Disclaimer: Don't own it.

Warnings: AU (Reid is 17, but the BAU-team are the same)

AN: Writer's block, it happened. I conquered it. I think. I know I promised a new chapter on Monday and we're Thursday now so I apologise and pray for forgiveness. But I made the chapter extra juicy and I hope it will be enjoyed!

- The Wounded -

Chapter 8

Morgan looked behind him to find Prentiss ready with a gun in her hand, her bullet proof vest was tightly around her torso. She signalled him that everyone was ready and Morgan nodded. He pressed his lips together and slowly exhaled through his nose. He stormed forward, kicking in the front door of the little house that belonged to Daniel Murray.

Their unsub.

The SWAT team followed the two FBI agents closely, instantly spreading out and clearing every chamber in the house. Morgan and Prentiss, standing in the small kitchen, exchanged quick glances, not needing words to voice their thoughts.

Frustration flooded the male agent. "He's gone," he said, grinding his teeth, "probably killing someone right now."

Prentiss nodded as she lowered her gun. "He must be around here somewhere," she said hurriedly, glancing around, "where else would he keep Spencer?"

A voice suddenly called out, sounding muffled and panicked. "Let me out!"

Morgan spun around to the origin of the sound and prayed to whoever was listening that the voice belonged to the young genius. He raced through the kitchen and entered a small living room that gave way to another room. Two members of the SWAT team were ready to bust in the door, yelling to keep away from the door. Morgan blinked when a loud bang echoed off the walls and the door sprung from its hinges, landing on the floor with a heavy thud.

For a moment Morgan anticipated Spencer to run out of the room, but no one stepped into view. Morgan, holding onto his gun with one hand, suddenly unsure if it was really Spencer in there, stepped forward and pushed passed the SWAT-members. His eyes fell on the small bed that took most of the room. There was a little table on which a glass holding water stood and near the far back corner, Spencer Reid stood.

His thin arms were wrapped around his torso and his cheeks were wet with tears. Morgan didn't blame the kid and simply stepped inside the room, slowly placing his gun back into the holster on his belt.

"Hey, kid," he made sure his voice was calm and smooth, "everything is alright."

He could hear Prentiss enter behind him, but he kept his eyes locked on the young genius.

A smile could be heard in Prentiss' voice as she spoke, "You're safe, Reid."

Spencer shifted his gaze between the two agents as if he were trying to determine whether they were really there. He swallowed heavily and blinked a few times. "My mom?"

"She's fine," Morgan assured him, taking another step forward until he could rest a hand on Spencer's shoulder. The touch seemed to relax him a little and Morgan repressed a sigh of relief. "How about you?" Only now did he notice the dark red, slightly purple bruise on Spencer's cheek, "what happened to your cheek?"

Spencer's hand moved towards his sore jaw, rubbing it absently. "It's Daniel," he muttered, "but I guess you figured it all out. I should have fought him harder," panic rose in Spencer's voice while shutting his eyes tightly, "but he was strong, Morgan, and I couldn't defend myself and – and..."

Morgan pulled Spencer towards him and embraced him. It wasn't something that came naturally to him since he considered himself the tough, save-the-world-kind-of-type. But Spencer needed someone right now and Morgan figured it could as well be him. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Prentiss staring at them with sadness in her eyes.

A few moments passed during which a member of the SWAT-team came to Prentiss and whispered something to her. "There is an ambulance coming," she explained, "Reid, you need to be checked out-"

Spencer suddenly pulled himself loose from and quickly stroked aside some hair that had fallen before his eyes. "There is no time," he said, nearly falling over his words, "Daniel has gone after Dean Isner, he told me. We have to get to his house, we have to stop him!"

Before Spencer would fall into a fit of panic, Morgan cut in. "Then we'll stop Daniel, but you have to go to the hospital to make sure you're fine. You're not coming with us," he said, almost apologetically, "it's too dangerous."

Spencer's eyes widened. "If there is anyone who can buy you time, it's me," he reasoned, "he'll listen to me, Morgan, if only for a few minutes. I can help so please let me."

There was a short silence and Prentiss and Morgan glanced at each other. No words were spoken, but an entire conversation could be read in their eyes. Eventually, Morgan nodded, looking back to the young genius. "You follow my orders," he said hurriedly, "and you don't try to be the hero. Daniel is dangerous."

"I know," Spencer simply said.

-o-o-

When the car with Morgan, Prentiss and Spencer arrived at Dean Isner's home, they found that they weren't alone. The rest of the BAU-team and another SWAT-team was present, all having taking their position and preparing to enter the house with force.

"Hotch," Morgan called to his boss, watching how he was just putting on a bullet proof vest, "what's going on?" He had called in that Daniel Murray was heading towards Dean Isner's house, but he hadn't expected this much buzz to be happening already.

"Daniel Murray is in there," the dark haired man explained, only seriousness visible in his voice, "he is holding a knife to Dean's throat and a gun pointed at his wife and son. Snipers can't get a clean shot, we're waiting for the negotiator," his gaze shifted towards someone behind Morgan and suddenly, his voice dropped, "what is he doing here?"

