Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds, to say the least!
Okay, okay. I have recently gotten a review that made my heart sink. This reviewer tells me something along the lines of 'if getting reviews is all you're after than I suggest you quit while you're ahead.' Well, let me tell you that I am NOT doing this JUST for the reviews. I am actually writing this for the sake of writing it. The only reason I was saying that is because I look for advice for my stories (not that I've written many) and I actually LIKE getting feedback. And because I love you all I will not take off this slightly embarrassing review, but, having typed this, I still honestly thank this anonymous person for using his/her time to add a bit of praise at the end (and for the constructive criticism, of course!). Thanx much! ;)
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(A/N-this part takes place while JJ is driving to work and Hotch is phoning Gideon)
I'll choose who lives…high school…tied to a pole…I'm fine, thanks for broadcasting…Gideon…won't answer his cell…I was at the movies…that's actually not why I'm here…trust…gets thrown back in my face…nightmares…Tobias Hankel…arsonists are like addicts…fire's like their fix…HELP…
Morgan awoke to a pounding heart. Sitting up, he rubbed a hand over his head and sighed. This kid had really led a crappy life. Not that it was his fault; it was more like he had to pay interest on the big brain he had owned. Sighing again, he got up to take a shower.
…
Dialing the number on his cell phone, he was wondering if this was a mistake. No, he concluded. This has to be done. He has a right to know.
"Jason Gideon speaking. Who is this?"
"Jason. This is Hotch."
There was silence on the other end, then a cold "What do you want."
Hotch took a deep breath. Saying this would make it all real. "Jason, Reid is dead."
Again, another silence. "What?" he whispered. "Hotch; I don't know what to say."
"Look, Jason. I know you left this job because you wanted to get away from everything this job represents, but we need all the help we can get."
"Hotch, I don't know. I'm not exactly close to Virginia-"
"Look, Gideon," Hotch knew this was the last card. If Gideon refused this now, there was no way he would be able to get the retired profiler out there. "You left Reid when it had mattered most. He would have still been going through withdrawals, and you're lucky that he didn't go back to the dilaudid. But the worst thing about it was, you left just like his father did. A note. The least you could do to make it up to him would to help us catch his murderer." There it was done.
Gideon was didn't say anything for a while. "Okay, I can be there in a few hours. I'll take the first plane there." And he hung up.
…
Gideon just got to the BAU parking lot. He looked up at the building and thought about how long it had been since he'd been there. Three years, he thought. Of course Reid could tell me exactly-no, don't think like that! He started to the building.
…
Getting into the bullpen, he was met with daggers from mostly the team, but a few from other people, too. The most aggressive glare was from Morgan, but he was getting quite the look from Emily, as well. He was almost anticipating a punch to the face from either of them, just by passing by their desks.
He climbed up the stairs, walking purposefully to where he presumed Hotch's office still was and knocked on his door.
"Come in."
Gideon walked in and closed the door.
"Jason." Was all Hotch said.
"Hotch." Gideon returned. They waited a few moments, both of them waiting for the other to break the silence.
"Look, you probably got some stares back there-"
"Hotch, I know I deserved it. Now, let me see the file. Do we have any suspects?"
He handed Gideon the case file and he looked over it. Hotch saw Gideon go into profiler mode and even after three years, still knew not to bother him.
Suddenly, the phone rang. Gideon sat down in the office chair while Hotch answered the phone.
…
Down in the bullpen…
"I hate this."
"Morgan, I do too, but if we want to solve this, Gideon"-Emily spoke his name with poison-"will have to help us."
"And why is that? We've solved cases without him! And why should we even be telling him about Reid, huh? Why should he even know about it? He didn't do anything for him, no contact at all! When Reid needed him most, he bailed!"
"Look, Derek; Emily" Rossi appeared behind them. "I don't like it either, but it's true. Jason Gideon was the boy's mentor. He knew Reid more than anyone else did."
"Ya," Morgan interjected. "Until he left! Gideon wasn't there when we went to Vegas. He wasn't there when we went to Texas. He wasn't there when Reid inhaled anthrax! Why do we need him?"
"We've got another body." Hotch said from above.
"Is Gideon coming?" Morgan could barely contain the malice that threatened to cover his voice.
"No." And with that Aaron Hotchner looked straight down the doors of the BAU offices.
…
Okay, thanx for reading! R&R plz and thanx!
(BTW-I hope I didn't offend anyone up there, I was just trying to make a point! :P)
