TITLE: Criminal Minds – "Darkest Days" (A sequel to Behind the Mask)

AUTHOR: D M Harper

SUMMARY: Agent Prentiss is forced to face her secretive past when it threatens the safety of her BAU colleagues and her beloved family.

RATING: For Mature Readers.

DISCLAIMER: This story was conjured up for reading entertainment only. No money has exchanged hands or bank accounts. There is no profit gained, just fancy flights of imagination. There is no intention to infringe on the copyright of CBS Television Studios or creator Jeff Davis. This writing does feature consensual sexual interaction between two females, so if you are underage or unable to view due to restrictions in your part of the world, be gone and take my sympathy with you. If you find such material offensive, too bad, so sad, you chose to enter this web site of your own free will; hence you have no one to whine to except yourself or a parent if you are caught, so bugger off!

A/N: Please find them time to review and feed the Muse.


Chapter 13

After waiting for Doyle and his remaining goons to arrive at an abandoned warehouse situated at 1518 Adams Street for most of the morning; Emily sighed with relief when two black Land Rovers pulled into the loading bay area and Doyle alighted from the second vehicle. As Emily had learnt eight years ago, Doyle always rode in the last car in case of an ambush, allowing the lead SUV to take any damage that may be directed at the convoy. Taking a closer view through the lens of her high-tech camera, she observed for some time before leaving and travelling back to her hotel for some much needed rest and nourishment.

It was nightfall before Emily was once again parked outside the Black Shamrock keeping an eye on the two black Land Rovers and the men using them for transport. While she carried out the surveillance behind the wheel of the blue Chevrolet sedan, her mobile beeped with a voice mail notification.

Viewing the screen, she noted the message was from Garcia, so she placed the phone to the shell of her right ear and listened:

"Hey it's me Penny. Boss Man asked me to try all the phone numbers you have used over the years and this one was the last listed. You probably have totally gone off grid and aren't even using this number, but if by some small chance you are; you need to listen to me."

The corners of Emily's mouth turned downwards and tears threatened to spill from her eyes as Penelope continued, "You need to come home right away. Crap, did you really think you could just walk away from us and your family? Jillian is beside herself and ever so pissed at you for keeping secrets, but really, we don't care about any of that. We all want you to come home and be safe. Oh shit, I am so mad at you for running, but you must be so scared and all alone. You don't have to be sweetie and I know you must be struggling with everything that has happened to your friends and old colleagues, but that dark place you must be in has us for company. We are all there with you my beautiful brown eyed girl. We love you and are waving flashlights and calling for you. Just look for us and come on home."

Emily's tears began to fall and her resolve waiver as Garcia's voice trembled, "If you can't see us, then please stay safe; we are coming for you Emily."

As Emily ended the missive, she gathered herself just as Doyle and his men exited the pub. Taking control of her emotions, she watched as Doyle lit a cigarette in the doorway then proceeded to the second vehicle. Placing earplugs in each canal, she reached over the centre console and opened a black case containing a Heckler & Koch MP5K Submachine gun and ammunition clip. Snapping the cartridge into place, she opened the door and purposely headed towards the SUV parked furthest from the door. Moving hastily across the street, Emily took aim and fired several rounds into the rear passenger window before crouching for cover and dropping a stun grenade into the hole left behind by the bullets.

Racing to the other side of the car, she stood with the weapon trained on the men as they exited the now smoky vehicle. "I only want Doyle," she announced sternly. "Where is he?"

A voice sounded from behind her, "I'm right here love."

The words sent a shiver down Emily's spine, and as she spun around to face the man she hated, she was met with two shots from a SIG-Sauer P226R pistol. The force of the discharges knocked her backwards and onto the paved sidewalk. She was unconscious before her head hit the hard surface. Emily came to momentarily as Doyle rushed to her and unzipped the jacket she was wearing and revealed the two slugs wedged into the centre mass of her ballistic vest.

"Hello love," the Irish man sneered as Emily coughed and attempted to breathe oxygen into her lungs.

She slipped into darkness before being able to speak.

-o-

On board the jet travelling towards Boston, Jillian took a sip from the chilled bottle of water she was holding as Garcia ended the call she had received from the Boston Police Department. Her blue eyes were watery from unshed tears, but she managed to keep them at bay as her friend relayed the information.

"Okay my furry friends, two pieces of news. The first is good; Easter has been apprehended and for some unknown reason was carrying a suitcase full of money. He is being held for questioning and we will be updated regularly. Now onto the not so pleasant part of this conversation; BPD has just sent me CCTV footage outside the Black Shamrock and it's not good."

The last sentence caused Jillian to stand up and move closer to the table where Penelope's laptop was sitting. Peering over the Analyst's shoulder, she watched and listened.

