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“***** dykes,” he countered, “just like my mother don’t
know what to do with a real man.”

“Show me how much of a real man you are then…why do you need
a gun?  I think a real man would be able
to control me. I mean you got what to injured women on either side of the room,
and you have two on the ground.  There’s
just me now, why aren’t you controlling me?

Pointing the gun at her “shut the ***** up. I can control
you…I am controlling you” with that he grabbed her around the neck and slammed
her against the far wall.

“Emily!! Leave her alone you *****.”  JJ yelled at him, trying to get out of bed,
praying that someone would help them soon.

Jane’s voice cut through his rage, making him loosen his
grip on Emily. “Come on Max…you don’t want her…its me…right?  Aren’t you man enough…don’t you want to prove
it to me how much of a man you are?” Jane’s taunt was the last straw; with a
roar he let Emily go and turned to Jane raising his gun.

“No!” Emily’s scream was like a knife cutting through them,
as Morgan and Frost burst through the door, the sound of a gun going off filled
the room.

Rodriguez reflexively pulled the trigger, even as the bullet
ripped up through his abdomen transecting a major artery.   The shock on his face was less about being
shot than about the fact that he had failed.
He had failed himself and his father and he let the ***** win.

Morgan and Frost watched him go down and looked down into
the tear filled eyes of Dr Maura Isles holding Emily’s gun in trembling
hands.  Going down on her knees, Emily
spoke to her softly, “Maura…Maura let go…its over okay…its over…Jane needs
you honey…there you go,” Maura turned to look at her and the stood shakily
walking over to Jane.

“You guys alright? Morgan looked at his ladies and breathed
a sigh of relief at the fact they were alive.
A little worse for wear, but alive.

Maura screams filled the room “Jane…Jane!…Emily! She’s not
breathing! Dammit somebody help me please!”
The monitor continued to beep erratically while Maura frantically
pressed the call button.

Chapter 20

“Get a doctor in here!” Morgan yelled out to Hotch as Frost
quickly checked Rodriguez before going over to Jane.

“What happened? Frost couldn’t believe this, they were safe
now…”*****!”