Chapter 10

Hi, so I was going to update last week, but I just started watching Castle and have been kinda hooked on it haha, seriously don't know where that's been all my life. I would like to say thanks to everyone who read the last chapter, I promise updates will start to get more regular. I really hope you enjoy the next chapter.

tannerose5 - Thank you for reviewing and the PM, I really loved the idea and am kinda gutted I didn't think of it myself haha. So no it's not what happens but I do hope that you like what will happen. Thanks again for the review.

Lexis4MorganPrentiss - Thank you for the review. I'm really glad you liked their chat, it's so much nicer writing them getting along than arguing. This chapter has a lot of Scott and Meghan, so I hope you enjoy it. Thanks again for the review.

'Teenage Murders Stopped!'

After four months of DC's youth living in terror. Police have now issued a statement saying that they believe the murderer has now 'moved away'. They believe this could be due to another conviction. The police have also handed all information over to the FBI as a way to ensure these horrific crimes are not committed anywhere else. Over the past four months six teenagers from different high schools in the DC area have been found shot dead in parks. During these weeks of terror, youth have been sticking to a tight curfew of 10pm, the police have also said this curfew has been removed. Despite, all the joy and relief of this development; the parents of the murdered teens have been left to question the effectiveness of the police and FBI agents involved in the search for the killer. They argue that there is 'every possibility of the killer targeting more teens as the police have failed to arrest anyone.' Without the arrest of anyone this is the mood of many parents and youth of DC fearing that the killer may have just taken a break. The police have said that while they were grateful for the assistance of the FBI, 'the stop in killings has given this case a lesser status and while the DC police will continue to look for the killer we will also be putting more manpower into more urgent cases.' There is a memorial service taking place on this coming Saturday for the victims of this killer, it is thought that several hundred young people will be in attendance…'

"So they're just giving up?" Meghan asked her father, ignoring the rest of the article.

"We're not giving up, but the police don't want us in on the case and since he's stopped killing it has gone cold." Spencer explained.

Meghan sighed. "So what happens if he kills someone else?"

"Then we'll be back working on it."

"So you have to wait for someone else to die?"

Spencer bit his lip, "sometimes that's all we can do."

"Yeah, well it sucks."

Spencer gave Meghan a small smile. "Tell me about it."

Meghan put the newspaper on the desk and swapped it for her phone. She noticed the lack of a text; usually meaning Scott was out on 'business.' Meghan hated Scott's work, she understood that he had to try and support himself but she hated that he had to put himself in danger to do so. However, every time she tried to say something he would just snap at her. She and Scott had been together for almost four months yet she still got nervous when she saw him. She went out with Scott almost every night after school and gradually she started to tell him more about her life, about Emily, her kidnapping. Now that the curfew had been lifted, they could now spend even more time with each other, starting with the party on Saturday night. Everyone in the school had been invited as a way to celebrate being allowed out again without worrying about being shot to death.

"Dad?" Meghan started.

"What is it?" He asked.

"Well, there's this party on Saturday…"

"No." Spencer interrupted.

Meghan's face dropped. "Please? Everyone in school is going."

"Meghan, I'm still not comfortable with you being out late…"
"Dad, the curfew has been lifted." Meghan interjected, "Please? Scott is taking me."

"That makes me feel even less comfortable." Spencer mumbled.

"What?" Meghan asked.

"Meghan, despite the curfew being lifted; there still is a killer out there." Spencer reasoned.

"Dad, my whole school is going. I won't be on my own at all." Meghan argued.

"Where are you going, I can't imagine any parent willing to hold over a hundred kids in their home." Spencer replied.

Meghan rolled her eyes. "We're going to the beach."

"Absolutely not."

Meghan rolled her eyes. "No one even got shot at a beach; it's not like their going to target a whole group at a beach."

"No, I don't want you to go." Spencer said seriously.

Meghan huffed, "Just because you don't want me to have a life."

"Oh come on Meghan." Spencer sighed.

"What, it's true. You don't let me do anything." Meghan started to raise her voice.

"What's going on in here?" Emily asked walking through the door, cutting Meghan off from shouting at her dad.

"Dad won't let me go to a party on the weekend." Meghan sulked.

