AN: Hey! I'm so sorry this took so long, I was on vacation and although I brought my lap top, there were no outlets that suited my charger! Oh, the struggles of a writer lol. Anyway, I hope you enjoy chapter 47!
Chapter 47
"Well, looks like you've recovered fast" Spencer laughed as rehearsed fouette after fouette en pointe in the living room which I shifted furniture around so I didn't hit into any objects. I had been terribly sick all through the holidays, making for a pretty bogus winter vacation.
"Swan Lake auditions are in two weeks, and if I want the role of the Swan Queen I need to be able to do 28 fouette's non-stop" I informed Spencer with the little breath I had left, still in full spinning motion. I kept losing my balance anywhere from my eighteenth to twenty fifth turn, my frustration rising each time I failed.
"Damnit" I muttered as I stumbled out of the turn and nearly toppling over. I heard a concealed giggle from Spencer's end, earning a glare from me.
"I'd like to see you try spinning on your toes covered by blisters and callus''" I retorted, catching my breath. Spencer sipped his coffee, covering up a smirk.
I decided to stretch further, thinking that maybe I wasn't extending my leg enough. I grabbed onto the leather recliner and stretched my left leg up to my ear, forming a ninety degree angle.
"Spenc, do me a favor and push my leg a bit would you?" I requested, and Spencer reluctantly pressed on my leg, creating a new eighty six degree angle. I felt my muscles strain, then slowly loosen.
"Thanks, I think that should do it" I said, unfolding my body. I continued rehearsing, and low and behold, I finally hit twenty eight full fouette's and sticking an ending pose.
"Christ, finally!" I cheered, dropping onto my backside out of exhaustion. Spencer gave me a small round of applause, probably glad he didn't need to hear the clacking of my pointe shoes against the hard wood floor any longer.
"When are these auditions again?" Spencer asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Exactly two weeks, fifteen hours, and thirty three minutes" I replied, looking at my watch then taking a large swig of water. I all of a sudden felt light headed, and the room began to spin. Already on the ground, I leaned my head back against the wall and closed my eyes, taking three solid deep breaths. Spencer couldn't see me form where he was sitting, so the problem was all my own.
I waited until spell subsided, then slowly stood u and made my way to the kitchen. I felt woozy once again, and quickly grabbed an apple from the bowl in front of me. Although psychologically eating the fruit was torture, it swept away my physical side effects.
I quietly made my way to my bedroom, changing out of my tights and leotard and into sweats and a new knit sweater I received from Emily as a Christmas gift a week and a half prior. It was a black knit with tiny pink ballet slippers scattered across the material. It was a naturally loose fit, which made me love it even more. I was given a variety of Christmas gifts, actually. Sweaters from Emily, Dance wear from JJ, antique books from Rossi and Hotch, a box set of the television show Friends from Derek, and a journal from Garcia along with new computer software. I was surprised they got me presents, I wasn't expecting them to, and I felt badly that I didn't return the favor. They insisted it was 'ay okay', but guilt still lingered lightly in my head.
Spencer's gift was one that I really wasn't expecting. He had purchased me a rather gorgeous necklace. It had a round tanzanite stone surrounded by a ring of tiny little diamonds, the pendent residing on a simple silver chain. When I initially opened it, it brought tears to my eyes, which I quickly wiped away. I could tell by the looks of it that it was expensive, making its sentimental worth go up in my book. I promised myself I would wear it at all times, partly because of its beauty and partly as a reminder that contrary to popular belief, I did have something good in my very screwy life.
But, although I did have that constant reminder, I found out that it did not have the power to chase away the demons that plagued me.
As I was changing, I heard a collection of voices on the other side of my door. Curious, I stepped out and into the hallway and journeyed into the living room where I found the team, minus JJ and Hotch.
"Hey Mini-Reid, what's shakin'?" Derek smiled and initiated a first bump.
"Glad to see you like the sweater" Emily grinned, not leaving her place on the sofa.
"And it looks adorable if I may add!" Garcia gushed, looking me up and down then pulling me into a hug.
"I hope you've been pacing yourself with those books" Rossi greeted, motioning to the stack of antiques he and Hotch had given me.
