The SVU and the BAU all sat around the large conference table. The photos of the victims pinned up on a board, files spread across the table in front of them as they discussed the case. All the memebers of the teams were there exepct from their youngers.
"Hey, Hotch, have you seen Reid?" Morgan had been drumming his fingers on his desk watching his team mates file into the bull pen, but Reid's chair remained empty.
''Reid took a day off''Hotch says reaching over to grab a file so he could get a better look.
''At the dame day with Carisis and Dodds?''' Rollins asks and Benson gave a nod to the woman.
''Today is Dana's baby shower and they want to surpised her''Benson says without thinking.
They narrowed their eyes and they stared at her. Then they finally relented, the curiosity was getting the better of them. 'How do you know that?''Prentiss asks.
''My partner and I are going to the party ,after all I am Bastiana's best friend and boss of Carisi and Dodds while Jessica is friend of Bastiana and Dana.''Olivia told her politely and turned on her computer.
''And we have been not invated?''Garcia threw back frowning and twirled around to look at Finn who was frowning at her.''And you have not problem with that?''
''The party is not about Carisi or Dodds''Finn said carefully.''The only time I met one of Carisi's brothers was at the ball''
Garcia frowned, and opened her mouth to say something else when she saw Hotch glare at her.
''What we know for our last victim?''Rossi said plainly before Moragn stood up and went to the white board.
"They found her in a hote room." The man stated, posting the picture on the board. "The victims name was Madalena Cote"
''One of the maid found the victim , she called 9-1-1." Prentiss replied after taking her seat next to Garcia, the team shake their heads.
"Like our two other victims, she was the only victim with the less bruises or abused sights.''Amanda added, handing the photo to Hotch. Rossi opened up his case file and began reading the details when Prentiss stood up.
''That's meant that they have something that make our unsub been more gentle with them?"Morgan squeaked out.
"Garcia, I need you to check records of Cote to see if she had something in common with the other victims,"Hotch orders.
"Uh..." they heard the distinct sound of fast typing in the background, along with dings and pings from the screenin front of her "Like the others, Cate took Bar's exam but did not passed.''
''So unsub wants a lawyer?'' Finn replied, intrigued looking at Benson , who can't help but blush when it comes to a certain lawyer.
''I know someone else who has something in common with our unsub''
Hotch snapped, but Olivia could see a little bit of red around his collar and smirked to herself.
''Right?'' Prentiss said, butting in before Hotch could get anymore embarrassed.'We can't find any connection between the two vics; they live in different neighborhoods, went to different schools, lived different lives, there's literally nothing that ties them together,"
''They wanted to be a lawyer''Morgan replied.
Finn went to the board and placed the third victim's photo .''One of them was a lawyer and the other judge''
"Os three of them had some connection with the law and our man had been more kind with them because they filled his fantasy?" Amanda asked and suddenly the typing stopped.
"What about the rose?"Prentiss' brow furrowed.
' It is believed that black rose exists in Tibet but it has not been verified until now. ''Morgan answer was long as he took another sip of coffee.'' According to the Language of Flowers or floriography in the 19th Century, a black rose implies hatred, death, and despair. It can also signify rebirth or farewell for good, in certain situations. Since a true black rose is impossible to find in nature, it emphasizes on utmost devotion and exclusivity in a relationship. One can also see endless mentions of black rose in Gothic literature. ''
Everyone turned staring at Morgan wide eyed.
'' In sum up? ''Finn finally said.
Rossi took a sip of his coffe before replying.
'' Unsub is going to take the woman of his affection! ''
Benson let her personal phone ring. If the call is important they would call again, she mused and got back on the case. When her phone stopped ringing, she gave a mental sigh, before said device started to ring again. She's two seconds away from pressing the decline button when she saw the area code.
"I'm sorry guys, but I have to get this." Benson said walking away from the two team
and answered her cellphone, a bright smile painting on her lips.
"Hello darling."
While Benson was talking with Jessica , Hotch watches her thinking about Bastiana and the article at TV. The only person who will know if Bastiana was in a relationship with Specter ,was Olivia as the lawyer's friend.
The man was nervous as walked toward Benson. His heart was racing, his palms were sweating, and he felt sick to his stomach. He couldn't remember the last time he felt this nervous. Except for the time he proposed to Haley...and the time he joined BAU...his first kill in ...okay, maybe there were a lot of times, but this was the worst time of nerves for him. It was a yes or no type of thing...and he was hoping for the better a deep breathe, he touches Benson's shoulder and grinned sweetly at her.
"Hey." Hotch said and handed her a cup of coffee.
"Thanks." Benson said. They sat for a while talking about yesterday's events. Hotch wasn't paying much attention though.
"Spill it." Benson said.
"Huh?" Hotch was confused.
"Something bothers you. What?"
"Umm, well I was wondering if you'd like to tell me about Bastiana. You know if..." Hotch was holding his breath. He was so nervous.
"You want to know if you have competition!" Benson was clearly out of it, giggling and smiling so much while Hotch was blushing slightly.
Benson can remember the first time he heard a rumor about him and Bastiana. It was one of the law-people downstairs. They were whispering to someone - presumably another law-person - about how they heard that every time the elevator stopped, it meant that Hotch was going down on Bastiana.
It had made her grin. Benson was aware Bastiana spend time at BAU with her brother bringing him lunch or caffee but she was also aware for the new rumor of her ,Jessica and Bastiana being a power couple had caught on quickly, just like all the rumors before it.
Olivia with Jessica, Dana and Lola make a bet on Bastiana's love life, the two lawyers bet on Hotch while the captain and the professor bet on Harvey. They may be adults but they act like children when they are at the same room , after the news on TV made the bet but they were lucky that Bastiana was in the dark about it.
"Aaron," Benson took a deep breath before she answered, "I consider you a good friend and I know this is awkward, for both of us, but," The woman wasn't sure what she wanted to say but she felt it was important anyway,"I don't know Bastiana for a long timr but I think that I know her to well to answer your question."She smiled shyly at the chief."Bastiana doesn't let people in but what I heard by Lola and Dana , you make her laugh and smile. They see a different Bastiana and that scared the shit out of them, the oy thing I know is that Bastiana is not a relationship type and rumors says that she never date a lawyer."
"Or an agent"Benson thought.
Hotch smiled at the woman next to him trying to believe that this was going to be a good thing.
"Neal I honestly don't know why you insisted on taking me shopping all day or why I had to put on one of my new dresses, I mean what is the point of looking cute when I look like this. Shopping just isn't fun," Dana said as they stepped into the elevator. Neal looked as the doors closed to see the poor employee trying to manage all of the shopping bags.
