Finale Fix

BONUS PROMPT: Surprise (Buffy)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Decoy

"This girl is becoming more and more like you the more I learn," Garcia said as Hotch, Emily and Reid joined the rest of the team in the tech's lair. "GPS in her cell phone came on all of thirty seconds ago."

Emily gripped Hotch's hand without thought. "Do you have a location?"

"Of course, my angel. Three, two, one!"

Sure enough, the computer beeped happily and, with a few swift key strokes, a map and address popped up on the screen.

"Garcia-"

"Address is sent to all relevant Blackberries," the tech interrupted Dave with an unrepentant smile in the elder profiler's direction.

Hotch squeezed Emily's hand. "Let's suit up."

"You're not coming," Dave contradicted strongly already on his way out the door, back to the bullpen.

Hotch followed inadvertently tugging Emily along with him. "You can't make that call."

"Actually," Reid stepped in, the whole team having followed. "Dave's acting Unit Chief until you're cleared for duty."

"Which you aren't," Dave shot over his shoulder. "You've only been out of the hospital for a week after being shot."

The growl Hotch emitted was only audible to Emily's ears and she tugged on his hand to get his attention. "Dave's right and you know it," she said quietly. "The safest place for you is here. And-" she continued when he opened his mouth to argue. "You don't need to save her because it wasn't your fault. We all thought she was perfectly safe."

Silence reigned for a moment, the whole team having stepped in the middle of the hall. It had been a long time since anyone other than Dave had talked to Hotch. But in this situation, considering it was Cami missing, Emily almost had the right.

"We can't keep you safe and try and find Cami," JJ pointed out quietly. "Foyet wants you. Why would you want to give him what he wants?"

Hotch's brow pinched and they all knew what it meant. They were right. He didn't like it.

"It's not like you won't be hocked up to the radio frequency," Emily said, a warm affection in her teasing.

"Excellent," Dave nodded succinctly. "Now that that's been fixed, let's go get your daughter."

Emily had to take a deep breath as she readjusted the grip on her gun. Adrenaline raced through her veins, a combination between an anger at Foyet for everything he'd taken from them all, and the usual rush of excitement that came with a take-down.

"If George Foyet is in there," Dave warned, his eyes fixed on Derek. "We take him alive."

Derek looked less than impressed with the idea, and Emily really couldn't blame him. Foyet had screwed with them too long. Dave looked at the crumbling house and checked his safety.

"Derek and Emily, around back. Clear the basement. JJ, Reid, you're with me. We clear the upstairs and the front."

They split then, Emily and Derek sneaking around to the back of the house. The door was unlocked as Derek turned the doorknob. He shot her a look before they headed in. The kitchen was clear, so was the empty room next to it. The hallway between held the door to the basement and Derek led the way down.

"Main floor is clear," Dave's voice floated over the radio.

"So is upstairs," JJ agreed.

Emily's heartbeat picked up. Cami had to be down in the basement. It was the only place left. They'd taken three steps when Derek stopped, holding up a hand. Emily listened carefully, her body automatically moving when the whimpers reached her ears. Derek's arm came up to stop her. They couldn't rush in. They started moving again slowly, Emily forcing herself to concentrate on every step she took. A light just around the corner had her heart rate jumping again. Derek's hand came up, counting down with his fingers…

…Three…

…Two…

…One…

Go!

Guns drawn, they slipped around the corner, both of them searching half of the room for evidence of the bastard, Foyet. Cami was all but screaming through a gag, jumping as best she could in the chair she was tied to.

"Clear," Emily said.

"Clear," Derek agreed.

Emily rushed to her daughter's side, holstering her weapon at the same time. She wrapped her arms around Cami. "It's okay, Grace. It's okay."

But that didn't stop Cami's movements, so Emily pulled away, cupping her face. Cami's eyes were wild, her body bucking violently.

"Okay, calm down, sweetheart." She pulled the gag away from her daughter's mouth and Cami's eyes met hers as she took a deep breath.

"He's gone after Agent Hotchner."

Emily froze.

"What?" Derek asked as he tried to undo one of the ties on her wrists.

"I'm a distraction," she replied almost hysterically. "He's gone after Agent Hotchner."

I'm working on 14 as we speak. It has the potential of either being up by the end of the weekend, or the end of next week, but I'll do my absolute best for the former.

Thanks for reading!