Questions

Think this is it – fingers crossed. Going all out to finish. Please please please review and let me know what you think as this is the longest story I have written and I usually do one shots. Thanks

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Rossi had just about had enough. Everything about this case had seemed to move in slow motion. Everyone was getting edgy with each other. Everyone wanted to go home. He sat in Sarah's kitchen staring down the hallway to the front door, willing the UnSubs to ring the door and come on in. Then it would all be over. Waiting; hours had turned to days and now days had turned to weeks. All of the team had lost the enthusiasm that they had gained at the beginning of the week. Now they were running on empty fuelled by caffeine and little else. This was how mistakes were made. Rossi's assigned partner Amy Garton was following Sarah round the house from room to room like a shadow; as if her permanent presents would stop anything happening to their brave bait. Rossi knew this case had taken its toil on the team but it was slowly strangling the life out of Garton. He realised that Hotch and he had expected too much of her, if she fell he was personally responsible. Ego is a dangerous thing and Rossi knew he had too much of it. He had put himself first wanting the recognition of being the one to help Garton through all this and back on the front line, right now he realised he may have been wrong. He was definitely selfish, thinking of himself before her.

As Sarah and Amy traipsed into the kitchen he momentarily broke his front door vigil to look at them.

"Coffee?" through Rossi truly believed if he never drunk another cup it would be too soon, rumour had it even Reid was considering giving it up! Sarah wrinkled her nose. She was unbelievably beautiful and looked much younger than 45. If he wasn't such a true professional now a days he might have . . .

"How much longer will this farce go on?" the tiredness was clear in Sarah's voice. The agents looked at each other, neither knowing the answer.

"I wish I could answer that. When we asked you to do this we were certain that they would strike quickly. But we were wrong." Rossi hated to admit that what had seemed like the best idea ever on Monday now was his biggest regret.

"How long will you stay?" Rossi shrugged a reply. "What happens to me when you're all gone and you haven't caught them?" Sarah could barely get the words out.

"That won't happen we wouldn't leave you in danger" Garton knew she was speaking out of turn but she could hear the panic in Sarah's voice. They had put her in this situation.

"You can't stay here indefinitely." Sarah was trying to be realistic.

"We can't leave you in danger. If we don't catch them this way we will find another way." Garton had to believe. As she said that her phone buzzed. "Garton. OK thanks for letting us know." She put the phone back on her belt and looked at Rossi. "They have surfaced again. Garcia has been tracking the prescriptions and they have just collected some downtown. Morgan and Reid are heading down to interview the pharmacy staff."

"What does that mean?" Sarah's voice rose in pitch.

"That we may be about to have the break we are waiting for." Rossi replied

"Where have I heard that before?" Sarah said leaving the kitchen. Garton went to follow.

"Leave her." Rossi ordered.

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Back in her hotel room Amy flopped onto her bed. She had to decide what she was going to do. Not right now but after this case. Was this the life she wanted anymore? Was she capable of doing this anymore? As she lay there staring at the ceiling her phone rang. Swearing she found it to answer. She knew she hadn't enjoyed a goodnights sleep for nearly a fortnight but at least she had started to get an hour or two uninterrupted, couldn't she just get a hours break now? JJ had bothered with any greeting and what she said made her blood freeze, before she finished talking Amy was out the door walking down the hallway, catching up with Rossi who also had his phone to his ear.

This was it.

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When they pulled up in front of the car Morgan and Reid were sat in the tension was unbelievable. Rossi and Garton got out of their car and slipped into the back of the fellow team members car.

"How come we miss all the excitement?" Rossi grinned in the rear view mirror. Reid turned to face them but Morgan continued to stare at a large dark van parked across the road.

"We seen both of the Zoe has gone on ahead towards Sarah's house, Daniel is a little behind her but heading in the same direction. We have a car with two officers from the field office in opposite Sarah's house, us and Prentiss is with another pair at the other end of the street. Hotch and JJ are in the house with Sarah."

As the seconds ticked by they seemed to wait forever. Garton wished they could just pull them in but she knew they needed as much evidence as possible. No-one in the car spoke, moved, God they were barely breathing. Waiting for the signal.

Hotch and JJ were in position. JJ was with Sarah and Hotch was ready by the door to pull Zoe in as soon as Sarah answered it. "Morgan can you guys get closer as soon as I make my move Daniel will panic. We need him down and quick" Hotch requested the backup quietly as if afraid Zoe may hear him through the solid wood door.

Quietly the four got out the car without a sound. Garton was quick to fall into place behind Morgan. Rossi watched her carefully, he knew she was skittish over this one and wished Hotch had failed to call her in. They made their way silently down the street keeping in the shadows. Hotch kept his radio open. He knew he wouldn't have time to give an order but he trusted his team to react to what they heard happening in the house. "We're ready" Morgan whispered to his Boss.

As the bell rung the fear in Sarah's face was heartbreaking. "You can do this." JJ said in her cool and calm manner talking Sarah's hand a walking with her to the door. JJ smiled reassuringly and let go off Sarah as she took out her gun and moved behind the door, but still close enough to pull Sarah out of the way as soon as possible. Trembling Sarah opened her front door.

"Zoe what a pleasant surprise. Do come in." Everyone listened to the words, bodies tense ready to react. As Zoe set foot into the house she became aware of someone moving to her left. Her scream was piercing as Hotch pulled her into the house and up against the wall. Daniel froze then ran. He was looking back over his shoulder as Dan hit the full force of Morgan. Next thing he knew he was flat on his back facing a seriously pissed off looking pair of agents guns pointed directly on him. Shaking he raised his hands, fighting was futile.

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The flight home was silent. Everyone was washed out, even Hotch was sleeping. Amy sat looking round at the team. She knew it was early days but she had to admit she liked them. But could she ever trust them? Could she ever trust anyone? Was she just kidding herself that she'd got 'over it'? Could she ever really get 'over it'? She knew she couldn't risk sleeping, not yet, because if she dreamed then her screams would wake the others and she hadn't decided yet if she could tell Spence let alone anyone else. So there she stayed silently contemplating what her next move would be. Fight or flight? Somehow so appropriate.

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Garcia met everyone back in the bull pen. It had been a hard few weeks. The case had been one of the hardest for a long time. Definitely the hardest Amy had faced since joining the team. She looked drained. Spencer was worried. Amy always dealt with things better than anyone; he could see this had got to her.

"Who's coming for a drink?" Prentiss asked. Everyone seemed to nod except Amy. "You coming?" Emily put her hand on Amy's shoulder, their previous disagreement completely forgotten.

"No, not tonight, thanks" with which she grabbed her things and headed towards the door. They all watched her go. Rossi could see they were dying to ask, they wanted to know what the problem was. Not out of nosiness but out of concern and compassion for their fellow team member. Yet each had the respect to not go searching for answer but wait until the time was right for Amy.

"Think I give it a miss too" Reid added making every effort to catch up with Amy. "Wait" he called once they were out of the bullpen. Amy turned slowly.

"What?" she snapped.

"Want some company?" he asked.

"I'm going home to bed; go out with the team if you want company." Amy turned and walked towards the lift. Spence continued to follow her and entered the lift with her. He didn't say a word but as the doors closed her put his arm round her and pulled her close. Amy accepted the hug willingly.