Emily's POV
It had been a couple of weeks now since Sean had alerted to me that Ian Doyle escaped and then the secret train meetings with Clyde and Tsia. A matter of weeks in which my world had been turned upside down once more. The sins of what I committed as Lauren Reynolds from my early days in Interpol coming back to haunt me.
Forever now watching over my shoulder to be aware for when he wants to strike is getting tiring, knowing that eventually he will come for me and that I am the one he wants revenge on. Not on the team I was apart of for JTF-12 or the BAU family, just me, Emily Prentiss. But I couldn't help but fear the chaos that will ensure. I didn't want any of them to be harmed, especially the ones I hold closely to my heart.
We were scheduled to take off from Lafayette Parish, Louisiana thirty minutes ago, but a last-minute stop from Reid and Morgan being the reason as to why we're being held up. Sitting here and picking my nails down to the stubs being the only way to keep my anxious thoughts at bay, wondering what was to be awaiting at home.
It wasn't like Doyle to not strike his target of prey straight away; normally counter attacking them on the first go, and from my time at his side at Lauren I had seen the danger the man could wield in his command.
Hearing a commotion ahead of me at the front of the plane I finally see Reid and Morgan join us. Rossi making a comment of how Morgan getting the cashier's number at the convenience store was not an excuse for us to depart late. I couldn't see Hotch's face but I could see him shake his head at Morgan while Reid just awkwardly smiled.
I just shake my head at Morgan too. But the ever-knowing Derek Morgan made eye contact. "You good there Prentiss?" For the past weeks I could see that Morgan was keeping a close eye on me, my mood ever changing but not for the reasons Morgan or the team were thinking of. "I'm good Morgan, just keen to get home and have my date with my hot tub and a bottle of wine."
Throwing a smile Morgan's way to show him that on the outside I was fine, but on the inside? That was another story.
Walking past me getting ready for the imminent take off, he places his hand on my shoulder and squeezes. "Well, if you say so Princess, but you know we are here for you? Just cause we're friends with her too doesn't mean it'll change anything." I squeeze his hand in response.
I didn't want to address the already known elephant in the room. My complicated relationship with one Jennifer Jareau.
The one and only blue-eyed blonde-haired media liaison on our team; well, a former team member you could say at this point. I know it wasn't Jennifer's fault in being transferred but I can't believe that Strauss had the nerve to make it a back-stop; a back-stop to sending Jennifer into a war-torn Afghanistan.
The only people who knew the truth about where Jennifer was, was myself and Will. Will for Henry's sake of making sure that her son was cared for and looked after since their separation; for myself because Jennifer is my girlfriend. Or is she my girlfriend still?
Our last talk was a shouting match because I didn't agree with her following Strauss' orders to send her there and Jennifer being the stubborn woman she is decided to put up with it. A contract term that was only supposed to last six months. That left Jennifer and myself in a complicated relationship. The last contact I had with Jennifer was a simple text saying 'I'm okay. Love you.'
Well, at least I could say that even though she was pissed with me that she was still willing to try, but it just makes me furious. The things I wanted to speak to Jennifer about before she left couldn't be said over the phone, she deserved an answer to her face. I really just hope she comes home soon, but with Doyle lying in wait, it was really the only time I was glad she was more than a thousand miles away in a different country.
It's amazing how much time goes by when lost in your own thoughts. Feeling the wheels of the BAU jet touchdown runway focuses my vision on the dark horizon of the airfield, the only source of light flickering as a guide alongside.
Slowly gathering my go bag, I try to avoid the small talk the boys are conversing about as they exit; glad for the extra bit of peace I can grab before stepping off the plane and onto Virginian soil.
A calling card of the first game in the chase that I know Doyle is about to start with me. For once I am glad that I drove my own car to the airfield, it makes an easier getaway from the team. The better I can keep them distanced from the events that will unfold, the greater chance that they will remain unharmed, I can't make the same promise about myself.
For my team and her to be safe is all I wish for. Pulling out of the airfield carpark I make my journey back to the apartment that holds memories with Jennifer.
The journey back didn't take long and as I walk the hallways towards my apartment door at the end of the corridor in the complex. Reaching for the keys in my purse, I look up and I notice a long white box with a purple ribbon on the doorstep. That isn't a good sign.
Checking over my shoulder slightly I can see no one else is around; but I am still ever cautious as to what is in that box. Slowly picking it up and carrying it in the crook of my right arm, I unlock the apartment door. Switching the security code back on I place the box on the table situated in the entranceway. Sergio brushing up against my legs as a greeting but I don't answer him a greeting, too focused on what is in front of me.
Carefully untying the purple ribbon and putting it aside I lift the lid of the white box and what inside has me standing still, frozen on the spot.
The item wrapped in purple tissue paper is a lone lilac freesia. Ian had found where I lived and was watching.
I can't help but bring the lilac freesia closer and smell the sweet aroma that was upon these types of flowers. The flowers that grew at Doyle's villa in Italy. Placing the flower back down I notice the corner of a photograph in the tissue paper.
If the lilac freesia had me frozen in place, what was pictured in the photograph threatened to stop my heart.
The signs of an anxiety attack coming on and I felt the tears build in the corners of my eyes. My vision starting to become glassy, but I manage to wipe the offending tears away with my left hand. The image in the photograph to anyone else would be sweet and a memory captured in film, but to me it was a reminder of the mess I was in and that Ian was out for revenge.
The photograph showed a girl about the age of twelve sitting on the front steps of her home reading a book, dressed in denim overalls and a navy shirt underneath, not the wisest to what was going on around her.
A girl I knew who had the deepest dark brown eyes and a nose like mine, but had been graced with dark blonde hair. He had found her.
The only thing good to come out of going undercover as Lauren Reynolds. Knowing there had to be a message I flipped the photograph over and the words bore in perfected scripted black pen made my world stop.
'She really is beautiful, love. Just like her mother.'
Ian had not only found me, Emily Prentiss. He had also found her. Evelynn. My daughter. Our daughter.