"Because I love to spoil you, and you needed more maternity clothes. As for the dress well because you look so goddamn sexy in it," he rasped into her ear as he kissed the tip of her earlobe. Dana's eyes rolled back a bit, but then she shrugged him off and crossed her arms.
"No elevator sex Neal, I can't even move this big," she motioned down towards herself. Honestly nothing had grown, but the bump and her boobs which Neal never complained let out a low chuckle and wrapped his arms around her from behind.
"Oh I think I could do all of the work if I got you in the right position," he smirked. A grin crept on Dana's face and she turned around kissing him. Before he could further it though she separated them with a hand to his chest.
"I guess tonight I could repay you for all the gifts you bought me," she whispered and fixed his bow-tie. Dana flashed her a big smile and then pecked her lips.
"Looking at you repays me, especially when I imagine that you still wear hot lace underwear even when you're with child," he responded. Dana gave him a playful push to the shoulder, but then the elevator door opened and he placed his hand on her lower back. They entered the penthouse and turned the corner to the living room.
–
"SURPRISE!" everyone screamed as Neal and Dana walked into the room. Neal smiled and looked at Dana for her reaction. Dana was still for a moment and everyone went silent. She then threw her hands up and screamed with delight.
"Lola did you do this?" she asked, her eyes watering up with happy tears. This kind of over emotional they liked. Chief Dodds stepped over by Neal and shook his hand. Lola hugged Dana
"Well everyone helped, but Dana I had to throw you one I mean you're having a baby!" Lola cried with delight. Dana laughed and they kissed each other on the cheeks.
"Thank you so much Lola I didn't even suspect it Neal distracted me the whole day shoppin..." she trailed off with a huge grin and turned towards Neal. She reached for him immediately and he obliged happily as she grabbed his face and kissed him.
"Alright you two, one baby at a time," Sonny joked when the kiss didn't break off too easily. Dana broke away and blushed, while Neal turned to Soony and smacked him on the shoulder. Dana then turned back to everyone else. She saw Logan and Michael and bent down a bit.
"Oh you two, come here," she sang out and held her hands out for them. Logan ran for a hug and pulled Michael behind her. Dana squeezed them tightly. "Oh I love you guys so much..."
"Sis I can't breathe," Michael mumbled against her. Logan kicked him, but he struggled. Logan let out a nervous laugh and pulled them away from their sister grasp.
"Honey why don't you see who else is here," he smiled. Logan shot him a thank you look and he nodded. Michael hugged Lola and they watched Dana. Eleanor Scott stepped up next with Richard Scott behind her. Dana grabbed her mom instantly.
"Oh mom thank you so much for coming!" she exclaimed, Eleanor looked slightly frightened. Her and Dana had never been this affectionate. Eleanor patted her on the back.
"Of course," she spoke awkwardly. Dana didn't notice though and pulled away to hug Richard. He let out a laugh and congratulated her for the millionth time. They then both stepped to the side so she could take on the next person. Katrina Bennett stood up and hugged her.
"You deserve it Dana, and Lola worked really hard," she said before going to stand by Chief Dodds. Dana then looked at Mozzie who sat on the couch not expecting to be acknowledged. Everyone else was about to start things up, but Dana surprised them. She ran to Mozzie and attacked him in a hug.
"MOZZIE! You came! You know all those mean things I said about you I didn't really mean them... well I did, but you still came came!" she kept hugging him. Mike and Lola snickered at Mozzie's expression. Neal however after a few minutes glared and grabbed Dana from Mozzie.
"That's enough Mozzie," he spoke possessively. Dana just hugged onto Neal again though and giggled. Mozzie held up his hands and shook his head. Everyone let out a laugh.
"Alright! Alright! Everyone sit down now we are going to play a shower game!" Lola called as they all gathered in the living room. Everyone sat down on the couches. Neal took the love seat and put a pillow behind Dana so she wouldn't sink in too far and get uncomfortable. He then placed his arm behind her neck so she could lean into him if he needed to. Lola clapped her hands together, "Okay now everyone take one of these papers and a pen. The game is to put a check down by either mommy or daddy for what features you think Dana wants her baby to have. Then when we're done she'll look them over and which ever one is closer to what she is picturing winds a prize!" Lola passed them out and Neal let out a chuckle and took one for himself. When everyone was working hard he leaned up to whisper in Dana's ear.
"Want to help me out mommy?" he asked, ignoring Lola's dirty look she shot him. Dana let out a giggle and turned to look at the paper Lola had printed out.
Attribute:
Eyes: M or D
Ears: M or D
Nose: M or D
Legs: M or D
Hair: M or D
Smile: M or D
Intelligence: M or D
Humor: M or D
Habits: M or D
Skin Tone: M or D
Style: M or D
She then pointed to it and whispered into his ear, "You're smile, or should I say smirk definitely. All the kids have it and I wouldn't have it any other way." Neal circled D for daddy on smile and then turned back to Dana.
"Neal don't make me separate you two," Lola glared. Both Caffreys looked up innocently and she rolled her eyes. ''Dana don't help him," Lola warned. Dana nodded and smiled at Nea. He sighed and tried to figure the rest by himself. When everyone was done Lola handed them to Dana. "Okay D tell us which ones," she instructed. Dana picked up the first one to read it.
"Okay Michael's... definitely wrong," she put it down and Dodds junior let out a sigh. Neal chuckled and glanced at it, she was right junior was so wrong on what she wanted. She picked up the next one which was her mom's. "Mom you circled M for everyone,"Danar sighed. Eleanor pursed her lips.
"You're a beautiful girl ," she stated simply. Dana rolled her eyes and set it down. Neal smirked at Eleanor who turned away from him. Dana went through the rest of them and had them narrowed down to three: Sonny's, Lola's, and Neal's.
"Okay let's see Sonny said my eyes, my ears, Neal's nose, Nea's legs, Neal's hair, my smile... oh no, sorry Sunshine, but that X's you out. Plus my baby is a girl she needs my legs or it'd just be weird," she threw his note to the side.. She then moved on to Lola's and held it up to read, "Neal's eyes, my ears, both mine and Neal's nose..."
"Hey she can't circle two that's cheating," Mike sat up. Everyone shot him a look and he quieted. Dana let out a large breath and continued.
"Neal's hair, Neal's smile, my intelligence... good pick Lola... Neal's humor... oh no," she said, "My innocent baby will not throw around innuendos for fun. Nea sent her a playful glare. Dana then sighed and picked up Nea;'s note and read it aloud, "Neal's eyes, my ears, both of our noses, his legs, his hair, his smile, my intelligence, his humor, both of our habits, my skin tone, and both of our styles because..." she read the words next to it, "We both always look amazing," she looked back up at him and smiled bringing him in for a kiss.
