Author's Note: Just to clarify once again, there will no rape in this story. I just think it's a sensitive topic, and one that I wouldn't be able to do justice. In reply to the other anonymous review; you kind of got your wish. Kind of. But it's probably not quite what you had in mind. lol. You'll see.

Author's Note 2: I've had an awful few days, so please review and let me know I did something right. It would be much appreciated. :)

Disclaimer: Don't own CM, and probably never will.

8 MINUTES

Garcia sat perched on the edge of her chair, clock watching as she had been since Emily had called her fifty-two minutes prior. The relentless tapping of her pen was drowned out by the war raging on inside her head. I should tell the team. I really should tell the team. What if something has happened to JJ? To Emily? But then what if she has it under control, and we go in there all guns blazing and..

"Oh hell." She blurted as she rose to her feet and exited the room, en route to Hotch's office. It may have been a Saturday, and there were no cases to speak of, but she knew for certain that he would be in there. He really needs to get laid, or something, she thought to herself, but was secretly glad of his workaholic tendencies in that moment.

It took her approximately 8 seconds to get there, rather than the 8 minutes that would have allowed her to stick to the time that Emily had given her; but she'd seen what one person could do to another in even less than that, and she was done waiting for a call that would probably never come.

She burst through the door without knocking; a tiny detail that most would overlook in such a situation, but Garcia being Garica, and not to mention nervous, looked at her boss with wide eyes and began to mumble something to the effect of. "Um, oh.. sorry.. I'm really sorry.. um…" Before taking two steps back and tapping her clenched fist to the door a couple of times in lieu of the forgotten knock.

It wasn't shown on his face, but Hotch smiled inwardly at Garcia's actions. "Come in, Penelope."

And that, she did. In fact, she'd taken steps back inside before the words had even left his mouth. "Sir.."

She lifted her nervous gaze from the carpet and looked her boss square in the eyes. He could tell, immediately, that something was terribly wrong.

CM-CM-CM

It didn't take the team, or rather, part of the team, much longer than twenty minutes to filter into the bullpen once they'd each received messages from their leader; they were used to their Saturdays being disrupted and knew that turning into Superman and flying wasn't even too far-fetched of an expectation to get there quicker when they heard the phrase, "We need you. Now."

Morgan was the first to speak, his heart in his throat as he started to put two and two together. "Where are Emily and JJ.."

Hotch shot Garcia a look that told her that he was much less than happy with her. He had told her as much in his office twenty minutes prior, but seeing his eyes bore into her once more reminded her that this one wasn't going to go away any time soon. Not that she felt that it should; she would never forgive herself if something happened to her girls, even if Emily had made her promise.

She let her eyes fall to the ground as Hotch began updating Rossi, Morgan and Spencer. "That's why I called you in.."

His voice faded from her ears shortly after he had started to speak and she only snapped back to reality when she heard the screech of cheers moving and the rustling of bodies hastily leaving the room.

It was typical for her to stay at the BAU when the team went off on cases, but she wanted, or rather needed, to be out there with them; to see for herself that her girl's were safe. Or.. She couldn't bear to think about the 'or'. She opened her mouth to speak but before the words could leave her hot pink lips, Hotch cut her off.

"Garcia, stay here. I think you've done enough."

And within seconds, there was no one in the room but Garcia and her guilt-ridden thoughts.

CM-CM-CM

"I was going to make this so easy for you, and that's how you repay my hospitality?" Sarah began whilst frantically waving the gun around; anger radiating through her every word, filling the room with an undeniable tension - like there wasn't one before. "Perhaps I should just kill her now. Would you like that, Emily? Do you wanna see the blood drain from that pretty face of hers?"

No, she did not, but having taken a pretty big knock just moments before, Emily wasn't so sure of herself anymore. She'd messed this up already, what's to say that she wouldn't again if she opened her mouth?

"Huh? What was that? Cat got your tongue?" Sarah asked angrily before proving just how much she dislikes being ignored.

JJ knew what was coming instantly as she watched Sarah turn on her heel and aim the gun in her direction. And Emily could see it, too. Even before Sarah's hand reached its destination and the trigger had been pulled. Even before she heard JJ scream out in pain. Even before she physically saw the blood pooling against JJ's upper arm, staining her white shirt a deep shade of crimson.

The blonde barely had time to think before she felt a burning in her arm; the pain instant and excruciating on contact. Her natural instinct was to scream out in pain, to add pressure to the wound, but Sarah had ensured that she couldn't do either. She was certain that her wrist was broken from the force used as she tried in vain to cover the searing fire in her arm; it was all that she could do to keep her eyes open, the pain too much to handle as she bit down on her bottom lip as though that would distract her mind from the pain elsewhere on her body.