Holding back panic, Garcia pointed to the screen and continued, "Emily walked into a trap. As you can see, from her position, it would have appeared as if Doyle got into the back seat of the Land Rover, when in fact he walked away to the right and out of camera range. Oh crap, I wish BPD had given me a little bit of head's up on this before we started watching it." She immediately screamed when Emily opened fire on the SUV then looked up at Jillian, who for all intents and purposes, was emotionless, "Sorry about yelling."

As the Team watched Emily's progress, Derek protested, "Prentiss just tossed a flash bang grenade into a car; aren't we concerned about that? She could have killed the three people inside; isn't anyone else worried about her behaviour?"

Rossi was quick to point out, "We are talking about three bad guys here who happen to be cold blooded murderers."

Worry was present on Hotch's face, "What she did may well be illegal, but I think she realised she needs to be as ruthless as Doyle to catch him."

Reid weighed in on the discussion, "Doyle entered this country with the full intention of raging his own personal vendetta against those he believed to be responsible for his capture and incarceration. He even went as far as to hire mercenaries to assist his fight. His actions have been nothing but brutal, so I can see why Prentiss would adopt a similar modus operandi. He has nothing to lose and she must act accordingly."

Jillian spoke up, "That's not completely true Spencer. Emily chose to go all Rambo on Doyle's ass alone when she could have been honest with all of us and had the full backing of the FBI, the CIA as well as overseas Agencies."

Derek nodded in agreement as Dave replied, "I think she felt cornered as well as responsible for the other killings and don't forget, her actions have been to keep us protected."

Just at that moment, on screen, Doyle walked around the opposite side of the pub and Emily rotated. The fugitive delivered the two shots to her chest and there were several intakes of breaths as the scene unfolded.

"I'm just saying she could have trusted us to help her," returned Jillian while raising her hands in a gesture of defeat. "Now she has been shot."

"Wait, she has a vest on and is moving," noted a relieved Penelope. "Thank heavens for that. Oh, they put her in the car, that's bad."

Rossi asked the one question that needed an answer, "How the hell did Doyle know Prentiss was waiting for him?"

Jennifer took the query, "Obviously the same mole that fed him the information on the names and location of the other Agents, contractors and their families."

Seaver's blonde eyebrows rose, "Our best suspect just got arrested with a case full of money. How do we get Easter to talk? I doubt he will cooperate with us."

"Don't worry about that; I will handle that," put forth Aaron. "The rest of you need to concentrate on locating Doyle and Emily."

Tears formed behind Garcia's eyes, "I don't want to be the one to ask this, but how long does Emily have?"

Hotch shook his head, "Unfortunately, her best chance is also the most troubling. She has been saved for last as she is seen as Doyle's stressor. He will take his time with her and it won't be pleasant."

"He will torture her and inflict as much pain as he can before ending her life," added Jillian before returning to her seat near the galley. Her own tears fell as she heard the sob from Penelope.

A sombre silence filled the aircraft with each person left alone to wrestle with their emotions. Jillian's spiralled from hate to love to distrust back to love within nanoseconds and she had to make quite the effort to pull herself together before the plane landed.

-o-

Emily's head was pounding with a headache when she regained consciousness some time later. It was no surprise that she found herself alone in one of the interior quarters of the warehouse Doyle had used to set up his operation. Her arms and legs were bound to a wooden chair with rope, and her wrists sported handcuffs. While focusing on her surrounds, she heard the sound of footstep approach from behind her. Her skin crawled when Doyle spoke and placed his hands around the base of her neck.

"Where's my ring?"

"I flushed it down the toilet," answered Emily as the left hand of her captor caressed upwards along her throat.

She nearly gagged when Doyle's fingers moved downwards and started to unbutton her black shirt, "That bloody ring cost me seven years of living hell inside that prison and now, you are going to receive another present that you wouldn't be able to rid yourself of so easily."

Emily dug deep to control her fear and breathing as her dark blue bra was exposed and Doyle walked away to the back of the room. She turned her head as far as she could to see him wheeling a table draped in canvas over to her right side.

Panic reared its ugly head when Doyle removed the tarpaulin and Emily viewed the soldering iron. It worsened when he stated, "I think a four leaf clover will go well with your other tattoos. You still have two, right?"

"Yes and that's enough ink for me," she nervously replied.

Doyle chuckled then crouched down. Switching on the machine, he explained, "Oh no, that's not what is going to happen here. The Korean's can't afford ink in prison, so they brand themselves." Turning up the temperature, he picked up the insulated handle; he stood behind Emily, grabbed the back of her hair and pulled her head back. Leaning over her, Doyle bought the heated metal tip to the curved top of Emily's left breast.

Trying to break free, Emily twisted and turned. It was to no effect.

"The more your struggle, the more it will hurt," pointed out a grinning Doyle.