Morgan didn't have to turn around to see who it was that Hotch had seen. "Reid wants to talk to Daniel," he explained, "he can stall, give us a chance to enter the house and disarm Daniel." He glanced over his shoulder towards Spencer who appeared rather awkward standing between all the professionally trained men.

"He's a kid, Morgan," Hotch's voice shot in the air, something that didn't happen much, "I want him out of here!"

"He wants to help," Morgan argued, "and I think that he actually can. He's smart, Hotch, and if you give him a chance, he'll proof himself useful. He can help."

From a distance, Spencer watched the two FBI agents argue, obviously about him which made him swallow heavily. He didn't want to get into trouble and he didn't want Morgan to get into trouble because of him. The dark skinned agent had already done so much for him and Spencer wanted to repay him somehow.

He shifted his gaze towards the house. "What's happening in there?" he asked Prentiss who had chosen to stay with him for now.

"Daniel has taken Dean and his family hostage," Prentiss explained reluctantly, "the situation is worse than we thought. We shouldn't have brought you here, Reid, I'm sorry."

"No," Spencer said instantly, "I can still help."

Prentiss eyes him curiously. "You have a plan, haven't you?"

Spencer's cheek reddened and he nodded. "I'll have to talk to Morgan about it, could you fetch him for me?"

"Alright," Prentiss told him, sending him a quick reassuring smile.

As soon as Spencer saw that Prentiss was far enough, he ran. He did have a plan, but it didn't involve Morgan or any other FBI agents for that matter. What he was doing was dangerous and quiet possible stupid, but Spencer figured even a genius like himself was allowed a few mistakes.

He sprinted between the agents and members of the SWAT-team, finding that he was rather swift on his feet and avoided looking into confused eyes. He ignored those that called out his name and even managed to evade arms making an attempt to catch him.

Having been bullied his entire childhood could do that to someone. Ever since he was a young boy, he had run to avoid getting caught by bullies, a talent he could put to use again. Racing towards the front door of the house, he ignored the cries of people behind him and he pushed open the door, quickly closing it behind him again.

He inhaled deeply. He had gotten this far, turning back was not an option. Slowly, he made his way upstairs, to where the soft cries came from. The stairs squeaked beneath his feet and he could hear panicked voices coming from behind a door to his left.

Slowly, very deliberately, he opened the door and found Daniel holding a knife against a kneeling Dean's throat. He also had a gun directed towards a woman and son who sat on the bed, on the other side of the bedroom. The boy was desperately clinging to its mother, sobbing heavily.

"Spencer?" Daniel sounded surprised and the grip on the knife slipped for a second, but he quickly regained his composure. "What are you doing here?"

"I changed my mind, Daniel," Spencer said, smiling though he hoped it didn't appear too fake, "everything you said made sense. I just needed some time so think it through, but as soon as I understood, I came running."

Daniel frowned, carefully weighing every word. "How did you get in here? FBI and SWAT are outside."

Spencer grinned, knowing he had to play the part perfectly. Daniel might be crazy, but he wouldn't be fooled easily. "FBI invaded your house, but I played them," he explained slowly, "I made up an excuse and they brought me here. As soon as I arrived, I made a run for it because I had to see you." Carefully, he took a step forward. "You've protected me from those bullies all that time ago and I should be grateful."

Daniel smiled, his white teeth exposed. "I knew you'd come around, Spencer, I knew you would want to feel the power and strength that I now feel."

Spencer nodded. "I do," he admitted, "but I won't bully the boy."

Daniel's smile disappeared, a frown replacing it.

"Killing his father in front of him," Spencer explained, "that would be like bullying him. You don't want to become a bully yourself, now do you, Daniel? I refuse to become a bully. Let him go, let his mother take him away from here. We have Dean, he's all we need."

A long silence hung in the bedroom, even the small boy had grown silent. Eventually Daniel nodded. "You're right. Of course you're right, Spencer, you're a genius after all." He turned towards mother and son. "Take him away from here. Now."

"Please," the woman whimpered, looking at her husband, "please."

"I said," Daniel hissed through clenched teeth, "get. Out."

The woman cried, but took her son in her arms and ran from the room. Spencer watched how Dean relaxed a little, closed his eyes and sighed deeply. When he opened his eyes again, he looked directly at Spencer, an emotion in his eyes which the young genius couldn't quiet place. Was that gratitude?

"Now give me the knife, Daniel" Spencer held out his hand, hoping that part two of his plan would go as smooth as the first part, "you trust me, don't you?"

A warm smile curved Daniel's lips. "I trust you," he said, handing the knife to Spencer. He was still holding on tightly to his gun which was now pointed at Dean's head. One wrong movement and he would pull the trigger.

Slowly, Spencer stepped forward until he stood directly before Dean Isner, the man that had made his life a living hell during high school. If he struck now, he could actually kill him, but Spencer knew he wasn't capable of that. He wasn't a murderer and the years in high school hadn't bittered him like they had Daniel.

They had screwed him up, though, but not enough to turn him into a cold hearted killer.

"Thank you," Dean mouthed at him and Spencer swallowed heavily.

If there was ever a time to do it, it was now. He pushed Dean towards the floor and watched Daniel's eyes grow wide, furious with the betrayal. Daniel's hand lifted, raising the gun so that it pointed at Spencer.

A gunshot rang loudly.