Crossing Boundaries
Chapter 18: Fury
I awoke curled in a corner of Garcia's computer room, my dark hair spilling across my face. JJ lies beside me, an arm flung across her eyes. We are curled up with our backs to each other. Empty beer bottles are scattered at our feet, and the empty plate lies abandoned in the middle of the floor. Across the room, Garcia is slouched in her chair, glasses thrown casually on the desk in front of her.
Sitting up, I begin to stretch out the cramps that have settled into my limbs. My head is slightly fuzzy due to the mass consumption of alcohol. I blindly search about for the water bottle that I had before I fell asleep. Garcia is next to awake, frantically searching for her glasses.
"Where the hell are they?" she mutters loudly.
The noise of Garcia's rustling wakes JJ. She glares at her friend before asking, "What time is it?" Like me, JJ would rather be sound asleep right now, despite the time of day.
As Garcia peers at her computer screen for the time, the door behind us flings open, causing all of us to shriek in surprise.
"Garcia…." Gideon's voice trails off as he hears us shriek and observes us looking like a bunch of ragamuffins in yesterday's clothes.
"What?" Garcia snaps.
He looks at us carefully, as though trying to determine what three young women are doing crowded in the AV room. Three grumpy faces glare at him, waiting for an answer to the unwanted intrusion. Carefully he explains, "Everyone is needed in the meeting room."
Reluctantly, we all file out, wandering like wraiths down the hall behind Gideon. Passing by a clock on the wall, I observe that it is already noon. I nudge JJ and Garcia to show them the clock and they both groan. Upon entering the meeting room, we receive strange looks from the rest of the team who are bright eyed and in fresh clothes. Elle begins to speak, but Gideon cuts her off with a look.
"As you all know," Hotch begins, "we have brought Pawel Drenik into custody. However, he refuses to speak to us, in spite of any angle we take. All he will say is 'she needs me.'"
All eyes shift to look at me. Every pair of eyes wants answers; answers I will not tell.
"If you would just tell us your connection to Drenik…"
"No" I snap sharply, cutting Gideon off. "I will speak to him."
"I can't let you do that."
I glare at him, my eyes glinting hard. "Then you will get no answers." I turn away from them and walk out of the meeting room. Long strides talk me nearly to the end of the high walk before I am stopped by a voice.
"Anika!"
I turn to see Elle jogging after me. The rest of the team has emerged from the meeting room, waiting to see what happens.
"You can't go in there. That is the same man who nearly killed you and did kill Nadya! Its absolute insanity!" Elle's voice rises a few decibels as she continues her rant. "You're best friend was murdered yesterday, there is no way you've recovered enough to be able to face him. Tell me what you want to talk about. You're not strong enough to face him." Her voice is accusatory, as though she is the only woman able to face scumbags like Drenik.
My temper flares and before I am able to stop myself, my hand flies through the air and slaps Elle forcefully across the mouth. "You know nothing. How dare you talk about strength when you yourself are still haunted by what happened to you? I must face him. He has many things which he must atone for. Croatian tradition demands that victims face the one who did them wrong. You have no right, Elle Greenaway, to tell me what I can and cannot do. You are not my master."
I pause for a moment to collect my thoughts. Vindictively, I smile as I see Elle wiping at the blood that trickles from the corner of her mouth. I realize that my accent is flowing thick, but there is nothing that I can do to prevent this. Elle has incurred the fury that I have held dormant for so long. Taking a deep breath, I continue my verbal assault.
"I am sick of being treated as though I am made of glass. If I was to be broken, it would have happened the first time that supak raped me. It will be a miracle if I can bear children in the future. I am blessed that I am still alive. Have you not realized that I am made of stronger stock than you think?" This address is presented to the whole team. Quickly, I whip about to face Elle again. "Miss Greenaway, think upon all that I have said. It is time you dropped the femme fatale act. It's alright to need someone."
Then I turn back to the team and address Hotch and Gideon in specific. "I will speak to Drenik." There is no room for argument in my voice. This is my decision and I will see it to the last. "Have him brought to an interrogation room." As consolation I add, "You all may observe to get your answers, but it will only be me and Drenik in the room."
Gideon looks reluctant to obey. Hotch on the other hand says to me, "I will have the order placed." He disappears into the office to make the call. The rest of the team looks at me, anxiety clouding their eyes. The prospect of facing Drenik terrifies me, but I know it must be done.