"I can take it"
Chapter Four: Bring on the Pain
04x03:Minimal Loss

*Trigger warning*

A news reporter stands in front of a camera. A small church is behind him in the frame.

"This is a special report from la Plata county, colorado. We're reminded of Jim McKay's words from Munich-- Our greatest hopes and our worst fears are seldom realized. Let's hope it's not the latter as we wait to hear the fate of the women, children, And F.B.I agents inside the building."

The church behind him blows up, turning into an orange cloud of dust.

"Jim, are you getting this?" he asks his cameraman. Continuing to record

3 days earlier...

La Plata County Colorado

"He comes into my bedroom and lays with me. He says it's god's will. I'm only 15. And I'm not the only one. Please help me!"

Reid and Eden were driving in a car on their way to investigate a man who the group was told was abusing teenagers. There were supposed to be three of them but Emily called in sick at the last minute so it was Reid and Eden going because this is the area they all specialized in and it's better to travel in groups. The man in question was the leader of a cult and we were told to tread with caution as we drove down a dirt road.

POSTED NO TRESPASSING KEEP OUT

Eden was sitting in the passenger seat. Reid, who had the case file in his hand. Would lean forward in between the seats. Wearing one of his many seater vests his hair was slicked back with hair gel. It was slicked back so much that the top of his hair was crunchy to the touch which made her laugh. Nancy was driving the car.

"Tell us about the 9-1-1 call," Reid says looking down at the file Eden read over his shoulder.

"I believe that they referred to the church's leader, Benjamin Cyrus," Nancy says.

" Benjamin Cyrus-- no criminal record. No record at all, really. What else do you know about him?"

" It's rumored that he's practicing polygamy and forced marriages." Nancy continues.

" Any idea who the caller is?"

" Uh, Jessica Evanson is the one who fits the age, but... We can't be sure. So I negotiated interviews with all the children. It wasn't easy." Nancy explains.

" Well, considering their view on outsiders, It would be best if you didn't identify us as F.B.I. Just use our real names, And introduce us as child victim interview experts." Eden nods as she is handing her gun and badge to Spence who puts it in his Briefcase along with his own.

The trio pulls up at a church on a big acreage of land leaving the briefcase in the car. They all pile out of the car and begin looking around as Nancy talks.

"I'm looking for Mr. Benjamin Cyrus." Nancy begins as a man walks up with glasses on.

" You found him."

She nods. " I'm Nancy Lunde. We spoke on the phone regarding the allegation"

" Savages, they call us. 'Cause our manners differ from theirs." Benjamin quotes walking towards them with a book and glasses in his hands.

"We didn't come here to hear you cite scripture, Mr. Cyrus."

" Actually, it's Benjamin Franklin," Spencer explains to Nancy who swallows thickly.

" Spencer Reid, and Eden Hunters. They're child victim interview experts."

"How far from god's word must we have strayed for there to be the need to invent a job called child victim interview expert?"

" We wish we didn't have to be here," Eden speaks up. Cyrus just looks at her enthralled by her looks, he was enamored almost as if he was lost.

"So do we. But you are welcome, nonetheless. The children are in the school as I indicated."

"Thank you," Nancy replies walking ahead of everyone else.

" You're using solar power?" Reid asked as Benjamin tore his gaze from Eden for the first time since they arrived.

" Yeah. We're completely self-sufficient-- electricity, food, water. Ben Franklin said God helps those that help themselves. You look surprised."

" No... Impressed, actually." Spence says as Eden nods in agreement behind him.

" Thank you."

" For what?"

" For admitting that." He says as they begin to climb the stairs that lead up to the church doors. Benjamin leads the group to a classroom and Nancy introduces the girls in the room before they start conducting the interviews.

"We go to school. We do our chores. And we treat ourselves and each other with the respect god demands."

"But you've never been off of the ranch?" Eden ask

" I brought Jessie here when she was 2."

" You've talked to lots of children in your work. Tell me. Are their lives somehow better than ours?" Jessie asks

" We devote ourselves to god. That doesn't mean we're not devoted to our children."

