A/N: Yup, the new chapter is definitely here. (BEAMS) Before getting on with the story, though…

THANK YOU, so much, for your reviews and listings! So many of you have decided to stick around this sequel. (gets all starry eyed)

Heh, stalling is rude, isn't it? Soooo… Let's move! I truly hope that this chapter turns out worth the wait.

Into a Ocean of Ice

Outside the government building the remaining group waited and waited, far longer than would've been reasonable or safe. Stood by, desperate to see all members of their bizarre family walk out alive and well. Instead only Maeve appeared, a wild, horrified look in her eyes. Cold filled all of them while a chilling realization dawned.

"What happened?" Aaron demanded as soon as the car's door was torn open.

Maeve swallowed loudly. Her eyes weren't dry. "We… We need to help him", she pleaded. "He went there alone and locked the entrance. We have to get him out of there!"

Before they had the chance to respond Emily and Derek appeared as well, aiding Penelope along. Their faces held grim expressions. It looked like Penelope had been crying recently. Instantly they came to a mutual, solemn understanding.

"They have him", Derek breathed out. There was a palpable amount of rage on the man's face. "Those bastards…!"

"We know", Aaron confirmed stiffly. The unit chief's eyes revealed just how much even the thought pained him. "But if we want to help him, at all… We need to leave, for now."

They all glanced towards the direction the unit chief nodded. Soldiers had already gathered outside. In a blink one noticed them and began to gesture wildly. After mere moments a solid attack was in motion against them.

Derek evaluated their options although he hated gambling on his best friend's safety and very life like that.

They could stay and fight, of course. But what good would that do against such a massive enemy? They'd be captured, perhaps even worse. And how much help would they be then?

And so, going against his very nature, Derek decided that he had no other choice but to turn his back on a man he considered his brother, a man who just came back.

Clearly Maeve wasn't able to see things that way. Helpless rage took over her face when she understood that they were preparing to leave. "We can't just…!"

"Maeve." Emily's voice was tight and firm. Her eyes were pure steel despite the visible pain. "He wanted you to be safe. All of you. Do not do this to him."

In some other situation Derek might've been suspicious of those curious words. As it was he inhaled a sigh of relief upon noticing that they worked. While they sped off, narrowly missing the first bullets, Derek knew that this was something he'd never forgive himself for.

From a entirely too wide experience Spencer knew not to reveal that he was awake instantly. So apparently it was just a tranquilizer dart. Which didn't mean that it wouldn't have made damage when fired upon such close range, since he could smell blood. His neck also hurt hellishly and he didn't have to be a genius to comprehend what the sticky substance covering the skin was. Otherwise he was, apparently, uninjured. Which without a doubt wouldn't last long. A strong sterile reek lingered in the air, making his head hurt.

For a few more moments he lay on the cell cubicle's floor, simply breathing and trying to rouse himself as throughoutly as possible for what was to come. He focused his attention on the bizarre tapping sound. And then his eyes opened, only halfway but still.

Through a bit of blur he saw Erica Leonor.

She tilted her head. It was impossible to read the look in her eyes. "Good morning." The scientist nodded towards her right. "There's some food and water for you. I'd imagine that you're thirsty, at very least, after the whole… debacle."

Spencer's eyes shifted somewhat against his will, the desire to ease his dry, scratchy throat overwhelming everything else. There was a bottle of water alright, along with what looked like a ham sandwich in wrappings. They were exactly one finger's length away from his reach. He didn't bother to point it out. Of course she knew.

Spencer didn't bother to try moving, either. Even without looking he could feel the steel, perhaps even thorns, digging into his ankle. It wasn't until at that brutal moment the pain finally registered fully. It was like his skin had been peeled off. There was definitely going to be a infection and a yet another scar.

Erica chuckled. "Don't look so crestfallen. I won't starve you to death, at least yet. In fact I'm proposing you a deal." She leaned forward, her eyes darker than before. "Call out to your mother. Or better yet, give us her current location. Then you can walk away."

Spencer's eyebrow bounced up. Of course he knew better than to trust her. Of course he wasn't planning on telling her a thing. But he was curious. "Just like that?"

"Just like that", Erica confirmed.

White, hot rage flooded through Spencer. In that moment of sheer wrath he lifted his wrist, showed her the series of numbers her father ordered to have tattooed on his skin. "There's no 'walking away just like that' for me", he spat out. "Your father already marked me, inside and out." He slammed the hand back down. "No matter how far I run a part of me will always be imprisoned, tortured and experimented on by him."

Erica's eyes narrowed. "You deserve as much. It's because of you he's dead."

Spencer snorted bitterly. "He isn't dead." He tapped his head with two fingers, then nodded vaguely towards his scars. "He's very much alive, right there."

Erica stared at him for a long, stilled moment and he would've liked to know what she was thinking. In the end she gritted her teeth hard. "As amusing as this has turned out I'm afraid that I have to cut this… chitchat short." She got up deviously slowly and calmly. "I attempted to get the answers with soft measures." She made her way to him, leaned down so that they were almost nose to nose. "Remember, Spencer… This is war time. And you're not even a human being." Her eyes flashed. "I have my ways to make hostile subjects speak out."

