Selcouth | Criminal Minds | Spencer Reid

Chapter 5

"Expectation Is The Root Of All Heartache"
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DURING MY entire career as a profiler at the BAU, never once had I screwed up a profile as bad as I had this one.

Granted that we had only been in Suffix a day and change, we should have had more. I should have noticed straight away that the unsub had a partner, but the notes were my achilles heel, our distraction.

What is it they say, that you can't change the past? If I had the chance though, I wouldn't be stuck in this rancid, moldy room alone with my thoughts.

My hands wiggle as I attempt to find a way out of the zip ties securing my hands to the back of the chair.

Suddenly, a bright light floods the room and I'm forced to slam my eyes shut in pain as I turn away.

"Hello Agent Wilde," Jillian greets from the doorway, a small smirk playing on her lips.

"Well, this is a surprise," I spit out, attempting to buy myself some time.

"What's a surprise?" She chuckles, leaning her back against the door frame.

"That Harrison would even let you speak to me, what, with him running this whole show and all," I answer her.

"He isn't running this whole show, I am!" She fumes, her smirk being masked by a scowl.

"Are you sure about that, it seems to me that he's the brains and brawn in this whole operation," I smirk, taunting her to rise a reaction.

Instead of reacting, she instead starts to laugh. Only, she doesn't stop. My head cocks slightly at the outburst, and I realize she believes she has outsmarted me.

"And you call yourself a profiler, not even being able to figure out who's the leader of this whole thing," She chokes out through her laughter.

"And what would this whole thing be, please do explain, I wasn't able to figure out how you would be able to outsmart me of all people," I plead with her, knowing all too well that if she believed I was acting superior to her, there was a good chance she would dispose of me.

"This is about sending a message and I'll do just that," She grins, slinking towards me.

I continue to struggle with bonds, a bit more when I notice the gun appear in her hand, glinting in the light.

Thuds above us catch my attention and the voices of my team float down to us through the vents.

I go to scream when Jillian presses the barrel against my head.

"Not so fast, there will be plenty of time for that when your friends arrive," Jillian whispers into my ear.

Waiting is always the worst, knowing my friends are walking right into a trap.

My eyes flicker to the door and back to Jillian until I notice three lone figures making their way towards us, guns at the ready.

The tip of the gun digs deeper into my temple and I freeze, my heart racing as adrenaline courses through me.

Spence's eyes widen as he nears us and when they get closer, I notice he has Harrison and Morgan for backup.

"Spence, главный убийца (Chief is killer)," I rush, wincing as I hear Jillian's sharp intake of breath.

"I love you too Nat," He replies, and for a moment I'm puzzled when I realize he's covering up the conversation.

I can feel Jillian relax slightly, but not all the way as they stare each other down.

"Put down the gun Jillian, we can talk about this," Morgan booms, leveling his gun at her.

"You first," She snarls as Harrison throws Morgan against the wall, disarming him effectively.

Spence takes this moment to put a bullet in Harrison and he slides to the ground, dead to say the least.

She slides her gun to my shoulder and squeezes the trigger, and I bite my tongue to hold back a scream, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth.

"Drop your gun or I'll do it again!" She yells.

My eyelids threaten to droop, but I focus on Spence, hoping it won't be the last time I see his face.

This is the only time I regret my medical training because I know that Jillian's bullet nicked my subclavian artery. An artery that now, instead of pumping blood to my heart, is currently spurting it.

Knowing Spence has the shot, I quickly duck the gun and throw myself to the side with the last bit of energy I have, my chair bouncing to the floor.

The crack of gunfire breaks the stillness of the room and a body drops to the ground, echoing in the enclosed space.