~~~~~CM~~~~~
Aaron guided Emily to the main level as she sobbed and cried out for Louise. Spencer joined them in the living room.
"I'm sorry, Emily. She is gone." The young agent spoke quietly, his hands fidgeting, wanting to comfort her.
"The boys. Where are the boys?" She moaned as Aaron hugged her into his chest, pulling her down on the couch. Helpless and angry, he choked back a sob.
"Fuck," he muttered. Liam and Declan were out there, in the wind with a fucking maniac. Closing his eyes, he nuzzled his face into Emily's hair and released a long breath.
After several minutes, Aaron met Spencer's eyes, and nodded. They had to keep going with the investigation despite their personal feelings.
"It appears that Louise fought; her hands showed powder burns and she had a .38 by her side. She was shot several times however she was covered up with a comforter from her bed. I believe Doyle is showing remorse." Spencer took a shaky breath, and continued, "Based on the scene, it looks like Louise managed to take one assailant with a head shot in the kitchen and drew the other one into the basement. She and assailant number two exchanged gunfire, she was injured but managed to take the him down. A third assailant surprised her upstairs. I think she had the kids in the master closet."
Spencer sat on the other side of Emily, tears tracking down his face, "It looks like the boys were dragged out of the closet, but I believe Louise was already covered up by them. I don't think they saw her." He hugged Emily's other side, not caring that he was hugging his boss as well.
For once, Aaron didn't mind appearing human on the job as he held onto the both of them, crying openly.
~~~~~CM~~~~~
Morgan and Dave joined them from next door. Aaron left Emily in Spencer's arms as he reviewed each of the scenes with his agents.
His phone rang as Aaron stumbled away from Louise's bedroom, horrified by what he saw.
"Hotchner," His voice rough, Aaron leaned against the wall hoping to regain his balance.
"Hotch! Garcia just found Louise's mobile. She is tracking the GPS, it is moving away from the city!" JJ exclaimed.
"What?" Aaron called out to the guys, "Dave, Morgan!"
The three men raced down the stairs; Aaron almost slid across the polished hardwood floor as he reached the living room.
"Louise's cell phone is on and Garcia is tracking the GPS."
Emily jumped up, wiping the tears, smearing her eye makeup all over her face, "Let's go."
They piled into the SUVs and raced around the police cars, ignoring Clyde Easter trying to wave them down in the street.
~~~~~CM~~~~~
Morgan drove quickly as Aaron yelled out directions from his phone. In the side mirror, he could see Dave following closely behind, taking the same sharp turns.
"Aaron," Dave's voice came through the earpiece, "How do you want to approach him? Based on scene, Spencer and I believe Doyle won't hurt the boys. He will come after Emily though."
In the backseat, Emily pressed the microphone button on her vest, "I can handle myself," she bit out.
Shaking his head, Aaron turned around and leveled his red rimmed eyes at her, "Em, we have to rely on the team. We are comprised. I am comprised." Covering the sound of his voice breaking and he looked down at his phone, barking, "Next left, Morgan."
He could hear her crying in the backseat and had to stop himself from climbing over the seat to her. Clearing his throat, he hit the intercom, "Dave, take the lead, please."
"I say we allow him to reach his destination. Garcia thinks he is heading to a private airstrip. We could have locals meet us there, but only the team approaches. Spencer is the best choice for lead. We keep Emily back."
Within minutes, black and white police cars surrounded the jet on the tarmac. The getaway car parked haphazardly in the grass near the runway. The black SUVs screeched in front and the team piled out.
Aaron grasped Emily's arms tightly, "I will get Declan and Liam out. I promise." He hugged her to him before entrusting her into the care of a seasoned police officer. "Keep her out of sight," he instructed.
Emily grabbed at him as he tried to walk away, "Be safe, Aaron."
Kissing her forehead, he brushed the tears and black streaks off her cheeks, "Love you."
~~~~~CM~~~~~
Aaron rejoined his team behind the SUVs. Dave was on the megaphone, speaking calmly. Morgan was covering Spencer who approached the plane slowly.
Spencer had his hands up and exuded confidence that Aaron knew he didn't have in this moment.
The plane door opened, Doyle stepped out on the top of the stairway. He yelled out, "Clear the runway and no one gets hurt."
