Chapter 15: We don't need a gun to kill someone.
"There are certain clues at a crime scene which by their very nature do not lend themselves to being collected or examined. How's one collect love, rage, hatred, fear...? These are things that we're trained to look for." James Reese
After they returned home from New York, Spencer and Max returned to their routine. She has to go to the school and the next week she will have a new presentation at the Smithsonian.
He, on the other hand, has a few small cases. The biggest of them was a man who wanted to find his perfect family and killed women and men.
So now that he is back home he wanted to spend time with her. He was so used to their dynamic of the past two week that he now missed it.
They planned to have dinner that night. He ordered thai food and when she arrived the food came shortly after.
They decided to not talk about work at dinner. So he told her about JJ thinking about leaving to New Orleans for a job there at the bureau, she would be chief there.
He was happy for her because she had been growing so much in all these years but he will miss her and his godsons.
She also told him about a teacher who may retire at the end of the school year. This teacher had been working for 35 years at the school and everybody loves her.
So she planned to give her a present made by the kids.
"That's really sweet of you Max, I'm sure she will love it" he smiled at her and after dinner they laid on the sofa and talked some more. Just be together made them happy.
"Have you ever invited your friends in?" She asked rubbing his arm around her "because you told me about Luke invited you all to his house to host Kristy's baby shower and Rossi who hosted every big party of the unit and even Penelope hosted some reunions but never heard of you doing it"
"It's because I never really invited someone else in here. I was germaphobic when I started to work in the BAU also I was nervous to get attached to those people, even though I ended up being attracted to them but truthfully I'm not sure if all of these apply as a reason"
"I understand and I think you should. As you follow your therapist about having a normal conversation, you should follow mine about invited them in. After all you share more time with them than anyone else"
He laughs softly and kissed her head "ok I will do it" she smiled and turned to face him and kissed him softly.
"Good boy" she laughed and hugged him tightly.
After that they share more time like that then she said she has to leave, it was getting late and she had to wake up earlier.
"I wish you didn't have to leave" he said as he walked her to her car, for protection.
"Me too but we aren't talking about moving in together. And I didnt want to mention it"
"Why?"
"Because it's what screw up everything with Mike" she looked at him "you meant so much to me to screw up"
He looked at her "you won't. You are amazing and when you are ready to take that step I will be right here. Ready for it"
She smiled "and this is why I love you you Doctor Reid"
He laughed and kisses her softly then she opened the door of the car and got in "see you and remember what your new therapist ordered you" she winked and he laughed and nodded.
"Yes ma'am" he smiles as she rolled her eyes and left. He looked until the car was out of his sight and returned home.
The next day he invited all the team to go to his apartment if they didn't have a case. Dave could not but the rest decided to go.
They talked while eating Chinese food then Penelope mentioned her thinking about a new job offer.
At first he was shocked because he was more used to think other members would leave first than her.
Luke was shocked too and he could see, even with their constant fights, that both care about the other.
Then JJ and Prentiss arrived and they did some games and had a good time.
Then they left and Spencer looked at them smiling. He called Max "hey Max"
"Oh hey Spence. What's up?"
"I did what you want me to" he smiled looking down.
"Really? That's awesome babe, you won a kiss" she smirked and he just laughed "I would like to heard all the details. Maybe tomorrow?"
"Sounds great" he smiled at that "see you tomorrow. Good night"
"Good night" they both hung up then he went to his bedroom, changed and went to sleep.
The next day, after his coffee with Max, Spencer decided to look for Rossi. So after he could not find him in his office or other places he would be. So his last option was the first office of the BAU.
There he was with all his evidence about Lynch on the wall "I don't know why it didn't occur to me yesterday that you'd come down here to recharge" Spencer checked the wall full of photos and details of Lynch "it's been a year since we first encountered Lynch"
"Yeah, I'll probably forget my wedding anniversary but I'll never forget that day" David's eyes focused on the room as his fingers played with his cup of coffee "and this is where the BAU began. It's the one place I can still hear Gideon's voice, prodding me to, um, 'think outside the box'" the last thing was an imitation of Gideon's voice.
That made Spencer laughs softly "something like, uh, 'I am the unsub'" said Spencer trying to make and imitation of the former member of the BAU.