Emily nodded her head. "Right," She rested her shopping bags on the serving hatch separating the living room from the kitchen. "Well I'm sure he has a good reason why you can't go." Emily reasoned.

Meghan stood up from her chair. "Yeah, he doesn't want me to have a life." With that she stormed off to her room, slamming the door behind her.

Emily rolled her eyes. "She really goes all out on the teenage tantrum."

Spencer laughed slightly. "Yeah, she loves the dramatics."

Emily sat next to Spencer, snuggling into his frame. "So why won't you let her go?"

Spencer kissed Emily's head. "I think she's still a bit young to see her go out and party all night."

Emily chuckled slightly. "Didn't you go out and party all night when you were her age."

The look on Spencer's face was enough. "So why else don't you want her to go?" She asked.

"That will be the first Saturday night where there hasn't been a curfew. I don't want her out there then." Spencer explained.

"You think he may kill again?" Emily asked.
"It's a nagging suspicion. If something happened and I let her go out I don't know what I'd do." Spencer replied.

Emily thought for a minute. "When I was her age I'd of gone anyway."

"You think she'll sneak out?" Spencer asked.

"I wouldn't put it past her. I think if you set her a time to be home by and said she could go, I don't think she'd get into any trouble."

"You think she'd do as I say?"

"I think she wants you to trust her more." Emily answered.

Reid rubbed his forehead. "I'm sure Henry doesn't give JJ and Will this much trouble."

"I think he gives them different kinds of trouble." Emily smiled, thinking about some of the tales of Henry she had heard off JJ.

"I'll go and talk to her."

Emily kept hold of Spencer's hand. "Don't you think this is something we should tackle together, you know show a united front and all that."

"Okay, Meghan!" Spencer called.

"What?" He could hear her shout back.

"Come here please."
No response, but he could hear her move around her room.

Emily sat up and squeezed Spencer's hand.
"I'm so glad I have you to help me with these kinds of things." Spencer said.

"I'm just glad I got to be here." Emily replied. It was true if she hadn't of hassled JJ into letting her come back, then she could still be sat in a lonely apartment somewhere in Europe waiting for Doyle to kill her. Emily shuddered off that thought.
"What?" Meghan asked, throwing herself onto an armchair.

"Don't use that tone with me." Spencer instructed.

Meghan rolled her eyes and then took a breath. "What?" She replied in a more sarcastic tone.

"Very funny," Spencer said.

"Your dad and I have discussed this party." Emily started.

"Yeah," Meghan said her face lighting up.

"You can go," Spencer told her. "But, I want you back home at eleven."
Meghan's face fell. "Eleven?"

"I'd take it and leave it Meghan." Emily smiled.

"I'm gonna be the loser that leaves early." Meghan moaned.

"Then don't go." Spencer answered back.
Meghan shook her head. "I'd rather be the loser who left early, than who didn't go."

Spencer shook his head.

"Meg, I'd quit while you are ahead." Emily warned her.

"Whatever." She huffed. She waited a minute to compose herself, and then she started smiling. "Thank you for letting me go to the party."
"That's more like it but cut the sarcasm." Spencer replied.

Meghan bounced off her seat. "I'll work on it." She looked at her watch "Well I have to meet Scott, see you later." She chimed.

"Meghan," Spencer said.

"What?" She asked.

"What time will you be back?" He asked.
"I don't know when I am." Meghan shrugged.

"More specific please."

"Around nine." Meghan replied.

"Do you want me to leave you food?" Emily asked.

Meghan looked thoughtful, "Nah, I'll eat when I'm out, thanks. Bye." She waved, walking out the door.

The room was left in silence.

"I despair of her sometimes." Spencer said.

Emily nodded. "She is on her own little planet."

"I can never decide if that's a good thing." Spencer sighed.

XXX

Meghan pulled back from Scott's shower of kisses. She kept her arms around his neck.

"What's wrong?" Scott asked; stroking Meghan's back.

"Nothing," She reassured. "I'm just thinking."

"Want to share?" Scott asked.

"Just about the shootings." Meghan replied.

Scott looked bemused. "Why?"

