Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters nor do I own Criminal Minds. I do own Brenda, Brooklyn, and Bianca though.
The Next Day at Work and Ashley
(DPOV)
I called my sister to have her come and sit with the girls while Emily and I were at work. I told her what was going on and she assured me that she would keep the phone near by and also one of the guns. Emily wanted me to take her by her apartment to get her car but I would not agree to it. She did not need to be driving today and she understood when I told her that even if she did not like it. When we got to work I left her sitting in my car thinking what she was going to tell our co-workers about what happened to her. I knew she did not want any of them to know. I knew she was going to stay in the car for a bit so I went on in and then into the office.
My first stop was the break room because I seriously needed a cup of coffee. I had not slept at all last night between waking her up and thinking about what she told me. I had to admit that Brenda, Brooklyn, and Bianca were cute girls. If I am correct they are about 17 years old. Hotch walked in as I was pouring me a cup of coffee. He looked over and said "Have a long night last night Dave? You look like you have not slept." I did not stop to think about what I was saying when I said "Well yeah Aaron spending half the night at the hospital and then the other half having to wake someone up every two hours kind of does that to a guy." He looked at me and said "Is your sister alright Dave?" I nodded and said "Yeah it was not her but someone else."
I could tell that Hotch was getting ready to ask something when Morgan walked in and said "Christ Rossi you look like shit man." I barked out a laugh and said "You would too Morgan if you had to spend half the night at a hospital and then waking someone up every couple of hours because they were to damn stubborn to stay at the hospital with a concussion." Morgan looked at me in shock and before anyone could say anything Emily walked into the break room. I knew she looked worse than me. I automatically got another mug down and poured her a cup of coffee. I then handed it to her and said "Drink it and then get your ass to your desk and sit down." Once again I did not stop to think about what I said. I looked up to see Hotch and Morgan both looking at Emily.
I sighed and thought to myself today is going to be a long day. I looked up as JJ and Garcia walked into the room. They took one look at Emily and rushed towards her. By this time Emily had finished her coffee and stood up. I watched as she stood up to quick and then started to fall. Thankfully I caught her before she could hit the ground. I growled "Fool woman I told you to stay home. What do you need to prove?" By this time I was done thinking about what I was saying and how it would sound to others. All I knew is that the one woman who is like another sister to me had taken a hell of a beating last night and I could tell she was still in pain. Hotch looked at me and I just shook my head. Emily finally found her balance again and said "Dave I am alright. I just got up to quick." I nodded but then led her out to her desk. Once I saw that she was safely seated I headed up to my office.
Hotch came into my office and shut my door. I looked at him and said "Leave it open Hotch. I need to be able to hear Emily." He just nodded and then sat in one of the chairs on the other sde of my desk. He looked at me and then back out into the bullpen where Emily was sitting with Morgan, JJ, and Garcia hovering over her. He then looked back to me and said "What is wrong with Prentiss? I am taking it that is who you were with at the ER last night and who you had to wake up every two hours. Is she even cleared to be at work Dave?" I sighed and nodded. "The Doctor told her light duty for at least the next two weeks. Which means if we get a case she sits in the precinct. She has some bruised ribs, a mild concussion, the black eye and as you can see a broken wrist" I said. He nodded and then looked back out at Emily. He said "What happened to her?" I shook my head and sighed out "If you want to know you have to ask her Aaron. I made her a promise." He nodded and then left my office. I could see that Emily was getting agitated so I stood up and went to my door and said "Morgan come here. JJ and Garcia leave her alone for a while." The looked at me in surprise but nodded and walked off. Emily looked up at me and smiled her thanks.
(EPOV)
After Dave sat me down at my desk he went up to his office. I saw Hotch looking at me in concern but I just smiled at him. He finally walked away but I was not so lucky with Derek, JJ, and Penelope. Morgan looked at me and demanded "Girl, what in the world did you do to yourself?" I flinched knowing I was going to lie to him. I sighed and said "I fell down the steps at my apartment." He blinked and then looked at me closely. JJ was hovering and asking me if I needed anything and so was Penelope. I was starting to get agitated when Dave called out "Morgan come here. JJ and Garcia leave her alone for a while." I could see that they were shocked but they did as they were told. I smiled up at Dave to show him my thanks. He just nodded and had Derek follow him into his office. I shifted a little and then winced when my side had pain shot through it. Today was going to be one hell of a day for me.
I looked up as I felt someone's eyes on me. I did not see anyone in the bull pen staring at me so I looked up to Dave's office thinking maybe he was looking out to check on me. When I noticed it wasn't him I looked over and saw Hotch standing in his office doorway looking at me. He said "Prentiss come up here please." I grimaced but nodded and got up out of my chair slowly. Once I was finally standing up I walked over to the stairs and up to his office. Once we were in the office he shut his door and guided me to a chair. He sat down beside me and grabbed my hand that was not broken. I looked at him in surprise. I could see the concern clearly in his eyes. He looked at me and said "What happened to you?" I took in a deep breath and said "It's nothing Hotch. I fell down the steps." He looked at me for a few minutes and then whispered "Don't lie to me Prentiss. What happened to you?" I sighed and then closed my eyes. I knew I was going to have to tell him. I said "Okay but I can show you better than I can tell you. If it is alright with Dave why don't you come out to his house tonight?"
He looked at me in surprise and then said "Why are you staying at Dave's?" I sighed knowing this was going to upset him but he needed to know. I took in a deep breath and said "Because right now I'm safe at Dave's." He started to say something but there was a commotion out in the Bull Pen. What I saw shocked me and frightened me. I was up and out of my seat before it even registered in my brain. My ribs were on fire but I still ran out of Hotch's office and I yelled "Dave, I need you. NOW!" No sooner did I say that then he was coming out of his office at a dead run. There in the middle of the office was a bloody woman. She collapsed into my arms and with me being in as much pain as I was her weight made me hit the ground. I cried out in pain but pushed the pain away so I could look over Ashley. I looked at Dave and said "We need an ambulance. Oh my God Dave he found her. He found Ashley." By this time Hotch, Derek, and Spencer who had been teaching a class and just got to the office were standing behind me.
Dave hurriedly dialed 911 while he looked to see where the blood was coming from. JJ who had come up behind me was the one to spot it. She said "Guys is that a bullet wound in her side?" I frantically looked and then gasped. I don't know how she made it here with this wound but she did. Dave handed the phone off to JJ who stood quietly behind me talking to the operator. Dave looked at me and said "I'm sorry honey. I am so sorry. I knew then that she had died. I felt for pulse and could not find one. I started doing CPR hoping that it would bring her back. I tried and I tried and it didn't work. I started shaking and the next thing I know everything went black.