Hello, guys! I'm really sorry this chapter took so long to get here. This was going to be the end, but as I was planning many things for this one, I had to cut it in two. So this part is quite short...

DISCLAIMER: You already know...

ENJOY!

Chapter XVI

1:40 pm

The minutes passed full of tension, anxiety and fear. They were getting closer and closer. Closer to the end. Closer to the deadline. "Deadline", that's a funny word. According to the dictionary, it's a time limit, as for payment of a debt or completion of an assignment. In this case, that fine "line" separated an FBI agent from his death. Would he make it? Would his team succeed in saving his life one more time? Would he be able to leave that elevator alive and get the opportunity of sharing the rest of his life side by side with his team, his friends, his family?

"We are one block away" informed Emily Prentiss riding in the passenger seat of the FBI SUV being driven by her boss.

SSA David Rossi was riding in the back seat of said SUV, which was closely followed by a black SWAT truck. Aaron Hotchner had too many things in his mind to utter a word. He tightened his grip on the steering wheel as if it was Delapsus Sum's throat. His unreadable stern mask didn't reveal the worries in his heart, but his subordinates knew well what he was feeling, they were all sharing the same fears. The thought of losing the youngest member of the team was unbearable, but very much a possibility at this point with less than 20 minutes to find the UNSUB and save Reid.

When they got to their destination, they exited the vehicle in a rush. The three BAU agents, wearing the FBI bullet proof vests, took out their guns.

In front of them stood two old side by side duplex houses. The one on the left was the one the agents were interested in. They'd supposedly find Jonathan Sturz in there.

Hotch ordered Rossi to go with one SWAT sniper and two more agents to the nearest building to the left side of the house.

"If you have the shot, take it."

Rossi nodded, adjusting his earpiece to stay in contact with the team, and ran, with the other three men rushing behind him.

SAC Aaron Hotchner lifted an earpiece to his own ear and with two fingers, and no words, he ordered two SWAT agents to go to the rear end of the house.

Then he looked at Emily and started advancing towards the front door of the worn out house standing before them like a ghost.

Strayer University – Exterior

1:40 pm

Jennifer Jareau left the group of journalists and other civilians gathered behind the yellow police crime scene tape and headed towards the group of SWAT agents receiving orders from SSA Derek Morgan.

Morgan looked at JJ as she approached him.

"The perimeter is secured. The officers are keeping everybody far away from the scene."

"Good," answered a worried Morgan. "JJ, I want you to go back there. You should stay far away from the building too... just in case."

JJ nodded. "What about you?"

Derek looked at the building, his experienced eyes studying the scene. "I'm going in."

The media liaison shook her head no. "No, Derek, you heard what Hotch said. You have to wait outside until they have the UNSUB in custody. What if -"

"I know what he said" Morgan cut her off. "I won't leave Reid alone in there."

"No, Morgan, this is a mistake" tried JJ again.

"JJ, go over there and stay behind the tape." Derek turned around and signaled the SWAT agents to follow him.

"No! Morgan, wait!" yelled JJ, aware of the fact that her fellow agent would not change his mind. Some seconds later, she lost sight of Morgan and the other men as they entered the building.

"Please, be safe." JJ prayed in her mind, not willing to accept the fact that she could lose two of her closest friends in just minutes.

Trying to regain her composure, JJ breathed deeply hiding the fears flooding her blue eyes, turned around and walked fast towards the spot where curious civilians were waiting.

1:45 pm

Emily Prentiss placed a careful hand on the doorknob and nodded, showing Hotch she was ready to open the door.

"Go" whispered the unit chief.

The female FBI agent opened wide the unlocked door to the house, gun in hand, and let Hotch enter the room first.

They flashed their guns, right, left, center, but the room was empty with the exception of a cheap and scruffy looking sofa to the right. Just in front of them there was a corridor and at the end of it, they saw the other agents getting in through the back door.

For a split of a second, Emily unconsciously allowed herself to think they had the wrong house. She knew they wouldn't have enough time to look for another place. The clock was ticking. They were running out of time.

Putting those thoughts aside, Prentiss focused on the task ahead. They couldn't and wouldn't give up. Emily and Hotch, from one end of the corridor, and the two SWAT agents, from the other end, stealthily covered the length in between them until they reached a door on the left in the exact middle of it.

Aaron Hotchner, with Prentiss and the other two agents behind him, stood outside that door. The BAU unit chief heard a noise on the other side.

"This is it." He thought. "Please, let this be it." He begged.

That wooden door could distance him from the person making the team live a nightmare, endangering the life of a young man he truly admired, respected and cared for. That door could literally be the fine line between life and death.

Taking a deep breath, he prepared himself for what would come. For better or for worse, he felt in the pit of his stomach the end was creeping around the corner.

Emily once again put her hand on the doorknob and quietly tried to open the door. It was locked from the inside. As she couldn't open it, she gave a step back and let Hotch do the honors of forcefully opening the wooden barrier silently standing in front of them. With a Morgan-like kick, the unit chief ripped open the door, making the hinges fly off in the tense air.

"FBI! Stay where you are!"

Four guns aimed at the grinning man on the other side.

"Well, hello. So kind of you to come here to see the final act with me."

Four pairs of eyes slowly turned to the device in Jonathan Sturz's hand.

Aaron Hotchner realized he hadn't been wrong. This was the end.

I told you, just a short update. Next one is already on paper. I just have to figure out a few things and it'll soon be here for you to read.

Thanks for reading and reviewing! I really appreciate it! (And your wonderful threats are truly... inspiring)