So Near Yet So Far – Part 2

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the ideas.

OK decided it was mean to keep you hanging on - one more chapter after this.

You're never gonna be alone from this moment on
If you ever feel like letting go, I won't let you fall
When all hope is gone, I know that you can carry on
We're gonna see the world out, I'll hold you 'til the hurt is gone

. . .

No one on the plane had the heart to tell Reid how his constant tapping was getting on their nerves. They could all now see clearly, what they had all known before. He loved her. Yes, the whole team loved her, but not in the way he did.

The flight was strange, normally they would be reading files, sharing notes and ideas, but this was different. They were heading to help a friend in need. They felt they knew her enemy personally. They had all spent hours reading the files. They knew who they were facing, but what? That was a different matter.

Morgan cranked up his music to drown out the sound, but found himself watching Reid's fingers drum out their rhythmic pattern. He wanted to focus, be ready for whatever was to come. Morgan was realistic, Emily would be suffering at the hands of Doyle, in ways he didn't even want to think about. He was determined to be first in, he wanted to protect Reid, he didn't need to see her like that, however that was.

Hotch felt he should say something, but what? He didn't need to rally his troops; they were well and truly motivated. Emily being in the hands of a psycho, hell bent on revenge, was more motivation than any of them needed. He wanted to warn them, but warn them about what? What were they going to face?

Rossi was struggling, he had always been close to Prentiss, she had trusted him, but not this time. This time she had walked away from the team. He didn't blame her for hiding, he understood why she had done it, but yet again they had the proof that witness protection was not foolproof. He liked to think the team could have done better.

JJ was staring out if the window. She had wished for a chance to be back with the team, but this was not how she imagined it would be. She had shared so much with Emily, things that she couldn't share with Penelope, the bits that got to you out in the field. She hoped Emily could lean on her the way she had leant on Emily in the past.

Seaver looked round the team. She didn't know what to say or do. She felt like the little sister being allowed to tag along. She was grateful that Emily had taken her on, given her a second chance after the mistakes she had made.

The bing of the laptop bought them all back from their personal thoughts, all except Reid, he still stared and tapped.

Garcia popped up on screen, her garish lounge an unusual background.

"I have managed to track the wireless signal Emily's laptop is using," she begun, "They must be using a dongle and cell phone network. The area it is coming from is part of an industrial estate, some warehouses are used for food prep and packing, the other buildings are abandoned warehouses or offices. Therefore I am assuming it is where Em is being held. If they had left the laptop at where Em had moved to, it would be an urban area, right?" Garcia paused, hoping that her assumptions were correct, "Anyway, I have sent the location through to you. I have taken the liberty to contact the nearest field office, they will have agents meet you at the airport and have sent others straight to the area to see if they can narrow down the location for us."

"Thank you Garcia, you have been amazing, as usual,"

Morgan raised an eyebrow at Hotch's rare compliment.

"Sir," Garcia added.

"Yes."

"Let me know," she continued "whatever the news, let me know. Please, don't make me wait."

"We will."

Garcia mouthed a thank you as she disconnected. Settling back she waited, fighting each horrible thought that entered her head. Truly she believed if she thought positively then the outcome would be positive. Now she wished she'd gone with the team, rather than sit and wait.

"Why did they take the laptop?" Seaver asked, breaking the silence.

Rossi shrugged. "Maybe Doyle thought it might hold information that would be useful to him."

"Or that he could wind me up some more after his message earlier," Reid speaking surprised the others. They had believed he was so absorbed by his thoughts right now that he hadn't been listening.

And they were half right. Reid's thoughts were consuming him. He was trying to prepare himself for whatever was to come. He had wished day in and day out to see Emily again, but not like this. He knew first-hand what Doyle was capable of, the pain he could inflict in a short time, let alone the length of time Doyle had had her. They had to get there in time.

The rest of the flight passed in silence. An eerie silence.

