Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds

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a/n: So I take it you like this? : ) Thank you so much for your continual reviews and support it means a lot....now I hope I do not disappoint!

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All pairs stood on a ledge, looking into the new room, all cautious and completely astounded with how such a thing could be put in a place like this, let alone once but they all knew it was repeated seven times.

Unsteadily, one of the two in each new row reached and grabbed the new set of instructions, all becoming blissfully aware that if they made it they would receive some indication of what state their other halves were in. Now came a mass of integrity and agility to achieve the one thing their minds and sanity were craving so desperately.

B.A.U Family,

So you made it to Room 2, The Climb, at the end of this, by the new door you will have to balance from when the lights flicker to when they cut off. When I say balance I mean on one foot. When successfully achieved I will release the door and allow you through to your half way pleasures. If you fall off any of the following plinths I will expect you to restart, both of you.

Instructions for Room 2 are as followed:

1* One falls, all fall.

2* Although there is no time limit, it is best you complete as soon as possible.

3* Darkness is imminent, unavoidable, and completely disagreeable for climbing yet I expect you to still climb when it happens.

4* If you feel necessary, you can begin to use your items in here. They are unlimited remember.

5* You have to hold a steady posture for at least 20 seconds, the maximum is my decision.

Happy Climbing!

Once one of the pairs had read the list, they began to consider ways in which they could successfully climb each new plinth as it got smaller and smaller. The first was large, then the second split in two, creating two paths to the final seventh plinth by the new door.

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Row one

'So it's simple we take a route each and climb?'

'Yeah. What did you pick up first Lynch?' Derek asked, they needed to know what they had to help.

'Bottle of water, unopened.' Derek nodded; he had nothing like that on his side. 'Lighter and wire, there was too much to pick I thought if necessary we might need wire to tie things and a lighter to well light things.' Derek nodded his reply. 'What about you?'

'Pack of gauzes, if we get hurt we are going to need them for sure. A torch, took the hunch of whoever using the lights to time, working batteries in side and a knife.'

'Well we have all grounds basically covered.'

'I guess so... what's your balance like?' Derek asked as he turned to the challenge that awaited them.

'It's okay... the surfaces seem flat I'm sure I can handle it.'

'Okay...let's do this yeah?' Derek said, completely determined to reach that door in one piece.

'Yeah.' They stepped on the first plinth, items in pockets the best they could, they looked at one another with a look that said don't fall. The floor below was dark, but you could see it was clear of anything that could cut, slice, mutilate or amputate limbs. The only problem would be falling and connecting with the floor.

Derek stepped on his second plinth and waited for Kevin to follow. 'Steady pace okay?'

'Got it.'

'Don't move on until we are on par with each other.'

'Got it.' Kevin repeated, taking his orders from Derek with importance and gratitude.

Third plinth, no problems, fourth plinth was smaller and higher but they made it, fifth plinth even smaller, Kevin wobbled slightly and Derek watched with relief as he regained his posture and poise and stood steady and ready on the spot.

'You okay man?'

'Yeah Morgan let's just do this.' Kevin batted back, slightly scared at how easy it was getting to misjudge and fall.

Sixth plinth achieved without any cause for concern, the seventh plinth, the one footed plinth, the one that would enable them to get into room 3. Derek stepped up with ease, Kevin slightly slower, slightly less aware of just how small it was. When they both felt that were stable, they took a foot off as the light danced dim then bright and then stood relentless and not willing to give up the cause, they waited, wobbling slightly, and then the lights cut out completely and the new door swung open powerfully to reveal a new sparse room. Equally relieved they made quick work of getting into the room, both relieved that they made it intact, without a fall.

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Row Two

'I got water...blanket and a torch...what about you?'

'Why a blanket?'

'Just in case we get hurt, we can rip it apart and use it to put pressure around the wound.' Penelope replied, knowing that some of Derek's initiative had rubbed off on her. 'What did you get?'

'A knife...' She looked a little uncertain that she hadn't made the right decision. Penelope nodded, they didn't know what they were going to be up against so whatever was fine with her. 'Erm...leads for in case we need to bind things together and I just grabbed on a whim but got batteries.'

Penelope smiled. 'Well it's a good thing I got a torch then.' She needed to keep Jane calm in order to get over this and however much she didn't like her, she would do anything to help get her out. 'You think you can do this?'

'I don't know...only one way to find out though.' Penelope nodded and started towards the edge.

'We do this together, one of these at a time.' Jane remained silent as she understood that Penelope was not going to pull ahead. 'Together.' Penelope repeated.

'Got it.' She walked to the edge; both of the women took a step forward and found themselves standing on the second plinth two footed and completely stable. They breathed out and did the third and fourth plinths without major problems arising. Fifth plinth completed, they both looked at the sixth majorly smaller plinth, they took it slowly, Jane lost her footing and Penelope stretched out to catch her but watched in horror as Jane fell, Penelope began to sway and lost her balance, as she fell she gripped onto the side but soon the shock of everything plus her sheer terror along with the instructions meant she too fell and hit the floor.

