Authors note: Thank you readers and reviewers for taking the time to check out this story. Emily is on the way so don't worry but things need to develope just a bit more.
The intense violence that wove itself around her job had become something JJ had learned to deal with through the years. She knew there would be time to think on the series of events she had just lived through, but now was not the time. She ran to the truck hoping to find the keys in the ignition. As she approached she heard crying, being a mom something inside her flared. The sound had to be coming from a child. She ran to the back of the vehicle, and turned the latch throwing open the camper shell. Two small bodies were pressed tightly together in the farthest corner of the truck bed. JJ's breath blasted out of her chest. "My God they were so young," she thought. One of the girls squeaked in distress and fear.
"Come on," JJ called trying to be calm and reassuring. "Come on, it's okay." She smiled and gestured with open hands. The two little girls look at her with wide eyes. "Please, my name is JJ, I won't hurt you." JJ said pointing at herself, "I need you to get out of the truck. It's not safe." She knew better than to introduce herself as the police. If they were illegal, even as young as they appeared, they might panic at meeting up with law enforcement.
The two children looked to one another then the older of the two started to move. Not wanting to be left behind, the little one was right on her heels. JJ smiled and helped them out of the truck. No sooner had the group moved to the protected side of the vehicle did a shot ring out. It shattered the driver's side window. That shot was followed quickly by four more, taking out two tires on both vehicles. Grabbing small hands, JJ hustled the kids up into the sparse cover away from the vehicles. More shots riddled the truck, and from the distance they were being fired there was not a doubt the bullets were high powered rounds. JJ was no slouch with a gun, and knew whoever was shooting at them was nailing everything they were aiming at. If JJ had made a move to drive away she would be dead now.
Moving behind the largest creosote bush they could find, the small group rested. It was no protection from bullets, but it got the threesome out of the shooter's line of sight. JJ tried to still her mind to figure out what to do. The two girls began a rapid fire discussion in Spanish. JJ smiled at the tone of the exchange. Sisters, there was no doubt of their connection to one another. JJ held a special spot for this family bond, no matter the language there was a universal tone that accompanied all sibling conversation. She broke in and asked, "English?" The girls shook their heads no, but JJ wondered. She smiled to keep them calm, and pulled out her phone. There were no bars. They had to move. She motioned up the hill. She took their hands again and ran for it. Shots peppered behind them, and JJ was forced to pull the girls to the ground for protection.
Crawling, the small group made it to another bush. This was their third move. Only once had they been able to make a position change without detection. When the sniper did spot them, they only just escaped the bullets that moved in their direction. "The bastard is just playing with us," she thought bitterly. JJ's mood did not improve as she saw headlights moving up the road. It had to be the larger truck. JJ looked at her phone still no bars. "Damn," she said aloud in frustration. The littlest girl laughed, and then quickly put her hand over her mouth to cover the knowing smile. JJ cringed at her slip and said, "English?" This time the little one smiled and ducked behind her sister. Searching the area there was little to no cover; the shooter had to do nothing but look for movement to find his target. There was no choice left for JJ, these little ones needed a distraction if there was any hope for them to get away. The small group was out of time. JJ knew the team was on the way, but they would be too late to help these girls. She was their only hope to take out the threat.
JJ typed a long text message then handed her phone to the oldest girl. "Cell phone?" she asked. The girl nodded a quick yes then smiled a broad grin. Her sister's head peeked around her shoulder to see what was going on. JJ clicked on her gallery. Photos of the whole team displayed in vivid color. "My friends…amigos" She said not surprised to find she had a catch in her voice. The two girls looked at the pictures of JJ smiling with these people. The little one reached to take the phone for a better look, but the older one pulled it away with an "I'm in charge here" look. JJ had to hide a smile as the youngest one rolled her eyes. "It was so like Henry," she thought. She quickly pushed that thought away. It just hurt too badly. "His father would take good care of him if anything happened to her." She told herself.
JJ cleared her throat and then made a pushing down motion with her hands and said, "Stay here. Wait for my friends." She pointed to the pictures trying to emphasize the point all the time wishing for a better means of communication. "If Emily was here," again JJ stopped herself from thoughts that hurt too much. The girls looked at each other and shook their heads. Her phone was held out for her. They clearly wanted to go with her. JJ shook her head no and gently pushed the device back towards the girls. She motioned up the road to the headlights. The girls eyes went wide and the older one grabbed JJ arm pulling her to warn her not to go near the truck.
