Author's notes: Yes, I know-this took forever. I'm deeply sorry for leaving you hanging at such a crucial moment. The muse has been horribly distracted recently, and I had a lot of difficulty getting her to focus on this chapter. But as a consolation, this chapter is the longest one so far. It also answers at least one important question. I hope that makes up for the long delay.
As always, thanks to those who have stuck with this adventure. You guys are awesome.
Of course, I still own nothing but these Unsubs and their crazy ideas.
Critical position
Gideon stared in shock at the now-empty room on the screen, silently hoping that the previous events hadn't occurred. He refused to believe that Reid agreed to help Subhash; there had to be some kind of trick happening.
He must have a plan in mind. There's no way he would just give in-is there?
For the first time, his mind considered the possibility that Reid wasn't as strong as he'd always given him credit for, especially after his abduction. Gideon thought that Reid could handle anything life threw his way; thus far, he had, but everyone has their breaking point.
Maybe that was his. Maybe Subhash was right and he is more vulnerable now than he used to be.
The thought terrified Gideon. He was simultaneously assaulted by worry and guilt-worry about Reid and his ability to cope, guilt over failing so miserably to protect and support him. Reid's abduction had been so painful for him that he tried to pretend it didn't happen, tried to pretend that Reid was the same as always. It wasn't until Reid came to him with the drugs that he was forced to deal with the issues he'd tried to avoid. He had helped Reid overcome his addiction, watched as he make a clean recovery, and supported him so he wouldn't relapse. He thought that things were resolved, but now he questioned all that he had done over the past months. Seeing the terror in Reid's eyes earlier made him realize that he'd been clueless about Reid's continued struggle.
If only I had paid more attention to him, if only I had noticed that he still has trouble, that he's still suffering…
He interrupted his own train of thought by glancing back at the screen showing the empty chair and untied ropes. It was all too familiar, he realized, and certainly it was designed that way. Subhash fully intended to break them, and he employed any means necessary to do so. He was successful, just as he'd promised Gideon he would be. He suddenly appreciated that he had expected Reid to deal with much more than he should have to handle. Now he'd seemingly broken under the pressure, and the guilt sat on Gideon like a lead weight.
This is all my fault! I should have put an end to this myself instead of allowing my team members to suffer. I put my own pride and stubbornness ahead of the needs of my team. I don't deserve to be with them, to drag them down any longer. If we make it out of here…
His thoughts were again disrupted, this time by the opening of the door. Subhash, Jamil, and Saidi entered the room with smug, satisfied smiles adorning their faces.
"Agent Gideon, I presume you saw the show earlier." It wasn't a question. Gideon glared at him in silent anger. Subhash didn't appear to notice his attitude. "As you are now aware, I am a man of my word. I know that you did not believe I would be successful, but now you know not to doubt my abilities and information. It is a shame that it took so much time and cost you one of your colleagues to learn this, but the fault for that lies entirely on you. Now, as I am a man of my word, I will adhere to my promise to allow you to leave now that my goal has been satisfied. Of course, I cannot let you leave the building until I know for sure that Doctor Reid will actually be of use to me, but for now Saidi and Jamil will accompany you to your new quarters. I have matters to attend to involving finding my brother, so I bid you farewell Agent Gideon."
Subhash ended his surprising monologue by abruptly turning and leaving before Gideon had a chance to respond. He looked to Jamil and Saidi warily, anxious to see what would happen now.
Neither man spoke as they untied Gideon, but the unsettling smirks never left their faces. Gideon found that sitting for so long made it difficult to keep his balance after being dragged to his feet. He swayed slightly, but Saidi and Jamil kept tight grips on his upper arms as they led him from the room. They went down the hallway to a room near the stairs. Gideon had seen it when he and Hotch walked the hall earlier, but the door had been closed then. He was pushed through the doorway to find a room slightly larger than the others, but completely empty of furniture or TV screens. The dim lighting, the covered window, and the silence were the same though. He observed all of those details in the seconds before the door closed behind him.
Well this is an improvement! At least before I had a chair, but then again I was tied to it, so maybe this isn't so bad after all.
He paced the perimeter of the room, checking for anything of use or interest. Of course the room held nothing other than him-and the camera he assumed was watching from some invisible location. Defeated and confused, he sat down heavily in the corner of the room furthest from the room.
I knew it was too good to be true. I knew there was no way he would let us out of here. I wonder how he plans to kill us. I hope it is quick and easy. The less trauma involved the better.
