A/N: Danger Days and Frankie were both 'stolen' from MCR. Posting what's left of the story unedited and taking a leave of absence from Fanfiction for a while. Thanks guys.

House of Mirrors- Danger Days

Will and Rossi wasted no time waiting for an explanation. Together they hopped into an SUV with the rest of Anderson's BAU team, and only then did they prompt Anderson to explain how they had figured out where the rest of the team was.

"We were able to get tire treads from the original scene," Anderson started, "and from there it was a piece of cake. Kevin pulled up close-by gas station cameras and found the same circus-themed van that was spotted where your team was kidnapped. Using that information we were able to track down the van using various street cameras and credible witnesses."

"That easily?" Will murmured. "If we found them that easily, why haven't they been stopped sooner?"

"Because no one knew there was a connection before now," Rossi sighed. "This is the first time anyone's gotten away, too."

"So where are they now?" Will asked, effectively changing the topic.

"Not that much farther up the road," Anderson said. "They're in some town called Platonic. The last known whereabouts of their vehicle was a grassy area not far from a local hot spot."

"He's getting sloppy," Rossi nodded. "This is going to be Cole's last circus, and he think he knows that too."

"That doesn't sound like a good thing," Will grumbled.

Rossi frowned before shaking his. "It's not."

~* HoM *~

"Ladies and Gentlemen, get ready for our next performance featuring Spencer Reid and Frankie!" Cole applauded as he threw his hand in the signaling for Derrick to draw the curtains. As the curtains pulled back a large tank of water with Reid and a black-haired man standing next to it. The audience's eyes grew large with terror, all of them knowing what was about to happen now. "Our magicians tonight will be performing an underwater stunt. Spencer here will be handcuffed and thrown into the tank. He must manage to unlock himself before time runs out and he stops breathing. Frankie will be supervising the tank in case this situation does occur, in which case the event will be unsuccessfully performed." The hidden meaning behind those words- and the added 'and then I get to kill you', of course- didn't go unnoticed by the BAU. "Now, please enjoy the show!"

The BAU team watched in horror as Reid was slammed underwater. Frankie stood next to their friend the whole time, a timer in his hand. The time ticked away in a slow, dramatic way that was almost clichéd. The terror, also clichéd, filled the team as Reid struggled underneath the weight of all the water. The could all tell that he was struggling, but none of them were willing to think that he might not survive.

Spencer Reid took a deep breath. He couldn't panic; it would waste too much of the little air he had left. 'Concentrate!', he yelled at himself. 'How can I get myself out of these cuffs?' Reid dared opened his eyes, and because he didn't have time to adjust, immediately went searching for something. At first there appeared to be nothing, but as he looked closer, he saw it. He almost smiled as he dove down deeper. If he could reach it and successfully pick the lock, then he was home free. The agent's fingers intertwined in the small bobby pin, but he dropped it just as quickly as he picked it up. He cursed at himself before trying again. Once more he dropped it, and he started to worry. Time was quickly running out, and he still didn't even have the pin.

"I hope your friend hurries up," Frankie smiled. "He's going to run out of breath soon!" The entire BAU fought back the urge to slap Frankie, not that they could even if they wanted to. Benjamin was blocking the way to the stage, and they were all sure he wouldn't let them even try getting up from their seats.

Back in the tank, Reid tried for the pin one more time. The profiler was uncertain if he could survive not getting it this time, and he knew that too much was at stake for him not to. With his remaining breath he pulled himself closer to the bottom and caught it. He had it- he could escape now. Almost haphazardly, he desperately fumbled with the lock and pin before he heard a 'click'. His arms were let free and he was able to take off the weights tied to his ankles. Without hesitation he then threw himself above the water and took a long, deep breath.

Cole's face dramatically fell. Reid was alive- he had outsmarted the tank! His eyes locked on Frankie, but the magician refused to look back at him. He had done something to help him escape! As Reid climbed out of the water, he realized how he had helped him almost immediately: he put a bobby pin in the tank.

"NO!" Cole roared angrily. He suddenly lunged at the younger man until he had been pulled across the room and right out the glass sides of the room. The two men plunged to the floor below them and into a what appeared to be a swimming pool….

A swimming pool filled with blood, that is.

Frankie ran off the stage until he was side-by-side with Benjamin. "This has gone on far enough," he hissed as Derrick too rushed to join the two. "Call the police; we have to stop him!"

"I already did," Derrick said grimly. "I gave them an anonymous tip after we left our first location and made sure they had enough evidence to see where we were going. They should be here anytime now."

"Good," Frankie nodded, "but in the meantime, we have to stop Cole!"

"I'll untie the rest of them," Derrick volunteered. "You two can started heading down, alright?"

"Sounds good," Benjamin nodded. "We'll see you soon!" Without another word, Benjamin and Frankie rushed down the stair case. Derrick watched them for a moment before turning back to the BAU. He frowned before he lowered himself down to their level.

"I'm so sorry," was the last thing Aaron Hotchner heard before he bolted from the room.

~* HoM *~

The building was surrounded within minutes of arrival. Will, despite much argument, had to wait in the car with an armed officer. Rossi was now leading a group of SWATs and BAU agents up to the building.

It was time to get his team back.

~* HoM *~

Reid didn't even know what had happened.

All feeling had left his body, and his mind wouldn't register what Cole had done, couldn't register that he was actually in a pool of blood.

"You can't survive! No one can!" Cole hissed. "All this? This is the blood of all the other ones! Your blood belongs here, too!"

Reid remained quiet. He knew that saying the wrong thing now would lead to his ultimate demise. He couldn't afford to take that risk right now.

Reid struggled to remain conscious as Cole mercilessly shoved him underneath the blood. He held his breath to the best of his ability, trying to close his mouth before he was thrust underneath again. His mind was starting to panic, though. The blood was seeping into his mouth, and he was forced to either swallow it or suffocate on it. All that human blood- there was just so much! Eventually it all became too much, and before Reid even knew it, everything went black.