"But he picked his humor too," Mike pouted. Lola smacked him and Neal chuckled against Dana's lips. She didn't seem to notice. "This is rigged, she's picking favorites," Mike said again. Lola giggled and kissed him again.
''We are pregnant''
The gulp of whiskey that was supposed to make its way down the throats of the Neal and Dodds suddenly stopped mid-way. Breathless and shocked out of their skin at Lola and Reid's word the wishkey had no way else to go but be spat in a cool spray over Mozzie and Logan.
'''We got married.''
Mike's eyes went wide and he gasped in surprise while Sonny practically tripped over himself hearing this. Lola and Reid rolled their eyes at each other.
"We need more water to spit out." Dana admitted.
"What?!" The group yelled.
"We're married." Reid spoke slowly.''We are pregnant''
"What? How?" said Logan slowly and quietly, he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Don't tell me I need to tell you about the birds and the bees?" said Chief Dodds.
They didn't glare at Chief Dodds. They knew that if they even looked at the older man the wrong way Bastiana and he would beat the shit out of them.
''How the fuck this happened?''
''Well...''
FLASHBACK
"Marry me?" The question was whispered in the early hours of the morning. The sun was just a glint on the horizon.
"Okay." Was the mumbled reply as the body of the responder shifted closer to their lover's heated body.
"Today. I don't want to wait." The voice was a little louder this time.
"What about our family?"
"Just you and me. We can go get it done then come back here and sleep until we need to leave for the Dana's party."
Feeling more awake now sleepy green eyes looked at their lover. "You're serious about this?"
"Yes, I am." Was the fierce determined answer.
"Well then I guess we should get out of bed and get dressed." Came the cheeky reply. "Where will we be going?"
"Don't worry about that. I have it covered."
(*v*)
"Do you Lola Kinney take Spencer Reid to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love him, care for him, and forsake all others until death do you part?"
Lola smiled at Spencer. "I do."
"And do you Spencer Redi take Lola Kinney to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to love her, care for her, and forsake all others until death do you part?"
Reid gave Lola a Wolf smile. "I do."
"Then I and the state of Maryland now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss each other."
Reid and Lola met each other halfway and sealed their mouths together in a passionate kiss. They kept it tamed given to their present company. They pulled apart when the judge cleared his throat.
After the ceremony , Spencer opens the door to the smell of burnt grilled cheese and the sound of his wife singing in the kitchen. He smiles softly, putting his shoes away before making his way to the kitchen quietly. There was a half empty bottle of whine on the counter and the stench of the burnt bread was horrible.
"Started without me?" Spencer asks, leaning on the door frame.
Lola whipped around, her hair falling over her face. The movement made the usually graceful woman fall over.
"Spency!" Lola's face lights up.
Spencer's smile gets bigger but his eyes zero in on the paper in Lola's hand.
"What's that?"
"Hm? Oh nothing. Do you know where the lighter is?"
"Why do you need a lighter-"
Lola digs in a drawer and triumphantly pulls out an orange lighter.
"Aha!"
"Lola Kinney-Reid. Put the lighter down and give me the paper."
"You aren't my boss at home!" Lola argues stubbornly, trying to get the lighter to light, but her fumbling hands weren't working.
"Lola-"
Annoyed, Lola threw the lighter down and dug out a match book. She struck the match and managed to get the corner before Spencer jerked the paper from her hands. He puts out the fire and looks at the paper. It was their marriage license.
"Lola, honey, why are you trying to burn our marriage license?" Spencer wasn't sure if he was more confused or amused.
"Good luck returning me without the receipt!" Lola says, hands on her hips.
Aaron was dumb struck. What brought this on?
"Why would I want to return you?"
"Um...well…" Lola shrugged. "Good luck keeping me without proof of purchase!"
Spencer tilts his head. What in hell was going on? He was pulled from his wanderings when Lola snatched the paper and barrels past him. Reid stumbles back a little then takes off after her.
"Lola!"
Spencer runs after her. The chase went around the couch and coffee table before Lola darted down the hall towards the bedroom. Lola may be lanky but Spencer was completely sober so he had the manage to catch her by knocking Lola onto the bed. The young womanfell with an "oof" and a chorus of giggles. Reid grabbed ahold of the paper.
"Lolagive it to me."
"You can't make me!" Lola grins.
"Lola-"
"You're really bossy. You know that?"
"Now give me-"
"And grumpy."
Spencer narrows his eyes.
"I am not grumpy." He scoffs.
"You totally are. Mr. Grumpy." Lola laughs again.
The doctor sighs softly. Drunk Lola was something else, that's for sure.
"Please give me the paper?" He tried.
"It's mine too! You don't have to hog it." Lola hugs the paper to her chest.
"I'm trying to keep you from ruining it!"
"Boo. Party pooper."
Reid sighs again and rubs the bridge of his nose. Okay so asking wasn't going to work. He grips the paper with his thumb and forefinger, trying to pull it free.
"NO!"
'Lola-"
"It's mine!"
RRIIIIPPPP
Both of them's eyes go wide.
"You broke it. Oooo you're in trouble." Lola whispers, holding up the other half.
"You-"
"You're grounded."
"Excuse me?!"
"You ripped the paper."
"You are the one that took it from me." Reid protests.
"You took it from me first!"
"Yeah because you were trying to burn it."
"You're the one that left it in my reach."
"You-I-" Reid just shakes his head. "You are impossible."
"You married me." Lola smiled.
"Yeah. I have proof of purchase." Reid chuckles, kissing her softly. "We'll have to go get a new one tomorrow you know."
"Later. 'M sleepy."
END FLASHBACK
"But you didn't invite us." Dana pouted.
"I wanted it to be just us, the two of us." Reid said not feeling guilty.
"But...but..." She stammered.
"Dana, it was their choice, dear." Logan said soothingly. "You know Spencer is a private man."
Almost someone burst into a fit of laughter. Everyone looks at the course of the laugh and they saw their younger cousin Adam Ross sat at a chair laughing. Adam was the only child of Madalena and Archie Ross , Archie was the uncle of Sonny, Bastiana, Mike, Neal and Spencer. The last time they saw him was three days ago because he is busy as a lab tech for the New York Crime Lab. Adam was the only member of the Ross' family that he was willing to kept contact with them after the funeral.
''Who is goint to tell Bastiana that they got married without them?''says Adam laughing. The you man could enjoy Bastiana's blood pressure rising to a point where Adam was hoping her head might explode.
The air seemed to sizzle as everyone in the room moved back a few steps while the siblings with their spouses flinche away at Bastiana's name. The people around them had taken to avoiding using Bastiana's name whenever they were in the siblings' presence. They're suddenly feeling choked up, so full of pushed away emotions that they thinks they might burst from the vastness of them all. The siblings have avoided thinking of their sister as much as they could, not wanting to open old wounds.
