As always I do not own the rights to Criminal Minds, CBS, ABC and their affiliates. This is a fictional story for entertainment purposes only. All Original Fictional Characters are of my imagination and any resemblance to living or deceased individuals is purely coincidental. Do not use any or all parts of this story without prior permission from the writer.
Buried Beneath Still Waters
Chapter 19
Morgan followed along with Emily and Hotch they were walking along slowly scanning the area carefully. He wanted to know what was going on between Reid, Miller and Prentiss. He remained quiet out of respect.
Emily stepped carefully over the uneven ground. Her mind was so caught up in the tension between her and Ryan Miller that she failed to notice the beer can. She stepped on it throwing off her stance. She tumbled forward hitting the ground hard. Hotch was at her side quickly.
"Are you ok?"
"Yes I'm fine." The leg of her slacks was torn and she could feel a warm trickle running down her leg. She ignored the small amount of blood focusing instead on what she tripped on. She reached for the can it was spilling into the ground and when Emily picked it up she was shocked to find it was cold. "Hotch this is fresh, someone was just here." Emily stood she left out a whimper when she put pressure on her ankle.
"You're not ok."
Emily sat back in the dirt while Hotch pulled off her shoe and sock. She groaned when he touched her rapidly swelling ankle.
"Does it hurt when I touch here?"
"Ow! Hotch no disrespect but stop touching it or I'm going to be forced into hurting you."
He laughed. "Wiggle your toes." After a couple of seconds he asked, "Well are you going to do it?"
"I did!"
"Emily, I think you broke it."
"I did not look I can wiggle my toes." She sighed when nothing happened. "I could have sworn they moved.
Morgan was squatting next to her on the opposite side of Hotch. Something caught his eye and he squinted looking out into the darkness. Suddenly Morgan jumped to his feet sprinting across the rocky terrain. Hotch and Emily pulled their guns. Hotch followed Morgan catching up just as Morgan tackled someone dressed in black.
"Don't move!" Morgan ordered as Hotch pointed the gun at the suspect. Morgan slapped the handcuffs on the man.
"Are you armed?" Morgan barked.
"No…no…I'm not!" came the nervous reply.
"Why'd you run? Huh why?"
Morgan rolled the man over and Hotch shined the flashlight into the man's face.
Billy Rapp Jr. looked up at Hotch. "I didn't do nothin. Honest I didn't!"
"If you didn't do anything then why did you run?" Morgan snide comments were inches from Billy's ear, his breath hot on his face.
Billy leaned away from Morgan only causing Morgan to pull the cuffs tighter.
"I…I got to go home. My…dad….he don't like me to be away long…"
"The only place you're going is Jail!"
Emily's sat on the ground holding her gun. She felt ridiculous and she needed to know what was going on. Her phone vibrated on her hip startling her.
"Prentiss." She whispered into the phone.
"Emily, its JJ. Why isn't Hotch answering? And why are you whispering?"
"They are chasing someone. I fell and sprained my ankle."
JJ hung up and told Reid and Ryan. The hurried off to the spot Emily was sitting. When they go there Morgan and Hotch were there. Ryan was shocked to see Morgan was holding Billy.
Billy was struggling and when he saw Ryan he went ballistic. Morgan had to wrestle him to the ground again.
"Stop fighting!" Morgan screamed.
When they got him under control again Morgan and Ryan lifted him to his feet.
"I don't want to go to jail again. Please Officer Miller I didn't do anything!"
"Reid, help me carry Prentiss back to the cabin." Hotch was squatting next to Emily again as JJ talked to him about the drag marks they saw.
Emily put her arm around Reid's shoulder as Hotch helped her to her feet.
"Ow, careful."
"Don't put any weight on it." Reid said to Emily.
Agent Miller get on the phone and call your station tell them we need a team out here immediately.
Ryan looked back at Hotch as Billy started to struggle again. Hotch let go of Emily to help Morgan as Billy went limp refusing to move any further. Emily stepped down on her foot sending a shock wave through her ankle. She fell into Reid and he scooped her up before she would hit the ground. Ryan felt like her heart was being ripped out of her chest when she saw Reid holding Emily.
A/N Special thanks to CSK for helping me with the forensic aspects of the case. Without you Crime Scene Kelly my case would be a bunch of fabricated foolishness. From the bottom of my heart a very big thank you for your time and effort!
Thanks to all of you who are out there proof reading, giving me suggestions and helpful hints. And to you the reader for your reviews and your continued support!