A/N: It's a fairly early morning around here and I'm already updating. (chuckles) Oh well, you guys deserve a timely update after the double cliffie. (winces)

First off, though, HUGE thank yous for for all your love and support! (GLOMPS) The story's sneaking towards the closure, so it's good to know that you're there completing the journey with me. THANK YOU!

Awkay, because I don't have the heart to keep you waiting any longer… Let's rock! I really hope that you'll have a good ride.

Sealed With Gunpowder

/ Spencer had known, from the very beginning, that being around Anton was dangerous. He'd thought about leaving a thousand times, especially after Lucia was born. Once his decision to stay out of the CIA's orders nearly cost him his life.

Spencer had been sleeping soundly for once when he woke up to Anton's hand on his mouth. In the dark there was a grim look on the man's face. "We're under attack, do you understand? Go to Lucia. Make sure that she's safe. I'll take care of this."

Spencer nodded, fully awake in a flash, and dashed out of the bed before his head would've been even close to ready for it. It took seconds before he made it to his daughter who was crying and clearly terrified, as though she'd sensed what was going on. She started reaching out towards him as soon as she saw him.

Spencer swallowed, trying to keep his own terror from being seen. "Shh… Shh, sweetie. It's okay. Everything's okay." Oh, if only he would've been able to believe that…

Spencer was just about to take the gradually calming down, hiccupping baby into his arms when he heard steps from behind him. He turned quickly, his hand slipping to where his gun was. What he found was not someone he should've considered a threat. Instead he saw a CIA-agent in full attack gear; helmet and vest along with a heavy looking gun. The young man's green eyes were full of terror upon staring at him.

Spencer gulped once more and lifted his hands, stepping forward to shield Lucia. Did these attackers know who he was? That they had no reason to harm him? "Listen to me, please." The fact that he was begging didn't matter. This was his daughter's and his own safety in question. "I'm not a threat. I…"

Spencer never got the chance to finish. For just then Anton materialized to the doorway. There was blood all over the man's clothes and face – and not a single wound. A gun was held at the horrified CIA-rookie. "Listen to me very, very carefully", the killer all but hissed. "The rest of your lot's been taken care of. I must admit that I quite enjoyed it. And I can assure you… If you don't put that gun away in front of the baby I'm going to enjoy finishing you off as well."

The rookie considered for a moment, then did what was the biggest mistake in his entire life. Before either Spencer or Anton could see it coming the younger man had circled behind Spencer. A badly trembling hand held a gun at his head. "I'm not letting you kill me!" a shrill voice half whimpered. "Do you hear me? I'm not letting you kill me! I don't want to die! Hurt me, and he dies too!"

The look in Anton's eyes was such Spencer had never seen before. A extremely dangerous one. "Let's find out if that's true, then."

The gun was fired in a split second, in less than a blink. Spencer was down much before he realized that the bullet had hit him. He never even registered the next shot that took down the stunned agent. At the time he didn't even manage to notice any pain.

Spencer tried, with all his might, to stay awake. But the pull was too strong. The last thing he heard was Lucia crying. The last thing he saw before the dark was a imagined flash of Aaron's face.

During the following few days Spencer drifted somewhere between awareness, unconsciousness and death, fever and pain ravishing his body. During those endless days he dreamt of his team. Of Aaron. Of Lucia. Dreamt that one day both he and his little girl would be with them once more, safe and sound. Only that hope kept him alive.

In the end he woke up properly to the sight of Anton holding Lucia. There was a expression he couldn't read on the man's slightly bruised face. "So you dreamt of him again. Must've been quite a dream, to make you cry like that."

Spencer whimpered despite himself, wished that he would've had the energy to grab Lucia. To make sure that she was safe. Everything hurt like hell and he would've just wanted to…

Anton smiled, holding Lucia even more tightly. "Oh, my dear… Don't worry. You'll see him again. I promise."