"'Who's your daddy?'" That made the young doctor laughed "that's what we've been missing"
"Roberta gave us the name..."
"Roberta lied. She just wants to appear to be helpful to everyone. She's got her own agenda"
"What are you thinking... Get paroled, find her son and get revenge for the death of her granddaughter Grace?"
"The trifecta"
"Killing your own child is far more common than most people think and in filicide cases, mothers are just as likely as fathers to be killers"
"Which is why Roberta doesn't want us to get in the way of her taking care of family business "
"Still, filicide not only requires that she harbor deep resentment, but also that she disassociates from her relationship to her only child"
"Which she did when I showed her the photo of Grace's dead body"
"Were you gonna share all this with the rest of the team?"
"It's just theories"
"Dave, I completely understand your personal stake in this, but you and Gideon started something pretty good down here, and I think it's time that you let that legacy do what it's always done best... work together as a team" that made David to understand he was so focused on catching Lynch that he forgot the team. A team that he watched catching criminals over that past twelve years.
He nodded and both men went up to the office of the BAU to share this theory with them.
Penelope found out that Lynch was looking for a private detective to find his real father, the team speculated that maybe he was not a sociopath if killing his daughter triggered some memories of his father.
They decided to sent Spencer to observe JJ and Tara interrogate Roberta. Spencer could not see her really killing her son, she talked with hatred but he could not find a sign of filicide.
When they arrived back to the office the next day, Emily announced they will wheel up in 30 to Reno, Nevada, all the team but her and Tara. She will stay in DC and check the team.
"Fret not my intrepid crime fighters. You're no longer flying blind into the silver state. I have matched our mysterious searcher's I.P. address to business in Reno that touts itself as a 'private security firm' and it's christened Castle Security"
"Says here the company is owned and operated by Orlando Gaines" added Matt.
"What a piece of work. He's a former Concord Bay narcotics cop who spent five years in prison for selling police-confiscated drugs" commented Luke.
"It looks like either months ago, his company received a wire transfer for $25.000 from an offshore account connected to our old friend, Arthur Terrell" said Tara from the office.
"Terrell was still alive back then" said JJ.
"He was, but that account has since transferred into the hands of an Edward Myles, and Mr. Myles is turning out to be very elusive"
"Yeah, 'cause although that could be a very likely alias for Mr. Lynch, that name isn't popping up anywhere in Reno" added Penelope to Prentiss' information.
"JJ, Luke, Matt, check in with Reni PD, also our FBI field office" she ordered to those three, then added "Dave and Spence, see if you can get a sit-down with Orlando Gaines" Prentiss hung up after that last order then the team arrived to the city and they went separate ways to do what she ordered.
And in the meantime Roberta killed the father of Everett in the most salvaged way possible. After that David received a call from Lynch wanting to see him.
They had a discussion about what to do but at the end Emily left him go to meet Lynch, with JJ as a sniper for cover.
He and Lynch talked and David tried to convince him to surrender but the Chameleon showed his cards. Olivia has diabetes and they kill him they will not find her in time for her next shot so JJ took her finger away of the trigger.
After more research Penelope found the address were Lynch were living and sent it to JJ and Spencer.
Spencer could not see Roberta killing her child but the others doubted it. He knew she would not do it based on his quick profile at the interrogation they did to Lynch's mom.
They drove to the address and shortly after a SWAT team arrived there.
"Van to Montero. We need to surround and secure the perimeter" ordered JJ.
"Yes ma'am" said the captain of the SWAT team as they moved to the house door.
Spencer took his phone to contact Lynch and therefore Roberta.
After the phone rang five times or so Roberta answered it "is this Agent Rossi?"
"No, Roberta, my name is Doctor Spencer Reid, and it's important that you listen to me right now. Even though you have the gun, the moment your son realizes you're not gonna shoot him, he's gonna get the upper hand" JJ could not believe he still thinks she will not shot him.
"You're wrong... 'Cause my son is going to pay for what he did to Grace" said Roberta with tears in her eyes.
"Yes, but first you need to let Olivia walk out of there, ok?"
"Yeah" Roberta leaned to the young girl behind her "Olivia. Go, hurry, go"
"Now wait a second..." said Lynch trying to stop Olivia from escaping. Roberta did a warning shoot to the ground to stop him.
"Roberta?" Said Spencer at the other side of the line.
