Chapter 10

Hi everyone! This chapter is coming so soon because I was really bored and had some free time; a lot of my school work had been done already, which gives me time to breath.

Okay, so in this chapter, you'll see the team. I didn't really pay attention to them in the last chapters, sorry. I must admit it's a little hard to give attention to everyone. I know the rhythm of the story is quite slow sometimes, I am sorry I can't resist writing psychological parts which sometimes slow down the action.

IMPORTANT: In this chapter, there will be a reference to the fic which comes before this one: 'I Won't Let You Go', if you didn't read it, maybe you should, or if you really don't feel like it, just read this little recap: it happens in 'Lauren', when Prentiss is captured by Doyle, the team searches for her. Reid find her just before Doyle is about to kill her, they fight, and here it's Reid who is stabbed with a piece of wood. The fight between Doyle and Reid gave Prentiss an opportunity to shoot Doyle to death. Since Doyle is dead, Prentiss's fake death is useless and everything that happens in the beginning of season seven doesn't occur in the story.

Enjoy!

The Peacock daughter had tended JJ's wounds and given her a pillow to allow her some comfort while she was lying on the floor. The blonde agent was feeling better now, even if she was still weakened by the treatment she received, and her back still hurt like hell. What bothered her the most was the fact that she didn't have her clothes on anymore.

Charity had come downstairs earlier and seeing her torn shirt, she fetched one of her dresses for the FBI agent. Wilma and her mother had helped her to stand and dress, otherwise, JJ would have never been able to do it. The two women were both thin, and though Charity was a little taller than Jennifer, her clothes fit. It was an old blue dress, which stopped at the middle of her shins, had short sleeves and no cleavage. She looked like some kinds of Laura Ingalls. It could have been funny in another situation, but here, she felt just mortified by it. The Peacocks wanted them to join the family, and right now, she was dressed just the same way as them. There was a broken mirror in the room and though it was in a bad shape, she could see her reflection and she hated it.

As she was thinking about this, she saw Michael and Daniel entering the room with an unconscious Emily in Michael's arms. She paled and he stood up abruptly, something which almost made her fall.

John came after them with some blankets. He laid one on the floor, and they put Prentiss down on it, in order not to let her directly on the ground. They covered the brunette with the other blanket then. JJ kneeled slowly to her, trying not to hurt herself more, not even caring for the men's presence.

"Wilma you take care of her too. Your brother will help."

"Okay. Where is Spencer?"

"It's not over for him."

JJ looked at them with despair and indignation: when would this horror stop?

"Is he conscious at least?" the blonde asked agent with anger.

"He is" simply answered John.

With that Daniel left and the brothers went to fetch some water, leaving the three women alone. Wilma cleaned and bandaged Prentiss's wrists and ankles as her brothers came back with some water, while Jennifer was trying to wake her up. She looked worse than ever, and it made JJ even more worried for Reid who was still going through this. Emily was at least going to be taken care of.

Meanwhile, the sun was getting down slowly, and Reid knew the hottest hours of the day had passed, which was really a relief. It was still hot, but it was a gentler heat. The blood loss however had gotten worse, and now the blood had spread on Reid's shirt and torso. He would have killed for water, and even growing up in Vegas' weather couldn't prepare you for this. His hands and ankles were completely numb, and he was making big efforts not to drift into unconsciousness.

He was trying to think straight, but he couldn't concentrate on an idea easily. His mind begged for sleep and rest but falling asleep was not a good idea in such a situation; he could be attacked by another dog for example. He was panting. He heard a sound, and saw the brothers exiting the house, but they weren't paying attention to him at all. They were fetching water, and Reid hoped they would give him some, but they didn't. He knew he had decided to sacrifice his well-being for Emily by telling the father to continue the punishment with him and not her, and he was glad of it, but some water wasn't a big deal!

He closed his eyes. Maybe not seeing the light would calm down his headache a little at least. His breathing became ragged, and he really began to feel a lot of pain from gulping air because of the dehydration. He remembered what happened when he was a prisoner with Walker, how the man had taunted him with water while he was thirsty. Though he had to admit he was at least in a fresher place while in there. Emily and JJ were certainly in the fresh basement too. Emily…She was the first he called to help him against Walker. When he thought about it, why hadn't realized sooner his feeling for her? It was so obvious; someone blind could have seen it! Would he ever have the chance to see her again?

