

He had to stop steps from them. He looked at the two strong women broken and clinging to the small threads of life that dangled in front of them. They were losing their grips and Derek wanted so desperately tighten their holds.

He wanted to look away and not see that Emily wasn't moving. Her shirt was torn and tattered; it barely covered any of her once ivory skin. Now she was a canvas of blues, purples and red. Her face revealed more of the physical pain she endured, swollen and marred. He leaned in to check if his worst fears were realized when JJ's eyes caught his.

He directed himself to her. "JayJe." He whispered gently reaching out to her.

He was almost afraid to touch her. Her face mirrored that of Emily's. Her throat adorned the same red bruising, and her eyes swollen and red. The sparkle that always had accompanied her blue eyes was faded, reflecting pain and distance.

What remained of her shirt was soaked in blood. His stomach turned as he looked at the angry cuts all over and torso. He tried to comfort her with his words but could tell she was not fully present. He redirected himself to Emily. He was afraid to feel for a pulse, he was not prepared on how to react if there was not one. Tentatively he placed his finger on her swollen throat. The sudden movement of her arm took him aback. Her hand shot up grabbing his wrist. Her grip was weak but he could feel her putting all of her effort into tightening a hold. Her eyes were wide with panic.

Derek let out his breath seeing she was alive. But the person behind the dark eyes was not the Emily he knew. Fear had taken over.

"It's okay, you're safe." He said trying to console her.

He knew she didn't hear him, her eyes shown a frantic distance. She was seeing something else, a horrifying scene, one of pain. Derek felt completely helpless that nothing he could say or do would comfort her.

As the Medevac team stepped in he didn't want to move away. JJ seemed more responsive to the help but the rescue was not going as he had hoped. He let out a sigh as he watched the frenzied movements in front of him.


Morgan's pacing and anxiety filled the air. Aaron almost wished he were on the other boat with Reid or Rossi. He was using every tool he had to combat his own anxiety and Morgan's was shaking his abilities. He needed to stay poised and strong. He couldn't let the situation affect his ability to lead this team. That wall was slowly crumbling as he could only picture the state his two agents, his two friends, were in.

He didn't need to imagine what they had endured. They studied it every day, got into the minds of these monsters to understand them. They looked at the pictures, talked to victims, and examined their almost unrecognizable bodies. They were the ones that put a stop to them not be the victims. The thought twisted in his gut and he could only react by standing taller and try to reassure his crumbling agents that they will get them safe. He held his doubt tightly to his chest.

When confirmation came of James Turner he followed Morgan on board but did not run to them as Derek did. He found himself frozen feet from them. He may have appeared stoic to the others but fear froze him in his place. He stood back so the medics could save what was left of his friends. His heart ached and his throat tightened.

He felt helpless, there was no order he could give that would help their state or change the circumstances. He almost wished the brothers weren't dead so he could find some satisfaction in them paying for their sick acts.

He watched the scene unfold trying not to look at the beaten bodies of Emily and JJ. They were following orders that led then to this state. His orders they did not even flinch to take. He knew he couldn't fully blame himself, they knew the job and the danger but this was not something he never anticipated happening. They were routine assignments, ones they have no concern about on their daily basis.

Now he had to stand emotionless because if anyone could see past him he would never be able to look anyone in the eyes again.


"We've found them." Dave tried to reassure Spencer, but his words had fallen on deaf ears. Everyone was tired of trying to be positive and ease each other's minds. They were at a point that they needed results and a positive conclusion to the tragedy.

It was hard for him not to feel somewhat responsible for the events unfolding as they had. He also knew no good would come from rehashing all of the what ifs. Their job possessed unseen dangers. Emily and JJ's tasks had been typically routine and benign. Even with that reasoning he knew events would have hopefully unfolded differently if he had been there, and extra layer of protection.

As their boat pulled up to the isolated vessel he glanced to their leader. He stood poised and almost emotionless, but Dave saw through the cracks exposing the uncertainty and fear to what they were really about to encounter. Derek's immediate movement put him in motion. He saw Derek avoid Turner but Dave paused to make sure the monster really had vacated their world and hopefully burning and tortured in a new realm.

