A/N: If you didn't notice, the rating for this story is "T". I can have a bit of a potty mouth myself. Add 30+ years bartending experience, and I know how men can talk, especially in a "hot" situation. You've been warned, especially about this chapter.
Chapter 3
Matt ear piece crackled with Morgan's voice. "Cyrus just gave them poisoned wine!"
Shit, Matt thought, getting ready to move and then thought again. "Hotch, its Cob." Nothing. "Hotch, its Cob! Listen to me!" Nothing. Morgan grabbed Hotch as he and Dave were debating strategy, with Hotch telling Dan to have his team proceed.
"Morgan, what the hell…" Morgan keyed open Hotch's comm. Dave followed with his own.
"Go Cob," Morgan said.
"Hotch, listen to me," he whispered. "Do not send in Dan and his team. Repeat: do not send them in. This is a loyalty test. Everyone in the compound knows we're here and some of the followers are bound to get antsy. He's testing them to see who is with him until the end."
"Jim Jones did the same thing nine months before his massacre. Listen to Cob. He's right," Dave pleaded.
"Dan," Hotch said, getting his attention. Just then, the bugs picked Cyrus announcing that there was no poison. Hotch hung his head a bit, and then looked at Dan. "Tell your team to stand down."
"Yes sir," he said as he nodded at Dave.
"Goddammit Hotch, I may not be there but I run tactical for the team. Don't you shut your god damn comm off to me again," Matt fumed.
Hotch slightly smiled. "I didn't think you needed to hear me taking a leak."
"Wouldn't be the first, and I highly doubt the last," Matt whispered, with a smile. Dave and Morgan smiled as well.
He heard JJ through Morgan's comm. "Leo Caine is here."
Before Matt could say a word, Morgan said, "All over it Cob. But start getting that Marine brain of yours working, 'cause this is going to spiral in a hurry."
"Roger that." He had moved up to the edge of the woods. There was at least 50 yards of clear space between him and the building. A half of football field Matt thought to himself. Hell, I've made that run before and in worse conditions. He silently pulled his huge backpack off and leaned up against a wide oak. He grabbed another granola bar and some more water. Its water but damn I hate it warm as he shook his head, draining the bottle. He stretched out a bit and waited for Morgan's report from his visit with Leo Caine. The ache in his left calf muscle told him he was getting dehydrated and needed more water. He grabbed another bottle. Damn, its hell to get old.
He spent the next three hours going through options for the assault on the compound. The water kicked in, easing the pain in his calf, but also causing him to relieve himself again. He knew just how, without compromising his safe area. Good ol' Marine training he smiled to himself.
"Cob, you there?" Matt just pinged his comm badge. The three rooftop guards were what Matt believed to be diehards and didn't want to give away his position, having detailed to Morgan how the shift rotations were done. However, now this close, he had assembled his sniper rifle, just in case.
Morgan filled in Matt on his visit with Leo Caine, and said they were waiting on info from Garcia about Charles McGrew, Cyrus' real name. Less than ten minutes later, he was in on the Hotch, Dave, and Morgan's profile of Cyrus, aka McGrew.
Matt pulled out his cell and texted Morgan a message. From here on in, one ping is yes; two pings are no. Too close. Acknowledge cell text. He smiled when Morgan gave him one ping back as well.
A little later, Matt's comm came alive. "Cob, the news just leaked that there was an undercover FBI agent in there." Shit Matt thought to himself. He heard a bunch of noise and cursing over his comm, but nothing more. The silently texted Morgan; what the hell is going on?
Morgan said, "The son-of-bitch is beating Emily. And she's telling us she can take it; to not come in. I want this man's ass! That's my partner!"
Matt quickly texted him; I'd normally say stand in line. But M is your partner. I'll finish job.
"Roger that Cob. Don't be nice."
When the hell have you known me to be nice with an unsub? Morgan looked at the text message and smiled. And then Matt added the fatal question. Is it done? And M still alive?
"Thankfully yes Cob, to both questions." Matt single pinged him. Hotch and Dave updated Matt on their observations as well. He killed some time watching an acrobatic squirrel jump from tree limb to tree limb.
Morgan chimed in. "Cob, we have movement. Stand by." Matt single pinged him back. "You were right. Cyrus is letting go the people that failed the loyalty test. We have…" Matt could hear Morgan silently counting; "Twenty-seven people coming out."
Matt quickly texted Morgan. That leaves approx. 23; big count; all followers: the core. We gotta think this thru.
Morgan looked at his cell and shared it with Hotch, Dave and Dan.
"Agreed Cob," Hotch said. They waited, not patiently as the sun descended in the western sky. Matt had grabbed another nap, knowing he was now in that position until things began to move.
Just then the phone rang from Cyrus.
Dave answered it. "We are prepared to surrender at noon tomorrow. I'll fill you in on the details at our 7 am phone call." He hung up.
Hotch filled Matt in on the call. "This is it." Matt signaled back with one ping.
"Matt, I need you to do some strategizing." Hotch got a single ping, followed by a text message.
We have time. Let me think.
"Think fast partner." A single ping was the response.
Hotch, Dave and Morgan heard Reid talking to Cyrus. "Cob? Listen. Reid has gotten to him and is giving us a message. He sees the signs as well and is asking when we are coming in," Hotch updated him. Matt singled pinged him.
Hotch's cell pinged with a message less than two minutes later. It isn't going to happen until after midnight. Cyrus wants show for media. Give me time. You'll get game plan.
