Chapter Five

Reid struggled to keep his balance as he headed in the direction that Rossi had gone seconds earlier. He came to a clearing and saw John running. Reid quickly pulled out his gun as fired it again and again. He scowled in frustration as he missed both times and continued to run after him only to realize Rossi on the ground struggling to breath. Reid called for an ambulance as Morgan and Hotch entered the clearing. Reid rushed over to Rossi just as he took his last breath. Reid scrolled through his mind trying to recall the proper way to perform CPR before attempting to apply it. Again and again he presses down on his just almost ready to give up when he finds a week pulse. The paramedics rush into the clearing and Reid can't help but think they are just in time.

Morgan runs after John knowing that he isn't going to let him get away after what he has done to his team. Morgan runs deeper into the forest adrenaline fuelling him the entire way. He runs nearly half a mile before reaching another clearing. When he comes through the trees he realizes it isn't a clearing at all but instead a main street in town. Like 100 people are walking up and down the sidewalk he is standing on causing him to lose John in the blur of people. He quickly pulls out the photo of John he had in his back pocket from when Hotch and him were researching him, glad that he hadn't thought to remove it earlier.

Morgan asked five people before anyone recognized the photo. The elderly man points towards the old building behind him. Morgan runs into the building trying to avoid colliding with the large mass of people in the foyer again asking if anyone had seen him. Finally a young woman said she saw him run towards the entrance that leads to the roof. Morgan secures his gun in the palm of his hand before running climbing the many stairs that lead to the roof. Morgan gasps at what he sees when he enters to rooftop. John is standing about a meter away from the edge with a gun pointed to a young woman's head.

"Better put the gun down agent or I'll shoot this lovely young lady," John said slowly creeping closer to the edge of the roof. Morgan couldn't get a good shot of John without possibly hurting the woman he was holding. All of the sudden the girl throws her leg out behind her kicking John before ducking out of his grasp. As John fumbles backwards towards the edge he lifts his gun and takes aim.

Morgan jumps towards the girl to push her from harm's way just as a gunshot rings out. Morgan looks up to see John stumble over the edge grasping at his chest and toppling over the edge. Morgan attempts to calm the girl as he turns towards the doorway to find Hotch sliding his gun back into its holster. Apparently Hotch had followed him onto the roof and Morgan was thankful, he had just saved their life.

JJ watches as the paramedics zip up the body bag currently holding the lifeless body of Agent Emily Prentiss. Her mind drifts to thoughts of the rest of the team, hoping they are okay after the many gunshots she had heard. She was praying that none of the rest of the team was injured. She stands with her arms crossed, silent tears running down her face. She startles when the radio she forgot she was holding begins to tell of Rossi's condition. Without further thought she turned to make her way back towards the SUV and meet the rest of the team at the hospital. Only once did she glance back just in time to see her best friends body lifted off the ground now forever stained with blood.

The team was sitting impatiently in the waiting room nervously awaiting news on his condition. They had been sitting there over an hour and yet any one of them had failed to speak. Already mourning the loss of one team member, they were all hoping that Rossi would not leave them as well.

After about two hours the doctor came out of the waiting room. "Hello my name is Dr. Zane," she said as she shook Hotch's hand.

"How is he?" Hotch asked wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"He's not too good; he is still in surgery. He was half an inch away from being shot in the heart and there are many complications. He lost a lot of blood so we had to give him a blood transfusion" Dr. Zane explains before leaving the team again in silence.

The team was left to wait again the tension in the room building as every second passed. Morgan finally stood before heading to the cafeteria for something to eat. Hotch went with JJ to the chapel to wait making sure both Rossi and Emily were in their prayers. Garcia and Reid talked quietly together as they sipped on two steaming cups of coffee.

When the doctor finally returned with news everyone had again gathered in the waiting room. Morgan's head has lolled to the side as he slept, the rest of the team barely staying awake. Hotch stood so fast when the doctor entered that he became dizzy, nearly falling. Reid steadies him and ensures that he is okay.

"How is he?" JJ asks.

Dr. Zane takes a deep breath before she delivers the news.