Edge of Insanity

Edge of Insanity

 

Hatochiisai aka Ahmose Inarus

 

Disclaimer:  I do NOT own Criminal Minds or any of its characters.

 

SLASH WARNING!!!  Hotch/Reid

 

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CHAPTER 11

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Dr. Harris looked up when the door to his office slammed open and three Alpha Male FBI Agents stormed in, eyes burning in righteous fury.  They were followed by an equally frightening Alpha Female.

 

“Dr. Benjamin Harris, you are under arrest.”  Hotch growled as Rossi moved behind the desk, grabbing the man’s hands and wrenching them behind his back.  Then Rossi took one arm, and Prentiss the other.

 

“W-What?!”  Harris gasped.  “On what charges?!”

 

“Conspiracy to Commit Unlawful Imprisonment, Cruel and Unusual Punishment, Criminal Malpractice, and Kidnapping and Assault of a Federal Agent if I can get it.  And I am THIS close to Prosecuting you myself.”  Hotch snarled.

 

“You can’t!”  Harris said.  “If she finds out, she’ll kill my family!  She killed Katherine!  I know it!”

 

“So do we.” Morgan said, glaring at the man.  “But you’re all but killing Reid.”

 

“Where is he?!”  Hotch demanded.

 

“Infirmary!”  Harris yelped as Rossi dragged him out of the room.

 

Hotch and Morgan turned and ran for the infirmary.  When they got there they found Reid lying silently on the bed.  There were no restraints this time…  they weren’t needed.  His arms were bandaged and he was still wearing the splint around his fractured wrist.  He just lay there, staring off into space.

 

“…  Spencer?”  Hotch called gently.  “Baby?”  Reid didn’t respond.  Hotch reached out and lay his palm on the boy’s cheek.  Reid didn’t even blink.  “Spencer?”  Hotch gasped, eyes widening.

 

“Hey kid…”  Morgan called, moving to the other side of the bed.  He stared down at the glassy eyes and reached out a hand, slowly passing it up and down before Reid’s face.  There was no response.  Reid didn’t move.  Didn’t blink.  The only thing that happened was the natural widening of the pupils when Morgan’s hand blocked the light from the window, and then contraction when it moved away to allow the light to reach Reid’s eyes again.

 

Morgan frowned, worried, and took Reid’s wrist.  He lifted the boy’s arm, staring at his limp hand, and then let go.  Reid’s arm plopped down on the bed.  Morgan and Hotch looked at each other, concern in their eyes.

 

“Spencer…”  Hotch gasped, gathering his lover in his arms and cradling him close to his chest.  “Spencer, please…  look at me!”  But Reid’s body remained limp.  It was as though he were in a waking coma…  “Please, baby…  please don’t do this…”  Hotch gasped, hands shaking.  He bowed his head and hid his face in his lover’s limp hair.

 

Rossi walked in a moment later and took in the depressing scene before him.  Morgan looked up at the man and gave him a small shake of the head.

 

Rossi sighed.

 

---

When Dr. Carlson got off of the plane, he was met by Agents Morgan and Prentiss.  He glared at them.

 

“You’re going to get my family killed.”  He told them, angrily.

 

“And YOU are going to get Agent Reid killed.”  Morgan snarled.  “Let’s go.”

 

And the next thing Dr. Carlson knew, he was being marched into the BAU’s interrogation room.  And there was already a man in there.  He was shoved into a chair across from the man.  And then Aaron Hotchner and David Rossi came in, and each stood at one end of the table.  Morgan stood by the door, arms folded over his chest.

 

“Dr. Carlson.”  Hotch growled.  “Dr. Harris.  You are both going to tell me everything you can about the woman known as Paloma.”  And he dropped a photograph down.  The two men glanced at it, then both winced and turned away.  “Your families have protective details.”  Hotch informed them.  “She won’t hurt them.  But I can’t keep the protective details there for long.  It’s in everyone’s best interest if she is arrested.  And we can’t arrest her if we can’t find her.  And we can’t find her without your help.”

 

When the men still remained silent, Rossi decided to try his hand.

 

“Look…  you co-operate, and you can claim you were acting under duress.  You keep quiet like you are right now, and we will see to it that you are charged as accomplices.  You’ll go to JAIL.”

 

“My God…  I…  Can’t go to jail!”  Dr. Carlson cried.  “Look at me!  I’m old!  I’ll DIE in there!”

 

“And I’ll see that you do if Agent Reid dies in Willow Ridge.”  Hotch snarled. 

 

“And Dr. Harris…”  Rossi continued,  “keep in mind…  the reason you’re in this mess is because Dr. Carlson kept his mouth shut and never told us what was going on.  When Paloma loses you, she’ll threaten another person and THEIR family…  Do you want to be responsible for that just because you wouldn’t talk?”

