unedited

FOURTEEN. FAITH ALONE

JENNIFER JAREAU BURST THROUGH THE DOORS OF THE BAU IN EVIDENT DISTRESS. Her breathing was laboured and her movements weren't as precise as they usually were. She grabbed the bullpen television remote as she practically ran towards Derek, who was looking over his paperwork. "Morgan."

Derek looked up, furrowing his eyebrows at his coworker. "What's up?"

JJ turned the television on, drawing the attention of the workers around them to the screen. "What is reportedly being called a routine questions and answers meeting by Colorado Child Services had turned into a violent and deadly standoff  between Colorado authorities and a fringe religious group known as the Sepatarian Sect."

"JJ," Morgan began in a low voice. "That's not the ranch where..."

"They're still inside," JJ muttered, trying to remain calm, but on the inside she was close to bursting. 

Morgan turned around and yelled frighteningly loud. "Hotch!"

Hotch's head shot up inside his office at the sudden shout, and he jumped to his feet, not even bothering to end his phone call. He rushed out of his office, meeting Rossi by the barrier separating them from the bullpen. 

"The TV," Morgan looked up at him with wide, angered eyes. "Prentiss, Reid and Alvarez."

"No one knows for sure how many people are inside. It is believed that at least four of the child service members are still trapped within the compound."

A wave of fear hit Hotch. It was bad enough that they had a hostage situation, but the fact that he had sent three of his team members into such a dangerous place without realising filled him with frustration and guilt. 

The phones quickly began ringing off the hook within the BAU, and agents rushed to answer. Hotch gripped the railing tightly, though he appeared to be emotionally unresponsive. "Alright, that means we're the lead with hostage rescue and support. Let's go."

★☆

Daisy sat beside Spencer as Emily paced back and forth in the bunker. They had been separated from the rest of the church, most of the children having been sent to bed or brought to a location Cyrus didn't want to disclose. 

Cyrus and one of his followers, Cole, ran down the steps to meet the trio. "Miles is dead. He was locking the door when they shot him. Lauren and Robert were asleep in their bed. The bullets came through the wall."

"What about the baby?" Cyrus asked, though Jessica rushed out holding a small toddler in her arms. 

"I have her," the teenager tried to catch her breath. "She was at the school."

Cyrus exhaled in relief. He approached the two young girls. He reached out and caressed the toddler's cheek. "Hello, darling. It's all gonna be alright, honey. Mommy and daddy have gone to God, okay?"

He then shifted his attention to his young wife. 

"It's all gonna be alright," he assured her. "Take her to the temple and pray."

Jessie nodded and rushed off once more. 

Turning back to his followers, his expression hardened. He rested his hand on Harry's shoulder. "Distribute weapons and ammo. I prayed this day would never come, but it has. God will see us through."

Daisy and Emily exchanged a worried look, but they knew there wasn't much they could do, for they were still undercover. 

★☆

The next morning, Daisy, Spencer and Emily had been ushered into the temple where the rest of the community was gathered. Daisy was between her colleagues, as they were still concerned that she was at risk. Daisy had insisted she could take care of herself, but of course, it was no use. 

She blinked a few times, trying to keep herself awake when she heard a knock at the door. She sat up, looking back to see Cyrus opening it and welcoming none other than Dave Rossi. 

Relief rushed over her. The BAU were here. They had a fighting chance now, and she felt the seedlings of hope in her chest begin to sprout. Emily's eyes flickered down to see the younger woman picking at her fingernails, and she reached over to place her hand on top. Daisy forced a nervous smile. 

Rossi was patted down by the followers, before he and Cyrus walked the aisle, talking softly amongst themselves. Cyrus gestured to the children, then to the trio. "The children, and our guests."

Rossi gave an almost undetectable nod to his fellow agents, before quickly looking away. He had to pretend he didn't know them. "I'd hoped you'd let me take the children."

"Nah, they're our protection," Cyrus shook his head. "I remember Waco, we all do."

"This isn't Waco."

Cyrus paused, staring at Rossi for a moment. "They stay for now, while I pray for God's guidance. Please don't try to force us out."

The way Rossi maintained his composure was admirable. He had taught the classes on hostage negotiating, so that much was to be expected of the man. "No one's gonna try to force you out of here. Trust me."

"Trust is earned."

"It is," Rossi nodded in agreement. His eyes scanned the room once more, lingering on Emily, Spencer and Daisy a little longer than anyone else. Daisy swallowed. She knew that he was trying to plant as many bugs as he could so that the outside forces could listen in. The best she could do was hope that he'd been successful. 

"Tell them I'm not crazy," Cyrus led him back to the door. "Tell them I'm just a man living by God's law."

"I will," Rossi held out his hand. Cyrus eyed him, before shaking it and letting him leave. He then closed the door, and turned to the church. 

"Prepare the wine."

Daisy's eyes widened. She watched as plastic cups were handed out, red liquid being poured in by the followers. 

"You three, up," Harry walked over to them. "Go stand over there."

