I won't even try to explain the delay, I'm just a horrible author, I'm sorry ! x_x Hope you stil enjoy the story. This chapter is a little bit shorter than usual, but I think I had to end it where it ends, because otherwise I think I would have written too much and I just wanted to give you something to read :)

Monday; 4:09pm; Chopawamsic Backcountry Area

"Reid!" Morgan didn't know what was happening. Just minutes before they had heard noises and the sudden smell of fire had caused them, especially John, to panic. Only a few seconds later did Morgan make out a silhouette, slowly staggering towards them, behind the person he could make out flames, which steadily moved towards a shack. As soon as he realized that the blood covered person was Reid he began shouting, his body recognizing the danger before his mind. Time seemed to slow down, the deafening sound of the explosion just a mere whisper as Morgan watched his friend being thrown away like a piece of paper. Without thinking his feet moved, his mind's only target was his little brother who was lying unconscious on the ground, oblivious to the fact that the fire was spreading around him. Reaching Reid he dropped to his knees in front of the unmoving figure and turned his friend onto his back, holding his breath as he saw no sign of life on the younger man's face. His hands were shaking violently when he put his fingers to the slim neck that was covered in black and blue bruises, unable to breath as he waited for Reid to show him that he was still holding on. There was no pulse; no life. Morgan couldn't move, everything around him shut down as he started shaking Reid, yelling at him to wake up. "Don't do this to me! Please, don't leave me, not now! Come on kid, I know you can do this. Just follow my voice, okay? Everything will be alright, I promise. Just open those eyes for me, okay? Show me that you are still fighting, you can't let this bastard win." Tears were streaming down his face as he pulled Reid into his arms and rocked him like a child, all the while whispering soothing words into the dirty and bloody hair.

"Agent Morgan! Stop!" John's voice went unnoticed by Morgan and, as someone tried to open his strong arms to take away Reid, he fought. He couldn't lose him again, he had to protect him. After failing him so many times he wouldn't give up that easily now. So, swinging one arm around to hit whatever dared to come too close to him, he pulled Reid even closer to his chest, convincing himself he was saving the young man. "Agent Morgan! Look at me!" A painful slap caused him to look up with wild eyes, only to meet the soft eyes of John who was trying to pull Reid away from him. "Please Agent Morgan, let me try to save your friend!" Still in shock he watched as John finally managed to get Reid out of his strong embrace, pulling the lifeless body away from the flames that were painfully close before starting CPR. It took Morgan another minute to actually take in the situation around him. The fire, the other members of his team and John who was working on saving Reid's life. Focusing on the last thing he managed to stand up, ignoring the burning in his throat from all the smoke and walked to John. Gently he pushed the young man away who was working hard, but was coughing strongly from the effort to do CPR while smoke cut off any useful air supply. As Morgan pushed onto Reid's chest he felt the ribs break under the forceful pressure, somewhere in the back of his mind all the lessons on CPR came back, steadily guiding him through the steps without him realizing it. All of his focus was on Reid.

As he checked again, after another round of CPR if Reid was breathing he almost flinched away as he felt a weak, but steady pulse and the soft rising and sinking of the young man's chest. Before he could hug his friend in relief he felt John's presence next to him, a careful hand on his shoulder brought back all his attention. "Agent Morgan we need to move! Otherwise the fire will surround us." The voice of the ranger's was steady but a slight panicked pitch made Morgan realize just how close the fire was to engulfing them. Carefully picking up Reid bride-style he bellowed at his team to move before ordering John to lead them out of this mess. The slightly pale man only nodded, a walkie-talkie gripped painfully in his hand as he tried explaining their situation to Nathan, trying not to shout at his supervisor as he had yet again repeat that a forest fire had broken out. Morgan didn't pay anymore attention to the conversation and instead tried his best not to trip, fearing to injure Reid anymore. Forcing himself to concentrate he pried his eyes away from all the injuries that covered the body in his arms, trying very hard not to remember Reid's screams.

A steep hill caused Morgan to slow down in order to hold his footing while balancing the yet light but still inconvenient body in his arms. His team was waiting for him to catch up only for him to fall back again. Tired of this game that only endangered all of their life he ordered: "Keep going, don't wait for me. I don't need any of you to pass out from smoke-poisoning, I can't carry anymore bodies." As he saw reluctance he almost yelled "Go!", pride filling him as he saw his team's loyalty but the dread that filled him at the thought of their life being in danger was stronger. "Just keep going down the hill, you will be safer down there. I'll tell my colleagues to wait down there for you. Don't worry, thanks to fall the forest is pretty wet and the fire won't spread so fast, our only problem right now is the smoke, so listen to Agent Morgan, he is right, we don't need anyone passing out on us." John stated firmly, finally convincing the other's to keep moving. "You should go too, John. The smoke will affect you as well." Morgan tried to say, but started coughing violently, his throat burning and his lungs craving oxygen. John just eyed him, before stating: "My symptoms are not as strong as yours. You need me in case they get worse." The question wasn't if their symptoms would get worse but when. Accepting for the sake of Reid's life he just looked down as his unconscious friend also coughed, albeit not as violently as he just did. "He will make it, just keep going." Morgan gave a grim but thankful nod to the ranger, hoping that John realized how much he appreciated that John saved Reid's life. "Yes, he will make it, he has to make it"