''Or to explain about the state of Mike's hand''Mozzie scoffed and all the eyes fall at the bad shape Mike's hand.
''What the fuck did you do ,now?'Mozzie continued.
FLASHBACK
Mike Ross was angry. Pissed off. Livid. Fuming. Whatever word you used didn't matter because if looks could kill, Mike could become one of the killers his brothers arrest. The target of his anger you ask? His former boss. After learning about the incident from TV previous he had only one mission, to confront Harvey. He could have him killed, all it took was one phone call and he could be down at the that wasn't enough, it wasn't going to satisfy the man who sexual harassment his sister, calling for him to do more. So his next course of action was to look up Specter.
Mike walks throughy the firm coridors avoiding all the gazes for his former co-workers. Jessica saw Mike from her office and grapped her phone while Rachel tried to chat with Mike , Donna stood up from her desk and Mike stared at it for a moment and then sighed. Donna's stomach jumped when he looked up at her with his puppy dog eyes. Maybe this was it!
"Stay here."
Mike storms into the office and walked up behind Harvey, grabbed his arm, and held him in the air. "What the hell Mike?!" Harvey screamed as he struggled to break free. Louis tried to pull Mike off; but, Mike was too angry to let go. Donna squeaked in fear. She ran up to try to stop Mike.
She pushed past Louis who was attacking Mike at this point and said, "Please Mike, let him go…This isn't right."
He looked over to Donna and said, "No, what is not right is for a grown man to sexual harassment my sister.''
Harvey kept quiet as he looked at the floor.
''What's even worse is when that grown man attacks her when she refuses his advances. Isn't that right Specter?"
Louis stopped his attack and asked, "What are you talking about Harvey?"
Mike looked Harvey in the eyes and said, "Yes Specter, what on earth am I talking about?"
Harvey ignored his question and looked down in shame. Seeing that Harvey wasn't going to answer, Mike commanded,''My sister has a purple hand print marring her creamy skin''
"Mike" Harvey began, trying to keep the desperation out of his voice. ''I was tried to call her and It would be appreciated if Bastiana returned my calls."
"My sister has no interest in returning any of your messages." Mike's tone was neutral.
"Mike, please," Harvey reached for him. Mike flinched away. "I need to talk to Bastiana. I need to make her understand-"
"You will never contact Miss Wolf again." Mike's tone oozed venom as he spat the words at Harvey. "If you are lucky enough, you may catch a glimpse of her on the news, but you will never see her in person again." He clenched his fists and unclenched them before he rose to his feet and collected his briefcase. "If you try in any way to make contact, I will find out. If you ignore my warning I will make it my life goal to make the remainder of your pathetic little life as miserable as possible."
Mike punched Harvey in the nose. "That is for kissing my sister you worthless piece of shit." He then walked out the door leaving Yugi bleeding profusely on the ground.
END FLASHBACK
He got an appreciative look from ever single, woman in the room.
"Wow Mike. Who knew you had it in you?"
Something snapped inside Mike, everyone could see it. Usually, when they spat, they let them ride it out, but Tony was beginning to tread on dangerous ground. A black moment of fear passed over the table as everyone waited with baited breath to see if Mike would lunge over the table.
And the moment came with fury!
Fury in the form of sticky, white rice drizzled with soy sauce. Mike threw his first weapon, and that weapon was dinner.
Special Agent Tony Dinozzo jerked back, having taken a good shot from the other. He growled. "That's real mature Ross," he began, but a second lob of rice was thrown. He was ready for that one, dodged, and retaliated with more tofu.
As the group ran for cover from the feuding boys, Olivia laughed. "Can't this family ever have a meal together without flying food?"
Jessica snort. "With our group? Probably not."
Her fist hit the bag at full force filling the empty gym with a loud thud over and over again as she pounded away. She wasn't fine, but maybe after an hour of pounding on an inanimate object she would be. Bastiana grunted as she punched the bag again. Something was reaaly wrong with her.
there was something else that she began to was a feeling that she have not felt in a long time.
Why is that?
Why is it that she is feeling this?
This...feeling?
This strange feeling?
Could it be, that she may be falling in...love?
With an Agent?
What would the world say, she wondered, if the ever-faithful Bastiana abandoned her family to search for love?
After all to the world at large, Bastiana Wolf was the epitome of familial duty. She was calm, collected, and she stood with her siblings even when they did horrible things. To the world, she was the cruelest, most reasonable of the Ross, and her dress and mannerisms drew people more to her than her more naive siblings.
So she's silent and unassuming and and easy enough to miss, hiding in the shadows and watching. Hearing. It's also easy enough to see what they think about her. A simple line by the edge of their mouth, a crease on their forehead, a twitch in their fingers, reaching out for their guns. Irritation. Disbelief. Jealousy. They think it's unfair. She was a target, she was a mark. Then Hotch opens her eyes (and this, this is the part that they get wrong, she thinks. They always get it wrong. They think it was with a kiss, a hand on her breasts, murmurs fading away into sweaty skin. It wasn't. ).
In the darkness, alone by herself, she admits it. She's hurt. She's been loyal to her brothers ever since, never thought of leaving, not once. She's obedient and follows orders and she does her job. She does her job well. She knows she's not a good person, she would never be. But she tries, and puts up with it, puts up with them, who judge her with silent questions and quiet accusations.
They never say anything to her unless it was necessary. Out of respect she never knew she had, she does the same.
When Hotch is there, accompanying her in the sea of black, it's better. He snarks at her and isn't afraid of her and smiles at her as if she deserves it. Knowing him, he thinks so. And Bastiana snarks back, a tentative quirk of her lips, caring to show enough emotion to appear human, but not too much for him to fully see it. She was trained for it, the phrase, "Trust no one," echoing in her brain from there to here, long after when it should have gone.
Emotion means weakness. Weakness means you die. Weakness means you're not strong. Weakness means you won't survive the cold. It was always cold, and winter was always coming.
When she does that, Hotch's smiles suddenly become brittle.
She stopped, wiping her brow on her truth, Bastiana was much more than the confident, even-tempered picture she presented to those around her. Her clothes was her armor, and although her grandmother hadn't been wrong about her part in her parent's death, the guilt she harbored over her demise was minimal compared to her desire to see her brothers happy.
Bastiana's wardrobe, for all of its other benefits, was also an excellent way to hide her scars from prying eyes.
Everything for them.
"I took every punch, so that they wouldn't have to.''
The ringing of her phone pulled her from her thoughts and she grabbed it from the floor beside her. "Wolf." A pause. "On my way."
