Hi there! Reid is definitely struggling with the fact that Greer chose him as the weakest link of the team. However, Morgan points out the truth: if Greer went after him, Prentiss, even Hotch directly, they’d never have had the chance to get free. Greer would have made sure that they didn’t have the opportunity to get free. But his underestimating of Reid allowed Hotch to make the play that he did. It gave him the chance to get Reid free so that Reid could take Greer down. In the end it wasn’t Reid who was the weakest link, it was Greer himself. He made a calculated error and paid for it.

Prentiss allowing Morgan to be the one to tell Reid that shows her level of perception. She knows that she’s still the outsider of the team and that she can only push things so far before someone will tell her to back off. She doesn’t have that connection with Reid that Morgan does. While he might appreciate her words and the sentiment they’re given, they won’t mean as much as they do coming from someone that Reid looks up too.

This was a really good story. Absolutely excellent job!

Hi there! I definitely think Hotch needed to have that reminder about them having enemies, it being part of the job, he can’t control everything (because he is a definite control freak) and that they’re a team. At this point, Morgan is the best one for giving that reminder since Gideon is gone, Prentiss is still new and there’s nobody else really available. Even Hotch needs that reminder that they accepted this as part of the job when they took their shields and went out after unsubs. Bad people do bad things and evil people look to get even with those who put a stop to their reign of “fun” (or terror).

What I always loved about Hotch’s character is that despite his dedication to his job that he’s still a family man under it all. HIs reason for what he does is really rooted in his family. He wants to make the world a safer place for his son, Jack. He wants to put away people who could hurt him and hurt other children. He also wants to make sure that his wife can go out to the store and to the park with their son and not have to worry about being abducted the moment she stepped outside their door. It makes his workaholic personality have a bit more sense when you look at it through that lens. He’s doing this for them. And at the end of the day, he wants to have that comfort of getting back to them.

Another great chapter!

Hi there! Poor Reid. It’s so obvious he’s not comfortable with the attention or the praise of having taking Greer down. His surprise at Hotch’s praise hurts in a way because it shows how infrequent he hears it. Not that Hotch is a bad unit chief. It’s just hard to offer praise when you have so many agents under your command. In this case it was Reid who deserved the call out, too be given that moment of acknowledge. He saved Hotch’s life insomuch as Hotch did his by distracting Greer long enough for Reid to get a weapon.

Morgan is definitely the big brother here. Even with Hotch there’s a vib of that sibling element in how he notices that Hotch is in bad shape and that he was likely not sitting prior to Emily entering the room. He also rationalizes that Reid might have injuries that he doesn’t know about and so doesn’t add to them by slapping him on a shoulder and causing more damage. He still congratulates Reid and lets him known that he’s proud of him with a smile and his words, something Reid needs to hear despite his discomfort with how and why he got them.

Another great chapter!

Hi there! Morgan is definitely ready, willing and able to take a man’s head off. He’s at level ten. Someone has threatened his team, his family. Of course, he’s taking no chances, and is going pedal to the metal to reach them before they can be hurt any further. His reflection about Emily and how he doesn’t yet trust her shows his trust issues so perfectly. He does not like change and he does not trust easily. People have to earn that with him and Emily hasn’t. Not yet. Their little “spat” about his driving provides some humor to relieve the tension of the last few chapters.

Hotch listening to Reid about resting is definitely unusual. It says he’s hurt more than he’s letting on. He’s not down and out, however. If the need arises, he’ll be back on his feet and ready to go. That’s how Hotch operates. He would have to be in a coma before he’d take time off to rest and recover.

Very nice chapter!

Hi there! Reid trying to play off his own injury is such a Reid move. He doesn’t like being fussed over. It makes him uncomfortable. Hotch doesn’t make a big deal out of it. He merely points out Reid is hurt, too. Reminding him that his pain matte4s just as much as Hotch’s own. His way of examining the wound doesn’t fool Reid for one minute. He allows it, though because he knows it’s just Hotch’s way of looking out for him.

We finally find out how long they’ve been kidnapped. What seemed like days was really just five hours. Leave it to Garcia to get a trace on Hotch’s phone and get the team to their location. She doesn’t fall apart... much. She just organizes everything and gets the information to the team that they need to bring home Hotch and Reid.

Another great chapter!

Hi there! Taking a life would weigh on Reid for the rest of his life. Hotch is right about that. It’s never an easy choice to make. Knowing that you were the one who ended that person’s life. No matter if it was self-defense or not it’s still something that will haunt Reid. Just hitting Greer with the hammer has left an impression on him. It’s made him see himself as capable of violence when it’s necessary.

Greer delivers some ominous word to Hotch about there being others to come after him. It leaves me worried about who might be coming after him now that Greer is out of the picture. The next person might be even more vicious and have an even better plan. Hotch knows this. He accepts it. The only thing he takes heart over is that Greer won’t be there to see it.