Meghan shrugged, "I don't know. I just keep thinking about them."
Scott kissed her gently on the lips. "I thought they closed the case."

"They have." Meghan nodded; she looked around Scott's cluttered bedroom. There were posters of bands covering the walls; that were painted a dark purple colour. His double bed took up most of the room, but the floor was cluttered with clothes and Xbox games. "I asked my dad about the party." Meghan changed the subject.

"Yeah, what did he say?"

"At first no, but I think Emily talked him around." Meghan smiled.

Scott lifted Meghan off his lap and leaned over to grab a smoke. "You know, we could skip the party."

Meghan smiled "And what would we do instead?"

Scott took a long inhale on his cigarette. "I'm sure we could think of something."

Meghan raised her eyebrows. "I bet we could." Her expression turned serious, "But I want to go."

"Why?"

"I haven't spoken to Stacey in ages, so I thought I could try and talk to her at the party." Meghan explained.

"You've tried to speak to her in school." Scott pointed out.

"I know. But know I'm trying outside of school." Meghan replied.

"Well your persistency of trying to talk to her has to work at some point." Scott smirked.

Meghan playfully smacked him. "You're an asshole sometimes."

Scott gave her his trademark crooked grin. "Well I do try."

Meghan smiled. "Scott,"

"Yeah."

"Can I have one?"
"Have what?" Scott asked.
Meghan tilted her head towards the cigarettes.

"Oh, you're joining the dark side?" He joked, handing her a cigarette.

Meghan lit it up and took a puff, realising how much she had missed the burn in the back of her throat and the relaxation of it. "I'd hardly call smoking joining the dark side."

Scott raised an eyebrow, "Do you want to raise the stakes?" He pulled out a small packet of Weed.

Meghan's eyes widened at the sight of the drugs he was offering her. "I don't do drugs."

"Okay," Scott put the bag away and stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray by his bed.

"Where's your mom?" Meghan asked.
"She's in the doctors for something." Scott replied.

Meghan stubbed out her cigarette. "Is she alright?"

Scott shrugged. "Probably, she's most likely after more pills."

Meghan looked in shock.

"I'm joking Meg, she's had stomach flu or something." Scott smiled.

"You have a weird sense of humour." Meghan noted.

"You're not the first to tell me."

"I have no doubt I'll be the last." Meghan smiled.

Scott pulled Meghan back towards him. "Why don't we make use of a free house?"

Meghan only needed to smile.

XXX

The night of the party soon arrived and Meghan was getting ready, part of her agreement with her dad and Emily was that they would drive her there; mainly so they knew she wasn't lying about where it was. Meghan had spent hours trying to find something to wear practically giving Emily a mini fashion show with a combination of jeans and tops. Eventually, she decided on a pair of dark blue skinny jeans and an asymmetrical white top with mini skulls on.

Meghan was partly glad of being taken to the party mainly so she could speak to Stacey without Scott being in the way. Meghan had honestly missed her best friend and she had so much to tell her. She never realised how much she had taken Stacey for granted, after all there was only so much Meghan could tell Emily.

Meghan heard a small knock on her door.

"Come in." Meghan said.

"You look lovely," Emily smiled as she walked through the door.

Meghan looked down at her outfit, still not completely convinced by the top she had chosen. "I'm still not sure about the top."

Emily rolled her eyes, "If you take any longer deciding what to wear there'll be no point in you going."

"I know." Meghan agreed, she quickly sprayed herself with some perfume before smiling at Emily. "All done."

Emily laughed, "About time too."

"So who's taking me?" Meghan asked, grabbing her small bag.

"Your dad is still at the office, so it looks like me." Emily replied,

Meghan smiled, "Thank God, I don't have to listen to dad's safety lecture all the way to the beach."

"He still told me to give it to you."

"Could I have the cliff notes version?" Meghan said walking past Emily to grab her shoes.

Emily followed behind her, "Go easy on your dad; he never did the whole party thing when he was your age."

"He still hasn't done the whole party thing." Meghan pointed out.

Emily nodded, Meghan had a point: In his own way Spencer was sociable but that was usually over a museum trip, or a doctor who episode or two. Not at crowded parties, but that was one of the things Emily loved about him. "Exactly, so you should give him a break. He just wants to look out for you."
Meghan turned and stared at Emily. "I still have his pepper spray and the rape alarm."

