Extremely sorry for the delay. School is back in session. Thank you for being patient. And thank you for all the reviews
XO
CHAPTER 4::
Mac brought Jo some tea when he couldn't stand watching through the window anymore.
"Here I thought you would want some" Mac said as he handed Jo the tea.
"Thanks." Was all Jo said not even looking at Mac.
"We're gonna find him Jo"
"Are we? Mac I don't even know who this man is or what he wants." Jo said finally standing looking at Mac.
"What did he say on the phone?" Mac asked
"He…he called me murderer and that I needed to pay for what I did. Anything that was about to happen to Ellie was going to be completely my fault, because I couldn't be there to protect her. And now…now my daughter is in a coma and her best friend is dead" Jo said as a sob emerged.
Mac couldn't take it and pulled Jo into his arms where Jo finally gave way to everything that has happened. Mac didn't want to tell her everything would be ok, not until they found this man. So for now all he could do was rub his hand up and down her back trying to soothe her.
Jo sat staring at the wall in Ellie's room. Mac had gone back to the lab after Jo insisted he return promising that she would be ok. She called Tyler and he was on his way over to the hospital. That would be good, she can go to the lab and help find out who is going after her. She kept having the gnawing feeling in the pit of her stomach every time she looked at her daughter. She tried talking to her, tried pleading with her to wake up, but no changes in the last two hours. Marissa kept popping up in her mind. Gone. She'll never see her come bouncing through her front door with Ellie again. No more slumber parties or taking them both out for dinner. She couldn't face her parents, not yet at least. Just then as if reading her thoughts, there was a knock on the door. It was Lindsey. Jo waved her in.
"Any movement yet?" Lindsey asked looking at Ellie.
"No. Not even a flinch." Jo said solemnly
"Hey. She's going to wake up Jo. She's your daughter she'll fight her way out." Lindsey spoke placing a hand on Jo's shoulder.
Jo couldn't help but smirk at that. "Thanks Linds"
"Do you, I mean would you like me to make the notification to Marissa's parents? The autopsy and everything is complete."
"Yes…I…I can't do it Linds. I can't look them in the eye and tell them their daughter died in my arms. That I'm the reason why she's dead…..I just….I just can't right now." Jo said choking back sobs.
"They don't have to know this man is after you. I wasn't even going to mention that. The girls were attacked, they don't need to know it was a man trying to get your attention or make a point." Lindsey said to Jo.
"Thank you Lindsey." Jo said standing and hugging her friend. "Thanks so much"
With that Lindsey left and not even five minutes later Tyler came in.
"Mom! Are you ok? What happened? How's Ellie?" Tyler started rattling off questions as soon as he set foot in the room.
"Ty!" Jo said hugging her son. "Ellie and Marissa were attacked walking back from the movies. She's in a coma…..they don't know for how long."
"And Marissa?" Tyler asked
"She's…..she died. She was shot and I was too late. I couldn't save her….Ty I couldn't save her!" Jo spoke quietly with tears running down her face.
CRIME LAB
Danny and Adam ended up tracing the call to a burner phone found in a trash can down the block from where Ellie was found. No prints either. They hit a dead again.
"Find anything?" Mac asked walking in
"No. No finger prints, no any type of trace." Danny answered shaking his head.
"Where's Lindsey?" Mac questioned Danny
"She went to make the notifications to Marissa's parents. Jo couldn't and Lindsey offered." Danny said.
"How is Ellie and Jo by the way?" Adam asked speaking for the first time since Mac walked in.
"No change in Ellie and Jo is hanging in there. Putting up a strong front like I expected her too." Mac answered
HOSPITAL
"Tyler?" Jo spoke softly shaking her son awake. "I brought you some coffee"
Tyler had made Jo go home to shower and change.
"What time is it?" Tyler asked rubbing his eyes sleepily
"730 am" Jo answered "I want to go to the lab. Can you stay with Ellie for a bit"
"Sure Mom. Hopefully you can find the ass that did this to my little sister." Tyler said looking at Ellie.
"Thanks. I'll be back soon. Call me if anything changes." Jo said kissing Tyler on the head.
"You know I will Mom. Love you."
Jo walked over to Ellie and took her hand. "I will find who did this. I promise." Jo whispered leaning over and kissing her daughter before she left. "I love you baby girl"
CRIME LAB
Mac heard the dinging of the elevator and looked up. Surprised he had to do a double take to see Jo stepping off and going towards her office.
"Jo?" Mac asked stepping out of his office
Jo stopped and turned around. "Hey!" and before she could turn back-
"What are you doing here?"
