(Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or its characters)

Thanks to Jesuslover123, Caroliny Hotchner, and damthing for reviewing the last chapter. I'd love to see a few more of you guys reviewing. I put a lot of effort into each update.

I said I was going to get a second chapter in last week but I got really busy. My bad. I'm trying to get lots done this week so fingers crossed on faster updates.

Anyway, thanks for clicking on this, leave a review if you have any thoughts about this chapter and Enjoy.

Spencer glanced at Aaron from across the reception desk. He was looking at a door behind the desk. They were waiting for someone to come out and speak to them. Spencer glanced at his watch anxiously. He looked back at the door where Tara had gone, intercepting a call from Garcia.

Spencer glanced around the room quickly. It was just them and a few guests on a couch by the window. Finally, someone came to the desk, a tall woman with her blonde hair tied up in a tight bun, looking startled by the presence of two men in FBI vests.

"Can I help you?" she asked nervously.

"We're looking for this man. He works part-"

"Taylor?"

Aaron nodded, putting the photo away as the woman glanced down at her reception books.

"Is he in trouble?" she asked.

Aaron frowned, narrowing his eyes on the woman while Spencer took her in, profiling her in his head.

"That depends. Should he be?"

"I-I don't know. You're the FBI," she said and she laughed breathlessly. Spencer looked at Aaron who gave him a small nod.

"What?"

"Is Taylor here?"

"No."

Aaron sighed. "Would you happen to know where he is?"

"Why are you guys looking for him?"

Spencer glanced at the woman's name-tag before speaking. "This is important, Chloe. Taylor is suspected of something quite damaging. If you do not cooperate, you're essentially putting yourself on trial. If you know anything I suggest you tell us."

The receptionist, Chloe, swallowed thickly, glancing down at her books again before she nodded. "He asked Clive to take his shift today," she said.

"Do you know why?" Aaron asked and Chloe bit her lip.

"He said something about an interview for an office job. I really don't know much."

"But you know something. Where was Taylor last Friday?"

Chloe frowned thoughtfully. "He had the day off."

Spencer and Aaron exchanged a look as Chloe reached her hand to her face and nibbled nervously at her fingernails.

"That's all," Aaron said, pulling his badge off the table which he'd laid out to intimidate whoever came to see them. Chloe sagged with relief and she nodded.

Aaron led Spencer back outside and they found Tara waiting for them.

"Was he not there?"

Aaron shook his head and scowled at the way Tara was holding herself as if she was holding something back. "What's wrong?"

"The other guy is clear," she said and she glanced nervously at Spencer and then back at Aaron. "Garcia dug some more into Taylor. The guy was turned down for a job he'd been working towards for most of his life. And guess when that happened."

Spencer looked at Aaron who sighed slowly. "Just before the first killing."

Tara nodded. "He's our guy."

"He's not in there," Aaron said. "The receptionist said he went for an interview. Call Garcia and have her find any offices offering jobs."

"Within a fifteen mile radius," Spencer added, remembering his geographical profile.

Tara pulled her phone out and put Penelope on speaker. It rang only once before she picked up.

"What do you need to know, I have everything on this guy," Garcia said and Spencer smirked a little.

"Taylor went for a job interview today. They may be his next targets. Are there any offices in a fifteen mile radius of his home that are offering jobs."

They all watched the phone as the sound of typing came through the speaker.

"Ummm... yes, three places," she said.

"What was Taylor going for in the initial job interview?"

"Business liaison... oh wait. I have one! Yea, this has to be it. I'm sending you all the address. Loral avenue. Tara should have it."

Tara looked at her phone without ending the call and she nodded to Aaron and Spencer.

"I have it."

"Thanks, Garcia."

"Be safe! I'll call the others now."

After hanging up, the three agents got back into their car and with the sirens on, Aaron floored it to the office seven miles from them.

He shut off the sirens when they got close. Spencer narrowed his eyes at the office building while Aaron drove inconspicuously.

They got out, checking themselves and their guns once again before approaching the front of the building.

"I'll go around the back," Tara said. Spencer nodded but Aaron looked doubtful.

"Alone?" he said. "I'd prefer you stick with us."

"And have the escape route open?" Tara raised an eyebrow and Aaron sighed, seeing her logic. She shrugged and glanced at Spencer. "I could take Spencer?"

Aaron looked briefly at Spencer and was quick to shake his head. "I'd rather he stay with me."

Tara held her hands up in defeat but she was grinning.

"I'll wait at the door until back up comes, is that okay?"

