[Two more chapters guys :)
Enjoy!]
"A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it." -Oscar WildeThe phone call, even though they were expecting it, seemed to startle them both.
Reid's eyes shot up from the file he was looking at in an instant, and Rossi's hand was on the phone before the first ring was even done.
Dave didn't say anything when he picked up the phone, he just nodded. Reid's frustration grew because he didn't know what was on the other line. Rossi seemed to be having no reaction; he was too good. Spencer couldn't read his micro-expressions.
Reid's foot tapping became faster as Rossi hung up the phone, already moving towards the door.
"They've got a sighting of the car.", he just said.
The words were simple, they were the blatant truth, no hopes, no excitement. But they both knew that those words meant everything. They meant hope, happiness, and maybe the chance to redeem themselves.
Reid just nodded in response, and Rossi took that action, and the little sparkle that had settled into the young genius' eyes as a good sign.
"We should tell Garcia.", Reid said after a moment of silence, their feet moving rapidly towards the elevator.
Dave didn't say anything, instead taking a detour to Garcia's dark office, his pace only getting brisker.
She looked up from her computer, hope in her eyes. But it wasn't happiness, not yet. It was like she was asking for permission.
"Got a sighting of our car.", Rossi said, and it seemed like that was all that needed to be said.
Penelope got up and out of her seat. She was wearing different clothes now; a white button-up shirt and a navy skirt. Reid, of course, noticed how devoid of color she was. Her hair, too, was settled into a tame ponytail in the back of her head. It didn't look like the Garcia he knew, and that scared him.
"I'm coming.", she said, her voice wavering, just a little.
Rossi nodded. He didn't know why; it was totally against protocol. Maybe it was because he didn't need to have an argument with her and waste time, when they could be saving Emily. Maybe it was because he didn't WANT to. She'd been there too, she deserved to go see this guy caught. She deserved to be there when they found Emily. Or maybe he'd approved because he knew he couldn't win the argument that was sure to be started by him saying no.
Either way, he had nodded. So now the three of them were walking down to their government-issued SUV, strapping on their Kevlar, and heading out to hopefully get Emily back.
There was a ring of cars around a small patch of abandoned highway. It must've looked pretty funny, to someone who didn't know what was going on.
Their black SUV pulled up into the circle, the three agents observing the old van that was in the middle.
"What's our status?", Hotch said, already approaching the policemen having their gun trained on the car.
"We've got snipers in place, but we haven't made contact. Wanted to wait for you.", one said, signaling with his head to an abandoned building to the right of the road.
"Have you confirmed Agent Prentiss?", Aaron said, seeming to choke on her name a little.
"No, we can't see her.", he responded, disappointment in his voice.
Hotch nodded and walked over to JJ and Morgan, who were ready to go. Morgan seemed to be bursting at the seams to get to the car and get his partner out.
The sheriff walked by, handing Hotch a megaphone and giving him a supportive nod.
Hotch seemed to contemplate it for a second before handing the object over to Morgan. He had to be the one to do this, he had to be the one to save her. And, he had the best chance of getting into the UnSub's head.
"Robert and Samuel Tanner, come out with your hands behind your heads.", his voice echoed through the street. It was the only noise you heard, until the shuffling in the van began.
Everyone's guns seemed to cock at the same exact moment, waiting for any sign of danger to come.
The door opened with a deadening click and one tan boot stepped out of the driver's side. The UnSub emerged, looking exactly like he had on the video calls.
"Hands up!", Morgan said, looking over to Hotch for some idea which one of the twins it was. Hotch gave a blank look, JJ did the same.
A second later, the mystery was solved. The back door to the van opened, and Emily was dragged out by her neck by what Derek assumed to be Bobby.
His blood boiled at seeing Emily. She was even paler than before, her bruises purple, the bandages falling off. There was a new wound too – a bleeding shoulder, which seemed to be making her weaker by the minute.
"Derek, Derek. I thought we'd be meeting soon.", his voice came, and the Agents were sure this was their guy.
Bobby stepped down onto the concrete, his elbow firmly wrapped around Emily's neck.
"Bobby. This isn't going to end well for you.", Derek said, attempting to get the anger out of his voice.
There was a moment of silence, everyone's guns trailed at Bobby. All of a sudden, shots rang out as Sam moved for the car and produced a gun from under the seat.
"Sam, you don't wanna do that.", Derek warned, watching as the man looked helplessly from his brother to the police, holding the gun in his trembling hands.
"S- Sam, don't.", Emily's voice came. It was weaker than Derek expected. It seemed like it took all her strength to just get the words out.
"Sam.", Bobby said, his voice louder; a warning.
And Sam threw the gun. His final act of betrayal, final sacrifice for his brother. Because at that moment a shot was fired and Sam was in a pool of blood on the floor.
Bobby didn't even flinch. He just caught the gun expertly and pressed it to Emily's temple, smiling a wicked smile.
"Bobby, you know this isn't gonna end well for you.", Morgan said, inching closer to Emily.
Bobby shifted, putting her right in the line of fire and tightened his grip around her neck.
"Do you think I don't know that? Do you think I care, Derek? I have nothing to live for anymore. My Jessie, my baby girl; you let her die! And then Kathy killed herself because she couldn't live with the guilt, but you can, can't you? You can deal with letting a 15 year old girl die ON YOUR WATCH?"
Morgan breathed out, keeping his focus on his partner. He had to keep his head in the game; he had to save her. All he had to do was get the UnSub distracted.
"Jessie pushed that button herself; she made that decision! And you very well know that!", Morgan countered, raising his voice.
Bobby flinched slightly, pressing the barrel of the gun deeper into Emily's head.
"I lost the most important person in my life, and now you're gonna lose yours. Say bye-bye princess!"
he turned the safety off, placing Emily's body firmly in front of him, gun digging into her hair.
"How about your brother?", Morgan practically shouted, stalling for more time.
That's all they needed; more time. Time for the snipers to get a clear shot. Derek just hoped Emily could hold on that long. Her eyes were already slowly fluttering closed, and he prayed to god that she wouldn't give up.
"What?", Bobby practically spat, glancing over to Sam's body on the pavement.
"He died for you, Bobby. Wouldn't he want you to live?"
He looked down, seeming to loosen his grip on the gun, just a little.
"Don't do this. This isn't what Jessie would've wanted.", Derek said.
Bobby's head snapped up.
"You.. don't know anything! YOU DIDN'T KNOW HER, YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT SHE WOULD'VE WANTED! YOU KILLED HER!"
Bobby was furious. That's why he didn't notice another black SUV pulling up a few feet behind him, the doors slamming shut.
He didn't notice the approaching footsteps, and JJ's small nod to Emily.
"You have to put the-", Derek started calmly. And then, two gunshots, seconds apart, rang out.
They seemed to echo through the street as Emily and Bobby fell to the floor in a heap of bodies and blood.
[I'm evil for leaving it there, I know, but I have to add some suspense don't I?
And don't worry, I'm aiming for a happy ending.
Review, please? They mean so much]