Touched at the gesture, JJ gave the child a quick hug. The little one swung around and made sure she was included too. JJ motioned for them to stay put, and placed her finger to her lips. The older girl started to cry, and JJ's heart broke. The little one grabbed her sister's hand and started to pat it. JJ motioned to herself, "JJ" the girls smiled. She then motioned to the phone, "Derek and Spencer" The girls nodded. JJ rolled her fingers away from her mouth, and there was a bit of confusion before the little ones picked up that JJ wanted them to say the men's names back to her. They replied with gusto. Smiling and nodded to them, JJ made sure they were hidden then turned and moved away fast. If she had waited a moment longer she never would have left.
The direction of her motion must have caught the sniper off guard because she was a good distance from the girls' location when shots flew in her direction. JJ had more flexibility to move quickly and for longer distances without her small charges. Darting from cover to cover, she was pretty sure the guy had lost her. She hustled back towards the two disabled vehicles. She was actually surprised at the distance she and the girls had traveled away from the road.
The car and pickup were important because they were the only solid cover available. JJ also wanted to return because she had an idea how to use them against the approaching threat. Her zigzag path got her to the sheriff's car with time to spare. The lights of the semi were definitely closer, but the road and they size of the truck did not add up to fast travel.
She paused at the body of the sheriff, and ripped a section of cloth off his shirt. She found his gun and emptied the clip into her hand. Seven bullets filled her palm. Continuing her search, JJ reached into the pockets of the dead man and found the multi-tool pocket knife she knew had to be present. Using two or three of the gizmos that were attached to the knife, she was able to open the bullet cases. She poured the powder into the cloth. She checked the approaching vehicle. They were much closer, and JJ knew she didn't have much time. Rounding the back of the truck, she used quick and careful movements to open the camper shell and pulled out the small plastic gas can she had seen in the bed. It was empty, but JJ was after the plastic tube that allowed gas to pour into the tank.
Working back to the car, she jammed the plastic tube into the gas tank opening. She pulled her gun and removed all the bullets and dropped them down the tube. The lights of the truck illuminated the desert landscape. JJ slowed her breathing and concentrated on feeding the cloth with the gun powder into the tube as well as making sure to leave space for air to flow. Shaking the cloth, JJ hoped the flammable power would spread. Making a last scramble back to the bodies, she pulled a lighter from the deputy's pocket. She had noticed he was a smoker earlier in the car. The truck was slowing to a stop and her time was up. Steeling herself, JJ lit the rag and hoped for just a little luck.
JJ took off running as the cloth ignited. Two men jumped from the cab just as she started to move. She moved fast, but made sure that her path allowed a view of the men's progress. One was the secondary suspect from town and the other, her breath caught in her chest, had to be the sniper. Worse yet he was holding a rifle. She dove for the ground in anticipation of gunfire and found that luck was with her because at that exact moment, the sheriff's car exploded with a giant flash and a concussion wave that would have knocked her down.
Her pursuers flew backwards and then were slammed to the ground by the explosion. The semi-truck's motor was still running, but the front windows were gone. The other two vehicles were toast. The sheriff's car was missing its back half, and the unsub's truck was on fire. JJ stood and started to run back to the girls who must be so frightened, but her attention was caught by the sounds of screaming and yelling. The panicked noises were originating from inside the semi-truck's trailer.
Seeing her assailants were unconscious or dead, JJ ran behind the truck. Like the girls earlier, there must be people held captive inside. She blanched as she thought the trapped voices might belong to family members of the girls. Jumping up on the hitch she grabbed the heavy latch and used leverage to move the huge metal doors. She had her back to the opening as she pushed the heavy metal to swing on its hinges. Turning around to offer a hand to the occupants, JJ found herself looking down the barrel of a very large gun.
While she was held at gun point three men jumped out of the truck. The shock at the presence of the gunman allowed her to be taken without any resistance. "How could she have been so stupid?" She scolded herself. JJ noticed immediately that there was professional air to these men. The procession was almost military in nature. While she was being dealt with one man had jumped on a phone, others used their rifles to scan the area and check on their comrades and equipment. For a moment, she flashed to how the BAU members went about their jobs on a case. This was not some small time operation that had her captive and with that knowledge her heart beat just that much faster.
Forcing herself beyond the pity party, she attempted to take in all the information she could hope she might get a chance to use it to help her. This situation was going from bad to worse, and without a miracle of some sort she was not going to make it out of here alive. The man with the phone walked towards her and took a picture. He was back on the phone getting instructions when the sound of sirens broke through the imposed silence. JJ was grabbed and tossed into the trailer. She had no choice but to roll as she hit the hard metal floor. She was pushed to the side and found herself next to at least twenty men and boys who were bound and gagged, eyes looking at her wide with shock. Two armed men moved into the container and the doors slammed behind them. She heard the truck rumble to life and felt its motion back down the road. She dropped her head to hide the fear that was etched across her face.