"Ian, you know we can't do that." Dave said, "You love Declan and Liam. You don't want them to get injured. Look at all the police out here. One stray bullet..." Dave paused, "You don't want to endanger the boys."
"Tell them to stand down." Doyle yelled, then pointed a gun at Spencer, "You there, stop right there."
Stopping, Spencer nodded at Doyle as Dave's voice carried over to them. "This is Spencer Reid. He is a good friend of Declan and Liam's."
Doyle turned his head towards the interior of the plane; Aaron assumed that the children were confirming this information. Doyle's arm dropped, his gun pointing downward.
Dave continued, his voice calm yet firm, "Spencer and Declan have been learning about Ancient Egypt together. Spencer is working on a dinosaur puzzle with Liam."
Growling, Doyle raised his gun again, "That feckin' Lauren, Emily, whatever the her name is! It should have been me teaching my boys. I should know that Liam likes dinosaurs. She hid them from me, their own father."
Spencer spoke out, "Ian, I just want the boys to be safe. Isn't that what you want? For Declan and Liam to be happy, healthy, and safe."
"They are safe with me."
Dave chimed in, "Ian, you are wanted by the authorities in several countries. Your organization has crumbled while you were away. Your rivals consider your family to be your will target Declan and Liam. You need to do what is right for your sons."
After several minutes, Doyle lowered his gun, and looked inside the plane. He scratched at the scruff at the back of his neck and locked eyes with Spencer. "You care about my boys."
Nodding, Spencer stepped forward slowly while keeping his hands out front, "Ian, I love your boys. Declan is a bright young man with an analytical mind. Liam is full of energy and joy. He is only three and trying to learn to read so he can be just like Declan."
"That bitch didn't even tell them they are brothers." Doyle snarled, then spit out her name as if it was a curse, "Emily Prentiss."
Aaron grew nervous, he knew where this was going. Dave lowered the megaphone and they exchanged a concerned look.
With Morgan still covering him, Spencer had reached the steps of the jet, "Ian, let me get the boys to safety. No one needs to be hurt. Together, we can tell them that they are brothers. Explain who you are, that you are their father."
Doyle's gun hand kept twitching, and despite his oath to uphold the law, Aaron really wished Morgan would just take the shot and kill the bastard.
"I want Emily Prentiss on her knees before me. I will release the boys then and only then." Doyle stated before stepping back into the plane and hitting the button to close the doors. He kept his gun trained on Spencer until the door shut.
~~~~~CM~~~~~
Shaking his head, Aaron leaned in to whisper to Dave when a blur of motion and dark hair sped past him. Turning to run after Emily, he slowed as he saw Morgan scoop her up.
Aaron looked back at the police officer that was supposed to be holding her back. The man was being helped up from the ground, rubbing his jaw.
Morgan whispered furiously in her ear as Emily struggled in his tight grip. Realizing she would continue to fight him, Morgan threw her over his shoulder. Spencer jogged over to meet them and once they were all behind the police barricade, Morgan placed her back on the ground.
"We don't have to turn over Emily; he won't hurt the boys." Spencer said without conviction.
Dave shook his head, "No, this is his endgame. He knows he can't escape and he will not go back to prison."
Nodding along, Morgan said, "Emily is his stressor. He's obsessed with her." Lifting his chin, he pointedly looked at Spencer, "He will hand the boys to Spencer and kill Emily."
Emily squared her shoulders, "I'll be fine. Disarm him and get the boys. I will hold my own."
Closing his eyes, Aaron had a flash of his future, raising Declan and Liam along with Jack. Alone. Without Emily. Her presence missing from the dinner table, from the playground, from their birthday parties.
Shaking the errant thoughts from his head, he bent down and removed his ankle holster. Emily automatically lifted her pant leg and he holstered his backup weapon around her slim calf. He stood back up and cupped her face in his large hands, feeling like he was putting his entire future into the bruising kiss.
She blinked at him before turning and walking away, he wasn't sure if she heard him as he whispered back her words, "Be safe."
~~~~~CM~~~~~
A/N: Although I knew Louise wouldn't survive the story from the beginning, I can't believe how hard it was to have her die. However, I couldn't let her go without a fight. She fought for the boys and took out two armed men. Sigh, yes, I realize these are fictional characters but damn they are so real to me….