Monday; 4:05 pm; Chopawamsic Backcountry Area

Hotch silently followed the ranger who led them through the forest, searching through the never ending nature that seemed to hide Reid from them. Frustrated he looked at Rossi who was walking next to him, the same stern expression on his face as on Hotch's. He looked tired, but then again they all probably looked like that, the last few days being the most stressful ones they ever had. It was weird that so much had happened in such a short time, how much damage there had been done just over a weekend. Even more concerning was the thought on how much time it would take for them all, especially Reid, to heal. He himself couldn't deny that this case had taken a much bigger toll on him than he wanted the other to see. Sleep hadn't come easily these days and when they finally came they brought nightmares that carried Reid's haunting screams, poisoning his mind with worry, guilt and anger. Of course he wasn't the only one. Just watching the other was like reading an open book. All of them would need counseling after this.

A sudden explosion not far away from them had them all stopping dead in their tracks. "What was that?"The shocked voice of the ranger that Nathan had sent with them broke the silence. Rossi gave Hotch a worried look before answering "We don't know yet but it can't be good. I can see smoke, we should head this way." Before they started moving the ranger, if Hotch remembered correctly his name was Mike, spoke yet again "It's too dangerous! If we get too close the danger of smoke poisoning is too high; you shouldn't underestimate a forest fire, Agent Rossi. Especially as our current position is higher than where the explosion happened. It would only cause us to get trapped." Hotch was torn as he listened to Mike's words. He was right, if he chose to keep going he would endanger not only him but everyone else and even if Reid could be there needing help he couldn't put his life over the lives of others. Rossi must have seen that Hotch had made his decision, because he just shook his head, sorrow stricken all over his face.

The sudden sound of a car coming closer forced them to stop their discussion, because a few seconds later a van broke though the bushes. It didn't take more than a second for Hotch to realize that it was Jeff sitting behind the steering wheel; he would always recognize that hated face even if the car was still a couple feet away. He heard a distance shouting, at least it seemed to be far away, because all his focus was locked on that grinning face that was coming closer fast. Without thinking about his action he pulled out his gun and shot. All the kept up emotions from the last few days seemed to be released with every bullet he fired, targeting the cause of all of it. Just seconds before Jeff could hit Hotch the man came back to his sense as he realized how close the car was and the speed with what it came closer. Also the frustrating realization that none of his shoots at found its target forced Hotch to move. Not a second to late did he jumped away, pain shooting through his right wrist. Ignoring it he watched as Rossi stepped up, gun aiming at the van, but Jeff had already disappeared in the thick forest, before he managed to hit the wheels.

For a few moments there was only silence, before, to Hotch's surprise, Rossi started cursing in Italian "Merda! This stronzo escaped. Hotch we need to send someone after him." Hotch nodded and starting to give orders over his phone, voice thick with anger. Meanwhile Mike informed Nathan about the fire, sweat was running down his neck as he tried to keep the nervousness out of his voice. As soon as Hotch finished Mike urged them to start moving, anxious glances over to the smoke only confirmed his worries. They would get trapped if they didn't get away soon. Rossi stepped up, putting a hand on his superior's shoulders to give silent support, showing Hotch that he agreed with the decision to go back.

Slowly they made their way back, the steep path that led back made it difficult to move fast and smoke was slowly starting to reach them. Keeping their heads down they kept going, ignoring the sharp smell of fire and the nervousness of Mike. After a while the air seemed to get lighter again and Mike let out a satisfied sigh "I think we won't have trouble getting back, the fire didn't catch up with us." Hotch didn't even pay attention to Mike as he was deep in thoughts. Anger and frustration seemed to radiate around him and nobody dared to come too close to him. Only Rossi knew that none of it was directed towards them, but towards him. And he was right. The Unit chief scolded his inability to hit Jeff and it angered him that he didn't choose to target the wheels like Rossi had done. He probably would have hit those instead of missing Jeff. Now he would have to tell Reid that his tormenter was still out there, if no one managed to catch him. If he ever got to talk to Reid again.

Guilt was eating at him. The decision not to go look for Reid was the logical choice but it didn't mean that he would make it again. They were the closest team if his calculations were right; nobody else was even close to the explosion. The likelihood of them finding Reid alive was low to nothing. And if he hadn't been there? What if Jeff had put him in the back of his van and Hotch had missed the only chance to stop him. Before he could reprimand himself more his phone began to ring, ripping him out of his brooding.

"Hotchner"

"Hotch, it's JJ. Morgan found Reid. He's alive. Barely, but he is alive."