Author's note: Once again, thanks to all who have reviewed, and even those who haven't for sticking with this story. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Some of you know I had some difficulties with it, but I'm pleased with how it turned out and I hope you are too.
Undermine
Gideon felt his stomach clench in pain. His head throbbed with anxiety, and nausea rose in his throat at seeing the amount of blood Hotch was losing. He didn't look good at all, and his wounds remained untended, lessening his chances for survival even further. It took every ounce of willpower Gideon had to resist pulling against the ropes holding him, knowing it would be useless to waste his energy.
He wracked his brain trying to come up with a plan to get out of this situation, but his panic overrode his clear thinking ability. The sight of his team members suffering was too much. He'd been through this twice already: first with his team in Boston, then with Reid in Georgia. Both times the guilt nearly ate him alive. The psychological trauma of watching his team members die, and knowing he caused their deaths, sent him reeling into a "major depressive episode" as Reid would put it. He didn't think he'd ever recover, and he definitely never saw a return to the BAU. But, somehow, he managed to pull through and even join Hotch's team as the senior psych. Just when he felt recovered from the PTSD from the Boston case, Reid, his protégé, was kidnapped, and he felt a whole new level of trauma. Watching him "die" onscreen, and then seeing his subsequent brief slid into drug addiction nearly drove him to early retirement. He'd helped Reid conquer his problem, but Gideon still had flashes of guilt every time Reid refuse to take even mild painkillers or had a now-infrequent flashback. He knew if they didn't all survive this he wouldn't be able to cope.
He was so focused on trying to mentally stop Hotch's blood flow that he didn't hear the door open. It wasn't until he heard a quiet, spiteful laugh that he realized Subhash was standing right behind his chair.
"How do you like Agent Hotchner's outfit?" He asked snidely, referring to the red staining almost the entire left side of Hotch's body. "I thought the color would suit him well. It appears I was right."
Gideon took a few deep breaths, swallowed hard to push down the rising bile, and tried to sound calm as he spoke.
"Well, you were wrong about him giving you any information. Now you've killed him and he won't be able to help you. Do you really think we will help you after seeing our team leader killed?" He couldn't stop the anger and fear from trickling into his voice. "You certainly aren't giving us a good reason to want to do anything for you."
I hope this doesn't backfire. Talking tough with UNSUBs usually makes them slip up or give up some helpful information. I'm not so sure it'll work this time. But what else can I do?
"That insolent attitude has not helped you thus far, Agent Gideon. It will not work for you now. You also do not speak for the entire team. I informed you before that I do not intend to force you to give up anything. You are merely here as leverage to be used to my advantage if necessary. It is your team members that I intend to break."
Subhash paused in his speech to walk closer to the screens. He ran his fingers over the pictures of the unconscious team members, smiling wickedly at them.
"There are only two left, Agent Gideon." He pointed at the screens showing Prentiss, then moved over to the one showing Reid. "One of them will break, I can promise you that. I am willing to use every tool at my disposal. Which of them do you think it will be?"
Neither of them! You can't break them. They are both too good at what they do to give in to this sick game.
He hoped he was right. "They won't help you."
A small smirk was his response. "Still so confident… I admire your trust in your team. However, I am guaranteeing that one of them will help me. I will give you the choice. Which one should I start with first? Who do you think will be easier for me to break?"
Gideon was lost for words. He didn't want Subhash near either one of his agents. He was particularly worried about Reid though. Subhash had struck a nerve earlier when he said that Reid's previous experience could be his downfall this time. That knowledge led him to the only decision he could make. It has to be Reid next. Subhash isn't too angry right now, and maybe if Reid can stay strong, he'll move on to Emily before he takes his anger out on Reid. He berated himself for wishing Emily to bare the brunt of Subhash's anger, but he felt confident she could handle it. He really wanted to keep some pressure off of Reid, just in case.
"Go to Dr. Reid next." He hoped he sounded firm, yet hesitant enough that Subhash would think he didn't want that-which should make him do exactly what Gideon wanted. But that was all speculation as he didn't really know what Subhash would do.
"Oh?" A slightly surprised, yet amused, tone accompanied by another smirk from Subhash. "You are worried about him then? You are no longer confident that he will not break?"
Damn it! That didn't work as planned!
"Well then Agent Gideon, I think I shall go pay Agent Prentiss a visit now. She has been waiting for quite some time." Gideon wanted to punch the smug smile off of his face.
Subhash turned to leave, and then turned to face Gideon again.
"Just so you are aware, Agent Gideon, I did not come here to change your mind or force your hand. I just wanted to make sure that you realize you could have prevent what is about to happen. One of them will break Agent Gideon, and you will watch every second knowing that you are to blame for this."
No! I'm not at fault here! I didn't cause this! Oh, what is he going to do?
"My agents will be fine. They are strong, and loyal, and well-trained. They won't help you." The voice of a confidence he didn't actually feel.
"You will see." With those small but frightening words, Subhash left the room without looking at Gideon again.
I can't believe this is happening! Why couldn't I stop this? What have I done?
Gideon fixed his eyes on the screens in front of him, anxiously watching for Subhash to enter into the picture.
Author's note: I hope that wasn't too boring. I know there wasn't much action (any action), but I hope the next chapters will make up for that fact. Thanks!