Spencer fought, he really did. But in the end the pull of oblivion was stronger. He fell asleep with tears rolling down his fever heated face. And his dreams took him to Aaron. /

Spencer was in pain. It flowed everywhere underneath his skin, seeped into parts that he hadn't known existed. He didn't wonder if bones were broken. He knew that several were.

Opening his eyes was one of the hardest things he'd ever done in his life. Facing what was right there waiting turned out to be even harder. He gulped, swallowing down more blood than he would've liked.

He was tied up to a chair, restrained from his wrists with something that stung. (Rope burns, perhaps?) And there on the other side of the tiny, dimly lit room was a bomb. The timer said '20:53' and it was counting down steadily.

Shit…!

"I never wanted to kill you, you know?" Anton didn't sound sad but there was a disappointed look on the man's face. Those eyes examined him, taking in every detail. "You are quite possibly the only person I would've never, ever wanted to hurt. But sometimes there are things in this world that go beyond our control." The smile held no comfort or sympathy. "Don't worry, pretty boy. You won't feel anything but a moment of pain. Just like your father did."

Spencer took a deep breath, struggling to remain calm. The inhale hurt. "My team…" Talking was a unexpectedly difficult struggle. "They don't… They don't need me, to find you. To stop you."

Anton smiled almost sweetly. "Whatever makes you think that I'd have the slightest intention of letting anyone stop me, with or without you?" The killer scanned through his injured form and sighed. "My apologies for the brutality. But trust me, it'll be all over soon."

Spencer felt a flare inside while he twisted his wrists, ignoring the hellish surge of pain it brought. If only he'd be able to make to rope loosen a little bit… "Over… for who?"

Anton's expression was impossible to read while the man approached him. "For all of us, dear. For all of us." Out of the blue a pair of lips pressed softly against his, savouring the feel for a moment before pulling away slowly. "Trust me, if he's still alive I'll make sure that Aaron dies knowing exactly how much you cared about him."

Spencer swallowed, his eyes stinging hellishly. The threatening tears weren't for himself. If only he'd been able to tell Anton just how much he was in danger of losing… (Although it was impossible he could've sworn that he felt the fragile beginning of a life inside him.) If only it would've made any difference… "Please… Don't do this to him, please. He's not a part of this, do you hear me? He doesn't need to die."

"What makes you think that he's still alive?" Anton smiled and pressed a finger to his lips. To his stun the man left a cell phone for him, dropped it into his jacket pocket. "When there's a minute and a half left in that timer that thing makes a call. Let him hear your voice for the last time. Try to speak some sense to him. Whatever happens to him after that… Well, it's entirely up to him. That is, of course, if he survived my little gift."

Being in a explosion wasn't a pleasant experience. The impact itself wasn't the worst part. The most horrible bit was the aftermath, not knowing what'd happened. Or if anyone at all had survived.

Aaron woke up to the sensation of spinning. It took several moments before the situation registered to him. The mess around him. The smell of smoke and blood.

Aaron's heart skipped a beat when he pushed himself to a sitting position before he would've been able to handle it, his eyes darting around frantically. Dust and devastation… It was everywhere around him. Several people were on the ground, some of them without a doubt dead. People he'd seen often, worked with. Innocent people who'd never done anything to deserve… this.

His team… Where the hell was his team? What happened to them? Were they…?

It wasn't until then he realized that someone had clasped a hand to his shoulder. Dazed from shock and terror he looked up to meet Derek's dust and blood covered face. There was a cut on the dark skinned agent's forehead and a expression that practically breathed terror. But Derek was alive and at least relatively well. The relief made Aaron want to cry.

"…ch!" It seemed that his hearing was coming back, little by little. Derek's voice sounded awfully distant, though. "… okay?"

He nodded, trying to think. He… probably was okay. Relatively speaking. Somewhat. He then frowned, struggling to focus. "The others…?" Was that even audible?

Apparently yes. Derek sighed with a not quite promising look on his face. "Garcia… hospital… her head… wrist … Prentiss… pissed off… okay… by a medic. Rossi… knocked out… says he's fine. JJ… unconscious… blood… hospital." While all of those things were terrible to hear, even partially, at least they were all alive. They'd all most likely be okay. What Derek said next, however, struck him cold. "… six dead."

