Trigger Warning: This chapter is mostly about a break-in and the subsequent panic attack that follows afterward. I will explain what happens in the chapter at the end for those who are triggered by these things.
- NOV 8TH, 2038 -
- AM 11:35:49 -
After some much-needed rest, I took the kids to school and went back to the house to relax. I had already watched through some movies, trying to just remind myself to rest. This investigation couldn't be solved with my mind being so frazzled. I began to shiver as my heating broke for the fifth time this month. I really needed to talk to Fowler about it.
The movie ended a while ago, but now I was just relaxing on the couch and waiting for the ibuprofen I just had to kick in. The ache in my side had become a dull one, more annoying at this point than painful.
Upon seeing that it was nearing lunchtime, I stood in order to walk over to the kitchen. I yawned, taking off my sling. It was beginning to make my arm cramp up. I grabbed some bread from on top of the fridge, as well as the peanut butter from the cabinet. As I was about to start spreading peanut butter, I heard the crashing of glass.
Immediately I whirled around, grabbing for the gun I had hidden between the fridge and the counter. I ran into the hallway, raising my gun up. My chest ached as I listened to the rustling in my bedroom.
After a huffing breath, I kicked the door down.
"Get on the ground!" I yelled, pointing the gun at the man on the floor. He merely smirked, and I screamed the command again.
Pain filled my side as someone kicked into my ribs. I cried out, my body slamming into my door. The person grabbed my wrist. I swung it up, ramming the heel of my hand into their nose. He stumbled back. I brought my gun up and slammed it into his temple.
His hand didn't leave my wrist though. The man on the floor grabbed my other wrist. I clenched my gun harder, unwilling to let it go. I wrenched the new guy close, bringing my knee up and into his stomach. He didn't move.
I felt the coolness of a barrel press against my temple. I stopped, panting. Fuckfuckfuckfuck-
"Stop fighting or I'll shoot you," The man growled. I gulped, nodding quickly.
"Drop your gun," The man from the floor demanded. After a second, I let it go.
The man with my left arm dragged it behind my back, grabbing my other wrist from the man who was on the floor.
"What do you want?" I mumbled, looking at the first captor.
"Where is the important stuff? You know, social security cards, money, that mess," He smirked.
"I-in the safe in the closet," I whimpered.
The man immediately opened my closet as I was dragged away. I cried out in pain, the motion messing with my ribs.
"Shut up! Rule still applies," The man said. The gun moved to my neck as we approached the living room.
I grit my teeth. Pain radiated from my ribs, cutting my breaths short.
"Peter! Get out here!" The man yelled from behind me. The man from the floor, who I assumed was Peter, came out with a rope. He walked into the kitchen and grabbed a chair, bringing it out. As soon as the chair was on the ground I was shoved onto it.
My brain became a war zone as the bonds tied tighter around my wrists and feet. I could feel tears streaming down my face as all I could see was the night my parents were killed.
"Jesus Christ, get me something to gag her with," The man snarled, holding the gun to my head. That brought me crashing into reality as I shook my head desperately. Peter didn't care, he grabbed a towel from the kitchen and brought it over, securing it in my mouth and tying it behind my head.
Thank god the kids were at school. Thank god Hank had all of the important stuff, and the stuff in our closet was just slightly altered so it looked real but in reality, was fake. But how was I going to get out of this?
Once they knew I was tied up sufficiently, both men walked back into my bedroom. I couldn't help but sob, trying to wrench out of the ropes. I could feel drool dripping out of my mouth. I looked over at my door, seeing that it was unlocked. Oh, thank god.
As I was looking over, I saw a familiar shadow press against the window next to the door. We had our curtains drawn, but they were translucent, opaque until you really tried to look through them.
I struggled a bit more, in order to make it obvious that I was tied up. The silhouette straightened up, and I frantically nodded my head to the door. He got the memo, drawing his gun out. After slowly opening the door, Connor stepped in.
"Where is he?" I nodded toward my bedroom. Before he walked away, I pointed two fingers out. Two people.
"Where are your handcuffs?" Connor asked.
I tried desperately to move my hip, which is where they always hung. Connor moved over to me, leaning over me. His presence shrouded my figure, making me curl up into myself.
"You're going to be okay Mae. I've got you. I need to get these two into cuffs first. I've called into the station," Connor whispered reassuringly as he pocketed the cuffs. I nodded, watching as he moved towards my room. I could hear the grunts of my captors ringing out as Connor took them down. After a few moments, I watched as Connor dragged their now unconscious and handcuffed bodies out to the living room.
I let out a sob of relief as Connor walked over. He knelt in front of me, reaching forward to take the gag out. I wiped my face on my shoulder as he began to undo the ropes. I couldn't slow my breathing, or see past my tears. I continued to sob loudly, feeling the cool air hit against my now burned wrists and arms.
"Mae, listen to me, I need you to take a deep breath in for me," Connor asked. His hands came forward as I tried to do what he said. Slowly he wiped my tears away as I took a shaking breath, letting out another sob.
"You're doing great. Try again?" He smiled at me, letting me take a deep breath again, "Good job. Let's get you off this chair, okay?" I nodded, and he moved his hands to my elbows. Connor stood, bringing me with him. My entire body just felt... empty. I couldn't describe it, but I knew it felt wrong.
He set me gently on the couch as my phone began to ring. I could hear sirens off in the distance as Connor picked up my phone, "It's Hank, is it okay if I answer?" I nodded, falling over onto my side. My side began to sting as I laid there, but I felt like I couldn't move.
"Lieutenant-. Yes, I've got her. She... may need one? You're almost here? Okay," Connor spoke. I felt another tear drip out of my eye. Connor leaned forward and gently wiped it away, moving his hand down to grab onto mine.
"I'll see you in a minute," Connor said, hanging up soon after.
I heard the squealing of tires outside my house, and within a second Hank (and a couple of other cops) burst into the door. Hank didn't even waste a moment walking over to me. Connor moved out of the way and Hank knelt where he was sitting.
At once, another wave of tears overtook my body. Hank frowned, leaning forward and hugging me.
So, Mae's house ended up getting broken into, and she ends up having some flashbacks to when her parents died (because the two people who came in tied her up like she was the night they died). Connor comes in to save her, and Mae ends up having a panic attack just as the police department (including Hank) arrive to clean up the scene.