Los Angeles, California

Other than Derek and Luke, who arrived with the UnSub, SSA Jennifer Jareau was the first to arrive at the hospital where Bobby Rodriguez was taken to after he was apprehended. Spence and Dave were just then on their way via a hospital transfer following treatment for their injuries in Bakersfield. Derek came up to her as she approached.

"Rodriguez was in the middle of a seizure when the accident happened." He told her. "Paramedics got the seizure under control on site. He got pretty banged up, but most of those injuries are minor compared to the AVM. They have called in a specialist to do an emergency operation. In the meantime, Rodriguez is being kept under close observation."

"Well I guess it could've ended a lot worse." JJ replied. "Are you and Luke alright?"

"Yeah."

Luke joined them.

"So what about Reid and Rossi?" he asked. "Are they going to be okay?"

"Yeah, I think so. They're on their way via hospital transfer now. The doctors insist; and Spence might be kept from the field for a little while." JJ answered.

"Damn, this team just keeps getting smaller and smaller." Alvez said.

"It'll only be a few days; a week tops." JJ retorted. "Besides, I heard from Garcia on the way here. Emily is cleared to return, and Lewis and Simmons are back from leave."

"Sounds to me like Emily's idea of rotating leaves isn't quite working the way she hoped." Alvez quipped. For a second Derek looked a little lost, though the look was quickly dispelled. He probably dismissed any questions he might have had, reasoning out that it was about something that went on after he left the BAU.

"Hey, get this," Derek added. "The paramedics said that the whole time over here in the ambulance that Bobby was in and out of consciousness; every time he came to he would ask if Shelley was alright."

"My guess is that when he gets interrogated he'll deny she had anything to do with anything." Alvez said. "He'll want to protect her."

JJ frowned. "That depends on whether or not the delusion holds after his AVM is resolved. Spence said it seemed to him that his hallucinations were her giving him advice. It's most likely that he was superimposing her voice and image upon his own violent ideations. If the delusion breaks he might realize that. If it doesn't, there's a chance he might feel like she has betrayed him somehow and then he might say it was all her idea."

Even without anyone saying so, JJ also realized that it was entirely possible he might try to protect her even if the delusion did hold; which Spence believed it would. He said that the erotomaniac delusion and the AVM are most likely two different issues and that the AVM hallucinations really only served to create a confirmation. Still, JJ figured that once he realizes that she isn't coming to see him or trying to bail him out or anything, he could testify against her for plea bargain.

In the hospital transfer vehicle, SSA David Rossi watched Reid closely for a minute before saying anything. The kid was getting all quiet, his head tilted slightly to one side. Rossi could almost hear the synapses in the boy genius's brain firing at laser beam speed. Reid might not be the most physically intimidating guy, but intellectually speaking, that was another story. For that reason, David Rossi sometimes thanked God that the kid was on their side.

"You know, I can hear you thinking from here." Rossi finally said. "Something is going on in that skull of yours. Care to share with the class?"

Reid looked at Rossi blankly for a second. "Oh, it's nothing really." He said.

"I seriously doubt that." Rossi retorted, not unkindly. "Even after a concussion, your brain works better than just about anyone I know. But if you wanna keep your thoughts to yourself," Rossi raised his one good hand in capitulation, "that's your right."

"I was just thinking about your idea to put it in Rodriguez's head that we suspected Shelley was putting him up to killing her enemies or any threat to their relationship; including his past relationship with Bernadette."

Rossi said nothing; he just nodded slightly to indicate he was following Reid's thread.

"Well in a sense, she was; at least in his mind. When we were in that storage room he was talking to her; taking her advice and pitting my word against hers. I-I know she wasn't really there, but as far as he was concerned she was. That was a hallucination, probably caused by poor circulation resulting from an AVM. The thing is I'm not convinced the delusional thinking was. I mean, it could have been, but not necessarily. With the AVM treated, the hallucinations should stop, but the delusion might not." Reid said.

"So when he realizes that she's left him cold to rot in jail or an institution, he might get pissed off enough to change his mind about protecting her." Rossi replied, seeing where Reid was going. "He could try to make a bargain by revealing that the killings were her idea, and he was just a big dumb dupe in her twisted schemes."

"Exactly," Reid said, "and in his mind he would be telling the whole truth. It's not likely that he would get very far that way, but you never know. Also, if he ever gets declared well enough to integrate into society, it could mean Shelley's Angel could become her demon."

"If that happens, kid," Rossi said, "we'll just have to catch him again. That's what we do. I know it seems like it never ends; that's because it doesn't. Not for us, and not for them. It's kind of like the cycle of day and night."

Dr. Spencer Reid had to agree with Rossi on that point. He let the conversation go on that note and retreated back into his own thoughts. He was wondering if Garcia had found anything in her search pertaining to the Morgan's and Jonah Mitchell.

Wake up, hon.

Reluctantly, Bobby gripped his way into the world of the waking. With one eye swollen shut, he could only open one; this along with the fact that his entire body seemed to ache and itch contributed to his nearly immediate understanding of where he was and why he was in the hospital. He crashed the car trying to escape the cops and the Feds with Shelley. Since he was here and all banged up, it was safe to assume he was caught. It was over; probably for Shelley too. He screwed up

Welcome back to the land of the living, lover!

Bobby strained and winced in pain as he lifted his head to put the source of the voice speaking him into his line of sight at the foot of the bed. Standing there was Shelley Mason. She was perfect; not a scratch on her. Clean and smiling, she took a bow.

Don't try to talk. She said. I got thrown from the car out the window right before the crash and managed to roll out of the way onto the shoulder. I didn't even have to say anything; they thought you kidnapped me or something. It turns out that Rossi was bluffing us out so you'd make a move.

Relieved, Bobby set his head back down. Shelley was safe; her career would continue. That was what mattered now. Yes, he screwed up and would almost certainly be going to jail. Hopefully he could escape the death penalty – did California have the death penalty? – when he got to trial, but Shelley Mason would not suffer for his mistakes. He remembered that he had a massive seizure; that was how he lost control of the car. That had to be because of another of those AVM's the doctors found last time. He might even be able to use that as an excuse for his actions. They probably won't even be able to try him until he gets another surgery, so that should buy him some time to set up a plausible defense. Shelley will probably get him the best lawyer available, and would no doubt visit him every chance she gets. Of course, he'd have to be patient; she does have her music to make. With that in mind, Bobby closed his eyes and began to drift back to sleep.