A/N I do not own Criminal Minds. Sorry for the slight delay in updates, though I did do a Halloween story with the lovely PolHop, does that count? And I just wanted to thank you all! Y'all are the best readers a writer could ask for, thank you for taking the time to follow, favorite or leave a review!
Please, Enjoy!
Heart of Hades
Chapter II: Part I Colias Hyale
"A simple child that lightly draws its breath and feels its life in every limb. What should it know of death?" – Wordsworth
Stark white clouds, that of which only occur after a storm, covered the pink and orange sky brilliantly – creating magnificent shapes and creatures; fueling the young girl's imagination as she enjoyed the warm breeze off the Appalachian Mountains and the cool prickling grass beneath her as she stared up above.
Giggling to herself as she spotted a rabbit wearing a top hat; reminding the girl to ask her parents if she could go to the school's talent show next week – having recently discovered her knack for kicking around a hacky sack. It wasn't anything like snobby Gretchen Myer's ballet recital of swan lake, but her grandma had crocheted an original pattern for the soft ball that showcased the blonde's hand and eye coordination and she couldn't wait to show it off.
Picking another dandelion; twirling the delicate flower between her nimble fingers only to sit up, make a quick wish and blow the white seeds into the air, mesmerized as they fluttered around and swirled into the wind.
The heavy church bells from a few blocks away, swung and chimed six times – causing her bright blue eyes to widen, realizing that she was going to be late for dinner, again.
Shooting up, wiping the damp green stains off her yellow sundress, fixing her pigtails before hoping onto her pink stingray bike – sparkling streamers billowing as she pedaled quickly back home.
Even though her heart was racing at the thought of being grounded, the strong aroma of daffodils surrounded her, and she couldn't help but to smile – Spring had arrived; a changing season that she absolutely loved.
"Nice bike!" yelled the familiar, taunting voice of the chubby red headed fifth grader.
"Yeah, nice bike!" joined his equally obnoxious friend.
She glared at the pimply boy and his lanky, freckled counterpart. Her bike was her prize possession – so what if it was a little rusty and some of the spokes were popping out and the cute little silver bell didn't work anymore, it was hers and that's all that mattered.
"Leave me alone, Ralph!" slowing down just the slightest as she neared the steep hill at the end of her block. "You too, David!"
"Gretchen said…you're not singing or dancing…in the talent show," the red headed boy cackled through panting breaths. "How do you…expect to win?"
"Like she's gonna win anyway!" squealed David, standing high up on his pedals as he tried to climb the hill, only to give up a few seconds later.
Feeling her own lungs start to burn as her calves began to cramp, she jumped off the bike and started to walk the rest of the way.
"Pssh, already tired!" Ralph grinned, pushing his glasses up his stubby nose. "Such a girl!"
"Why dontcha shut up, Ralph!" came another boy's voice; one she instantly recognized – face flushing with the faintest of blushes as she nervously bit on her bottom lip and dared a quick glance back.
Spotting the older boy; a Sixth grader – heck, they didn't even go to the same school anymore, smiling back at her with those charming dimples and sparkling green eyes.
"Hiya, Jenny!" he beamed, easily catching up to the pair; decorated skateboard tucked securely under his arm.
"H-Hi, Tommy!" she giggled, only to look away embarrassed when the other boy's snorted in amusement.
"Hacky Sack, right?" shaking his long hair out of his eyes. "I saw you practicing."
All she could do was smile and nod her head.
"That's cool," flashing his teeth, hopping onto his skateboard once they reached the top of the hill.
"Sure it is," rolling his eyes, and wiping the sweat off his brow – Ralph glared at the pair, only for his eyes to widen with surprise. "Oh, right on!" dropping his bike on the curb and jogging over to the patch of grass and dirt off to the side.
Her curious gaze followed; wondering what caught his attention only to spot it flutter around and land on the blooming purple flower. Smiling wide as she watched its delicate wings open and close – placing her bike down gently, slowly stepping forward only to gasp in horror when Ralph cupped the beautiful butterfly in his palms, and squashed it.
"Ralph!" she screamed; tears prickling her eyes. "Stop it!"
"Hey, get off me!" batting her hands away.
"You're gonna kill it!" yanking on his backpack as she tried desperately to get him to release it.
"Knock it off!" Tommy yelled, jumping between the pair; shielding her from being shoved.