" We are not here because of your religious beliefs," Eden explains.

" Why are you here?"

" We received a phone call alleging that an adult male member of your church was having inappropriate relations with the younger women here." Eden continues as Spence stands behind her listening and observing.

"You're talking about Cyrus."

"What makes you say that?" Eden furrows her brows shaking her head.

" Jessie, come on." the girl's mother pleads, grabbing her shoulder and pushing her hair back behind her. She shushes her but Jessie keeps talking, her nostrils flaring as she spits words of anger in their direction. Her mother seems stressed by this entire conversation rubbing her daughter's shoulder cautiously.

" Is it inappropriate for a husband to share a bed with his wife?" Jessie asks.

" You are married to Cyrus?"

" Yes. Cyrus is my husband and a prophet. It's an honor to bare his children." Jessie holds her head high in the air.

" Jessica, you're 15 years old. The state of Colorado requires parental consent." Spence speaks up rather protectively.

" She gave consent," Eden says, looking at the woman next to Jessica.

The door flies open and a man with assault rifle jeans and a plaid button shirt comes in yelling for everyone to get up along with Cyrus and some other men.

" Stand!" Cyrus orders as we all stand a man begins patting Eden down first, then Reid they all stand there silent.

"What's going on?" Nancy asked from across the room.

" We just got a bizarre phone call from a news reporter. Is there anything you want to tell me about a raid maybe?" He seethes glaring between the three. Reading their faces they were confused, shocked even before mumbling "They don't know." he says, opening a hatch that was on the floor. The men begin ushering everyone down into the tunnels. Everyone begins crouching down while walking. Eden was in between Reid and Nancy.

"What's going on?" Nancy whispers as they keep moving through the tunnel.

"I don't know. Just stay calm." Spencer whispers.

They make it into a small room huddled together as boxes of guns and ammo lay around. Gunshots are heard from above.

"All right, move quietly. Quickly go to the left. Everybody stays together. Children listen to their parents. All right, everyone. Down to this end. Have faith."

"Where'd all these guns come from?" Eden whispered

" I don't know. Garcia checked with the state police."

" Stay together. Remain calm. Everyone remains calm. There is nothing to fear here." Cyrus says.

"This is ridiculous," Nancy says looking at Eden and Reid.

" It's ok. Just calm down." Eden commands as Reid nods in agreement

"All right. Remain calm. Stay quiet. God will protect you." Cyrus says before leaving the room.

" It's the state police. I'm an officer of the state." Nancy explains as Eden rolls her eyes

This chick needs to chill out Eden was growing annoyed by her impatience.

" Well, there's nothing we can do right now," Reid explains as Nancy looks back at the pair again.

" I can talk to him." She says walking through the crowd.

" No, you can't. It's dangerous." Eden pleads, trying to follow Nancy, Spencer doing the same. "Nancy, stop! Nancy!" they chase after her and she slips through the crowd as a man with a gun steps infront of them stopping them from leaving.

Cyrus walks back into the bunker with his men but without Nancy. "Do not fear. We are on the side of the righteous."

" Where's Lunde?"

"It wasn't us," he says with a sigh

"What? You can't shoot it out with the cops! You have children here." Eden snaps as he simply glares at her.

" I didn't start this. I'll take the roof. You take the tunnel." he commands his men before cocking back the hammer of his rifle and leaving.

"They're pulling out! They're pulling out!" One man yells as there isn't any more gunfire.

"Not for long," Reid whispers.

"To follow by faith alone is to follow blindly"-- Benjamin franklin.

B. A. U. Behavioral Analysis Unit QUANTICO, VIRGINIA

JJ hurriedly walks through the offices and into the bullpen a television remote gripped tightly between her fingers. She approaches Morgan out of breath turning on the television.

"Morgan."

" What's up?" he replies, looking up at the tv and away from the article he was reading.

"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 Septarian sect."

" J.J., that's not the ranch where Eden and Reid–"

"They're still inside"

"Hotch!" Derek yells for his superior who immediately steps out of his office

"Tactical warrant service team into a forced retreat after losing a 30-minute gun battle..."

