The team quickly gives Emily hugs and welcomes her back, even Morgan, although he is still livid.
"So it's almost certain that Doyle took Reid?" Morgan asks, barely holding back his anger.
"Yes we believe he thinks Reid knows where Emily is, probably due to how often he's been over at JJ's," Hotch says.
"So you knew that something like this could've happened?!"
"We knew it was a possibility, but we had hoped Doyle would never catch on."
"A possibility, Hotch?! What the fuck!" Morgan yells, throwing his coffee mug into the wall as the team watches it shatter into countless pieces in stunned silence. Rossi goes out of the room with Morgan.
"Rossi I just can't. The lies are too much. Reid would be safe if they hadn't lied to us!"
"I'm angry too, but we both know even if we had all known through the truth this still could've happened. Doyle has resources and is unpredictable."
"How am I supposed to trust anything they say now?"
"I don't know. But what I do know is that the kid needs us. Can you work with them until we find him?"
"Ya I can. But I don't know what's gonna happen after this. Especially if we do-" Morgan says before Rossi interrupts him.
"No, don't think about that. Just think about finding the kid. Worry about everything else later. Now let's go," Rossi says as they go back into the briefing room.
"So, here's what we know so far," Hotch begins.
Spencer doesn't even know how long it's been anymore and he definitely has a concussion. His left leg is absolutely broken as well, because Doyle took a sledgehammer to it. He remembers that vividly thanks to the pain. This was awful. And it seems to be because Hotch and JJ, JJ his best friend, lied to him for months. Maybe he does blame them. He hates that thought, but realizes it is true. He hates being angry at his family.
"Your team is not as good as I thought," Doyle starts,"Or maybe they just don't care. I mean it's been four days and I don't think you can go much longer. But I figured we could let them know you're still alive! Let's make a little movie Doctor Reid."
The following morning a flash drive is delivered to Hotch at the Bau. When the team watches it, it nearly breaks them. The video shows Doyle beating a barely conscious Spencer while taunting the team.
"Oh my god," Garcia says before she starts crying in Morgan's arms.
"Oh Spence…"JJ cries.
"Guys I think they're in some type of warehouse," Emily says, struggling to hold herself together.
"Emily's right. Garcia I need you to search warehouses in the area. Emily can help you try to narrow it down," Hotch says.
"I'm on it sir," Garcia says, pulling herself together.
"Everyone else, let's try and figure out how we are gonna rescue Reid," Hotch says.
Hours later Spencer is barely conscious. The pain is unbearable. He believes, he has to believe, that the team is going to find him. He just doesn't know if it'll be too late when they do. And if Doyle is telling the truth, and Emily is still alive, will he even be able to trust them again? After all of this? He doubts all of them knew the truth, but has no idea who knew and who didn't. He can't focus enough to really think about it. The harder he thinks, the worse his head hurts. His entire body hurts. He wants it all to go away. He wants to make the pain and hurt and despair disappear. He wants…
No. He doesn't want that. Never again. He'll never take it again. No matter how much he wants it. How much he craves it. How much he nee- no he doesn't need it. He's strong. Stronger than Hankel. Stronger than his demons. Stronger than Dilaudid. He doesn't need it no matter how good it would feel to just be numb. No, stop. Stop thinking about that.
"Having some problems there, Doctor Reid? You seem conflicted," Doyle says with a grin. Spencer hadn't even noticed he came back.
Doyle continues,"Tell me the truth Doctor and all your suffering can end."
"I al-already told you *cough* that I don't kn-know anything. I on-*cough*- only w-went to JJ's because I was gr-grieving," Spencer wheezes out.
"Oh how I wish I could believe you," Doyle replies as he starts beating Spencer again. Suddenly Spencer hears shouting from behind him, and Doyle stops his assault.
"Well well well Doctor Reid. It appears your team is rather good after all. They've found us. So now, either I'll finally kill Emily and you for good measure, or I'll make them watch as I end you right here. Whatever happens, your team is never gonna be the same after this Doctor," Doyle taunts before heading off somewhere else in the building, leaving Spencer sitting there, barely conscious.
Not long after, Doyle runs back into the room and frees Spencer from his restraints, picking him and holding him in front of himself as a shield. And holding a gun to his head.
"Doyle, drop the weapon, now!" Hotch yells. Spencer allows himself to feel hope at that.
"Ah well hello there Agent Hotchner! Doctor Reid and I have become very well acquainted these past few days. He also seems to believe the lies you and Agent Jareau have told him still. But I feel that will be changed soon. Where is Emily?" Doyle says.
"She's not here. Now drop your weapon," Hotch says. Spencer breaks at his words, now knowing for certain that he had been lied to for months.
"Oh bad move Agent Hotchner. Now Doctor Reid is definitely going to die."
"And you'll die as well then. Is that really how you want this to end?"
"I accepted my fate long ago. The only regret I'll have is that I wasn't able to finish off Emily before I died. It's what she deserves. But killing the good doctor here is a nice alternative I think."
"You want to kill someone so badly? Kill me and let him go."
"Tempting offer Agent Hotchner but I think I'll pass."
"Why not? I'm a higher rank and it's a bigger kill. And it would mean a new unit chief for the BAU, which could damage it like you are hoping for."
"Because your team probably could recover from the lies that have been told. But if he dies, especially because of those lies, the BAU will be shattered beyond repair."
"That can't be your only reason. You're a psychopath, and I know you want more out of this."
"Right you are Agent Hotchner. Killing Doctor Reid will also destroy Emily. I know they were close before she faked her death again, so how will she be after I kill him, hm? And then there's you Agent Hotchner. I don't want to kill you. I want you and Agent Jareau to have to live with the knowledge that your lies caused the suffering and death of Doctor Reid. And once I've killed him, none of your team will ever be able to look at either of you again, let alone trust you."
"This won't end the way you want it too Doyle."
"You sure about that?"
The only sound heard throughout the warehouse is a lone gunshot.