Excellent job!

Hi there! Reid to the rescue! Like you, I’ve read plenty of summaries where Reid is the one who gets injured by the unsub because they believe him to be the weak link of the team. It’s nice to see the turnaround here and see Reid is capable of taking care of himself and of getting his teammate out of a bad situation. No, he’s not Morgan here or even Hotch but he’s still more than capable of knocking Greer out with a hammer.

Hotch takes a chance by allowing Greer to attack him while he’s cuffed to the chair. Reid might not have gotten a weapon in time, Greer might have landed a solid hit that sent him back into unconsciousness, he could have used a weapon, overpowered Reid, etc. It was their only move, however. A bad choice among zero choices.

Great chapter!

Hi there! Ah we see the profiler now in action. Hotch uses his skills and experience to try and get Reid freed from this man, Greer’s control. It’s a smart move. Taking that steps back from where he was in Reid’s apartment by depersonalizing things between them by calling him Dr. Reid instead of Spencer or Reid. Putting that separation between them to take away that power and control. To make Reid something that Greer can’t use against him to seek what he wants.

He also uses his knowledge about Greer and his history of violence to goad him into going after him. He taunts him by calling him a bully and a coward, accusing him of hiding behind Reid instead of facing him one on one. It’s a dangerous and calculated risk. One that can easily backfire on him or Reid. His taunts work as Greer lets Reid go but if it will work in their favor is anyone’s guess.

Another great chapter!

Hi there! I like that you gave this guy his own identity in this story rather than have him be someone we’ve already seen. It lets me connect with him on his own merits and to feel him as his own character. He’s got a history with Hotch. Something happened between them that has left this man angry. Enough that he’s kidnapped two BAU members and has a knife to the cheek of one.

Only, Hotch doesn’t remember him. He’s encountered so many unsubs over the years that they’ve blurred together. He’s had others come after him, wanting revenge for his having put them away. Not remembering upsets the unsub and he reacts by cutting Reid’s bonds and yanking him up. What happens next? Anybody’s guess because it’s left on another cliffhanger heh

Great job!

Hi there! Dammit, another cliffhanger! Meanie! :p the suspense factor is brilliant. It adds the right element of danger. Provides the right amount of fear. You can’t help but wonder if Reid and Hotch are going to make it out of this okay. This unsub has an agenda. He has a purpose. There’s something between him and Hotch. A past that he wants to avenge. What it is, we have to wait and see since we don’t know anything else about this person. Yet.

Reid keeping his head while Hotch is unconscious is smart. Can’t fall to pieces given the circumstances. They can’t guarantee what is going to happen next. The unsub already has moved them. Where, unknown. All Reid can see is that it looks like a workshop of sorts. They’ve been drugged, blurring time. If the team will find them is questionable. They have to keep their wits about them if they want to get out of this with the least amount of damage.

Excellent job!

Hi there! Well, Hotch walked right into that trap despite his instincts warning him against it. This goes to show how even the best agents can be led into a trap. Even the most experienced profiler can be fooled by a serial killer. There’s a reason these people are so dangerous. They’re cunning, clever, charming. This unsub has put a lot of thought and care into this plan.

He went after the member of the team most vulnerable. The “baby” of the team in a sense. Knowing Hotch would come because he’d want to protect and save Reid, not just because he’s a member of the team but because he’s like a kid brother to Hotch. Seeing Reid tied up and gagged sparked a need inside him to rush to his side and free him. And that’s exactly what the unsub counted on. Which leaves Hotch now vulnerable going forward.

Excellent job!

Hi there! Ah this has already got me hooked. Family time, sleeping time, hell just having any time for himself is infrequent in the life of Hotch. For any of them really. Law enforcement is a twenty-four seven job. Especially in Hotch’s line of work. Serial killers don’t work on a 9-5 schedule. They’re opportunistic and do things at their own leisure. Clearly, this intruder found three o’clock in the morning the perfect time to force Reid to call Hotch so he could demand he come to his apartment to face him.

I give Haley credit. Her husband is in a dangerous line of work. There’s always that fear of that phone call or knock on the door saying “we’re sorry, ma’am, but...” however, she doesn’t fall to pieces. When Hotch tells her he needs her to call his team, to tell them what’s going on, she doesn’t refuse. She tries to rationalize his decision to go by trying to point out how he doesn’t know who this is but she doesn’t refuse. No, in the end she asks him to come home safe because there’s no choice but to let him go given Reid is in danger.

Nice start! Can’t wait to see what happens next!

Hi, how are you. I loved your story.

I loved those 3 movies. I'm old enough to have seen then the first time around. Anyway, glad Morgan in there. There is always strength in numbers.

dI wonder who has Reid? I can't remember if I've ever read this. It s great first chapter.