Author's note: This chapter (and most of the following ones) take place before the first chapter. The hours referenced refer to when events happened in relation to the first chapter. I hope this makes sense.

Of course, only the OCs are mine.

To make matter worse

15 hours previous

The BAU team, along with local police, surrounded the small house. The crisp, pre-dawn air chilled them as they awaited the signal to enter. A week and a half chasing a serial rapist/murderer finally led to the address of Adrian Matthews. He fit the profile, his uncorroborated alibi fit the timeline, and physical evidence confirmed that he was indeed the Unsub. Now all they had to do was find him…

"We go in on my count," Hotch instructed in a firm whisper. He counted off silently, and then motioned for Morgan to kick down the door. "FBI!" The shout echoed in the quiet morning air as the side and back doors were forcefully entered simultaneously. The BAU and police offices swarmed the house, separating and searching every square foot. Emily and SWAT members hurried to the garage. Morgan, Reid, and several officers went down the short hallway, while Hotch, Rossi, and other officers moved toward the living room and kitchen.

While the officers searched the two small bedrooms, Morgan and Reid checked the tiny bathroom and linen closet. As they headed back down the hall, they noticed a water heater closet they'd missed in their hurried run. Morgan stood to the side and motioned for Reid to open it. Reid cautiously opened the door, holding his gun and flashlight at the ready. The door opened barely two inches before Reid stumbled back, shock registering on his face; he was too startled to even scream. A serrated, long-handled kitchen knife was sticking out of his left shoulder just below his collarbone.

Morgan immediately jumped forward and pulled the door open further, raising his gun higher at the figure crouched next to the large appliance.

"Hold it right there." Morgan's voice was hard and icy. Adrian stared at him with cold, unimpressed eyes. "Put your hands in the air and come out slowly." Adrian didn't budge. "I said move!"

Morgan reached out to grab Adrian by the shirt. Adrian seized Morgan's wrist and twisted, pulling him down and ruining any chance he had at taking a clean shot. Before Morgan could adjust to his change of position, Adrian hit him hard between the eyes, knocking him back against the opposite wall.

He stood, dazed momentarily, as Adrian leapt from the closet toward Reid, who was leaned against the wall near the closet. Blood gushed from his shoulder, ran down his arm, and dripped off the tips of his fingers into a crimson puddle on the floor.

Reid moved out of his reach, but not before Adrian bumped into him, pushing the knife deeper. Reid couldn't suppress his gasp of pain. Adrian brushed past him and ran down the hall. Morgan tried to focus his eyes to take a shot when the sound of gunfire jolted him. He looked up to see Adrian hit the floor with a bullet wound to his thigh, and Reid slid down the wall, leaving a bright red streak of blood on the dirty white surface. Smoke trailed from his gun barrel.

The sound shouting and running filled the air as Morgan ran to Reid, who was breathing heavily and clenching his eyes shut. The officers ran from the bedroom, and Morgan pointed them to Adrian. They shoved his face into the ground and roughly cuffed his wrists. Once he was secured, they dragged him to his feet and pulled him outside to the waiting cars.

"Oh, man Reid!" He knelt on the floor next to him and debated putting pressure on the wound versus pulling out the knife. He decided to leave the medical treatment to the professionals, who had undoubtedly been called at the sound of gunfire. Reid looked like he was about to pass out, so Morgan pulled him forward and rested Reid's head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around Reid to hold him in place.

"Just hang in there man, it'll be ok. Just a few minutes ok?" Reid nodded slightly against Morgan's shoulder.

Just then, Hotch, Rossi and the other officers rounded the corner. "What happened?" Hotch demanded as he slid to his knees next to Reid.

"He got the jump on us; we didn't even know what hit us." Morgan's voice was filled with guilt and disappointment.

Hotch nodded, giving Morgan a sympathetic look. He then gently touched Reid's blood-soaked arm to get his attention. Reid turned his head and looked at Hotch with glazed, pained eyes.

"It's ok, Reid," he said soothingly. "The medics are already on the way." Reid just nodded.

"Who shot Adrian?" Rossi asked as he came closer to where the trio was kneeling.

"He did," Morgan said, patting Reid affectionately on the back of his head.

"Really," both Hotch and Rossi said simultaneously, Hotch out of pride and Rossi out of surprise.

"Yep... He never even saw it coming." Morgan's voice gushed with pride. Reid smiled slightly against Morgan.

"Well, I had to do something; you were just standing there." Reid's voice was muffled in Morgan's shirt, but the light teasing tone helped ease the tension surrounding the team members.

"Yeah, whatever kid," Morgan said with a small grin as he ruffled Reid's hair.

Just then, the paramedics pushed through the crowd of officers. They quickly approached their patient. Morgan thought he would have to move, but the medics didn't force him away. Instead, the medic whose badge read "Phillip" knelt on the floor near the three team members and carefully inspected Reid's shoulder. Reid winced at the touch and unconsciously pulled away.

Phillip looked to Morgan and gently asked, "Can you try to hold him still for me?"

"Sure," Morgan replied hesitantly, as he pulled Reid closer and tightened his grip.

After another moment, Phillip stood up and addressed the group. "Ok, it doesn't actually look too bad. I'm not going to pull the blade out now though. We'll just keep it steady for the ride, and then the surgeon can remove it without doing further damage. We can't risk hitting any veins until we get to the hospital."

With that, Phillip and his partner Galen carefully moved Reid away from Morgan and lowered him onto a back board. They then gently transferred him to a stretcher and slowly rolled him outside. The team members trailed behind.

Morgan walked next to Hotch and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You know, it's always nice to know you'll get dirty for us."

Hotch turned to him with a question in his eye. Morgan pointed down to his own jeans, and then indicated Hotch's dress pants. Both were stained dark red from the blood collected on the hallway floor. Hotch gave him a slight smile and nod before he continued watching the medics load Reid into the ambulance.

Rossi joined them after checking on Adrian's condition. "Are you going to ride with him?" The question was obviously directed to Hotch, who uncharacteristically shrugged.

"I don't know if there's room." Morgan and Rossi exchanged glances at Hotch's unusually hesitant tone. He didn't look at either of them, so they surmised that guilt was hidden behind his tone.

"Why don't you go find out Aaron?" Rossi spoke gently and touched Hotch's shoulder to catch his attention. After a moment, Hotch turned and met Rossi's eyes. He nodded and walked over to the ambulance.

Ever in control, Rossi turned to Morgan, who was staring blankly in Reid and Hotch's direction. "Why don't you go find Emily, and I'll get the car so we can follow them."

Morgan looked at him for a moment uncomprehendingly, and then he obeyed the order.