His mind began to flash pictures of crime scenes and videos he had seen over the years. His well-trained brain recalled torture methods and killing rituals of the Middle East.
I wonder which ones he'll use.
He realized these were rather morbid thoughts, but at the moment he didn't see any reason for optimism. His mind ran through various escape options, but none stood a good chance for success. He wasn't sure he could leave his team behind anyway. Just as he was taking rather far-fetched leaps of imaginative ways to die, the door opened again. He decided not to react unless forced. He wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of playing along.
His brilliant plan was instantly dashed away as he watched Saidi and Jamil carry Hotch into the room. His body showed no sign of life as they dumped him unceremoniously on the floor. They left without a word, and Gideon crossed the room as quickly as possible. He pulled Hotch to him and turned him carefully onto his back. He felt for a pulse, for breathing, for any small signal that he hadn't died. He was rewarded finally by a faint but steady pulse. He nearly collapsed in relief.
Then he frowned in confusion, wondering how Hotch could be alive. He examined the area around the wounds. After a careful study, he found that Jamil was skilled with knives-the cuts were deliberately designed to look worse than they actually were. They bled quickly, but also clotted quickly, as was evident by the fully dry blood covering Hotch. This torture method was purely for pain and for effect. The thought made him sick and angry.
Before he could decide on his next course of action, the door opened again and Garcia was pushed into the room. The door slammed loudly behind her, and she jumped slightly. The tear tracks on her face and her red eyes gave away that she'd been crying.
She walked over to Gideon, relieved to see someone she knew, and then stopped in horror as she saw Hotch.
"Oh my god! Is he ok? Oh god…"
"He's alive Garcia." Gideon spoke calmly to keep her from hysteria. "He'll be ok. Can you help me move him?"
"Sure." She nodded her head and sniffed a few times.
Together they moved Hotch over to the corner where Gideon had been sitting. He removed Hotch's jacket and placed it under his head for support. Garcia sat next to him and rubbed his icy cold fingers in her hands to try and restore the circulation. Neither spoke; the silence in the air was heavy and anxiety-filled.
After what felt like endless minutes, Garcia broke the quiet with a soft, fearful question.
"Have you seen anyone else?"
"No." Gideon wished he had better news to comfort her with. "But I'm sure they'll be ok."
Ok so I lied; big deal. I don't see the point in upsetting her more, and we're probably going to die anyway. I might as well give her whatever I can.
"I don't believe you. They are going to kill us." Her words held no accusation or anger. They were just the simple acceptance of fact.
He gave her a small, understanding smile. "Yes, they are."
She nodded again, and wiped her eyes. They sat again in anxious silence. Finally the door opened again, and Jamil dragged the unconscious JJ into the room. Garcia went over and brought her to the corner. She sat with JJ's head supported in her lap and gently stroked her hair. After a few moments she noticed Gideon watching her. She gave him a small, sad smile.
"What happened?"
She let out a sigh and leaned against the wall. She told him the whole story, starting with the drinks at the bar. By the time she finished, her eyes were filled with tears again and her voice was shaking slightly. Gideon reached over and placed a hand on her arm.
"It's not your fault, you know. You didn't do anything wrong."
"I know. I just felt so helpless. I didn't know what to do, and then he was yelling at me. They were hitting JJ… and…choking her. I was so scared!"
"I know. It's ok, though. You had every reason to be worried, and scared. This has been difficult for all of us."
"I know." She sniffed again and then looked down at JJ and Hotch. "Do you think they will be ok?"
"If we can get Aaron hydrated soon I think he'll pull through. It looks worse than it is. I don't know what they gave JJ, so it's impossible to know how she's reacted to it or what it's done. I guess we'll just have to watch her and see."
Garcia nodded tearfully and continued to run her fingers through JJ's hair absently. She was so lost in thought that she didn't hear the door open again. It wasn't until Gideon stood and crossed the room that she looked up to see Morgan stumble in. He grabbed the wall, but he was still unsteady on his feet. Gideon reached him and supported him over to the corner to sit near Hotch. He looked at the large gash on Morgan's head. Garcia met Gideon's eyes, and his concerned expression worried her.
"Hey sugar, how are you feeling?" She tried to keep her tone light as usual, but the shakiness was still apparent.
He gave her a half-smile and put a hand to his forehead. "Not bad, goddess, but I've been better."
"You probably have a concussion," Gideon's voice was calm but the seriousness wasn't lost on the others.
"Yeah, probably. I guess getting smacked around didn't help."
