Reid stared at the computer screens, unable to look away. He actually did it, he thought, he actually drugged her…. As the reality of the video began to kick in, anger shot through Spencer's eyes. He did this to her: He ruined her life like Tobias did mine!
Hotch could clearly see the anger forming in the younger agent, and approached Reid by placing his open hand on his shoulder. Reid then turned to Hotch as he listened to him speak,
"No use getting angry: It won't change anything."
"I know," Reid said as he looked back at the screens, "I knew this would happen you know." When Hotch looked bemused at the comment, Reid clarified, "Subconsciously, I mean. It's all in the profile, I…..I shouldn't be reacting the way I am…."
"You have e very right to be acting the way you are." Hotch immediately responded, as if to assure the agent.
"Yes….but I should know better."
And with a weak smile, and another pat on Reid's shoulder, the older man left Reid to his own thoughts.
About four hours later, Reid came back into the living area.
"Guys, he's back." He said as he quickly turned on his heels, and headed back towards the room.
"Here goes nothing," Morgan muttered as Hotch gestured for them to follow him towards the guest room. When they got in, they all immediately became engrossed in the live-stream video feed of Natalie and her tormentor.
"I-I didn't- I didn't mean to….I….I-"
"What did you not meant to do?" The Unsub demanded somewhere off-camera.
"To-to keep walking…" Oh man….She's already giving in? One dose of Dilaudid and she complies….just like he wanted…..I didn't five in that easy, did I? , he thought as the Unsub replied,
"Well I'm afraid you won't be doing that anytime soon. And frankly," he said as he came into the camera's view, "I couldn't care less." He then walked back off camera, and some typing and shuffling around could be heard now and then, until Natalie finally spoke up,
"What do you want?" Straight and to the point, Spencer thought, that's good….I think….
"I'm glad you asked," He replied as he shuffled some more things around, and a click could be heard, "I want you….to choose." Reid could even hear the smirk as the Unsub smoke. Choose? What does he mean – Choose? He can't mean –
"What?" she asked, as if reading Spencer's mind.
"I want you. To choose. Who dies." He said, punctuating each word. Oh God, he thought, He does! I don't think I can handle –
"Hotch." Reid squeaked before he could stop himself.
"Hurry up with that virus, Garcia!" was Hotch's only reply. After a moment of silence, the Unsub added,
"Or you could always one to live – that's what your brother did. It's all the same in the end. After all, like brother, like sister…." After about another minute of complete silence, she took a deep breath and responded,
"The one on the far right corner – she lives." This can't be happening…..
"Great minds think alike…" The Unsub muttered as he shuffled, yet more things, around, and a door being slammed along with the sound of a lock being clicked was heard.
And it wasn't until Spencer heard that click that both he and Natalie allowed themselves to burst into tears. And as they both listened to the 3 other couples being slaughtered to death, Spencer couldn't help but feel her pain – his pain. He had seen and lived through all she was going through and now she had to endure the same hell he went through. The drugs, the beatings – all of it. He knew every thought she was thinking.
After all, great minds do think alike.