CHAPTER 12: Derailed (Season 1, episode 9)

Character(s): Greenaway, Reid

A/N: Reference to the episode "L.D.S.K.", and usual spoilers for this particular episode, particularly in relation to the unsub and the ending, as well. Dialogue quotes courtesy of the episode writer, Jeff Davis.

Mild swearing, hence the change in rating. And to clear up potential confusion, scenes in Elle's portion of the story will be divided up by a series of "OOOO"s, but when the actual POV switches over to Reid, there will be a proper line break once again.

"We must all hang together or most assuredly we shall hang separately." - Benjamin Franklin

My cheek was stinging from where he hit me. The air in the passenger car was stiflingly hot. I wanted the kid ranting next to me to shut the hell up already. I remained handcuffed to my seat, unable to move very far. I was getting incredibly antsy.

And, oh, yeah, there was a dead body nearby.

I'd been racing through my options, trying to recall my training for moments like this. It felt like I've tried everything so far. I've tried to get the other hostages to remain calm, with varying degrees of luck. Everyone is quite close to losing it, literally and figuratively.

I've also offered myself up for more beatings, to no avail. And of course, I've tried talking patiently, ever so patiently, to Ted, the man currently holding us hostage. But all he seems to hear and care about are the voices in his head, all he's worried about is the chip he claims is inside him. The only saving grace is the woman caring for him, Dr. Denton. She's talking to him in soothing, motherly tones. And she's the only one he seems to trust right now.

I can't help but notice the bitter irony. Ted's sitting here ranting, insistent that the government is watching him. In this case, he's actually right. And they're closer than he realizes. My team is right outside, and for once, I wish they'd just screw the damn protocol and storm in here already.

My wish is partially granted moments later as someone enters the train.

"Hello, everyone." The voice is low, quiet, slightly pitchy. I don't need to look at who's talking. I know that voice.

They sent Reid in? Really? And he's unarmed. Fantastic.

The sound of Velcro and a vest sliding off finally makes me turn around. No! What is he doing?

My eyes follow Reid as he comes over to sit in front of Ted, whose gun is pointed at him the whole time. Be careful, Reid. Please.

OOOO

I gotta admit, I'm impressed. Reid's managed to strike up quite the rapport with Ted. He's sympathetic, chatty, playing along with the guy's delusions. Right now they're both talking about Ted's "implanted chip" the way two people would talk about the weather.

Which makes it all the more amazing when Reid actually manages to produce a real live "chip". From where, I don't know, but it seems to placate Ted for a moment. Until he insists the chip be turned on and oh, give me a fucking break already with this.

He's getting agitated at Reid's insistence that the chip won't work. I can see the wheels in Reid's head spinning as he looks for an explanation. I can't stand this – I have to jump in.

"Because it has to be implanted."

A flash of something…gratitude? Surprise?...flickers through Reid's eyes momentarily upon hearing my response. Ted looks confused, but hey, so long as he's not waving that gun around, I won't complain.

Unfortunately, though, a phone soon starts ringing. And ringing. And ringing. And ringing. Dear god, somebody please make it stop already…

That damned kid's rant starts up again. As does the chaos.

OOOO

Dr. Denton's been shot. And the phone is ringing. Again.

I start talking again. Whether it's to drown out the noise or because I need to do my job, I'm not even sure anymore. "Ted? No one else on this train is an agent but me," I insist. I'll be damned if Reid goes down with me. "I'm the only one, you can let everyone else go."

Reid takes that moment to make a plea to Ted to get Denton some help. Ted's response is to stand up, raise his gun, and point it at the phone.

It stops ringing. Well. That was helpful. Much as I hated that noise, I'm completely and totally terrified now. He's giving up.

"Dr. Bryar?" Reid's voice pipes up again.

Ted spins and points his gun right at him, and my heart drops. "Reid!"

Reid makes a "settle down" motion with his hand towards me. And just like that, he's suddenly calm, cool, and collected, talking to Ted as if nothing scary is going on. He can see this Leo, he knows the guy's just trying to trick Ted. He's so convincing that even I'm starting to believe him – the guy would make one heck of an actor.

Somehow the subject changes to Bryar's studies. Once Reid gets into the topic of string theory I lean in even closer. In any other instance, this is where I would tune him out, but now…now I don't think I should. For once, I'm incredibly thankful to hear Reid rambling away. It's all going quite well – we might just be able to make it.

