Presentiment

A Criminal Minds Story

The uneasy silence seemed to thicken the air around the young agent as he did his best to monitor his breathing. Spencer Reid leaned back into the car seat trying to portray a calm demeanor and eliminate the sense of urgency in his voice before he spoke to the person one middle seat away. It was unnerving, he could practically feel the eerie calmness that shrouded the man's presence. Closing his eyes he glanced out the window, towards Hotch who stood with his arms crossed, eyes narrowed, and eyebrows tightened. The boss gave him a supportive nod and Reid turned to face the man who had turned the last couple of days into a hellish nightmare.

Taking a deep breath the genius' lips parted as if to speak, but he wouldn't get the chance as the unsub spoke first, "I won't tell you where she is until I get a deal. That is what you want isn't it Dr. Reid, to know where my men are taking Agent Jareau?"

"Actually I want to help you," Reid stated as though he was relaying a face, intrigued Declan lifted his eyebrows and urged the agent to continued, "The D.A. isn't going to offer you a deal. You're a known felon that's been on the most wanted list for seventeen years…. towards the bottom, but on it nonetheless."

"Agent Jareau is a part of your team, why would you want to help me?" Merrick told him as though he'd seen right through his plan. Spencer bit his tongue hard to stop himself from cringing from what he was to say next.

"Agent Jareau is a whiny liar that constantly needs to be babied. She is not fit to be a profiler and never has been, and she is a detriment to the team. She is constantly puking because she can't handle the rather unsightly part of our job. However she is part of my team as you said and it won't make us look good if we don't get her back," Reid spat with believable conviction despite disagreeing with everything he was saying. He knew that it would appeal to Merrick's narcissistic attitude and belief that all women are weak and can be broken into complete submissiveness.

It disgusted him to say it, but he had to. He needed to get JJ back.

Merrick bursted with a single 'ha!', before continuing,"That girl can throw up... she ruined my Armani shoes, but thankfully not my most expensive pair. You know I got twenty five thousand for her! That Macady really, really was desperate to have her… Probably could have gotten more," He paused to look at his hands for a moment before shrugging his shoulders. Looking back at Reid he smiled, "I like you Dr. Reid...But I can a spot a lie."

Reid nodded, he knew he could, "Then the question is, do you want to spend the rest of your life in a maximum security prison where you're locked inside your cell for twenty three hours a day and your every move is watched? Because that is where you're headed the moment I get out of this car."

With complete satisfaction Reid watched the smug triumph from the unsub's face fall. Declan's eyes lowered and his once bright grin dulled. A quick glance out the window and the unsub took in the grass and the road and his lavish house. Then he looked a Hotch, whose stern look told him that everything the skinny agent said was true.

"All of your freedom will be gone. So you can either tell me where to find Agent Jareau now and because of this show of good faith the district attorney's office will believe me when I tell them you are willing to share information or I can get out of this car now and make sure you spend the rest of your life in absolute misery," Reid nodded feeling confident, "It's your choice."

Reid reached for the handle of the door and swung it open, a fresh cool breeze flew in and the agent sucked it in dramatically before adding, "It's a nice day today. It's supposed to be like this all week. Cloud formations and weather patterns across the East Coast indicate that the..."

Declan spoke up, "Okay. I'll make a call to my man… You can track him from there, can't you?"

Aaron Hotchner felt a swell of pride and relief when Reid waved him over. Not that he had doubts of his youngest agents ability, but rather it had just been a long couple of days. A long couple of days that really needed a good ending. Feeling a hand against his shoulder, Aaron turned to see Rossi with his knowing look.

"We're going to get her back Aaron," Rossi told him with surety. Hotch nodded, watching as two officers carefully led Merrick into the house where he would make the call that could save JJ's life. Hotch wished he could share the man's certainty, but found that there was still this gnawing feeling that was telling them that they were already too late...

"Derek you've got to slow down," Garcia shouted as she bounced in the back seat, her face was pale as she hugged her computer tightly to her chest, "What if we go too far?"

She could barely see the cars around them let alone the license plates because they were going so fast. Morgan squeezed the steering wheel tightly as he looked over to Emily who was leaning forward as far as her seatbelt would allow her, eyes straining to see. Her hair was mess, falling in dirty strands, dried blood stuck to the wound on her head that was surrounded by a new, bright green indicated the beginning stages of bruising. She looked pale and ill, but he could still see come fight in her eyes.

But Garcia was right, so he slowed down.

"No. Derek, what are you doing?" Emily cringed as she shook her head, "We can still catch them."

"Emily we don't know what we are looking for. If we go too far…," and as much as Derek hated to say it, it was true, "Then we will be too late."

"We can't just leave her," Emily whispered sounding so unlike herself that Morgan couldn't help the flash of anger that burned inside of him.

The blaring sound of Morgan's phone rang loudly causing all three passengers to jump, Morgan picked it up quickly and put in on speaker, "You're on speaker Hotch."

"We got the location of the SUV, It's moving fast," Hotch told him clearly of the car's whereabouts.

Garcia shrieked, "That's where we are. We just passed that."

Emily lunged forward her eyes searching the cars on the road. They were headed into the very outskirts of the city, an area that you wouldn't want to get lost in. An area perfect for an illegal exchange. "Oh please, please, please…" She whispered.

But it was Garcia who screamed out, "Morgan it's behind us! It's behind us!" She had seen the a dark car gaining speed, weaving through cars just as they were doing minutes before. Never before had Penelope felt such a mixture a fear of and complete joy. Just three cars back was her Vanilla Cupcake!

Her JJ.

But also three cars back was dangerous men with guns and what did they have, one armed agent, one unarmed injured agent, and a brightly colored technical analysts whose only weapon was a computer that wouldn't even cause a concussion.

"Keep an eye on it. we're on our way...But Morgan…, Do what you have to."

Emily watched the car warily as it picked up speed. As she saw it, they had two options. One, follow the car and see where it goes. Two, let the car get in front then flick on the sirens and take their chances at a chase. She wasn't sure what the best option was at the moment… She just hoped that JJ was still out cold.

When JJ's eyes opened she wasn't sure if she was actually awake. It was completely dark, and she couldn't see anything. Her arms were pinned her side and her legs were bent only slightly. It was then that JJ's mind immediately flashed to the case several years ago where the team had pulled a young boy out of a container much like this to save him from being sold.

The team had got there just in time for that boy just as they have done so many other times before. It could happen again. They could save her. She believed they could, but she couldn't help it as her heart rate started to quicken while her mind continued processing her situation. The fear was trickling in, seeping into her mind and body...

"Stay calm Jareau," She thought to herself, "You don't want to panic in here."

Of course, it was then that her body started to burn up, she felt hot and sweaty and sick. It was as though she had been thrusted into a pile of flaming coals. A prickling sensation crawled up her stomach and neck, but she couldn't move to scratch it away. JJ squirmed and squirmed, roughly pulling out her hands and forearms she threw them up to the roof of her cage and slammed her palms against the smooth surface. Her voice failed her as she tried to call out, but only managed a gargled squeal. It was like she was back in her sinking car again, but this time she would not survive. This time she would drown, not in the water, but in her own frenzied state of fear. This time she would die.

But then she heard sirens.

My goodness! Sorry this took so long to post I was just struggling to write this chapter. It just wasn't fitting into what I wanted it to be, you know. It still isn't the best, but I hope it's alright. Please let me know what you think! Thank you all for your patience.

Thanks!

-HCB