He rose and nodded his findings to Hotch. Aaron returned the gesture but brought his attention back around to their main focus. He once again felt as helpless as he had when he got the call from Aaron that the girls were missing. At least working to find them he could keep his emotions in check, but now there were no more interviews to conduct, files to pore over, or monster's minds to invade. They have one positive conclusion, that they found them. The next chapter was one he couldn't use his profiling skills to help write. It wasn't up to him, and no amount of experience would help save JJ and Emily now. He had to trust that they got to them in time, and in the hands of the right medical professionals. A task he was not sure he'd be able to accomplish so easily.


Every stabbing breath and slight jostler was enough to send Emily to the edge. Her lungs screamed with fire with every ragged breath. She lay as still as she could so the smallest breathe was enough to keep her alive. She kept her eyes closed concentrating on control, compartmentalizing the pain. She focused on anything that was not tearing, stabbing, or shooting. She was failing and it was almost unendurable.

She clung to the one comfort she felt and ignored the pain her face felt as it lay on JJ's leg. She focused on its warmth and support. JJ's hand that gently rubbed her arm was one constant that kept Emily holding on to not let the darkness that loomed in front of her win. She would occasionally drift into a painful sleep. Her dreams were vivid reminders of what had happened. She could feel each blow as if they were occurring right then. She tried to run but constantly fell. She could only crawl away, but James grew in size and overshadowed her. She could hear him laughing eyeing her with his evil grin. He leaned in and grasped at her. When the hands reached her throat she suddenly felt JJ's touch leave her. Her constant light and warmth was gone and only evil darkness remained. She did all she could to block the attack. Her hands took hold of a wrist and tried to squeeze. Her intent was to break bones.

Her eyes tried to focus and all she could see was evil and intent of death. She so badly wanted to focus and really see the face in front of her, it seemed familiar but was unable to see past the blur of the pain. Suddenly Emily felt cold and more unfamiliar hands touch her and she felt herself being moved. An excruciating pain coursed through her entire body. She couldn't breath; something was choking her. She felt her eyes open but she could only see colors and spots dancing in front of them. A beautiful blue light flashed in front of her and suddenly the pain was gone.


Spencer watched the team rush the boat. He was one step behind Rossi. His eyes darted from the lifeless body of Dale Turner to the equally motionless ones a few feet from him. He wanted to avert his eyes from the badly beaten bodies of two women he calls his friend and most importantly his family. His brain was a constant stream of facts and pictures of the case and other woman. His stomach turned as the images in his mind were mirrored in front of him. He tried to remember the probability of survival to counteract the negative emotions and reality of the situation. All he could do was analyze the scene. He watched as Morgan paced, taking small opportunities to try to be supportive and comforting. When he was pushed away anger flashed on his face.

Hotch stood a few feet back letting the medics work. He had no emotion on his face. He stood with his arms crossed and the only movement was his eyes watching people trying to save his agents.

Spencer's eyes followed JJ's body as it was lifted to the helicopter. The rescue swimmer held back and turned his attention to Emily. He found himself turning away when the movement of Aaron stole it. He made eye contact with their once fearless leader who was desperately trying to hide his true fear.

Aaron was about to speak when a scream filled the air. A cry of pain Spencer had never heard coming from Emily Prentiss.

He turned quickly to see what happened.

Morgan spoke to their concerned looks. "All they did was roll her onto the board."

Spencer saw that her eyes were wide with agony and pain. Panic washed over her face as she began to choke. Her body wracked with convulsions as her body fought what was blocking her airway.

"Roll her!" the medic yelled.

Spencer's mind screamed as he watched the crimson blood that came from her mouth and stain the deck below.

His view became blocked from the medics trying to actively save her. He heard their words as they called out. His mind focused on two, distention and rigid.

When the words hit his ears, pages of medical books flashed through his mind. Fact jumped out at him.

Abdominal trauma includes nausea, vomiting. Abdominal pain, distention and rigidity to touch.

Injuries associated with intra abdominal trauma include rib fractures, vertebral fractures, pelvic fractures or other injuries to the abdominal wall.

He tried to shake the facts running in his head. His heart rate began to race even more.

Delayed treatment is associated with an especially high morbidity and mortality if perforation of gastrointestinal intestinal tract is involved.

His own thoughts took his breath away and he had to bend down on his legs.

Morgan pulled up next to him grabbing him before his legs could completely give out.

"Hey, you okay?"

He had to try and catch his breath so he could answer. His eyes watched the two helicopters become small dots in the horizon.

Spencer swallowed trying to rid himself of the lump that had formed in his throat.

"We got here, but did we make it?"

Morgan response did nothing to ease his fears. "I don't know."