All These Scars... (A Criminal Minds fan-fiction)

Chapter Fifteen

Spencer's POV:
I didn't feel the pain at first. No, first, I saw the flash of incinerating light and shards of wood flying through the air. My ears were filled with the high pitched shrieks of my best friends, my colleagues, my family. Then it was the metallic taste of blood seeping into my mouth. Was it mine? I hated asking myself that. Then I smelled that raw burning stench of severed flesh and burnt hair follicles and ashes. But at the time, I didn't feel any pain. The only thing I felt was guilt and grief as I took a final glance at my friends surrounding me because it was all my fault. Most of them were lifeless. And the only thing I saw before it all went dark were those blue eyes...
I'm sorry...

**earlier that day**

Derek's POV:
I took Reid's advice that night and temporarily fixed things with Savannah. I say temporarily because couples will always have disagreements, and there's always two sides to a story or two people in love who disagree over what color to paint the living room. It'll never end, but I finally realized I was okay with that. I was okay with getting into arguments with Savannah and I was okay that we disagreed sometimes. It was perfectly normal and she was the only person I'd want to fight with, because she was the only lover I would fight over.
I walked into work with my head held high, feeling like a champ. The norm. "Good morning, Doctor Spencer Reid," I beamed as I made my way past Reid's desk in the bullpen.
"Hello, Mr. Dark Chocolate," he said nonchalantly and kept his head down, but couldn't help escape a grin when I continued to walk by. I did the same, but he stopped me before I could get away from his awkwardness.
"Hey, um, Garcia wanted to talk to you. She's in her usual place."
"Okay. Thanks Reid," I told him but he continued.
"Um, well there's actually, uh, something that I wanted t-to show you," he hesitated but quickly pulled a package out from under his desk.
"What's that?" I asked.
"Actually, I haven't opened it yet. I wanted you to be a witness. There was a note on the top saying, 'Dear Spencer,
Meet me at 6518 Parkway Drive tomorrow at 6pm,' which is today, 'There's the same abandoned barn there, no houses within five miles. Come alone, and don't be late..again. I have clues to your case. Leave me waiting again and I will have no choice but to destroy any information I have on the case."
I thought about the note for a second and glanced at the package. "Go ahead and open it. If it were dangerous or a bomb he wouldn't be asking to meet up. He needs to meet you for some reason. He won't risk hurting you."
Spencer looked up at me and sighed as he began unwrapping the box and pulling out white protectant paper. Inside was a picture of a barn through a satellite and under that was a small sculpture of Apollo's bow.
"It's Apollo's bow which induced life or death. Made out of cast iron. I think he's trying to show us this meeting is a life or death situation and that it could even help us or hurt us."
"How do you know it's Apollo's bow?" I chimed in before he continued.
"It has two snake looking figures on the front and is painted to look solid gold. Definitely Apollo's."
"I mean, of course. Definitely," I laughed sarcastically.
"Wait..." He stopped and flipped it upside down, "there's a label on the bottom saying '2014 Greece Conference, Property of Danny Grover. That is our guy."
"That's weird. Do you think this is the Unsub? Contacting you," I asked as he further examined the heavy sculpture.
"I highly doubt it. The Unsub took extreme forensic counter measures and did everything to stay clear of us and his ego is too diminished for a sudden burst of confidence like this. He also doesn't have enough social skill to suddenly reach out to someone who is trying to put him behind bars. I really doubt this is our guy."
I processed the information as the rest of the team filed into the BAU and settled down. "So who do you think it is?"
"I have no idea..." Spencer trailed off as Hotch approached us.
"Reid, did you get the package I left for you on my...oh," he stopped as his eyes saw the opened box and cast iron bow. "What's this for?"
I listened for a minute as Reid filled Hotch in. For anyone else it would've taken thirty seconds to tell, but of course he had to give Hotch the history and origin and use of the bow. And the fact that he could talk extremely fast means he could fit even more words into that huge minute. God, that was a long minute.
"What time does he want to meet you again?" Hotch asked after Spencer finished his rambling.
"Today at 6pm."
"I'm not sure I should allow you to meet up with a stranger. You have no clue who they are and they want to meet in an abandoned barn, right?" Hotch said.
"Well, yeah, I know, Hotch, but this could save a life. We'll be cautious, and if this guy gives us information it could help this case. You know we're not really getting anywhere," Spencer retorted.
Hotch thought for a moment, but finally agreed to send us. "Okay, when it comes time I want you, Reid, to go in one of the SUV's alone or he may refuse to give up any info since he said to solo, and have Derek follow you in another one with JJ and Blake. If anything is suspicious, you bring this stranger in or if you happen to be in danger, abort. Got it?" He asked as he raised his eyebrows to the both of us. That parent look.
"Got it," Spencer and I said in unison.
"Okay. Let's get to work."