'Jane?' Penelope said as she lay on the floor trying to get the breath back that had been currently taken out of her lungs from the fall. 'Jane?' Her worry escalating without the reply.

'I'm okay... what about you?'

'Just some scraps.'

'You sure you okay?'

'Yeah...we have to do this Penelope.'

'I know.' Penelope said as she stood up, legs hurting slightly, face sore from catching the side of the plinth. She walked towards evident steps, and climbed up; when she got to the top she waited for Jane. When she reached the top she saw Jane looked intact apart from a cut on her arm.

'I'm fine...what about you?' She said looking at her scratched face.

'It's just a scrape. Right together again.' Jane nodded. They continued but both halted and composed themselves at the sixth plinth. Jane stepped up, and stood strong. Penelope stepped up, her left leg throbbing but she made it. Now deciding what leg would be more beneficial they stepped up on the final plinth and waited. The lights did their thing and the women took a foot off, for what felt like an eternity the lights switched off completely, the door then swung open and lights beamed in. Hurriedly Penelope and Jane stepped up into the new room.

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Row Three

'I know you scrambled....but what did you pick up?'

'Erm...leads... paper and matches... I just didn't know what to pick.' Strauss admitted somewhat embarrassed.

Hotch couldn't help but lap this moment up, the ice queen of the B.A.U. was not all that cold, really she was rather vulnerable. 'I got water, tape and a hook that could easily be used for several things.' Strauss nodded, and watched as Hotch began to store away most of what he could where he could. 'You ready to get up there and get this completed?'

'Not really but we can't sit around forever.'

Hotch nodded and made it on the first plinth, shortly after Strauss followed. He stepped on the second and third and looked behind him, once a leader always a leader seemed to fit here. He secured his posture and waited for her to catch up, he must admit it to himself but Strauss could balance extremely well for an older woman.

'It's called experience Agent Hotchner.' Erin said as she could up to him, Hotch was not at all surprised at her ability to just read minds; she had done it often over the years. 'Ready?' He nodded, not quite knowing what to say. He watched her step up on the fourth plinth and followed, together they achieved the fifth and sixth, not showing problems of the small space in which they had to rest. On the seventh they both established a comfort foot and prepared for the lights, when it occurred they took their foot off and waited for the darkness to take over. It did and still they remained there, not knowing whether to put a foot down or not, they waited as they door opened and then climbed up on the ledge and went into the brightly lit room.

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Row Four

'You not even going to tell me what you got?' Emily asked as Elle stood on the first plinth.

'No I'll share in the new room, for now I want to get to that room as fast as possible.'

Emily couldn't believe Elle's attitude. So she stood back, gathering herself back together, as much as she wanted that room as well, rushing was not the plan. She saw Elle step on the second plinth and fall, she heard Elle swear.

'You okay?'

'Yeah...' Elle climbed back up.

'Slower yeah?'

Elle looked uncertain but having fallen from a greater height would have been far more detrimental. 'Fine but can we get this going... climbing in light is bad, climbing in darkness does not hold a wider appeal to me.' Emily nodded and took the first step up, Elle followed.

Second and third cleared they both sighed with relief. 'So gimme one of the things you got?'

'Water?'

'Gideon's rule by any chance?'

'Yeah it stuck I guess.' Elle laughed. 'So he still taught things like this?'

'He did yeah... and its becomes second nature.'

'It really did.' Without realising it both women were now on the fifth plinth. Elle having taking note of this continued. 'So what else you get?'

As she stepped forward, Emily responded. 'Wire.'

'Tape...'

'I saw you get the torch so I grabbed batteries.'

'I tried to make it obvious. Glad you saw it.' Elle smiled, final step and now they were up on the final plinth. Relaxing best they could, they released a foot from their powerful poise and waited. For too long did they sway, did they tilt, did they rebalance until the lights switched off. They remained frozen until the door opened to allow a view in to the room. Both women claimed their yearning and clambered into the wanted room.

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Row Five

Austin had been sitting for a couple of minutes, trying to gather her nerves at the task ahead, she rubbed her stomach mindlessly and thought of Reid. She smiled at the thought of having her husband once again.

'Austin... remember what Penelope said, you need to stay calm.' JJ reassured. 'You know she's right.'

'I am pretty calm... I'm not freaking out, got a mind set and I do not plan to divert.'

'Good.' JJ smiled, both women had set aside differences, both living for their families. 'What did you pick up?'

'Screwdriver.' Austin laughed slightly. 'Just in case we need to pick a lock, or stab something.' JJ laughed this time. 'Bandages and matches... what about you?'