"What happened hot stuff?"
"I got ran off the road. I banged my head on the steering wheel, and when I got out, someone attacked me. I'm thinking it was the big guy that brought me in here."
"I think that's Saidi." Gideon gently slid Morgan back so he was leaning against the wall. "I've seen him a few times already."
"So what is going on here Gideon?" Morgan's voice was both confused and angry.
"You mean you don't know anything?" Gideon was surprised to hear that. Subhash had led him to believe that everyone knew what was happening.
"No. I was brought here unconscious after the 'accident'. The guy in the suit came in; I was pretty upset. I started yelling, he yelled back, and then he brought in the goons. We scrapped a little, then I was out again. I woke up just a few minutes before they brought me here. I haven't seen anyone else until now…" suddenly he sat up and turned to Gideon with huge worried eyes. "I was on the way to find Reid. I got a phone call and directions, and then I was attacked. I never reached where I was told to go. Do you know where he is? Is he ok?"
When Morgan paused for a breath he saw the pain and guilt flicker across Gideon's face. "Oh god. What happened?"
Gideon looked away and took a deep breath, buying himself time to figure out how to explain this gently. "He's here…"
"Where? Is he ok?" Morgan's insistent voice interrupted Gideon.
"Let me tell you the whole story so you can understand." He looked at Morgan for confirmation that his words were comprehended. Morgan nodded, and leaned back against the wall again. He didn't interrupt Gideon's story, but his angry expression spoke volumes. When Gideon reached the part about Reid agreeing to help, Morgan groaned and held his head in his hands. He felt like crying when Gideon described watching Reid suffer his flashbacks, watching Jamil hold the knife to Reid's throat, and watching Reid get knocked unconscious. Though Gideon spoke in a calm, emotionless tone, Morgan could hear the anguish and guilt in his voice.
"Oh man Reid! Why did you do that? They're just going to kill us anyway." Morgan spoke from behind his hands.
Garcia and Gideon looked at each other in shock. Even though they knew this already, hearing Morgan say it only made the truth more horrifyingly real. No one knew what to say in reply. The feeling of despair and helplessness filled the room.
The awkward silence stretched on as each team member relived their experiences and pondered their fates.
The loud clicking of the lock sounded like a gunshot in the quiet room. Garcia, Gideon, and Morgan all quickly turned toward the door, anxious to see what was coming next. Emily was half-pushed, half-thrown through the doorway. She was shocked to see her team members staring at her in surprise. She instantly felt self-conscious and anxious, not knowing how they'd react to her now that had failed them. She stared at the floor, not wanting to see their disappointed expressions.
"Em!" Garcia carefully set JJ down and hurried over to Emily. She pulled her into a hug that Emily hesitantly returned. Gideon and Morgan exchanged concerned glances. This uncertainty was not a trait Emily usually showed. Both minds raced with unpleasant possibilities of what could have caused this change.
Garcia didn't seem to notice as she led Emily over to the other. Emily glanced down and gasped at the sight of JJ and Hotch. She ran over and knelt down next to Hotch.
"Oh god, is he ok? He said he was dead!" She felt for a pulse, checked Hotch's wounds, all the while speaking anxiously to anyone that was listening. Gideon gently reached over and grabbed her arms and pulled her away from Hotch.
"I think he'll be ok, Emily. Just leave him alone for now, and when we get out of here we can get him medical help."
"We're not getting out of here Gideon! He's not going to make it; I know it! We have to do something!" She was near hysterics now; her fragile control quickly dissolving with the stress and guilt she was feeling.
Gideon uncharacteristically gathered Emily into a tight hug. He wasn't sure what she'd gone through, but whatever it was obviously affected her deeply. He exchanged glances with the others, whose faces mirrored his distress and despair.
"Well, at least the feeling is unanimous," Morgan stated casually. Garcia, Gideon, and Emily turned to face him curiously. "We're screwed."
No one bothered to respond.
Gideon awoke with a start. He couldn't immediately identify what got his attention. His team members had fallen asleep one by one after endless hours spent in tense silence. Gideon had been the last to succumb to his exhaustion.
Now he stretched and looked around the small room. Nothing seemed to have changed. His colleagues were curled up around the room; he noticed with a slight grin that none were far away from the other. They obviously needed the comfort of being close.
A small noise next to him grabbed his attention, and he realized this is what had awoken him to begin with. Hotch was stirring a little, and making quiet moaning sounds in his sleep. He felt oddly relieved at this; at least these were positive signs of recovery. He watched Hotch sleep for a few minutes, and then he decided to try and wake him up. He gently shook Hotch's good shoulder and patted his cheek a couple of time.
