Ringing. Sharp ear piercing ringing. JJ squeezes her eyes tight before opening them slowly. The brightness of the sun makes her flinch before she sits up slowly. The events filling her mind quickly as she starts to come to. She opens her eyes and watches as the house before her burns. It exploded as her and the team were moving in. She reaches up to her head and brings back a small amount of blood. As she looks around she sees swat and her team all coming to. As she stands up Morgan rushes over to her.
"JJ are you ok?" He asks
"Mac. Where is she?" JJ asks looking around. Morgan doesn't say anything but looks back at the house. JJ's face drops before her head snaps towards the house.
"No." She tries to take off but Morgan catches her. "MACKENZIE!!" She screams, her blue eyes shining with tears, as the house continues to burn
12 hours earlier.
JJ lays in bed and watches her girlfriend sleep peacefully. Her Carmel skin shines in the moonlight, her black hair flowing down her back, she's never been so vulnerable than in this moment. She has the honor of seeing her this way, and in the moment she can't remember why they keep their love a secret. Morgan was nothing but supportive and promised to keep their secret, on the condition that Mac would get a drink with him.
"You ok?" The voice brings her back out of her thoughts and blue meets green and JJ can't help the smile that spreads across her face.
"Hi." JJ smiles and rests her head on her hand. Mac smiles and brushes a hand across JJ's face.
"Thinking about Morgan?" Mac questions and JJ laughs.
"Profiling me Agent?"
"Just asking." Mac smiles and JJ shakes her head.
"I was just thinking, Morgan responded so well... I don't know, makes me wonder why we are doing this in the first place." JJ watches the expression change on Mac's from joking to serious.
"The team.."
"They love us." JJ smiles interrupting her girlfriend. "They would want us to be happy." Mac watches JJ for a while. She would never in a million years deny JJ.
The shrill ring of their phones interrupt both of their thoughts. They look away from each other and at their phones.
"It's Hotch." Mac says before they both jump up out of bed and dressing quickly.
xxxxx
"What's going on?" Mac asks as she walks into the police station and sees the team grouped up.
They turn and look at her before Hotch hands her a tablet.
"The Unsub made contact with the family." Mac looks down and then looks back in confusion.
"What? That's not his MO. First set of boys he just kidnapped them. This doesn't make sense." Mac says looking down at her tablet.
"He's getting bolder." Hotch comments as Mac looks back up. They all walk over to the table where Reid is looking down at a map.
"Any progress on his comfort zone?" Morgan asks and they all look at Reid.
"No not yet, but I'm getting close. Between the place the boys where found and the park where the other boys where kidnapped, it's about a 10 mile radius. It's very possible the unsub is unfamiliar with the city." Reid says quickly keeping his eyes in the map.
"How do you figure?" Morgan asks.
"Because look at both sites. Both sites are right off the freeway, not very far into the city." Reid says pointing it out.
"Yea but that could be a forensic counter measure. He could be trying to throw us off his scent." Mac adds.
"Or on his way somewhere..." Prentiss trails off walking over to the board. "Look at this. You follow the freeway down and you get to..."
"An airport." Rossi finishes.
"And not just any airport. An international airport." Hotch says.
"Yea, but what kind of teacher travels internationally?" JJ says, making her appearance known. Everyone turns and JJ hands Hotch some paperwork.
"Press conference is on." JJ whispers and Hotch nods.
"He's not a teacher." Mac stands up and walks over to the board. "He's a doctor." Everyone looks at Mac. Realization crosses their faces.
"Makes sense. The sense of safety, knowing how to keep the boys alive but weakened without actually killing them." Prentiss says.
"What kind of doctor has the time to kidnap young boys, Spend that amount of time With them and still finds time to travel."
"Doctors without borders." Mac whispers slowly. She sits With her thought before turning quickly.
"Oh my god. He works for Doctors Without Borders." The team all look up at her.
"Think about it. No one would think twice seeing a doctor with two boys. And if he is a doctor he could've easily written a doctors note." Mac exclaims.
"I'm not sure I'm following." Rossi speaks up. Everyone looks at Rossi before looking back at Mac.
"The airport." Mac points on the map. "His cover is Doctors Without Borders. He is writing his own doctors notes to get the boys on the plane with just a ticket..."
"And when they return no one would question a returning doctor with seemingly poor children who need medical attention." Morgan adds finishing Mac's thought.