A quick shower and Bastiana was back in the the firm.
Amy and Travis noticed her wet hair and knew exactly where their boss had been. She always went to the gym to work out her frustrations, well when she wasn't taking those frustrations out on them. They watch as Bastiana was rigid, and twitching, as if she had a mechanical failure. Every movement just breathed with anger and resentment. Amy and Travis' gut was churning, something was very wrong. This was not the boss they knew; this wasn't theyr IronWoman. Amy and Travis took a step forward, but they feet faltered instantly. They couldn't ask her what was wrong directly. That never worked with Bastiana.
They could also see that the other four, her brothers, were oblivious of Bastiana's state judging by the comments that were thrown his way.
This didn't feel right.
Everyone had noticed the change in Bastiana Wolf. She was quieter than usual, withdrawn, morose...even depressed. They hadn't seen her smile in days. But whenever anyone asked her if she was okay, her only answer was a muttered, "fine". But she was obviously anything but fine. Hwe usual repertoire of pranks, jokes and lightheartedness was gone. She spoke only when she had information pertinent to her current case or when someone asked her a direct question, and even then, she didn't look anyone in the eye, and her voice was so monotone, she might as well have been a robot. The other name partner, Cody Wilson, has tried several times to pull her out of her funk, by teasing, sniping and finally downright insulting her. He told her to stop sulking and acting like a child. She would stop typing and about the time Cody figured she'd finally answer back, she'd take a deep breath and go back to what he was doing without even raising her head to look at him.
Bastiana couldn't keep reading, throwing the file to the ground in disgust.
Amy stood up and walked over to her Boss. "Are you okay?" she asked, silently lambasting herself for such a lame question.
The boss does not response
Bastiana looked up at Amy, her expression not faltering. The lawyer looked at her a brief moment before responding, "I'm sorry Amy, did you say something?" Bastiana tone was genuine, although she purposefully held an underlying hint of sarcasm, just for her secretary.
Pulling up her file, she heard Bastiana response and assumed she was angry with her for some reason. "Why are you mad at me B?" she asked.
"I'm not mad," she responded looking back at her computer screen, "I'm just not in the mood today."
''You shouldn't been at Dana's baby shower?''Amy asked, completely confused.
Bastiana looked worried now.
"I am busy?"She said in her no-nonsense tone.
Αmy looked down in thought. "They didn't invite you?"
She is quiet for a moment and then says, "So what?."
Αmy is shocked and bewildered. "Stop acting like that!"
"Like what?"Bastiana says and laughs.
"Like nothing ever hurt you," Amy says gently.
"No one can hurt me anymore."She sounds resigned, tired, and worn."They broke my soul, my body, and my spirit but they broke the wrong parts of me. They broke my wings and forgot I had claws.''
Her vision is blurry and her head is spinning.
"No," Bastiana whispers, "No, no, no.
She needs to leave. She needs to disappear again.
So she takes a deep breath and clears her head.
She was on edge. Everything about her screamed it. She was trying her best to hide it and probably succeeded in it with most people. But her team, they could all see it. She was struggling to keep it together, to stay strong.
''I love you''He had said. ''Saying it hard but I did ,and I've never looked back''
Tears fell from Bastiana eyes.
''Liar''
Meanwhile, Hotch groaned as he looked at his reflection in the mirror, years of hard work and stress had obviously taken it's toll on his appearance. His frown lines were engraved onto his face and he appeared to look far more older than he actually was. He sighed miserable as he splashed his face with cool water, he should have known from the beginning that Bastiana would choose Specter over him. Specter's body was more built than his and his face showed less signs of aging, there was also the simple fact that Bastiana was always complaint about the other lawyer.
Again, the jealousy inside Hotch raged. He wasn't blind, he'd noticed the sexual tension between them, but always blew it off as playfulness between the two lawyers.
She manipulates, she pulls strings, and the moment she gets what she wants she cuts you loose. I know what I'm talking about. Bastiana doesn't care about you. She doesn't care about anyone. She doesn't know how to or what it means to feel."
Fists clenched at his side , Hotch tried to push anger away. Maybe Reid was right but she was nothing like his cheater and liar ex-wife , he discovers when she chases him down, a stormed into the hopsital with a raw fury and flailing fists that he can't stop short of a hard punch to her solar plexus. Haley was eternally cold, every last drop of emotion locked away to leave that big brain free to chart her course. Bastiana was pure fire, an inferno of raw feeling lit by an unstoppable drive that terrifies him. It's going to get her killed, and how the hell can he keep her alive when all she wants is to keep him away from her?
Hotch wasn't blind to the spark of attraction that existed between them, unacknowledged and so far not acted upon by either of them.
And why not?
She was a warm, vibrant, intelligent, beautiful woman. Any red-blooded man with a pulse would have to be deaf, dumb and blind not to be attracted to Bastiana.
The sharp ring tone of his cell phone in the silence of his apartment causes him to flinch and he closes his eyes for a second before he picks the phone up and glances at the display. That goddamn woman.
Since he knows that it is much better to get this over with as quickly as possible, he accepts the call after only a couple of rings.
"Yeah."
"Aaron," the voice on the other end of the line says and pauses.
"Mother." Hotch sounds weary and he feels weary, too. He takes a deep swallow from his glass and leans forward, propping his elbows on his knees.
"How are you doing, sweetheart?"
Hotch cringes at the endearment and sips on his drink again. "Okay," he answers and clears his throat. "Good."
"What's wrong?"
Damn. He sets the glass down onto the coffee table and shifts in his seat. "Nothing's wrong." His voice sounds strangely hollow, even to himself.
"Well, what happened, then?"
Just get it over with, he reminds himself. "Haley and I are officially divorced and I met a woman which is one of my co-worker's sister and I don't know what to do"
"Oh," his mother says and Hotch bites his lips. "Oh, Aaron—I'm so sorry."
"It's okay," he mutters and gets up to fetch the whiskey decanter. He pours himself another drink and sits back down heavily. "Really, mother. It's okay."
"Does she know?"
"What?" He lifts his glass, brings it to his lips and even tilts it but he doesn't drink. "What do you mean?"
"Did you tell her?"
He furrows his brow and sits back. "Tell her what?" He takes another swallow and keeps the liquid in his mouth for a little while before he swallows it down. It burns on his tongue and in his throat. "Tell whom what?"
"That woman," she replies and he can hear her swallow as well. She must have made herself a drink, too.
"What?" Aaron knows that he begins to sound annoyed and he tries to calm his voice, to sound as neutral as possible. He doesn't want to present a target or at least he wants to keep the one that is always there as small as possible.
"About how you feel about her."
