Home alone…BAU style….
A cinny-ster fic.
The team rushes to get to sunny California as a huge storm moves into Virginia. By the time they realize their mistake it is to late to go back. A killer is stranded among hundreds others at the DC airport. When two bodies are found in an hour an unlikely pair help catch the killer, problem they are stranded also and struggle with limited resources.
As always I do not own the Rights to Criminal minds and I have no affiliation with ABC, or CBS. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.
Feed back is always appreciated.
Thanks for reading,
Cinny
They boarded the jet ready to head to California. A killer calls them there but the team doesn't mind since the east coast is expecting record snow fall by the early morning. Hotch didn't want to waste time so he hurried to get to the airport asking everyone to meet him there. He calls ahead and gets the pilot on the line, as the first of the heavy snow flakes begin to fall. "Get the plane ready as soon as we can, I want to be in the air."
Hotch ran out of the doors into the frigid air, hoping onboard and closing the latch in one swift movement. He barely got into his seat when the plane taxis into position and shoots down the runway.
The team is sitting quietly in near darkness, most of them breathing slowly, asleep. They had back to back cases and this was the third one in four weeks. He hated to call them out so early but he had to. He looked at his watch flips off the dim light above his seat and closes his eyes for the remainder of the flight to the west coast.
Two hours later he feels gentle nudging.
"Sir? Sir, wake up." It's JJ. Hotch opens his eyes and the closes them immediately. "Hotch we are almost there and we should get started."
"What time is it?"
"4:30 east coast time but when we land it will be around 1am."
The one thing Hotch loved about going to California in the middle of the night, the time difference gave them a chance to get some sleep.
"Ok we will get briefed and then we will go to the hotel and meet in the morning at 7. Wake the others." Hotch headed to the bathroom and JJ did as he asked.
Spencer was having a dream. He tossed and turned calling out but never waking. It lasted only a few moments but seemed to go on forever. When he finally sat upright his heart was pounding and the memories of his dream were like rice paper in fire. They floated away on the wind. He was sweaty but yet he was cold. He pulled the blankets around him and sank to the pillow. He was asleep again before he even realized he was awake.
"Spencer… time to get up. Spencer." The voice was sweet but stern. He didn't want to move, he was warm and comfortable. He didn't open his eyes. "Please Spencer, get up.' He tried to ignore it but the voice was getting stronger, demanding.
Hotch had just unlatched the door and opened it when the group of FBI agents stood there staring at him. "Did everyone need to go?" He stepped out of the way but none of them made a move to go in next.
"You got to tell him." Emily whispered to JJ.
JJ nudged Emily with her elbow. "Ixnay on the eidray…"
"Pig Latin JJ really?" Morgan spoke up.
Hotch looked at each of them Rossi, Morgan, JJ and Emily. Something was missing.
"Is Reid after the coffee already? Reid make me a cup will ya?" Hotch yelled from the back of the jet.
Spencer heard the voice again. "Get up this instant young man." It was his mother. He sat up in bed and looked around the dark room. He relaxed, it was only a dream. He turned his clock around so he could see what time it was 4:30 Oh well I might as well get up the alarm will go off in a half hour anyway. He had gotten over being uncomfortable with the dark and now when he slept he had to have total darkness. It banished the monsters from his mind and he could stare out into the black room and not see body parts and blood. That was the reason he turned his clock to the wall, even the faint glow of the numbers bothered him. He walked to the window and pulled on the black out shade he had installed. He was shocked by the scene outside. Snow blanketed everything and more was coming down heavy. Wow maybe he would get the day off.
When there wasn't an answer Hotch turned his attention to the Agents standing with him.
Emily said under her breath, "Tell him"
JJ argued back, "You tell him."
They were going back and forth over and over when Hotch said, "Someone tell me!" Morgan, whom had been quiet most of the time, standing behind Emily and JJ, gave JJ a shove forward volunteering her for the job. She shot him a dirty look and whispered "Ass."
"Um sir did you forget something?"
"JJ what are you talking about?" And then it dawned on him. He pointed at Rossi and they both said in unison, "You forgot to get Reid! I didn't you did."
"Well someone did." Morgan shouted above the bickering that ensued. Hotch marched to the front of the plane and when he returned he had a stressed look on his face.
"The airport in DC is closed, they have 21 inches of snow already and no chance of it stopping. The place is on a state of emergency."
"Well we have handled cases without Reid in the field before." Rossi replied.
"Yes I know, but I tried to call and there isn't phone service, I hope he doesn't try to go out in this weather."
Reid bundled up and put on his boots. He was glad he had a four wheel drive and he could get on the roads, nothing but emergency vehicles were allowed. With his badge he would have no problems. A little while later he had only made it a couple of miles from home and he got stuck in a snow drift. He struggled to get out but the car wouldn't budge. He got out and went to the trunk.
"Reid listen to me. Are you listening? Damn it Kid this is important."
"I'm listening, cat litter 50lbs and flash light extra gas, batteries, flares, water, snacks, and, blankets." I heard you Morgan I know you tell me this every year and it is already in the back of the car.
"Reid what else?"
Reid thought for a moment. He went over the list again and he couldn't think of anything.
"Nope nothing else."
"Kid you forget them every year. How many times do I have to tell you water proof matches will save your life one day." Morgan flipped the box of matches at Reid and Spencer caught it one handed.
Morgan raised his eyebrows good catch kid you're learning.
As Reid opened the trunk he thought of the conversation he had with Morgan yesterday and he had to admit he was right. Reid lifted the cat litter out and sprinkled some around the tires. Then he got back into the car and stepped on the gas softly. The tires grabbed traction with the cat litter and he was able to back out onto the road. An hour and a half later he was never happier to see the BAU.
Once on the 6th floor he realized he was the only one there or so he thought. Garcia came out of her cubby with a Mickey Mouse coffee mug complete with ears as handles. She was startled when she seen him.
"When did you guys get back?"
"Yesterday morning you were with us. Are you feeling ok?" Reid was concerned and he moved closer to Penelope.
"I know that silly I meant from California."
"We didn't go to California." Reid looked at her puzzled.
Garcia's eyes grew wide in shock as recognition crossed her mind. They had forgotten Reid. "Oh!" She put her hand over her mouth and the reality settled on Reid.
"Did they forget me?"
