Eight Lives, One Heart

Eight Lives, One Heart 17 ❤️

Derek, his older brother Daniel, Spencer Reid, Luke, Matt, Rossi, Aaron, and Gideon were all in pursuit of the unsub—the 16-year-old boy who had not only committed multiple murders but had also hurt Alexis. The team knew the situation was dire, and their main objective was to bring the boy to justice. They'd been tracking him for days, piecing together his movements, and finally, they had him cornered.

The team arrived at a rundown house on the outskirts of town, a place where the boy was last seen. They'd received intel that he might be hiding there, and after a quick strategy session, the team prepared to move in.

Derek stood at the forefront, his presence calm yet commanding. "Let's go in slow. He's 16, but don't underestimate him. He's dangerous."

Daniel, standing next to his brother, nodded in agreement. "Got it. We'll cover all exits."

Spencer adjusted his glasses and turned to Aaron. "This kid's been through a lot. I know it doesn't excuse what he's done, but we need to be careful. He might be desperate."

Aaron, as always, remained focused. "We'll handle it. We're here for Alexis, and we're here to make sure this kid doesn't hurt anyone else."

The team moved cautiously toward the house. Matt and Luke went to the back while Rossi and Gideon took the front. Aaron and Derek entered first, with Spencer following close behind. The boy didn't see them coming, too lost in his own twisted thoughts, pacing in the living room of the house.

"Stop right there!" Aaron commanded.

The boy froze and looked up at them, his eyes wide with fear. His chest heaved with each breath, and for a moment, he almost looked like a child again. But the darkness behind his eyes told a different story.

"Put your hands up," Derek instructed, his voice firm but calm.

The boy's eyes darted around the room, his mind racing. He was trapped, but the anger inside him was clear. "You can't take me! I didn't do anything! It was them! They deserved it!"

Spencer stepped forward, his voice gentle but assertive. "You hurt Alexis. You've killed other people. You're going to pay for what you've done."

The boy laughed bitterly, but there was an edge of madness in his voice. "I didn't want to hurt her. She just... she didn't understand me. None of them did."

The tension was thick in the room as the boy's words hung in the air. Derek took another step toward him, not giving an inch. "You don't get to decide who deserves to die. We all have to live with the consequences of our actions. Now, drop the weapon."

The boy hesitated for a moment before finally dropping the knife he had been holding. His hands were shaking, and he couldn't hide the panic in his eyes.

"We're taking you in," Aaron said, his voice cold as he approached the boy and placed handcuffs on his wrists.

As the boy was led outside, the rest of the team watched with grim expressions. They had caught him, but the weight of the case wasn't over. Spencer looked over at Aaron, his thoughts lingering on the boy's youth and the tragedy that had unfolded.

"Sixteen years old," Spencer said softly. "How does someone get so lost at such a young age?"

Rossi answered, his tone heavy with experience. "Sometimes it's the environment. Sometimes it's what's inside. This kid's been on a dark path for a long time. He made his choices, but there were a lot of factors that led him here."

Luke and Matt moved to the boy, ensuring he was securely placed in the car. They drove him to the station, where he would face the consequences of his actions. But it wasn't just the boy's fate that weighed on the team. It was Alexis, and the trauma she had endured.

As the team piled into their cars, Aaron turned to Derek. "Get in touch with the hospital. We need to know how Alexis is doing."

Derek nodded, already on his phone. "We'll get there as soon as we can."

The BAU team may have caught the unsub, but the journey to justice was far from over.