Onto the new chapters! Enjoy!
Reid's eyes snapped open when he heard the door to the hospital room open with a swoosh.
Garcia was the first one through the doors with Emily and JJ right behind her. Each one of them had a bag in their hands, and Reid could only guess what was in them.
"Where's my dumpling?" Penelope called out, just as the men walked through the doors.
"In the bathroom." Spencer got up from the floor and pointed towards the locked bathroom door. Penelope walked over and put her ear against it. Her heart broke right then and there as she listened to the sound of Alice's gut wrenching sobs.
Penelope knocked on the door gently. "Alice, honey? Will you let me in?" her voice was soft and soothing.
The team was quiet as Garcia spoke to the weeping girl. "N-no." they heard Alice sob out through the cracks in the door.
"Why not, sweetie?" Garcia's mouth pulled into a red frown.
"Because..." Alice sniffed out.
"Because why?" she asked, her feet shifting on the cold tiles.
There was a muffled sobbing noise but no answer was made. "Alice?" Penelope knocked on the door again.
"I'm ugly." they heard her say. Her voice was small and quiet, but they heard her.
"You're not ugly! You're a gorgeous girl, Alice!" Emily called out before anyone else.
They heard shuffling and suddenly the door to the bathroom flew open. Penelope stepped away and a puffy eyed, red faced Alice stood in the door way. She was only in her bra and her underwear, leaving all her wounds and scars out in the open.
"This...This is NOT beautiful." she said loudly as the team stared at her.
"I'm ugly and disgusting, and used and broken." she turned around and flashed them the word that the UNSUB had viciously carved into her skin.
"I'm not good enough for you guys. Don't feel obligated to stick around...I'm not worth it." Alice lowered her head as a tear dripped down her cheek.
Derek had heard enough. He walked over and wrapped his large arms around Alice's small frame. She protested, but he shushed her. Derek cradled her and he leaned her head on his chest.
Alice's eyes closed and she relaxed a bit in his arms.
'Now you listen to me, baby girl. Don't ever think you're not worth it, because you are. You're a beautiful, intelligent, funny, kick-ass woman. You're so brave, Alice. So brave. What he did to you, it isn't your fault, and it never will be." Derek said in a soft, but firm tone.
Alice crumpled in his arms and let out a loud sob. She turned her face into his chest and let the tears fall out. Her hands grippe the back of his shirt tightly as she held onto him for support.
Spencer walked swiftly into the bathroom and grabbed her hospital gowns off of the floor. He walked out and over to the hugging pair. Spencer gently slid one over her shoulders and held the other in his hands.
Alice let go of Morgan long enough to put her gowns on, then he gathered her in his arms again. Derek leaned his head down to her ear, so that only the two of them could her what he had to say.
"You need to stop pushing Reid away from you. He'll be there for you no matter what. You can talk to him. He loves you a lot, you know. I've never seen him as happy as he was with you the other night."
Alice shivered but nodded her head.
"Promise me you'll talk to him." Derek tilted her head up so he could look her in the eyes.
"I promise." she gave him a small, watery smile. Derek grinned and kissed her on the forehead. He released her from him arms and Alice found herself in another pair.
Surprisingly, they were Dave's. He hugged her tightly for a quick second and then let her go.
Alice then found herself in Aaron's arms. It was a shock to her, but she melted into his comforting embrace.
She was quickly passed to Penelope's pen arms and she let out a squeal when Penelope's long nails tickled her sides. Garcia smiled and Emily took her place.
Just as quickly, she was passed to JJ's motherly embrace.
It was the last person's turn for a hug, and Alice turned slowly on him. Silently, she wrapped her arms around Spencer's waist. Spencer rested his chin on the top of her head and pressed a kiss in her hair.
With a small, content smile, Alice turned around in Reid's arms to look at his team. "I just wanted to say thank you. You've all been so...welcoming and kind, even though you only met me about a week ago."
"Baby cakes, there's no need to thank us. You're one of us now, and we're a family." Penelope piped, her ruby lips spread in a warm smile.
Alice's eyes sparkled with tears and she grinned so wide she thought her face would split. Her hands gripped Spencer's tightly as she sucked in a deep breath.
"I never had a proper family before." she felt Spencer squeeze her hands in encouragement.
"We're glad you have one now." Emily smiled and picked her back up from the floor.
"Alright! Now that we have this mushy gushy love stuff out of our way..BOYS! OUT!" Garcia announced pointing her finger towards the door.
"What? Why?" Reid said, confused.
"I didn't come all this way for nothing! We're having a girls night. It's your guys' job to profile tonight." Penelope grabbed Alice's hands and pulled her out of Spencer's arms.
"Alright, we're going but we need to ask Alice some questions later. Is that fine?" Hotch asked as Morgan put his hand on Reid's shoulder and steered him out of the room.
Alice nodded her head as the girls started emptying their bags onto her hospital bed.
With another swift nod and a small smile (something Alice hasn't expected) Hotch walked out the door, right behind Rossi.
WEEE~ Another chapter! The next one should be up soon!