The sound of the bagpipes were still ringing in my ears even though they had been done for several minutes, in a way I was thankful because it kept me from hearing the soft sobs coming from my mother. She was trying so hard to be strong for me but I knew that this was killing her.

I knew what she feeling because I felt just as empty and broken.

In a way we both knew that this would be the way he would leave us but never did we expect it to happen at this point, we always hoped that he would have one more case to work.

My father, Richard Davidson, was a member of the FBI's Behavior Analysis Unit which kept him on the road most of the time tracking down some of the worst people in the country. There were birthdays and Christmas' he missed but he always seemed to make it up to my mom and I when he got home.

This last case that he was working on had taken him Texas, at least I think my mom told me it was Texas, and instead of my dad coming through the door there two men in dark suits. They didn't have to say anything because as soon as my mom opened the door she broke down crying, I don't think she meant for me to see her react that way but what she didn't realize was that I was sitting on the top step listening in.

Granted I was fifteen years old I still knew where the best places in the house for eavesdropping were, and the sadder part I think was that I still used them.

The two men that were at the door were men that my father worked with, not only did I recognize the names from conversations my father had but they were like an extended part of my own family. Since my dad had helped create this group it was only fitting that they would be close with one another so I knew this had to be hurting them just as much as it was hurting my mom and me.

A couple of feet down from where I was standing I saw one of the men that my dad worked with, he also was there when they told my mom that my father had been killed in the line of duty.

He was about the same age as my dad was and what made him so memorable was that even with the goatee that made him appear much more intimidating there was a look in his eyes that held compassion and understanding. Somehow with everything that was running through my head I was able to remember that his name was David Rossi, I didn't really remember many of the other agents he worked with but somehow Rossi stood out to me.

When the priest finished giving his final prayer everyone stood back as my mother and I walked up and placed two long stem white roses on the top of his casket. Everything was starting to seem so real to me now, I realized I would never be able to hug my dad when he got home from some random town.

Please, don't let me start crying now. Not in front of all these people.

Taking a step back I watched as one by one people filed passed my father and said their final goodbyes.

Agent Rossi gave me a gentle smile as he placed his rose on my dad's casket and came over to tell my mother and I how sorry he was about my father's death. "Hello Katherine," he said, my mom exchanged a quick smile with him. "How are you holding up?"

"We're taking it day by day, Dave." My mom pulled a couple of tissues out of her purse and lightly blew her nose. "It's just so surreal, just last week he was leaving with you guys. I just can't believe he's gone."

Neither can I.

"You were always his Sammy," Dave gently put his hands on my shoulders, breaking my train of thought. "He always smiled when he talked about you."

Even though I was fifteen years old my dad always called me Sammy, apparently he also called me that when he talked about me in the office. The thought of a bunch of big FBI agents knowing me as Sammy made me feel a sudden rush of heat hit my face.

"Thank you," I mumbled as I let my gaze fall to the ground.

Dave cleared his throat, an obvious attempt to keep any trace of emotion in check for just a few more minutes. "Well, if you two need anything just let me know. I'm sure you have my number somewhere."

"Thanks again, Dave," she acknowledged his offer but I knew she would never take him up on any offer. My mom was trying to prove to everyone that she could handle all of this, and her first move would be moving away from Quantico.

As soon as Dave was gone my mom wrapped me in her arms before we followed the last of the mourners left the cemetery and whispered in my ear, "Promise me Samantha that you'll never put me through this, promise me."

"I promise," I cried into her shoulder, my body couldn't keep the emotions back any longer as tears started pouring down my face.. "I promise I won't do that to you."

Deep down I had a feeling that promise would be broken someday.

This is my first attempt at a Criminal Minds fanfic (don't worry I am a huge fan of the show LOL) so please bear with me because this story will pick up and we will see the rest of the cast soon! Let me know what you think!

This story also has its own blog which will feature extra outtakes and info on the characters here and there so please visit http:/afterdarknesscm(dot)wordpress(dot)com