Disclaimer: See chapter 1

Author's Note(s): As predictable as this is, thank you to everyone who is reading and to those of you that have taken the time to review, namely SLITH, RavennaNightwind, sid, TJ, didi2909 and tearbos. Hope you enjoy this chapter :)

Easier to Lie
Chapter 16

JJ watched in horror as the unsub pressed the sharp knife into Reid's neck, biting into his skin painfully. Thankfully it was not hard enough to draw blood. She mentally cursed herself for her earlier 'lightning doesn't strike twice' comment, she had clearly jinxed them. Not that she believed in jinxes and suchlike. If she did she might be inclined to believe that her and her team had been placed under some kind of bad luck curse. They had certainly had their fair share of misfortune lately.

"Drop the weapon," said Emily loudly, effectively rousing JJ from her macabre thoughts.

"There's no getting away now," added JJ, "Just let Reid go."

Even though it was still dark, JJ saw Reid look up to the sky, almost as though praying. If anything, this made JJ even more determined to save him.

"So your girlfriend came after all, boy," observed the unsub, shooting JJ an appraising look and sending shivers down her spine.

In response, Reid merely whimpered and adopted a pleading expression on his face.

Emily lowered her gun slightly, "What's your name?"

The unsub hesitated before saying, "Dylan."

"Okay, Dylan. Why don't you put down that knife so we can talk?" said Emily in a soothing voice. JJ marvelled over her ability to remain calm.

Just for a moment, Dylan actually seemed to consider doing what Emily told him too. However he obviously decided against it as he tightened his grip around Reid and said, "You'll just shoot me if I let go of him!"

"We won't hurt you, Dylan. We just want to talk," said JJ in what she hoped was an understanding tone.

Dylan didn't even seem to register what she was saying, "Your girlfriend's pretty, boy. But don't worry, once I'm through with her she won't be anymore. She'll be as ugly on the outside as she is on the inside."

JJ and Emily shared an alarmed look.

"Dylan, JJ and Reid aren't a couple," Emily pointed out, hoping to make the man see sense.

"Don't lie to me!" Dylan howled, pushing the knife just a little harder and causing Reid to give a small cry of pain as a small trickle of blood slid down his neck.

"Okay! Okay, just calm down," said JJ, holding her hands out in a sign of compliance.

"I am calm!"

JJ flinched as Reid made another small sound of pain. If they could just keep him talking until Hotch and Morgan arrived maybe everything would be okay.

"Dylan, there are three of us here. We couldn't possibly be a couple," JJ pointed out.

"Don't lie to me! I saw you two together before. I know that one," he gestured towards Emily, "only came afterwards."

"Look, we just want to help you. So why don't you put the knife down?" said Emily.

"I've an idea, why don't you put yours guns down and then maybe we can talk?" said Dylan, his voice becoming oddly high pitched and panicky. This was not a good sign.

The two women hesitated, they couldn't put themselves at such a disadvantage, but this man was obviously highly disturbed and was likely to kill Reid accidentally if he became too riled. They had no choice but to do what he said if they wanted Reid back in one piece.

"How about," Emily began slowly, "If just I put my gun down, then it will make us even."

After thinking for a second, Dylan nodded vigorously in agreement.

"But if I do this, then you have to move the knife away from Reid's neck," said Emily firmly.

"No! He'll escape!"

"He's tied to a tree," said JJ quickly, "He isn't going anywhere."

Reluctantly, Dylan nodded again and moved the knife forward so it was no longer actually touching Reid's neck. Emily held out her gun and then let it drop to the floor beside her with an ominous thud.

"Why are you doing this, Dylan?" asked JJ softly, maybe if she could make him think that they understood him, he would be more inclined to listen to them.

"I don't want to," replied Dylan, his voice breaking with emotion, "But I have to do this."

"No you don't, Dylan. You can walk away from this right now and come with us. We promise we won't hurt you," said Emily earnestly.

"You don't understand," said Dylan, his eyes now filling with tears, "I can't stop. I tried. I really did. I even went to a psychiatrist to see if she could help me."

"You didn't really stay long enough for the psychiatrist to help you though, did you? You ran away," JJ pointed out, making sure that her gun was still aimed firmly at his head.

"That's because her stupid secretary wanted to hurt me!" Dylan yelled, he was becoming angry again, "All women want to do is hurt us! You are evil!"

JJ suddenly regretted leaving Charlie back in that park. She might have been useful. Glancing sideways, JJ judged that by the faint look of annoyance on Emily's face that she was thinking the exact same thing.

"If you come with us, maybe we can take you back to the psychiatrist and she still can help you," JJ suggested. She of course had no intention of doing anything of the kind, but at this point JJ was willing to say anything to get that lunatic away from Spencer, even if it meant lying through her teeth. But apparently not even lies were going to change the unsub's mind, for he shook his head angrily at her.

"No! It's too late now. There's no turning back."

"So what are you going to do then?" said Emily, sounding resigned to the fact that there probably was not going to be a peaceful resolution to this conflict.

The man thought for a moment before saying, "I'm going to untie the boy," this sounded promising, JJ thought, "And I'm going to take him with me," then again, maybe not, "You are going to put the gun down sweetheart," fat chance of that happening, "And then you are going to watch me leave, and you aren't going to follow me because if you do I'll kill him."

"I don't think so, Dylan. We know who you are. We are the FBI, and it doesn't matter how far you run, we will find you. Your only option is to surrender," said JJ, narrowing her eyes. Beside her she felt more than saw Emily shoot her a warning look.

Something suddenly seemed to click in Dylan's mind. He screamed and flung the knife towards JJ and Emily, and at the exact same time a deafening shot was fired.

--

Author's Note(s): My goodness, the poor BAU have the worst luck in the world. It's a wonder they aren't all raving psychopaths by now with all the stuff they've been though.

Last nights episode of Criminal Minds awesome. Did anyone else just want to give Reid a big hug and protect him from all the evils of the world? Poor guy. I would have saved him from the football bullies!

So I hope you enjoyed this annoyingly short chapter,

Rubiks :)