"Explains the malnutrition and the clothes. Also explains how the boys were never found or sighted during the 6 years they were missing." Prentiss says.
"Ok let's re-concentrate our Search to doctors Who have left and returned with children." Hotch hits the speaker button. "Garcia."
"My Liege." Garcia answers.
"I need you find all doctors who have left and returned to the country with children."
"Cross reference that with doctors who have lost their jobs in the last 8 Years. This guy needs all the control he can get. Its possible he lost his job." Rossi adds in.
"As soon as I know you will. Over and out." Garcia hangs up and the team look at each other.
"Ok, Morgan, Foster. I want you to interview our kid in custody. He might be able to tell us something. The rest of you, JJ is going to fill you in on the press conference." Hotch walks away and the team separates into their respective groups.
xxxxxxx
"What?" Mac says keeping her eyes on the suspect. Suspect, sounds weird to say. He was a boy. Just a kid. 15 at the most.
"You and JJ." Macs head turns quickly to look around before looking at her best friend.
"How long?" He asks and Mac looks back at the suspect.
"2 years." She answers and Morgan raises his eyebrows. She turns her head to look at him. "What?" She questions again.
"So when you got hurt in Orlando and JJ had a family reunion?" Morgan questions.
"She was taking care of me." Mac confirms his suspicions.
"And when you both had the flu?" Morgan asks again things suddenly making sense
"1 year anniversary vacation." Mac answers.
"Hotch and Rossi?" Morgan questions. Mac again looks around before shaking her head. "Why not? I mean I get not wanting the FBI to know. But the team, they would be thrilled." Morgan says trying to reassure her.
"You sound like JJ." Mac says looking up at him. "Can we talk about this later, what our game plan with this kid." Mac dismisses. She sighs and runs a hand through her hair.
"Your therapist know?" Morgan asks and Mac's eyes snap up and she turns her body to day something before Hotch walks into the room.
"The team is prepped and ready to the press conference. What is the game plan?" Hotch asks and Mac turns back to the window.
"Mac is going in first. She's going to try to appeal to him. Try to get him to open up." Mac turns and nods and Hotch squints his eyes at her.
"Are you alright?" Hotch asks and Mac nods.
"Let's do this."
xxxxxx
"Can I ask you something." Prentiss asks as JJ looks over a list of names Garcia sent. She looks up briefly before looking back at the list.
"Sure." JJ answers flipping the page over.
"How long?" Prentiss asks and JJ looks up at her. She sets her pen down and picks up her phone. She pulls one of her favorite pictures of her and Mac on their 2 year anniversary trip. She slides her phone over to Prentiss and a smile crosses her face. Mac was smiling at JJ, her green eyes shining. Her black hair pulled back into a loose bun and starting with nothing but love at JJ who looks to be in mid laugh, her blonde hair falling over shoulders. Both in dresses and champagne flutes in their hands.
"That was taken for our two year anniversary. Mac's family threw us a party." JJ says with a small laugh. Prentiss looks up, almost taken by surprise. She isn't sure what she was expecting for an answer but was definitely surprised.
"Wow.. two years.. so many things make sense." Prentiss laughs and JJ can't help but to join her.
"Yea, I guess looking back we weren't great at covering our tracks." JJ says and locks her phone. She looks up at Prentiss and smiles.
"Your family know?" Prentiss asks and JJ nods.
"I don't mean to pry but why not tell us?"
"You know, I'm not sure myself these days." JJ answers staring off into space. "It used to be we were afraid of messing up the team dynamic, but between you and Derek..."
"Wait, Morgan knows?" Prentiss asks and before JJ could answer Rossi walks into the room.
"Foster went in to talk to the kid." They both look up before looking at each other and following Rossi.
xxxxxxx
"You're wasting your time. I'm not going to talk." The boy by the name of David Speaks up as Mac walks into the interview room. She closes the door and walks over to her chair before sitting down. They make eye contact and the boy offers her a slightly sinister smile.
"Looks like that hurts." He waves his finger around his own nose. "Should get that looked at." Mac stares him down for a second before offering him a small smile.
"For a second I thought you were going to be funnier." Mac laughs lightly. The boys smile fades and he sits back.
"What do you want? You guys are keeping me here when all I was doing was talking to a friend."
"I don't talk to my friends with knives." Mac answers and the boys lips form a straight line.
