Prentiss
I drove home cautiously, looking around at all times to make sure I wasn't being followed and so I'd have time to move if a car happened to come straight at me. When I reached my apartment, I realised how dangerous it was for me to get in my car at the precinct. For all I know, someone could have come into the lot and placed a bomb under it. I tried to shake off the anxiety and I made my way up the stairs of the building to my apartment.
I got my key out but when I reached the door, it was already open ajar. I walked backwards and stood at the end of the hall as I dropped my key back to my bag. I held my gun in one hand and my phone in the other. I dialled Hotch's number and waited for him to pick up. "Prentiss?"
"My apartment is open, broken into."
"Get back out of the building and drive to Rossi's."
"No, I'm going in. I just called so you'd know."
"Prentiss, wait for us. We're in the precinct lot now."
"Can't wait that long. Bye."
"Prentiss—" I hung up before he was able to get further than my name. I turned my phone off and put it in my bag and held my gun up and steady, walking to my door. I pushed it open as silently as possible and saw the mess. I walked in and my heeled boots against the hardwood floors were not as quiet as I would have liked. I walked down the small entry hall and checked in the room to my right. It was a complete mess too. I continued towards the kitchen and the open living and dining area. There was no one on the ground floor, at least. I walked through to the staircase slowly and angled my gun upwards as I walked up them slowly. I went through the top storey, checking my room, the spare room, the bathroom and the small office. There was no one here. I holstered my gun and walked back downstairs. I closed the front door and pulled the table near it to sit in front of it. Considering the locks were broken and the chain wouldn't really hold much, I figured I should block it somehow. I walked around my apartment and locked all of the windows. I looked around for Sergio, hoping he hadn't left through the window or out the door. I found him under my bed, terrified of course. He ran out to me and I carried him back downstairs with me. I repeated what I had done last time Doyle was coming for me. I turned the lights out and I pulled one of the dining chairs to sit looking at the front door. I took my gun back from the holster and held it in my hand, patting Sergio with my other.
A while passed before I heard a knock on the door. I figured it was Hotch or someone else from the team; no one else would knock. I put Sergio down and pushed the table out of the way before pulling the door open. I was met by a masked man. I lifted my gun but he held it upwards towards the roof in my hands and kneed me in the abdomen. He pushed me backwards and walked in, kicking the door closed behind him. It didn't click shut and bounced back open slightly. I struggled against him but he was stronger. I punched and kicked and tried to reach my phone but I was too far away from where it and my bag had dropped when he pushed me into the table it was previously on. He threw me hard against a wall and I tried to dodge his hand as he threw a punch to the side of my face but he still got me.
I managed to push him backwards and I escaped his hands momentarily. I ran to where my gun had dropped to the ground but he grabbed me and dropped me to the ground, the gun just slightly out of reach. He grabbed it and held it to my head. I hit it up and tried to overpower him, pointing it up straighter and just away from my head. I turned my head to the side and I pushed. He was on top of me and I was not strong enough to push him off.
I saw the light turn on and I heard a gunshot. His arms weakened, his body fell limp on mine and I pushed him off me immediately. I took a few seconds to catch my breath back before rolling to my side and sitting up. I coughed a few times and put my hand over the small pain in my abdomen. I snatched my gun from his hand and uncocked it. I looked up at my team. JJ still had her gun aimed on him so I assumed she was who shot him.
"Thanks." I said quietly.
"Yeah, no problem." JJ said, walking over. She checked for a pulse and then pulled the mask up from his face, "He was in one of the files; I recognise the scar."
I pulled the sleeve and glove away from his left wrist to reveal the four-leafed clover. I groaned and pushed my hair back away from my face. Hotch held his hand out to me and I took it. He pulled me up and held my chin gently between his thumb and index finger, turning my head to look at my cheek where I assumed there was a cut by the way it was stinging. I hit his hand away and lifted Sergio up as he meowed and ran to my feet. I kissed between his ears and smiled to myself as he hugged me, his paws on my shoulder and his head rubbing against my neck.
"Your house is a mess." Reid said quietly, walking around the perimeter of the living room.
"It was like this when I got home," I said as I put Sergio down, "I assure you, I do not live like this."
"Why was the light out?" Rossi asked, looking at the smashed few picture frames I had on a table near the staircase and along the wall.
"I turned it out."
"Why?" Garcia asked.
"What's with all the questions?"
"Do you know how he got in?" Morgan asked, ignoring my question. He moved the curtains to look at the window locks and I ran over, pulled him back and closed the curtain again.
"Don't move the curtains! I opened the door and he came in."
"You let him in? Do you know him?" JJ asked.
"No," I shook my head. She gave me a very confused look. "I thought it was Hotch."
"He does not look like Hotch." Reid shook his head.
