Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds

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The doors opened simultaneously, all together seven doors stood open, apprehension filled the room as the pairs made their way through, hesitations from the more hurt, excitement from the less.

When they made it in the seventh room they looked at one another, was this it? Was this the last room? Were they now able to get the need, get the comfort?

Derek swooped in like the stoic blazoned dark hero that Penelope loved and took her in his arms, she held on to him for dear life as the tears finally fled her eyes at everything. He soothed her, rocked her, comforted her, loved her, the way she needed it right that moment. She forgot about the problematic wound to her side as she got what she wanted, the whole world could wait.

Hotch saw Emily and literally ran to her, he too took his wife in his arms, looked at her dishevelled face and kissed it. Full passion that told her he was so happy to be holding her, to be united with her after too long. She wrapped her arms around Hotch's neck and deepened the embrace. She breathed him as though she was breathing in life, then she too began to cry.

Will met JJ half way, both taking in the others outward appearance, both knowing full well that they were panicking about their son, about his wellbeing, about what the person behind this had done with Henry. For now, looking in this room, with the way out locked off, all they could do was placate the feelings with one another's presence. So Will took his wife silently in his arms.

Reid had already taken his wife in his arms, not willing to let her go all the time she sobbed on his chest. When it lessened it pulled away and placed a hand on her stomach. She looked him in the eyes and the unspoken words filled her eyes, she smiled and he eloped her into another hug, a hug that screamed they had made it this far, they would make it out completely.

Rossi walked to Strauss, never had he seen this woman look so small, so afraid, so warm. Usually the ice queen of the B.A.U. she appeared frail and vulnerable, like she didn't know how to place herself in the world now. After everything she had seen, after everything she had gone through. So Rossi looked her in eyes and then pulled her into a comforting hug, she needed human contact too.

Gideon placed a reassuring hand on Elle's shoulder, she looked at him, her face told him she needed more than a reassurance of a hand. He pulled her to his body, knowing that Elle had a tough outer shell but inside she was scared of what life bestowed upon them all. He and Elle was no stranger to more than work place affection and he would welcome her into his life again.

Kevin shuffled slightly hesitantly towards Jane, his initial attention was to Penelope but then Jane caught his attention and he smiled, he saw it warm her. The emotions over took him and he wanted her in his arms, her heart beating against his to tell him she was truly alive. He took her in that hug and she reciprocated by wrapping her arms around her.

When they released the hugs, they started to inspect one another, the mass of injuries, physically and emotionally. They were all suffering mentally and emotionally but only a few were really suffering physically, JJ and Penelope being the two most. When they all looked at one another, they were all ghastly white, only Penelope showed the severity of her blood loss, JJ showing it slightly, darkness beginning to gather under her eyes.

'Can we just work to get out of here?' Penelope said weakly.

'There's no letters.'

'No nothing but a locked door.' Everyone looked from one person to another trying desperately to assess the situation as best they could.

'Right let's just check Pen and JJ over first, then we'll go from there.'

'Come on baby girl let's get you seated.'

'No... I don't want....'

'Pen...'

'I really don't feel good.' Everyone looked in terror as Penelope collapsed, Derek catching her as she fell. He looked up to see Hotch and Rossi coming his way and he laid her down. It was made evidently clear that the trauma had waited to play its part until her mind had seen her husband that her body had felt what it needed and now everything was catching up.

'Is she okay?' Jane said panicked, knowing this was going to happen sooner or later.

Hotch checked her pulse, immediately noticing her skin was cool and clammy. 'I think she's going into shock.' He then looked at Jane. 'How badly was she bleeding?'

'I don't know, she wouldn't let me see properly... she just pulled the piece of metal from her side, fainted and then I tied the blanket around her waist to try and cut off the blood supply, but then the water... oh God I don't know.'

'Jane do not panic.' Rossi said as he began to untie the blanket. 'How about some of you help JJ and the others, we have this under control.'

Derek looked at his wife's face, so pale, so ill, but yet so beautiful at the same time. 'Come on P wake up, I need you to wake up.' He pleaded. 'Her pulse is really weak but rapid.' He said as he continually checked it, he looked at Hotch and Rossi for reassurance; they couldn't give it to him.

