Lockdown

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

08/07/2019. 01:48 hours. David Rossi's House, Virginia.

The white outer walls of David's house were aglow in shades of red and blue from the lights on the ambulance and the crime scene unit parked outside. David glanced up from where he had been staring at his feet to see an SUV racing towards the house with the red and blue lights flashing on the grill. David furrowed his greying brow. The SUV parked up at the side of the road, and Tara, JJ, Luke, and Penelope clambered out.

"I thought you were going to meet us at the hospital," stated David with a quirked eyebrow.

"Garcia needed to be sure her baby genius was alright," responded Luke with a chuckle. Penelope gave his arm a firm shove and pouted at him. Their attention was diverted to the sound of rumbling wheels on the asphalt. A gurney was being wheeled towards them. As it drew near, they noticed that Spencer was laid on it. A plastic cervical collar had been strapped around his neck, and his head held perfectly still by red foam blocks that had been taped to either side of his head, the tape resting over his forehead and chin. The skin around his mouth and across his face was red and inflamed from the duct tape. Straps had been buckled across his chest, upper arms, and his legs to keep him in place on the spinal board.

Penelope stared down in horror at her friend as the gurney came to a stop. An oxygen cannula was nestled under Spencer's nose, and an IV had been inserted into the back of his left hand and secured with a clear dressing. A tube led to a bag of clear fluids hung on a hook attached to the gurney.

"Oh, my sweet, baby boy! You're so hurt!" cried Penelope, tears streaking her cheeks.

"It's okay, Garcia. It looks worse than it is. It's a precaution in case I have any spinal injuries. Given that I have some mild numbness and tingling in my left arm and leg, it is entirely plausible," rasped Spencer, his voice painfully strained.

"What the hell happened in there?" asked Tara.

"Director Michaels made Simmons restrain Reid in a straitjacket, tie him to a chair and gag him. He gave Simmons a sedative and cuffed him. When we got there, we freed Simmons and went out back where Michaels had Reid on a chair in the garden, ankles bound, blindfolded, and a noose around his neck. Michaels was about to fire on us, so I shot him. Unfortunately, he landed against the chair, knocking it from under Reid's feet. Luckily, Simmons got to him in time and managed to ease the pressure until Prentiss cut him down."

"Yeah, and the kid needs to gain a few pounds. He's way too light," came Matt's voice as he approached the group with a smile on his face and a twinkle in his dark eyes.

"Do not," retorted Spencer indignantly. Penelope's face lit up.

"Oh, I am so fattening you up!" Spencer raised an eyebrow at her.

"Why? Are you planning to cook me in a pot?"

"Oh, ho! Don't tempt me, Dr Reid!" A mischievous smile danced on Spencer's chapped lips.

"Sorry to break up the reunion, but we need to get Dr Reid to the hospital. Who's riding in? Control said someone has to come with him to Bethesda," said one of the paramedics.

"I am," responded Matt. The paramedic nodded and slid the gurney into the back of the ambulance, the wheels folding up underneath. Matt grabbed the handrail and hauled himself up into the ambulance, and took a seat on the bench next to the gurney.

"We'll meet you at the hospital, kiddo," shouted David. A hand lifted from the gurney and gave a thumbs up in response.

The doors slammed shut in the agent's faces, and the ambulance peeled away from the house. David shook his head in disbelief, his hands on his hips.