Emily screamed as the red hot rod scorched her skin and her nostrils filled with the stench of her own flesh burning. She refused to beg him to stop; there was no way she was going to give him that satisfaction. She gritted her teeth and zoned out. Her thoughts turned to her wife and their two children. All the pain faded as the faces of her family took her to another place. She replayed happier times spent with them in her mind and she prayed they would be safe once the lunatic torturing her finally ended her suffering. As she drifted in and out of her daydreams; Emily regretted not saying goodbye to her loved ones, but she was willing to pay the price for their safety.

-o-

Jillian closed her laptop and waved to Penelope as Dave joined them in the conference room, "I just finished with Easter's phone logs and one number called him twelve times in the last six hours."

"Oh please tell me you have a name to go with that statement?"

"I certainly do; a Jack Fahey and wouldn't you know it, he has ties to the local Irish Mob. I also have an address for him."

Rossi checked his beeping phone, "Well done Kid and thanks for the text."

"I'm glad I could help. I suppose you are taking Spencer with you to pick up the lowlife?"

"Yes and I think that is best for you."

"I won't argue. To tell you the truth, I am kind of numb right now."

Placing a hand on her shoulder, David sympathised, "I don't envy you Jill that's for sure. Hopefully this Fahey will supply us with information."

"Yeah, maybe he will."

-o-

When Reid and Rossi returned with a handcuffed Fahey, he gave them plenty of attitude while spruiking how connected he was. He didn't let up until placed in an interview room. Jillian stood in the observation room listening to his self-important bravado while Aaron walked into the room containing a less than impressed Clyde Easter. The English man had requested that the British Consulate be contacted and advised of his detainment.

-o-

Emily suddenly recalled the message Garcia had left on her phone and realised she had some chance of staying alive. She needed to play for as much time as she could while her team searched for her. For a brief moment she thought of Jillian being on the hunt and that filled her with hope. It was that expectation that fortified her desire to finish Doyle once and for all.

She was dragged from her musing when her kidnapper ceased etching the crude embellishment on her chest then knelt in front of her. Doing up the buttons of her shirt, he remained quiet. Finding her voice, Emily simply asked, "Why are you keeping me alive? Why don't you just get it over with?"

Before Doyle answered, Liam, one of his faithful, entered the chamber, "You're not going to like this, but the FBI just picked up Fahey. He's been taken to the Police Station for questioning. It was a couple of her team that found him and you know the bastard will squeal like a bloody pig to save himself. It won't take long before that lot are knocking down the front door. You need to do whatever it is you have planned for her so we can fuck off out of here." The grey moustachioed man held a pistol in his right hand and motioned for Doyle to take it.

Straightening up, Doyle ignored the gesture as Emily tearfully remarked, "I know what it is you want?"

"Do you now?" snapped Doyle with a smirk.

"You want Lauren back ... I can do that. I can be her again."

"You're wrong if you think that will stop me from killing you."

Emily permitted her teardrops to fall, looking for an "in" with the man set on taking her life, "I am under no delusions. I'm just so tired of this game … tired of being on the run and afraid of what is behind every dark corner."

Liam groaned, "We don't have time for this shite."

"We'll make time; I am not going to rush this."

"Then what the fuck are you going to do about Fahey?" demanded Liam, a little too abruptly.

Doyle remained eerily calm, "I'll handle him. He's a smoker, right?"

"Yes."

"So we wait until they take him for a break then make our move. We'll take the rat bastard out when he least expects it." Staring down at Emily he added, "It appears you've earned yourself a reprieve for the moment."

Although happy with the opportunity to collect herself, Emily nonetheless remained emotionless as the two men departed.

-o-

Hotchner entered the interrogation room carrying a file and immediately opened it. Without looking at Easter, he began to read the contents of the folder, "October 2006: In closing, I have never worked with a finer Agent than Emily Prentiss. Her skill at analysing and predicting terrorist behaviour is unparalleled. Signed, name redacted." Making eye contact with Easter, who was leaning up against the table with his arms folded, Aaron continued, "When Emily applied to the FBI you used all the correct catchphrases we needed to hear. In essence, you sold her to us in the same manner you sold Doyle to the North Koreans."

Easter retained a smug expression, "Clearly you know how I profile a subject, but you don't know the first thing about me."

Aaron was not impressed by the man's arrogance, "You know, it takes a highly practiced sociopath to betray his team and the cause he held so dear in the name of self-preservation. If you choose to cooperate and we manage to find Agent Prentiss alive, then maybe we could discuss making a deal. On the other hand, if she is harmed in anyway, I will personally see that you are destroyed and held accountable."

Easter's reply was short, "Emily told me you were the best, but I am less than impressed."

Moving in closer, Hotch delivered a warning, "We will find her with or without you and apprehend Doyle in the process. Don't bother packing too much, Guantanamo gets extremely hot and humid this time of year."

