Chapter 6
AN – So 17 keeps getting better and better, me and my friends just booked tickets to go and see Cats, which is like my favourite musical ever. So I'm freaking out right about now. In other news, while this story is finding it's pace, I'm gonna stick to weekly updates, when the pace picks up I'll increase the updates. I just want to say thank you for all of your continued support with the story and I hope it continues. So here's chapter 6
Lexis4MorganPrentiss – Thank you for the review. That's no problem about your English, I didn't even notice ha. I think you may be right. People certainly seem to think Scott's gonna bring trouble, but you may be totally wrong. Thanks for the review and I hope you like the next chapter.
CriminalMindsLover08 - Thank you for the review. I don't know about Emily coming back to the BAU. I hope she enjoys working on this case and finds her passion for it again. But only time will tell, the same said for Scott. But he may be a real nice guy. Thanks for the review.
Emily looked up at the eyes staring at her; slowly she put the last file down.
"Well, what do you think?" Hotch asked her.
"I can see why you're having so much difficulty with it." Emily responded. She looked over the file in her hands again. "All of them were shot in the night?"
"Yeah: all around 11pm to midnight." JJ replied.
"Isn't the curfew at ten pm?" Emily asked.
"Yeah"
"So they couldn't have been that good of kids if they were sneaking out after curfew, knowing the danger." Emily replied.
"Sneaking out seems to be the only bad thing they did." Morgan told her.
"I'm just saying they knew that there was a killer out there; targeting people their age. They must have had a good reason for sneaking out."
"Like what?" Reid asked.
Emily shrugged. "I think you should talk to their friends."
"We've already spoken to them; they said basically the same as their parents." JJ said.
"I think you need to find the reason why these kids are sneaking out, once you've done that it'll narrow down the unsub list." Emily explained.
"Okay, we'll set up interviews in each of the schools." Hotch told them, "JJ could you call each of the schools."
"Sure," JJ walked out of the room to her office.
"I'll go see if Garcia has got anything from the lists we sent her." Morgan said, standing up to leave.
Hotch stood up from the table, "I'm going to get a coffee."
Reid, Rossi and Prentiss nodded. They all watched him leave, "I'm going to read this over in my office." Rossi said, leaving just Reid and Prentiss in the round table room.
Reid looked over at Emily, who looked as if she was concentrating but Reid knew better, she was distracted. "Em?"
Emily looked up at him. "Yeah?"
"Are you okay?" Reid asked.
"Fine," She replied.
"Thank you, for coming into help." Reid thanked.
Emily looked up at him. "Why did you tell them I'd help?"
"I thought you would, we need you Em." Reid explained.
"I told you, I didn't want to do this anymore" Emily said quietly.
"I know, I'm sorry but these kids need us."
"No, they need the whole team. They don't need me, this isn't my job anymore." Emily replied.
"You were part of this team." Reid argued.
"Were. I'm not anymore." Emily retorted.
Reid ran his hand through his hair. "I'm sorry for suggesting you, but like it or not you were part of this team, you know how to help us solve this. These kids… They're Meghan's age, don't you think you should help to catch this guy to try and stop another family from going through losing their child." Reid said rhetorically.
Emily sighed. "I know why you asked me and I understand it, I just don't like it."
Reid smiled a small smile, "You sound like Meghan."
Emily shrugged "Like mother, like daughter."
Reid's face turned serious. "Why do you think these kids are sneaking out?"
Emily thought for a moment. "You know how you said Meghan used to play up and sneak out,"
Reid nodded. "Yeah, what are you getting at?"
"Why did she sneak out?" Emily asked.
"I still only know vaguely what she was doing." Reid replied.
"Do you think she was meeting anyone?"
"I don't think so."
"The victims are male and female, so I don't think they were out meeting anyone romantically, possibly meeting a friend." Emily mused aloud.
"Why not romantically?" Reid asked.
"They don't resemble a type and victims two, four and six were in relationships." Emily answered.
Reid smiled.
"What?" Emily asked.
"You just sounded like a profiler,"
This time Emily smiled alongside him.
XXX
Scott and Meghan walked out of the packed movie theatre. Scott was carrying the popcorn he had bought before the movie. The whole thing had started out awkward; from the minute Scott came to collect her from her house, who was paying for the tickets, but by the time they sat down in their seats all the awkwardness faded away. The pair fell into an easy conversation during the previews and by the time the movie had finished they were talking as though they were old friends.
