FINALE PART 1: I'm Coming Home, Tell the World, I'm Coming Home
EMILY POV...
Racing through the runway, accelerating towards the sky, leaving behind the land of Unknowns. The plane lifted off the ground and into the free sky, once and for all. There were tears in our eyes, the eyes that had seen too much to stay dry now. Images flashed across fast and soon got replaced by white puffy clouds. The time had come, to return home. I closed my eyes just breathing in. I was coming home, my heart chanted excitedly.
I turned my head back to the seats beside me and the people that sat there. Their faces each told their own stories, their own struggles, their own survival. There were scars, bruises and countless remainders of our days of past. And, then there were two empty seats. Their remains forever to be left in the unknown land. They came with us but now gone with the wind. There was a hollowness in the plane, silence the only resident here. No one dared to spill their thoughts out but on all minds the message was the same; I'm coming home. It seemed impossible to leave at first, the courage to leave Garcia and Rossi's memories behind was too demanding.
It had been a week since our rescue from the boat swaying hopelessly in the rivers of North Korea. I wiped my tears and ran my hand over the softest hair locks beside me. I could hear him breathe peacefully. He was already fast asleep. The exhaustion still had a toll on us especially Spencer, who felt tired most of the time. I bent down to kiss his sloppy hairs.
Across our seat, the bed had Hotch on it. He was still stuck to all the tubes and the meters. He was awake but extremely weak, even opening his eyes and talking was a strain to his energy. He was staring out the window. Hotch clearly was the strongest amongst yet. There were no complains on his mouth, no regrets. He hated no one.
But today, I could see tears running down his pale face. Hotch held it for too long. He didn't cry no matter how hard it got for him or for us. But now that it was all gone, there were tears. How was I supposed to not melt at that? It was only yesterday that he learned how Rossi didn't made it back with us. He was silent from then on. A sob escaped my mouth silently witnessing our leader finally break down. Hotch didn't cry when he was beaten by the guards at the camp, not even when his leg was scarped, not when he bled to death almost, not when the bomb exploded our ears, not even when his leg was removed but now that Rossi was dead, Hotch cried. The rolling tears soon joined in with a whimper. Morgan stood up from behind once it was safe to unfasten our belts. He kneeled beside Hotch's bed. Hotch closed his eyes and laid back drinking his tears. He never wanted any member of his team to see him like this.
My cheeks were flowing their own rivers. Our team finally broke down, our hearts melting, our sanity departing seeing our leader crumple up. The last time he collapsed like this was when Haley died. Morgan hugged his boss trying to comfort the never ending sobs. I just couldn't believe there was no Garcia or Rossi with us. It was done deal that there was no BAU anymore, no team, no family. We were just broken facets of once known happiness.
Spencer stirred up when Hotch's cries got louder. I relieved knowing Hotch finally cried. He was in a trance since the news broke out to him. He wasn't responding until now. We were afraid. Morgan rocked him a little, like a baby, to bring some ease. His eyes locked with Spencer as if Morgan himself was preventing a storm to come from inside him. Hotch finally calmed and fell asleep. The crying drained all his strength that he carried for now. The nurse quickly administrated him. Morgan let go and walked over to our seat.
He grabbed Spencer's hand whose eyes were red from sleeping, his hairs were messed up. Morgan was weak as ever. He then placed his head in Spencer's lap and let his tears out finally. Garcia's absence had the strongest effect on him and he could not rest anymore. Morgan hadn't slept since we were rescued, only few naps lasting minutes. He was beyond normal.
But, the only ease he had was with Spencer. With him, he could finally rest and act if everything was okay. I placed my hand on Morgan's broad shoulders. This had to be the longest and most painful travelling I had ever done. It's just not easy to forget the people who made your life so much more happier and meaningful. Where will we go to find those moments again? It was cruel that we had to spent our whole lives without them now.
REID POV...
