Chp. 15
Will looked at his partner as if the man had lost his mind, and in Will's opinion, Mark Rossi had finally lost it. "So, lemme get this straight. You get a phone call. We leave. Then you tell me that our target, the man who wants little Spencer for God only knows what…"
"You know what Mr. Reid wants." Mark interrupted.
Now Will was pissed. "So what's your plan, Mark?"
"Exactly what we talked about in Karen's office."
Will blanched. "You actually want to use that little boy as bait?!"
Mark's hands tightened on the steering wheel and gearshift. Several minutes passed in silence. When he finally spoke, he practically had to force the words out. "I may be damaged goods and I may be a prick, but if you ever accuse me of something like that again, I'll empty my Glock into your head. We clear, William?"
Again, the silence engulfed the car. When Mark took the exit for their headquarters, Will spoke again. "Sorry man, this just gets to me, ya know."
Mark sighed and nodded sadly. "Yeah, I know. William Reid only wants one thing. He'll come for Spencer. The team can protect Spencer while we hunt for his father. We'll get whatever information the office has that's current. Then I'll call dad and break the news and we'll start hunting."
"And when we find Mr. Reid?" Will asked, even though he already knew the answer.
"We're gonna catch him fast. Then we're gonna kill him slow."
Will smiled. "I like this plan. I really do."
"I thought you might."
000
Emily's stomach was doing flips and it had been ever since Mark and Will left. She tried her best to just act normal, for Spencer, but she could tell the others knew something was bothering her. Feeling something touch her hand, she looked over and saw Morgan gently holding her hand. "Hey, you good?"
As her stomach relaxed, Emily forced a smile on to her face. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"I'm sorry about Mark," Carolyn said. "He's…"
"He a rude bastardo with a chip on his shoulder, is what he is." Isabella filled in. Everyone's eyes widened, as Mama Rossi almost never swore. What shocked them even more was that neither Rossi nor Carolyn were coming to their son's defense.
Carolyn cleared her throat and turned to the team. "Would anyone like some coffee?"
Several of the men said they did. Before leaving, Carolyn looked at Jack. "Would you like another cookie, sweetheart?" She didn't bother looking at Hotch, because as an aunt in was her prerogative to spoil her nephew's as she saw fit.
Jack nodded and jumped off his chair, throwing, "Come on, Spence," over his shoulder. Spencer turned to Emily and she nodded. He grinned and raced after his friend. When the boys were gone, Carolyn looked at her husband. "Tell them David. If the team is going to work with Mark they deserve to know." She left without waiting for a response.
Dave sighed. He supposed she was right. So, he told them. Besides, most of the team already knew the story anyway. Rossi guessed by Garcia's lack of reaction that she'd done some snooping and knew Mark's back story.
000
If Mark had known his deepest secrets were being laid bare just because a bunch straitlaced feds thought he was a jerk, he would've hightailed it back to Little Creek and dealt with the problem. But fortunately, he didn't know anything about it.
"So, the guard's stopped to take a leak and what…Reid just walks away?" Mark asked, incredulous.
Karen scowled. "Yes, and I know what you're going to say so don't bother."
"Actually, you didn't know what I was going to say."
"What? You mean the default Mark Rossi, 'shoot first ask questions later' setting doesn't apply here?"
Mark shrugged. "I don't care what you do with them. I'm talking about what we should do about Spencer." Mark clarified. When he stopped, Karen nodded, as if to say continue.
"We put Spencer under the BAU's protection with Will and I as back up. I'm willing to bet Reid'll come for his son."
Mark waited while Karen considered his plan. Finally, she looked up. "Get it done. I want confirmation when it's finished."
Mark smiled. "Will do, boss lady."
She scowled at his back as he walked out. "I told you to never call me that."
000
"What do you mean, 'he escaped'?!" Emily asked, her tone angry but her voice low to keep from frightening Spencer.
"That's what Mark told me." Dave said.
"So, what's the plan?" Morgan asked. He wanted to keep Emily from spiraling into panic and worrying about Spencer. Derek may not have liked Mark, but he trusted him, if only because his last name was Rossi.
"We keep Spencer safe. While Mark and Will look for Mr. Reid."
"Just look?" JJ asked, her arm's unconsciously tightening around Henry.
Dave looked uncomfortable, like he knew what she was asking, but he didn't want to give weight to what they were all thinking. Hotch had to such qualms. "We all know what's going to happen to William Reid if Mark and Will get to him. I think our energies would be better spent keeping each other safe."
With their leader's simple statement, the family realized that their mission was no longer to hunt William Reid. Rather, their mission was to protect Spencer Reid, Jack Hotchner and Henry LaMontage.
000
Mark wasn't sure he agreed with the BAU's decision to stay at his father's estate, but whatever. It was out of his control and wasn't really pertinent to his and Will's mission. "You ready for this?" Will asked, bringing him back to the present.
Mark shrugged. "It's no different than any other time."
Will glared at him. "The hell it's not! He's after our families."
"All the more reason we find him and kill him."
A helicopter coming in low over the house caused both men to look up, even though they knew what it was. Without another word, they collected their gear and started for the door.
000
JJ and the Rossi's met them just outside the door. Will hugged his wife and held her. Carolyn held Mark, as did Isabella. Rossi shook his son's hand.
JJ turned from Will and looked at Mark. "You bring my husband home, Mark."
Mark nodded. "Understood, Ma'am."
With that, the two men grabbed their gear and ran for the waiting helicopter. Emily and Garcia watched from the second floor window. "You think they'll get him?" Garcia asked.
Emily had worked with men similar to Will and Mark for years before coming to the BAU. She reached over and grabbed her friend's hand. "Yeah, Pen. They'll get him."
What none of them knew, was just how much William Reid's death would cost all of them.
000