"You are a movie snob." Scott laughed.
"I'm not; I just know what I like." Meghan defended herself.
"Yeah that's exactly what a movie snob would say." Scott teased.
Meghan gave him a mock angry glare. "I can't help it; I find some genres of film very repetitive."
"That's exactly what my brother used to say."
Meghan couldn't help but notice the way he referred to his brother. "Used?" She questioned.
Scott stood still for a moment. "He died about two years ago."
"I'm so sorry." Meghan replied sympathetically.
Scott feigned a smile. "I try not to think about it you know."
Meghan nodded her head. "Yeah I know,"
"So now that downer is out of the way, do you want to grab some food?"
Meghan looked at her watch. "It's nearly nine."
"And," Scott replied.
"The curfews in an hour," Meghan pointed out.
"So, what's your point?" Scott asked.
"Curfew, kinda means we have to be home."
"You've never broken a curfew before?" Scott raised an eyebrow.
"I have, but not one when there's a killer on the loose." Meghan replied.
"Those kids were killed in parks; we'll just stay away from any parks." Scott assured.
Meghan thought for a moment. "I don't know, normally I would but…"
"But what? We're going to a crowded place for food and then I'll drop you back home, no lonely parks I promise." Scott said.
Meghan bit her lip thoughtfully; her dad would kill her if he thought she was out later than the curfew… IF he thought she was later than curfew. As long as she was back before eleven, he wouldn't have to know. "Okay, but I'll have to be back before eleven."
Scott's face lit up, "Sure, so what are you feeling?"
Meghan thought for a moment. "Surprise me."
"Okay," The two walked towards Scott's car.
Meghan was feeling unusually nervous about breaking the curfew; it wasn't as if she had never stayed out late before, but she was staying out late with a killer on the loose: Someone who was targeting people her age. She took a breath, the killer had only killed people who were on their own, she wasn't; she was with Scott and being with Scott made her feel safe.
"So how would you feel if I asked you if this was a date?" Scott asked before they got into his car.
Meghan thought for a moment, then she smiled, "I'd feel okay with that."
Scott matched her smile, "Okay, well would you like to continue on as if this were a date?"
Meghan nodded, "Yeah I would."
XXX
Emily and Spencer walked through the door of their apartment. It was little after ten, the two had decided to head home early as they didn't feel comfortable with Meghan being in the house on her own.
"Meg, we're home." Spencer called. Emily looked over at him, the empty silence giving them a sick feeling in their stomach.
"Meghan?" Spencer called.
"I'll go check her room." Emily said, walking down the hall to Meghan's room.
Spencer dumped his bag on the floor and walked into the kitchen to see if any thing had been moved since the morning. Everything was still the same.
"She's not in her room." Emily informed walking towards Spencer, a look of panic forming in her eyes.
"She's not moved anything in the kitchen." Spencer replied.
Emily looked around, spotting Meghan's bag on the floor by the sofa. "She came in from school." Emily said nodding to Meghan's bag.
"Then where the hell is she?" Spencer asked, his voice rising slightly.
"Calm down, I'm sure she's just out with Stacey and has lost track of time." Emily assured.
Spencer took his phone out of his pocket. "She'd text me if she was with Stacey."
"Maybe she forgot." Emily suggested.
"She doesn't forget Emily." Spencer spat.
"Okay," Emily crossed her arms as Spencer put his phone to his ear. They both waited for an answer at the other end. All they got was Meghan's voicemail. Spencer hung up and redialled… Nothing. He ran his hand through his hair. "I'm going to go look for her."
"Spence, I'm sure she's fine." Emily replied.
"Oh after everything that has happened with Doyle you think she's fine? Not to mention these shootings." Spencer asked angrily.
"I'm saying she's a teenager and teenagers lose track of time." Emily said ignoring the angry tone in Spencer's voice.
"She's sensible she'd be home before curfew." Spencer replied.
"I know that, look it's only ten past ten if she's not here before twenty-five too then we'll look for her okay." Emily reasoned.
Spencer tapped his foot on the floor in aggravation. "I'm gonna kill her, when she gets back."
Emily tried to hide her smile, "I'm right behind you."
XXX
Scott pulled up on the curb. "See half past ten and you're home in one piece."
