"He's been doing this for a year," Riley said after an hour of driving. They would be at Lyndon University within a half hour. "Why come after Spencer now?"
"Probably, the initial murders at first made him feel better, but the guilt is resurfacing again." Hotch said. "He doesn't want to kill, but he has to. And he knows he wouldn't be killing if he were dead."
"And if Spencer hadn't saved his life…" Riley leaned on her hand. "No good deed goes unpunished."
Hotch took a deep breath. "I honestly don't think Nathan wants to hurt anyone, but he's too ashamed to come back for help."
"Plus, he's already been given a second chance. He knows he'll never see the outside world again if he's caught or turns himself in." Riley concluded.
"That's precisely it, and unsubs like that… intend to fight to the very end." Hotch explained.
Riley breathed slowly, unwilling to let herself get emotional. "I just want this to be over."
A sign for the exit to Lyndon University glittered in the afternoon sun. Hotch changed lanes to follow the direction. "It will be soon. This team is the best. You know that." he said, "And when this is over, I think you'll be rather pleased."
"I think we all will." Riley replied, leaning on the head rest, closing her eyes.
Hotch gave a rare smile, amused she hadn't picked up on the comment.
…
Reid and Emily had found Campus Storage, located in a building connected to one of the dining halls. A large brick building located on a less crowded area of campus. Currently, the activity in the building was low, between the lunch and dinner shifts. No one besides the agents had a reason to be in storage.
The unit was small and dimly lit. The belongings crowded in the space and were covered in dust from lack of use. Emily explored through one part of the room while Reid on the other.
"If we didn't know who this stuff belonged to," Emily called through the dusty air. "I'd say this was just some normal college kid."
Reid silently agreed. He opened a folder, containing a copy of papers from his first semester. Nothing about the topics were any cause for concern, but then again, freshmen students were not given much allowance on essay topics.
There was a shrill shriek from Emily's direction. The papers were dropped from Reid's hand. He immediately pulled out his gun and called to her. "What is it?"
He made it to her side. Emily clutched at her chest. "Put your gun away, Reid, it was just a spider."
"You're afraid of spiders?" Reid tried to stifle his laughter.
"A little," she moaned. "It's not funny."
"No, you're right." He nodded, still snorting. "Arachnophobia is one of the most common fears among people… I just never expected you to fall to such a vice."
"And why is that, Mr. I'm Still Afraid of the Dark?" She snarled.
Ignoring that, Reid set his gun on top of a sealed box, crouching down to look through Emily's trail before she was frightened. "It's just you always seem so cool and collected. You don't let anything bother you. Even now, when you're angry, you're not letting it show… and how do you know I'm afraid of the dark?"
"I'm not angry," She said, searching around the room for something to catch her eye. "What makes you think that?"
"Well, Morgan seems rather upset with you… you don't seem guilty or embarrassed so… I'm assuming you're feeling the same way." He glanced back at her. "We're alone now, is there anything you want to talk about?"
"Only the fact that Morgan is an ass." Emily snapped. There was a foot locker with the padlock unfastened. She slid it off and opened it, gasping again.
"More spiders?" Reid asked, standing up.
"Not exactly…" Emily covered her mouth to avoid the stench.
Inside was a gruesome sight. At least a hundred animal corpses were decomposing together in a pile. Some were nothing but bones while others were littered with maggots.
Reid wasting no time in closing it. He had a strong stomach for these things, but even this smell was getting to be too much. It had already filled the room. He ushered Emily towards the door, trampling the forgotten papers as they hurried out.
His gun left behind.
Once outside in the fresh air, they breathed deeply. "Well… I guess we figured out how he suppressed his desires." Emily said.
"He killed and mutilated animals thinking that would keep people safe. But when Sandy died, he was so angry he acted on instinct… animals weren't enough anymore after her death."
"CSU will have to take care of this place." Emily said. "Let's get out of here."
They headed up from the basement to the next floor. Emily pulled out her phone, calling Hotch. It rang twice before he answered.
