"I know I shouldn't be complaining," Reid said breaking the long silence.
"Why not," Lehi interrupted.
"Because I survived. I'm not paralyzed. I'm not a drooling idiot. That could have happened but it didn't. Terrible things are happening to people. I see it everyday at my work. Children slaughtered in their beds, taken from their homes, their freedom and innocence stolen from them by evil people. And the families of the victims. Their lives can never get back to the way they were before it happened. They try but it just doesn't work."
"Explain to me how that makes your experience insignificant."
Reid sighed. "I just told you."
"I must have missed that then. Please explain."
He sighed again. "I work for the FBI but you already know that. Everyday we go out knowing that something like that could happen just because of who we are and what we do. The people outside of law enforcement go about their daily lives not anticipating any harm. It comes with the territory."
"You still haven't answered my question, Dr. Reid," Lehi told him, now with a hint of irritation in her voice.
"I have told you. Twice."
Lehi stared at him, saying nothing. He avoided her gaze and looked at the digital clock on the wall. "Are you feeling uncomfortable?"
"I feel a migraine coming on," he said, rubbing his forehead.
"Yes, I can see how the stress of avoiding the issue can be difficult."
"What issue? There is no issue. I'm perfectly fine."
"You're mother was murdered in your own home while you were out with your friends. Before that you spent several moments in a comatose state as a result of traumatic injuries and a blood infection."
"Yes, yes. Pneumothorax, epidural hematoma and sepsis leading to encephalopathy. It's all over. It's done," he said hastily, wanting this to be over. He hated that Strauss had made these mandatory.
"Then you should have no problem discussing it with me. You may as well sit down, Dr. Reid. You're not leaving here for another 45 minutes."
"What's wrong," Garcia asked as Reid joined her, noting that he looked paler than usual.
"I just had a session with my therapist. I hate going there. It's like she sees right into me."
She laughed. "Now you know how I feel around here."
Reid sighed heavily and decided to change the subject. "So do we know what's going on with JJ's husband?"
"Hotch offered JJ, but you know Strauss. Since we would be personally involved."
"But the explosion was personal."
"I know, but we were pulled from that too. Hotch and Rossi broke protocol, remember?"
"But do we know anything?"
"Afraid not."
Henry leaned against the side of his van, his whole body shaking with the shock and horror of had occured. LaMontagne was out cold and likely would be for several hours. But the girl. The girl was dead.
"We can let him go. We don't need him. He's not even involved," Henry pleaded with Maia.
She smiled at him. "Of course not. What would I ever do without you, my son? You inspire me to greater things, three have died in the sparing of his life."
Henry's heart skipped a beat.
"Any many more will die in his place."
"Look, you don't have to. Dr. Magnus can help you. She helped me."
"Don't you talk to me of that devil woman. She took you from me." Her eyes blazed. "Do what you will with him," she hissed. She smiled again, the transition so sudden that he hardly knew how to react. "I almost forgot. I've brought you a gift."
The door opened and the other woman, Ava, dragged a pretty blond woman into the room. She glared at Henry as they passed. Ava threw her to the floor before leaving with Maia.
Henry stared at her, she doing the same, her eyes full of defiance. He admired her resolve. He sighed inwardly. He moved slowly towards her. She screamed from beneath her gag. Coming closer still, he gently removed it from her mouth.
"It's okay. I won't hurt you. I know they did but you can trust me."
"Yeah right. Do you have any idea who I am? People know my name. They will be looking for me. And then they're going to put you and those crazy bitches away forever," she spat at him.
"I know you. You were on tv a few years ago. That show about the volleyball team."
She said nothing, just glared at him. Gradually, she began to relax. "You really aren't like them, are you?"
"No I'm not. What's your name?"
"Lila Archer. Are you really going to let me go?" Hope dawned in her eyes. Seeing this, Henry faltered but quickly recovered himself.
"My name is Henry, and yes, I'm going to take you somewhere better." Moving close again, he embraced her, whispering to her. "It's okay. You're okay."
The last instant her body tensed. A slight, but crucial twist and she crumpled to the floor, dead.
LaMontagne was miles away. Henry had seen to that. Maybe not, completly safe but now atleast he had a fighting chance. Sick at heart for what he had done, Henry sliced through a water hose with a box cutter.
His mind tried to rationilize what he had done. If you hadn't killed her than Maia or one of the others would have and if that had been the case it wouldn't have been as swift or as painless.
He rolled up the window to just where he could slide the hose through. He sat back and watched the garage door close itself.
It was still murder. How stupid of you to believe you could control her. And now you're just like her.
He turned his key in the ignition and put the earbuds from his Ipod in his ears. He closed his eyes and listenened to the music.
One more death to make things right.