As those questions were running through his mind, he suddenly felt that he wasn't exposed to the sun anymore. Michael's shadow was covering him. He was looking at Reid without moving. The agent couldn't see his expression, but he didn't care. All he knew was the fact that he hated this guy with his guts. He had touched his woman, and if he had been able to do so, he would have strangled him painfully. He hated that man even more than Walker, and as much as Doyle, though at least Doyle had the decency to be dead.

John joined his brother and looked at Reid too. What the hell did they want? Why were they looking at him like this? He closed his eyes for a few seconds, and licked his dry lips, before looking up again to see John nodding to his brother. Reid frowned. It was getting weirder. Michael left, leaving John and Reid alone. The agent stared at the man. He wanted to ask him what they were planning, but he simply didn't have the energy to do so. John crouched to him and looked closer at his arms and wrists, mush to Reid's displeasure, who just hated the proximity with his captor.

He saw Michael coming back with scissors. Oh God, what did he intend to do?

Michael crouched to him, and used the scissors to cut the wire. It was at the same time painful and wonderful to have them removed. He let his arms fall down carelessly, happy to give his shoulders a rest. He was still breathing with difficulty and was still all sore, but at least it was over. He felt a pair of hands grabbing his legs and another pair grabbing him under the shoulders, and he was lifted from the ground. Maybe it was the fact to be moved, but his head was violently spinning and hurt, and for a moment, he thought he was going to pass out.

For a minute, he was between consciousness and unconsciousness, and he was a little brought back by the feeling of water on his face. He couldn't see clearly who was taking care of him, but he saw that he was lying beside Emily. At least he was with her.

The next two hours passed quite slowly. Wilma and her brothers were taking care of the prisoners. Jennifer, the only one really awake, was watching her friends, in a dizzy state, contemplating again numbly the strange gentleness their captors were showing. They were taking care of her whipping wounds as much as Reid and Prentiss. She had dull eyes and a ghostly face. She was feeling so tired suddenly when seeing her colleagues like this.

She was watching her colleagues dully who were either unconscious or awake, but too weak to do anything but blink, look around or try to murmur things. She spoke little things to them, and wished she could have gotten up to help them more, but an hour ago, as she was helping to heal them, the sibling decided she had to lay down again, because of her wounds. Sadly, she knew she had to listen to them if she didn't want her ripped skin to open. Plus they had to play obedient to gain their trust and get the possibility to escape, and though she abhorred to do that, it was essential.

The couple had exchanged looks, it was the only moment they seemed really aware of the situation. They hadn't done anything more but to look at each other, but it was already enough to know they were both alive. Reid had heard one of the brothers; he couldn't decipher which one, saying his face had slight burns that should heal soon. He couldn't help but to have shivers of nausea, and it was taking him all his might not to vomit. It would be stupid to vomit now after he had resisted when tied with barbed wire. He stopped himself from staring at Prentiss too much, knowing it could raise suspicions. It was difficult. Her face didn't have too much damage, so it was a relief to look at her.

He was feeling numb and dull too, his head having been exposed to way too much sun. He knew he wouldn't be able to think straight soon. It was the same for Emily, who didn't even try to talk, knowing she would only waste her strength. Plus both Jennifer and Spencer were alive so she would have time to strengthen up and speak to them later, especially knowing the Peacocks would leave at one point or another to let them sleep. She was really impatient to have some time with them, because even if they were in such poor states, they would at least be together, alone.

"You'll be alright guys…You'll see, it will all be okay" said JJ in a clear voice.

Emily wanted to answer her, but didn't even have the energy to do that. She heard the siblings talking together and wondered what it was about. They weren't speaking loud enough for her to hear. She turned to Reid and JJ and she could tell they were both trying to listen. The three captors went upstairs, leaving the agents alone.

"What…Are they…?" Asked Spencer with difficulty

"I don't know" whispered Jennifer.

Prentiss had the weird feeling of a déjà-vu. She couldn't place her finger on it, but what was happening right now was reminding her of something. The three were soon back, smirks adorning their gross faces.

"Tonight is the night!" Exclaimed Wilma happily.

"What's up?" JJ asked with apprehension.

"You will stop to sleep here. We will bring you in our rooms!"