"It was for protection." Mac's eyebrows raise.
"Protection? From what?" Mac says and the boys smile returns. He sits back in his chair and traces his finger along the table. Mac watches him for a second before standing up.
"Ok." She says before pushing her chair in. The boy looks up at her, confusion written on his face. "Thank you for your cooperation, well... lack there of." She turns on her heel and starts to walk towards the door.
"What is she doing?" Prentiss says and Morgan folds his arms across his chest.
"Watch." He points back into the room where the boy is starting to stand up.
"Wait." He says and Mac stops in her tracks. She turns around and looks at him. They share a moment of silence before the boy breaks eye contact and sits down slowly.
"Look, I didn't mean to scare him. I just..." he stops and Mac walk back over to her chair and sits down. She wait while she watches the boy break down in front of her. His tears are hard for her to watch, the sound is hard for her to listen. She looks at the boy but her mind starts to replay events in her head
-Flashback-
Bang!
The shot rings out and hits her target. Mac stands with her gun drawn as the gunman falls. Bits of her Black hair sticking to her face as the rain pours down on them. Mac runs over to the fallen gunman. Rain hitting her shoes. She kicks the gun away and rolls over her suspect only to be faced with a kid. He is crying out in pain.
"I'm sorry." He cries out. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to protect my brother."
His cries start to fade as Mac comes back out of her flash back. She stares at the boy in front of her as she leans forward in her chair.
"We can't help you-"
"No one can help me!" The boy screams out and jumps up. Mac doesn't flinch and watches the boy walk away from the table. He runs his hands through his hair.
"David, no one can help you until you help us understand why you were in Jason's room." David doesn't do anything but continue to pace with his hands tangled in his hair.
"He was already traumatized." Mac watches the boy as he continues to get worked up. She looks back at the glass and Derek looks at Hotch.
"Hotch, she's about to break this kid." Morgan waits for Hotch to nod before he walks over to the door.
"They are really good team when it come to interrogation, but This kid is unstable. He might snap." Rossi says quietly to Hotch.
"I know." Hotch responds before looking back into the room. David continues to pace and Mac continues to try to get him to calm down and talk to her. Before she could get another word in, Morgan walks into the room. David's head snaps up and he glares at Morgan.
"Get out." He points towards to door.
"Listen kid, you don't call the shots-"
"I said GET OUT." David's scream turns into a pleading cry as he breaks down. "Both of you!" Mac looks at Morgan before standing up and following him out the room. Mac makes sure the door is closed before she looks at Hotch.
"Hotch, I had him." Mac says and Hotch nods his head.
"I know you did. And you still do." Hotch points back to the room where the boy appears to be crying with his head down. "He is sitting with the weight of his guilt. And while he does we need to continue working our profile." Mac looks back into the room as Hotch walks away.
xxxxxx
Mac sits at the table as everyone as everyone works around her. Her thoughts start to fade off again but this time a more pleasant one.
-Flashback-
JJ's laughs fill the air as she holds on to her wine glass. Red wine filled both of their glasses as they sat on the couch in Mac's loft. Mac couldn't help but to laugh along with the blonde. Her laugh was infectious. A lot of her was. Mac manages to pry her eyes from JJ and sits forward on her couch, setting her wine glass down on coffee table. As she places her hand on the bottle JJ touches the back of her hand lightly. Mac turns her head and is surprised at how close JJ got to her. Green Eyes meets blue eyes and JJ reaches to brush hair out of Mac's face.
"What is this?" JJ whispers. Mac says nothing and JJ leans her forehead against Mac's softly.
-End Flashback-
As Mac comes out of her thoughts she tunes into Reid and Morgan work on a geographical profile, Hotch and JJ were talking about the press conference and when she looks over at Rossi he is smiling at her. He stands up and touches her shoulder before walking up and out of the station. Mac grabs her leather jacket from the back of her chair before following Rossi out. As she walks out JJ looks up and watches her. She knows she threw off her girlfriend by suggesting they come clean to the team. She just knows what secrets do. Secrets killed her sister, tore apart her family. She didn't have a sense of family until she started working with the BAU. She looks up at Hotch who is staring at her carefully.
"JJ, are you alright?" Hotch asks and JJ offers a tight smile and nods.
