Authors Note and Disclaimer: This is a fan-made work of fiction: I don't own Criminal Minds or any of the main characters.
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Chapter Two: The Bank
The team had their next case in Dallas, Texas.
A bank robbery had ended in the unfortunate death of three bank tellers. The community and local police department were extremely concerned with panic, and desperately wanted to prevent another event, or worse, spree killings.
Luke confessed he wanted a day off to catch up with his friend, Phil, who had been having a bit of a rough time. He had logged enough working days anyway to cash one day off in, so it had been granted.
Tara was having a break from her field research; and Reid didn't have any lectures to prepare for - so the team essentially was still pretty full, despite being one man short.
Matt and JJ were at the coroners.
Rossi and Reid were exploring the crime store.
Tara was counselling the victim's families, leaving Emily at the police precinct to organize.
To Emily, it was just another day - another case - another cold coffee, and another photo on a bulletin board.
Nothing out of the ordinary.
But, something in her body definitely noticed the nagging feeling that something was missing.
Yeah, she and Luke had enjoyed a really good time at O'Keefe's, and nothing had happened - but, she was starting to be more and more truthful with herself.
She liked the guy's company.
She liked being alone, but it was nice to have some fresh eyes to work with too.
She had always, especially since becoming Unit Chief, tried to remain as professional as possible.
For Emily Prentiss, a crush wasn't a thing.
It never happened very often, and even when it did - she got good at pushing it to the very back of her mind.
Besides -
Emily would look back on her past, and know in her heart; her relationships had always been a bit messy.
From when she was fifteen and going through changes with Matthew and John. That whole saga of her life had been difficult enough for a first romance.
Then, there had been others:
Yes, she'd had boyfriends. Even a few flings here and there.
She had a boyfriend named Jamie when she was in her twenties; but it barely lasted long enough to count as anything serious.
Then there was the façade she had to put on with Doyle.
Ian Doyle; who even to this day - made her disgustingly sick in the stomach and throat when she thought about everything that had occurred.
She could press against her blackbird tattoo along the ridges of her stomach; feel scars under her fingers and tremble with self-loathing.
Sometimes, she really hated her body.
She still had confidence within herself; and knew she was stronger for it, but she could never love herself the way she used to.
It was almost like, a part of her, really did die that day.
Looking back, Emily thought of the slow downhill decline when it came to how she felt about Mark; and Andrew too.
She knew; possibly even at the start; that it just wasn't going to work out.
She was never very good at relationships.
She lived in her head too much - and it was hard to share that life with someone else. She was quite a private person and being vulnerable wasn't vocabulary she liked to use to describe herself.
Then, there was her team.
Friendships were different.
JJ and Penelope were cherished blessings, and Emily knew that she was so lucky to have them in her life.
She had gotten along with others like Alex Blake too, but it just wasn't the same as what she could only describe as her best friends.
She and Morgan always had a good friendship - and she got along well with Reid and Rossi; like they were a family.
She always had a soft spot for Hotch too, and he had always looked out for her, like a fierce protector.
Keeping up with the new members of the team had been quite difficult at first - yet, everyone seemed to know their place by now.
Emily's concern had been bigger for Matt;
He had to come across from his own original team to an already established team, and it had been a bit of a funny transition, however, he did exceed expectations and fit right in.
Then, there was Luke.
Morgan's replacement, practically: Just another muscle guy, with a great profiling skill set, but, Luke stood on his own.
Emily stared at her crime scene photos, tapping a pen against the desk, deep in thought.
It probably started from their first meeting when she had been talking to Reid and JJ.
"Someone could have done a real number on the guy, an ex maybe, I mean no doubt the army taught him order and discipline, but a desk like this could mean he has commitment issues" Emily had spouted.
She loved profiling people before she met them – and she had done the same to Rossi when he had first joined the team.
However, her assumptions about Luke definitely could have been perceived harshly.
But, he didn't.
Luke, heard what she said - and instead just smirked and smiled.
"Excuse me Agent Prentiss" a loud voice spoke.
One of the police officers pulled Emily out of her little reflection.
"Yes?"
"We've been alerted of the possible suspect outside of an ATM vestibule on 9th Street. According to the area's CCTV footage, he's armed and has one hostage. We've got units about to approach".