The drive took almost half an hour and in the end the running away group found a apartment building the remaining BAU-team had ever seen before. Noticing their expressions of confusion and perhaps even mistrust Emily, the one who provided the directions, spoke out. "This is a… hideout, of sorts. We'll be safe here for a while."

Technically 'safe' wasn't what they wanted. But at the moment it was their only choice. So they left the vehicle and walked on quietly.

The two bedroom apartment wasn't furnitured too throughoutly. There was a scent of someone having cooked recently but otherwise it felt hollow. It was only a temporary home at best.

As soon as she'd made sure that they were settled Emily began to head towards one of the bedrooms. "I need to make a couple of phone calls." She cast a demanding, almost pleading look towards them. "Don't do anything stupid in the meantime, alright? We're already in a deep enough trouble." So saying she closed the door.

Five minutes passed by with those left arguing over what the next move would be. That was until JJ noticed how Maeve was holding her stomach, wincing every now and then. "Are you okay?" she asked instantly.

Maeve frowned. She seemed to be shaking a little. "I'm not sure", the woman confessed quietly. She eyed on the others nervously, clearly much too aware that at the moment she was the centre of their attention. The woman stiffened a bit further.. "I'm… pregnant. And… something doesn't feel right."

For a moment shock paralyzed JJ. Then she nodded, very slowly. "Okay. Okay." She tried to keep her expression calm and reassuring although everything inside her was in a state of chaos. "Come on. It's probably nothing but maybe I can try to give you a checkup. Then you'll need to get some rest. Okay?"

Maeve nodded a bit numbly, the terror never leaving her eyes and her hand never leaving her still flat stomach.

Leading Maeve towards a bedroom JJ knew too well that she wasn't enough of a support. The only person who could've made the scientist feel better and calmer… couldn't be there at the moment. She could only hope that for now she'd manage to protect his little family for him.

Without a single word of warning a pitch black bag was pulled over Spencer's head, sealing the rest of the world effectively from sight. His heart raced and cold sweat lingered on his skin while he waited tensely, tried to listen. He heard steps, three people entering the room.

And then a needle pierced his skin.

He struggled, of course. Like any sane person would. But the dosage they gave him was stronger than his natural instincts. The part of him that still remained aware and alert shuddered with chilling realization when a much too familiar dull hue began to take over his brain. It wasn't enough to send him into oblivion but it certainly rendered him rather immobile. The perfect amount.

"Feels familiar, doesn't it?" Erica noted snidely. "According to the hospital documents my father had there was a large dosage of Dilaudid in your bloodstream when you were rescued from Tobias Hankel. I thought I should try the same."

Spencer wanted to cry, wanted to scream and rant and fight with all there was in him. But the drug… It was too much. The dullness that once upon a time brought comfort now felt more like a prison.

He was grabbed roughly and dragged on. He didn't know how long. He lost track after thirty seconds.

Then, once more without a warning, the hood was removed. Exposing his eyes to a blinding white light. He groaned because screaming was out of the question and attempted to close his eyes but couldn't.

Was he… dead? Did his heart give out? Because this unnatural whiteness…

But then his eyes began to adjust and he came to the sullen conclusion that he was nowhere near heaven. Quite the opposite. He was in a brand new laboratory, with three men standing by and Erica right in front of him. From behind a breeze of uncomfortably cool air brushed him. And all of a sudden his foggy, doped head began to catch on.

Erica's smile was ice. "I have a feeling that you may guess what's up ahead, even in that pathetic condition. But the thing is… You have the chance to avoid it." She leaned closer. "Give in to the drug, Spencer, and speak out. Then you won't have to face it."

Even without Dilaudid affecting his head Spencer's analytical mind would've concluded that giving her what she wanted to know would've been the smartest move. But the consequences… He didn't think that he would've been able to live with them, anyway. So he lifted his chin valiantly, squeezing his lips together tightly.

"Where… is… you… mother?"

The drug gave Spencer the courage to do what he would've never done with a clear head. He spat, from the bottom of his heart and soul. Seeing the expression that flashed on Erica's face was almost worth enduring what was to come.

"Fine", Erica sneered, her eyes flashing hazardously. "Since you fail to see what's good for you… Drop him!"

And Spencer fell. Or actually, it felt more like flying. Until he landed into what seemed like a ocean of ice cold water.

The sheer cold took away his breath instantly. His lungs screamed while he struggled with all his might, desperately attempting to free his hands and legs. But the restraints held. And the water around him… Was it actually getting colder by the second? It was like someone had been carving his flesh with shards of glass.

He was pulled back up so unexpectedly that he yelped, wasting a golden opportunity for a nice, good breath.

"Once more." Erica's voice sounded unnaturally loud to his ears. "Where is your mother?"

Still stubborn to the core of his being Spencer kept his quiet. He flew again. Crashlanded to ice again.