"Don't you worry. She's on her way out to you" after that a SWAT officer ran toward them with Olivia and JJ held her.
"Roberta, that warning shot is what's about to give you away, but we can help. Are you ready for us to come in? We can save you both"
"Ha!"
"You realize how this has to end right? Right?" She was having doubts. She wanted him to pay but her mother insists tell her she cannot kill her baby boy, even though he killed her beloved granddaughter.
"Roberta?" Spencer said.
"Yes... I'm ready"
"Captain Montero, breach" Spencer got out his gun and followed the captain of the SWAT team to walked in the house.
JJ was checking out Olivia with the paramedics when Rossi called her "Rossi?"
"JJ, Roberta isn't there to kill Lynch. She's there to die with him"
She just turned and saw Spencer walking there and she tried to run to him "Spence! Stop!" Suddenly the house exploded pushing the doctor to the ground. His head hit the ground and she cannot hear for several seconds. JJ tried to help him but he was confused "Spence, are you ok?" He looked the casualties of the team he was leading in and tried to stand up "No, no, no, no. Stay down, stay down" said JJ holding him for standing.
He felt sad because those men died because of his order. What happened? he could not understand.
The flight back was quiet and Spencer, stubbornly, denied to go to the ER to be checked. His brain was working on the plane.
He was reviewing everything from the beginning. He could not believe that Roberta was suicidal or wanted to die with her son. He held to his theory of her not being able to kill him so, why did she explode the house? Why did she let them walk in if she had that plan? She was not a mass killer.
The flight was in silence until they arrived and JJ walked to him "Spence... I think I should drive you home, just in case" he looked at her. He was tired "please?"
He sighed "ok JJ. I don't want an argument"
They both get out of the plane and headed to her car. As she drove she looked at him from the corner of her eyes "please don't blame yourself for making the call Spence. You did what you thought was correct"
He looked down "how couldn't I...? JJ six men lost their life... 6 families lost a father, a husband, a son, a nephew... because of me" he rubbed his forehead softly.
"Spencer..." she did not what to say "you once told me to stop blaming for Nadia and her daughter's murder. About that bomb that killed a bunch of marines... casualties are inevitable in this job and the people who joins in the bureau, the CIA, NSA, and more known very well they could die at any second. And so do their families"
He sighed more and looked down "I can't argue at the moment so I will just let it go for now"
She looked at him and took a deep breath "you don't look in good shape Spence. Please let me take you the hospital or at least call Max to come over" she handed her phone to him.
"I'm good JJ. Don't worry but if this makes you relaxed then I will go to the hospital if I'm still feeling bad" he said as she stopped by his apartment.
"Call Max or me if you need help. Please" he nodded and walked out. She looked at him and sighed. Then she decided to do it herself, knowing he will not do it.
Hey Max, is JJ. Spence had an accident in a mission. He hit his head pretty hard so please keep an eye on him. Bye.
Minutes later she got and answer from his best friend's girlfriend.
Ok JJ, thank you for the information. I'm at my dad's house but when I finished here I will go there. Good night.
Then she left to her house but the girls called to have a ladies night so she drove to Penelope's house.
Meanwhile Spencer was walking in his apartment still thinking about what happened. His mind traveled to a memory of him with Jason.
"Ok children. I'm the unsub. Why do you think I did this?" Asked Gideon to the class.
An Asian girl said "because you are suicidal?"
"No, I want to see my victims suffer. Why would I die before I complete my mission?"
"Someone else caused the explosion" said a much younger Reid.
"Correct! If you profiled that your killer isn't suicidal then something else happened and you need to check the crime scene" all the students nodded and take notes "Remember kids... your profile is everything, if you have it... you won't need a gun to kill your opponent. Just your knowledge of him"
-It doesn't make any sense to me. I don't understand how that kind of personality can choose to blow itself up-
"If Roberta gave in to him... and if he took the gun away... if he could get to a tunnel..." he was just thinking making hypothesis of what happened not really realizing his nose was bleeding "Lynch... he's still alive" and with that he passed out on his carpet.
OOooOOooOO
Ok so after this the episode 10 will be reworked a little bit.
I'm not sure if I should keep using the scenes of him into "The Light" or just show some parts of it. Like some parts of Maeve conversation, changing some verbs and adding Max to the things he love.