Chapter Text
Tony DiNozzo could not explain what the hell was going on with him. He had over the last month got a grasp on his gifts. At least he thought he had but today he was not so sure. He was so having words with Blair who'd assured him he could leave the centre.
Right now, he was running on instincts. This afternoon, everything had changed. He was anxious in a way he hadn't felt before. There was a strange tug inside of him and he sensed mortal peril on someone's behalf. He could only guess what it was. He had heard more than enough descriptions of Sentinel-Guide first meets. He could only guess he would not be getting a cute-meet. Pity.
If a person suffered a late emergence of gifts - it tended to be traumatic. In Tony's case, there was no doubt it was a traumatic episode. He'd failed to save Jenny. The Guide councillors had tried to convince him he was wrong in his thinking.
He hadn't failed; it had been Jenny's choice. He realised her plan, just a fraction too late. He'd wished to do more at the time and got his wish. He had come online. He hadn't been quick enough to save her at the diner. He had been powerful enough to avenge the death of his tribe's leader.
The feral episode had taken the Alpha Prime pair of the United States to calm him down. It was true what they said, the later you came online the more traumatic the emergence. Tony may be pretty but he was nearing his fortieth birthday.
The circumstances had seen the Alpha pair stay with Tony at the Quantico centre to train him. Tony had thrived with his gifts under their tutelage. Blair was giddy with the idea of an empathic Sentinel because that was what Tony displayed. Ellison got it, empathy helped a Detective.
The pair had commented that Tony was like the son they could never have. He had Blair's mischief and forthright ability to speak his mind. He had a love for physical activity that matched Jim; the arms training didn't hurt either. Blair had snorted at hearing the comment re parentage, "Honey that is a boy who needs someone to show him they give a shit."
It was the type of thing to make Jim growl. Tony was a great guy and would be an even better Sentinel. He had even managed to get used to the big bear hugging Tony whenever his mood felt like it. Blair had managed to batter through seem of those impressive defensive walls around Tony. After what he'd heard, the hugging bear made sense.
The hugging bear, Orso, was Tony's Spirit Guide. He was a mischevious thing. It would be a misnomer to call him a little thing, as there was nothing small about the spirited creature. He also had a delightful trick of making himself corporeal just to freak out people. He would also make himself corporeal to hug his Sentinel.
Orso was the other reason why Tony knew something was wrong. Orso despite being a Grizzly Bear was often a placid thing but not right now. His Spirit guide was growling and beating its chest. It wanted a fight but Tony couldn't see his enemy.
Tony was following the pull. The danger was too close. He needed to do something. Fear struck him deep in his chest. This was going to be Jenny all over again. He felt like he was dying.
He needed to act. He wasn't close enough but he could do something, "Orso go save our Guide."
The words made his feelings real. There was no way he could deny it, failure was not an option. He trusted Orso - he just hoped Orso made it in time.
He used his last threads of rational thinking to get a message to the Alpha Guide. He would need Blair's support one way or the other before all was said and done.
These were pretty homes on this gated road. So what was so terrifying here?
Tony was a cop before he was an Agent or Sentinel. He should have known the answer. Serial killers were from all walks of life and could be anyone. It was what made them such a terrifying concept.
A serial killer had set a perfect trap to catch his nemesis because Agent Hotchner had foiled too many of his kills.
George Foyet needed to kill him.
~*~
Hotch was adrift. His power had come online at the worst time. He could see the tiger, Tony, his spirit animal sprint away. Tony would do what Aaron wanted - protect Jack at all cost.
He couldn't feel terror or any other emotion because he felt like he was drowning. He didn't think there could be anything worse in the world. He could feel his murderer's pleasure in the act of killing him. He could feel Haley's terror and feel his son's sorrow and grief. He wouldn't survive the emotions, let alone the physical attack. Foyet had won without even throwing a punch.
Hotch knew it was coming. Foyet had baited him in the car with letting Haley phone him. It was a twisted way of letting him say goodbye. He'd raced back to his home, knowing in his heart he would be unable to save his ex-wife. The love between them may be gone but she was still the mother of his child.
He'd opened the door, gun raised. Ready to shoot. He didn't get a chance. The bastard shot Haley as soon as the door entered. The shock left him too disorientated to fight back. Foyet was on him before he could even comprehend he was emerging as a Guide.
He watched as Foyet's blade descended. It cut through his stomach like a knife through butter.
Pain flashed, hot and hard through his body. It got mixed up with Foyet's amusement. His body was thrashing as it tried to acclimate to all the emotions and trying to keep oxygen to all his organs.
It was too much, his thrashings were too weak. The blood loss had robbed him of energy. His eyes were fluttering shut and not opening. All he could see was Foyet's demented grin.
A deafening roar broke through the pain. He must have lost even more blood than he thought. All he could see was a Grizzly Bear charging at Foyet. It was the last thing he could think before he lost consciousness.
He never saw Foyet slam into the wall thanks to an adrenaline fuelled punch.