The water began to dull his senses and although he knew that he should've been alarmed he welcomed it. Anything was better than the agonizing cold taking over all of him. Flashes flew through his head. Faces.

His mother. His team – his second family. Maeve.

Until even they didn't matter. Until he slipped into some place deep within where nothing mattered anymore. Even breathing.

He was pulled up again. This time he barely heard Erica's voice as she snarled out her demand. Her face seemed awfully blurry to him.

He flew. Sank. Became pulled back up again. The cycle repeated endlessly, to a point where he couldn't tell the difference of being up and down anymore. By the time he closed his eyes a blanket of warmth wrapped around him.

He landed softly into a ocean of pure white light.

Waiting was the absolutely worst part of all and the remaining team did whatever they could to make it through the endless minutes. Almost as soon as JJ had vanished to one of the apartment's small bedrooms with Maeve Aaron and David retreated for a talk. Which left just Derek and Penelope.

Penelope managed to keep up a stunningly brave face for a while. But then, inevitably, the act crumbled. Once one tear had rolled more weren't far behind. And in the end she broke down to quiet yet heartbreaking sobs.

Derek's heart shattered at the sight. "Hey…!" he soothed, then took a step closed and sealed her into a firm embrace. "Stop that, right now. This wasn't your fault, do you hear me? None of this."

Penelope attempted to speak but for a long time all that came out was all sobs. "I… The bureau… They wouldn't have been able to destroy it without my help. I almost…! And Reid…!" She wiped her eyes although more moisture appeared immediately. "I… I swear that I never…!"

Derek smiled just a little bit although it was hard. On the spur of the moment he guided them so that they were sitting on the couch. "I know, baby girl. That big heart of yours… It'd never allow you to hurt someone."

There was a long moment of surprisingly peaceful, perhaps exhausted silence. Penelope's voice was so quiet that he barely heard when she spoke. "Do you think we'll get him back this time?"

Derek gritted his teeth. Tried to find the faith from his heart. "Of course we will. Maeve would kill him herself if he'd try to leave her now."

He may have dozed off for a bit, or perhaps he just got lost into his thoughts. When he finally came back to himself an hour had passed by. Penelope was working furiously on her laptop, very familiar determination on her face. That was until something on the TV nearby caught her attention and she gasped.

Derek frowned, his protective instincts activating instantly. "Garcia? What is it?"

"This… This is horrible", Penelope admitted. Her voice broke although there was astonishment and maybe even a touch of joy in her eyes. "And… I'll never forgive myself for what I've done in the middle of all this. Or what happened to Reid because of me. But…" She nodded towards the TV someone had turned on at some point. A news broadcast seemed to be on. "We're not in this alone."

Curiosity took over despite all else and Derek turned his head. It took him a while to process what, exactly, was happening on the TV-screen. When it finally sunk in his eyes widened.

There, right outside the building they just lost Spencer into, was a constantly growing amount of people. Protesters. They were all screaming in almost perfect unison, demands for justice and peace filling the air. The crowd wasn't even nearly large enough in number to make any actual difference but too large to be just wiped out without a care.

Derek blinked twice. "Are those… the Others?" Was there going to be another battle, with Spencer inside?

Penelope nodded. "Some. There's a lot of humans, too."

For a few moments Derek was stunned into silence. His voice wasn't as strong as usual when he finally found it. "How did they know to go there?"

"I… may have helped them out a bit. The miracles of social media." Penelope's eyes were moist but full of determination when he met them. "We… We're not the only ones scared and hurting, Morgan. This isn't just out battle. One day soon this whole nightmare will be over and we'll be safe. All of us, Reid included."

Derek's eyes were solemn while he focused on the news once more. Memories of all the horrors he'd seen, of how very close to death Spencer came the previous time, flooded into his head. Something inside him turned unbearably cold. "I really hope that you're right."

From inside the government building Erica Leonor observed the sight down below, her nose wrinkled with distaste.

Fools, all of them, she thought to herself.

Taking a deep sight that didn't succeed in helping with her fried nerves at all she glanced downwards at her left hand. The distaste from before turned into very much open disgust. The limb was still trembling.

Erica was about to head for the secret stash in the upper drawer of her desk. That was until she realized that she was no longer alone. Her eyes narrowed. "You should know better than to sneak up on a armed person", she pointed out sharply. She did her best to hide her unsteady hand without making it too obvious. "It was quite a shot, the one you took. He went down in a flash, without even getting the chance to see you properly."

She turned her gaze to meet Alex Blake. There was a storm in the older woman's eyes and a throughoutly torn look on her pale face. "I held my end of the bargain." It was spat out like the most bitter of all poisons. "Now I'm expecting you to hold yours. Where is my son?"

TBC

A/N: Yeeeeeeah, stalling is rude but cliffies aren't…?

Okay, hold on a sec. So BLAKE of all people was the one who shot Reid – and her son's alive?! And wait, wait, wait… Did… Reid… just…? (gulps)

I've really gotta get going now. Please, do leave a note to let me know your thoughts! Do try to control the urge to strangle me, though, yeah?

Until next time! I really hope that I'll see you all there.

Take care!