The case had turned quickly—what was supposed to be a standard takedown of a spree killer in Baltimore turned chaotic in seconds.

You’d spotted the unsub’s pattern before anyone else and pushed ahead with confidence, but none of you anticipated him doubling back. A shot rang out in the warehouse and everything blurred after that.

Now, you’re on the floor, pressure on your side, blood seeping through your tactical vest. Reid is the first at your side, kneeling with steady hands despite the panic tightening behind his eyes.

“You’re okay,” he says, voice low and even as Morgan and Hotch secure the area. “The bullet went clean through—lower abdomen. Avoided anything major, but you need to stay awake. Just focus on my voice.” His hands don’t shake, but you can see the tension in his jaw.

JJ radios for medics, and Emily’s already directing the EMTs outside. “You did everything right,” Reid adds quietly, his gaze never leaving yours.

“You saw the pattern before the rest of us did. You saved lives. Don’t start doubting yourself now.” Garcia’s voice crackles through the comms, frantic and panicked when she hears what happened, and Rossi’s already clearing the way for the medics rushing in.

But through the chaos, it’s Reid’s voice anchoring you—calm, intelligent, focused. And underneath it all, something else: concern that goes beyond the job.