Meghan smiled. "I guess I am."
Scott got out of the car and let Meghan out. "So," he said, shuffling awkwardly.
"I had a really nice time tonight." Meghan shyly smiled.
"Yeah, me too." Scott returned her smile. "Would you want to go out again?"
"Hmm, a second date?" Meghan fake questioned. "I'd love too."
Scott took a step closer to Meghan, "Would you mind if I kissed you?" He asked in a low voice; leaning in slowly, leaving only enough room between them for her to reply.
Slowly Meghan wrapped her arms around his neck, meeting his lips in the middle. His lips tasted like peppermint. His tongue traced her lips searching for entrance; which sure enough she granted. Meghan couldn't believe how good a kisser he was. Good enough to make her legs go like jelly and to almost stop her heart.
Scott slowly pulled away, leaning his forehead on hers. "Wow," He breathed.
"Yeah," Meghan smiled.
Scott placed another almost chaste kiss on Meghan's lips. "So I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow." She agreed.
Scott gave her a final hug. Meghan turned and walked towards the buildings door. She turned and watched Scott drive away. Her stomach was full of butterflies and her head was still reeling from that kiss. She shook her head, trying to clear it so she could think straight. She looked at her watch; it was almost twenty to ten; she had to run if she was to make it look like she'd been home for ages before her parents came home.
Meghan closed the door behind her. She walked almost three steps before hearing an angry voice greet her.
"Where the hell have you been?" Spencer asked.
Shit. Meghan thought. "Um, I thought you'd still be at work." She looked at Emily, standing behind Spencer.
"That didn't answer my question." Spencer replied.
"I was out." Meghan said evasively.
"Well clearly you were out." Spencer retorted.
"I'm really sorry I'm late home, but I went to the movies and then I had food out and I lost track of time." Meghan half lied.
"Meghan, you do understand there is a killer out there." Spencer replied patronizingly.
"Yeah, I'm reminded of it like every day." Meghan replied.
"We were just worried about you Meg, but you're home now and you're safe. So let's leave it there okay?" Emily interjected looking pointedly at Spencer.
"Go to your room." Spencer told Meghan.
"I'm really really sorry." Meghan said apologetically.
"I said go to your room." Spencer snapped.
Meghan scurried past Emily and Spencer, closing her door behind her.
Spencer turned to walk back to the living room, but instead met a pissed off looking Emily.
"What?" He said.
"I'm just baffled." Emily replied.
"Why?" Spencer asked using the same tone he had just used on Meghan.
"You wander why she doesn't talk to you and why she sometimes acts out." Emily answered.
"What do you mean?"
"You didn't give her chance to explain herself." Emily said.
"She was in the wrong."
"I think you were in the wrong as well." Emily replied, walking away from him.
"How was I in the wrong?" Spencer called.
"She idolises you. But you are so quick to judge her." Emily observed.
"What's your point?" Spencer asked.
"My point?" Emily asked angrily, "My point is that you are beyond unreasonable sometimes, you treat her like a kid."
"She is a child." Spencer argued.
"No, she isn't. She may still be sixteen but she is hardly a child."
"She is. She's reckless and irresponsible sometimes."
"That's because the rest of the time she's trying to be perfect for you. You have to expect her to crack sometimes." Emily tried to reason.
"Henry doesn't. Jack doesn't, the only one that acts out is Meghan."
"That's because they get enough attention off their parents." Emily shouted, instantly regretting her choice of words as she saw the look on Spencer's face.
"You're saying I don't give her any attention?" Spencer asked bitterly.
"No, I'm just saying that the whole time I have been back I've not seen you make the effort to try and talk to Meghan about what's going on in her life."
"So you're saying I don't care about her?"
"No…"
"Because you can't say you care about her either. Hell, you abandoned her for the first fifteen years of her life." Spencer shouted.
Emily blinked back the tears stinging in her eyes. "That was a really cheap shot; you know exactly why I had to leave."
"Yeah, you had to keep us safe. But you know if you never slept with the guy to start with, we'd have never been in this situation." Spencer spat.
Emily felt like he'd just slapped her. "It was my job."
"No, your job was to get the profile. You crossed the line and became like a hired hooker." Spencer shouted.
Emily took a shuddery breath. "That's what you really think?"
Spencer looked at the floor and then at Emily. "Just forget it." He said quietly.
