What Matters Most
Reid and Prentiss
Chapter Nine
"Okay," Derek Morgan said, in frustration, as he stood over the bodies of a young mother and two of her children "Doyle got us here, now what?"
Reid answered "Maybe his point is just to break Prentiss down slowly. Make her feel responsible for his carnage."
Morgan said "It feels like more than that. He sent someone after Reid. That's striking out at her in a personal way. As horrible as all this is," he motioned at the room "its not as personal. It's a step removed. The pattern doesn't make sense."
Hotch said "Unless Doyle only wants to get us here to ambush us like he did her former team."
Rossi said "This place is surrounded by law enforcement agents. He won't get closer than a block away."
"Maybe that's as close as he needs to be," Morgan said, as something came to mind to him, due to his former training in Chicago on the bomb squad. "We need to clear this house. Everyone out!"
They all ran out of the room and down the stairs but before they could get out the front door the house was rocked by an explosion.
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The force of the blast threw Emily off the concrete steps and onto the grass. Hitting the ground hard the wind was knocked out of her and she struggled to catch her breath.
Rolling over, groaning slightly and coughing, she looked at the house, seeing the blown out windows. The cops around her were screaming for people to "Get back!" and also for paramedics to be called.
Scrambling to her feet she stumbled toward the house, which was still standing but looked askew, then stopped short after just a few steps. The door opened and people started to flood out. Some were bleeding from where glass had hit them and some had cuts and bumps from things falling on them or from being thrown against a wall, but each was moving under their own steam.
Emily watched as her team came out the door. She frantically waited, barely breathing and not hearing all the noise around her, to see Reid emerge from the door. Hotch reached her and told her "We have to clear this area," but her eyes never left Reid as he hurried from the house, until he was close enough for her to touch his arm and ask "Are you all right?"
His rushed to convince her, his tone kind yet strong and sure, "Fine. I'm fine."
They all headed for the street, with all the other cops and technicians, and there Emily asked Derek "Did you see the bomb?"
He shook his head no. "It has to be small to not cause much damage like it did. It could be in the crawl space because it felt like it came from under the kitchen."
Seaver, who had been outside the whole time, asked them "Do you think he meant for it to do more damage?"
Emily grimaced. "He knew what he was doing. He's just toying with me now. Letting me know it can be anytime, anyplace that he takes us out. That he can make me watch my team members die any time he chooses to do it."
Derek said "Once the bomb squad gets here and clears the house I need to get a look at the device. I might be able to trace its maker and give us a lead."
Emily nodded. "I think it had a remote detonator. He would need it to ensure the team was inside when it went off. I saw a white panel van pull up right before the explosion."
They kept talking about the case, as they waited on the bomb squad to come and check the house for more devices and then let the paramedics in to help anyone who was more gravelly injured due to being directly near the blast. As the team talked Emily snuck in the smallest of glances at Reid.
Working this job it happened all too often that someone could be hurt or in jeopardy but this time it was the man she loved who she had now feared had died two times in the last few days. Doyle knew just how to break Emily down. Her Achilles heel was Dr. Spencer Reid- the only guy who had held her attention for more than a handful of bad dates in years..
Doyle had to be pissed that Reid didn't die the night his apartment was ambushed. That anger was making Doyle play games like he played tonight and it was costing people their lives.
Emily ground her teeth together as her jaw clenched. Doyle had to be stopped before anymore blood was shed.
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The local cops had tracked down the driver of the panel van. He was taken into the BAU for questioning. As Morgan and Rossi interrogated him Reid and Prentiss stood on the other side of the glass.
Emily said "He's not going to break." In frustration she looked at Reid and said "There is only one way to end this and I can't do it without your help." Their eyes held for a long moment until she saw in his gaze that he agreed.
Drawing Doyle out was their quickest option to make sure that no other family was slaughtered in a few hours.
"Brunch?" he asked
She gave him a weak, strained smiled "You're paying."
By silent agreement they left the building and as soon as they hit the street they began to act like a couple. He took her hand as they walked down the block to a diner, paused on the corner, brushed her hair back from her face and stared deep into her eyes.
Reid murmured "Hotch is going to be pissed at us."
"This will work."
"He'll still be pissed."
She shrugged and fought the urge to glance around to see if they were being watched. "I need this to end today."
After a moment Reid said "As soon as it does, we won't be roommates anymore." His knuckles brushed down her cheek and she shivered, before stepping back and tugging his hand to pull him into the diner.
"Am I a better roommate than Morgan?" she asked, trying to cut the tension.
Reid pretended to think about it and Emily shook her head at him in a snarky way. The hostess led them to a booth. Emily slid inside and then glanced out the window.
She said "He's always watching. I know he is."
"Emily...you aren't thinking straight and that scares me because you always think straight."
Her eyes jerked to his. They held for a moment and then she softened. "Don't worry. I'm thinking straight. Finally."
"Drawing Doyle out is the most dangerous thing you can do right not."
"If you hate the idea so much then why are you here?" she snapped at him.
He gave her a half smile. "You asked me."
Emily leaned across the table. "Is that all it takes, Dr. Reid?"
"That would depend on the question."
She sat back. He reached out and took her hand, gently stroking his thumb over it and soothing circles. Emily tried to maintain some semblance of control in the moment, fighting go weak over his touch, and marveled at how ironic it was that this moment was brought on only for the benefit of an unsub.
She had the exact same thought an hour later when they were standing outside of the building where they work. Reid's lips gently pressed against hers for the very first time. Her fingers clutched his arms as she tried to stay stiff, to not reveal her feelings, and yet to also appear to anyone watching as if they did this every day.
It was hell and heaven to kiss him yet not be able to let herself fully enjoy the pleasurable sensations evoked when his dry, slightly chapped, lips ghosted against her own.
