A/N: Bit of a shorter chapter, but the right place to stop.

Disclaimer: Criminal Minds isn't mine.
Dedicated to the writers. Here's to hoping the negotiations starting on the 26th bring about a strong resolution.

Chapter 21: A Sobering Experience

It hadn't taken too long for the team to determine that there was a side entrance which went straight to the basement. No one had been able to get inside, and the firefighters wouldn't even attempt it yet; so no one knew if the basement had been set on fire as well, or just the upper floors and what was visible from the door of the stairwell.

The firefighters were still working furiously on the top floor flames, with no near end in sight; in fact it only seemed to be getting worse. Hotch went to see if he could talk to the lead fireman, or someone who didn't have a hose in their hand. He approached one man, "Excuse me." He waited to have his attention, "Sir, we have reason to believe there are hostages inside the building." The firefighter cast him an apologetic look. "Sir, we need to get inside the building. There's an access right over there," Hotch pointed to the wall they were now across from. A set of rails, blocking anyone from falling into the pit of stairs from the side, were just barely visible behind a low set of shrubbery and the bodies of the firemen who were working.

The fireman shook his head, "Have you forgotten the basic rules about burning buildings? Never re-enter the building. I won't allow it."

"Please," Hotch didn't exactly want to make it seem like he was begging, but he also saw no other way. "One of my agents is in there, along with 10 others."

The fireman bowed his head, "I'm sorry for your loss." Hotch looked at him, a pained hurt moving across his face. The fireman elaborated, "There's no way anyone could have survived being in that." He pointed to the intense flames.

"No, I don't imagine anyone could, but they're not up there. They're in the basement, which, as far as we know, isn't on fire yet, but we may not have much more time." He was pleading and he knew it, but he didn't care.

"Is it easily accessible, or is it locked?" He was referring to the door.

"I'm not sure, probably locked." Hotch replied.

"If it can be simply opened, I'll send 2 men in to look."

"Thank you. They'll need to take a look at the map, though. Apparently it's quite the maze down there."

"Get that door unlocked, and then we'll talk."

Hotch nodded, turned, and started to walk away when there was a rumble, what sounded like a small explosion. The ground shook just for a second, and some windows near the ground shattered. He turned back to the fireman, "What was that?"

The fireman blinked a couple times and ignored the question. "Do you happen to know how this fire started?"

"Not exactly, I wasn't here. I just know its arson."

"What was the accelerant?"

"I don't know."

The fireman frowned, "I think I do... Gasoline." He studied the fire for a moment and then nodded grimly. "Putting water on this fire will only make it spread; we'll need to use other methods." He called out an order for the others to cease dousing the flames.

"Fine, but you've avoided my question. What was that?"

"An explosion, probably from the gas fumes…" he trailed off, unsure if he could continue, but Hotch looked at him expectantly. "I'm pretty sure it was in the basement."

Hotch's face blanched.

Over the course of the next thirty minutes Reid's eyes opened occasionally, but never long enough for him to be considered fully conscious. He noted once that there was water running down the high window. Why was there water? The whispers started again.

"This is our FBI?"

"Is this the man that's supposed to be saving us?"

"He's no better than any of us."

"Actually, I think he's worse."

"Just another damn junky."

Reid was slowly becoming aware that, due to his withdrawals, even a half dose was too much. His body had sucked it up like water. He could hear the whispers, but not what was being said. He was nearly ready to pass out again when the explosion happened. Suddenly he remembered the fire.

It shook them all to the core, and was strong enough to knock the door to their prison off its hinges and onto the floor. Flames licked into the room for about 10 seconds then quickly retreated, leaving only thick black smoke as a reminder. Reid pushed himself up off the floor, "Oh… crap." He sat slowly, rubbing at his temples, trying to stop his ears from ringing. The window to the room had shattered, but now all he could hear was the roar of the flames outside. The silence in the room was alarming, however, "Is… Is everyone okay?" he asked.

For a moment there was nothing, then one by one people started to answer. He did a quick count of everyone who replied. Nine… only nine replies. He tried to get a look around the room and finally noted that the door wasn't sitting flush with the floor. He crawled forwards and looked down at the man beneath the door. The door was pressed up against his chin, his eyes were quickly flitting back-and-forth, and there was a pool of blood forming under him. He looked to be in his late-20's.

Reid avoided the blood and tired to talk to the man. "I just want you to blink if you can understand me." The man blinked once. "Good, lie perfectly still, don't try to move. Do you know where you're bleeding from?" The man blinked again and Reid took it as a 'yes.'

The man's mouth moved as he tried to speak, it took him three tries; "N-neck" His voice was very breathy and soft.

Reid gulped, "Okay, is it a small cut?" He knew by the growing pool of blood it wasn't, but he asked anyway. No blink. "So you think it's bad?" A blink. "I'm going to help you okay? I'm going to do… something." Reid had no idea what, however.

The man licked his lips, "No… Just… Tell my mom… I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?" Reid asked.

The man almost smiled, "The drugs. Sh-sh-she always knew… Never said… Anything."

Reid nodded, "I'll make sure she knows."

This seemed to lift a great weight off the man and he breathed out a few shallow breaths, closing his eyes. "Th-thank you."

"Oh no…" Reid shook his head, "Don't you dare give up! Not on my watch." He watched the blood pool continue to spread. "Just keep trying, please."

The man opened his eyes again, "Just let me die." his eyes closed again.

"I can't do that." Reid's eyes were watering and he sniffed loudly as his voice cracked. "Please don't make me do that." His face contorted, fighting back tears.

There was no response and after a minute Reid reached over and tried to feel for a pulse on the man's wrist. Nothing, he was gone. Reid stood up, wiping at his eyes, and immediately regretted it. The black smoke was starting to settle, and he could hear a few people coughing. He joined them as he took in a lungful and dropped back to the ground.

"We need to find out own way out of here, and we need to do it now." Reid stated with fervour, he was not going to just stay here and have anyone else die.