JJ and Garcia watch as the green dot that represents Emily stays on course to intercept the black dot that represents the rescue team.
"Please…please…please…" JJ prays over and over.
They do not want to call the team yet, knowing it would delay the meeting that looks to be imminent. But if at anytime Emily's dot stops or veers away, Garcia is ready, her hand poised over her phone to ring Morgan's satellite phone.
Bennett is in the first ATV, followed by Hotch, then Chase and Anna, with Morgan bringing up the rear. As he reaches the area they will need to dismount and go on foot, he sees Starfire step out of the trees, an obviously wobbly Emily mounted on her. All the ATV's brake. Hotch is off his ATV and flying past Bennett before the ranger even dismounts.
"PRENTISS!" Hotch yells.
Emily pulls up Starfire. She points back the way she came. "Huck. Unsub. There. Guy named Oscar Underias is guarding him."
"Are you okay?"
She starts to shake her head then groans. "No. Concussion."
Hotch sees her ripped shirt. "Anything else?"
"No. Thank God Underias found us in time to stop…well…you know."
Hotch nods and helps Emily down from the saddle, gripping her tightly as she sways on her feet. He looks at Morgan and Bennett. "You two go get that fucking bastard. I'll get Emily down the mountain."
Morgan nods and hands Hotch his satellite phone. "Call Jayje."
"I will."
Anna mounts Starfire. "I'll meet you down there."
"Baby, if you think you're riding down alone you're nuts," Chase says. "I'll limp this ATV along with you."
Bennett looks at Hotch. "I've radioed for an ambulance to meet you."
"Thanks."
"You'll need 2," Emily says. "Underias clobbered that fucker pretty good."
Bennett nods. "Well, we'll worry about him eventually. I hope to hell he feels like crap for as long as possible."
Hotch hands Emily the phone. "Just hit send."
Emily takes the phone and hits the button.
"Morgan? What's going on?" Garcia screams.
Emily groans and holds the phone away for a second. "Please…no screaming," she pleads.
"EMILY!" JJ screams anyway.
"Shit! Seriously. No screaming. I'm okay. Got a concussion but okay. You two stop worrying. Especially you, Jen. Protect our nesters."
JJ sighs in relief and lets out a shaky breath. "I will, Emily. I love you."
"Love you, too, Jen."
Hotch takes the phone back. "Morgan and Bennett are on their way up to take Blair into custody. We're taking Emily down to get her head checked out. This shit is over," he concludes as the rain starts once again.
"Be safe, Hotch," Garcia tells him.
"Always."
He hangs up and the group starts to make their way back down to the parking area.
Rossi extends his hand to Oscar Underias.
"Thank you for saving our friend," he says sincerely. "There are those out there that would have turned a blind eye."
"Too many people turned a blind eye to me back in the day. Maybe there were a few that I wish had turned a blind eye to me. That shit Huck reminded me of those that thought their rights included being able to shit on those of us defending those rights. She was out there doing her job to make the world a better place. No one should be penalized for that."
Reid smiles at the man and extends his hand. "On behalf of the country, thank you for your service and I'm sorry for what you went through when you got back. And thanks for saving Emily, too."
Underias shakes Reid's hand. He studies the young genius a moment. "You may have hippie hair but you're no hippie. Take care of yourself, Doctor."
Reid nods. "I will. Thank you."
Underias leaves the station thinking maybe young people aren't as bad as they used to be after all.
When Huck awakens in the hospital he finds he is chained to his bed. He jerks at the cuff a couple times before a man approaches him from the shadows of the room.
"Harold Blair, you are under arrest for 8 counts of kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon and rape," Hotch tells him. "And that's just here in Arkansas. There's also the Federal charges of kidnapping and assaulting a Federal Officer." He pauses a moment. "And then there are 3 other cities that want a crack at you."
Huck's eyes widen. How had they found out about the other cities? Hotch leans in close to him.
"You're ass will never breathe fresh air again, you sick fuck."
The Arkansas state trooper in the room smiles as Huck starts to yank at the cuff some more. "No! No, I can't be cooped up! I can't! Bitch wanted me! They ALL wanted me! NO!"
Hotch just turns and walks out of the room.