The agents did as they were told, walking to the back corner of the building where they watched quietly as the events unfolded. She leaned towards Emily and dropped her voice into a whisper. "You don't think..."

"I don't know," Emily sighed, shaking her head as she too had to force herself not to speak out. 

"We are celebrating," Cyrus continued to give the men, women and children wine. "Everyone drinks, everyone rejoices. Because today, we are one day closer to being with Him."

"Look at Jessica's body language," Emily noted. Daisy and Spencer looked over to where Cyrus was pouring for his wife. She was staring up at the man as if bewitched by his presence. "The way she looks at him. 

"She literally worships him," Spencer muttered. "There's no way she made that nine-one-one call."

"Trust in God with all your heart," Cyrus walked back up to the stage. "Lean not on your own understandings. Trust in mine."

Daisy noticed Jessica's mother walk over, standing between the young girl and her husband. Jessica tried to look around, but the woman kept moving in the way. "Look how she comes between Cyrus and her daughter. She's inserted herself between them."

"Acknowledge Him in all things and He will guide your way," Cyrus continued. He raised his cup. "Drink to acknowledge him, and I will guide our way."

Daisy's lips parted in horror as the church members drank with their leader. 

Cyrus looked around. "We will be with him soon. We have drank the poison together. Mothers, fathers, children, though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we fear no evil, for thou are with us. God will wipe the tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There will be no more pain, for all of the former things have passed away."

"What do we do?" Daisy asked softly. 

"Nothing," Spencer was studying the space, the gears turning in his genius brain. 

"We have to do something, these people just took poison," Emily muttered quickly in response. 

"Cyrus just told him they did," he crossed his arms and looked across at the two women. Daisy's eyes averted to the church, noticing that some were crying and others were completely calm, as if accepting their fate. "I think he's just bluffing."

"Why do you think that?" 

"Just after her told them about the poison, he waited for them to start to react," Spencer explained, before he glanced up to the stage. "Then he nodded to Cole and he started writing."

"Look," Daisy nudged Emily. "They're watching the audience for reactions. They're writing down the names of the people who are crying."

"It's a loyalty list," Spencer mused. 

"So he knows who will follow him to the end," Emily concluded, and Daisy ran a hand through her hair. 

"It worked for Jim Jones," Daisy sighed, referencing the infamous Jonestown mass suicide in the late seventies. "They did tests just like this one beforehand."

"Let's hope he doesn't get that far," Emily provided some reassurance, but it wasn't enough. 

"Be still," Cyrus held up his hands. "There was no poison. Instead a test of faith. Because your adversary, the devil, waltzes about as a roaring lion; choosing whom he may devour. Watch each other for signs of weakness. You are your brother's keeper."

"Shit," Daisy mumbled under her breath, noticing Harry walking towards them once more. 

"Back in the bunker," he grabbed her by the arm, pulling her away from Emily and Spencer. 

"You don't need to handle her like that, Harrison," Spencer spoke calmly, though his wide eyes said otherwise. He and Emily rushed after the two, following him back through the tunnel and underground while the church deliberated. 

Harry didn't respond. He harshly pushed Daisy onto the ground and she groaned as her back hit the dirt. 

"That's enough!" Emily snapped, pulling her friend back to her feet. "What's your problem with her?"

Harry scowled. "That's none of your business."

Before any of them could respond, Cyrus marched into the small room, his eyebrows deeply knitted together. "Which one of you is it?"

Daisy looked across at Spencer, alarm bells ringing in her head. 

Cyrus opened his shirt and revealed a gun tucked into his belt. He pulled it out and ground his teeth together. "Which one of you is an FBI agent?"

Spencer cleared his throat. "Why do you think one of us is an FBI agent?"

Cyrus took the safety off and lifted his weapon. "God will forgive me for what I must do."

Daisy gripped Emily's hand and moved to stand up, but the older woman didn't allow it. Spencer began to stutter. "I-I don't know what you're talking about."

"One of you does," Cyrus held the gun up to Spencer's head. "Who is is?"

Daisy opened her mouth to say it was her, but Emily beat her to it. "Me. It's me."

Both Spencer and Daisy's eyes widened and they looked over at their colleague. She showed now fear, even when Cyrus turned to her and gripped the gun a little tighter. He shoved it back in the waistband of his pants and without warning, grabbed Emily by her hair and yanked her upwards. 

Daisy could only watch as her friend was pulled out of the room. She felt sick to her stomach, seeing the strong woman being taken away. Cyrus looked up before he left. "Harry, see to it that our other guests are...comfortable."

Emily struggled at his words. "Don't touch her!"

The door slammed shut, and Harry stepped forward. Spencer went to make a move, but Cole cocked his gun and held it up to him. 

Daisy looked up and met Harry's dead eyes, wanting nothing more than to punch him in the face. But she couldn't. She couldn't do anything. What would that mean for Spencer? For Emily? For the women and children being coaxed into drinking poison for their 'own good'? 

Harry held out his hand. "Let's go, sweetheart."

★☆

dedicated to Yannooooxox

also wtf this has almost 5k reads???? thank you guys so much for the support !!!!