Prentiss paled. Now she knew from where this feeling came from. It was after the first night, when they said for the first time they would stay in the children's room, but finally changed their minds. This time however, she had the feeling it was decided for good.

Daniel went downstairs and helped Wilma to carry Reid away. The agent didn't fight. He wasn't really in the shape for it; it would only be pointless and endanger him or the girls. Prentiss went to protest as they took him away, but no sounds but a whimper came out of her mouth. Plus she soon found herself being carried bridal style by Michael, while John was carrying JJ who still had too much difficulty to walk. The two women looked at each other before being separated, locked away from each other.

With the team, the day after:

It was now the sixth day since the Agents Prentiss, Jareau and Reid had disappeared.

What was left of the team had organized searches in the forest, a press conference had been made, and their pictures had been given to the press. But they got nothing. The DNA found on the scene had been examined, some belonging to their agents while the other wasn't registered and remained unknown.

They tried again an operation which consisted in trapping the kidnappers. This time Morgan had been the bait, but it failed again.

Garcia, with the help of Kevin Lynch who had been called to participate in the investigation, was searching every case that had been solved by Reid, JJ or Prentiss; everyone who could want revenge against them. Sadly, there were a lot of names. They decided to begin with the ones who lived in Idaho. The first case which came in their minds was the one when two brothers had decided to kidnap and hunt people through the forest. They had certainly remaining family members or friends who could have wished to avenge them.

Rossi and Hotch had left to interrogate anyone who could have been in relation with them. On his side, Morgan had taken the officer Crowley with him to interrogate a man who had been charged years ago for kidnapping, and released recently, and other people who could be a suspect.

Right now, Penelope was really glad she had Kevin with her, to have his support. He was worried too for the three agents, even if he hadn't spent a lot of time with them, but he was used to see them at work. He knew those three, and sometimes, he had geek conversations with Doctor Reid. So even if they weren't close, he was worried and hoped they would be found safe and sound.

"Do you think it could have something to do with Doyle?" Suggested Kevin

"No, he's dead."

"Yeah, but maybe someone wants to avenge him. After all, Emily got him arrested, killed him, and Reid largely helped for the last part. If someone wanted revenge, both of them would be the first targets."

"Okay, but what about JJ? She did nothing more than me, Rossi, Morgan or Hotch."

"Maybe they're just using her to make them suffer more. You know, something like: 'you hurt someone dear to me, so I hurt someone you love.' It could've been you or anyone else with them at that moment."

Garcia nodded. It wasn't completely impossible, and it really frightened her to imagine that the monster who had already threatened to kill two of her babies could be back from the grave through someone else.

"I fear you could be right. I'm calling Hotch."

He gave her a kiss on the hair, knowing she was really scared. He remembered what happened when Doyle kidnapped Emily and almost killed Reid, how she had called him, scared and in tears. He had gone to the hospital and waited with the team to know if the doctor would live or not. When they had finally been announced that he wouldn't die, he had brought her back home on Morgan and Hotch's advice, saying that she needed to rest. Now, the situation was worse, because it was three of her colleagues in danger and no one knew in whose clutches they were.

"Hey, Hotch, it's Garcia. Kevin just thought about something."

She explained to him that it could be linked to Doyle, but Hotch rejected the idea.

"Doyle didn't have many friends, and those who stayed loyal to him are either dead or in jail after what happened with Prentiss. You and Kevin can try to do some research if you want, but be prudent with this idea."

"Okay, we will."

The couple searched for any trace of someone linked to Doyle who might have escaped from jail to avenge Doyle, or who would still be wanted by Interpol or the FBI, but they found no one. They even checked if something had happened to Declan, but he was still under Louise's care, and nothing wrong had been reported about him. Soon they realized it was certainly not about Ian Doyle. The man was dead and buried, and none of those who could have tried to take revenge were free or even alive to do something. Somehow, Garcia was relieved of it, knowing what those people were capable of doing. Though it could have been a lead at least.

She sighed, tired of those pointless researches. Another search would be given tomorrow in the forest, and she feared that they could find her friends dead in there. The forest was huge, just like the list of names of people who could want revenge. They were searching three needles in a big haystack. She didn't know who else they could search for; they had tried multiple of possibilities. The couple decided to take some rest and wait for the next phone call and next instructions.