Aaron shared the message with Dave, Derek and Dan. They all nodded their heads in agreement. "Roger that Cob." A single ping was the response. They four in the FBI trailer looked at each other and nodded heads at each other. Cob was on it.
-00CM00-
Still hunkered up on the back side of the big oak, Matt did some thinking. He fired off a text to Morgan. I need that goddamn map from Caine.
"It's coming Cob. Mama is working on it." It finally appeared on his cell. Matt took some time studying the layout and then took the time to relax and think things through. This wasn't a battlefield situation where he needed to make a spot decision.
A half hour later, Hotch's cell pinged with a text message. He quickly pulled it out of the pocket of his khaki's. Nite guard rotation starts at midnight. Main assault team waits over ridge where I came in. Have ALL explosive guys with main team. I take three guards down with rifle.
Hotch read it. "Cob, collateral damage," he said into his comm. "Will the Bureau think that's overkill?" His cell pinged less than a minute later.
I told U I had tricks in bag. Rubber bullets. Concussions worst damage. I get on roof. Neutralize. Cyrus brought up Waco. Dan use on front side. Main team back side.
"Cob, its Hotch. We're going to brainstorm this from our end and get back to you. Take a break. Comm off for bit." Matt returned one ping.
Hotch, Dave, Morgan and Dan read the message. Dan smiled. "I know just what he means by Waco. We need some Humvees. And a helluva lot of ATV's from the sheriff's department."
Hotch looked at Morgan. "You're assistant on tactical; what do you think?"
"Hotch, I learned a long time ago to trust that man's instincts in every situation. But this situation is exactly what that man was built for. You don't?"
"Implicitly," he slightly smiled. "But I value your opinion as well."
"Hotch, what did the big dog say as he was leaving? Let's get this damn done." Hotch nodded.
Dave read Hotch as the clock was ticking. The rest of the group dispersed.
"What's bugging you?"
Hotch shook his head. "Reid's right. We somehow have to get word to him what time we're coming." He turned the comm back on to Matt. "Cob, we're working out some details here. We've got to get word to Reid when we are coming." His comm quickly pinged back once.
Morgan walked out of the trailer to study the plans of the compound that JJ had quickly got into a large size, once they had got it from Caine. Dan rushed up to him. "It's Prentiss." Morgan looked up at him. "She's trying to talk to us."
He opened the walkie talkie that was attached to the parabolic arc listening at the windows. "If you can hear me, I need to know what time you are coming."
Morgan looked at Dan. "Let's go." They silently moved up to the front line of the situation. Morgan used a rifle with a night scope and a red laser tag to find the window where she was talking. He spotted it quickly. Dan was holding the walkie to Morgan's ear. He showed the red ray through the window. Prentiss kept repeating her message.
"OK, I've got you," Emily said. "What time?" Morgan fired off three red flashes. "3 am?" Morgan flashed the red light up and down. "Got it; I can try and get as many out through the tunnels as possible. I think I have an in with Jessica's mom. But be advised Jessica is diehard. Reid is on the first floor with Cyrus. And please remember there are still woman and children in here." Morgan flashed another up and down. He and Dan fell back. They rushed back up to the Rapid Response trailer and in the door.
"Hotch," he said, opening his comm to Cob. "We just made contact with Emily. She knows we are coming and what time. She thinks she can work getting the women and children to safety. But heads up, Jessica, Cyrus' "wife" is a diehard. She's going to work the angle on her mother. Emily couldn't say much, but what she did say leads me to believe her mother is probably the one that blew the whistle on Cyrus on the first place."
Dave nodded. "It fits; she's a mother trying to protect her child. And what age is Jessica? Fifteen? Hell, I'd report that too." Their comms got a single ping. Matt agreed with the profile.
Hotch looked around as the agents were getting the food ready for the meal Cyrus suggested. He looked at the round top that was about to go on a food container. He grabbed, it and started writing a message. New owners. Now open for business 'til 3 am.
Morgan gently touched his shoulder. "Let's hope it's just that easy."
"Cob, Morgan. We think we found a way to contact Reid as well." Cob pinged back.
Ten minutes later, two deputies from the Sheriff's department set out for the compound with the food. "Cob, it's Morgan; the assault team is ready to head out. I'm coming with them. When do you us to jump?"
His cell pinged with a message thirty seconds later. Go now and get ready. Stand down. I'll let you know via comm.
"Roger that Cob." He looked at the main assault team. "Let's mount up." They headed out into the darkness.
Rossi walked out of the trailer to find Hotch surveying the scene. "I know I can't go in there."
Rossi just nodded. "I'm going."
"If something happens to Prentiss or Reid," he paused, "I don't know."
"You're not alone."
"And Matt and Morgan as well." He shook his head, hanging it into his chest. His five o'clock shadow was now in full view. Rossi just reached up and rubbed his shoulder, his own stubble starting to minimize his goatee. Hotch shook his head again. "I beginning to think I know how Gideon felt in Boston with Bale." He hung his head again.
Rossi grabbed his shoulder again and squeezed it tightly. "Aaron, you are not Gideon. This is not Boston, and Matt and Morgan will do everything they can. Trust that," he added, gently tugging Aaron's shoulder.
Hotch looked at him. "You stay safe as well."
"I will."
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A/N: Once again, I apologize for the language, but it fit the story. Sorry, but that is how men can talk in this situation. And btw, I've been remise on my oversees notes. A four-wheeler and an ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle) are pretty much one in the same. They are off-road vehicles designed to get around in just this type of area. They can seat one, two or up to four people, depending on the type. Some even have a cargo area behind the seats. My good friends, with that type, use it to haul wood they've cut for their fireplace out of the woods.