Aaron sighed. He looked at Spencer again before he nodded. Tara didn't wait for a verbal answer; she turned and walked down the side of the building while Spencer and Aaron started toward the front.

"Ready?" Aaron asked.

Spencer was about to nod when a scream came from the reception room where they were heading and with one last exchange with Aaron, they both hurried for the door, their guns drawn.

Aaron led the way while Spencer checked their surroundings.

They got into the empty reception and they checked around. Aaron looked over the front desk and saw a petite woman hiding, her hands over her head.

She saw the gun and cried out and Aaron put his hands up quickly. "FBI," he said and he glanced at Spencer who was peering down a hallway. He looked back at the terrified woman who peeked her head out, her red hair covering most of her face.

"Where did they go?"

The woman pointed to the hall Spencer was looking down. "He took them down there," she whispered.

"Thank you, get outside and wait there. The police are on their way," Aaron said and he offered his hand to the woman who took it gratefully to slide out from under the desk and hurry out of the front glass doors.

Aaron joined Spencer.

"I saw someone in the end room," Spencer whispered and they both looked at the far door. Through the glass door-window they could see the light was on.

Aaron nodded and they slowly began making their way down the hall. Aaron paused at the rooms along the way, looking through the windows but seeing no one.

They got to the door and Spencer stood aside so Aaron could grab the handle.

"Ready?"

Spencer gave a quick but apprehensive nod and he raised his glock. Aaron tried to ignore the way the younger man's hand shook.

Aaron barged into the room and raised his gun. His stomach dropped when he saw Taylor turn with a woman in a headlock, her pencil skirt riding up her thighs which were shaking as she cried. Around them were several other office workers, their suits ruffled and skirts pinched. Spencer counted four not including the one under Taylor's arm.

Taylor was a burly man. He was thirty-two, his dirty blonde hair slicked back and his acne-scarred face cleaner than his photo. His own shirt and pants were ruffled and his tie hung loosely around his neck. He glared at Aaron and Spencer, his lip curling up, exposing chipped teeth.

"Let her go," Aaron said, not lowering his gun at the sight.

"No!"

"Taylor-"

"Shut up! Y-you put your gun down," Taylor snapped and he looked at Spencer who was glaring at him over his gun.

The woman sobbed loudly when Taylor's gun was pushed into her head and Aaron saw the fury in their unsub's eyes. With great reluctance he lifted his hands.

"Hotch." Spencer stared in horror as Aaron slowly lowered his gun.

"Kick it over," Taylor yelled, pointing at the gun which Aaron promptly kicked away.

"And him."

Aaron turned and saw Spencer still had his gun rasied.

"I'm not doing that," Spencer said, his gun firmly aimed at Taylor's head.

"Do it or I'll kill her! I will!"

Spencer hesitated, lowering his gun a little. "I have a clear shot, Taylor. Put the gun down or I'll shoot."

"He has a hostage, Spencer. Put your gun down now."

Spencer glanced at Aaron pleadingly.

"But-"

"That's an order, Rossi."

Spencer dropped his gun, throwing it across the floor to Taylor who stepped forward, standing over the guns. He turned to one of the hostages, a large man who was cowering with his hands over his head. He pointed the gun at him as he whimpered under its glare.

"Tie them up," he said gruffly, reaching into his back pocket and pulling out cable ties. The man fell forward to grab them and he scrambled to his feet.

Aaron turned obediently. His team were on their way. Their job right now was to keep the hostages safe.

Once his hands were tied, he stood up straight again, accepting the man's apology as he hurried by. Aaron moved his hands a little and was thankful the man hadn't done the cable tie tight.

He looked across at Spencer but didn't see him. Neither did the man tasked with tying their hands and he stepped back nervously, glancing at Taylor.

Taylor saw them stop and he looked to where Spencer had been but found him missing. As he was about to protest he stumbled forwards suddenly, dropping his gun and his hold of the hostage.

Aaron saw Spencer jump for his gun as Taylor grabbed his. Taylor was quicker and Aaron couldn't watch Spencer die in front of him. He wasn't about to go home and apologise to Rossi. He refused.

Aaron lunged forward, colliding with Taylor as Spencer grappled with his gun. He tried to aim at Taylor but couldn't get a clear shot. The workers around them were screaming, covering their heads and faces and any other vital parts they could protect.

"Go!" Aaron yelled. He pushed Taylor's hand with his shoulder, trying to keep the gun away from him.

