The Replicator was getting impatient. The increased level of security meant he literally could not get close to the BAU. The joy from eradicating Spencer Reid had begun to wear off and he wanted a new rush. Even so, he knew better than to let his impatience get the better of him. Impatience meant mistakes and there was no room for mistakes here.

Finally, four months after Doctor Spencer Reid had ascended to heaven, he was ready to scare the BAU and get them on their toes before he started on his final masterpiece to end things once and for all. Now that Reid was gone, they wouldn't be able to connect the dots as easily as before and he could get to all of time in good time.

To say that the Replicator was 'creative' or 'smart' would be an understatement. He was witty and surprisingly clever and somehow he was on the winning side even though the BAU already knew how he looked like.

The way to surpass the guards was easier than you might think. One thing that world-class security guards don't check is the pizza guy, and much less, the pizza box.

"Hotch, you ordered pizza?" Morgan asked, licking his lips.

"Yay Italy!" Rossi shouted, laughing.

Hotch peeked over at the pizza box.

"I didn't order that. We can have it for dinner though, just throw it on the conference table." Hotch says, heading to the toilet.

Morgan throws the pizza box carelessly on to the conference table.

The next few seconds happened so quickly, no one really quite processed what happened.

The minute the pizza box landed on the coffee table, the homemade pipe bomb that was nestled nicely in the box exploded with a loud boom.

Shards of glass were flying everywhere and the conference table was wrecked and the only evidence of its existence, were a few wooden sticks (which were on fire). Smoke was clouding up the bullpen and Hotch was flung against the glass door – thankfully escaping with only a bruised arm and a couple of scratches.

Alex was crushed underneath a table and bits of glass had pierced through her skin, while JJ had fallen next to her, jamming her head against the end of the table and was lying in semi-consciousness.

Rossi and Morgan, being the closest to the blast, were hurt the worst. Rossi had burst one of his eardrums and was losing a dangerous amount of blood from the force at which he was flung against the wall. Morgan was literally on fire, but being unconscious and lying in a pool of his own blood, he barely reacted to it.

Garcia had, upon hearing the explosion and feeling a gush of wind in her office, ran out to check on the team, only to find the people she called 'family', all half-dead.

"Garcia, call the ambulance now!" Hotch shouted, already getting to his feet and running for the fire extinguisher. Understandably, Garcia let out a high-pitched scream and scrambled for her phone while watching Hotch put out the fire.

"Hey, Will," Garcia said, pacing up and down the hospital hallway.

"Yeah?"

"Someone sent a bomb into the office."

There was a long pause on the other end of the line, as if Will didn't know what to say – or maybe he had too many things to say.

"Is Jennifer okay?"

"Yeah, but uh, you should go visit her soon. She needs you, you know that right?"

Will swallowed and let out a small sigh.

"Thanks for the notice, Garcia. You take care."

And then Will hangs up.

The Replicator gloated as he watched the team crumble and burn.

What he didn't realize – a substantial mistake on his part that changed the whole ball game and left the BAU on the winning end – was that the BAU was a family. What he had done – what he thought was going to crush the BAU – did the exact opposite. It was exactly what they needed to get over Reid and a great reminder to be thankful that at least – at least Morgan, Hotch, Rossi, Alex, JJ and Garcia were alive.

Everyone, despite the bandages and crutches and broken bones, were in Morgan and Rossi's suite, just talking until the sun rose. Yes, Alex's husband and Hotch's girlfriend and JJ's son wanted to see them – to know that they were okay, but the team didn't answer any calls or even leave the room. They could have lost another member of their group today, but they hadn't – and that, alone, was good enough.

hello:D HOWS YOUR DAY HOPE ITS GOING WELL :D if you comment/review BIG THANK YOU OK MUACCKS

ok sorry i know this chapter is a bit... oof but the exciting part is coming :D

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