 

Dr. Harris and Dr. Carlson stared at each other for a moment, and then both looked down at the table.

 

“She comes to me.”  Dr. Harris finally said, softly.  “I get home, and she’s there.  With the man.  I never know when…  but…  seems to be about once a week.”

 

“…  I only met her the one time.”  Dr. Carlson whispered.  “The man held a knife to my throat and she asked me what Agent Reid feared more than anything.  When I refused to talk to her, the man threatened to cut off one of my fingers.  So I told her.  And that’s when she told me to have him institutionalized.  If I didn’t, she would kill my family.  If I did, she would pay me well.  And she did.  One hundred thousand dollars, and the house in Florida.  She offered me a house in Europe if I wanted it…  In fact…  she really pushed it…”

 

“She wanted you out of the country so we couldn’t find you…”  Rossi sighed.

 

“…  Put my home under surveillance.”  Dr. Harris gasped.  “She’ll be coming back soon…”

 

Hotch looked up at Rossi and Morgan.  Rossi nodded, and after a moment, so did Morgan.

 

“Alright.”  Hotch said, and within an hour, work began to set a trap for Paloma…

 

---

Hotch walked into the infirmary and walked over to his lover.  He sighed and sat down beside the bed, taking the boy’s hand.

 

“Spencer…  this is going to end.”  He said softly. “We’re getting you out of here.  We have proof now that you’re not schizophrenic…  it was Paloma, Spencer.  She bribed, threatened and blackmailed Dr. Carlson into having you committed…  She killed Dr. Devereux when she refused to co-operate.  And then she bribed, threatened and blackmailed Dr. Harris into keeping you here.  The medications you’ve been taking are light sedatives and depressants…  But you aren’t going to take them any more…  I promise.”  Hotch told his lover.  He sighed and stroked the boy’s cheek.  “Just hold on…  I’m going to take you home.  Soon.  Okay, Spencer?” 

 

No response. 

 

Hotch sighed sadly, standing and leaning over gently kissing the boy’s forehead.  “Just…  come back to me…”

 

---

Hotch would have sat with Reid all day and all night if he could…  but his first priority had to be catching Paloma.  And so two nights later, when a voice crackled over the radio saying “the bird is approaching the nest”, he was right there in Dr. Harris’ home, watching the man pace, anxiously.

 

“Go make yourself some dinner.”  Hotch told him.  “Act natural.”  The man nodded and walked into his kitchen, seizing a frozen dinner from the freezer and shoving it into the microwave.  Then he stood there and watched the timer count down.

 

“The bird has reached the nest.”  Came the warning. 

 

“Is the cat with her?”  Rossi asked.

 

“Affirmitive.”  There was a long pause.

 

“They’re in.”  The voice on the radio said.

 

“Understood.”  Hotch murmured.  Then, he saw her.  And his blood boiled.  She stood there in the kitchen like she owned it.

 

“How is he doing?”  She asked, and Dr. Harris tensed, turning.  He glared art her.

 

“How do you THINK he’s doing?!”  The man snapped.  Paloma’s eyes flashed.  Dr. Harris flinched and lowered his head.  “…  He’s catatonic.”

 

“He’s…  what?”  Paloma asked, caught off guard.  “What is…  cat…  cata-tonic?”  she looked at Jaguar, and the man shrugged, saying “No se.”

 

“It’s the mind’s defense mechanism.”  Dr. Harris explained.  “When the situation someone is in becomes TOO MUCH for them to handle…  they retreat into their mind and return to a time and a place when they were safe.”  Paloma blinked, and Dr. Harris sighed.  “Do you know what a coma is?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“It’s like a coma, only the person is awake.  The lights are on, but there’s no one home.   The body is awake, but the mind has hidden itself away.  He could be like this for the rest of his life.”

 

“If it is a comfort to him, then wake him up.”  Paloma snapped.

 

“…  I can’t.”  Dr. Harris said.  She frowned.  “Once someone enters this state, they don’t come out of it until they perceive that they are safe again, or if some other powerful stressor pulls them from it.  If they ever wake up at all, that is.  If they don’t feel there is a way out, they can surrender their will to live.  And if he does that, nothing can wake him, nothing can save him.  He will fade away.  He will die.  And there’s nothing I can do to stop it.”

 

Paloma frowned and crossed her arms, thinking.

 

“You can’t do anything more to him.”  Dr. Harris continued.  “In his mind, it couldn’t possibly get any worse.”

 

“It can ALWAYS get worse.”  Paloma snarled.  “I will contact you later with further instructions.”  And she turned and headed for the door.

 

“Ready…”  Hotch hissed into his radio.

 

“She’s out.”  Called the surveillance van.

 

“GO!”  Hotch ordered.