I rolled my eyes, "I didn't look through the little peep hole thing. He knocked; I assumed that if it was Doyle of one of his minions, they wouldn't have knocked."
"Let me guess. You looked through the apartment to make sure no one was here. You put that table in front of the door, you locked all the windows, turned the light out and sat in this chair to wait for Doyle just like you did last time." Rossi recounted correctly.
"I found Sergio somewhere in there but basically yes."
"Okay, I'll go pack a bag for you." JJ said as she stood from her crouching position and she put the smashed picture frames back up onto the table where they belonged. She walked to the staircase and went upstairs quickly.
"Wait, what?" I turned and followed her, "Why are you packing a bag?"
"You're coming with us," JJ said, "We're all going to Rossi's. Will, Henry and Jack are already on their way there." She walked into my room and lifted my go bag from the floor at the end of my bed. I had brought it home with me yesterday and I forgot to take it in this morning.
"JJ, I don't want—"
"I know. You don't want to come with us. You want to be by yourself and you want us to be together so that they'll come for you and maybe leave us alone. You want to take us out of this whole mess and we appreciate that, but we're not going anywhere, Em. I get it, you want to handle this on your own, it's your problem, right? Well honey, we're in it now and we're not letting you go again. You're coming with us because you'll be safer that way and so will we."
"No you won't."
"An extra gun," She looked at me, "Please don't refuse, Emily. We were trying to keep our distance for a while because we knew that it's what you wanted but then Garcia reminded us of last time and she played us the message she left for you and…" She had to stop to keep herself together, looking away to blink the tears away, "We can't lose you again. Please, let us help you this time."
I look up and shook my head at myself, trying to keep my tears back. I looked at her and took a deep breath, "Okay."
She smiled, "Okay. Thank you." She stepped forwards and hugged me. A few tears escaped my eyes but I wiped them away before she saw them. "Go downstairs and get the things you need for Sergio. Garcia pointed out to us that you wouldn't come if you couldn't bring him so Rossi gave in."
I nodded and turned, walking back downstairs. I stopped at the bottom of the stairs and looked around the living room.
"Prentiss?" Hotch asked. I looked at him but I didn't say anything. I think it was just hitting me that someone came into my apartment and tried to kill me. I would have died tonight if the team hadn't gotten here when they did. If JJ hadn't shot when we she did, he would have shot me.
"Rossi, take her back to your place. Garcia, get JJ and go with them." Hotch said to them. Garcia walked passed me and ran up the stairs quickly. Rossi walked over to me and put his arm around me, pushing my gently to start walking. It was like I was in shock.
I sat silently in Rossi's living room. JJ was close to my side, offering all the comfort she could. Rossi, Will and Garcia sat on the other couches. I knew they were all watching me. Jack and Henry were asleep upstairs; it was pretty late now.
I heard the front door open and close but I didn't turn my head or even lift my eyes to see to them. Morgan filled us in on what they found at my apartment, which was nothing useful. I thought about what I was going to do. I didn't want my team to be in any danger. I needed to get away from them to stop that from happening, but even if I left, I couldn't guarantee their safety.
A few times someone would say my name or ask me something but I was unresponsive. After about an hour of their conversation, silence had filled the room momentarily before I decided to finally speak, "What are you going to do about Jack and Henry?"
"What?" JJ asked.
"Are you going to keep Henry here in this danger or are you going to get him out?"
She sat back, "We have nowhere to send him," She shook her head, "I've kind of lost contact with my mother and Will doesn't have any family that he talks to."
"He can go with Jack," Hotch offered quietly, "I have a safe house in another country and I have someone going with him. Henry can go with them if you want."
JJ looked at her husband and he nodded. She looked back at Hotch and smiled appreciatively, "Thanks Hotch."
"It's only midnight." Garcia said quietly.
"You can go to sleep, baby girl." Morgan said to her.
"Are you kidding? I'm not staying in a room by myself."
He smiled and stood up, pulling her with him, "Alright, come on."
"That's a good idea; we all should get some sleep." Hotch said.
JJ and Will stood up and walked upstairs after I assured JJ that I was okay. Reid and Rossi followed them when Hotch motioned for them to. He looked at me and I avoided his eyes, looking anywhere but him.
"Prentiss, are you sure you're okay?"
I let my eyes fall on him and I nodded, "I'm fine, Hotch."
"Please tell me if you aren't. Whether it's now, tomorrow, in the middle of the night, a week from now. Just let me know."
I nodded, "Okay."
He stood up, "Come on, you need some sleep." I sighed and stood up. I walked beside him and turned the light out as we walked past the switch. When I reached the room where I was told I would be sleeping, between Morgan and Hotch and across from Rossi, Hotch stopped me at the door, "Please don't sleep with the gun actually on you?"
I smiled weakly and rolled my eyes, "Good night."
"Good night." He smiled and walked to the next room.