The world knew we were returning, the media, our people, even government members were awaiting us at the airport. The plane landed finally, bringing us back to the land which resided only in our dreams for last month. Some may say that the heroes were returning but they weren't. They were lost. I was the only member of our team who witnessed both horrors unfold.
I stepped out the plane onto the stairs that lead us down to the ground of our home. Morgan fell to his knees when he stepped back on United States of America, his head on the ground as he kissed the land of freedom.
At the very entrance of the airport stood Will, Beth, Sarah, Desiree, Fran Morgan, Emily and JJ's mothers, Kevin. I couldn't believe I truly had no one for me amongst the crowd. Families ran to their loved ones, crying at the bitter sweet reunion. No one knew yet that Garcia and Rossi weren't coming back with us. It fell on them with a surprise especially Kevin. He was still in search for his lost love. Out of everyone, Fran Morgan was the one crying the most, almost hysterically as her son who lost hope all throughout his journey home back now collided with his mother. It made me smile widely.
I stood alone letting the love own the moment. I turned around to see our decision staring around lost. Princess was standing with a nurse absorbing as people she once thought as prisoners now claimed back their real kingdoms, their loved ones. She had no expressions on her face but like me she too had no family here today.
Without any delays, Hotch was quickly transferred to the city Hospital and we went along ignoring all media attention for now. This was supposed to be a secret mission that now the whole world knew about.
The kids were not brought here since no one knew what they would see. I let the doctor once again inspect me. As I laid there, I thought back to the crowd cheering upon our arrival and how I wished my parents stood there. Why was I even thinking that my father would come for me? My father was dead, Rossi was no one. My arm stung as the nurse with the doctor drew some blood out of me.
I turned away realizing how the blood I ran on never showed up to see me today. It wasn't new, I was always alone, on my birthdays, on my graduations, on my achievements and even in pain. I couldn't blame my mother for it but I too had desires like other kids to have someone acknowledge me. If it wasn't for this job, for these people, I too could have ended my life like how every five minute a teen in USA does.
But, times had change. I was becoming a father now. A child awaited me to celebrate all good times and mourn all bad. This was it, my chance to undo the hardships I endured. I was going to be a father that I always wanted to have myself.
I finally felt better about the decision of bringing Princess along with us. Her mental state was fragile but with the right help and care here, she would pass the harsh times. After few more tests, the doctor told me that most of us could be release tomorrow with the exception of Hotch. I walked over to Emily's room where her foot was being monitored again. The infection was finally subsiding. The bullet scar was to stay there permanently. She looked at me and called me over. Her mother was sitting beside her along with her aunt. I joined them as more inspections were performed on her.
And, then Morgan entered the room with his sister Sarah.
"There you are!" he exclaimed holding out a phone.
"Here, it's your mother" He said and I stood up not expecting such a call. I placed the phone over my ears desperately waiting for her voice to sooth her broken son.
"Spencer?" She started off and there was nothing but a smile on my face.
"Mother-h-how are you?" I managed to ask with a constricted throat. I loved her beyond the possibility of this world. I missed her and now I felt like a lost baby who only wanted to return to his mother.
"I heard you are back. You never called me and your letters! I am coming to scold you there" she said.
"But-really you are flying here?" I asked not able to contain my happiness.
"Of course I am. I can't wait to see you" she said "and Guess who's coming along with me?"
"Rachel" I said the names of one of her imaginary students. It was so pleasant to be in her stories again.
"You're too smart like your mother" she replied with a hint of pride in her voice.
"How's my girl doing?" Tell her I knitted a matching scarf for both of you" She said, bringing tears to my sad eyes.
EMILY POV...
His hands were shaking when he ended his call and retuned the phone to Morgan. The glow in his eyes was worth to live for. I winked back at Morgan. It was clear earlier how lonely our genius was feeling and now the shy smile on his face finally eased our hearts.
Morgan put his arm around Spencer's shoulder.