" The tv. Eden, and Reid." They all gather around to watch the small tv.

" No one knows for sure how many people are inside. It is believed at least 3 of the child service members are still trapped within the compound." the news reporter says as all the phones in the room begin ringing.

" All right that means we're the lead with hostage rescue and support. Let's go." he orders as everyone grabs their go bags and heads to the jet.

//

" Turned deadly when the Colorado state police officers tried to serve a warrant. Colorado attorney general Jim Wells says the reclusive cult has been the subject of a 6-month weapons investigation."

"6 months. We didn't check?" Morgan snips looking at JJ

"No. We checked. I had a.t.f. Call wells. He told a.t.f. There were no pending state investigations. He lied."

"Why?"

" Wells is challenging the governor in the next election. He thought that a.t.f. Was about to poach his big election-launching weapons bust. Now it's clear he didn't know there were f.b.i.agents there. He just thought the best time to serve a state warrant was When the kids were safe inside the school being interviewed." JJ explains.

" What do we know about this sect?" Rossi quips

" Liberty Ranch was founded in 1980 by libertarian Leo Kane. He created it as a self-sustaining commune." Garcia replies from the laptop they had perched on the small table in front of them.

" Libertarians believe that everyone has the right to do what they want As long as they aren't infringing on the rights of others."

" But libertarians aren't religious. Clearly, this sect abandoned libertarian principles." Rossi says

" Benjamin Cyrus, the current leader, introduced religion 8 years ago when Kane left."

"Garcia, what do we got on Cyrus?" Morgan asks.

" We got bupkis. It's like the guy never cast a shadow on the known universe. However, his predecessor, Leo Kane, is doing a 17-year stretch at Deerfield federal prison. Apparently, libertarians do not like paying taxes."

"17 years for tax evasion?" Morgan furrows his brows along with everyone else.

" Oh, no. That would be 2 years for tax evasion and 15 for going after 4 IRS agents with a Louisville slugger."

" Let's have Kane brought to the scene. He's our best chance at finding out some idea of who we're dealing with." Hotch explains as everyone nods.

//

They cleared everyone out of the bunker except for Reid, and Eden as Cyrus and His guys came back down the bunker talking about what was happening.

" 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?"

" I have her. She was at school." Jessica appears with a small toddler sitting on her hip.

"Hello, darling. It's all gonna be alright, honey. Mommy and daddy have gone to god. Ok? It's all gonna be alright. Take her to the temple and pray." Cyrus said cupping Jessica's face

"Distribute weapons and ammo. I prayed this day would never come. But it has. God will see us through." he orders his man who walks back up the stairs of the hatch, he begins glaring at Reid and Eden. Before staring directly at Eden only.

//

It was officially a new day and Eden and Reid separated from the women and children one of the men shoved Eden down harshly in a chair. They watch as Rossi comes into the building with a box and they pat him down before Benjamin shows him that everyone is okay. Eden can't make out what they are saying, they just look at Rossi explaining to him, with their eyes that they are okay at least for now.

"Why are they glaring at me so much?"

"The Bible says that people with hair the color of blood spawned from satan himself," Reid whispers as Eden scoffs quietly.

"They hate me because of my hair color, I can't help that" she mutters as Reid simply nods.

They watch as he lets Rossi leave, and begins passing out wine telling Reid and Eden to stand in the back.

"We are celebrating. Everyone drinks. Everyone rejoices. Because today we are one day closer to being with him."

" Look at Jessica's body language. The way she looks at him." Eden begins, and the two start looking. Reid observes arms crossed over his chest they all watch as Jessica stares at Benjamin with awe in her eyes, mesmerized by the man in front of her as he leans down and pours wine into her cup kissing the top of her head.

" She literally worships him."

" There's no way she made that 9-1-1 call," Eden notes as Reid stays quiet still observing.

" Trust in God with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. Trust in mine." Cyrus stands at the altar, they watch as Jessica's mom stands in front of Jessica view of Cyrus, whispering something to her. Jessica cranes her head around her mom which makes the woman leave and sit back down.