"I need it for my project!" face turning red, as he held the fragile butterfly high above his head.
"She's crying," David held his stomach as he laughed; finger pointing accusingly at her – causing her to feel a painful mixture of sullen anger and childish.
"No I'm not!" taking a small step back, though her little chin remained pointed.
"Just let it go Ralph," growled Tommy, standing to his full height – his recent growth spurt giving him the advantage.
Ralph glared daggers at the young girl, pushing his glasses back up only to huff in irritation, "Fine, take your stupid bug!" throwing the pale butterfly onto the ground and stomping away.
David rolled his eyes and hopped on his bike. "You're such a baby Jennifer!"
"Shut up!" Tommy took a few steps towards them, chasing them away.
Dropping down to the soiled dirt, reaching a hand over the barely moving insect – wiping a tear away as she spotted the broken wing; partly bent and ripped.
"I'm so sorry," she whispered, jumping when a hand gently grasped her shoulder.
"I got to get going, it's getting late" rubbing the back of his neck and glancing down the street at the two boys still circling the end of the block; intently watching them. "Sorry bout that," putting his skateboard back down, giving her a simple wave. "Good luck at the talent show."
Wiping the sleeve of her cardigan sweater across her damp cheeks, unaware of the sun fading over the horizon, until that familiar voice called to her.
"Hey, June Bug," the melodic voice of her sister called out to her. "Mom sent me out here to look for you."
Her throat was still tight, nose red and runny, dress now dirty – the butterfly having stopped moving quite some time ago.
"Jenny," feeling her sit down, and gently twirl one of her tangled pigtails. "What are you doing out here?"
"It's dead."
"What?" leaning closer, following her gaze to the listless butterfly in front of her.
"Oh," came her knowing response. "It's your favorite."
She nodded her head and curled in closer, not realizing how cold she was until she felt the warmth radiating off her sister.
"But look," looking up as Rosaline shifted, gently lifting the purple flower and turning it over. "Little eggs," she smiled.
She eagerly and then carefully grabbed the soft plant from her hands, catching site of the bundle of larva underneath the flower and grinned.
"Babies," she giggled through a new bout of excited sniffles.
"Come on," Rosaline held out her hand and helped her up. "We can put them in the butterfly garden and watch them grow."
"Really!"
"Yeah, come on," heading back to the house. "Dinner's getting cold."
Picking up her bike, delicately holding the plant close to her heart, only to look back at the listless mother still on the ground.
"Jennifer!" came a gargled voice, and she turned around, unable to find her sister.
"Rosy!" she cried.
"Jennifer!" carried off the breeze in a different direction, quickly turning around, only to feel a strong grip upon her shoulders that shook her.
Blinking rapidly and stepping back – the memory fading into the chaos around them.
Grasping the butterfly pendant across her neck, anxiously twirling it, only to look up at Hotch.
"What!" she mumbled, tamping down the raging emotions colliding inside of her.
"Emergency kits!" he barked.
She nodded, taking a step away only to catch the back seat partly reclined as Derek pushed Reid out of the way; his injured hand unable to do CPR, and crawled over her best friend – pushing on her chest, closing her nose and forcing air back into her lungs.
"Now!"
Taking off running, grabbing the kits from the back of their SUV, spotting the fire extinguisher and quickly ran back – a cold sense of sobriety washing over her as she returned to the wreckage.
"Here," tossing Reid the kits, only for him to take the defibrillator out, hands shaking as he tried to rip the stickers off the pads.
Snatching them out of his hands, giving him an apologetic look as she got it ready instead – needing something to do, something other than focusing on the fact that her friend was not breathing just five feet away.
Looking up as Hotch sprayed the harsh white foam through the dented hood of the damaged SUV, effectively putting out the flames, though plumes of smoke still billowed out – creating a dark ominous cloud that hovered over them.
"We need to move them!" Emily's frantic voice carried over the warm breeze, and it was only then that she remembered Strauss was also stuck in the front, and guilt started to seep in but just for a second as Derek's demand tore JJ from her thoughts.
"Hurry up Jayje!" he yelled; his faint counts barely heard over the noise of everything else.
Springing to her feet, clambering into the seat next to him, taking a shuddering breath as Derek ripped the soft magenta fabric of Penelope's shirt wide open – revealing that cute velvet demi cup bra they had just bought last weekend on a rare girl's day out.