Aaron's head spun and he felt violently ill. Every single member of his team had been more or less hurt. Six lives had been lost – six good, valuable agents.

That son of a bitch…!

Derek's eyes widened when he pushed himself up all of a sudden, ignoring the violent spinning, swaying and nausea. "Hey, whoa!" It looked like his hearing was nearly back. Despite loud tinnitus the younger agent's voice was almost clear in his ears. "Are you sure that you're able to…?"

Aaron gave his subordinate a look that would've chilled even the mightiest. He hoped dearly that his voice sounded as resolute. "Morgan, that son of a bitch attacked my entire team. Hurt each and every single one of them. Killed six agents. He also still has Reid who knows where. I'm not going to sit back and do nothing to get him."

Derek nodded, eyes lighting up to a flame. "I'm with you. If you try to hold me back I'll go straight to Strauss. The last time I checked she was under Rossi's observation and regaining consciousness."

Aaron didn't appreciate being threatened but he decided to let that slide for now, for the sake of Spencer and the entire team. He was just on his way to who knows where, with Derek following close by, when the other man grabbed his shoulder all of a sudden. There was a tense nod downwards. "Your cell phone…"

Aaron blinked twice, realizing that the item was indeed vibrating inside his pocket. He frowned at the unfamiliar number. There was a feeling of nausea inside him long before he picked up. "Agent Hotchner."

"So you're still alive?" His brain made the connection quickly. Anton's tone was impossible to read, especially with his ears ringing. "That's a surprise, but perhaps not entirely unpleasant. I must admit that I'd love to play with you for a little while before this is all over."

Aaron eyes narrowed hazardously. He'd felt such rage only once in his life. "Do you honestly think that you'll get away with this? You just killed six agents – almost destroyed my entire team! I swear I'll…"

"Now, now, agent Hotchner. Surely you wouldn't want Spencer to suffer from those tough words? Although… He doesn't have very much time left as it is. I'm not going to let you have him."

Aaron's whole being froze, inside and out, while sheer terror took over. It was a miracle that he managed to stand. "What the hell have you done to him?"

"So I got your attention? Good, good." Anton sounded almost amused. "In ten seconds I'll be sending you coordinates. Be sure to come alone and we'll have a little chat. If you come with company… Well, let me assure you that it wouldn't do anyone any good." With those chilling words the phone call was over.

It took Aaron less than a flash to make up his mind. In seconds he was running, his ears deaf to Derek's calls. Hoping and praying that he wasn't too late.

It was a cold yet beautiful night. The sky was clear and full of almost unnaturally bright stars. The temperature was dropping, signaling that winter had arrived. Snow rustled under the steps of two men. They hardly noticed the beauty around them.

A hasty, choked breath sounded deafeningly loud. The roared words were like a thunder. "Where the hell is he? What have you done to him?"

Anton gave a smile that felt even colder than the winter around them. "Agent Hotchner. I was beginning to wonder how long it'd take before you'd show up."

The sounds of sirens could already be heard somewhere in the distance. Too far. Too slow. Too late. Aaron's jaw tightened while his body shook from something he hadn't felt since his ex-wife's death. "He's a federal agent", he hissed, no longer able to control his emotions. "If you've hurt him…" His threat was cut off as his cell phone started to ring.

Anton's grin was one of the most horrifying things he'd ever seen. "Pick up the phone, Aaron", came a soft, almost velvet like suggestion.

Aaron's hand shook while he took his cell phone and accepted the call, his eyes not leaving the monster before him for even a second. "Spencer?"

Was that… a sob? Or a hiss of pain? It was hard to tell. "I… I don't have a lot of time. So… Listen to me, please. Listen."

Aaron swallowed thickly, lightheaded from wrath and sheer terror, numbed by adrenaline. One of his hands was already reaching out towards his gun. "Are you alright?"