"Look how she comes between Cyrus and her daughter. She's inserted herself between them." Eden comments

" Acknowledge him in all things, and he will guide your way. Drink to acknowledge him. And I will guide our way." Cyrus preaches as everyone in the room takes a drink from their cups. "We will be with him soon. We drank the poison together," he explains as Spence and Eden give each other a look. "Mothers... Fathers... Children, though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we fear no evil. For thou are with us... And God will wipe the tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death nor sorrow nor crying. And there will be no more pain. For all of the former things have passed away."

" What do we do?"

"Nothing," Reid replies simply.

"We have to do something. These people just took poison."

"Cyrus just told them he did. I think he's just bluffing." Reid says.

" Why do you think that?"

" Just after he told them about the poison, he waited for them to start to react. Then he nodded to Cole. And he started writing. Look. They're scanning the audience looking for reactions." Reid explains as they scan through the crowd as well.

"They're writing down the names of the people who are crying."

" It's a loyalty list. So he knows who will follow him to the end." Reid says again as they continue looking around the room. The room was silent for a bit before Cyrus spoke again.

" Be still. 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." he yells slamming a bible down on the altar in front of him. The men leave for a bit before they snatch Reid and Eden up and take them down to the bunker again as Cyrus comes in with one guy.

"Which one of you is it? Which one of you is the F. B. I. agent?" he asks as they look around the room at each other.

" Why do you think one of us is an F. B. I. Agent?" Reid babbles as Cyrus glares at him he unbuttons his shirt pulling a revolver from the waistband of his pants and pointing at Reid's head.

"God will forgive me for what I must do."

" I--i don't know what you're talking about," Reid says again, gulping quickly.

"One of you does. Who is it?" Cyrus says as Eden looks between Reid and Cyrus.

"Me. It's me." Eden speaks up as Reid gives her a look. Cyrus pulls back the hammer of the gun and puts it back in the waistband of his pants grabbing her by her hair and dragging her out of the room. Reid looks like he wants to cry as she sent him a reassuring look before he is out of her sight. He drags her to what looks like a food cellar

" I told you not to put me in this position!" Cyrus yells slapping Eden Hard. she falls to the ground and tries to get up but he knees her in the stomach before pulling her up by the arm and slapping her into the wall. He then grabs her face and pushes her into a mirror which breaks

//

The sound of Eden grunting is the only thing that's heard, Hotch shakes his head a sad look on his face trying his best not to be upset, Rossi zoning out intently listening and Derek closes his eyes. The strikes from Cyrus were the only thing they could hear besides her grunting.

Hotch removes his headphones. "We have to go in there."

"We'd be risking the lives of everyone in there."

Hotch has unshed tears in his eyes as he puts the headphones back on.

" Get up. Proverbs 20:30 tells us blows and wounds cleanse away evil." Cyrus says they hear Eden grunting more and the sounds of Cyrus hitting her.

" I can take it."

" Oh, you can take it?" he replies the sound of a slap is heard and Hotch winces as Derek's jaw is tightened.

"Wait-Wait. Listen to what she's saying"

"I can take it."

Derek shakes his head. "She's antagonizing him."

"She's not talking to him."

"She's talking to us. She's telling us not to come in." Hotch puts his head down.

" Pride comes before the fall." They hear another grunt from Eden and Derek tosses his headphones to the side, walking away before his temper gets the best of him. He was trembling with anger, it wasnt okay and yet it was happening right there a few feet away and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

//

"Tie her up. Put her upstairs," he orders as the men drag Eden up the stairs. They tie her to the bed and leave her there as Jessica's mom comes in with a bucket and a damp cloth. Padding it at her face she turns away from her.

"You should have told Cyrus who you were. He's a prophet. He predicted Satan's armies would come and lay siege to us." Jessica continues dabbing at her face.

"There's a name for that kind of prophecy-- self-fulfilling."

"You don't know how dangerous it is to lie to him."