Passing him the wires as he connected the pads, turning the machine on, waiting for the charge to whirl to life, jumping back as her pale body jolted off the seat, only to slump back down.
"Fuck," he growled, giving her another deep breath as he pressed back onto her chest with another round of CPR.
"I can't stop the blood," glancing towards Rossi's voice who was leaning over the passenger window, his hands covered with the dark crimson of the older woman's blood.
Feeling a heated gaze, she spotted Hotch's determined face staring back at her. "We need to move them, or it's not going to work."
"There's a fucking branch sticking out of her leg!" Emily glared back; teeth clenched as her jaw ticked.
"Clear!" Derek shouted – searching, praying for Garcia's eyes to open, only for them to remain closed.
"Move," Hotch had wobbled over to Strauss, moving past Emily, holding an army knife in his hands.
Having already lost his suit jacket, he quickly got out of his stained button up shirt and handed it to Rossi. "Make a tourniquet around the wound and stabilize the branch," they stared at each other – Dave's concerned wide eyes, briefly untrusting, until he nodded and got to work.
Erin sat up, just enough to shift away, eyes rolling back as she screamed.
"I'm sorry, Cara," his soothing voice doing little for the tender flesh of her exposed wound, though her pale blue eyes sought out his and she nodded.
"Damn it," she mumbled out, fingers gripping the seat handle as he tightened the knot.
Hotch stepped forward, making sure to get her attention. "I'll try to be quick," waiting until she nodded to start cutting though the twisted branch between the small space of the door and her thigh.
"Come on, Baby Girl," Derek's choked sob broke her reverie and she raised the charge, pulling him back as it shocked Garcia again, cursing when nothing changed.
Tense moments ticked by like boiling molasses – a whirlwind of repeated actions that only seemed to get them nowhere but closer to death.
"Got it!" Hotch screamed. "Emily, Dave! Go on the other side and pull her through."
JJ could feel the cold sweat seeping through the back of her shirt, mind swirling with all the risky possibilities; the dire consequences that moving Erin could do. Hell she could have internal bleeding or a spinal injury, but as Penelope's body jolted once more only to remain listless; she selfishly wanted their boss out faster, needing to get her friend outside to properly help her.
Erin's gurgled grunts and painful moans were hard to listen to as they carefully eased her body out of the car, grateful when Prentiss quickly scampered back inside and pushed the button to slide the passenger seat forward – it took a few frantic attempts but the thing finally jostled enough, for Derek to free her legs.
Lifting Penelope out of the car like a delicate flower; laying her down on Reid's coat next to the other SUV, which he had placed on the ground – and JJ had to swallow a few tears as the poor thing kept rapidly prattling off statistics; pacing back and forth as his eyes bounced around, unfocused.
"My bag!" the young agent yelled; stopping to grip his hair, and turn around a few times.
JJ suddenly becoming worried, that he had a head injury, until she understood he was searching for something.
"Reid," watching him shoot back into the SUV.
"Come on!" Derek shouted through ragged panting breath; the muscles in his arm bulging as he pushed his arms into her chest, only to growl at Emily when she tried to step in and help.
"Got it!" Reid shouted, emerging through the mangled mental with his brown leather satchel.
"Really, Spence!" she glared; his books could not be that important right now.
"Derek, stop!" Hotch's soft demanding voice, drew her attention back and JJ found herself shaking her head and stepping forward.
No, they weren't stopping, not yet.
"Get off me!" Derek barked, sweat pouring down his face as he leaned in once more to give her a breath, her chest barely rising, and JJ felt the collapsing emotion shoot through her body, unable to stop the tears.
"No, no," she shook her head; dropping to her knees – sharp rocks digging into the soft flesh of her legs.
"Move!" Reid yelled, a strange power to his voice – fiercely unyielding, enough to cause Derek to slow down and look up at him.
JJ wiped her eyes, catching sight of clear liquid and glistening needle.
Kneeling before Penelope; whispering something she couldn't make out as he took a deep breath, and stabbed her – right above the heart.
Gasping, eyes wide, the only thing the blonde could do was clutch the butterfly pendant once more, trying to find the strength to believe as a choked sob broke past her quivering lips.
To be continued….
Chapter Title – Colias Hyale: Pale Clouded Yellow (Butterfly)