Oh, that. Hotch wonders how the fuck she knows. They only talk a couple of times a year, twice maybe, three times max. How the fuck does she know? He squeezes his eyes shut for a moment and swallows. The scotch is still burning in his throat and that burn brings a hoarse note to his voice when he speaks again.
"No." He takes another tiny sip, trying to soothe the burning feeling, but it doesn't work. His body reacts with sending an extra amount of saliva into his mouth, causing him to swallow around his words again and again. "And I won't. I won't tell her that. As a matter of fact I won't tell hee anything. I won't. She—She doesn't need to know." He coughs and runs his right palm over his mouth.
"You're such an idiot sometimes," his mother says after a short while. "Aaron, I think you should—"
"No," he says again, shaking his head. "No. Drop it, mother. Just—drop it."
He can hear his mother inhale sharply and he knows what's coming next.
"Go ahead and tell her how you feel."
"Mother—"
"When you find someone that make your heart skip a beat , stop the reach and take the risk.!"
"Mother, that's enough." Aaron sits up and straightens his back. "I'm not a child anymore. I am okay."
"Of course, Aaron," she says after a second of silence. "Of course you are." Her voice has dropped to a low murmur and Aaron flinches when she clears her throat loudly at the other end of the line.
"I still think you should tell her," she continues after a short while. "Or go out and pick someone up. For the night."
"I don't want to pick someone up," Aaron says and rubs his eyes. "I'm tired, mother. I want to be alone. I'm going to bed now."
"Sure, Aaron" she says, her voice suspiciously blank. "Sleep well, darling. Good night."
"Yeah," Hotch mumbles and drains the remains of his drink.
"And call me some time, okay?"
"Yeah," he repeats and disconnects the call. He leaves the decanter and the glass on the table and toes off his shoes before he rises from the couch. He takes of his jacket and walks towards the sliding doors that lead to his bedroom. He hangs his head and takes a deep breath before he pushes them open, his jacket dangling from his loose grip, the sleeves lightly brushing over the floor.
Aaron swallowed another glass of bourbon, he had been home for a couple of hours and was halfway through a formerly unopened bottle. Hotch never drank this much but ever since Haley had left he really had nothing better to do then sit on his couch, get drunk, and think about how sexy Bastiana would look with a kevlar vest on. And how she probably looked even better with NOTHING on.
"I can't do this anymore," Hotch mumbled to himself as he got up and like that of a man possessed, Hotch's hand hovered over the buttons on the telephone pad, fingers twitching, spine shuddering, the fist wrapped around at the receiver gripping the plastic almost to the point of pain.
The digits-
Those he knew by heart, even if he had never actually worked up the nerve to dial them-
It had seemed so damned simple every time-to put the phone to his ear, wait for the dial tone to melt into that incessant ringing before someone picked it up-
-that familiar, calm voice-
-the possibility of a trace of pleasant, demure surprise coloring that voice-
-every time, he'd stopped himself, shaking his head in frustration at the stupidity of it all.
-What would he even say? What kind of pretense-
He scoffed at himself, trying to ease some elastic back into his bones, life back into his shell-shocked frozen body, still glued to the chair like it would save him-
It's not a big deal. It's not-after all, it's surely no stranger than his mother calling him tonight-
His face was uncomfortably warm-damned home heating system must be screwed up again-as he flexed his fingers one last time before dialing the number, feeling bile rise into his throat, stomach churning delicately as he cradled the receiver under his chin.
Prring. Prrring. Prrrring.
-goddamned international calling-
It rang a total of five times before he heard Bastiana Wolf pick up and say "I'm busy, so whoever you are make it quick." Followed by a "Just put those papers over there I look through them in a moment."
"I'm sorry to interrupt Bastiana..''Hotch started to say.
"Hold on." Bastiana interrupted.''Aaron?''
He wasn't surprised that she recognized him by his voice.
"Is something wrong?"Bastiana asks.
He forgot what he was going to say.
"My brother?"Bastiana asked, her usual gruffness replaced with quiet concern.
"No! Everything is ok I ,I just called to asks you something."Hotch explained.
He forgot how to breathe.
"Well?"She asked, her voice a mix of annoyance and upset .
"I worder if we can meet do discuss something?"
Don't say no, Hotch silently pleaded, don't. I need this, I need you, Hotch thought. It had been so long since he'd been with anyone.
"I will check at my schedule"Bastiana smiled softly, something like regret coloring her tone. She was clearly having second thoughts.
Hotch' heart rate accelerated. Bastiana wasn't saying no.
"We can meet at a cafe near to BAU's building"
"I'll be there in 10 minutes." Bastiana said and ended the call.
I hope not. Hotch thought, she'll never make it from her office to the cafe in 10 minutes. At least not alive.
Hotch knew that to reach the cafe she would have to drive past her condo which was about half way to the BAU's ofice and even from there he would need at least 15 minutes, so even if she was a faster driver, she wouldn't be able to make it that fast from the office and since she had talked about some papers, she probably wasn't at home.
"What exactly are you supposed to wear on a date ? "Hotch sighed and looked around his closet again. Why does it matter? I know I am going to show up in a suit. His phone buzzed to life in his pants pocket. He pulled it out to check the text. It was from Bastiana."Plans changed. Meet me at my condo in two hours"
The sky was a dull grey, with dark clouds rumbling in the distance. The rain was coming down in heaps, beating angrily against the pristine glass of the top floor at Person-Specter firm. An occasional burst of lighting brightened the otherwise dimly lit room every now and then, followed by a loud clap of thunder. Harvey sat at his grand mahogany desk and stared off into the distance.
The weather was bleak, matching the apathetic feeling deep seated in the lawyer's heart. It was rather comical really, how the depressing weather matched his current mood, and it was oh so cliché. He couldn't help but feel silly.
Melancholy wasn't very becoming of him he know, but he couldn't help himself. He felt himself becoming more despondent with each passing day.
How ironic was it? The man who had everything could not have the one thing he'd truly desire. No amount of money, no amount of power, and no amount of wishful thinking would ever change that. It was the first real thing he had felt in a very long time, and it clawed at his heart.
Maybe it was a miscalculation on his part. An error in his thinking.
He stared at the sky with a bland expression.
'It's really coming down today,' he thought as he eyed the business proposal on his desk lazily. He supposed he liked it better this way however. He didn't like anything to be half assed. It was all or nothing for him. It always had been.
The only thought was in his mind was Mike and Bastiana and he could feel the bitter resentment clawing up his throat.
