Bellicose
A Criminal Minds Story
Hotch clutched the steering wheel of his government issued vehicle tightly as he drove. His eyes glanced towards the woman to his right who sat, clad in an FBI vest that covered her brightly colored clothing underneath. Her finger tapped violently on her knee as she stared straight ahead, mumbling inaudible words in a repeated pattern. The fear in her expression was clearly seen as she closed her eyes for just a small second before opening them again.
"Gar-,"
"No. No. Mr. Boss Man. I am not staying in the car. Those are my babies in there and they need me," She told him as her body started to shake a bit, "I'm going in."
"Alright, but you stay behind until I give the all clear for you to come in alright?"
Garcia nodded, "Yes sir."
And then she continued to repeat something.
Hotch gave a silent sigh as he gripped the steering wheel tighter and took a slow right turn as he headed into the abandoned warehouse parking lot that had been the RDM's main headquarters for a long time.
His heart the thumping wildly as he felt his body tense up before he brought the car to a stop. SWAT and the state police behind him. He felt a cold sweat drip down his back and his hands felt clammy and hot.
He was afraid.
Agent Aaron Hotchner was afraid.
"Hotch…," Garcia's worried tone caught his attention, and he looked at her with his usual stoic expression.
"You wait until I give the all clear," He demanded as he opened the door and stepped out.
He was not going to lose an agent today.
He couldn't.
Stepping forward in front of the group of gathering officers, Hotch stood with authority and strength.
"Here's the plan…,"
Just a few buildings down...
Emily Prentiss could only watch as her friend's completely still body slammed into the ground. No cry of pain was uttered from the blonde as her entire body smacked into the cold surface with a loud almost popping sound. It was then that Emily thought for sure that JJ was dead.
And it was then that the only word she could utter was, "No…"
The frozen agent noticed as her fellow team started to reach for their unresponsive comrade. But were immediately pushed back by the now armed captors in the room.
"She didn't talk."
Emily jumped at the sudden presence beside her as she tore her gaze away from her friend's still form. Confusion and pain shone through her eyes as she looked into the complete angered ones of Lucas.
She choked out, "What?"
"She didn't rat you out. Just thought you ought to know that she is going to die for you."
Emily couldn't breathe, her lungs were swelling up as she shook violently. No, JJ couldn't. But she would and Emily knew it.
"Even after I promised to let her go back to her son. To see him grow up. She said no," Lucas shrugged as he patted Emily's head.
She grimaced slightly at the touch.
Lucas scowled as he stood up and walked towards JJ, nudging her in the side with his boots, "It's a pity really. Looks like it is up to you to save your friend."
Laughing he pulled out his gun and pointed it at JJ's head before returning his gaze towards Emily. Emily turned to notice the same confused expression smothering Morgan, Reid, and Rossi.
"Emily…?" Derek started before receiving a harsh whack in the head by one of the Unsubs.
"Oh, Miss. Prentiss please tell them your secret that only you and Miss Jareau shared," Lucas grinned, followed by a few chuckles from his own team.
"I didn't know she knew. At least, I hoped…," Emily tried, "This is my fault. I'm so sorry."
Rossi shook his head slightly as Reid tried to process the entire event that was taking place in front of him.
"Where is the journal Emily or I kill your friend right now," Lucas screamed as he through a mad kick into JJ's ribs again illiciting a whimper from the otherwise still blond.
Emily gasped in a sort of relief…"I…"
"Five."
"No please…."
"Four…."
She couldn't tell and Emily knew that, but JJ… She couldn't let them kill JJ."
"Three…"
"Emily!" She heard Morgan screech, but she didn't look at him. Her eyes focused on the blond just a few feet away.
"Two."
"I'm sorry Jayje..," Emily whispered as she closed her eyes and waited for the gunshot.
But what she heard instead was a loud crash coming from somewhere close and just like that they never reached one as the five unsubs sprinted out of the room their guns raised. Emily nearly squealed with delight as she realized what was happening.
"They're here!" Reid shrieked as he jumped up and down. Morgan's shoulders relaxed as Rossi clenched his fists in triumph.
But Emily, Emily ran/limped to her injured friend.
"JJ, they're here. Hotch and Garcia they are here," Emily reached for the blond's blood stained hand that was clenched into a tight fist.
"JJ, come on Sweetie open your eyes," she pleaded. Morgan reached JJ's other side as he brushed her red streaked hair out of her face before joining Emily in her attempt to wake her.
Reid looked up tears in his eyes as he stood by Rossi.
None of them heard the gunshots that rang out in the floors above. Or the shouts of instruction and commands that filled the air. It wasn't until all of the yelling and shots had stopped did they hear the single cry from their boss.
"Morgan, Dave, Reid, Emily...JJ!"
"Down here," Rossi shouted with all his might as the locked door burst open Hotch ran through, but stopped at the sight before him.
"My babies! Where are my babies!" Garcia cried out shoving her way through the hoards of FBI agents, "Where-"
Garcia flew to her blonde friend's aid grasping onto the other hand.
As paramedics followed Garcia's rushed suit and flooded the basement Emily kept hold of JJ's clenched hand. Her own body giving up on her as she started to give into the pain that was overwhelming her.
It was then that she felt JJ's cold and limp hand loosen. Getting a better grip she then felt the object inside. It was small.
Emily felt like JJ was giving it to her.
"No," She whispered not hearing the urgings of the people around her to step away from JJ.
"Emily, you have to let go," She heard Hotch's whisper, but only shook her head. He put a hand on her shoulder and started to pull her back.
Emily whipped her gaze around to face her friend.
"If I let go, then she will," Emily faltered a bit as her body began to sway back and forth. Her own injuries taking control.
"Then don't let go, don't let go of her," Hotch told her as he picked her up.
"I won't," She whispered her own hand clasped onto the small item before she let go of JJ's.
She looked at it for a split second before she held it to her chest and promptly passed out.
It was a small toy elephant with the initials H.L. etched into the side.
It belonged to Henry.
What do you think? Thank you all for reading and for the support. Please tell me of have any comments or suggestions. You rock!
Thanks!
-HCB
