Chapter 4

"Spence!" JJ shrieked.

It wasn't even painful at first. Reid was worried for a moment that Belikova might have shot JJ. But there was a pressure on his stomach – then the burning started, and blood started spreading across the folds of his shirt.

Sluggishly, he realized she was worried about him. He tried to work his mouth, to tell her not to blame herself, but he couldn't. He focused on pressing on the wound.

The survival rate of abdominal gunshot wounds is 88.3%. Putting pressure on the wound pretty soon should give you a good chance of survival...

You're on a mission – Belikova – kill Belikova.

...so you'd better take her down fast.

He honestly couldn't tell who was advising him, but it didn't matter.

"JJ." He gasped, remembering.

I can't go into shock – I have to help JJ – she'll be alone -

"Spence?" JJ yelled. "Spence!" She yanked helplessly at the cuff.

"Taryn's not dead yet, blondie, don't worry." Belikova called.

Reid blinked, trying to slow his breath and minimize the agony.

"You still think you're a better fighter than me?" Belikova gloated.

Distract her from JJ. JJ should have backup coming. Distract . . .

He made eye contact. "This wasn't... uhhn – a fair fight."

Belikova rolled her eyes. "I think you just hate to admit when you've lost."

He gritted his teeth to stifled a moan. "You hate to admit you can't win." he spit out.

One of the surest distraction techniques was to inspire anger.

From her expressioned, he was certain he'd succeeded.

"I've always been a fan of symmetry." Belikova smashed her foot into his other knee.

Reid let out his breath slowly, counting the seconds to distract from the pain.

He couldn't hear anything from behind Belikova, where JJ was. He glanced up and saw Belikova standing over him, her face impassive.

Reid could hear his blood as droplets splattered rhythmically on the machinery under the catwalk.

The door swung open loudly. "FBI!"

Hotch. It was Hotch.

Reid could hear steps fanning out, heading toward the airplane catwalks.

"That's my cue." Belikova smirked. She started down the catwalk to JJ. "I think I need a hostage." She stopped and whirled to look at Reid. "By the way, Taryn, when I'm done with her, she's dead. And her life's on you – because I beat you."

"You didn't beat me." he hissed, stopping her in her tracks. "You hid- mmm" he shuddered. "Behind your gun and your hostage."

He schooled his face not to show his desperation. "And without those, I would've beat you in minutes."

The Russian agent knew she had just enough time to finish her taunt. It was part of the thrill for her.

"Now you're just being naive." She lowered herself to stare him in the face.

He tried not to shrink back.

"Taryn: You – lost." she emphasized, savoring victory.

Reid gave a weak nod. "But you – let – ahhhh." he stopped, feeling the room gyrating around him.

He took a deep breath and looked up into her eyes. "You let your guard down."

He shoved the knife into her throat.

Her victorious smile faded. Her eyes widened, her lips parted. She choked and the edge of her mouth was spotted with blood.

Warm, thick blood dripped over Reid's fingers. Still looking at her startled eyes, he let go of the knife and pushed the Russian away.

Belikova collapsed backward onto the catwalk, the hilt still protruding from her neck.

Reid leaned backward against the guardrail.

JJ's okay. She's okay – everything's . . .

Reid's head tipped forward gently as his mind shut down.

JJ finally twisted the guardrail off the thread and headed down the catwalk. She couldn't see either Reid or Belikova, but she'd gone silent while talking to Reid – so . . .

"Hotch! Up here – on the catwalks!" she shouted. "Northeast corner! Quick!"

Morgan held his gun ready and headed toward JJ's voice. He didn't dare respond in case she was held hostage and forced to call. He stopped dead when he saw a puddle of blood on the floor – he glanced up and saw Belikova's wide, dead eyes staring at him through the weave of the catwalk.

But there were two bodies.

He opened his mouth to call.

"Spence!" JJ called. "Spence, open your eyes. Spence!"

Criminal Minds

His mind wasn't working properly.

Beep.

Something was bothering him.

Beep.

Oh, it was that sound.

Beep.

Merde. [french expletive]

Beep.

Bomb.

Beep.

A bomb has been planted in the apartment.

Beep.

The smartest option would be to put it on a motion sensor, but the sound-

Beep.

Yes, that sound seemed to be an indication of a timer, so he should -

Beep.

- evacuate the area immediately and. . .

Beep.

Wait. . .

Beep.

He sniffed.

Beep.

...flowers?

Beep.

He reconsidered options. A bomb no longer fit the profile.

Beep.

It was getting annoying. He tuned it out and opened his eyes.

Something moved just out of his peripheral vision. "Spence?" came in a whisper.

"JJ?" he tried to shift and see, but a hand was quickly placed on his chest.

"Don't move, Spence." she warned softly. "You've got two broken legs and they just took a bullet out of your torso. Give it time."

"Are you okay?"

"A bruise and two scrapes. I'm fine." JJ gave the assuring smile that only she could.

He turned his head and scanned the room, noting the heart monitor and equipment. Checking the other side, behind JJ, he could see Rossi, Morgan and Prentiss sitting in chairs. Morgan was asleep in an awkward position and Rossi and Prentiss were sluggishly sipping something from take out cups, not paying attention to what JJ was doing.

"Coffee?" he raised his head. "Is there more coffee? Can I have coffee?"

Rossi and Prentiss turned and Morgan blinked awake.

JJ smiled.

End