The Zero Hour

Reid and Prentiss

February 2011

Note- This story contains violence. Thank you to all of you who have read and reviewed this fic.

Chapter Twelve

Rossi and Prentiss walked off the elevator of the hotel, ready to meet the team for breakfast.

Reid asked Emily "Hey, how did you sleep?"

"Don't ask."

He explained to her that he had found a code in the letters the night before, that they had informed Hotch and called back to Quantico with the update, and that Reid had configured his geographical profile for new areas they could search where Doyle may have rented a room.

Reid finished with "By the time we get back he may already be in custody."

"God, I hope so. From your mouth to God's ears."

"God's ears?"

"Its just a saying."

He rambled on about ancient Gods until Derek and Penelope came off the elevator and Derek told him "Its too early for that, kid."

XXXXXXXXXXX

The team solved their case and headed back to Quantico. They were in two SUVs, going from the airstrip to the office, when Hotch got the call that Doyle's apartment had been located, but the local police had not breached it yet. They found it by showing a picture around the neighborhood where Reid said his profile indicated Doyle would most likely be.

They raced to the location and suited up with bullet proof vests. Eventually the SWAT team went in but the apartment was empty. The team went inside and joined in the search of the building.

Rossi said "The stove is still warm. He was just here."

Morgan asked "Do you think he realized he was surrounded?"

Rossi said "He could still be in the building."

While Rossi and Morgan stayed in the apartment to profile what they saw, Emily, Reid and Hotch left the room. Seaver was outside with Garcia.

Reid tried to push down any worry for Prentiss. They were professionals. He couldn't treat her different now because they had started having sex. Still he couldn't seem to stop himself from sticking close to her in that darkened, damp, run down building as they searched from top to bottom for Doyle.

Suddenly they heard screaming from the cops "FREEZE! DROP THAT KNIFE!"

They ran around the corner of the hallway and saw an open apartment door. On the ground there was a wet stain and glass- a bottle had broken. Doyle must have grabbed someone who was coming home with groceries and forced them inside. The fresh stain and glass had alerted police to check out that apartment.

Prentiss took off running for that apartment. Reid spoke without thinking "Prentiss, wait! Don't!"

She ignored him and entered the apartment. He hurried behind her, while speaking into his microphone on his shirt, to tell the rest of the team where they were.

When they were in the apartment they found Doyle had a knife to an elderly woman's neck.

Emily said "Hello, remember me? Sure you do. I killed your wife and kids."

Reid's eyes grew wide and he gulped. He knew what she was doing but he hated it.

Emily walked past the cops, toward Doyle, "I'm gonna put my gun down and you're gonna let her go. This is between me and you. She's nobody. She didn't get your family killed. I did."

Just then the rest of the team came through the door, guns raised.

Doyle looked dirty, disheveled and out of his mind. "Tell your cohorts to leave us alone."

Reid looked at Hotch. Hotch gave him a steady look.

Emily said "Let her go and everyone else will leave. It will be just you and me. We can finish this, together. Like old times. I admit I screwed up when your family died-"

"They didn't just die! They were murdered by capitalist pigs!" He spit on the ground.

"You're right. They were murdered in cold blood," Emily said. "They didn't deserve that. Who can blame you for wanting me dead? I took away everything that matters to you when all you wanted was to make this world a better place...a cleaner place."

"Filthy sluts! They weren't human!"

"No, no, no, they weren't," she said soothingly. "I knew that then but I was ambitious. I did my job and I killed anyone who got in my way. Like your family. I murdered your beautiful wife and kids...so if you want to have it out with me then I get that...but lets get real here...you hurt her and you'll be dead before you hit the ground. The only way you get to be alone with me is if you let her go and take me as your hostage."

"It's a trick. Do you think I'm a moron? Do you take me for a fool?"

"You're in charge here. You tell me what to do and I'll do it. But you have to let her go first."

"Walk toward the bedroom."

Emily slowly made her way there. By now Reid was shaking. He knew how skilled Emily was but this was personal for Doyle and personal for Emily. It wasn't like a normal case. This guy wanted Emily dead. Reid had read his letters and knew the sick things he wanted to do to Emily.

At this moment Reid realized just how wonderful it had been to spend more time with Emily and get to know her in a more intimate way. He believed that all relationships didn't work out in the end, so it was practically useless to try to be in one and if you are then don't expect it to last, but even feeling that way he couldn't just rationalize away his thoughts on losing Emily. He knew he couldn't keep her forever...yet he wasn't prepared to lose her today.

She had made it down the short hallway that led toward the bedroom.

Doyle moved to the front of the hall and walked backwards dragging the woman, who was crying hysterically.

Doyle yelled "Get in the bedroom!"

Emily told him "Let her go first."

In an instant, Doyle let go of the woman, but he turned and shoved Emily into the bedroom and closed the door. The local police got the woman out of the apartment.

Morgan cursed under his breath. The team moved quickly down the hall, not willing to negotiate anymore. Morgan kicked down the door.

They entered the room to find Emily engaged in a hand-to-hand battle with Doyle. His knife lay on the floor. As Doyle heard the others bust inside he reached into his jacket and pulled out a second knife.

"Knife!"

"Drop the knife!

Emily threw herself on the ground. Doyle raised his hand to stab her. Bullets flew at him and he fell in a bloody heap on the ground, landing on Emily. His eyes were open but he was dead.

She pushed him off her as quick as she could and grabbed her second gun out of her ankle holster. She pointed it at him.

The team made it to her.

"He's dead," Hotch said.

Emily was panting, shaking and staring at him. This man who had vowed to kill her. She kept the gun on him. Reid crouched down and put his hand on the gun, lowering it.

He said "Its over."

Emily looked into his eyes for a moment before jumping up and hurrying from the room. She didn't stop till she was outside, breathing fresh air, knowing that there was no one hunting her anymore.

She stood there, covered in blood that was not her own, trying to come to terms with the fact that Doyle had lost. He hadn't made this the last hour of her life.

She had survived the zero hour.