He could not allow this to happen! Mike was too important to all of them and he had allowed himself to be swept by his pride? He had struck against the one person who gave him back his hope time and time again, against the person whom he saw himself relying on time and time again. His mind stopped functioning. He felt empty, hollow, darker. Mike had always been there for him. Always to tell him off when he was being unfair to someone or to lend an ear to listen to his worries. He was his guy, his protege, , his friend. Damn it all to the seven pits of hell! Mike was his brother!. he was loyal, like any dog would be. Loyalty was one of the things the blue eyed boy valued most. There were many, and would always be many seeking to betray the brunette. Loyalty was a trait that was hard to find.
Mike Ross was protective. He took care of the ones he loved. He would do anything for the family. They were always spouting that family crap, which was something he would never understand, but he did feel the same primal need to protect what was his.
But Harvey has never been good at expressing his feelings. Well, not these kinds of feelings. Need someone to convey disgust, disdain and contempt with a single look? Want to cut someone down to size with a well-timed sarcastic comment? Looking for someone to cut through the bull with nothing more than a roll of their eyes? Then Harvey is your man. But the finer feelings? The Specter men have never been good with those. And now it's cost him a friend. And there's no doubt in Harvey's mind that that's what Mike was. A brother.
Ha. Too little, too late. That could be the title of his autobiography,Harvey thinks bitterly, blinking away the tears and dropping a fresh ice cube into his rapidly diminishing drink.
And from the other side was Bastiana Wolf. Harvey loved watching her argue with him. He made it a point to push her buttons as often as possible just to see her reaction. It had become a habit that brought him a twisted form of satisfaction, seeing as he was sure that would be the only satisfying Bastiana Wolf would ever do for him.
She was strong, capable, fierce and with striking lines in her face, cute nose and smooth jaws with bright blue eyes.
But she was also kind, strong willed and loyal. She could have walked away. With the history she had with her brothers, the whole world would understand. But this woman, she fought with the people that were her group.
Harvey was afraid to close his eyes because every time he did that , he found himself back at the ball watching how Hotch's arm had went around Bastiana's waist pulling her close. How they had gyrated on the dance floor laughing and talking. He couldn't hear it over the roaring of his heartbeat in his ears, couldn't see them through the haze of red overwhelming his eyesight. It was only the snapping of the pen in his hand that recalled his attention to the room around him.
And that stupid call.
Harvey narrowed his eyes. Perhaps he had this the wrong way around? Perhaps it wasn't Hotch he should be inquiring about? His eyes widened lightly, and he asked once again, resentful,"Who is he or she?"
He hadn't even been aware that he'd been holding a action shocked Donna who walked in his office.
"Harvey, I need to talk to you about something and you're not going to like it," was how the conversation started. And Harvey knew right away this was going to be about Bastiana, and that he most definitely was not going to like it.
"Harvey, I really hope you could keep your hands off your associate,Bastiana before she files a sexual harassment lawsuit on you. It would not look good on you nor the firm. The managing partners will be disappointed. ." Donna said seriously."And you ate lucky that Mike was the one wgo punched you and not Neal or Sonyy who carry a gun"
Harvey kept quiet as he looked at his desk.
Donna sighed. "You hurt her."
"That is not true!" Harvey abruptly stood up in an intimidating demeanor.
"Enough!" Donna yelled. Harvey was taken aback, he wasn't sure her reaction was exactly warranted. "From the time she beat you at the court you act like a crazy man. You were trying to hurt her but instead Mike went to hospital"
"That's not..." Harvey began. "I mean yeah, but that's not why-"
"What's not it Harvey?" Donna was still looking furious. She must have seen the confusion on Harvey's face, because she calmed down a little. "Harvey, it's okay."
Harvey had no idea what she was talking about now. What was okay? Why was she looking at him like a hurt puppy?
"And then when she showed up at the ba with the agent you..."Her eyes widened as she connected the dots.
"You like her," she stated monotonously. "You fancy Bastiana." Harvey didn't say anything, instead averting his gaze from Donna. He didn't want to be so open – so vulnerable – in front of his secretary.
"Why did you never act on it?" Donna wanted to know.
That's none of your business!" Harvey pressed out.
"It is!" Donna shot back. "It is when I see my best friend not fighting for another person that would have stayed in his life. You didn't fight for Zoe or for Scottie and now for Bastiana. And it hurts – it hurts so fucking much – seeing you like this, knowing that you deserve better, that you could have better, if you just had fought for it!" She took a deep breath.
"What would you have me do, Donna," Harvey spit out. "Life is no romcon."
"Stand up and fight, goddammnit, Harvey!" Donna exclaimed. "Go to Bastiana and maybe you can still salvage something from this mess. Just don't sit there, pity yourself and expect Bastiana to just waltz through that door." Having said her piece, Donna turned on her heels and walked back out of the office. She knew that Harvey had to puzzle over her words for a while before he came to a decision.
When she heard the office door open after ten minutes and Harvey rushed past her without even a word, Donna leaned back and allowed herself a small smile.
Maybe everything would still turn out allright.
So she had to get out. She had to leave and see the real world, escape from the endless circle of drama of the Ross' family. She would do what Neal did, and disappear, only, unlike Neal, she wouldn't come back, and she didn't think she could live with herself if she stayed. She would fade away until she lost the little part of herself that was left after being torn to pieces time after time. She had never put herself back together quite right, and each time she tried she got torn back down. Each time she would try to piece together her sanity and dignity, she lost a part. No matter how hard she tried, she was never the same. She was just another nameless pretty face to the world. Only, everyone seemed to know that she was the snowowman, Bastiana Wolf. She was the person that everyone hated and only wanted to be with to bring them some type of benefit. Except, each time it was at the cost of her. She was the person who was continually targeted and shot down. She was an animal at the zoo, caged. She could not escape her past; it could never be that easy for her. Everyone knew her secrets and laughed at her pain. No one asked her if she was ok, no one helped her up when she fell. They would pity her for a second, but then they would say that she brought it onto herself. It was always her fault.
Bastiana had had enough of her self-pity, so she decided to do something about it.
All her life she's lived for other people: mom, dad, Neal, Mike, Spencer, Dominic . Everything she did was to please them, but now she's done and ready to forge her own path, and make her own.
She pulled out a suitcase from under her bed and started throwing stuff into it. Bastiana Wolf never threw anything, and least of all her clothes. They were always meticulously folded and carefully placed on top of each other, whether in a suitcase or a wardrobe.
She will talk with Aaron and then she will leave New York behind. And her brothers.
Family. It always came back to family.
Siblings who make her blood boil, slaughtered around her. Mike's heart hanging from her hand, Neal's at his feet, Sonny's head across the room because the boy rose his anger more than any of the others combined. Sonny's heart rested upon his chest. .Her family weren't even safe from the bloodlust inside of her, the rage that her grandmother had buried within her behind the door of their old house that hid her darkest desires.