…
Hotch and Riley were in the parking lot, climbing out of the car. The afternoon was turning into evening, the sun was beginning to set. A few groups of students were seen, but none heading in their direction. Hotch's cell phone rang. "Prentiss," he put the phone on speaker this time. "Did you find anything?"
"Nothing that suggested where Nathan might be hiding," she claimed, "But we did find how he was able to contain his urges until Sandy Lowell."
"How?" Hotch asked.
"Animals," She replied as Hotch opened the front door. He allowed Riley to step in first, following. "He killed animals and kept the carcasses as trophies. But after his girlfriend-"
She stopped suddenly as a deafening bang was heard over the phone. Both Hotch and Riley jumped, and a crash was heard. Like glass. "Prentiss!" he called. "Prentiss what happened?"
"Drop your weapon!" Emily's distant cry called, away from the phone. She must have dropped it when pulling her weapon, therefore unable to hear Hotch's cries. He hung up the phone, pulling out his gun. Hurrying their pace, Hotch and Riley hurried through the building to find the source of the commotion.
The main floor had a catwalk, leading from one part of the building to another. Riley and Hotch were halfway across it before they heard anything.
"Emily… I'm begging you, just do what he says before he kills both of us." Reid cried from below.
"I'm not going to leave you, Reid," She cried.
"Emily, put the gun down and get out of here… he wants me."
Looking over the edge, Riley felt her stomach drop out. At first she was frozen with fear. The sight was like a nightmare. Before her instincts could kick in, Hotch's firm grip clutched her arms, keeping her from running.
Reid's hands were raised in surrender. He stood at gunpoint. The weapon was handled in a calm hand. The eyes were focused on Reid, filled both with triumph and loathing. The window next to them had been shattered from a bullet, which Nathan Harris had fired to get their attention.
"Nathan, put the gun down," Emily whispered, her own trembling hands pointing her weapon at the boy. Usually so composed, she could barely keep a grip on it now, the threat of Reid's life pulling away her focus.
"Emily…" Reid yelled. "Please, put your gun away and get out of here."
She had no intention of leaving until she took a glance above. Her eyes met Hotch's and he gave her a nod. Taking a deep breath, Emily went to put her gun back in her belt.
"Leave it," Nathan growled. Emily complied, setting it slowly on the floor. She took one last look at Reid, sharing a terrified glance with him as she walked away. Once around the corner, she slid against the wall and listened.
"You, too, put your gun on the ground and step away," Nathan's voice was almost in a whisper.
Reid hesitated. "I… don't have it… I accidentally left it behind."
"You'd get in trouble for that." Nathan pointed out the obvious.
"Looks like I'm already in trouble." He attempted to sound nonchalant, but he was terrified. One could never get used to staring down the barrel of a gun. "We've been looking for you, Nathan. If you want me, why did you kill my friends? Why are you going after my family?"
"I wanted to hurt you. I wanted you to feel the pain you've put me through." Nathan vaguely explained. "Now I just want it to be over."
"Nathan…" Reid pleaded. "Let me help you. You don't want to be a killer, I know you. You're a good person."
He stepped forward, aiming the gun at his chest. "I didn't want you to help me. You made me live when I didn't want to. All I wanted to do was let you know you would never have to worry. There would be no harm on the world… because of me." Tears started to emerge from his eyes as he screamed at him, spitting like a rabid dog. "Why did you do that! Why did you make me live!"
"Nathan!" Reid exclaimed, trying to talk him down. "I saved you because I had to. You're a good person, Nathan. I know that… I didn't save you because I wanted you to suffer or because I felt it was my duty… I did it because you didn't deserve to die. I didn't think about what you would become, I just did it." He took a deep, shaking breath, "I couldn't let an innocent boy die."
At last, Nathan was calm. He breathed deeply several times, and gave a small smile. "Well… as you can see, Dr. Reid… I'm not an innocent boy. Because of you… I'm a monster."
The gun went off like an explosion. It rang in the ears of everyone present. It silenced everything, like all sound fell into a void. The smell of gun powder filled Reid's nose just before the hot lead entered his chest.
