NOTE: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF CRIMINAL MINDS CHARACTERS
Serena ran past the police station doors. There was no way she was bringing her team into this, she couldn't bring them into any more danger. If Merissa saw how much the team worried and cared about her, she'd definitely target them. Just like she did with Alayla. Hell, had it not been for Kylee, Alayla might as well be dead right now. She skidded to a halt in front of an old, familiar building. It's red bricks were worn and dirty. The ground floor used to be a restaurant, but now the tables and chairs were swept to the side. The windows were boarded up, and it looked abandoned. A graffiti symbol was drawn on the wall. It was a heart, with a X in the middle. Lady X.
She walked around back, through a dark alley. She drew out her gun, and kicked the back door open. Everything seemed clear and quiet for a few seconds, until she was pulled into a dark room.
NYPD Station
"She just ran out." Reid tried to explain. "I thought she just went to get some fresh air."
"And when she didn't show up, you didn't go after her?!" Hotch demanded. The young doctor looked down at the ground.
"Chill out, Hotch! It wasn't Reid's fault. All we gotta do is find Chen before she gets into trouble." Morgan replied, defending Reid.
"Right. I'm sorry." Hotch said, readjusting his tie. This was being just too familiar to Elle. Maybe it was a mistake letting in someone with such a history into the BAU. No, don't think that Hotch. He reassured himself. "Serena's strong. Even if she does run into Lady X, she'll figure out what to do."
"Well, let's find her before that happens!" JJ exclaimed. The team nodded.
"Well, let's profile Serena. It'd lead us straight to her." Prentiss offered.
"I'll call Garcia." Rossi added, and dialed her number.
"Ring a ring. Speak and be heard. What do you want, ye spaghetti master?"
"Serena is missing." Rossi reported. Garcia gasped.
"Oh-oh no. No, no, no. Right, help her. What- what can I do?" Her worried voice rang from the phone.
"Give me everything on her personnel file." Rossi said. Garcia didn't answer right away. "Garcia?"
"I-me, Morgan, and Prentiss were looking at a few weeks back. She-she wasn't happy." Garcia argued.
"Serena needs our help right now. I promise, looking into that file is not a bad thing at this moment." Rossi replied.
"Right. Helping her." Rossi could hear Garcia tapping on the keyboard keys rapidly, frantic to help Serena.
"She grew up in New York. Oh, she was in the foster system, after her- oh dear. Her mom died when she was...3. And her dad died when she was 14. I- I never knew- she had multiple hospital visits when she was a teen. I'm guessing the foster system wasn't very kind. Um, she got a scholarship to Yale. She- was almost put into Witsec? Huh? For what?"
"That was me." Rossi said, sighing. He briefly explained the interaction he and Hotch had with the young Serena.
"Oh-oh." Garcia sounded shocked.
"We never figured out who did that to her. My guess, it was Adam Gomez and Lady X."
"But we don't even know where Gomez is, and who Lady X is!" Garcia said, her voice full of desperation.
"I know. But for Serena's sake we will find them." Rossi replied.
"I'll keep digging." Garcia responded, and hung up.
"She would go somewhere familiar, right? So, where'd she grow up?" JJ asked.
"New York City, with her dad above their restaurant." Reid answered. "She told me." He added, noticing JJ's look.
"Alright, then she'll probably go back there." Morgan guessed.
Garcia's voice rang from the phone. "But that building's been abandoned for years. After her...dad got shot and...died. Apparently she was there too. Like right in front of-"
Morgan sighed. He couldn't help but imagine his own father, who had tried to interfere with a burglary, and ended up getting shot. He had watched his life slip away, with nobody around to help. Serena had gone through the same thing.
Suddenly, a woman burst through the station doors, disrupting everyone. She was followed by a much less enthusiastic and energized figure. The team could hear the first woman demand to speak with the FBI. The detectives and officers looked worried, but Hotch stepped out.
"Bring her in." He said, assurring the officers. They gave a hesitant look towards the frantic woman, but let her in anyway.
"What's your name?" JJ asked gently.
"Alayla. Alayla Jefferson. And-and this is my girlfriend, Kylee."
"Nice to meet you Alayla. You too, Kylee. My name's JJ. What did you want to tell us?"
"Serena!" Alayla burst out. The team looked shocked.
"You know Serena?" Reid asked. Alayla nodded eagerly.
"Yes! We were best friends in high school. And, well, we know her history."
"With Lady X?" Rossi replied. Alayla looked puzzled.
"He's referring to the Merissa bitch." Kylee explained to Alayla. "We always call her Merissa. She doesn't deserve a fucking fancy title." Morgan rushed forward.
"Lady X's name is Merissa?!" He exclaimed.
"Yeah. Her last name's Langston. Merissa Langston." Kylee responded, twirling with her hair.
They could hear Garcia's keys tapping rapidly on the phone. "Got her! Merissa Langston, age 42. Her record's pretty much clean."
"And-and Serena met us. She said she was gonna go back and tell you guys. I was a bit worried, so I called her. But she didn't pick up. So I came here." Alayla replied.
"You guys did the right thing." Prentiss said, patting Alayla on the back.
"Serena's always been quiet. She didn't want anyone to know. Us two and Alastair are the only ones who know fully what happened."
"Who's Alastair?" Reid asked.
"Alastair Langston. Merissa's cousin. Don't worry, he didn't get the serial killer genes." Kylee answered. "He and Serena were pretty close."
"Do you think Serena would head back to her old house?" Hotch asked the two girls.
"Well, for some peace and quiet, no. But to catch Merissa, yes. In fact, she spray painted her symbol on their wall."
"What symbol?" Morgan asked.
"The bitch not only has a title, she has a fucking symbol too. A heart with an X in the middle." Kylee said. "She spray paints it everywhere she goes. Stupid, if you ask me."
"Garcia-" Hotch said.
"Checking previous unsolved cases with a spray painted heart and an X in the middle! On it!" Garcia exclaimed.
"Prentiss, JJ, stay here with these two. Rest of you, come with me and the officers to her building."
"Address sent to your phones!" Garcia chirped.
"Thanks, baby girl!" Morgan responded, and they filed out.
Alayla looked impressed at the team's efficiency.
"Serena is like family to us." Prentiss said.
"Yeah, I can tell." Kylee said.
Reid looked out the window frantically. Sure enough, there was a red heart with an X on the side of the building. Hotch led the way, followed by SWAT. They silently went in, not wanting to alert Merissa of their presence. Reid opened a door, and he saw the most horrifying sight. His heart sank to the bottom of his stomach. No, this can't be happening.
A limp figure sat with her hands tied around her back. Her black hair was ruffled, her clothes torn. She lifted her head to reveal many cuts and bruises. She didn't even look human.
"Hey, Spencer." She rasped. Serena exhaled, then slumped her head down, not moving.
Author's note: omg sorry I didn't update for like what 3, 4 days. I was on a road trip with my family. I'm supposed to be doing school work right now. I have like 3 tests to study for. Oh well. Anyways, don't worry. She doesn't die lmao. Writing Kylee is a mood lmao