Spencer didn't hesitate with the order. He turned and started yelling at the hostages, shoving them toward the door. Aaron kicked Taylor's gun to the back door, beyond which was a staircase, and they both struggled to get to it before the other did.

Aaron was uncoordinated with his hands behind his back and his next attempt to keep Taylor down failed and he fell to the ground hard.

He was pushing himself up when he felt a hand snake around his neck and something cold press against his head.

Taylor slammed his foot into the far door and dragged himself and Aaron through it.

There was a lock on the other side of the door and Taylor turned it quickly before shoving Aaron to the floor and pointing the gun at him.

Aaron couldn't even hold his hands up in surrender. He ducked his head and stayed still on the hard concrete stairs behind him.

Taylor panted, rubbing a thick hand down his face which was shining with sweat. The gun in his hand shook as he took three deep breaths.

"Up," Taylor hissed, waving his gun. He took another breath, glancing back at the door. He looked at Aaron, his eyebrows low and dangerous. "You ruined everything! Get up!"

Aaron struggled up, pushing his hands against the cold step behind him and managing to get his feet under him. Taylor pointed to the stairs.

"Walk," he snapped. Aaron did as he was told.

He glanced back at the door and through the small rectangle of glass he could see Spencer guiding people down the hall. Aaron was shoved again and he took another few steps. When he managed to glance around again he saw Spencer was gone but so were most of the hostages. Aaron felt pride blossom up inside him for the young man he'd helped raise. At that moment he felt only pride, it overwhelmed his fear.

One case away from retiring. Aaron could have laughed at the irony.

"Keep moving!"

Aaron staggered forward when he was shoved again.

Taylor grabbed his arm when they got to the top of the stairs and he led them quickly through an empty office. Aaron tried to look back but the gun in his side kept him moving.

Taylor pressed his keycard on a pad stuck out of the wall. The door in front of them opened, revealing a small conference room. Taylor let go of Aaron's arm and as the door shut behind them, locking them both inside, Taylor shoved Aaron to the floor, forcing him onto his knees.

Aaron shifted his arms, his fingers feeling around behind him at his belt, hoping to reach his pocket and his phone. His hands were tied too firmly to each other and Aaron couldn't work his fingers well enough to grab anything. It was as he continued to struggle that he felt the cold tip of a gun touch the back of his head. Aaron stopped moving, his back tensing as he sat stiffly on his knees.

"You have no target," Aaron said, his voice shaking a little. The gun was pressed painfully to his head, pulling at his hair.

"I've found a new one," Taylor muttered. Aaron could tell he had his teeth gritted together. He was probably glaring down at Aaron, hating him with every part of his being.

"The ritual is broken then," Aaron said. "This isn't how its meant to be."

Taylor made some sort of growling noise and Aaron felt the gun ease for just a moment before it was shoved back against his skull.

"I don't care!" Taylor said, his voice booming arund the room

Aaron could only look ahead of him but in his mind his saw the deadly expression on Taylor's face and he started to prepare for what the gun was about to deliver.

"Do I fit your victimology?" Aaron asked. At that point, he was just prolonging the inevitable. He still had some hope, something to hold him back from telling Taylor to just pull the trigger.

"What?"

"I'm your perfect target. White, powerful man," Aaron said, keeping his voice soft in contrast to Taylor's harsh and barking tone. "Just like Richard Lewis?"

Aaron felt the gun ease just a touch and he let out a breath. Richard Lewis has been the one to interview Taylor in the event that had triggered him. Spencer had reeled off the information to him and Tara on the way to the office. Lewis was the one to turn Taylor down and then laugh at him.

Aaron heard Taylor shift around behind him.

"How do you know him?"

Aaron blinked, staring at the whiteboard ahead for a moment, weighing up what he could say without triggering something else in Taylor.

"I understand," he said. "You were perfect for that job. You were more than prepared for it but when you went they laughed at you. They refused you the job that quite frankly you're overqualified to do."

The gun eased a little more and Aaron's shoulder's sagged.

"It's all I wanted," Taylor said, his voice was suddenly quieter.

"They didn't listen to what you had to say. Richard refused to give you the job and no-one stood up for you."

Thats why you kill multiple people, Aaron thought, the target, and everyone around him.

"You didn't deserve that, Taylor."

"No... I know, that's why they have to pay."

"Richard is the only one who did wrong here," Aaron said quickly, aware of the feeling of the gun against his head once again. He needed the unsub on his side and to do that he needed to sympathise with him, his morals be damned.

