Hey guys, I'm so so sorry for not updating sooner. I've been away this weekend and I had no wi-fi, so couldn't update this chapter. I've got a lot planned for this story, so I really really hope you enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 33: the beginning
The next morning I woke up stiff again. After yesterday's ordeal, I fell asleep pretty early. I slowly got up out of bed and hobbled to my bathroom. Deciding to freshen up, I ran myself a bath. I wasn't really a bath sort of person, however I knew that I would struggle to stand in the shower. While I was waiting for the bath to fill up, I went into the living room to see dad. He was sitting in his usual spot whilst reading the paper.
"Morning Stella." Dad smiled.
"Morning dad." I said, sitting on the sofa.
"How are you feeling?" He asked.
"Everything aches." I replied.
"I know, but it should start to heel up soon." Dad said reassuringly.
"I thought Rossi and Derek were going to come round today?" I asked, confused. Rossi and Derek were going to have a Harry Potter marathon with us.
"They got called on a case." Dad replied causally.
"Why didn't you go. I can look after myself." I said feeling bad.
"I just wanted to keep an eye on you. Besides, they're still keeping me in the loop. If they really need me to help, I'll go in, it's only a local case." Dad said. This made me feel a bit better.
"Yeah, please don't feel like you have to stay behind because of me." I told him. I was about to ask him what we should do, when his phone rang.
"Sorry, it's the team." Dad said picking up. He answered the phone and put it on loudspeaker.
"Reid, thank god you answered. It's the case. You know the police department were getting taunts, the unsubs evolved. We've just got a call from an old lady saying that a bombs been strapped to her. The unsub, who calls himself Moriarty, left an unsolved case and said only you can solve it. He's given us an hour, or the bomb will go off." JJ said .
"Okay, what's the case?" Dad asked seriously.
"He said its an easy one, a family of three found dead in their house in Nevada. He said that's all you were going to get." JJ informed dad. Dads face instantly fell and I could tell something wasn't right.
"Isaac Emerson." Dad sighed.
"What?" JJ asked confused.
"It was Isaac Emerson." Dad said again.
"Okay, I'll get Garcia to ring the number back." JJ said quickly before she hung up. I just sat there, looking amazed and confused at dad.
"What was that about?" I asked.
"Long story." Dad breathed, he was completely shocked.
"Care to elaborate?" I asked gently. Dad didn't even seem to acknowledge me, he just sat there in a trance. It wasn't until his phone rang again, that he snapped out of it.
"Reid, it's Hotch. The bombs been disabled, SWAT are on the way to the victim. Now tell us why you knew the answer to that case.?" Hotch said sternly.
"I um, I." Dad stumbled. "It happened when I was ten. I was walking home from the library one night, when I saw my school janitor, , walk hastily out of this house. He looked in a rush, so at the time I didn't think anything of it. The next day though, I was watching the news when I saw that the family who lived in that house had been murdered. I told the police what I saw, but they thought I was delusional like my mother and Emerson had disappeared anyway. Hotch, whoever our unsub is, knows me and is after me." Dad said shaking.
"Both of you come to the BAU if you can. We'll get people to constantly guard your house." Hotch stated.
"Thanks Hotch." Dad said, before he hung up.
"Right Stella, go get dressed. We're going to have to go to the BAU." Dad said sternly. For some reason he was a lot more composed. I did what he said and hobbled down the corridor. It was only then, that I remembered I left the bath running. Cursing to myself, I went in the bathroom and let out the nearly over flown bath. Deciding that I did need a wash of some kind, I ran the tap and washed my body with my flannel. I made it a quick affair, because within a few minutes I was in my bedroom. Not really caring what I looked like, I pulled on a pair of grey sweatpants, a loose white t shirt and my converses and hoodie. I was so stiff that I just wanted to wear comfortable clothes. I shoved my hair up in a bun and got a bag ready. I knew that dad was probably preoccupied, so I filled up one of my duffle bags full of painkillers. I hobbled back out into the living room, to find dad pacing about.
"I'm ready." I announced, trying to snap him out of the trance he was in.
"Let's go." He said, snapping up. He grabbed his satchel and his keys, before he left the apartment. Police were already waiting outside and along the corridors as we made our way to the car.
The whole journey to the BAU was in an uncomfortable silence. It didn't help that I was heavily aching. By the time we finally pulled up to the BAU, I was relieved. Dad helped me out of the car, and we made our way to the entrance. We made our way hastily through security and to the elevator. I could tell that dads mind was racing at million miles an hour, as he was in a deep thinking trance. I had to nudge him slightly when we reached our floor. Dad looked up and practically ran out of the doors. I followed him at a slower pace.
"Reid." The team called out when they saw him.
"I've been thinking non-stop, about who could of known Isaac Emerson. I can't think of anyone. I don't know who's doing this." Dad admitted defeated.
"Well that doesn't mean we're going to stop trying." Hotch stated.
"I know. What do we have on the unsub?" Dad asked.
"Nothing." Derek sighed.
"What do you mean nothing?" Dad asked shocked.
"The last victim, Mary Chapman, said that she can't remember the bombers face, in fact she can't remember anything. Toxicology reports showed she was drugged." Emily sighed.
"So what do we have to go on?" Dad asked desperate.
"Nothing so far." Rossi sighed. No one had even noticed I was in the room. I was half tempted to leave, so they could have some privacy. That was until JJ came storming in.
"We've got another victim." She cried.