Emily looked at him and for the first time since she had known him; she hated him. She really hated him. "I'll never forgive you for what you just said."
Spencer just held his arms out to her, like he really didn't care what she had to say.
Emily walked past him, into the guest room; slamming the door behind her.
Spencer just stared at the door, contemplating whether or not to go in. He decided against it and walked into his room, closing the door behind him.
XXX
The shouting seemed to have died down; Meghan looked up from the ball she was huddled up in. As a kid Meghan never had the situation where she had to listen to her parents argue. And after just listening to that, she thanked god that she never had to as a child. She couldn't get over the intensity of it, the hurtful things her dad had said to Emily and the things Emily said to her dad. She felt like her heart was going to burst. She could feel tears in her eyes, feeling that that whole argument was entirely her fault. She got up off her bed and walked out of her room.
She knocked lightly on the door and walked in, she couldn't help the sense of guilt in her chest as she saw Emily sat in the middle of the bed, sat with her head resting on her legs. Emily looked up at Meghan; wiping her eyes as she did so.
"A-are you okay?" Meghan stammered, knowing it was a stupid question.
Emily took a deep breath, "I'm fine."
Meghan took a step further into the room, closing the door behind her. "I'm really sorry." She apologised.
"For what?" Emily asked.
"For being late and making you and dad argue." Meghan explained.
Emily shook her head, "That wasn't your fault."
"Yes it was; I should have been back in before the curfew." Meghan disagreed.
"Don't worry about it." Emily replied.
Meghan nodded. She looked like she was going to say something else before Emily asked, "Why aren't you in there with your dad?"
Meghan thought for a moment. "He doesn't need any moral support."
Emily let out a small teary laugh, "I guess I should feel like I'm getting somewhere."
Meghan moved and sat on the edge of the bed. "He didn't mean what he said you know."
"Yes, he did." Emily muttered.
"No he didn't." Meghan disagreed.
"It was in his eyes, he meant every word he said." Emily countered.
Meghan thought for a minute, "I don't know if it's any consolation but I disagree with him completely."
Emily looked up at Meghan. "About what?"
"With what he said about you, I think you were really brave… to walk away from all of us to protect us. I can't imagine how hard that must have been on you." Meghan explained.
Emily smiled a small smile.
"And about what he said about you being a hired hooker. That was way out of order. You did what you thought was best to get the job done. I can't imagine it was easy." Meghan continued.
"Thanks, but I think it's pretty clear your father disagrees." Emily said bitterly.
"He's just being an asshole." Meghan said. "I just ignore him, when he's in one of these moods. He snaps out of it and apologises soon enough."
"Somehow I don't think it will be that simple." Emily doubted.
"Regardless of everything he said, I know he loves you more than anything else. I mean the guy went fifteen years without getting a girlfriend after losing you; he took you back when you came back. If that's not love I don't know what is." Meghan explained.
Emily just looked at Meghan, "I think your forgetting something."
"What?" Meghan asked, amazed Emily found a flaw in her argument.
"I think he loves you more than anything else in the world."
Meghan rolled her eyes, "Yeah but I don't count."
"Why?" Emily asked.
"Because he's my dad, so he has to love me, other Aunt Penelope would have adopted me."
Emily laughed at that.
"Look I know I probably don't say this enough, but I'm glad you came back and I'm proud of what you did to keep us safe and I love you."
Emily shifted over to Meghan and gave her a tight hug, kissing the top of her head. "I love you too."
Meghan moved away, "If I were you, I'd give dad some space tonight. Let me talk to him and I promise you he'll be back worshipping the ground you walk on in no time at all."
Emily smiled, "You don't have too."
"Yes I do, you're my mom and I don't want you and dad to get a divorce, especially after just having you back in our lives." Meghan explained, she got off the bed and walked to the door.
"Meg?" Emily said, before she had chance to leave.
"Yeah?" Meghan replied.
"Where were you tonight?"
"Oh, I was on a date." Meghan smiled.
Emily smiled, "with Scott?"
"Yeah, how did you know?"
"Mothers instinct."
Meghan stared at her weirdly. "Right, well good night."
"Night."
Uh oh not a fight! What do you think of the fight? What about Meghan going to see Emily? Did you guys think she'd do that? Anymore thoughts? Please review and I'll see you all next week.