Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds. All the characters are not mine, either. I'm simply writing fictional stories about my favorite show. I do not make any profit from them. The stories are only for those who also love this show and want to read different material. All rights of the show belong to CBS and the production company. Thank you and enjoy this story.
Author's Notes: As you can probably tell, I'm a huge fan of the show. I love all the characters/actors in the show. The storylines are amazing. I'm an English major and a writer in the making. I also happen to be a huge shipper of Elle/Derek Morgan. I think they have a great chemistry. They had some sparks in the episode, The Broken Mirror and other episodes as well. This is a romantic story that gives the readers a glimpse to who Elle really is and what happened to her in the past. I hope all of you guys enjoy my story. Please don't hesitate to post comments on it. Thank you.
Previously on Unexpected Feelings…
Mysterious stranger: Now that you mention it. How about a simple exchange? I'll give Natalie back to her parents in exchange for you, Elle. How about it, sweetheart? It'll be a romantic reunion for the both of us.
Chapter 4
Elle froze at the sound of his demand. It's as though she was living through the same nightmare she lived through when she was 17 years old. All the horrific memories of that time came back to her. Morgan could no longer stand this insanity. It broke him into pieces seeing Elle so defenseless while that psycho was enjoying every second.
Morgan: You listen to me, you son of a bitch. There is no way in hell we'll be handing Elle to you on a silver platter. You want money? We'll give you lots of money. But Elle is not even an option, you understand me?
Mysterious stranger: Oh my! Such an outburst. And who the hell are you? Her lover?
Morgan: Who I am does not concern you. You just have to get it through your thick skull that Elle is not yours and will never be yours.
Mysterious stranger: Oh well. Then I guess we really have nothing to discuss. I'll just go back to Natalie and give her a first time she'll never forget. Oh, and I guess, you can say it will be her last time, too. I better make it memorable enough, don't you think?
Hotch and Reid were restraining Morgan who lost all control of himself. He forgot that he was an FBI agent, and that his first priority was supposed to be the victim. Morgan no longer listened to logic, but instead, he listened to his heart.
Gideon: Wait a minute. Don't hang up. You'll get your exchange. Just give us 48 hours.
Morgan: What? Are you insane, Gideon? What the hell is wrong with you?
Mysterious stranger: Very well then. We should call it a night.
Gideon: There are conditions, however. One being that you do not touch Natalie. If even so much as a hair is missing from her head, there will be no exchange of any kind. Am I being clear?
Mysterious stranger: Very well. That's a deal. Sleep tight, Elle. Soon you'll be in my arms again.
Then the phone went dead. No one spoke a word. Then finally, Gideon found his voice again.
Gideon: All right. We have 48 hours to find Natalie. He won't harm her. I'm sure of it. He really wants this exchange to happen. We just have to move quickly.
Morgan: How could you do it, huh? This is Elle we're talking about. Over my dead body will she be used for a phony exchange!
Gideon: Start thinking with your head, Morgan. We're not going to do an actual exchange. I simply bought us two days to find Natalie. If we had said no, he would have killed that girl in a second. We need to play into his twisted game. It's the only way we can get Natalie back alive.
Elle was quiet during this time. After all, it was only her life everyone was discussing.
Hotch turned to her.
Hotch: We need to know everything. You have to tell us who he is. How do you know him? We need every little detail, Elle.
Elle: It doesn't matter what happened in the past. It was over 16 years ago. I will not talk about that time. I'm sorry. You have to find another way to find this girl.
Mr. Coleman: How can you be so selfish? Our daughter's life is in jeopardy, and all you can think about is yourself.
Morgan: Now wait a minute. You don't talk to her like that. We're all here because we want to save your daughter. Attacking one of us is not going to help us in any way.
Elle storms out of the house. Morgan follows her.
Morgan: Wait a second. Where are you going?
Elle: I'm going to the hotel. I can't be involved in this case. It's too personal. I can't focus. I just cannot be of any use to anyone. I'm really sorry, Derek.
Morgan: Hey, you don't need to apologize to me or to anyone else. But please just tell me the truth. What really happened all those years ago, Elle? Why won't you tell us?
Elle: Because it hurts, Derek. It really hurts for me to talk about it. I just can't. I want to, but I can't.
Morgan: I'll drive you to the hotel. You're in no condition to drive.
Elle: You don't have to do that. I can take care of myself.
Morgan: I know you can. But I'm still driving you to the hotel.
To be continued…
Coming up next: Will Elle confide in Morgan and tell him what really happened all those years ago? Stay tuned.