" I know it would take a brave woman to defy him, knowing the consequences. And that that woman would have to have a damn good reason to do it." Eden says as she stands up looking her in the eyes she panics realizing that Eden knew what she did before grabbing the bucket and leaving the room.

She took this moment to look out the small window, the sun shining through, It was quiet and peaceful almost. The room seemed small like it was for a child and the bed was a twin-sized one. After a few hours a man came and grabbed her, they walked down the stairs back to the chapel where she leaned against the wall watching as Cyrus began talking

"It has come to my attention that some of our brothers and sisters have lost their faith in god. That they no longer love us. They want to abandon us. So when I call out your name, please stand. Todd shutters. Melanie shutters..." he began relaxing people calling them by their names

" He looks pissed." Eden says as Reid walks over to her gulping thickly, she continues staring at Cyrus before looking over at Spence and seeing those sad puppy dog-looking brown eyes, his jaw clenched, hands shoved aggressively into his pockets.

" Evan Radley."

" It's not as bad as it looks." She whispers as he takes a deep breath

" I'm so sorry." he says as she shakes her head "no" at him

"Sean Stebbins. Sherry..."

" Look at who he's releasing." Eden nods towards the front as Spencer takes his eyes off her to Watch Cyrus.

"Wyatt Rayborn."

"It's the ones who failed the loyalty test," Reid says as she nods.

" Doris Beasley"

". We'll get word to the team." Wait for a sign from outside to indicate what time the raid will come." he whispers as Eden nods simply. She could feel him inspecting her, trying to analyze where every bruise was just in case she came back with more. He loved her, a lot and it was taking everything in him, not to kiss her head right now. Not to cup her face and take her pain away.

"Willis Farwell." he ends his list as Reid walks up to him, both of them looking back at Eden.

" Take her back."

//

The sky was dark now Eden moved the blinds around with the heel of her boot trying to look out of the window.

" If you can hear me I know you're coming. I can try to get the women and children down the tunnel, But I need to know when you're coming." Eden says out of breath. Her head was pounding she knew she had a concussion just from the amount of pain shooting through her head, she swallowed thickly trying to keep the bile from coming up. "I can try to get the women and children down to the tunnel, But I need to know when you're coming. But I need to know when you're coming. If you can hear me, I know you're coming. I can–" She sees a red laser point through the window aimed at the wall. "Ok.ok. I got you. What time? What time?" the laser blinks three times " 3:00 a. m?" she asked as the laser moved up and down. "Understood, Reid is on the first floor somewhere with Cyrus. And please remember there are children here. Someone's coming." she put her foot down not wanting the person who is coming to see what she was doing. Jessica's mom comes down a few minutes later with a chair and a glass of water. She brings it to Eden's lips and Eden sits her body up, hands still tied behind her back. "Cyrus is planning a mass suicide. You made the 9-1-1 call."

" This is all my fault. None of this would have happened if I hadn't made that call."

Eden shakes her head. " You were trying to protect your daughter."

" There were other girls before Jessie. He--he would marry them in secret. And after a while, he'd take another. And we weren't permitted to speak of it. And so when she asked for my consent, I wanted to just take her and run. But I was afraid she wouldn't leave him."

" You wanted us to take her?" Eden asks

" Well, i--i wanted to save her from Cyrus."

Eden gulps thickly. " I can give you another chance. The F. B. I.is coming here at 3:00 A. M. I need you to gather Jessica, the kids, and the other women-- Get them into the basement just before 3:00 A. M."

"Why are you telling me this?"

" Because I have faith that you are a strong enough woman to do the right thing for Jessica," Eden explains as she leaves. Eden sits there for a while praying she would come back. Which she does.

"You were right. They're setting the place to blow up. I told Jessie Cyrus wanted her to gather the women and children." she whispers untying her wrist.

"Where is the man I came in with?"

"He's in the chapel with cyrus. It's 2:45 though. We gotta hurry." She says pulling Eden along with her.

They walk down the stairs and Eden keeps looking out for Cyrus or any of their men before sending people down to the basement. Derek is standing there, with a swat agent and Rossi.

