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Cora jumped back indistinctively, away from the glass. It was so loud – the shot, and it bounced around her skull plunging her into those god awful memories from over four months ago. Why did people have to use guns? They were cowardly and dangerous and everything Cora despised.

Her heart hammering, she leant forwards slightly when she realised she, herself, wasn't shot (thank god) and peered down. A dark figure was running away, head lowered and Cora saw a fallen figure lying on the sidewalk, unmoving.

Suddenly, Spencer leapt from his room, hair dishevelled, eyes wild and his gun in his hand.

"What was that? I heard a shot" He questioned, moving around the room carefully.

"Um… d-down there, robbery gone wrong I think" She told him, trying everything in her might to keep her voice from shaking. Spencer suddenly relaxed, realising nothing had gone wrong in his apartment and they were safe but got serious and strode forward. When peering down he saw the injured person and his senses kicked in.

"Stay here, call 911" He ordered, sternly yet gently at the same time, his brown gaze comforting. Cora nodded, already picking up the phone and dialling as Spencer raced from the apartment faster than Cora thought possible.

She watched from the window minutes later as Spencer and a few others tended to the victim but she could tell the victim was alright which she was thankful for – not another death for her to witness. Once the ambulance left she waited for Spencer at the door as he trailed up, his footsteps heavy.

"Hey…how'd it go?" She managed, wrapping her arms around her torso.

"Shoulder hit, thankfully… assumed robbery gone wrong, he's going to make it – no lifetime injuries" He rattled off and Cora let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.

"That's… that's good" She said quietly, giving a small smile but Spencer, smart, inquisitive Spencer must've picked up something was wrong which she hated but was also strangely thankful for at the same time – no one in her life had ever read her so well before.

"Is everything okay? I'm sorry about this, you shouldn't be around it" He said sincerely but Cora waved him off – it wasn't his fault she was so insecure around guns.

"Nah its fine" She shrugged and Spencer raised his eyebrows, obviously not believing a word she said. Cora sighed… okay then, she would try and open up, not her fault if it didn't work.

"It's just…ever since my mom guns aren't my favourite thing in the world" She sighed and understanding dawned in Spencer's eyes along with guilt. His mouth kept opening and closing, as if he couldn't phrase what he was trying to say and, despite the situation, Cora smiled.

"Its fine Spencer, don't get your knickers in a twist… contrary to popular belief you can't fix everything" She told him and Spencer just nodded, giving back a small smile.

"Okay… just… you'd tell me if anything was wrong wouldn't you?" He asked and Cora gulped nervously. She wanted to, she wanted to so bad but she couldn't. He and all his friends could die and that was something she didn't want to risk. She could deal with it on her own but she made a promise to herself… if she got herself in too deep then she would open up to Spencer, but only when necessary, not a moment before.

"Of course" She said strongly, almost convincing herself, "I'll see you in the morning Spencer, it's been a long day"

"Yes I assume it has… sleep well" And that was the end of that discussion. Cora curled up in bed, listening to Spencer pottering around until she fell into a restless sleep.


"Come on poppet, I promise it won't be that bad" Garcia grinned, trying to tug her from the apartment.

"I despise shopping, despise it, and am definitely not going" Cora said back stubbornly, knowing she would probably lose this argument against three FBI agents – yet, she would still try.

"Cora… we had a deal" Prentiss said, watching on in amusement.

"Well our definition of 'a deal' must be completely different – ya see, I thought it was an agreement between two parties and not an illegal kidnapping" She said back making everyone laugh, even Spencer.

"It's not illegal if we have permission from your guardian" JJ smiled, patting her baby bump. Cora exhaled loudly, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Fine… just… no shoe stores please? They make me want to jump off a cliff" She grumbled, shrugging on her jacket, glaring playfully at Garcia.

"Sorry kiddo, when you go shopping with me shoe stores are guaranteed" Prentiss assured her and the last thing Spencer saw was Garcia pulling Cora from the apartment, his sister sending him a pleading look like 'get me outta this'.

Spencer stifled his laughter, sipping away at his sugar-filled coffee – there was no way he was going to get into a fight between three FBI agents – mainly because he would probably lose. He heard some protest from outside but by that time he was already engrossed in an old eighteenth century novel, unaware of the world around him.


When Cora got back later that day she just wanted to curl up on the sofa and watch TV or read a book. Shopping was so fruitless and boring and unessential it made her want to gauge her eyes out slowly just for something to do.

Prentiss had dragged her to five shoe stores.

Garcia took her to twelve clothes store and three accessory shops.

Whereas, probably the most fun she had was going with JJ into the baby stores, helping her pick out little outfits and toys. Cora's favourite one was a baby suit with 'mommy's the boss' written on it. She got on well with JJ – she was kind and easy to talk to, like a sister. Garcia was like the crazy aunt that always cheered you up and taught you to think positively and Prentiss was like the fun mom figure – despite only knowing them for just over two weeks she thought of them fondly. They were all just great, there was no other words for it.

"You look somewhat murderous" Spencer observed as she trailed her bags in, huffing and puffing.

"'Murderous' is putting it lightly" She said back, dumping her bags and plonking herself down on the sofa opposite spencer, fingering her plaid shirt, "Do you know how absolutely exhausting and useless it is being a girl?" She asked and Spencer frowned.

