A/N - Sorry for the delay I write at work and last week didn't get a chance. Thank you for your reviews, favorites, and follows. As always I don't own Criminal Minds.
"The world breaks everyone, and afterword many are stronger in the broken places." Ernest Hemingway
The sirens wailed as the ambulance raced down the streets of East Alleghany. The few cars making their way across town pulled to the side and watched curiously as the ambulance sped by. The driver clung tightly to the steering wheel as he expertly maneuvered the rig down street after street only slowing down enough to take the necessary turns. The EMT had made this drive more times than he could remember, he could make it in his sleep if he needed to. This drive seemed more urgent than most of the others, he wanted to get this girl to the hospital as fast as he could.
Michael Jareau sat on the hard plastic bench in the back of the ambulance. He watched silently as the other EMT tended to his daughter, checking her vitals and relaying information to the hospital. Michael had no use for the medical terms that rolled off their tongues with ease, all he wanted to know was if he baby girl was going to make it.
The ambulance jerked harshly as they hit a bump in the road causing Rosaline's non-injured had to fall from the gurney. Without a thought or asking for permission he reached out and wrapped his calloused hands around her soft delicate ones. He held tight to her hand willing his strength to pass to her, to keep her with them. He looked over his once vibrant daughter, barely recognizing the girl in front of him.
Her once warm glowing skin was a sickly grey, dark black circles surrounded her brown eyes. Her eyelids were only partially closed as the young girl barely clung to the life she had been so desperate to leave. Her soft pink lips were hidden beneath an oxygen mask, but he could see their pale shade of blue. Her hand felt cold next to his, further evidence of the damage the deep cuts on the other arm had done. Her chest would rise and fall every few seconds as she struggled to accept the oxygen they were forcing into her.
They made their way through East Alleghany and down the familiar roads of North Mammon. Michael had made this drive hundreds of times in his life; his own football games in high school, to watch David's baseball games, Rosaline's band concerts, and JJ's soccer games. Happy memories of car rides with their family where quickly being erased by what felt the longest and most excruciating ride of his life.
Michael could feel the ambulance slowing as they approached the hospital, he knew if something went wrong this could be the last moment he had with his baby. Michael took his other hand and placed on top of her head, running his hand through her thick brown hair, "Rosaline, honey." he leaned down close to her, praying she could hear him.
He watched as she slowly turned her head towards him her eyes opening just a little more, revealing the beautiful brown eyes she had inherited from him. "Roz, honey I want you to know matter what I love, I love you baby." Michael fought to keep his emotions at bay for just a few moments, she needed to see the strong Daddy that could scare away the monsters and make her boo-boo's go away. "I know right now everything seems hopeless and scary but Mom and I we're here Rosaline, we forgive you and we love you."
He wanted to plead with her and beg her to fight, to stay with him but before he got the chance the doors flew open, a cold wind entering the back of the ambulance. The EMT's paid no attention to the concerned father, who just wanted one more moment with his little girl, as they ripped the gurney from its place and started racing down the hallway.
Michael watched as they told they doctors Rosaline's condition and what she had done to herself, he listened to the Doctors park orders at the nurses. Michael wanted to run after them to hold his daughter just a little longer.
The red and blue lights glowed down Jefferson Road casting eerie shadows across the houses. The families who lived down Jefferson Road had been startled awake not long ago by the loud screams of the police car now parked in front of 1860 Jefferson, when the Ambulance had raced down their street the curious neighbors had begun forming groups across the road, watching and waiting for information.
There had been an audible gasp when they watched as Rosaline was brought out of the house on a gurney, her father running next to her. When just minutes later a second ambulance came racing down the street, they started to fear the worse.
Whispers of domestic violence began to snake through the crowds but was quickly dismissed, Michael and Sandy Jareau could never hurt their children. It was when they watched as Jennifer was taken out of the house and rushed into the second ambulance that they began to assume the worst.
They wondered if someone had broken into the home and hurt the two young Jareau sisters. Images of a masked man running through the town had caused mothers to hold their children just a little tighter. People continued to linger on the streets as more Police officers showed up and began putting up crime scene tape around the front of the house. For the first time, in as long as anyone could remember, the families here didn't feel safe in their own town.
Officer Mason had been watching as the crowd grew across the street, he knew these people he knew that they were probably going crazy thinking of all the possible scenarios of why the Police had shown up here tonight. Not able to ignore the people who had played a large part in raising him as a boy, he made his way to them.
"Jeffery Mason, you tell us what's going on here." Mrs. Jacobson demanded. She was an older woman who used to teach at the local high school. Jeffery had been one of her students in her final years teaching.
The young officer could only shake his head, "I can't tell you all the details of an ongoing investigation," he started giving the typical Police party line.
Mrs. Jacobson scoffed, "Jeffery we have a right to know if we or our children are in any kind of danger. Now tell me what the hell happened in that house tonight young man." She challenged him like no one else there could.
"I'm sorry," he started again, "I can't tell you what happened," he put his hand up to silence them before the outcry started again, "What I can tell you for now is that everyone is safe, there's no criminal out there stalking and hurting young girls." Jeffery knew what their worst fears would be and quickly squashed them, "I can also tell you that a family in our town needs our help right now. You all know the Jareau Family, they're our family and our friends. Right now they need your love and your support, not your gossip." He told them sternly.
They all looked at each other realizing that was exactly what they had been doing, starting rumors about what had gone on in that house without know the facts. Mrs. Jacobson nodded her head, "We won't be spreading no rumors here, I can promise you that." She said with authority, "Are those girls going to be ok?" Her face softened, "Are Rosaline and Jennifer going to be ok?"
Jeffery looked at them sadly, "I don't ma'am, just pray for them, pray for all of them." With that he walked back to the house across the way.
"What we have once enjoyed deeply we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us." Helen Keller