The officer was kind, but spoke quickly and brief.
Sometimes a break in the case happened quickly, and this was it; but they were prepared for anything.
Emily whipped out her cell phone and conference called in the team.
"An ATM vestibule on 9th street, how are we tracking?"
"According to my map search, one entry, one exit, three machines inside" Garcia spurted.
"Matt and I are two minutes away" JJ added.
"I'm getting a lift with some of the officers. We're ten minutes out - see you soon" Emily added, "The UnSub already has one hostage; be safe, and look out for each other".
Garcia did her usual screen tapping and mouse clicking, "Miss Emz, I've been hacking the CCTV footage at my end, and cross checked the UnSub's photo for an ID match... your guy is definitely Alvin Phillips of Minnesota. Wanted for four other bank related crimes between Saint Paul and Austin"
Meanwhile Emily was getting into a patrol car with three other officers to join the rest at the atrium.
She could hear Penelope continue to pound her computer keys in the background; little clicks of her computer mouse almost echoing.
She could also hear the light sirens through the phone from JJ and Matt's SUV.
"Reid and I are on the way too, we'll try to get there just behind you" Rossi added, "in a bad cell spot though" and then they disconnected.
"As long as we're all good" Emily nodded, "see you all soon".
She heard something surprising; Luke's voice joining in on Garcia's line.
"Sometimes Phillips uses a gun, but there was a case in Iowa where he strapped C4 to his chest. It didn't go off, but who knows what this jerk is up to today"
"So much for a day off for you, Alvez" Matt teased.
Luke laughed, "You needed me"
It turned out that after spending half of the day with Phil, Luke had decided to pop his head into the bureau for the afternoon anyway.
When the case started pumping the pressure and he had heard up Phillip's holdup, he figured he'd sit in with Garcia for a bit; much to Penelope's usual distain.
However, Emily was happy to hear his voice and smiled.
"Luke, Garcia - If you've hacked into the CCTV you can be our eyes".
"Rightio captain my captain" Garcia nodded.
Emily's patrol car, arrived at the scene - joining JJ and Matt's SUV.
Just like they said, Reid and Rossi showed up a minute later. Tara had stayed behind with the victim's families.
They all stood there at first, analyzing the scene in front of them:
Alvin Phillips had locked one hostage, Patricia West, into the ATM vestibule.
At gunpoint, she was being forced to use her credit card to retrieve money out of a machine.
Luke was right; Phillips also had C4 strapped to his chest.
Otherwise, officers would've shot Phillips down on first sight.
A little over an hour went by, but not long after that - it was all over.
Emily presumed that Alvin Phillips knew he wasn't getting out alive with his money, hence why he did what he did next:
For a sixth timed bank robber; it was stupid really.
He had decided in good faith to let Patricia leave, so she was able to get out safely.
Then he hit the trigger on his C4.
The whole atrium went up in a big blast of flames, bits of building debris, and melted ATM metal.
Aside from some minor officer injuries - Alvin Phillips' only fatality was to himself.
He had $2400 worth of bills in his pockets – all which came from Patricia's own bank account – and which were destroyed in the flames almost instantly.
Emily was at first apprehensive that Alvin Phillips had a possible partner – for the takedown seemed too easy.
But, he didn't.
He was a lone attacker, who knew it was the end of the road and he had made his own choice to end it all.
But - that was it - it was done.
Anyone who needed medical attention headed to the hospital, and Emily stayed with Patricia West, hugging her in safety.
The poor woman; teary-eyed and terrified, but grateful to be alive.
Emily escorted Patricia into a car, and they all left the vicinity.
Back at the police department, everyone began to pack up, finalize the case and make their reports.
When the BAU was ready to leave; they said their farewells and hopped on their jet back to DC.
Matt suggested another night out at O'Keefe's.
Rossi said no, and Reid also shook his head.
But, the rest of the group seemed keen.
They'd have to double check with Garcia, and Luke too, but they were always up for anything.
Of course, they all had to finish some DC paperwork when they landed -
but after the case ended the way it did - a drink was doable.
Emily knew she had some tasks of her own she needed to complete first, but she knew she could get them done quite quickly.
She was definitely keen for another night out.
But, then she stopped herself.
Did she actually need a drink - or did she just want the company?