Not Ready to Lose You Chapter 5
A/N: So here is another chapter for you all! I would like to thank RogueStorm84, for being the beta for this chapter and doing an amazing job. So the author note is pretty short this time. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or the Characters, well I own the psycho but he is the only one! :D
The area was busy with local PD, CSU, medical teams, and of course the BAU. The team stood circled around the body of the first victim. There was no one around the alley, so there was no way that there could have been any witnesses. The entire scene was morbid and not helping Reid with managing his anxiety. They all shared a silent moment as they braced themselves for the task before them. Soon all eyes were on Spencer. The team studied his features, trying to get some inkling of how their youngest felt about this. Sadly, Reid was not displaying anything that they could analyze. Nothing that they could use to better decide how to proceed. Eventually it was Reid that broke the silence.
"You guys I am fine. Now can we please get on with the case? We have already lost an hour and we know that he is very, very punctual." Reid looked at Hotch expectantly, waiting patiently for his orders.
"Reid and Rossi head back to the Bureau and go back over the notes. See if there is anything we missed and tie our latest victim to any information we have."
"But Hotch, we have gone over that information countless times, there isn't any extra-"
"Reid! Just do it." When Reid and Rossi left the scene Hotch resumed delegating tasks. "Morgan, Prentiss, I want you to stay here and process the scene. When the body is taken go see the M.E. I want all the information we can get and I want it immediately. JJ, you're with me. I am sure that the press will be here at any moment and we need to get a handle on this before they ruin everything. Let's end this soon so that Spencer can go back to his life." The remaining team members scattered immediately, ready to solve this case as quickly as they could. Innocent lives were hanging in the balance, as well as Spencer's. They all prayed to get a lead, because they needed one sooner rather than later.
Reid flopped down in a chair, a rough huff leaving his mouth. Rage was written all over his face as he flipped page after page, searching through the information that he had already memorized. He knew that doing this was pointless, that there was nothing that his one hundred and eighty-seven IQ had missed. Hotch is doing this to keep me out of the way. Rossi stood next the table, observing Reid's behavior. He waited in silence knowing that soon Reid would begin to vent his frustrations.
"How can Hotch do this to me? I specifically told everyone that I was not sitting out on this case. So what does he do? He orders me back to the Bureau like a fragile toddler." Reid ran his hand through his hair, tugging lightly on the brown curls.
"Maybe, Reid, he did this to protect you."
"I don't need protecting!" Reid's voice rose and his hands clenched and unclenched.
"That doesn't mean that we aren't going to try anyways. Listen Kiddo, we're a family and families do whatever they have to, to protect their own. You are our resident genius and we will protect you. So just learn to deal with it," Rossi said before he exited the room.
The rage that Reid had been feeling was beginning to simmer down. He was acting like a brat. At a time like this there was no room to be acting like a child who didn't get the toy they wanted. Reid knew that behaving this way was reckless, dangerous, and more importantly selfish. For so long he had yearned for people who loved him. He had fought tooth and nail to survive long enough to get out of school and find loved ones who would risk their lives for him and vice versa. He finally had what he had desired and he was griping and moaning about them protecting him.
"What's happening to me?" Whispered Reid to an empty room, because honestly he had no clue what this case was doing to him, but he certainly didn't like it.
Media personnel swarmed the scene trying their hardest to get a glimpse of the victim. They were vultures waiting to swoop down and salvage whatever they could for their own personal gain. The only thing that was keeping them from getting to the crime scene was police tape and JJ. Hotch had been standing with her, but had quickly vanished once the body was being moved. She understood that he had other things to tend to, but she really didn't have a good feeling about talking to these reporters. So, JJ stood alone, in what she would have deemed a very weird position ready for the worst, facing the very people who had a knack for jeopardizing cases.
"Agent Jareau, is it true that there is a serial killer at large?" A brown haired lady held her recorder out, waiting patiently for the answer to her inquiry.
"We have no evidence that there is a serial killer roaming the streets."
"Do you know who the victim is and why the killer chose him?" This question came from a blonde male. He stood about five feet four and was on the slim side. His thin hands were shaking as he waited anxiously for JJ's answer so that he could write it down for reference later.
"Sorry but we do not have that information at this time." JJ flashed a brief smile.
"It has been said that the Bureau is somehow connected to the murders, is that true?" JJ couldn't see who had posed the question, but she recognized that it was a woman's voice.
"That allegation is incorrect. The FBI is not connected to the case. We are simply investigating because the body was dumped so close to our facility."
"So does this mean that the killer's true target is not Special Agent Dr. Spencer Reid?"
There was a minute twitch to JJ's left eye. That was not a question that she was expecting, nor was it one she wanted to answer. She refused to give that bastard hunting her son's godfather the satisfaction. She would not allow the monster to ruin Spencer's life any further. She was not going to entertain the destruction of her best friend's right to a personal and private life.
"That is all the questions that we are taking at this time." JJ's voice, much to her surprise, was strong and unwavering.
"But you haven't answered the que-"
"The answer is no. This had absolutely nothing to do with Dr. Reid. Thank you for your time." Hotch led JJ away from the reporters. She looked up at her boss, gratefulness shining brightly in her eyes. Hotch gave her one of his rare reassuring smiles before heading back to the Bureau.
"How do you think Spence is doing?" JJ had been worrying about her best friend for the entire duration of the case. Her intentions had been to ask Morgan, but he was clearly in no condition to talk about it. Morgan was doing better than she thought he would have, but there was still a haunted look in his eyes. A look that probably wouldn't vanish until the Unsub was caught.
"He is probably upset with me right now. Other than that, I'm not really sure how he is doing. What I am sure of though is that Morgan will take good care of him." Hotch's cell phone began to ring effectively ending the conversation. He answered, listening intently to whoever was on the line. The brief moment of dread that crossed his face proved that this was not good.
"Hotch, what's wrong?"
"There has been another murder. We just found our second victim." Not good at all.
A/N: So, how about that cliffhanger?! Well hopefully I will be able to update soon! Please don't forget to R&R! Your reviews are like creative soul food! Until next time...See ya :D