Emily chuckled. "I know he knows you're perfectly capable of looking after yourself but you're his little girl and he'll always want to look after you."

Meghan nodded. "Okay, so Scott said he'd drive me home to save you and dad."
Emily looked uncomfortable. "I thought you said there'll be drink."

"There is, but Scott doesn't drink so he'll be fine to take me home." Meghan smiled a minute, "You could breathalyse him when he drops me home if you want."

"I'll take your word for it. I'll ask your dad and send you a text." Emily suggested.

"So it's probably a no." Meghan concluded.

"Let me talk to him." Emily said. "You'll be even later if you don't hurry up."

XXX

Groups of teens sat on logs around a bonfire; the only source of light for the massive group of teenagers. There was music pumping out of speakers, couples were kissing, kids laughing with their friends. The mood was one of relief; they no longer had to worry about their friends or themselves getting shot at.

Meghan walked along the sand searching for Stacey. With the limited lighting it was harder than Meghan had anticipated. Still, she had to look. She took a swig of her beer, scanning the group for Stacey. Emily had made her promise not to get too drunk, have a nice time but don't be stupid. Meghan was amazed at how relaxed Emily was regarding rules, she guessed it was because Emily's mom had stopped her doing them and Emily went behind her back and took it to the extreme, Meghan imagined that by Emily letting her go out she would be less likely to go to extremes. During her thought she spotted Stacey and slowly she made her way over.

"Stacey," Meghan said tapping Stacey's shoulder.

Stacey turned around and rolled her eyes. "What?"

Meghan ignored Stacey's biting tone. "I'm really sorry about what I said."

Stacey sized Meghan up for a minute. "My aunts boyfriend put her in hospital."
Meghan looked at Stacey with sympathy. "You should have called."

"I wouldn't want to inflict my drama on you." Stacey practically spat out the word drama.

"Stace, I'm so sorry." Meghan apologised again.

Stacey sighed, "I don't even care Meghan, just go off with Scott and don't listen to anyone. But don't come crying to me when something goes wrong." With that she turned back around and walked off.

Meghan stood there for a moment. Watching years of friendship walk away. She sat down in the sand and put her head in her hands. She jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see Scott hovering over her; he passed her another drink which Meghan gratefully accepted.

"Have you seen Stacey?" Scott asked, putting an arm around Meghan. She leaned into Scott's frame.

"Yup," She sighed.

"How'd it go?"

"Not as well as I'd imagined." Meghan replied sadly.

Scott kissed her head. "You said sorry babe that's the best you can do."

"I know; I just feel like crap." Meghan admitted.
"You shouldn't." Scott replied. "Just forget about it tonight, have a good time."

Meghan nodded; she took another sip of her drink. "What is this?" She asked not recognising the taste.
"It's a cider, better start you off slow." He smirked. "Don't want you throwing up in my car."

"Nice." Meghan laughed.

He pulled a cigarette out of his coat pocket. "Want one?" He offered her the one he just pulled out.

Meghan took it off him, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks," She lit it up and took a deep inhale. She could literally feel herself relax; she wandered why she ever stopped.

"So do you know if I can take you home tonight?"

"Emily will text me," Meghan told him.

"Meg relax, don't let Stacey ruin your night. She'll want to talk to you eventually."

Meghan took another slow sip from her drink. "Her aunts boyfriend put her aunt in hospital."

"So?" Scott replied.

"Stacey told me about him ages ago. I was going to say something to my dad but I forgot. I can't help feel that it's my fault." Meghan explained sadly.

"It's not." Scott insisted. "What goes on in Stacey's life has nothing to do with you at all, so why worry?"

"Because she's my friend."

"Yeah and she's been a great one of those recently." Scott sarcastically remarked.

Meghan sighed. "I guess," She stumped out her cigarette on the sand. She looked over and smiled at Scott. "So Emily told me I have to be back at eleven."
"Wow, a whole three hours." Scott laughed.

"Yeah, must have been feeling generous." She remarked.

"How about I drop you off closer to half past twelve?"

