Chapter 16

All I can do is sit here and wait, listening out for news of my friends my family, the fire brigade and EMT's are en-route thankfully, the shock finally leaves as I get out the car, there had been no communication through the mic's and that unsettled me more as I speak again hoping to get some kind of response. I call their names one by one, giving them that chance to response I would even be happy hearing a groan.

But still, no one answers. There is an eerie silence around me as I make my way around the car I listen tentatively to my earpiece on the hope that someone will talk. I want to run in there and help but I know that I am more helpful outside helping to control the crowds that have gathered, I help them to corner the street off but the medics and fire crews have instance assess.

I can hear the sirens now as I walk towards the news crews that have gathered at one side of the street, I greet them and ask if they can move further back just in case there is another explosion, I give no reason why we are there, for now, they just think it was a gas explosion. I think they know the real reason we are here but until I can confirm the true reason.

I am much like all these people right now an onlooker, not able to help aside from clearing a path for the emergency crews, which are just turning into the street. Everything seems to go in slow motion as though time has come to a stop. I feel like an outsider right now as though I should not be on this side of the fence. Though I know this is where I am meant to be.

The smoke is still rising and I can now see the flickering of the flames, I look at it properly for the first time, the front entrance has caved in, the glass is sprawled all over the grass. You can still see the dust escaping the house threw the now open windows and doors. The flames seem only small thankfully, though in truth I am more worried about the smoke. I have seen so many people survive the fire only to succumb to the effects of the smoke.

The medics are standing next to me as we wait patiently for the firemen to clear our way and make it safe, well safer than it is now. They have asked me how many people are inside and I reply with what we know, and in all honesty, all that we know right now is six agents are inside, an unsub, which could be two and a child unless they have already disposed of his small body.

Their eyes soften as I speak, though I know it is for the safety of the child and then the agents, the ringing of my phone makes me jump slightly and I cannot help but wince when I look at the caller id.

"Please tell me what I am watching isn't where you all are meant to be" I can hear the worry and I know I may break her heart as I speak but we are all in too much of a daze right now as we are still listening for any sign of movement.

I close my eyes before I speak. "Garcia, we aren't sure what happened yet" is all I manage.

"Why is Morgan not answering his phone?" Garcia asks me, and I am unable to give her an answer or the answer that I know she needs to hear and in truth, I wish I could lie and in fact lie to us both.

I soften my voice as I speak "Pen, the team was inside when the explosion happened" I hear her gasp as my words ring into her ears,

"Have you tried" I cut her off gently, she is my best friend and I love her but right now my main concern is what is happening right in front of me.

"Garcia, I promise as soon as I know anything I will ring you" she understands what it is I am saying,

"JJ," she whispers to me and I wait for her to speak. "they will be okay"

I can't help but smile as I replied "I know" I am not sure which of us we are trying to convince but it is what she needs to hear, she needs her family to be okay, she needs them to be safe. In addition, I also need to hear it as well.

There is a grim look on the faces as they dampen down the house, clearing the glass away so they have somewhere to lay the bodies as they bring them out. They will not allow anyone near as they bring more out of the house; I cringe internally when a small form is brought out and laid down on the ground.

All I want is someone I know at my side, someone to reassure me that they weren't all dead, that I hadn't just lost the people I care about, the horror fills my mind as I remember the fact that the cameras are filming this, and Garcia will be watching this as though she is here with me.

I feel sick to my stomach so far they have pulled four people from inside the house, with all the dust and smoke it is hard to make anyone out from where I am stood, the medics have already left my side and I am stood here alone, so far I know that one child and three adults have been brought out but that tells me nothing, that doesn't tell me that they are okay and that does not even say it is any part of our team, for now, they are just bodies.

I jump as a hand rests on my shoulder "JJ" the softness in his eyes as he speaks but I can't help but smile at the sight of him, though my thoughts are back to who is in that building.

"How did you?" I ask my eyes looking at him before falling back on the building.

"Peters pushed me back out the door," he says softly. We stand side by side, as we watch the horror unfold before us.

I can see the dirt on his clothes so I also know he got caught by it slightly my eyes look at him and without me saying anything he answers my question "I am okay JJ I promise," he gives me a smile but I can see the worry there inside him.

I want to get closer to them I need to see them, I need to know I have not, and that we have not just lost our family and our team. Three bodies are draped with the black trap that is used for the dead the others are being tended to as more medics have arrived.

I can make out that two people have suffered the worst of the blast as we watch the medic buzz around them quickly as they try to rush them to the waiting ambulance. I hear them say someone has flat-lined my knees go weak as an arm grips my waist holding me up so I do not fall.

The last thing that goes through our minds and we both whisper it out at the same time "Please god, don't let them die"