"You know we can't leave tonight" he said.
"I know!" Spencer whined.
"Let's grab a cup of coffee then" Morgan suggested. Spencer signaled my way to acknowledge his departure. I smiled back at his innocent face.
"You foot is healing pretty good. The cast will be removed for now and I'll put some fresh bandages. Try not to contact it with water for few days. I will write some antibiotics for you as well" the doctor explained.
"I think you should rest now, that must have been a tough long flight" she said as she prepared to leave.
I nodded back and thanked her. My mother followed her out as courtesy.
"I couldn't contain my excitement last night when they told us that you finally boarded the plane" my Aunt took my hand and said. I put my head back on the bed. And then my Aunt noticed the ring on my finger.
"EMILY?" She almost gasped. My shy smile gave it away.
"Don't tell me that cutie actually proposed you" she said. I giggled at her words.
"So wedding bells are ringing?" She nudged me. I signed peacefully.
"Wedding or not, he's already mine" I said to myself.
"I'm so happy to hear that!" my Aunt examined the ring.
"But, where did he get the ring from?" She asked which I myself had no answer to. Perhaps it belonged to the Princess to whom Spencer was kind of married back in North Korea.
"It doesn't matter as long as he gave it to me" I replied and lost myself in the dreams of future, of marrying him, of being with him till death do us apart. There were butterflies in my stomach, the anticipation, imagining places we would go to, our honeymoon, our mornings after playful nights, the breakfasts that we would cook together, the house that we would buy together. It still was hard to believe that the future was not too far. I rose the ring in the air, eyeing the jewel that now connected us. The bond it created would surely erase all the pains of yesterday. My heart swelled up just thinking of good times.
So, started our journey to recovery. That very first night back in our country, our families stayed with us and celebrated our survival. Hotch woke up around the midnight when we all decided to pay his room a visit. Beth sat beside him and Jack on his other side. His head was placed against his dad's chest. Hotch stirred just a little at first and gladly the first thing he saw was his son's face smiling at him.
All the pains washed away as an aching dad finally hugged his son.
"DADDY!" Jack cheered loudly "You're awake?"
"J-ack" Hotch tried to speak.
"Daddy suhhh. The doctor said not to talk. Look what I made for you" he held up a card with childish drawing of a dad and son holding hands.
"Beth helped me make it" He said opening the card in front of his still father. Hotch's eyes swayed in tears while listening to jack.
"Aren't you going to read what you wrote in there?" Beth asked and Hotch shifted towards her. Their eyes locked together for few moments before Jack's voice stole the moment again.
"Daddy, I miss you. I know you are working a case so I can't bother you. I wish I can call you. Come back when you are done so we can go to fishing" he read out. Hotch cupped his son's face and kissed his forehead. Their sweet moment almost left sugar on our tongues.
And from then on Hotch went on his road of recovery. A prosthetic leg was being arranged for him, within few months he would be able to walk again. The next day brought the time when we finally got to return to our own homes. I sat in my room and it felt like I was always here and there was no such thing as War. It felt as time just flashed back and just like that bad times were over.
The princess was admitted to a psychiatric ward of the hospital. She suffered from panic attacks and weird delusions. Morgan was with his family trying to adjust back. Although they took great care of him, he still felt sad. He still had trouble falling asleep. For him, there was something missing, constantly. All he ever wanted was to have someone to call baby girl again.
Spencer and his mother stayed in their own apartment. She was not in a stable state so she didn't understand what her son went through. JJ rejoiced with her family. For few days she just wanted to stay in her bed and hold her baby close to her heart.
**Please Review to share your thoughts on how the end of this story is coming along for you. Next chapter will be last. Honestly, I cried a little writing this one. I'm so emotionally invested in the story...You guys can ask me any questions regarding the story or me or future stories. I can happily answer all of them after the last chapter in a document for your guys. Please share your reactions. Thanks a trillion!