"That's not how it works," Taylor said, panting the last words out. Aaron felt the gun dig in and he closed his eyes.

"Please," he said slowly. "Just listen and think about this. If you kill me the police will find you. You're originally from Georgia? You know what's legal there don't you?"

Aaron paused, listening to Taylor breathing harshly.

"You'll get the death penalty. The trial will be short. You could be executed in a matter of months. If you put the gun down we can talk about this. Get you some real justice."

"They'd kill me anyway. I killed already."

Aaron swallowed thickly. "With good reason," he said, gritting his teeth through the lie. Aaron let out a deep breath. "Drop the gun," he said.

Taylor didn't lower his weapon, but Aaron could feel it tremble against his head, the hand holding it was clearly shaking.

"Taylor, drop the gun and we can talk."

"I need to finish this."

"There's nothing to finish."

"No. No there is. I need to do this."

"Taylor don't-"

Aaron scrunched his face up when he felt the gun become steady against his head.

He thought of Jack in that moment and a tear rolled down his cheek.

Taylor sighed, the gun steadier than it had been the whole time.

"I'm sorry."

Aaron took one last deep breath when a loud bang echoed through the room. He opened his eyes and realised it wasn't the gun, which had fallen away from his skull. He glanced around and saw Taylor staring at the door.

There was another bang and the door caved in.

Taylor, in his shock, gaped ahead as Spencer pushed through the door and lifted his own pistol.

"Hands up!" Spencer yelled but Taylor was more eager to shoot than talk.

Spencer shot the man in knee when he lifted the gun instead of his arms.

Taylor shot just after Spencer, falling backwards and dropping the gun. Spencer staggered for a moment before he ran forward and kicked the gun away.

Aaron was pulling at his restraints, looking around desperately until Spencer joined him.

"Are you okay?"

Spencer nodded slowly as he untied Aaron.

"M'fine. A-are you?"

Aaron pulled his hands free and he put them on his knees and breathed in long and deep.

He didn't noticed that Spencer winced and sat back. When he finished his relieved breath he looked at Spencer and his heart dropped.

"You said you were fine!"

Spencer held his hand to his shoulder, where blood was squelching through his fingers. He was pale in the face, his cheeks a ghostly shade of white.

"It's nothing t-too bad," Spencer whispered. He pulled his hand away for a moment and squinted at his shoulder. With adrenaline pulsing through him he hadn't felt the wound. He remembered the impact but it didn't click until he had a moment to himself and he felt the bite of the bullet in his flesh.

"I-It's just my shoulder," Spencer said, stuttering as he did, trying to convince himself rather than Aaron who was looking over to the door frantically.

"Just my shoulder, Aaron... j-just-" Spencer stopped speaking to swallow. He swallowed again, blinking hard. He felt suddenly woozy and when Aaron turned to look at him again he had to hold the young man upright.

"Alright. You're okay, I've got you, buddy," Aaron said, holding Spencer up by his good arm. Spencer nodded but breathed out deeply when the motion caused more dizziness.

"T-tell dad it's just my sh-shoulder," Spencer said and Aaron shook his head in amusement.

"Sure, buddy. I'll do that, can you do me a favour?"

"Yea."

Aaron smiled as Spencer looked up at him with the innocent look he used to assault the team with whenever he wanted something. He's a good kid, Aaron thought absently.

"Stay awake, okay?" Aaron said and Spencer blinked slowly like a drunk person trying to stay awake.

"Yea," Spencer mumbled, both eyes closing simultaneously before snapping back open and nodding seriously at Aaron. "I can b-but its just my shoulder."

"That's still not good, Spencer. Getting shot anywhere is bad. Stay awake!"

Spencer opened his eyes suddenly and nodded at Aaron. He tried to keep his eyes open but it really wasn't so bad, it was just his shoulder and-

"Spencer!"

Spencer opened one eye but he couldn't look at Aaron, his eyelids were too heavy.

He heard Aaron shuffling around when his eyes closed again.

The radio crackled.

"Agent down! Where are you all!? We're in a conference room... third floor."

Spencer pried an eye open but everything was fuzzy and he felt his body lurching to the right, collapsing against Aaron.

"Spencer!"

He was too tired to answer. His eyes really wouldn't open now.

"No, no, come on, Spencer. Wake up, buddy, wake up!"

Thanks for reading. Since I didn't update when I said I would on Saturday this chapter is longer than normal.

I hope you enjoyed. Please leave a review to let me know your thoughts.

Thanks again.

Stay safe and see you soon.