When the blanket was removed they saw the size of the tear in Derek's top, Hotch pulled the top up to see the wound. 'This looks really deep...' He said observantly, not really knowing what else to say. 'Reid... can we borrow you please.'

'Yeah.' He said as he ran over. 'What's happening?'

'Symptoms of shock?'

'Erm... uh...' Reid said as he racked his brain. 'Cool, clammy skin. Paleness, weak, rapid almost disconnected pulse, breathing problems, low blood pressure, weakness, erm... dilated pupils, confusion and loss of consciousness. ' He looked at Hotch, then Rossi and finally looked at Derek. Most of what he had just described, Penelope was experiencing. 'She is going to be okay isn't she?'

'If we can get her out of here... how's JJ doing?'

'It looks like an artery was caught, we can't stop the bleed, she's getting tired really fast.'

'Well keep her awake... do we have anything we can use to put pressure down?'

'Here ya use this.' Will said as he took his top off, underneath was a second top. 'It might help out...worth a shot.'

Before anyone could say anything else, there was a whoosh sound and paper fell to the ground, the only people that moved to look at it was Strauss, Reid, Gideon and Will.

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Dear B.A.U. Family,

Room 7, The Selection, I say you have amazed me how far you have come, and together. Now that you are here, I want you to choose three occupants to stay... I never said all of you would leave, but I decide the rules and one rule would be that you all had to make it to this room alive to get out. Now you have achieved that, three will have to perish... or you may get lucky.

Once you have chosen I would like the three selected to enter Row Four and wait, the door will close and the door to your way out will open.

Have fun choosing!

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Everyone looked at everyone shocked, it was like execution, it was just like leading them to the slaughter, surely that was betrayal? Having to pick ones to die would betray whatever.

'I'll go.' Gideon said. 'I have been on this world longer, I have given my fair share of good and bad times, now I think it's time for you to live your lives.'

'Gideon....' Reid said.

'No Reid... it's got to be done.' He reasoned with the youngest of the team.

'I'll go too.' Strauss said. 'From what I have seen, these marriages deserve to work, they seem to be the best blessings I have given and you need one another.'

Everyone nodded their acknowledgements. Hotch and Derek looked at Penelope who had just shifted.

'Come on Pen... open those eyes.' Hotch said. 'If you don't I'll have to discipline you.'

'Like you... would.' She grimaced. 'You... love me too...much.'

Hotch laughed, ever Penelope to put a smile on his face, even if it was weakly spoken she still was herself, somehow. 'Well I'm going to hold you to it.'

'You do that.' She went to sit up but felt Derek, Rossi and Hotch keep her down.

'You need to stay lying down.'

'No let me up.'

'I don't think you are in any position to get up Penelope.'

'We need to get out.' She said as she relaxed back down again, closing her eyes slightly.

'We know and we, also, now know how.'

'How?'

'It doesn't matter.'

'Don't keep it from me.' Hotch sighed and told her, everyone listening intently to the repetition of the letter. 'I'll do it.'

'No.'

'Pen, don't, you're not thinking rationally.'

'I'm already hurt.'

'I'm the third.' Elle said, ignoring Penelope's offer. 'I refuse to let Penelope be it. So let me.' Everyone looked at her shocked. 'Oh don't give me that look, I want to do it.'

'Is everyone sure?'

'Well there's no way I'm doing otherwise.' Gideon said. 'Just get the girls out and get them help.' Strauss and Elle both stood next to Gideon, everyone thanked them the best they could and all three entered the row that had held Hotch and Strauss. The door shut without human intervention again, everyone looked at one another feeling like executioners, they didn't know what to expect but surely it couldn't be good.

They then watched the new door open; it opened and in came a flood of daylight. They were free at last. Derek gathered Penelope in his arms, Hotch still applying pressure to her side. Will picked up the weakening JJ, Austin holding her bleeding up. The 11 remaining members walked into the daylight, their loss of time made it difficult to judge the day or the time. They were out and to a sight they didn't expect.