Even while dreaming, the bodies of her savaged family at her own hand had their justifications. Mike and his reckless attitude, the multitude of mistakes that followed him. Neal, ever the jealous elder sibling, who would always in his eyes be the boy who pushed an infant Bastiana out of the arms of her mother. Spencer's incessant desire to be loved by anyone, Sonny, who despite all his attempts, would never redeem himself from the years of suffering he'd inflicted by others.
She dreams of their deaths at her own hands, and in the cursed nightmares she enjoys it. She revels in the power that she wields as their lives flitter away into shadows. She takes the light from everyone who touches her, everyone who attaches their heart to her by any means had suffered immensely purely for the privilege to love her.
She closed her eyes in pain for a second and her shaking hands fumbled through the bookshelf in the far corner of the living room.
Bastiana was tired of everything. She's trying to be the best sister and person and lawyer she can be, its never enough. From that point on, it got worse. She woke up every morning to a empty bed. She was miserable. The voice got louder, screaming at her.
Bastiana was surrounded by people, but she had never felt so alone. She kept smiling, laughing and making jokes, yet it left a sour taste in her mouth. No one noticed her pain, it was agonizing. She just someone to love, to cherish her .But no one wanted her. Not even her brothers, who she hadn't seen since the hospital. She understood them. Who would want her as a sister? She was weak. A woman scared of her own mind, drowning in her thoughts, 'They got sick of you,' the demon said. It sounded a lot like Edith, 'You're a slut, a waste of space.'
Bastiana agreed with it. Every time she looked in the mirror, a failure stared back. She wasn't worth living. No one would care if she died.
She had had enough of her self-pity, so she decided to do something about it. She stripped off the dress and slipped into the bathroom.
She took off her undergarment and looked at herself in the mirror. She grabbed her lipstick off of the counter and wrote on the offending image. After she finished, she smiled a broken, sad smile, and stepped into the shower. Then she let go.
Under the running water, she cried. She cried for herself, for her past, for her present, and for her future. She cried for her family, her friends, and for her lovers. As she finally dealt with her pent up pain, she made a promise to herself that these were the last tears that she would shed for this life. She could no longer be Bastiana Wolf because there was nothing left of her, just a broken girl. She got out of the shower and moved on with her life.
Sonny had been asleep when his phone rang. He was groggy and dazed and it took a moment for him to recognize where that piercing jingling sound was coming from.
When he finally snapped awake enough to realize it was his phone, he picked it up, seeing it was a number he didn't recognize and it was two in the morning. He answered it as he struggled to sit up and cleared his throat.
"Hello?"as he kept one ear open for any sign of his sleeping husband waking up.
He hoped he sounded awake, but then he wondered why, most people were asleep at two in the morning.
"Hello, is this Mr. Dominic Carisi-Dodds?"
"Yes"
"My name is Special Agent Aaron Hotchner."The man whispered hoarsely.
Honestly if it was Hotch calling cuz Reid have been shot (again) at whatever ungodly hour of the night it was Sonny was gonna -
"Bastiana had been taken."
- drop his phone apparently.
Neal woke up to a loud pounding on his door. Tired and hungover, he pulled the covers over his head and tried to ignore it and slip back into the dream he'd been enjoying. There was a girl laughing and Dana, but he couldn't remember her face. It wasn't often that he had good dreams, so getting back to it was far more important than answering whatever idiot had decided they needed him.
As he tried to drift off again, the pounding only grew louder untangled himself from the covers and Dana rolled over into his spot, pausing to let his head stop spinning for a second then went over to unlock the door.
"I swear Mike, somebody had better be dead. I was trying to sleep." He mumbled as Mike flew past him into the condo, his eyes scanning frantically. "What is it?"
Mike whirled back to face him and Neal saw that he looked grey. Fuck. Someone must actually have died. Hopefully it was Specter. His little brother looked demented so it must have been someone close - he froze. 'No. Christ no.. Just, NO...' "Mike..." His heart had started pounding. He felt sick. "Mike, where is Bastiana?"
Mike's face crumpled, his voice breaking, he mumbled, "She's gone Neal. Somebody took her."
Reid was at the office in his house losing himself in the paperwork.
"Cupcake?" Lola tossed out into the ether as she walked in the office after cleaning up the dinner dishes, continuing the nickname conversation that Reid had hoped forgotten.
The young doctor just barely glanced at Lola
"Muffin?" She tried out for size swirling it around in her mouth to get the feel of it as she settled on the steps to watch Reid work on his paperwork.
"Hell no." Reid would not be called muffin ever. Just No.
Lola was determined to find a sobriquet that Reid wouldn't mind that she could use for those occasions when Spencer simply wouldn't cut it. "Beautiful?"
"You not me." He was too graying and set in his ways for anyone to think him beautiful in her eyes.
"Muscle man? Tough guy?" Lola offered up a few more masculine sounding ones thinking that they might be more to Reid liking.
He raised an eyebrow as if to ask, really.
"Angel?" Lola cringed herself at that one. The agent was no one's idea of an angel unless you were talking an avenging angel.
He narrowed his eyes starting to get annoyed now.
"Bad boy?" Lola contemplated.
"Lola, be serious." Reid voice was cut and dry as he tried to bring an end to this conversation quickly before he actually lost his patience with his fiance something he was loathe to do with any lover as he had a nasty temper, but especially with Lola.
"Fine. How about babe?" Lola tried again either ignoring or not noticing Reid warning.
He grunted still not impressed.
"Oh. I know..."
Just then, her phone started ringing. Reid and Lola exchanged worried glances before Reid's eyes unwillingly find the bedside clock; the stupid thing tells him it's 4am and his irritation and worry rises.
"Yes"Lola says.
Reid watches as tears streaming down Lola's face, hands shaking.
She hung up , and she refused to look Reid directly in the eyes.
"What happened?"
"Um…" Lola scrunched up her face and looked at the ground, contemplating the best way to break the news to her. "She's… uh… She is gone."
"What?" Reid asked, not sure what he was hearing. "Who's dead?"
Lola tried to fight the tears threatening to fall.
"Babe? What happened out there? You're scaring me." Reid had a truly terrified look on his face.
"Erin called me...You guys have a new case…"
"Lola! What happened?"
Lola closet her eyes, willing the tears to leave. "Her place was a mess and found a rose…Gone"
"GONE WHO LOLA!? Who's gone?!"
"Bastiana. Someone took Bastiana." Then Lola clapped her hands over her mouth not quite believing what she'd said.
"What?" Reid whimpered.
"She has been taken," she whispered, tears falling freely.
"No," Reid said, eyes wide in disbelief as he knees gave way and he fell to the ground.
I don't own Tony Dinozzo from NCIS or Adam Ross from NCI:NY