Hey, everyone. So two posts in one week because this week's episode was amazing! To Tannerrose5: Thank you for your kind words and your reviews. I really appreciate seeing what you have to say. To ahowell1993: Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't; that's for you to find out. To everyone else: Thanks for reading, and be sure to keep reviewing! So same warnings as the previous chapters, mild language and such.
Disclaimer: I do not and never will own Criminal minds or its characters. This is only for me and for others to enjoy!
It had been a rough night at the hospital, between Prentiss' guilt and the team's anxiety over the attack, they had gotten very little sleep. Hotch had sent Rossi after Morgan while he and JJ set up a two-man rotation outside of Prentiss' door. Both Prentiss and Seaver had argued to be part of the watch, but faltered under Hotch's admonishment about how them operating a service weapon, while concussed, was a recipe for disaster. He'd also argued with Garcia that there was no point in her trying to search for Reid while concussed, his captors already had too far of a head start and the only thing she'd do would be to give herself an even bigger headache. She'd cried at first, terrified that Reid would be dead by the time she was well enough to help, but exhaustion and the day's stress had finally taken her into unconsciousness. They were all sleeping now, but he doubted how long that would last. Everyone ran on adrenaline when one of their own was in danger. Hotch rubbed his eyes wearily and glanced at the clock above Prentiss' bed, 6:30 A.M. It had been 12:30 when they'd seen the video, so the unsubs had at least a six-hour head start, probably longer. They could be halfway to China by now. He thought bitterly, Why is it always Reid?
Ring! Ring! Hotch quickly stepped outside of Prentiss' hospital room, so he wouldn't disturb his sleeping subordinates. "Hotcher." he answered. "Hotch? It's Dave." Rossi's voice echoed from his phone, "I've found Morgan." Hotch straightened, all exhaustion leaving his body, "Really? Where was he?" "Helping move debris and look for survivors at the blast site." "Were there any?" Please let there be survivors. Don't make Prentiss deal with any more guilt from this damn vendetta. Hotch could hear his friend hesitate, "Dave," he said gently, "was anyone else there when the bomb went off?" "Gomez from counter-terrorism, as well as the entire night crew. " No, some of the members of the night crew were barely out of high school. They'd taken the job to help pay for college. They had so much to live for. Hotch took a breath to compartmentalize his grief over their senseless deaths before saying, "Okay, you and Morgan get back here as soon as possible. But don't rush if they think there still might be survivors and need help. And Dave?" "Yeah Hotch?" "Whatever you do, don't tell Emily."
"Don't tell Emily what?" Prentiss had snuck up behind him so quietly that it was all Hotch could do to not flinch. "What've I told you about sneaking up on me?" he asked. "Sorry." she muttered, slightly abashed, "don't tell Emily what though?" Hotch sighed, obviously he wasn't going to be able to keep this from her. "Morgan went back to the training academy to see if anyone else had been there last night." "And?" "Both Agent Gomez and the entire night crew still were, they, they didn't make it." Prentiss leaned back against the wall, wincing as if his words were as painful as the bruises she'd sustained. "Emily." Hotch said gently, "I need you to know that none of this is your fault." Prentiss clenched her eyes shut, as if to block out the pain his words had caused her, "But it is." she murmured, "If I had just put a bullet in his brain like I was supposed to, none of this would have happened. Garcia and Seaver wouldn't have concussions, Gomez and those kids would still be alive, we'd still have a building, and Reid; Reid would be safe, not unconscious and on his way to being tortured. So you can tell me it's not my fault Hotch, but that won't heal their injuries, it won't bring the dead back to life, and it won't bring Reid back."
"Emily." Hotch started, but he was interrupted by the sight of Morgan and Rossi walking up the hallway. Both looked as if they had been to hell and back, and had looks of thinly-veiled despair on their faces. Hotch noticed how Prentiss had immediately tensed at the sight of Morgan walking towards them; shit, him going off on her right now is the last thing we need. "Derek." he said in warning as Morgan opened his mouth, but Prentiss beat him to the punch. "Don't even bother Derek," she said in a hard voice, "you were right. Me being a member of this team did come back to bite you all in the ass. I am a liability, and it was a cruel trick of fate that Reid should get stuck with me. But that's not all, no, I am also the reason why we no longer have an office. Why ten people are now dead, and Reid will probably join them. I mean, I could and I will beg Ian to trade my life for his; but he has gone so fucking off script that I doubt it will do anything except put Reid in even more danger. I mean, sure he's a murdering psychopath, but he only killed when it was in his favor to. He never played these fucking mind games. If someone pissed him off, he'd just put a bullet between their eyes. But now, now he is out to destroy everything and everyone I love. So please Derek, continue to rip into me. Take your best shot! Because nothing, and I mean nothing, could be worse than the guilt I'm feeling right now."
Hotch, Morgan, and Rossi all gaped as Prentiss ranted. They all knew she had a temper, out of the whole team she and Morgan were the most likely to rip into someone, but they had never seen her so broken, so defeated. She was in a pit of self-loathing so deep, Hotch doubted they'd be able to pull her out. Both he and Rossi took a step to comfort their hurting colleague, but were pushed aside as Morgan wrapped Prentiss in his arms. Morgan held her as her body wracked with sobs, and they could just barely make out the words he was whispering in her ear; "I'm sorry..it's not your fault...no one blames you...you did what you had to." Both of the older men let out a sigh of relief, at least one crisis was averted. Their relief was short-lived, however, as JJ came out into the hallway with a grim expression on her face. "There's another video of Reid." she said.
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