David wandered almost aimlessly around the cemetery with Larry pushing into him every few steps searching for the grave of Spencer's parents, partly praying they were not in this graveyard after all, but he knew Garcia would not have made such an error. It took a while, and he shivered slightly in the cold November air, until Donny called out that they had located it. As he was dragged to the spot that the other two men were in, he looked at the heart-wrenching look of despair on Spencer's face. He could only sigh in pity.
Donny had begun to use the axe to hack at the hard ground covering the small plot; Spencer winced every time the axe collided with the soil. Larry took out the gun and looked at the two men "Start digging the loose soil out of the way, one wrong move out of either of you, and I shoot the other one understood?" Both men nodded. Donny stepped off the grave and both men began to shovel the loose soil, it was hard and heavy with frost, and before long David was not feeling the cold like before. Once it was cleared, Donny began to hack at it once more and again the roles reversed. David knew it was going to be a hard and harrowing process; after all, most cemeteries buried the coffins at least five feet into the ground. It was nearly half an hour in and they were less than two feet, since the men didn't know which side Diana was buried, they were digging up the entire plot, meaning Spencer could end up seeing both of his parent's bodies. He shook his head at the thought.
Still they dug, Donny and Larry taking turns as the two captives laboured continuously, though for the brief times they stopped to let one of the other men axe, the cold air made the sweat on his body chill near instantly, so he rather keep moving, though preferably not doing what he was being forced to do. He looked over to Spencer. For someone who was near skin and bone the young man worked endlessly, he could see the inner turmoil and suffering on the young man's face, but still he continued labouring.
Donny pulled himself out of the hole and slowly again and the two men jumped down, they continued to dig, though getting the soil out of the pit was getting more and more exhausting. They were covered in dirt from tossing it over themselves. As David placed his foot on the shovel to pick up another load it hit something, though David and from the look on Spencer's face, he too knew what it was. It was the sound of wood.
"Get out." Larry demanded, pointing the gun at the two men. They obeyed immediately. "Put your shovels over there." He indicated the grave next to them, again they obeyed without question. He handed the gun to Donny, and jumped down, David never realised he had also brought a crowbar with him. "Give me a shovel." Donny did as asked, while also keeping the gun honed on the two men next to him.
Something caught David's eye at the far side of the graveyard. He looked closer, and sure enough, he saw it again. He smiled to himself and said nothing; Spencer was too occupied with the grim fate that had befallen his deceased parents to notice anything else around him. He was just grateful that it was a clear night and they were making a lot of noise. The sound of metal scraping wood filled his ears as the coffin was exposed to the elements for the first time in eight years. Then he heard the sound of the crowbar pulling at the wood and it cracking under the pressure. David looked to Spencer, who seemed to be willing tears to remain unshed. Then he looked to the far side of the graveyard once more, and breathed deeply. It was time to say something to Spencer, but how could he say anything without alerting the two men next to them. Then an idea came to him. "Cum dico currere. Neque retro aspicitis" he said confidently. Spencer just stared at him with a disbelieving look.
"What did you just say?" demanded Donny, pointing the gun at David.
"A small Italian prayer for their souls for what you are doing to them." David explained, though he knew from the look on Spencer's face that the youth knew what he had actually said. He had taken a gamble in hoping he understood Latin, and thankfully, it paid off.
"Well keep your fucking mouth shut." The man snapped looking into the grave, the gun aimed at Spencer's chest.
Spencer was staring at David, wondering what he was up to. However, David gave nothing away; he didn't want to ruin what chance they had.
The sound of the coffin opening came to David's ears, followed closely by swearing. They had clearly opened William's as opposed to Diana's. Though the man was an out and out asshole, his final resting place did not deserve to be disturbed. After the initial swearing, David heard the shovel going again and it hitting the other coffin, he took a breath, Donny was looking into the pit, not paying much heed to the two men. David looked to Spencer, and nodded tilting his head to the side to indicate which direction to go in, and with that, they sprinted.