"Yea." She smiles and looks back down at the statement she and Hotch were working on for the press.
xxxxxx
"You've been oddly silent lately." Rossi says as he drops his change in the tip jar. Mac looks at him as she sips her coffee and walks to the door.
"It's been a tough case." Mac says as they walk to the car.
"It isn't just that. You've been distracted. Almost secretive." Rossi says and Mac can't help but to chuckle.
"Are you profiling me?" Mac asks and Rossi smiles.
"It is what we do best." Mac smiles and stops to look at Rossi. The slight breeze blows her hair and she tucks it behind her ear and takes a breath.
"I've been going to therapy for what happened in Milwaukee." Mac doesn't look up at Rossi. Rather she continues to watch cars pass by. Rossi stays silent before leaning up against the SUV.
"I knew about therapy." Mac looks up at Rossi, his statement taking her completely by surprise.
"What?" She laughs and Rossi smiles.
"Hotch told me." Rossi explains and Mac smiles and sips her coffee again. "You seemed relieved." Rossi comments and Mac looks at him in confusion.
"Well I mean, I don't know. It is weird keeping it from everyone." She watches Rossi's face and she bites her lip and looks away.
"You know." She says simply and Rossi smiles again.
"Of course I know." Mac nods and sighs before tucking hair behind her ear again.
"How long have you known?" She asks not meeting his eye line.
"A couple weeks. I don't know all the details but..." he stops and puts a hand on Mac shoulder. "You guys really gotta stop getting the flu together." Rossi jokes and Mac manages to crack a smile before a tear escapes and she wipes it away quickly.
"Why the tears?" Rossi questions.
"Because JJ was right. It was dumb to keep it a secret." Mac says and Rossi shakes his head.
"It wasn't dumb. You were scared. A change that big in the team would scare anyone. The only thing I can't figure out is how long." Rossi says with a smile and Mac shakes her head.
"You don't want to know." Mac says as she opens her door to the SUV.
"I feel like you are insulting my profiling skills." Rossi laughs.
"Well it's been more than a couple weeks." Mac laughs as they start driving.
xxxx
Back at the station Reid is reading over a file when he stands up and picks up some piece of paper.
"Guys, I think Mac was right. But not in the way we think." Everyone looks up and Reid picks up a marker.
"Here is where the Jason and Jadon were found walking. And here is where the other boys were kidnapped. And here is what is in the middle." Reid points a hospital out on the map.
"How did we miss that?" Prentiss says and Morgan looks at it.
"It's a small hospital. Mostly likely private practice. It wouldn't have shown up on Garcia's search." Morgan says.
"So wait. What are we saying, a doctor is kidnapping boys and keeping them in the hospital pretending they are sick kids." JJ says and everyone stays silent for a second.
"We need to deliver the profile. JJ. Is the press ready?" Hotch asks and JJ nods her head. "Good. I'm going to have Mac and Dave check out the hospital. If our unsub works there, they will know."
xxxxxx
"That was Hotch." Mac says hanging up her phone. "I was right about him being a doctor but wrong about where he works. They think he works or operates a private hospital. Can you guess where?" Mac says and Rossi turns the car around.
"Right in the middle of the confront zone." Rossi answers as they speed toward the hospital. As soon as they get there Mac gets an uneasy feeling. She always gets a gut feeling when they are closing in on an unsub. She looks at Rossi who slows down.
"You too?" He asks and Mac nods her head.
"Stay on high alert." Mac says and Rossi pulls out his phone before they walk in.
"I'm going to call in Hotch for back up." Rossi says. Mac continues to walk and Rossi looks down at his phone and finds Hotch's number and looks up. He sees the unsub coming up behind her.
"Mac!" Before he knew what was happening she was being pistol whipped. He quickly pulls out his gun.
"FBI!" Rossi sees a van pull up and another man jump out with his gun drawn. Rossi takes cover as a shot rings out and watches Mac being loaded up. He stands and takes a shot and managed to hit one of the men in the shoulder. He falls to the ground and the van speeds off. Rossi runs over to the fallen gunman and kicks his gun away. He keeps his gun pointed at the man.
"Don't you move!" Rossi quickly pulls out his phone.