"Red, you all right?" He asks moving her out of the way.

" They've wired explosives."

" Everybody come on. Let's go this way. Let's go kids. Ok. This building's gonna blow up." Jessica's mom says ushering the women and children to move forward.

"Where's Reid?"

"He's in the chapel with Cyrus" Eden says, her lip trembling.

"We gotta get you out of here."

" No. We've gotta get Reid!" She snaps getting angry she was very overprotective of him.

"Red, I will get Reid. Get out of here. Get to safety. Go now." He orders as she looks him in the eyes, He cups one of her cheeks with his hand before he nods at her. She starts helping Jessica's mom with a few of the people.

"Cyrus didn't call for this. You lied to me!" Jessica screams to her mother.

Her mom starts gripping onto the young girl's shoulder and shaking her a bit. "No, Cyrus lied to you, honey."

" He can't--he's my husband," Jessica says running back upstairs

"-No!" her mom screams trying to run after her Derek holds her back.

" I will get her for you. Rossi, get her out of here." He orders

" Torres, get your boys. Let's do this now." Derek orders running up the stairs. Eden followed the tunnel leading to the hatch inside of the school and began getting people out, she stood there coughing and watched as this church was on fire.

"Reid! Morgan!" Eden yells staring at the chapel in flames " Reid. Morgan." She stares at the front of the church quietly as the two men stand from the rubble coughing. "Oh god," she starts walking up the stairs towards them. She pulls Reid into a hug and he hugs her back cupping her face in his hands.

They explain how Jessica was the one who set the bomb off and Eden looked over at her mom walking up to her and telling her what happened. She sobbed, and an ear-piercing wail escaped the woman's lips. She rubbed her back as fell to her knees. Eden looked over at Hotch asking him to take over. He does so and Eden runs over to a crowd of small shrubs, beginning to throw up, most of it being water, seeing as she hadn't eaten in three days. Derek patted her back. Asking if she was okay and she wiped her face and nodded before turning to walk away only for her knees to give out.

"I got you, I'm here now." He soothes as the adrenalin finally wears off. She was shaking like life in a wind storm he says nothing more walking her over to the ambulance. He stood by her side for the rest of the time they were there. Up until the jet ride home.

"Reason is not automatic. Those who deny it cannot be conquered by it." Ayn rand.

They were on the jet on the way home and Eden walked out of the bathroom seeing Spence reading a book.

"Hey"

"Hey" she sat down in front of him, placing both hands on either side of his arms "I need you to listen to me. What Cyrus did to me is not your fault. It was my decision, and I would do it again. Do you hear me?"She says looking him in the eyes. He grabs her hands and holds it in his. smiling a tight-lipped smile at her. "Thank you" she whispers sitting back in the seat, he smiles at her again before reading his book and she sighs feeling content.

The plane ride is quiet and she breathes slowly feeling her eyelids get heavy, she hadn't realized she fell asleep until Derek was lightly tapping her awake. Eden says her goodbyes to everyone, not before Garcia pulls her into a bone-crushing hug telling her not to do that again. The walk to her car was interrupted by Derek who was staring at her like she had two heads.

"Woman, why are you so hard-headed? Give me the keys, I'm driving you home." He sasses snatching the keys from her hand.

"Im fine Der," Eden winces as she lifts her arm to throw her bag into the trunk. She bites her lip and looks at him as he nods. "Fine, perhaps I am a bit sore." he opens the passenger side door for her.

He helps her sit down and even insists on buckling her belt for her. Before getting into the driver seat and driving her home. He explained how he was staying at her house for a few days because the doctor told him. She needed to be monitored while sleeping since she had a concussion and she couldn't help but laugh at the man's overprotective nature knowing damn well that this wasnt her first concussion and that she would be fine. Of course, she told him that he wasn't allowed to sleep on the couch. It was a bit awkward but after everyone was showered and dressed they climbed into her bed and she snuggled into her pillow passing out immediately. Derek simply watches her, smiling at how comfortable she looked. Before he too goes to sleep himself.

Maybe this is what true love looked like?

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