The brunette screeched and thrashed about in her chair once more, desperate to get to JJ, but it was no good. She could see JJ slipping in and out of consciousness as more and more blood seeped from her wound, and Emily's head dropped as, for the hundredth time today, a wave of nausea washed through her. This was her fault, she had caused this.

But before she had the chance to fully overt her eyes, her head was yanked back and held in place. "No! Don't even think about it! You get to watch this. You get to see the pain that you caused her. Are you happy now, Emily? Is that what you wanted?"

Emily vaguely heard Sarah laughing in her ear, but it was lost on her as she watched JJ, nothing but pain etched across her beautiful face. But what broke her heart the most was the strength that she saw slowly leaving her features, the strength that she was still clutching to. Why was she trying so desperately to pretend that she was fine? Perhaps she knew how guilty Emily felt? But Emily had heard the words that had left the blonde's mouth earlier; why would she care enough to save her feelings now?

"Take it all in, Emily." The voice came again. "Next time it's her brains that you'll be watching drain from her. Do you know what sound a bullet makes when it hits bone? When it hits the skull, Emily?"

"Fuck you! Fuck. You." Emily was at breaking point; this needed to end now.

"Perhaps later. Right now we're going to play that game. And this time, beautiful, we'll have none of your tricks. Okay?" The last word was spoken in such a mocking manner that Emily struggled to ignore the fire that had reignited within her veins and Sarah could see it. She could see it, but she didn't care; it just made this game more fun.

Emily watched as Sarah placed one bullet into her gun before speaking. "She's not even conscious, Sarah. How is she any use to you now?"

"Oh she's conscious enough. Besides, lighten up. You might win." She winked at Emily, excitement evident on her face. "Let's start out easy. A warm up. When is my birthday?"

Emily looked at her incredulous. "What?" Was she seriously asking her that question?

"Come on, Emily. You don't really want to test my patience again, do you?"

Remembering the prior outcome bitterly, she forced through gritted teeth. "May 25th."

"See that wasn't so hard, was it?" The smaller woman took up a position beside JJ and stretched out her arm until the barrel of the gun was pressed firmly against the blonde's temple. "Now, let's try another. Remember, get it wrong and.."

Emily almost jumped at the child-like gunshot imitation that tore from Sarah's lips. "Get on with it."

"Very well." It was subtle, but Sarah's voice changed as she posed her next question. "Why did you leave?"

The smaller woman was still giving off her clearly psychotic vibe, but there was something in this question that was different. Something that told Emily that as much as this situation was killing her, asking that question alone was killing Sarah. She was uncertain of how to answer, though; not sure what would be deemed as wrong and what would be deemed as right. She could tell her the truth; that she was too much, that she didn't want to be with her, but Emily wasn't sure at this point that Sarah was looking for that kind of truth.

"Because.." Emily paused for a second. "Sometimes relationships just don't work out, Sarah."

Sarah didn't wait for anymore. "Wrong answer."

Emily was certain that her heart was going beat right out of her chest in that second; the second between those words leaving the smaller woman's lips and the click of the gun that told her that she had had another lucky escape.

"Who's a lucky girl?" Sarah's voice seemed to be lacking confidence now, though Emily wasn't sure why. "Why did you tell me that you loved me?"

And then it hit her. She had genuinely wanted to know the real reason why she had left; her lack of confidence evidence of her disappoint at not finally getting that answer. But could Emily really answer this question? Could she really tell her why?

She couldn't believe her luck when the rope snapped against her wrist, and she wondered for a second if Sarah had heard it too. She had been unconsciously rubbing the thick string against the back of the chair since JJ had been shot. Nerves, she put it down to. Or perhaps, instinct. She didn't know, but she didn't care.

"Emily, I'm waiting!"

The voice not only snapped her back into reality, but told her too that the smaller woman hadn't heard or noticed the surprise on her face. But she didn't know what to do now. Should she make her move? Of course.. the gun would then be pointed her way, but that was okay.

Opting to play it carefully, she composed herself and then began to answer the question. "Because.." But the slight movement from the blonde body opposite diverted her path, and as the movement stole Sarah's attention momentarily, Emily seized her opportunity.

She lunged forward at the same speed as the bullet that tore suddenly through her chest, knocking her backwards to the ground with a loud thud. She was certain that she'd heard a second gunshot right after, but as her mind faded, she really couldn't be certain. She pressed a hand to the wound and fought the darkness that was taking over, but eventually, the last bit of strength that she held drained from her body almost mockingly.

Her world faded to black, once bright eyes closed, and she was done.

Author's Note 3: Sorry. ;)