"Yea Hotch. The unsub has Mac."
xxxxx
The team stands outside of the interrogation room silently. The tension is so thick you can cut it with a knife. JJ stands before the 2 way glass. Her mind moving so quick she isn't even sure what she is thinking about. Moments of her life with Mac flash before her eyes. She thinks about all the things she could change. She thinks about all the time she spent over thinking. All the time she spent not loving her. She knew this was part of being with someone on the team. There was always risk. What makes all of this worse is she can't even break down in front of her closest friends. She can't confide in them in the worst moment of her life. She struggles to keep the tears at bay. Her throat tightening, making it hard to breathe. She turns away from the glass and walks towards the back wall.
"JJ?" Reid recognizes his best friends demeanor immediately. The team all look at JJ and Morgan and Prentiss share a look before Morgan speaks up.
"Who is this guy anyway. He won't speak. He hasn't even asked for medical attention." Morgan says our loud.
"I'm not sure but who ever he is, he is going to lead us to Mac." Hotch says. Hotch pulls out his phone and speed dials Garcia. She picks up immediately.
"Sir. Tell me you found her?" Garcia asks.
"Not yet Garcia. Is the blood work back on the unsub." Hotch asks. The whole team gathers but JJ keeps her distance, leaning on a desk.
"The blood work is in and..." the team can hear Garcia typing away. "And the champion of humanity you have in custody is one Edward Johnson. He is 17 years old and... oh my." Garcia trails off as she continues to type.
"What is it Garcia?" Morgan asks.
"He is another missing boy. Reported missing 6 years ago in Alabama. Mom said he went to a park and never came home." Everyone makes contact with each other knowing exactly what that means.
"Same MO." Reid says and everyone looks back at the boy.
"The unsub has kidnapped young boys to do his dirty work." Prentiss says.
"That's where David comes in." Rossi says. The teams nods.
"Now that we know how he is using them. We can use that to our advantage. Morgan are you ready." Morgan nods.
"Let's get my best friend back." Morgan says before walking into the door. The boy looks up with nothing but a smug smile on his face.
"You're never going to find her." Morgan throws the file on the table and looks at him without sitting.
"We know who you are Edward." The boys smile fades immediately. "You've been missing for quite some time."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Morgan stays completely still before moving over the the table quickly. He slams both his hands on the table.
"This isn't a game! Boys are going missing, and my partner has been taken. So you better start knowing!" Morgan shouts aggressively. The boy, noticing Derek getting emotional, loosens slightly.
"Look, I wish I could help those boys." Edward says quietly.
"So do it." Morgan says. Edward stays silent for a second before moving his arm uncomfortably.
"We can get someone to look at that." The boy freezes and Morgan notices.
"What is it Edward. What made you uncomfortable just know?" Morgan says studying the boy.
"He's your doctor isn't he?" Morgan says. Edward just nods.
"Edward, we can help you. We can get you back to your mom. You just have to talk to us." Morgan says. Edward makes eye contact with Morgan and Morgan takes a beat before sliding him a paper with a pen.
"Where did they take Agent Foster?" The boy writes for a second. And then hands Derek the paper. Morgan reads it before smiling at him.
"Thank you." Before Morgan is even out of the room, JJ is suiting up. Morgan walks out of the room and is approached by JJ.
"I'm coming with you." Morgan tries to protest but JJ leaves no room for arguing.
xxxxxx
Mac tastes metal. Metallic. No. Blood. She opens her eyes slowly. Her vision blurry, her head throbbing. As she lifts her head it feels like a thousand pounds. She tries to take in her surroundings before she hears footsteps coming in her direction. Her vision starts to clear as everything comes back to her. She was with Rossi. Oh no, Rossi.
"Well well." She hears a hefty voice invade her thoughts and she looks up at her unsub. Standing 6'1, sandy blonde hair. Grey sides. Grey blue eyes, athletic build. Not nearly as creepy looking as Mac suspected. Mac shakes her hair out of her face and gives the unsub a tight smile.
"I'm usually better company." The unsub laughs and claps his hands.
"Yes! The old Mackenzie Foster spunk I've heard so much about." The unsub watches Mac's face change and he acts confused.
"Oh that's right. You are probably wondering how I know you. How I know your secret. Why I took you." Mac watches for a second and the unsub stares at her. His face hard as stone. There is a pregnant pause before the unsub starts laughing.
"I did a google and Facebook search." He keeps laughing and Mac sighs out and rolls her eyes.
"You just got too close. So. I have to neutralize you." Mac starts to wiggle her hands that were tied behind a chair. She feels give on the top and looks up at the unsub.