David headed straight for the largest and most plentiful headstones, using them for cover from the gunshots he could now hear coming from behind them. Spencer yelped in fright, but remained right behind him. They were a good 300 yards away when he decided to duck down behind a large, thick tombstone. Both men were exhausted and gasping for breath.
"You okay kiddo?"
"I got a bullet graze to my arm, but a few stitches and I'll be fine." He took a moment to catch his breath. "What the hell was that?"
"Our 'get out of jail free card'" David joked.
"I never really like monopoly." He laughed at the younger man's comment before looking at him and seeing the look of sheer terror on his face. He looked around, thinking they were caught again, when he realised Spencer was looking at him, and more to the point his side. It was then the pain hit, a burning sensation across his side, he looked down, the white shirt that had been stained in sweat and earth was now crimson and torn, he pulled the shirt aside and looked at it, a graze too, but a deep one. He cursed the two bastards and sat back, hissing in pain. "They're going to get us."
"No, they're not."
"How can you be so sure?"
David smiled and looked next to Spencer, before pointing.
"Wow I thought the last twenty four hours had me looking like shit. It appears I got off lightly."
There, standing three feet from them, breathing heavily, was Derek Morgan.
"You sound like you wouldn't pass the fitness test if your life depended on it." joked Rossi as he teammate aided him to his feet.
"Well if you pass it, you know the grade ain't too high, besides I got shot three times in the chest at close range and four bruised ribs for my trouble."
"You had Kevlar"
"Your point?"
"Well we have actually been shot, not to mention starved, sleep deprived, forced to dig up not one, but two graves and tossed around the back of an SUV like a salad. And let's not even get started on the less physically demanding stuff" David growled, pointing to the two gunshot wounds.
"Alright, you win. Like I said, I think I got off lightly." Derek held up his hands in defeat.
"Damn straight." He began the journey back to his now collected teammates slowly, hearing Spencer bolt and trip over rocks until he was right behind him once more. He looked around at the frightened man and smiled. "We got through it kid."
"Just like you promised." The younger smiled.
"A bit worse for wear though."
"Par for the course though right?"
"You cannot seriously be a golfing fan." Derek laughed in disbelief as he caught up with the two exhausted men.
"No, just using the saying. I'm sorry I got you shot."
"Listen man, I'm the one who should be apologising to you. I was supposed to stop them getting to you and I didn't, I'm sorry." The man apologised to a bewildered Spencer, who just stared from him to David and back again, causing David to laugh.
"Take the apology, he doesn't hand them out often enough."
They made it to the rest of the team and the now handcuffed Larry. David looked around and saw Donny lying next to the mound of earth, with two bullet wounds to the chest and one to the head.
"I have an idea, how about we take him back to headquarters in the trunk, a bit of karma for our day."
"Dave, the only place you and Dr Reid are going to are a hospital." One look at Spencer's face and the SAC added, "A regular one Dr Reid, just to get you checked out. We'll ensure it."
"Don't worry kiddo, I've got your back." David winked at Spencer, the young man relaxing immediately at the gesture.
JJ and Blake went over to Spencer and helped him to the ambulance, Hotch and Morgan aiding the less able David. Two LEO's took Larry while another stayed behind with Donny's body waiting for the ME and the undertaker to deal with the situation within the grave.
"Did they open both or just one?" Spencer asked, though David was unsure if he even knew why he was asking.
"Come on sweetie, you don't need to see it." JJ tried to usher him away as she spoke.
"It was just one." Blake answered. Satisfied, Spencer walked with them.
As they made their way to the awaiting ambulances, David found himself checking behind him constantly to look for the younger man.
A/N last chapter tomorrow/Saturday. Sorry it was more grotesque than some people wanted, but in all fairness, it is slightly based on Don't Say a Word.
Cum dico, currere. Neque retro aspicitis; is the Latin for; When I say, run. Don't look back. My Latin is a little rusty; I haven't studied it in a few years, so apologies if I made a mistake.