Note: So this chapter is my twist on Season 14 episode 15, 'Truth or Dare' so the bulk of the dialogue is from the episode.
CHAPTER 15
Several months later...
Reid had been back at work at the BAU for a few weeks, having cleared his physical and psych evaluations. Other than a slight limp that was only noticeable when he was fatigued, he was able to go back into the field with his team. He smiled, thinking back to the previous months. He brushed his hair back away from his face with his right hand, his usual mug of sugar with coffee in his other hand. He was snapped from his thoughts by Emily's voice echoing through the bullpen.
"We've got a case." Reid briskly climbed the few steps up to the conference room and took his usual place near the window. The others followed suit, taking their seats and pulling out their tablets. Emily slid a vanilla folder over the table to Reid which he managed to stop from skidding off the table. He flipped it open to the crime scene photos.
"Okay, we're headed to Los Angeles where two murders in the last two days with same MO have the authorities stumped. The first homicide was yesterday following a hit and run in Eagle Rock." Garcia pressed the button on the remote to reveal a man's and woman's pictures.
"This man in a pickup rear ended this woman in a sedan, and then he got out of his car and shot her," Emily swiped on her tablet screen.
"Twice in the chest at close range. He then fled the scene. Cops thought it was a road rage incident gone wrong until today." Reid furrowed his brow as he looked up at the screen.
"A few hours ago, a second shooting happened following a violent accident, this time in Reseda. Similar pattern, and the same driver according to eyewitness accounts. This time he's in the SUV. He T-boned the red truck. He survived the crash, and just like before, he gets out, he walks right up to the other car and shoots the driver," continued Garcia.
"We've seen cases of symphorophilia before, where a suspect gets off on staging a crash, but none of that involved a gun. And given the fact that he's also the driver, I think it's more likely as case of autassassinophilia," chipped in Luke.
"It's an overlapping paraphilia in which an individual derives arousal or sexual pleasure from the thought of and or risk of being killed," added Reid, his eyes fixed to the folder.
"Makes me think the vehicles are important to him in some way, like they're a part of what he's trying to do it say. We're any of the cars the suspect used reported stolen? " commented Matt.
"Oh, yeah, both vehicles were reported missing prior to the accidents," replied Garcia.
"We've got the makings of a thrill kill here," sighed JJ.
"A thrill kill at the start of a spree. With two dead and our primary suspect at large, the jet's standing by. Wheels up," responded Emily as she pushed herself to her feet with the table. The team parted ways to collect their go bags. Reid stared thoughtfully at the folder in front of him, his fingers curled underneath his chin to support his head. He felt a tightening in his chest, as if a band was being pulled taut around it. He slid his inhaler out of his pocket and gave it a shake before pressing down on it, taking in a deep breath at the same time.
Reid dragged down the sleeves to his pale lilac shirt that he had earlier rolled up as he made his way back to the bullpen. He fastened the cuffs and pulled his charcoal grey jacket from the back of his swivel chair and slung it on. He holstered his revolver and patted his pockets to ensure he had his keys, wallet and credentials. With one hand on his desk, Reid reached down for his go bag that he kept underneath. After dragging it out, he shouldered his tan leather satchel, picked up his to bag and made his way to the elevator.
Reid watched as Casey paced in front of him with his gun in his hand. His back was pressed against the jewellery store counter. He stretched his fingers as far his bound wrists would allow to try and take a piece of broken mirror to sever his bonds. JJ had tried desperately to appease the frustrated man. Reid managed to get a piece of broken glass into his hand. He felt it bite into his palm as he turned it to cut through the duct tape holding his wrists together. Reid kept his face stoic so that there was no indication of what he was doing. The conversation was starting to blur.
"Something you would never say aloud, not even to your partner here. Your deepest darkest secret. Impress me or I'll kill him. Come on!" yelled Casey impatiently. JJ turned to Reid with tears burning in her eyes.
"Spence, um..." Reid snapped out of his thoughts and raised his eyebrows at JJ, "Um.. I've always loved you." Reid felt as if he had been punched in the gut, "And I was just too scared to say it before," tears spilled from JJ's wide blue eyes, "And now things are just really too complicated to say it now." JJ let out a shaky breath, "I'm sorry." Reid frowned in confusion. In that moment, he questioned his profiling abilities. How had he never noticed? The Red Sox game never went as intended. JJ never showed that kind of love to him before... The words and world continued to move in slow motion around him. With one more run of the broken glass, Reid felt his wrists come free. He kept his hands behind his back and dropped the glass as quietly as possible.
"- Not good enough to save your life!" In one swift motion, Reid lifted his trouser leg, removed his gun from his ankle holster and shot Casey where he stood. JJ gasped in shock, having watched her life flash before her eyes. She slowly turned to look at Reid who was still seated on the floor with his gun raised. Her eyes fell upon the brown holster that peeked out from a brightly coloured sock.
Reid helped JJ to her feet and picked up the bloodied piece of glass that he had used on himself to free JJ. Once her hands were free, she crossed her arms across her chest and nibbled her fingers anxiously, barely able to look Reid in the eye. Reid considered her for a moment, then brushed past her to exit the store. JJ opened her mouth to speak but no sound came out.
Emily approached Reid as he leaned against the side of the SUV, allowing the paramedic to bandage his cut palm. He watched the paramedic wind the bandage round and round, his other hand in his pocket and the breeze ruffling his shaggy curls. He quickly glanced up at JJ who was talking to a detective, then looked at Emily. He gave her a small smile. Once the paramedic was done, Emily stepped directly in front of Reid and took him into her arms. He reciprocated, his arms wrapped tenderly around her waist as her arms draped around his neck. Reid buried his face into her hair, the scent of Jasmine filling his nostrils. They pulled apart and their eyes locked. It was as if firework were going off in his stomach. He placed both hands on either side of Emily's face, his bandage brushing her cheek.
"I was so scared that I was going to lose you again," whispered Emily. Reid used the back of one finger to brush away a strand of hair that fell over her face. He brought his face closer to Emily's, her warm breath on his cheek. He planted his lips on hers. Emily didn't pull away from the kiss, but in fact, leaned into it. JJ watched the pair kiss. She smiled, relieved that Reid didn't feel the same way about her, though she couldn't deny the pangs of jealousy in her heart. Reid and Emily parted again and smiled at one another.
Fin