"Just… listen, please." Spencer sounded so desperate that it broke his heart. It took several seconds before the younger man spoke again. "Lucia… Make sure that she's safe, alright? Promise me. Make sure that she's safe. Make sure that he'll never find her."

By then Aaron's hand had wrapped firmly around his gun. He didn't even notice the tears that were slowly filling his eyes. "I promise."

It was silent for a long time. Too long. "I'm sorry." Spencer's voice was quiet, full of things that Aaron couldn't read. "I… I'm so sorry." And then it all ended to the unmistakable sound of a explosion.

Aaron's eyes were wide and moist as he screamed at the top of his lungs. "SPENCER!" No reply came. He paid no attention to the fact that the sirens had already almost reached the two of them. All he heard was the silence. The utter, wrenching silence where Spencer's voice should've been.

Anton, who was standing only steps away, began to laugh. "Didn't I already tell you, Aaron? I'm a very possessive man. I was not about to let you have him."

His eyes glazing over with such rage and grief that wasn't even human, his whole body filling with something primal, Aaron took his gun and pointed.

So did Anton.

Gunshots echoed, disturbing the night's peace. A smirk Aaron wasn't exactly proud of appeared to his suddenly moist face as he watched blood trickling from a wound that'd appeared to Anton's chest. The expression lasted until he felt something warm and sticky on his own shirt.

Blinking dazedly he looked down to discover that blood was seeping through his clothes from a wound that was dangerously close to his stomach. If Spencer had been there the genius would've probably been able to tell him exactly how many organs had been endangered. Spencer…

"You know, Aaron…" If Anton felt pain it couldn't be heard. The man's eyes were free of all emotions as they bore into his, like two black stars. "I promised him that you two would be together in death."

Aaron had always been praised for his steel hard nerves – it took a lot to make him lose control. But at that very moment, with his body and soul wounded… With his love stolen away… There was nothing in this world that could've held him back.

His tackle attack seemed to stun Anton as well, for a moment at least. Ignoring the tidal wave of pain that washed over him Aaron took the killer to the ground, punched as hard as he possibly could. He was about to deliver the second strike when Anton recovered. The impact most likely broke his nose and he groaned, some droplets of blood falling to the other man's pale face.

Anton smirked, shaking his head. "Spencer wasn't lying. You are much too stubborn for you own good."

Hearing Spencer's name renewed the spark inside Aaron that'd almost been lost. He emitted a scream of rage and agony, then struck again. They kept rolling around like that for a while, their groans mixing with the sirens that were getting louder by the second. Aaron didn't know how much longer anger and adrenaline might've been enough to push him on if it wasn't for the brand new stab of pain.

Literally.

Anton smiled, twisting the knife so that another surge of dull ache rolled. "Do you want to hear a little secret, Aaron? Just between the two of us? You're never going to see him again. Neither of us is going where he is."

Aaron was beginning to see double. Everything was blurry and hazy, the sounds around them seemed far off. He was beginning to feel detached, which was a welcomed change after all the pain. "Then… Then I'll make sure that… you'll go down…" With what was quite possibly the last of his strength he took a feeble hold on his second, concealed weapon. "… with me."

The shot was so loud that it made his ears ring yet again. Or perhaps it was the loss of blood. He had no idea of what, exactly, he hit. He was fairly sure that there was blood covering Anton's stunned face. Then the killer was down, right there on the snow beside him. Neither of them had the slightest idea of the people running towards them.

Aaron could barely see anymore. Barely managed to breathe. When he closed his eyes his vision became filled by a flash of Spencer's face.

Aaron sunk into the dark with a smile on his tear stained face.

TBC

A/N: Ow… kay. I really should run now, right? (gulps nervously) If it offers you any consolation, I almost had tears in my eyes as I read the final bit. Those poor things! Things are looking so very bleak right now.

PLEASE, leave a note! That's the only way you have to went your frustration, you know…? That box down below is just calling you. (smirks)

Until next time! I really hope that you'll be staying tuned for that one.

Peace out!