He didn't hear Riley scream, but she did. She followed it with pleas for Hotch to release her and cries of Reid's name. Nathan took no notice of the others. He casually walked to claim Emily's gun, then made a relaxed saunter towards the nearest exit.
Finally she slipped from Hotch's grasp, running the rest of the way across the walk and over to the closest stairwell. Emily checked to make sure Nathan was gone before coming out of hiding. She was the first to make it to him.
"Reid!" Emily cried. She could go no further than a few steps. It was surreal. His eyes had closed. Blood had begun to create a puddle around him. She knew she should help him, she should be trying to revive him or stop the bleeding or at least call for help. But she just wanted to stand there and pretend this wasn't happening.
"Spencer!" Riley cried. Without a thought, she threw herself next to him. "Spencer… oh my… okay…"
Her hands went over the bullet wound, immediately applying pressure to stop the bleeding. The force was painful, but it was enough to pull him from whatever half consciousness he had been in. He groaned and gave a cough as he opened his eyes.
"Spencer, it's okay," Riley used all her strength to hold onto the wound. "You're going to be okay." She glanced up at Hotch, already on his phone. Blood was seeping out, beginning to stain her hands.
"Rye…" Spencer managed to moan. "Riley…"
"It's going to be okay, Baby." She sobbed again. "Just hold on."
"Reid," Hotch said, kneeling down on the other side of him. "It's going to be alright, Reid. The ambulance is coming. It'll be here soon. Prentiss, there's a first aid kit in the car, go get it."
Emily was still frozen. She looked over the body of her friend, blood pooling around Riley's stocking legs. Reid's blood… his blood… This wasn't happening.
"Agent Prentiss!" Hotch screamed with fury.
She snapped back to life. "Yes, sir!" She cried. As fast as her legs would carry her, she took off for the parking lot.
"Okay, Emily will be back… the ambulance is on the way." Reid's eyes met Riley's as she spoke. Tears were falling now, but she was too busy to notice. "It's going to be okay. Just… hold on, okay? Please hold on."
"Riley… I love you…" He managed to mumble. A few more coughs followed.
There was no blood in his throat, which was a good sign. "I love you… please don't die."
Emily returned with the kit. She whipped out a few bandages. Riley took them in her stained hands. Forcing them over the wound, Reid flinched from the pain. "Prentiss, go outside and show the paramedics where we are.
Emily complied, hurrying back outside. Riley changed the dressing once it was soaked. She noticed his eyes, drooping slightly, like he were about to fall asleep. "No, Spencer, stay awake! Do you hear me, you stay awake!"
His breathing was becoming shallow. Each inhale sounded more painful than the last. "I can't." he whispered.
"Yes, you can! You are stuck with me; you are not allowed to die!" She screamed, her tears covering her face. "Please… I can't live without you!"
With all his strength, Reid managed to keep conscious. He focused on Riley, trying to keep his eyes open. There was a pull on him, like invisible hands were taking him from her.
The kit didn't have many supplies in it, and they were running out of dressing. The ambulance was taking a lifetime… Reid's lifetime.
At last, they arrived. Emily hurried them inside and over to Reid. Hotch stepped out of the way, but Riley wouldn't take her hands off him.
"Please, Spencer," She couldn't stop the tears even if she tried. "Please don't leave me…"
Hotch managed to pull her away, allowing the EMTs to take over. He held Riley's shaking body into his arms, allowing her to cry. She held up her bloodstained hands away from them.
At last, Reid was carried out to the ambulance. She couldn't even see him with the EMTs around. "Spencer…" she moaned, wishing he would call back to her. Tell her that she just was overreacting. That she was worrying for nothing. But he didn't.
Hotch's arms left her, stopping her from going to the ambulance. "I want you to go to the hospital with Emily."
"No, Aaron, please, I want to be with him." She pleaded.
"Riley, you're upset. And they can't be distracted. They're trying to save his life." Hotch met her gaze, trying to reassure her. "He's going to be okay."
She nodded slowly, watching Hotch climb into the ambulance. The door closed, the sirens blared, and the vehicle sped away. Silence surrounded them once more.