On their side, Rossi and Hotch weren't having a lot of result either. The brothers they had investigated were living in a very isolated way. They had no friends, no remaining family, and their uncle who raised them was dead. In fact, everyone was glad they died after learning what they had done. It was obviously a wrong lead. Hotch told Rossi about the idea it could be someone related to Doyle, but he didn't believed it either.

They had to return to the police station. The two men walked to the parking lot where they left the car, but they decided first to take a breath and think a little, before driving a long way. They stayed with their backs leaning against the car, thinking in the deserted parking lot. After a couple of minutes, Hotch saw Rossi frowning, and he knew he was certainly coming up with something.

"You know I think we aren't doing the right thing. I doubt it's really revenge," pondered Rossi.

"Why do you think so?"

"I don't know. If it was revenge, I think someone would have harassed them, or would be telling us, taunting us in some way. When Doyle wanted revenge on Emily, he had let her know what was going to happen. Okay, maybe here the people who did it prefer to stay prudent and surprise them, but still there is something I can't put my finger on, which makes me think now that it's not revenge. Plus, their car shut down in the middle of the forest, and we didn't find any traces of sabotage so it was an opportunity they took. If it was someone waiting for the good moment, they would have needed to follow them everywhere. We would have noticed. They would have seen someone tracking them. We suggested a group longing for power, and I think it's the right lead."

Hotch realized he was right. Why the hell hadn't they realized this sooner?!

'Because we were blinded by the fear of losing them.'

"They just wanted to kidnap them, and maybe the fact that they are agents doesn't even matter." Continued Hotch. "But we said too that they were organized, they couldn't improvise it."

"Yeah…Maybe they had organized a kidnapping and were searching for preys in the forest. Anyone they could see, and then, they noticed JJ, Reid and Prentiss together. Wrong place, wrong time."

"They watched them from a distance and decided they can be their next victims." Hotch was picturing the scene in his mind. "They attack them by surprise, they put up a fight, and finally they win. We should search for similar disappearances."

He called Garcia, giving her new instructions.

The evening was slowly coming. Morgan and Miriam Crowley were back from another interrogation, which had given nothing. The situation had been confusing since the beginning, and it wasn't getting better. They were driving in the countryside now. There was nothing but isolated farms around. Morgan suggested they could go there and interrogate them to know if they had seen anything suspicious, but realized almost immediately that they were quite far from the zone where his friends had been kidnapped.

At least he was with this woman and not one of her colleagues, because except for her, they had all despised him and his colleagues when they came here. In fact, if the situation had been different, if his friends weren't in danger, he would have certainly flirted with her. She was pretty with her long red hair, and though Morgan was someone professional, he couldn't help but notice that kind of thing. But right now, it wasn't time to flirt. Morgan simply enjoyed her comforting presence. There was grace and calmness emanating from her. She was a soothing presence.

"People who live here don't like to interact in other people's business. They want to be left alone for the most part. They don't know much of what happens around here." explained Miriam. "For example, you see the farm over there?"

Morgan nodded, registering all the information she could give about the inhabitants. He looked at the farm she was talking about. It was a very isolated one; he could barely see it from where he was. All he could distinguish was the tiny shape of a house. He wouldn't have noticed it at all if Miriam hadn't pointed it. From here you couldn't even see any of the activities the inhabitants practiced. The farm was far from the road, at the very border of the big forest. There was only a dusty path that led to it. Obviously, people who lived there wanted to be left alone. He could see fields that certainly belonged to them near the house. He couldn't exactly say what kind of fields, they were too far away.

"It's the Peacocks' farm. They are not the kind to tell you much, not at all. Everyone knows they live very isolated and speak only with a few people. I've never met one of them, or if I have, I don't remember."

Morgan raised his eyebrows, wondering how you could live in such a way. Searching for tranquility, okay, but complete isolation? How could you even pick up girls in those conditions!? He had a little smile as Miriam and he continued their way, talking about something else, passing away from the Peacock's farm.

Yeah, I know I am a bitch for the very last part. Hope you still liked! About Miriam's character, if you wonder why she is present quite a lot, well she will have her importance later. There won't be MorganxMiriam however in this fic, just don't have false hope.

Ah, and there should be another moment between the Peacocks, like in chapter 8, maybe in chapter 11 or 12, but I swear there will be one again.