Chapter 14

FBI Field Office
San Francisco, CA

Rossi

"The last thing Jack said to me was that he was going to go find Mikey." Alice said as she tried to wipe at the tears falling down her cheeks. "Then he closed his eyes and was out cold. I couldn't even shake him."

They had been talking for hours. Dave Rossi knew everything that had happened from the night she was taken. From a professional point of view it was fascinating, a team of Unsubs like that and how they worked together to satisfy their perverted needs. From a personal point of view it was horrifying. He ached for the man he considered close to a son, he would do anything to make it never have happened. And he ached for the woman before him, she had been raped in all but the legal term of the word, her sexuality utterly destroyed. He would do anything to make it never happened for her as well. But that was impossible, so he had to do the next best thing and see it repaired somehow. With any luck, given the right situation, they could heal each other. "What did you do?"

"I begged them to tell me what they did, but all Schrader said was that they had one more thing for me to watch. As they left I heard the Doctor say that he hadn't had enough, he had to give the last one a smaller dose, and Schrader saying it didn't matter."

"The last one? Spencer?"

"Yes. When I went back to the room he was leaning against the wall but still on his feet. He was drugged, you could tell, but he was still awake and moving. I put his arm over my shoulders and started up the stairs, looking for a door. Upstairs you could smell the smoke, it was all gray out the windows. I heard something I think, something got my attention, I turned and saw that the door was open. When I got outside I saw them pulling away from the dock in a boat, and that there was another boat there. So I started heading that way. But as I got clear of the house I heard this roaring noise getting closer."

"Roaring noise?"

Alice nodded. "We turned and there was this...this wall of fire. It was just...everything. Everything was on fire, glowing red hot through the smoke. It was coming straight for the house. I ran, dragging Spencer and I got him into the boat. But when I went back to get the others..." She stopped on a sob.

"Bella..." It was enough. They could get more later, it was enough.

"A tree fell on the house." She sobbed out. "It was a log cabin and this giant tree was on fire and it fell on the house. Right through the center of it. Right where the stairs were. I couldn't get to them." She fell apart into tears once more.

Rossi stared in dull horror as he realized what had happened to the last three victims, what so nearly happened to his friend. "You did everything you could Bella." He said. "They were heavily sedated. Likely the smoke got to them first. They didn't feel any pain."

"You...you think so?"

"Yes, I do. They went to sleep and then they woke up someplace safe and warm where they could be together, where there is nothing but love. I firmly believe that. And you should too."

"I keep trying to." But she was getting her sobs under control once more. "Spencer called for me to come back, and I couldn't...I got in the boat and headed up river, in the direction the jetboats came from. I figured if I could find the tour dock I could find a phone. Eventually I did but there was no one there. Thankfully we found a pay phone, and Spencer said his friend Morgan would still be in town. And he was." She shrugged. "The rest you know."

"Why did you leave the hospital here in San Francisco?"

"I was afraid the Sheriff would find me. I knew Spencer was safe with the FBI around him but I was afraid Sheriff Blackburn would trace me and then through me back to Joey. I was so afraid...so I went back to the inn, I was going to grab Joey and Tomás and all the cash on hand and run but Tomás insisted I was overreacting and too sick so he made me stay for a few days. I went to bed, I couldn't stay awake any longer, next thing I know the FBI is in the lobby."

"All right." That was the story then. Or enough for now. "I may have more questions about the details later."

"Anything I can do."

"Thank you."

She was quiet a long moment, then, "You know, I'm planning to go to DC next. Move there, at least for a while."

"I know of a few B&B's for sale in the area."

She looked up to see his smile. "The FBI won't..."

"You leave the FBI up to me and Hotch. I think he deserves to be happy, and I suspect you're going to be a big part of that."

She managed a smile then. "I hope so."

He stood and offered a hand. "Shall we go see if he's back?"

She accepted the offer but hung back. "He never did have his glasses."

Oh, of course. "I don't think you have anything to worry about."

"I just..." But she took a deep breath, held her head high and stepped out into the main office again.

Sure enough Spencer and Seaver were back, and Spencer was sporting a brand new pair of glasses. Rossi discreetly stepped over to the coffee pot, just far enough to make it look like he was stepping away, but close enough to listen. He watched from the corner of his eye as Spencer wrapped long fingers around Alice's waist. "You're just as beautiful as I imagined." He said.

She sighed and shook her head. "You don't know..." She pulled his hand under the hem of her shirt.

"No, I know." He said, even as he didn't take his hand away. "I just don't care. You're still beautiful."

For a long moment she looked at him. "You mean that."

"I do."

She looked up into his eyes, and slowly melted against him.

Rossi left them to it and went to join the others. "Never say he doesn't have game again." He said to Morgan.

"Yeah, I got that." Morgan replied. "Now what?"

"Well, Alice was talking about moving to somewhere around DC." Tomás said. "I don't know where yet."

"Until you move I'd like to leave an FBI presence at the inn." Hotch replied. "Just in case."

"I wonder how fast she can pack." Rossi said.

"Alice?" Tomás asked. "Pretty fast. Under an hour. Under thirty minutes if she has to."

"Not that fast." Rossi replied. "You know, the plane takes ten. Even with Seaver along we're only five."

"Seriously?" Hotch asked in perfect deadpan.

"Look at them." Rossi said. "It would be like separating two puppies. He'd mope all the way home, and she'd just fly out commercial. Besides, I know you Aaron Hotchner. You're as much of a romantic as I am. You like to think of something good coming out of a case for once as much as I do."

By now Morgan and Seaver were chuckling. Hotch sighed. "We leave in three hours." He said to Tomás. "Assuming we're not fogged in."