Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or Higher Ground… sadly
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At the Apartment:
Shelby POV:
I was running down the hallway. It never seemed to end. I could hear him screaming, his shadow cast in front of me on ground. "Shelby. You can't escape me. You will always be mine." I kept running, and running. My legs started to feel heavier, and my knees buckled beneath me. I fell to the floor screaming. And there he was, standing above me, smiling. He had a knife in his hand. I was suddenly covered in blood, the room around me spinning. Walt laughed, and plunged the knife into my stomach.
End Shelby POV.
Shelby awoke with a start. She was screaming and sweating, tears flowing freely down her flushed face. JJ heard her from inside of her room, and quickly rushed to her door.
"Shelby! Oh my god… " She wrapped her arms around Shelby's shaking form. "Shh, it was only a dream. You're fine. Everything's ok."
She clung to JJ's shirt, and sobbed. "But he was there! I-I saw him! He… He…"
"I know… shhh…. It's ok. He's gone now. Nobody is going to hurt you ever again."
Shelby sniffled and wiped the tears off of her face with the back of her sleeve, before letting out a last little whimper. She breathed in deeply and looked at JJ.
"Thank you…"
"Of course… you know, you are doing really well. If I had gone through something like that… I mean… I don't think I would have made it." JJ put a hand on Shelby's arm. "You are the bravest, strongest person I have ever met Shelby."
She looked down. "I'm not that strong."
JJ smiled and let Shelby rest her head on her shoulder. "I will always be here for you. I love you more than anything in this world. I always have, and I always, always will."
She started to get up, but Shelby gently grabbed her hand. "Could you stay for a bit longer? Just until I fall asleep?"
JJ lay down on top of the comforter next to Shelby, and the two quickly drifted off to sleep.
The Next Morning…
JJ was the first to wake up. She saw Shelby sleeping peacefully beside her, so she quietly crept out of the room. The clock read about 8:00 am.
JJ walked into the kitchen, she had decided to make some waffles for breakfast. Reid had purchased a state-of-the-art-waffle-maker for her birthday last year. She had never really found the urge to use it before, but she figured that most teenagers liked waffles. Guess I can't go wrong with Reid's waffle maker…
She started mixing the ingredients for the batter together. When the goopy concoction was finished, she turned on the machine and poured in the batter.
- - -
Shelby cracked open her eyes. What's that smell? She jumped out of bed, and trudged into the kitchen. JJ was trying to remove a very crisp looking object out of a waffle maker.
"Morning… what's that?" JJ spun around.
"I made waffles!" She handed Shelby a plate with a strange, shriveled, and blackened crisp of sorts on it.
"Umm… are you sure this is a waffle?"
"I'm sorry… I'm usually pretty good at cooking. Its just this stupid… err… waffle maker!"
Shelby held back a laugh, pursing her lips together.
"Want me to give it a try?"
"Sure."
Shelby poured in the waffle mix, and closed the lid. A minute later she opened the lid and peered inside.
"What the heck?" The "waffle" was just as blackened and shriveled as before.
"Where did you get this from?"
"Dr. Reid gave it to me for my birthday last year."
"I think it's defective."
"Definitely defective."
The two smiled at each other.
"How does ice cream sound?" JJ asked.
"That sounds perfect."
Back at Mt. Horizon:
Scott had just received Shelby's letter. He was reading it aloud to Daisy, his eyes starting to water.
"She's hurting Daisy! I can't just sit here!"
"Scott, you heard what she said, she is in Virginia! Do you realize how far away that is?"
"Yes. But I don't care. I'm going to find her."
He got up and started throwing clothes into a bag.
"Scott wait…" Daisy said.
"What!"
"I'm going with you." She replied.
"Daisy… really. Think about this."
"I really don't have anything left you realize. My mom is dead. My dad is in rehab. A little adventure could be exactly what I need."
Scott smiled. "Pack your bags then. We leave tonight."
"How? I mean. How exactly do you suppose we are going to get there?" Daisy asked with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
"We will take canoes down the river, until we reach the town. Then hitchhike to an airport, and take a plane to Virginia."
"A plane? Scott… we don't have any money."
"Well… actually. I kind of smuggled in some money with me from the last time I was home."
"I see. Well then, I'll see you later."
Daisy skipped out of the room, and ran to her cabin to pack.
Back at the apartment:
JJ was on the phone with Hotch, she was discussing the details of their newest case.
"I can come in tomorrow to work out a press conference, unless you need me today." She said.
"No, JJ. Tomorrow is fine. This guy is smart. He is going to wait for a week or so to devise a plan for his next victim."
"All right. See you then Hotch." She hung up the phone.
"What was that about?" Shelby asked.
"That was Agent Hotchner. He needs me to come in tomorrow. If that's ok with you."
"Sure. Why wouldn't it be?" Shelby asked.
"It's just… I could be there for a while. You never know how long these things take. I probably won't be back till early the next morning."
"I can take care of myself." Shelby retorted.
"Oh… I know that. I was just making sure."
The two spent the rest of the day walking around Quantico. JJ showed Shelby the School, and several fun stores nearby. When the time came to retire back to their rooms, JJ said goodbye to Shelby, and told her to call if she needed anything. She knew that Shelby would probably still be asleep by the time that she left for work.
- - -
Shelby woke up the next morning sweating and shaking. She had another nightmare. Crawling out of bed, she pulled out a pair of jeans, and a black shirt that JJ had bought for her. When she was dressed and ready she went into the kitchen and poured herself a bowl of cereal.
Talking aloud to herself Shelby said, "So, what will I do today…"
At an Airport:
"Scott, this is insane! Look, it's great that you have a fake I'd and all, but there is no way that they will let us on that plane."
"Daisy, chill. How about we just wait and see." Scott said.
"Flight 226 to Quantico Virginia is now boarding!" Boomed the loudspeaker.
Daisy and Scott stood up and made their way to the attendants.
"Boarding passes please." The woman held out her hand.
Daisy gingerly paced both of their boarding passes in her palm. The attendant stared at them for a couple seconds and sighed. "Move along please." She said, handing them back their passes.
"See? How easy was that?" Scott looked at Daisy expectantly.
"Yeah, whatever. Let's just get to the plane."
The two quickened their pace as they raced down the long passageway.
Hello all, I need your opinion on something... this is an opportunity for you to get involved in the story plot line... (yay!) I think that JJ will be finding herself a love interest very soon... and I need you to tell me what you would prefer!
So, I have several choices for you:
a.) JJ and Reid
b) JJ and Will
c.) JJ doesn't have a love interest.
Please let me know in a review what you would like to happen! Majority vote will be somehow intertwined into the story. (Don't worry, the main character is still Shelby.)
A special thanks to these reviewers, for reviewing either every, or just about every chapter! You guys/girls are amazing!!
-DeviousRobynno
-Ghostwriter
-ElisaCollette
-Sue1313
-IrigD
-LieutenantBoxer
Until Next Time,
-PoWriter
