Emily looks at the door as Ian walks in with a bowl of soup. She looks away from him.
"Now, now, love. Don't hold a grudge." Emily says nothing. "You need to eat, Emily. For the baby."
Emily glares at him. She wants to argue, to refuse but she knows he is right. "Are you going to untie me so I can eat?"
He gives her his half-grin. "No. I'm going to feed you, love. I know it's not peeled grapes or brie on crackers like the good old days but it will have to do."
Emily sighs and nods. He props a pillow up under her head to make it a little easier for her. He brings up a spoon of the beef stew to her lips. She sips it in, wincing as it burns her mouth. He sees this. The next spoonful he brings up to his own lips and blows on it until it cools some. When he brings it to her lips, she is able to eat it with no problem. Soon the bowl is done. He sets it to the side and stares at her. He readjusts the pillow to a more comfortable resting position. He even closes her blouse to give her a bit of dignity. She stares into his eyes, seeing the evil, yet joyful glint they take on.
"I should tell you something, love," he says, deceptively calm. "Jeremy Wolfe, Sean McAlister, and Tsia Mosely are dead. The only member of your team to avoid my reign of vengeance is Clyde Easter. He's gone into hiding. But we'll find him soon enough."
Emily's heart clenches. "Why? Ian, why did you kill them? It was me that brought you down!"
"They helped you, love. Don't try to deny that." He stands. "And you should know I now have to kill Aaron Hotchner, David Rossi, Derek Morgan—"
"NO! Ian, you have ME!"
"—Spencer Reid, Penelope Garcia…and Jennifer Jareau Prentiss."
"NO! WHY? You have me, Ian, please…please don't hurt them," she begs.
"It's your fault, love. You called them. You dragged them into this instead of just fading away. They had two weeks to forget about you but then you go and call them. Even though the phone bounces the signal they'll keep looking for you. We're leaving here tonight just in case they get lucky. But know you've signed their death warrants, Emily. Behave and their deaths will be quick. Act up…and I'll make sure you watch them die a slow, painful death."
"Please, Ian, please don't hurt them. I swear I won't try to get away again. I'll be whatever you need me to be. Please give me another chance. Please!" she begs desperately.
Ian stands and walks towards the door. "No."
Emily's body is wracked with sobs as he walks out the door, locking it behind him. Liam walks up to him.
"We'll be ready to leave at midnight. I've sent Seamus to kill the midwife. He'll meet us in Ireland in a few days. Ian, don't take that bitch with us. Kill her and leave her body for the scavengers here."
Ian grabs Liam and slams him into the wall. "She's carrying my son, Liam. MY son. Don't you fucking suggest leaving her to the scavengers or it's you they'll be feasting on. And you won't be dead when they start," he warns his lieutenant.
Hotch lifts up his radio. "Shafer, a car just left the compound. Have it followed. I have a feeling he's being sent to kill the midwife."
"Got it, Hotch," the Canadian replies.
Hotch lifts his binoculars again. He stares at the house. Obviously the people are getting ready to move out. It is now or never.
He walks back to the mobile command center. He addresses the gathered officers. "The only friendly in that building is Agent Emily Prentiss. She is secured in this room," he points to an enlargement of the picture the midwife had drawn. "Agents Morgan and Jareau will be tasked with securing that room. As soon as it's dark we move in. Do not hesitate to shoot because I can guarantee you the men we are going after won't. Any questions?"
He is met with silence. He looks at Morgan. They both know it's a huge risk to allow JJ anywhere near this operation but they also know short of chaining her to a tree there is no way to keep her out of it. He walks over and pats Garcia on the shoulder.
"Do we have satellite?"
"Yes, sir. Using its infrared imaging I should be able to tell you the locations of the suspects at all times."
"Just keep an eye on Emily's room. Let Morgan and JJ know if someone makes a move towards her."
"Yes, sir. And sir? Good luck."
Hotch nods. "Thank you."
Hotch and Rossi along with four Canadian SRU officers approach the 5 men packing up a large cargo van. As soon as they are noticed, Hotch speaks.
"Surrender or die. Your choice."
Two men raise their hands. Three men raise their guns and are cut down by the agents and their SRU accompaniment. Reid and Shafer move towards a shed with 6 officers. They quickly apprehend the 7 men inside without firing a shot.
Ian Doyle may have had some men at his disposal but his lack of funds shows in how quickly they are falling. They are not quality men.
Morgan and JJ head into the house with 4 officers. They clear the ground floor and start up the stairs. Gunfire rips out from the landing above. Two officers are hit as Morgan, JJ and the others manage to hit the ground. They hear footsteps running down the hall towards Emily's room just as Garcia's voice blares over their ear buds.