"No… no, I can't say that I do" He smirked, closing his novel.

"Well… let me tell you, it's not fun: it's tiring and awful and boring and expensive and stupid" She rattled off, glad to rant about it.

"So I guess Garcia didn't change your mind on the shopping front?" He gave a chuckle and Cora just smirked.

"Actually she did" And at that Spencer looked shocked, "She has only further proved to me how awful it is, reinforcing my previous thoughts" And Spencer smiled.

"Garcia will not be pleased with that" He said and Cora laughed, picking up her own book.

"Oh, don't I know it" She smirked, fully aware of the consequences – Garcia would probably keep dragging her along, hoping to change her mind but Cora's thoughts were set in stone, and there was no changing her mind.


Monday came all too quickly for Cora's liking.

She didn't mind school per se, it was just the thought of going. She had Tasha, Hannah, Emma and Lucy to keep her occupied but school seemed so trivial to her problems. When would he pop up again? It had to be soon but it was awful not knowing.

She knew his ways, more than she would like.

First, he would torment her for a bit.

Then he would come forward, speak face to face.

Then, if that didn't work, he would hurt those she cared about.

He was a manipulative bastard and Cora's hands shook just thinking about it. When school ended that day she got off the bus and walked the few minutes it took to get to their apartment. Spencer wouldn't be back for at least another hour or two, depending on how late he had to work but if he was to be any later than dinner time he would call.

She clambered up the stairs, putting her key in the lock but… something wasn't right. The door was already open and she always locked the door. She took a deep breath, debating on whether or not to go in. It was most likely Spencer back early but… she didn't want to take that chance. Not at all. She let her arm fall and turned around, wanting to get out of there as soon as possible but she bumped into something large, obstructing her way.

"Hey tyke… long time no see" He grinned maliciously before her vision went back.

When she managed to peel her eyes open she was laying uncomfortably on the hard, tiled bathroom floor, one arm bent backwards at an awkward angle.

"You took your time" A voice commented and she sat up, smacking her head painfully against the porcelain sink. Big Jim, as he was referred to, sat opposite her, dark hair slicked back, beard neatly trimmed, muscles that would rival Morgan's bulging from his shirt. He was tall, towering over six foot and was smirking at her – not a smirk like Spencer's that was shy, teasing and comforting at the same time, or Morgan who smirked light-heartedly… this, this was pure evil.

"W-What're you d-doing here?" She stuttered, well aware she was almost quivering – that was how scared she was.

"Well, ya see Cora the one thing I hate the most is people disobeying me" He growled, kneeling down opposite her, eyes narrowing, "Your mother did enough of that and I was hoping you wouldn't too" He told her and Cora felt fire spreading through her veins.

"Leave my mom outta this" She snarled, "You as good as killed her"

"No I didn't, your brother did though I wish I was there to see it… heard it was quite a show" He grinned and Cora felt tears building up in her eyes. Why? Why was he here now? He could've targeted her before she found her place in the world, before she found a family but no… he just had to make it all the more harder and painful didn't he?

"Please just… leave me alone, I can't give you anything" She pleaded, hating herself for begging with a murderer but, unlike a few months ago, she really really didn't want to die.

"You know that isn't true" He said, reaching out and playing with a strand of her chestnut hair making her visibly flinch, "Your mom died too soon… we needed her but she went and got herself killed, so you my dear, must pick up the slack"

"No… no I won't" She said defiantly, shaking her head.

"I thought you would say that" He sighed, reaching for something in his pocket, "Which is why I was prepared for this" Holding a syringe in his hand.

"W-What's that?" She asked, skittering backwards as far as she could but he was strong and grabbed her arm in a death grip, dragging her forward so she could smell the smoke that clung to his leather clothes.

"Muscle relaxer… although I like it when they squirm this has to be done with precision" And with that he plunged it into his arm, despite her fruitless attempts to stop him, and almost immediately her whole body turned useless. She tried to fight back but she couldn't even move her arm.

She was terrified, completely and utterly terrified.

She slumped backwards but he caught her, rearranging her body so she was leaning against the bath tub.

"It's effective isn't it?" He smirked as Cora's heat hammered in her chest.

"L've me al'e" She slurred, tears making their way down her cheeks.

"Not a chance" He replied, rolling up her jumper sleeves, long fingers trailing over her now fading scars making her shiver. They weren't as noticeable as before but she was still self-conscious of them – the few weeks after her mom's death and her brother's imprisonment in the mental hospital, she didn't want to go anymore, but now? Now she really did and she was terrified of what he was planning to do to her.

"The thing is… people will just think you attempted suicide – you do have a record of it after all so they won't look into it" He whispered and Cora's blood froze. Oh god no.

"It won't kill you but nothing will ever be the same again for you my dear" He said, pulling a knife from his pocket. A knife from their kitchen.

She sat there, powerless, as he sliced her skin, directly over the old scars making her cry out in pain. It hurt so bad. So bad. Every cut turning her already useless muscles to jelly, her skin to be alight with fire. She glanced down, watching the blood pool around her, making her weaker by the second.

"Sweet dreams" He muttered in her ear, just as her eyes slid shut from sheer exhaustion, her last thought being 'I'm sorry Spencer'

*Runs away and hides* please don't kill me! Ha! So yeah… please please please tell me what you think – I will love you all! You're all great! :)