 

“FBI!!!  DON’T MOVE!!!”  He heard Morgan’s voice boom, and Paloma let out a startled shriek.  Hotch ran out the front door, Dr. Harris on his heels.  Paloma immediately glared at Harris.

 

“Your family is dead, Harris…”  She snarled.

 

“I don’t think so.”  Morgan growled.  “We have them in protective custody.”  Paloma sent a look of loathing at Morgan, but then leapt forward.  Her body twisted gracefully as she leapt into the air, snaking her leg up and curling it around the back of Morgan’s neck.  Morgan’s eyes widened briefly, before her leg snapped down and sent him crashing to the ground, head bouncing off of the concrete of the front walk.  As she did this, Jaguar took out three SWAT Agents with a spinning heel kick, then whirled and jabbed Rossi in the throat.  The man fell to his knees, gagging.

 

A gunshot cracked through the air, and then all was chaos.  Hotch leapt into the fray, determined to take the woman down.  But within seconds, he felt a horrible impact to his stomach, and then the side of the head.  He crashed to the ground and everything went black.

 

When he woke, there was still chaos around him.  He only could have been out for a minute or two…  Slowly, he sat up.  Jaguar was on the ground being handcuffed by Prentiss…  but Paloma was nowhere in sight… 

 

“Don’t move, sir.”  A SWAT Agent told him.  “Ambulance is on the way.”  Hotch turned.  Rossi was lying out on his back with a SWAT Agent hovering over him, keeping his head back and throat open to breathe.  Rossi was pale and sweating, and his throat was already bruising.  Another two Agents were hovering over Morgan, who was still lying on the ground where he had fallen, blood under his head.

 

“Paloma…”  Hotch groaned through his own pounding head.  “Where is she?”

 

“…  She escaped.”

 

“How?!”  Hotch demanded.

 

“…  We…  we’re not sure…  I think the man cleared a path for her…”

 

“I can’t wait for an ambulance.”  Hotch gasped, struggling to his feet.

 

“Sir, you have to—“

 

“No…  Everything is falling apart around her.”  Hotch gasped, stumbling towards one of the cars.  “PRENTISS!!”  The woman turned and ran over.  “We have to get to Willow Ridge.”

 

“What?  Sir, you need a hospital!”

 

“No.  Paloma knows it’s ending for her.  She’s going to try to end it on HER terms!”  Hotch said, frantically.  Prentiss stared at him for a moment, and then her eyes widened.

 

“… She’s going after Reid…”  And as one, the two dark haired agents bolted for the car. 

 

“You drive.”  Hotch ordered, and flung himself into the passenger seat.  A moment later, JJ jumped into the back.

 

“I’m coming with you!”

 

“So am I!”  Said the SWAT Agent who had been trying to stop Hotch.  He climbed in beside JJ, and helped her struggle into a ballistics vest.  Tires squealed, and the car hurtled down the road.

 

---

The girl who sat at the front desk at night lay dead on the floor, her throat cut.  Two more people lay dead as well…  that’s all it took to find out where the target was.

 

The door to the infirmary creaked open, revealing Paloma carrying a bloody knife.  A fourth body lay on the floor behind her.  She stood there, staring at the near skeletal body in the bed, a needle in his arm delivering IV fluids, face turned towards the window.  Her heart throbbed in anger, and she entered the room.  She circled the bed and stood before the window, the moon illuminating the young man’s sleeping face.

 

“…  Cachorro.”  She growled, and almost immediately the boy’s eyes snapped open, fear in them.  He stared at her.  She positioned the knife under his chin and lifted his head with it.  “…  Get up.”  After a moment, Reid slowly began to move.  He stood from the bed on shaking legs, not noticing the IV being pulled from his arm.  Fluids began to soak the bed, and a thin trail of blood ran down Reid’s arm and dripped from his fingertips.

 

“… Let’s go.”  Paloma said.  She took Reid’s hand, just like that day in her Master’s house, and led him from the room.  But instead of going down, like that time, she led him up.  Slowly and silently they made their way to the roof.  And as they did, a black SUV came to a screeching stop in the front lot, and four people leapt out.  The Swat Agent went first, automatic weapon up and ready.

 

The trio of Agents followed, making their way up to the infirmary.  They glanced down at each body that they passed.  When they got to the infirmary, the door was open.  Hotch’s eyes widened and he rushed forwards into the room, gun raised.  But it was empty.

 

“…  Spencer…”  He gasped, heart pounding.  He was…  TERRIFIED for his lover.

 

“Where would they go?”  Prentiss asked.

 

“…  Follow the blood.”  JJ said softly.  Hotch and Prentiss and the SWAT Agent, Jeremy, looked down.  Sure enough, small drops of blood created a trail.  And they followed it.

