Chapter 8
The following week didn't go quite as well as they hoped. The team was called out for an urgent case in California, weren't they all urgent? This case involved children and they all were more committed when children were involved. Dave and Penelope had spent many hours on the phone with each other.
"How are you doing, Kitten?" Dave asks quietly. It's after midnight in California, which means it's in the three o'clock range in D.C. He's sitting in a dark corner of the police station. The team is in the far end of the room going over notes or napping in their chairs.
"I'm tired," she admits. "But I'm doing okay."
"You heading home? Going to get some sleep?"
She laughs without humor. "No. I thought I'd make myself comfy on your couch. I'll get a little extra sleep that way."
"Hmm, why does the idea of you sleeping on my couch turn me on?" he growls.
This time her laughter is real. "I don't know but you should know that I have often slept on your couch."
"You have?"
"Yes," she sighs. "I used to nap in the breakroom on the third floor because they have a couch there but then one of the janitors took a liking to me and I caught him staring at me sleeping. He started sending me creepy messages and leaving me presents."
"Who was it?" Dave demands.
"Easy, my love. He's not there anymore," she soothes. "I spoke to a friend of mine in HR and he was transferred to another building in the city. I haven't heard from him since."
"Fine," he grumbles. "So, why my couch? Why not the one on Hotch's office?"
"I like the way your office smells," she confesses. She giggles. "You're probably going to think I'm a creeper… sometimes, when you are away and you've left your jacket in the office, I'll use it as a pillow. It soothes me to sleep."
He grins widely, though he knows she can't see him. "Seriously?"
"Do you think I'm weird?"
"Weird? Yes. But I love your weirdness," he tells her. "And, no, I don't think you're a creeper. I think you are adorable. I'd love to catch you sleeping on my couch."
"Yeah? What would you do?"
He chuckles lowly. "Kitten…"
"Yo, lover-boy, we've got something," Morgan yells interrupting Dave's comments. Dave waves a hand in acknowledgement at the younger man.
"I gotta go, Sweetheart," Dave tells her. "Hopefully, we will be home soon."
"I hope so. I love you," she says.
"Love you too," he replies as he hangs up the phone.
The lead turns out to be quite worthwhile, a tip from an observant civilian leads them to a house in a rundown neighborhood. A preliminary search in the dark yard, reveals the brown van they had been looking for.
As the team sets up a perimeter and waits for SWAT to arrive, a scream comes from inside the house followed by shouting. Suddenly, a window breaks as a body hurtles through the glass. The team draw their weapons and rush in from all sides. Dave runs past the child laying on the ground, he realizes it's a girl about eleven or twelve years old. She clambers to her feet and turns to run stopping briefly when she spots the FBI agents.
"Help me!" she screams. "He's going to kill me!"
Just then the back door opens. A man runs out carrying a machete, he heads directly towards the girl.
"Freeze," Dave yells at the man as he steps directly between him and the girl.
Dave has no time to react as the machete slices through the air. Time suddenly moves in slow motion. Dave feels a sting across his left forearm. A shot rings out from Dave's right, the girl screams behind him. The bullet impacts the man's chest, causing him to twist mid-stride as he falls to the ground, dropping the machete. Dave jumps backwards as he watches the man hit the ground. He kicks the machete away.
Time returns to normal, as the team swarms upon Dave and the man.
"Is there anyone else in the house," Hotch asks the girl as JJ calms her.
Morgan kneels and checks the man lying on the ground. "He's still alive."
"There are some other kids I think," the girl sobs.
Dave hears Reid call for an ambulance, in the distance sirens wail. He raises his gun and heads for the house with Hotch, Emily, and Morgan following him.
Dave enters first. The short hallways leads into the kitchen. Flashlight on, he sweeps each corner, ever vigilant for more attackers. Through the kitchen and diningroom, he steps into the front room. Movement in the corner catches his eye. He shines his light in that direction. A boy, maybe five or six, stares back at him.
"It's okay," Dave says reassuringly. "We're here to help."
Emily moves forward and picks up the boy. She carries him back through the kitchen and out the back door. Several lights flash through the front windows. Hotch directs the local cops to secure the perimeter. They search the rest of the main floor finding the room with the broken window and another bedroom that was empty.
"Is that it?" Morgan asks in disbelief.
"The girl said several children," Hotch says lowly. "Look for an attic or basement."
They spread out. Morgan finds an attic opening in the room with the broken window. Hotch and Morgan stay to investigate as Dave moves back through the house. In the hallway, he opens a closet door. He moves the hanging coats to the side to reveal a staircase going to the basement.
"Hotch! I've got a staircase going down," he yells.
"Hold your position," Hotch tells him.
From below, he hears a muffled "Help!"
Dave ignores his Unit Chief and heads down the stairs. The basement is dark. He shines his flashlight before him as he goes down the stairs. Across the room, he sees several children on the floor, their hands and feet tied, mouths gagged. A sound from his left draws his attention as a body hurls towards him.
He crashes to the ground, hitting his head on the pavement momentarily disorienting him. Suddenly, he fells tugging at his hands. His attacker is trying to disarm him. Dave holds tight to his weapon and pulls the other person off their feet.
"Dave?!" Hotch calls from above.
"Help," Dave cries out.
End Chapter 8