"I work here. I have for the last 3 years now." Jo said slightly smirking
"You know what I meant. Shouldn't you be with Ellie?" Mac asked
"I can't sit there anymore Mac. I want no need to help. For Ellie and especially for Marissa."
"It's personal Jo you-"
"Personal?! Don't play that card Mac Taylor. It's personal for everyone. Ellie considers you all family! You know that…cause you do too!" Jo said her voice starting to rise.
"Jo I didn't mean—" Mac tried speaking again
"Just don't Mac. Not now." Jo said putting her hand up in a stopping motion and turning and walking toward her office.
Mac watched her go. "Don't take it personally" Don said walking up behind him, having seen the whole thing.
"I just wish….I just wish she would let me help" Mac muttered
"She's independent, she's Jo. Just give her time." Don said placing a hand on his friends shoulder.
"Ok so what have we got" Mac asked walking back into his office with Don.
Jo's Office
Jo set her coffee down and plopped into her chair. Blowing out a frustrated sigh she glanced at her desk when she noticed her picture frames were facing down and then noticed the letter with her name on it. Taking a sip of her coffee she quickly picked it up and opened it. Almost dropping her coffee she re-read the letter again
Jo or shall I say murderer
I would keep your family close. Tyler and the whole NYPD crime lab are not safe, look what happened to
That beautiful daughter of yours. I hope she wakes up soon and finds you in the ground. To find out what
you have done. Just remember you show this to anyone, you alert anyone. Someone will pay.
Come to the building across the street from your apartment, if you're brave enough.
Jo dropped the letter on her desk. She needed to keep this letter a secret, not being able to bare losing anyone else to this monster. She looked around and didn't see anyone, glancing at the letter one more time she stood up grabbed her jacket and left.
Mac walked in a half hour later. "Hey Jo have you heard anything on El—" Looking around he didn't see Jo anywhere. Then he noticed her jacket was gone. Mac scanned the room, Jo wouldn't have left without saying anything that's when he spotted the letter. Rushing over he picked it up and starting reading. He didn't hesitate a second to pull out his phone and call Jo. When she didn't answer after a few tries he alerted the team to the war room.
"Has she answered anyone?" Mac asked the team
"No. I bet that's where she's going though. Why are we siting around shouldn't we go after her—" Don was cut off by Adam running into the room.
"I found him!" Adam exclaimed
JJ's PLACE
Jo walked up to the door and hesitated. Looking up and down the street, she took a deep breath and walked in. Right away she saw the clippings hanging all-around of her and her worst nightmare confirmed….John Curtis.
"Glad to see you finally made it…..murderer. Like what I've done with the place?"
"Why do you keep calling me that, what do you want?" Jo asked starring at JJ
"You killed John Curtis. He was my only friend….my inspiration. You have to pay for what you have done."
His voice sent chills down her spine. This wasn't going to end well.
"Jason Jacob Lewis age 24 resides in Manhattan like the letter says right across from Jo's building. He was kicked out of Princeton over a final exam essay" Adam started rattling off."
(flash)
Jo didn't hear the man who walked up behind her.
(flash)
"Any connection to Jo?" Lindsey asked
"What was his essay?" Sheldon spoke up too.
(Flash)
Jo was grabbed from behind and thrown across the room.
(flash)
Adam was looking through the reports. "He wrote enthusiastically about…omg"
(flash)
Jo yanked off the floor by her shirt "I wanna hear you beg" The man spoke coldly
"Never!" Jo said as she head butted him
(flash)
"What?" Mac getting impatient
(flash)
The man kicking Jo after getting up
(Flash)
"John Curtis"
Gasps were heard around the room.
(Flash)
Jo punching the man. JJ sat back and watched the show laughing. The man got up and hit Jo again.
(Flash)
"Send units to 224 W 23rd Street now…officer in danger!" Don said shouting into his phone
Don Mac and Danny had jumped in the Avalanche and took off for JJ's place. "Hang on Jo just hang on" Mac repeated to himself.
Jo laid there blood coming down her face. Everything hurt when he hit her again and the darkness finally came over her.
"Now what?" JJ's assistant asked.
"Help is on its way. Time to say goodbye….for now."
"Where we going?"
"You? You are not going anywhere." JJ said coldly raising the gun he had.
The assistant didn't have time to blink when JJ pulled the trigger and the man dead before hitting the ground.
TBC
Finally another update. Ok a side note would be the "Flash" part would be like on TV shows when the keep going back and forth between two scenes showing something happening at the same time. I apologize if it's confusing.
Please let me know what you think. Thank You
XO