Author's note: Just one more chapter to go after this one! Thanks for those that have read, alerted, favorited and reviewed the story!
"You made it," an amused voice told her as she reached the last stair.
She felt a sudden chill as she walked into the room, full of determination. JJ held her hand up above her eyes to shield herself from the bright light from the flashlight, oh god how it made her head hurt. But that was the least of her worries.
"Let Brandon go," she demanded, walking forward. Strangely, her voice didn't shake and it held a note of authority. She'd made it down to the basement which had a door leading to the underground parking. There in front of her stood that old man, Doug. Beside him was Gabrielle, the nurse that had taken Brandon that morning, and Seth the hospital administrator. And of course, Brandon, his hands tied behind his back, arm in Seth's grip.
"Do you have the money?" the girl asked. She'd never noticed before but the girl had a high pitched voice that grated her ears. The girl then laughed. "I'd hate to have to kill this handsome man you got here," she said holding a knife out to Brandon.
"Just give it to them, JJ, please," Brandon pleaded with his voice full of pain.
JJ had a hard time looking at him, the blood all over him... She let out a shaky breath. "All it takes is one click, the money is ready to go," JJ told them holding up the cell phone. Despite her obvious fear, her hands were steady. She held her head up, ignoring the pounding pain.
The girl looked at her suspiciously before noticing on the screen that the phone was in the middle of a transfer. The blonde was telling the truth. The money was so close to them. So close to being theirs.
"Let Brandon go, and I hit the button," JJ said her voice full of rage. "If not, I smash the phone and you'll have all wasted your time."
"Then you'll die," hissed the 'nurse.'
"And you won't have the money," JJ snapped, her blue eyes flashing in frustration.
She'd expected an argument. Expected them to say that she had to send the money first... But to her surprise, Brandon's hands were cut loose. Her breath had caught in her throat when Seth pulled out the knife, but Brandon had been cut loose. Nothing more.
Tears filled her eyes as he limped towards her. "Brandon?" she asked concern evident on her face. The tears now flowed freely down her face.
"JJ," he called out stumbling onto the floor.
She didn't hesitate she ran towards him, kneeling down to stroke his head. "How badly are you hurt?"
"Not," he said insistently.
"Don't lie to me. Now is not the time to play tough, Brandon." JJ ignored the other three. Had she been not so worried about Brandon she may have found it suspicious how they hadn't demanded she send the money straight away.
"I'm not lying," he said turning to smile at her. Before JJ had a chance to respond he'd hit her straight across the face, the phone flying out of her hands.
"Brandon, what?" JJ asked in confusion, terror creeping onto her face. "Why did you do that?"
"You should have transferred the money quickly. I hate waiting," he said impatiently, his brown eyes glaring into hers.
"You, what? No..." JJ said realization dawning on her. He was involved. Brandon was involved...
"Sorry," he said not sounding sorry at all. "It's what we do," he laughed now smirking.
"You're con artists?" JJ asked in complete bafflement.
"Yes, and we figured you'd be a challenge, being an FBI Agent Profiler and all but your profiler instincts didn't pick up on anything. You were too desperate to be in a relationship," Brandon remarked, amused at the expression on JJ's face. "I mean, I was so relieved that you didn't bring me to visit your friends. Sure, I'm good at what I do, but around that many profilers? Someone may have noticed something off with me. After all, you have a tech friend and my name isn't even real."
JJ mentally cursed herself for being too afraid to introduce Brandon. "But, why?"
"Because you have money," Brandon said with a shrug as if it was an appropriate reason. He then walked over to the 'nurse' and wrapped his arms around her.
"You and her?" JJ pointed to the two, a sick twisted feeling in settling in her stomach.
The girl just nodded, laughing again.
She was going to throw up. No, she couldn't. She had to stall them. Someone had to come down here eventually, right?
Seth watched the whole scene unfold. It was very amusing to say the least. But time was running short. They had to skip town. "Someone just kill her already and let's go," he muttered turning to walk away. "I'll go start the car."
Nodding in agreement, Doug nodded and followed. JJ swallowed slowly. She could do this, it would be easy enough... Wishful thinking, it could only get you so far.
"You don't have to do this," JJ said, backing away. She anxiously searched through her brain for some sort of solution. Something to stall them, anything... But her heart was pounding so quickly and she was in shock.
"You're an FBI Profiler and that's all you can come up with?" Brandon laughed. "I know we don't have to. It's not a matter of needing to but of wanting to."
"Brandon," she pleaded.
"My name's not Brandon," he said shrugging his shoulders. "And I'm sick of hearing your voice. Now just hold still and I'll get it over with quickly."