'Water... anything about being in the job I am in taught me to have water at every possible opportunity, I'm sure the others have remembered that simple rule.' Or at least she hoped they did. 'I got tape and matches as well.'

Austin began to stand. 'Great minds obviously.'

'Yeah.' JJ said. 'Shall we do this?'

'Yeah, lets go. Mind set prominent?'

'Definitely the only thing I plan to think.' The women stepped forward, once, then twice. Austin a little unsteady, JJ firm footed. 'You okay?'

'Why did I have to be kidnapped pregnant?'

'Well we will go slow, for you.'

'Thanks.' They stepped up on the third, Austin's balance impaired furthermore, she swayed, JJ reached out and steadied her but fell down herself. 'JJ!' Austin shouted as she heard the thud. 'JJ answer me please.'

'I'm fine... just don't jump off, step down to the ledge.' JJ said remembering the instructions. Austin made it back to the ledge carefully as JJ was coming up the steps. 'Don't worry about me.'

'Are you okay?'

'I landed on my arm but I'm fine.' She assured. 'Want to rest or try again?'

'Try again, I want that next room.' They stood and prepared, first, second, third, fourth. They breathed a sigh of relief, making it past where JJ had fallen. 'I'm scared of falling.' Austin admitted as she nursed her stomach.

'We'll make it...' Fifth, sixth. 'Gather your balance for this once.' Austin nodded, and then together they stepped forward. Breathing became louder and heavier from both women as they saw the lights change, one leg came off. Austin's panic grew as she swayed, but she became unwavering as the lights shut off and their access to the wanted room became evident. They both literally scrambled into the room to get the release that they had yearned for.

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Row Six

'I'm clumsy.' Reid said as he looked at the staggered plinths.

'Well focus...think Austin and that lovely baby and you'll achieve anything.'

'You thinking of JJ and Henry?'

'To the best of my ability.' Will reassured. 'Come on, what did you get?'

'Pocket knife...water, I know from previous kidnappings it's handy.' Reid said trying to lighten the mood with the way he handles Henkel. 'And matches.'

'Ahh good choices... I got a screwdriver, tape and last thing was on impulse, lighter fluid.' He looked at Reid and began to put the items in his pyjama bottoms pockets the best he could. 'I wasn't wearing a top when I went to bed.' He said with a confused looked. 'You think we were lucky to get a caring psychotic lunatic?'

'If only, must be more beneficial for you to have it on.' Reid swallowed the lump in his throat that had gathered and turned his attention to the first plinth. 'One at a time right?'

'Yeah...we need to be slow, they get smaller and smaller.' Reid nodded, worried about his failings that could occur. 'Okay let's go.'

They took the first step together, both smiling as they made it. Second, third, fourth, the fifth came with a slip. Reid clung to the side of the plinth, not yet fallen, not yet ready to hit the ground.

'Reid, come on, you just need to pull yourself up.' He heard the struggle coming from Reid. 'Think Austin.' He encouraged. He wanted to clap when Reid proved his upper body strength was better than he expected. 'You okay?' He asked as Reid stabilised himself.

'Yeah...come on two more.' Reid said as he gathered his bearing and psyched himself up for the final two steps ahead. He made the sixth one perfectly, as did Will. They both looked encouragingly at one another and stepped on the final step. The lights flickered and both men removed a leg, balancing best they could on one leg. The lights went out and balance declined massively. Then the door opened and both men bolted to the new light.

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Row Seven

'I got nothing that could help us with this.'

'Me neither...but how the hell were we suppose to know that this would be here.'

'It's well thought out... what do you recon our half way pleasures are?'

'I'm thinking seeing everyone...I mean what else could it be?'

'I can't think of anything but that....God I hope it is.'

'So is the B.A.U. still a family unit?' Gideon asked, trying to create common ground to distract.

'More so now.' Rossi looked at Gideon. 'What did you find?'

'Torch... water... and batteries.'

'Water... one of your rules you taught the others....' Rossi knew that rule, he had learnt it from the others on more than once. 'Water...as well.' They both laughed. 'I got matches just in case and some flexi- ties.' Gideon nodded and with complete silence they took their first step forward. They both hurried up the next four without occurring problematic issues, they had found that balance was completely lost when they looked down, the lighting was not great so looking down was like peering into an endless abyss, which took away the feeling of being central, it created nerves, and nerves lead to mistakes. Therefore, both men only looked from the flat surface of the plinth in front and upwards. They climbed the sixth and profiled just how much room was on the seventh final plinth. Acknowledging the others readiness, they stepped up, the one foot that would remain when the flicker occurred being more central. The lights glimmered and the counting began, after too long the lights shut off and the door oscillated out and hit the wall. Both men smiled at making it finally and scrambled into the room to find out their halfway pleasures.

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