Easter saw fit to chuckle as Aaron headed for the door, "Nice attempt at making me feel guilty, but let me ask you this; isn't it true that a sociopath feels no empathy?"

Spinning on his heel, Hotch looked to Easter in disbelief, "I was led to believe you were a reputable Profiler; I was misinformed. You are not the sociopath, Doyle is." With that said, he left the room.

-o-

Across the hall, Fahey finally stopped rambling on about how he "was the man" and a standing Dave asked his first question, "Why did you phone Easter so many times?"

The anxious Fahey dismissed the inquiry and asked if there were any cigarettes available. He looked to Spencer, "How about you string bean, you got any?"

Turning to Reid, Rossi noted, "What do you think?"

Folding his arms across his stomach, Spencer replied, "I'm seeing narcissism masking a deep seeded insecurity."

"So if punch a hole in his ego; the hood rat will break and spill the beans?" suggested Dave in a soft tone.

Fahey protested, "Hold on, hold on, I ain't no hood rat. You take that back."

Rossi turned to him and approached. Sniffing, he commented, "Well, you definitely look and smell like one." Glancing at Reid, he resumed, "You get a whiff of that?"

"Hood rat," answered Spencer deadpan.

"I am not! Take it back I'm telling you."

Dave neared Fahey's left side and leaned in, "Do you actually know what a hood rat is?"

Confusion ghosted over the man's face then Rossi continued while standing up and returning to Reid's side, "See what I mean? I suppose he will just have to learn the hard way."

The words had a profound effect on Fahey, "Okay, okay, Clyde was going to fund my medical bills. This ruined ear ain't gonna grow back on without a little help."

"What happened to it?" asked Spencer.

"One of his bitch team mates shot it off. She told me it was a warning to keep my mouth shut. She had plans on taking on some IRA Big Shot name of Doyle. I told her."

His speech was interrupted when Dave raced to the other side of the table and twisted the top of his remaining piece of ear. "What the fuck man, that hurts and I'm helping you here."

Getting up into Fahey's face, Rossi demanded, "Where did he take Prentiss?"

"Who the hell is she?"

Reid spoke next, "Lauren Reynolds, where is Lauren?"

Fahey's face lit up, "Oh, is she a friend of yours?"

Sitting on the edge of the table, Dave swore, "Tell us where she is or I will send you to prison and you will learn what a hood rat is."

Smiling wider, Fahey recognised his prospect of manipulating a deal, "You could, but by the time you got me there; Lauren Reynolds would be cut into little pieces and I think the price for my help just went up. I think two hundred thousand dollars should just about do it."

"Fucker," cursed Jillian under her breath as Ashley patted her left shoulder. Turning to Hotch, she offered, "I can get you the money in no time."

"Thanks, but it may not come to that."

Dave entered the room and the foursome watched as Fahey started to chew his fingernails and his left leg bounce up and down. Aaron was the first to comment, "Do we have any other leverage against him?"

Ashley inquired, "Is he an addict?"

Rossi answered, "He is experiencing nicotine withdrawal. We wouldn't let him smoke."

"That could be a way in," suggested Seaver. "He's the type to relax after the first puff and open his mouth."

"Would that be enough?" questioned Hotch.

"It's worth a try," put forth Jillian.

Ashley nodded, "I have pretty good experience with handling narcissists; I've dated a few over the years."

All heads turned back to Fahey and Aaron said, "Rossi and Seaver, take him up to the roof and give him a cigarette. See what you can get."

-o-

Doyle returned and placed a chair opposite Emily. He sat with his hand out front and asked, "What is it you do … Lauren?"

Eager to roleplay if it meant stretching out the conversation, Emily replied, "I was hoping to find a former IRA Captain who has gone freelance and conduct business with him. He goes by the name Valhalla. As this is sensitive ..." Emily's next words were spoken in French as they were the first time she met Doyle, "It might be better to discuss matters in private."

Doyle replied in French, "You're full of surprises, aren't you?"

Scoffing, Emily remarked, "Let me out of these."

Shaking his head, Doyle noted, "That's not how it happened."

"I can't make you happy in handcuffs," offered Emily, again in French.

Getting up, Doyle walked to the rear of Emily's chair and lifted her hair away from the left side of her neck then gripped her throat roughly as he pressed against her ear, "Do you really think I would allow you to fool me again?"

"I was only trying to …" she was cut off.

"I know exactly what you are trying to do. You are looking for a way into my head. It won't work twice, because I changed to locks. You are going to suffer the way I suffered for seven years, although yours won't last that long. This won't be the first time you have killed an innocent, but it will be the first you actually have to watch."

Gasping with pain, Emily had no idea what she was going to be forced into. It ended when Doyle straightened up and called out, "Liam."

Shivers ran up and down Emily's backbone and dread for what was to come engulfed her.

-o-