. . .

Emily huddled into the corner. Making herself as small as possible. She had given up trying to get comfortable, whatever she did it hurt. Though somehow the pain was comforting, it let her know she was still alive. But for how much longer she didn't know. Emily knew she was losing the battle. She was regularly slipping in and out of consciousness and all the time he was watching her, waiting for the right time to make his next move.

"Did you realise I loved you Emily?"

She tried to lift her head. Tried to show she wasn't beaten, that he hadn't won. But her body failed her. Laying down again she concentrated on her response.

"I didn't think you were capable of loving anyone."

He snorted, rising again from the shadows. "Am I somehow incapable of feelings? Is that what you believe?"

Emily shrugged and rapidly regretted it.

"You are a killer Emily, like it or not, you kill people. How many have you shot in your time with the FBI? You carry a weapon daily and would use it without thinking twice if the situation called for it. You'd do it right now if you could," his voice was calm and controlled; "I am no different. I have only killed out of necessity, to protect my business, my beliefs, my friends. The only difference is you are given permission to kill."

"I . . . am . . . nothing . . . like . . . you," Emily knew he was trying to play games with her, but she was beyond games.

"You are, why will you not admit it? What are you scared of? Emily, confess your sins to me. Die with a clear conscious."

Emily shook her head. She had nothing to say to him.

"Did it bother you that I loved you?" he pushed again.

No answer.

"Did . . . it . . . bother . . . you . . . that . . . I . . . loved . . . you?" Doyle shouted in Emily's face.

As the rage took over him, Emily knew what was to come; maybe this time would be the last time.

. . .

Hotch had taken charge on arrival. He was glad that the team sent out to the location had kept their distance from the potential hide out of Doyle and his supporters. He started giving orders. He knew his team was prepared and ready to go first, but he needed to know the locals were ready to back them up.

Strategically they prepared to move the vehicles closer, surprise was on their side but they had no idea what they were facing. The field agents had got close enough to find out something to help the initial attack, but once they were inside, who knew? That was why the other agents had to stay out. This was their fight, it had become personal.

They worked well as a team, their movements were fluid. Surprise got them close before they came under attack. The sound of automatic fire shattered the air. Morgan was first through the door, taking down anyone that moved. They had paired up and without another word started searching through the building.

Reid was with Morgan, he followed barely a footstep behind. As room after room was declared clear, Reid's heart begun to drop, he worried that they had somehow got it all wrong. Then it happened. Morgan hit the door, it gave way, as all the previous ones had. However this time Morgan stumbled backwards into Reid. He had taken a shot to the arm.

"Shit," he hissed. "She's in there. Be careful. I'll back you."

Reid looked round the door frame, hearing Morgan call the rest of the team through his mic. There she was, crumbled on the floor like a piece of discarded rubbish. Standing over her was Doyle.

"Dr Reid, how glad I am that it is you who made it to Emily," his tone was flat and even again, "Shame it's only to see her die."

He was not going to see her die. Not today. He had to do this, he knew he could. Taking the step into the doorway he took the shot. He shot the man who had sliced him up to hurt Emily. He shot the man who had tortured Emily and was about to kill her. One clear, clean shot and he was dead.

At least he hoped he was dead, as Reid was incapable of moving. Incapable of checking. What if he got there and Emily was already dead?

Morgan stood beside him, holding his injured arm. He nudged him forward as he waited for the team to join them.

Auto-pilot kicked in. First Reid checked Doyle was dead and disarmed him just in case. Then he went to Emily. She was breathing, just. Her eyes fluttered open as he took her into his arms.

"Spencer?"

"I'm here Emily, you're safe," Reid soothed. Reid pulled her tight calling for the medics. He hugged her trying to absorb her pain. When the paramedics arrived he didn't want to let go. JJ held onto him as they took her. He watched her leave, leaving him again.

"I'm going with her," he called, "She's not going to be alone again."