"I'm trying, thank you again by the way" I replied. It was then that I realized I was fairly gross looking. Hair falling out of a pony tail, baggy pants, no makeup, and sweaty skin.
"Oh, i-if I knew you guys were coming over I would h-have cleaned up a bit" I declared, directing my vision to the ground and letting out a nervous chuckle.
"Oh please, I've never seen someone make natural look so stunning" Garcia pinched my cheeks, earning a small laugh from the rest of the room.
"Alright pretty boy, where do you want this hung up?" Derek asked Spencer, pointing to the framed "The Face of War" by Salvador Dali that I had hunted down and given to him for the holidays. Spencer walked over to him and they began discussing its position, while Emily, Garcia and I ventured into the kitchen to gather a few snacks to lay out for everyone. They searched for bowls to empty chips and such into as I made a pitcher of iced tea and grabbed a few glasses.
Derek started pounding a nail into the living room wall with a hammer, generating a loud banging noise and making me flinch each time. Loud noises made my anxiety spike, and forced memories I thought I had forgotten to the front of my brain. Bad ones, at that.
I stirred the powered mix into the recommended amount of water, hoping to distract myself from the scene in my head.
"Oh!" Garcia piped up, and I turned around swiftly to see a glass cup plummeting to the ground. Not seconds later, it crashed to the ground and shattered, producing an ear piercing bash.
My muscles tensed with the combination of the two sounds, and I held my breath. Almost immediately, an unpleasant flash back washed over me.
I was sitting in my bedroom, minding my own business at the ripe age of twelve. Suddenly, my uncle Chris kicked in the door with his muddy boots and stood in the doorway, drunk yet again with a near empty bottle in his hand.
"You, come" he slurred, sluggishly pointing at me. I shook my head and pressed myself against the wall beside my bed. He abruptly swung his fist to the left, smashing the bottle against the door frame, shards flying in every which direction. He charged in my direction with a low grunt, taking my neck into his hold and raising my frail body up, crushing my windpipe and cutting off my air. He squeezed harder and harder, and just before I passed out, he let go. I coughed and coughed, thinking it was over.
But no.
He flipped me over onto my stomach and stuck his hand up my night gown, yanking my hair back and bringing his lips to my ear.
"This is what you get" He whispered, his smarmy voice making my skin crawl. Just as the worst was yet to come-
I dropped to the ground and pushed myself behind the kitchen table, blockading myself with the legs of a chair. I curled up and cupped my hands over my ears, shutting my eyes and tight as possible and shoving my face into my knees.
"NO! NO NO NO NO PLEASE DON'T!" I shouted to the memory version of my uncle in my mind.
"STOP IT! PLEASE!" I pleaded and pleaded. I felt a hand touch my foot, and I instantly drew back.
"Don't touch me! Please just don't!" I whimpered, lifting my head up hastily and opening my eyes a bit, tears pouring out.
"Jenna, Jenna calm down, it's me, Spencer" The figure had a name, and it was Spencer. I was not in the clutches of my uncle, but in the corner of my own apartment surrounded by five FBI agents.
"Jenna, you're safe" Spencer added. My heart was pounding so hard it actually hurt, and my staggered breathing only aided my panic. My focus darted around the room, my shaky hands attempting to wipe away my damp cheeks.
"Jenna, you can come out, no one's going to hurt you" Spencer said softly, searching for eye contact. His voice calmed me slightly, but not nearly enough for my liking. I slowly shuffled through the legs of the chairs, Spencer making sure not to lay his hands on me. Still in a sitting position, and still crying steadily, I stopped in the middle of the floor.
"See, that wasn't so hard was it?" Spencer said, trying to ease my fright. The four other agents all made a brisk movement at once, the noise frightening me and causing me to rocket myself into the corner between the refrigerator and the wall. My eyes widened and I began to cry more heavily.
"Please, just leave me alone" I sobbed, eyes shut once again. I could sense the team exit the room quietly.
"Just leave me alone" I murmured wearily as I felt my body become heavy. I stayed there for what seemed like hours, and my tried mind and body eventually drifted into a deep, deep sleep.