"Why? I mean why boys? Why keep them for so long." Mac asks and the unsub pick up his gun and loads a magazine in. The unsub gives Mac a creepy smile before cocking his gun.
"Well because we are a family. I chose them. And in the end. They chose me." Mac feels the rope loosen and before she can do anything another boy busts through the door.
"They arrested him!" Mac looks up and sees another boy. She stares at him and immediately recognizes him. He's been on the FBI's missing and endangered list for years.
"Who?" The unsub asks. The boy looks at Mac before looking back at the unsub. He lowers is voice slightly.
"Eddie." The unsub tenses and Mac frees on hand but leaves it behind her back.
"He's new." Mac speaks up and the unsub and the boy both look at her. "You tensed when you learned who it was. Which means you don't trust him enough. He hasn't been groomed." The boy looks scared before turning to the unsub. The unsub stares at Mac before looking at the boy.
"Alright. Get everyone into the van."
xxxxxx
"What do you have Garcia?" Hotch asks as he answers the phone. They are speeding in the SUV down the road. Driving is Derek, JJ in the front seat, Hotch, Prentiss and Reid in the back.
"Sir, I did some digging like you asked me too. 2 months before Edward was kidnapped, he was seen by an ER doctor, not at his usual doctors office, for a sprained ankle he sustained in soccer. Two weeks later, that very same ER doctor became quits his Job and becomes Edwards primary care physician." Garcia reports as she types.
"What happened to the his other doctor?"
Morgan asks.
"He disappeared a week after Edwards ER visit." Garcia reports.
"The doctors name Garcia." Hotch says.
"Tony Jameson." Garcia announces. Hotch thanks her before hanging up the phone. The car stays silent and JJ continues to stare out the window. To be honest she hardly heard what Garcia said. She was in her head. She couldn't stop thinking about how everything started with her and Mac.
-Flashback-
"You are here late." Mac walks over to JJ's desk and JJ looks up at her. JJ couldn't help but to smile at the black haired beauty before her. It was hard not to recognize how beautiful Mac was. Long black hair, green eyes, light Carmel skin. A smile that would pretty much make anyone dress down immediately. She knows she...
"JJ?" Mac's voice stops JJ's thoughts and she smiles and tucks hair Behind her ear.
"Yea I um..." she looks down at some paperwork and then looks back at her bright green eyes.
"I had some stuff to finish up." JJ finishes. Mac smiles before sitting down besides JJ's desk.
"Mind if I sit with you." Mac asks. JJ smiles and stares at Mac before finishing up her paper work. Mac watches the blonde carefully. They've had moments. Like the one in her loft. She's not sure what they meant, if they were really anything. She feels something, something she isn't even sure she should feel. As she comes back from her thoughts she sees JJ staring back at her.
"You ready?" JJ asks quietly. Mac nods before standing up and waiting for JJ to gather her things. They walk over to elevator together silently. Neither one of them willing to confront what was before them.
They stand in the elevator together. Their hands inches from each other. JJ could feel the heat off her hand. It was almost like a magnet, drawing her hand closer and closer until their knuckles were brushing against each other. Neither of them turn as their fingers interlock gently. As the elevator doors open they walk out silently.
-End Flashback-
JJ feels her eyes start to burn but she wills away the tears. She can't cry. Not yet. When she is in Mac's arms tonight, she will cry and not let her go but right now she needs to find her. She needs to be strong. She looks up and see them arriving and she sees Derek looking at her.
"What?" She says firmly. Derek pats her shoulder before he jumps out of the car. He sees SWAT pulling in and walks over to Hotch.
xxxxxx
Mac sits with her hands free as the unsub storms out and leaves the boy with a gun. He stares at her, his hands shaking and his eyes full of fear.
"Why are you doing this?" Mac asks and the boy looks down.
"Please don't." He begs before looking back to make sure the unsub wasn't coming.
"You are the one keeping me here." Mac reaching down and untying her legs while the boy is looking behind him. She stands up quickly and manages to run over to the boy and disarm him. It is a fairly quick struggle because the boy gives up easily. She points the gun at him and he raises his hands above his head.
"I'm sorry ok. I'm so sorry I just didn't want to die." Mac shakes off a flashback and lowers the gun.
"You have to come with me." Mac says grabbing his arm and looking around.