But then something, or someone catches Ted's attention, and the next thing I know, there's pushing and shoving and people wrestling about. Everyone screams as a shot rings out.

A few moments later I see it. Ted slumped in a seat. Blood staining his shirt, courtesy of a shot fired by one of the other hostages. Reid's hovering over him, weapon in hand, a dazed look on his face. I know he's thinking the same thing I am.

Did that really just happen?

OOOO

I'm not sure if the opened trunk area of a police car is any more comfortable than a train, but right now, I don't care, I'll take it. Reid's been sitting next to me, pestering me to get checked out. I try to make an appeal to Gideon to get Reid to back off. It doesn't work, though we do get a nice joke out of it, and the laughter feels so good.

I sneak a glance at the scrawny young man sitting next to me. The one who managed to talk down an unsub and wrestle a weapon away from him. It was unreal. As was the next sentence out of my mouth.

"Um, Reid, you probably saved my life in there…"

He smiles bashfully, a lone strand of hair falling in front of his eye. It's cute and driving me nuts all at the same time.

"Probably? I totally saved your life." I resist the urge to raise my eyebrows. Where the hell'd that come from, Doctor? I have to admit, I'm quite liking the side of Reid I've seen today.

But just as quickly as it appeared, the confidence is gone, and he's back to being the awkward genius I know. He understood Bryar…he knows what it's like. I try and ask him about that. He tosses off an answer, not quite looking at me as he does so.

I'm surprised once again when he rests a hand on my leg, with one more whispered plea to go to the hospital. Yes, all right already, I hear you, Reid. I almost want to ask him if he has any suggestions on how to get the echo of that ringing phone out of my head.

Instead, he wanders off. And I'm even more mystified by him.

They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result each time.

This was my second time in a hostage situation. The last time had turned out well (for everyone but Dowd, that is), and for the most part, so did this situation. A security guard unfortunately died, and Ted and his doctor are injured, but everyone else is fine.

Also, I voluntarily went into this situation without a weapon. I took my vest off despite being told not to.

So where exactly does that leave me in regards to the definition?

I can feel my legs shaking. Gideon's in the aisle, breathing a sigh of relief. He begins ushering everyone out, standing in the doorway and signaling for a medic.

My focus is on Elle. Freed of her restraint, she reaches towards me as I help her up. Despite her protests, she lets me lead her out, clutching her left wrist and trembling. Her cheek is still bruised and bloody, and I'm clearly staring far too intensely at her, if her shifting's anything to go by. Upon finding a spot to sit, she pulls back from me, but I can't stop staring, looking her over.

Honestly, while I hate that she had to be part of this, I also don't know how well I would've handled everything without her. She was tough and steady, quick on her feet – I actually almost wanted to hug her for her help with Ted and the chip. She was willing to sacrifice herself to save everyone. If she hadn't knocked him off his balance towards the end, I…I don't know what would've happened.

There's a moment, while we're sitting together on the back of the car, where I actually manage to crack a few jokes that make her smile. We've gotten on well enough before, Elle and I, but today seems…different. It's like there's new levels of respect between us. I feel like I'm finally starting to be truly comfortable around her.

"You know what you said in there, to Bryar? That…you know what it's like?"

Oops. Well, maybe not that comfortable.

My next words come out very carefully. "He was a delusional psychotic. I was merely…playing into his fantasy." Much to my relief, Elle doesn't say anything further. I pat her on the leg – for comfort or thanks, I'm not sure which – and that's the end of that particular conversation.

I think she thinks I was talking about myself. If that's the case, she'd be wrong. Mostly.

But really, it doesn't matter. I really did say all of that stuff to keep Bryar focused and occupied. That was the whole point, right? I had to do my job. I had to profile him, had to learn how to deceive and distract him. Just like with the magic trick. The two activities lend themselves well to one another, really, when you think about it.

Look over here. Focus on the cards. Listen to who's talking to you.

Pick a card. Pick a voice.

A swift, barely noticeable shuffle and I've got the card.

A swift, barely noticeable shuffle and I've got the weapon.

Is this your card? Is this why you did it?

And just as a magician never reveals their secrets, neither should a profiler.

"Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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