"SOMEONE'S RUNNING TOWARDS EMILY!"
JJ mutters. "Not when we're this close."
She stands up. Before Morgan can pull her back down one of the men firing at them from above leans over the railing…and gets a bullet between his eyes. As he falls JJ starts up the stairs, Morgan covering her. Liam spins around the corner and Morgan does the honors of dispatching him from this world.
Sure they only have one man left to find and sure they know where he's going, JJ and Morgan run up the rest of the stairs and down the hall.
Emily had heard the gunfire. She starts to pull at her bindings, knowing she is a sitting duck for Ian or his men if they get desperate. Even worse, she doesn't know if it's his own men turning on him, his enemies tracking him down, or people there to rescue her. Her only sure chance for survival is to somehow free herself.
"Come on, come on, fuck, please, come undone." She pulls hard trying to break the ropes or the bedposts they are tied to. "Please come undone or fucking break. Please!"
The door to her room is slammed open. She looks up and sees Ian, his face a mask of fury. He slams the door, locking it and pushing a chair under the handle. He stares at her and she knows he's there to kill her. She shakes her head.
"Ian…please, don't. Please?"
"I'll kill your child like you killed mine!" He points a gun at Emily's stomach.
"He's alive!" She screams desperately. "Declan is ALIVE!"
Ian hesitates. "Wh—what?"
"I snuck him out of the country. Him and Louise. I arranged for a series of false identities for them, staged the shooting, then watched as they got on a plane and flew away from your fucking life."
"He…he's alive. NO!" He smacks her in the face, reopening a cut on her cheek. "Where the hell is he?"
"All I know is he's away from YOU! And that he's safe from your fury, your life, your enemies. He's got a life, Ian! I gave that to him. I win!"
"NO!" He whips her face with the butt of his pistol, gashing the cut deeper. "WHERE IS HE?"
"Go to fucking hell," she sneers.
He straddles her, wrapping his hands around her throat, staring into her eyes as he starts to choke the life from her. "TELL ME! OR I'LL CHOKE THE FUCKING LIFE OUT OF YOU AND THAT BABY! TELL ME!"
Emily shakes her head as much a she can. She tries to struggle but being tied to the bed she can't move very much under his weight. Her vision starts to cloud and then darken and just when she is starting past the point of no return she hears a yell as if from afar.
"EMILY!"
JJ races down the hall. She tries the door they know Emily to be in but it's locked. Morgan throws himself against the door. They way it shudders he can tell it is braced.
"Guys, get over here!" he says to the 2 cops still with them. "JJ, you'll take point when it's opened."
JJ nods.
Morgan looks at the cops. "One. Two. THREE!"
They race at the door and slam it open. JJ spins into the room, remembering vividly where Betty said the bed would be. She sees Ian choking the life out of Emily.
"EMILY! FBI! GET OFF HER!"
Ian looks over, grabbing for the gun he'd discarded when he decided to strangle Emily…and takes every bullet left in JJ's clip in a neat grouping right in his heart. He falls backwards onto Emily's legs, his body at an angle only death can bend it. Morgan races over and yanks him to the ground as JJ runs to Emily.
"EMILY! Come on, Emily. Breathe for me, baby. Come on, breathe!"
She places her mouth over Emily's and blows into her mouth. It's the catalyst her body needs to start responding. She gasps in a breath, straining reflexively against the ropes holding her.
"YES! Come on, baby. Control your breathing. That's it. Yes, Emily. Yes, baby. Come back to me."
Emily blinks a few times as her head deals with the lack of oxygen followed by the sudden influx of oxygen. Finally she realizes who is in front of her.
"Jennifer?" she croaks, her throat raw from the strangulation.
"Yes, baby," JJ says as she starts to cry. "Yes, Emily, it's me. It's me, baby."
"Oh, Jen," Emily starts to cry. "Oh, Jen."
Morgan pulls a pocket knife and cuts the ties holding Emily's arms. The brunette immediately engulfs her wife in a hug. They hold each other as if they will never let go. Morgan meanwhile cuts the ropes at Emily's feet. Hearing footsteps running towards the room, he readies his gun as JJ quickly reloads and moves into a protective position in front of Emily.
They breathe a sigh of relief as Hotch, Rossi and Reid run into the room.
"The house is clear. This shit is over," Hotch tells them.
JJ holsters her gun and turns back to Emily. She pulls her close once more. "Over. Thank God."
Emily just cries on the blonde's shoulder. Morgan keys his mike. "Garcia, we have her. Send in the ambulance." He looks at Doyle's body. "And the coroner."