Chapter XXV I'm Coming
Morgan, Rossi and Reid quickly piled into one SUV after picking up their Kevlar and sped towards 55 Hale Street in Newark New Jersey. JJ took the passenger seat, knowing that Hotch wouldn't let her drive, and waited for her boss, Emily and Knox to join her. Taking advantage of the seconds she had alone, she pressed a hand to her forehead and willed the exhaustion away. She needed to be as vigilant as possible if she wanted to save her sister. I have a sister again, the thought ran through JJ's mind for the hundredth time since this had begun before she could stop it. Tears filled her eyes once again and annoyed at herself, JJ shut them tight and waited for the memory of the past to fade once again. Thinking of Andrea would only distract her and JJ didn't need the added emotional turmoil at the moment. The car doors opened and the remainder of her team piled in. Hotch glanced at her for only a moment before speaking.
"Here." He pulled out a granola bar and a bottle of water and handed it to the blonde. She shook her head, the thought of food making her stomach flip. "If you want to come, you have to eat something." Annoyed, she took the bar and water, making a show of unwrapping and nibbling on it. Satisfied, Hotch put the car in 'drive' and hurried after Rossi, Morgan and Reid. The next fifteen minutes passed in silence and by the time they arrived at the house, JJ had finished her water and half of the bar. Emily and Knox rushed out of the SUV leaving JJ and Hotch alone. Her nerves were on end and being a profiler, Hotch could easily notice her agitation. Of course, he didn't blame her; he just worried.
"I'd ask you to stay in the car-"
"But you know what I'd say to that." She interrupted, knowing it wasn't the smartest idea. "Unless you plan on cuffing me to the door, I'm going in." Hotch continued to stare at her as if his signature glare could break her resolve. She was stubborn, he knew that, but so was he. "What if it was Sean?" At the mention of his brother, Hotch knew he would lose.
"I know you have to go JJ. I just have a bad feeling about it. I don't want you to get hurt." he confessed. The words sounded foreign leaving Aaron Hotchner's lips and JJ was taken aback by his concern. Her features softened immediately.
"I appreciate the concern Aaron, but I have to do this. I'm the only one who can save her and you know it." She insisted quickly. The more time they wasted discussing, the more time Jeremy had to kill Leila. Reluctantly, Hotch nodded and opened the door to get out but not before handing a bulletproof vest to the blonde. She smiled as best she could and stepped out into the night. Strapping their vests on, the two approached the group that had assembled a block away from the house. Hotch saw that the paramedics had arrived and felt relieved that they were close by.
"We go in quietly. Leila Ryan is the only friendly in the building. Getting her out is priority. She's badly injured and will require immediate medical attention." Hotch informed the officers and EMTs.
"Why don't we just snipe the bastard?" one uniform asked.
"He's underground." Morgan replied.
"What I don't understand is why we gotta go in all quiet." Another complained.
"Scaring him could result in Leila's death." Emily rolled her eyes, knowing that no one could see them in the darkness. Wasting time answering stupid questions would get Leila killed.
"How do you know that?" the same man asked. "He don't wanna die in jail, so why kill her?"
"The more time we waste arguing over this, the less time we have to help Leila." Aaron replied sharply.
"Just do what they say." Knox pressured his men earning himself several glares.
"Why? What makes them smarter than us?" A blonde-haired cop asked from the back.
"I invited them here and they clearly know what they're talking about." Knox defended the profilers.
"They don't know shit. Look at how long it took them to figure out who this guy was. Girl's probably already dead." The blonde said. JJ stiffened as if ready to attack the man. The only reason she didn't was because Emily stepped in front of her, blocking her view of the loud-mouthed uniform.
"Shut it Brennan." Knox shot back. "You do what they say and everyone gets to go home."
"What makes you think she's still alive?" one asked.
"He won't kill her without an audience." Rossi informed the men. "Now if it's alright with you-"
"There's no way you could know that! You're risking everyone's lives based on what; a pseudo-science? Give me a break." The blonde scoffed. Suddenly, a dozen officers were arguing back and forth, some defending the BAU while others stated they didn't belong in their affairs to begin with. The yelling gave JJ an even bigger headache and she backed away from the group. Soon enough, the team entered the 'discussion', trying to pressure the cops to keep their voices down. A thought occurred to JJ as she realized she had escaped unnoticed. Cautiously looking around, she saw that no one was looking her way and if she took a few more steps backwards, the darkness of the sidewalk would consume her entirely. Turning quickly, JJ sped away from the group and towards the house. The vest, she thought. If she wanted to convince Jeremy she was on his side, it wouldn't do to be wearing her Kevlar when she approached him. Stopping by the SUV, she undid the Velcro as quietly as she could, threw the vest on the hood of the car and resumed her race to the house. Clearly, no one was going to help her save her sister; she would have to do it on her own.
"I'm coming Leila." JJ whispered to herself and hoped that the teenager could hold on for just a little longer.
I'm here again
A thousand miles away from you
A broken mess, just scattered pieces of who I am
I tried so hard
Thought I could do this on my own
I've lost so much along the way
Leila couldn't help but remember the song; the song that reminded her so much of the day she had almost killed Jackson, the only person who had stuck with her throughout everything she had gone through. Thought of him had plagued her mind since the moment she woke up in this pit. Even after she had attacked him, he refused to leave her, refused to hate her for nearly ending his life. More tears streaked down her face as she told herself she would never see him again.
Then I see your face
I know I'm finally yours
I find everything I thought I lost before
You call my name
I come to you in pieces
So you can make me whole
She whimpered as she used the last of her energy to grasp the handle of the knife still embedded into her hand. Clenching her teeth, Leila pulled upwards, sending another wave of pain up her arm and throughout her already damaged body. She couldn't help but cry out when the hilt moved slightly and the tip edged out of her skin. Immediately regretting drawing attention to herself, Leila curled up into a ball and rocked herself back and forth.
I've come undone
But you make sense of who I am
Like puzzle pieces in your hand,
This is what I deserve, she kept telling herself. This is what I deserve for killing the only people who ever treated me like I belonged. The thought festered and grew in her mind until the memory of her past overwhelmed her. No one is coming. No one is coming because no one should want to save me. Surprisingly, the idea of dying that very moment didn't scare her in the slightest. In fact, she welcomed death's embrace and waited for it to come for her. Surely, it would be just a matter of minutes until the man, Jeremy, came back to finish her off. No one is coming. As if on cue, Leila heard footsteps above her. The ceiling creaked with age and she knew he was coming for her. An eerie calm settled around her as she heard the door at the top of the stairs open, more footsteps, then another door open and she knew he was standing right above her. Her vision was blurry and unreliable but she could make out his outline as he reached down and whispered something in her ear. What it was, she didn't know, she didn't care, but he lifted her to her feet.
Then I see your face
I know I'm finally yours
I find everything I thought I lost before
You call my name
I come to you in pieces
So you can make me whole!
No one is coming.
The song is Pieces by RED & highly recommended.