Sorry about the wait guys. I've been really busy these last couple of days.
Also, I have two different endings in mind for this story and I am still trying to figure out which direction to go.
Anyway, here's chapter 7. Reviews are always welcome :)
Chapter 7: Breaking
Thursday 6 am
Reid didn't sleep well at all Wednesday night. Not that anyone could sleep well under these circumstances but he was up the entire night. Every time he closed his eyes terrifying nightmares would take over and he couldn't stay asleep for long.
The door to his hell opened and the alpha stepped in, back to using his loving, caring persona. "Hello, Spencer! Guess what? It's finally time that we fix that brain of yours. It's getting in the way of the whole plan, and we can't have that, can we?" while he was talking he was slowly walking towards Reid.
The guard came into the room followed closely by the cameraman. Reid was startled by the fact that the whole group was back, but he didn't have the energy to figure out what was going on, he just knew it wasn't going to be good.
The alpha was talking again, "Now, I'm doing you a favor Spencer. Your mind is holding you back." Kneeling in front of the young genius, he sneers, "You should be thanking me". He turns back to the guard saying something that Reid can't understand and the guard comes towards him, a malicious smile on his face that made Reid's blood turn cold.
BAU Bullpen, Thursday 6:05 am
The entire team was running around, attempting to find any other evidence against Billy Flynn. Garcia settled in her room, tracking down the last car that he owned, while everyone else was in the round table room again setting up a board connecting all known relatives.
Morgan froze when he heard Garcia's heels running back to the room, dread filling him. The team all turned to see her breathless in the doorway. "Baby girl? What is it?", he asked, not really wanting to know.
Garcia took a second to calm down and then said, "There's another link you guys". No one said anything as she pulled the video feed up onto the television. They attempted to brace themselves.
The feed turned to a dark silhouette. Morgan shared a confused look with most of the team. They hadn't seen anything other than Reid since the first video. The man started talking, and it sounded like the Alpha.
"Hello, Agent Morgan! I assume you've enjoyed my gifts, ooh especially that tooth. Now that was fun. I might do that again say I get the chance. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that your friend, Spencer hasn't been behaving very well." Morgan sucked in a breath at that. They all know what happened when one of the men thought Reid wasn't "behaving".
The tone of voice the man used sounded as if he was scolding a young child, and it made Hotch's blood boil. "I tried to tell him that we'd fix his brain if he'd only let us, but per usual he was unappreciative. Don't worry though, my friend is helping him out with his uncooperativeness as I speak. I presume, he'll behave much better after that. Unfortunately, that does mean that the amazing show I planned for you all today will have to be postponed." He makes a frowning face like a clown would when mocking someone, "I'll see you all very soon!"
With that, the screen goes completely black.
"Reid's doing it on purpose, Hotch" Morgan blurts out. The rest of the team looks at him, confused expressions mapped on their faces. "I mean his pissing them off on purpose. He knows that they were going to do it much worse than any punishment. He's giving us time to get there before they do whatever they have planned."
"Then we need to hurry," Hotch said after a moment and the team left the room off in their separate directions.
"He still believes in us" he murmurs so quietly that no one hears it, or sees the soft smile on his face. Knowing this still doesn't make it any easier when the pictures come in half an hour later, this time on Garcia's email. The team again crowds around her computer to see what new horror has fallen upon their brother's shoulders.
The first image shows the brute on top of Reid, who is belly up lying on the ground. His nose is all wrong, crooked, and out of place, broken. It's not a clean break either, blood runs down his face pooling onto the ground. His eyes are drooped, almost shut. The man is drawing back for another punch.
The other picture shows Reid back in the wooden chair from the first pictures. His wrists and ankles are strapped down to the chair. He is passed out, head drooping down, chin resting on his chest. Blood is still running down from his nose, just not as thickly. "What is that?" Rossi's questions, pointing at Reid's right hand. Garcia zooms in and enhanced the image. There is a collective gasp in the group when they realize the nails on his right hand have all be completely removed, ripped from the nail bed.
Garcia quickly shut the email out and deleted it.
Hours later…
The team has met back in Hotch's office to share information. "Okay, so Billy Flynn has got to be the alpha. Any theories on the other two?" Hotch announced. When no one said anything, he mumbled, "shit" and sat back down.
"Sir, they are probably people he has met since we last saw him, so they'd be off the record," Garcia told him. The team all nodded. "So, our only real chance, is for them to slip up?" Morgan asked.
"Maybe not!" Garcia exclaimed her computer beeping.
"What do you mean Garcia?" J.J asked. Garcia looked up at the team, her eyes gleaming, and said, "I think I can track the next live stream". Everyone jumped up, "wait seriously?" Morgan asked.
"No promises but I think so yeah"
"Guys if this works we need to be prepared to head out as soon we have a location. I want everyone to be suited up. Rossi, go tell the pilot we need the choppers available as soon as possible." Everyone ran out of the room in separate directions, a renewed energy filling them.
Morgan stayed behind with Hotch, "You think this will work, man?"
Hotch contemplated for a moment before saying, "I hope to God it does Morgan, we don't have anything else." He turned, looking Morgan in the eyes, "But, Reid's strong and we have to trust him the way that he trusts us."
Morgan can see tears gleaming in the stoic unit chief's eyes, "he's the strongest of us all" he agrees before turning to leave without a word.