"I don't know how we pull that one off." Meghan pointed out.
"Simple," Scott smirked. "You didn't get a text off Emily and so you went looking for her at eleven, you couldn't find her so I dropped you off."

"I don't think it will go down very well but whatever," Meghan smiled.

The party passed in a whirl of colours. After her third drink Meghan could feel herself getting tipsy. But she didn't care the whole point of the night was forgetting about the horror of the past few months. Everything was feeling somewhat disconnected as she stumbled across the beach looking for Scott. He had disappeared from her sights and now she could not spot him. She was starting to feel really dizzy and everything was starting to go fuzzy. She tried to concentrate on her feet and where they were going. She felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up and saw Henry holding her up, she tried to shrug him off but instead fell on the cold sand. Henry sat down next to her.

"Are you alright Meg?" Henry asked concern seeping into his voice.

Meghan nodded, "I'm fine," She slurred.

"How much have you had to drink?" Henry asked as he watched Meghan's head loll from side to side.
She shrugged as a smile played at her lips. "Idunno"

Henry turned Meghan to face him, in the dim light he could see that something wasn't right with her, he couldn't put his finger on it but there was something off with her eyes. "Where's Scott?"

Meghan shrugged again, "Went to get something."

Henry rolled his eyes, typical of Scott to leave Meghan in the state she was in. "Come on I'm taking you home." Henry told her, grabbing her limp arm and pulling her up.

Meghan shook her head and tried to release herself from Henry's grasp. "No, no Scott." She rambled.

"He's not here Meg, I'm taking you home." Henry said forcefully.

"No," Meghan moaned.

Henry tried to walk her away from the spot they were in, other kids starting to give the two some attention. "Meghan come on." Henry said.

"What the hell are you doing?" A voice boomed from behind him.

Henry turned to see a thunderous looking Scott, he loosened his grip on Meghan and she stumbled forward to be caught by Scott. "You left her on her own like this." Henry growled.

"I was getting the car." Scott replied sharply.
"Anything could have happened to her." Henry argued.

"Well she's fine." Scott pointed out.
"What have you given her?" Henry demanded.

"What are you talking about?" Scott asked.

"She's in a state, what have you given…"

"You think I spiked her drink? This is her first party, she got carried away. Didn't you Meg?" Scott asked Meghan.

"Boys don't fight." Meghan slurred.

"I'm taking her home." Henry insisted stepping forward to take hold of Meghan.

Scott took a sharp step back. "Get off my girlfriend."

"She's not your property Scott." Henry challenged.

"She's not your responsibility. Now back off." Scott replied. He could feel Meghan shift from under his arm so he tightened his grip on her.

Henry saw a look of sheer anger in Scott's eyes. He raised his hands up in surrender. "Okay, just make sure she gets home safe." Henry backed down.

Scott glared at Henry. "I will." He started to walk past Henry when Henry put a hand on Meghan. "If you need me just call." He said quietly.

Meghan looked into Henry's eyes. "I'm not your responsibility." She said quietly.

Henry looked hurt for a moment, but then he let go of her arm and let her and Scott go.

XXX

Meghan's head couldn't stop spinning. She tried to keep her focus on her what was going on outside the window, but that made her feel worse. Instead she stared at a spot on the dashboard. She looked up to notice that they were driving through what looked like a forest. It took her a moment then she recognised where she was. Memorial Park. That struck her as odd. "Scott where are we?" Meghan asked concentrating on her words.

Scott looked over at her. He stopped the car where he was. The park looked daunting as it was cast in the shadow of Scott's headlights. "I just have to do something. Don't worry baby." Scott assured her, stroking her hair, brushing it away.

Meghan nodded.

"I'll be back in a minute." He smiled as he moved away from her.

Meghan watched through dazed eyes as Scott stood in the light from his car. Soon enough another person joined him. He was tall, but not much taller than Scott. His porcelain skin practically beamed off the headlights. Meghan could see them talk, she watched for a moment and then looked away, the light hurting her eyes. She bent her head down trying to clear it away from the dizziness. She looked back up and her jaw dropped.

"BANG!"

So the question is who got shot? Any other thoughts? Thank you much for reading, please don't forget to review, subscribe and favourite, thanks.