 

---

Reid gasped softly and shivered as they emerged out onto the roof, courtesy of Paloma breaking the lock.  The gravel was harsh under Reid’s bare feet, but he didn’t even flinch as he mindlessly followed Paloma across the roof.  They both ended up standing side by side at the edge, staring down at the trees.

 

After several minutes, she turned and stared up at the tall young man.



“Your betrayal can never be forgiven.”  She said.  Reid blinked, then slowly turned and looked down at her.  “I warned you.”  She hissed.  “I told you… if you ever did anything to hurt him, I would kill you.”  Reid lowered his eyes.  “Have you nothing to say?”  Reid was silent.  “…  Why did you do it?”  The wind blew over them and Reid shivered, but still said nothing. 

 

Suddenly, his head was whipped to the side as Paloma slapped him.  “You’re WORTHLESS!!!”  She spat.  “…  you really think that man wants you?  He’s obligated to take care of you!”  She watched as Reid opened his eyes, sadness in and fear in them.  She began to circle him.  “You’re scarred…”  She hissed.  “Used.  You’re nothing but damaged goods.  How many have used you?!  Why would he want to touch you?  Who would EVER want to touch you again?!  I still don’t understand why anyone would touch your in the first place.  You’re skinny…  pale…  WEAK.”

 

Her hand shot out and snagged a handful of his hair.  Reid whimpered as she jerked his head back, forcing him to bend backwards and fall to his knees.  “…  You’re NOTHING.  I curse the day you came into this world…  it would be better off without you.”  And she spat in his face.  He did nothing.  She readjusted her grip on his hair and forced his head back until it was pressed into her stomach, bearing his white throat.  She stared at it, then lifted the blade and pressed it against the smooth skin, admiring the blood gleaming on the blade in contrast with the milky skin of the swanlike neck. 

 

She was literally trembling in anticipation of seeing him die the same way her master had died.  She longed to see him slump to the ground, horror in his eyes as he realized that the end had come.  To see him press his hands to his throat to try and stop the blood flow, only to have the crimson fluid spill over his fingers and onto the ground.  Watch him go limp, hands falling to the ground as his strength drained out onto the roof with his lifeblood…  Watch the light go out of his eyes as he gave a final, gurgling sigh before falling still and silent… 

 

But there was something else she needed to do first.  The knife flashed and Reid’s shirt was torn open.  A few more slashes, and it fluttered to the ground in pieces.  Reid shivered and closed his eyes, goose bumps rising on every inch of exposed skin.  Paloma watched as his chest stilled and his abdomen grew taught as she trailed the tip of the blade down his torso.  She pressed it against his side. 

 

“This is about where you stabbed him, isn’t it?”  She hissed into Reid’s ear.  He sucked in a breath and closed his eyes, waiting for the pain.

 

“EVA TORRES!!!  FBI!  DROP THE KNIFE!”  A voice suddenly shouted. 

 

Hotch, Prentiss, JJ and the SWAT Agent stood there, guns raised.

 

They stared at Paloma, who had pressed the knife to Reid’s throat again.  She was standing behind him, keeping his head back with a ruthless hand in his hair. 

 

Hotch was stunned.  It wasn’t just seeing his lover on his knees with a knife to his throat…  it was the sight of his bare torso…  and the evidence of how much weight that had been lost.  All of his ribs were evident, and his formerly flat stomach was now concave.  His hips and collar bones stood out as sharply as his ribs.

 

He vaguely noticed the shouting match Prentiss and Paloma were having in Spanish.

 

But then, he heard the soft mew and he snapped.  This bitch had hurt his lover enough…  this had to end once and for all.

 

BANG!

 

Prentiss and JJ jumped when Hotch pulled the trigger and began to walk towards Reid and Paloma.

 

BANG!

 

BANG!

 

BANG!

 

BANG!

 

BANG!

 

JJ stared in shock as Paloma stumbled back, eyes wide.  The knife fell from her fingers, and a moment later blood fell from her lips.  There were four holes in her chest, one in the shoulder, and the last had shattered her elbow.  She stumbled back, fixing her burning gaze of hatred on Agent Hotchner.  But it only lasted a moment before her eyes rolled back.  And then she fell back.

 

“OH!”  JJ gasped, and watched as Paloma disappeared silently over the edge of the roof.

 

Prentiss and JJ glanced at each other as Hotch’s gun clattered to the ground and the man ran to his mate, who had collapsed onto the ground.

 

“Spencer…”  Hotch gasped, gathering the boy into his arms.  “It’s over…  She’s gone.  I promise…”  Reid blinked up at the man, but then closed his eyes and turned away from him.  “…  Spencer?”

 

Hotch found himself with a sinking feeling.  Paloma was gone, yes…  but this was far from over…  his lover was more damaged than before, and his recovery would be a long one.

 

He lifted the youth into his arms and carried him back to the door and down the stairs, JJ and Prentiss flanking him.