"Aaron." He spoke softly but firmly. "Aaron wake up. I need to know if you're ok."
A soft moan, a flutter of eyelids were his responses. He tried a little harder. Finally Hotch's eyes lifted open halfway.
"That's good, Aaron. Come on, wake up!" He kept his voice welcoming and friendly. A deep sigh, a whimper of pain, and Hotch's eyes opened fully. He looked at Gideon with pain and confusion evident.
"Jason?" His voice was soft and raspy.
"Yeah, Aaron, it's me."
Hotch grimaced with pain; he closed his eyes briefly, and then opened them again and looked at Gideon.
"What happened, Jason?"
He gave a small smile. "I think you've missed a lot Aaron. But you're hurt right now, you should rest. I can explain everything later."
Aaron nodded slightly and closed his eyes again. Then they flew open as he tried to sit up quickly. "Morgan? Where's Morgan?" He looked around the room frantically.
Gideon pushed him back down. "He's here Hotch. He's ok. Calm down."
Hotch relaxed slightly, and after a few minutes, he fell back into a deep sleep.
Gideon sighed and leaned back against the wall. He felt exhausted and sick with worry. He almost wished Subhash and company would kill them already and get it over with. The anxiety and constant fear were wearing on him immensely. He glanced around at his team members, reassuring himself that they were all relatively unharmed. He watched them sleep until he drifted off again himself.
The sound of heavy gunfire jolted him from sleep.
He looked around the room in panic, meeting several pairs of frightened eyes but seeing no source for the noise. He jumped up and ran toward the door, listening for clues as to what was happening.
Loud shouting from surprised voices, commanding voices shouting orders, but all the words were indistinct.
More gunfire. Pounding of feet running up or down stairs. Banging of doors. More shouting.
The chaos continued for what seemed like hours. Gideon, Garcia, Morgan, and
Emily huddled near the door as they tried to figure out if this was good or bad.
Just as abruptly as the commotion outside had started, it was over. The silence echoed through the room. The team members eyed each other warily. As the quiet dragged on, they gave up their watch and returned to the corner they'd all been in before. No one wanted to speak as they were unsure as to what the current events meant.
Suddenly the door to the room flew open. Garcia let out a surprised scream, and the others jumped to their feet in shock. They found themselves staring down the barrels of a half-dozen guns held by SWAT team members.
They instantly threw their hands in the air.
"Federal Agents!" Gideon yelled. "Don't shoot!"
The officer in charge stepped forward.
"Is there anyone other than your team in here?"
"No," Gideon answered. "I'm Agent Gideon. These are Agents Morgan, Jareau, Prentiss, Hotchner, and Garcia."
"Ok." He motioned for his crew to lower their weapons. "I'm Officer Rosen. We knew that you were here. We've been searching for you. But now we need to get all of you out of here. Who's hurt?"
Gideon pointed to Hotch and JJ in the corner. "They're the worst off. He might have a concussion," he indicated Morgan as he spoke.
"Ok Agent Gideon, I need you to go with Officer Jimenez," he motioned for the officer to step forward. "Connors get Agent Jareau. Marshall and Myers get Agent Hotchner. Are you ok Agent Prentiss?"
She nodded blankly at him. "Ok, then please go with Officer Henderson. Ms. Garcia, can you go with Officer LeBeau?" She nodded also. "Agent Morgan, you are with me. Is everyone ready?"
They all nodded in response, still slightly in shock from the past few minutes. They allowed their assigned officers to lead them from the room and down the hall. As they began to descend the stairs, Gideon turned to Officer Rosen.
"Is Agent Reid already downstairs?"
"Who?"
"Agent Reid, our other team member. He was separated from us earlier, and we haven't heard from him since. Is he already downstairs?"
Agent Rosen paused and stared at Gideon. He exchanged concerned glances with the other officers on his crew.
"What is it," Gideon asked? The bad feeling in his stomach returned with a vengeance.
Agent Rosen took a deep breath and looked Gideon in the eye. "I'm not sure how to say this, Agent Gideon, but we haven't found your agent."
"What?" Gideon yelled, catching the attention of his team members, who all stopped and listened.
"I mean that we've already cleared the building, and we didn't find your agent. Everyone other than yourselves has either been arrested or was killed in the crossfire.
Author's note: Muwaaha ha ha!!