"How do you get out of here?" She asks. The boy points and Mac pulls him along. Before she could get far she hears a shot ring out and a bullet grazes her arm. She yells out and pain and falls to the ground. She flips on her back and points her gun managing to shoot twice before getting up and grabbing the boy.
"Go!" She points behind a wall and the boy runs and dives behind it. She hears two more shots ring out before silence. She places her finger over her lips before looking at her arm. Realizing she's loosing blood she peaks around the wall and hears footsteps.
"Johnny." He says in a sing song voice. "Come on buddy. You know better than to choose someone over your family." The unsub says again. Mac looks at the boy and sees his eyes closed and his head against the wall. Mac can hear the unsub stop. It is silent before she hears a flick of a lighter. When Mac looks down at the ground she sees liquid starting to Spread towards them. She looks at the boy before looking down and seeing another door. She points to the door and the boy crawls over the the door, Mac behind him. Mac closes the door and looks around the room. There's a window, but it's barred up. Before Mac could think anymore she hears a boom and the entire house shakes. She opens the door and sees fire blocking the way out. She closes the door quickly and grabs a blanket off the bed.
"Listen to me. You're going to have to trust me." She grabs the boy and pulls him down into the floor. She puts the blanket over him before Taking the metal bed frame and ramming it against the wall several times. The room is getting hotter and hotter as the fire starts to engulf the entire house. She manages to create a hole before picking the boy off the floor. She moves the bed and looks at him.
"We are going to run through the wall." She says and the boy pulls away from her.
"What?! No way. That's not going to work." He responds fearfully.
"The fire has weakened the walls, and I made a hole. We can do this." She says mostly for him but a little for herself. She has to be honest, she's terrified. She doesn't know what happened to Rossi, what is going to happen to her. What will happen to JJ.
JJ. Mac freezes for a second as her heart stops. She's so scared. She wants to get back to JJ. She needs to get back to her.
"Look kid. I have someone to get home to. Don't you?" She asks and he nods.
"My dad." He responds a tear falling.
"Ok, we have to do this. It's the only way out." Mac says and the boy nods.
"Ok."
"Ok, we have to do this together. Full strength." Mac instructs. The boy nods and Mac pulls the blanket around them before she nods and they take off towards the wall. They hit the wall and bounce off of it. They fall to the ground and both moan in pain. Mac can see part of the wall falling apart, she looks at the boy who starts to cry.
"One more time!" She lifts him up and once again pulls the blanket over them.
"Go!" She yells, and this time the wall falls apart as they hit it and they fall outside of the house. As they hit the ground they see the room engulf in flames and they look at each other. Mac stands up and they walk around the the front of the house.
xxxxx
JJ stands staring at the house burn in front of her. The team stands around her all trying to figure out what to do. The unsub set the house on fire and when he tries to leave the sudden rush of air made it explode. The fire fighters were currently trying to put out the fire. They have found two bodies. One belonging to their unsub and another to a boy. They were sure who, but they will find out and bring peace to his family. They still don't know if Mac was in there or if she is even alive. JJ couldn't think straight. She was right here and she was too late. JJ turns to the group as they all are discussing different possibilities.
"Is she dead?" JJ asks and Prentiss moves over to hug her immediately. Hotch and Rossi exchange looks and Derek looks down at his feet willing himself not to cry. As Derek looks up he sees Mac and a boy walk around the house.
"Oh my god. MAC!!" Derek yells and everyone looks up. JJ's Head snaps up and she pulls away from Prentiss and takes off in a full sprint. Before she could even think she collided with Mac. Her arms wrap around her and her head falls to her shoulder. Tears flow from her eyes and cries take over her body. Mac's arm wrap around JJ and she holds her tightly. She feels her entire world come back together. All she thought about was holding her again. When she looks up she sees Derek and the rest of the team follow up behind. JJ doesn't let go as Derek, Prentiss, and Reid pile on top of her. Giving her a group hug. Everyone holds on for a while before Pulling away.
"Thank god." JJ whispers grabbing her face and leaning her forehead against Mac's. They pull away and Rossi pulls her into hug.
"I was worried kid." Rossi says and look at her.
"Let's get you looked at." Hotch says and Mac walks over to the ambulance.
xxx
Hey everyone! Thanks so much for dealing with me. It's been a while since I felt good enough to write and it feels good to publish something. I hope you guys like and the other chapter is already in production. Please tell me what you think and review !!! Thanks so much!
