Chapter 21

Leila had always been an athletic girl. Even from a young age, there was never a day where she had spent it all in bed or on a couch. She had played several organized sports in her lifetime and now, as a Division 1 athlete, she was in the best shape of her life. However, after losing a rather large quantity of blood and spending God knows how many days in a basement, Leila found herself panting for breath as she and Robyn sped past countless trees and streams. There was only thing that kept her going and it wasn't anything sentimental like seeing her family again or even getting the answers she knew she deserved. It was fear. Pure, unadulterated fear caused both women to run as fast they could, pulling each other along, as branches and bushes cut at their exposed skin. They didn't know how long they were running for or even which direction they were headed. All they knew was that they had to get away. All suppressed feelings of anxiety and fear were finally expelled as they put all their energy into getting as far away from Jeremy Parilla as possible before their legs gave out. Leila could hear Robyn panting heavily half a step behind her. She knew that the blonde wasn't going to be able to run all night. On that note, she doubted she would be able to either. Her shoulder was still bleeding slightly and she could feel the affects of the blood loss rapidly catching up to her. She scanned the woods quickly, searching for a somewhat adequate spot to stop and rest. Making a sharp left and yanking the blonde with her, Leila led them to a toppled tree. Underneath the tree, there was a small, hidden area where they could catch their breaths. The two practically fell into it, trying hard to regain control of their breathing as their chests heaved and beads of sweat dripped down their foreheads.

"Think he's still alive?" Robyn asked cautiously as she panted. Leila nodded immediately.

"It's going to take more than a bottle to the head to bring that son of a bitch down." The brunette puffed.

"I'm sorry, I know I should've-"

"No, no," Leila shook her head quickly, "that's not what I meant. You did what you had to and we got out. That's all that matters."

"But he'll come after us, right?" the fear in Robyn's voice was unmistakable and Leila found that the thought caused her own heart to skip several beats. She nodded slowly.

"Yea, he will." She admitted. "But we're going to keep going and soon enough, we'll reach a road. Once we do, we'll flag down the first car we see and be long gone before he finds us." The confidence in her voice wasn't entirely fake. Leila strongly believed that they could make it. The only thing that worried her was Parilla's unwavering dedication. He wanted nothing more than to get JJ back and he knew that the only way he'd be able to was if he had Leila. The girl swallowed hard at the thought. She knew that her sister would be more than willing to trade herself. She also knew exactly what Parilla would do to her. She had seen it. Casting a glance at the battered blonde on her right, Leila, once again, felt a pang of pity for her. Sure, Parilla had hurt her too, but it was different. Leila took in Robyn's blank stare as her breathing began to even out. She wondered what the older woman was thinking.

"Should we keep moving?" Robyn's suggestion brought the girl out of her own thoughts and back to the situation at hand. Leila nodded before retaking the woman's hand in hers and standing up. The sun had set and darkness was quickly enveloping the wooded area. Leila wanted nothing more than to get further away but she knew that, even if they could run all night, it wouldn't be safe. They'd sooner break a leg in the dark than make it to a road.

"We have to stop when we can't see." Leila explained. "Last thing we need is for one of us to break an ankle." She saw Robyn nod and the two continued their trek into the unknown wood.

Not too long after, it had grown far too dark to see. The women had agreed to stop besides a small stream, making their "camp" under a large, wilting tree. The tree's large trunk and heavy branches provided much needed shelter from the harsh wind that had begun to pick up the moment the sun had set. Aside from that, they had no cover. Leila pulled the sandwich she had grabbed, thankful that she had thought of it on their way out, and ripped it in half. Offering the slightly larger half to the blonde, she received only a glare in response.

"You're still bleeding." Robyn pointed out, refusing to accept her half. "Eat and let me see." Leila didn't have the energy to argue. She placed Robyn's new half on her lap while she munched silently on hers, feeling the older woman unwrapping the bandage she had applied hours ago. As the blonde removed the last of it, Leila let out a groan. Robyn winced as she forcefully peeled the blood soaked bandage from the teen's shoulder. She quickly gathered the dirty bandages and began washing them in the stream. Leila risked a glance at the wound and frowned. It had turned to an angry red, the area surrounding it throbbing as she forced the last of the sandwich down her throat.

"I think it's infected." Leila said quietly, the dull sounds of the woods unnerving her. Robyn returned to her side with somewhat cleaner bandages and began prodding around the wound. Leila hissed in pain as the blonde neared the entry site and she did not fail to notice the older woman's concerned expression. Robyn wordlessly began rewrapping the wet cloth around Leila's shoulder. The cold water felt surprisingly good against the irritated and hot wound.

"You're going to be ok." Robyn informed her before taking the remainder of the sandwich and finishing it in three bites. She plopped down next to Leila and huddled close. The temperature was dropping drastically and even if they had the means, a fire was out of the question. Leila couldn't help herself. She dropped her heavy head onto Robyn's shoulder. She felt the woman stiffen at the contact but it didn't last long. In seconds, the two fell into a fitful, deep sleep, praying that when they awoke, it would be light enough to continue their escape.

Robyn was startled awake for the fifth time that night. The slightest sound had the blonde jumping out of her skin, almost jarring Leila awake as well. She let out a trembling breath, running her fingers through dirty hair before she began to massage her temples. She could see the sun beginning to make its way east.

"Leila." She turned to the sleeping teen and gently squeezed her uninjured shoulder. "It's time to get up." The girl refused to stir and while Robyn could understand the urge to stay asleep, they had to get going. It was a miracle Parilla hadn't found them already. Lingering any longer was a risk they didn't need to take. Robyn frowned as the smaller woman remained unconscious. Her anxiety began to creep to the surface as she remembered the girl's slightly infected wound. Robyn rose to her knees in front of her and began shaking Leila in earnest.

"Leila," she practically begged, "you have to get up. I can't carry you." Nothing. "Please, Leila! Wake up!" At the borderline shrill cry, Leila groaned in protest. Robyn sighed thankfully as her companion began to crack her eyelids open. As deep blue met cerulean, Robyn's frowned returned. Something wasn't right.

"Robyn," Leila's voice came out broken and weak, "I can't."

"What do you mean 'you can't'?" Robyn shook her head, beginning to pull the girl to her feet. Leila protested loudly as her body fell to the side. "Leila, please get up."

"Can't." Leila repeated, her breathing now turning into pants. "Go."

"Are you insane?" The blonde cried. "I'm not going to just leave you here He'll find you and he'll kill you!"

"No choice." Leila breathed. "Please, find the BAU. They'll help."

"I am not leaving without you." Robyn ignored the burning tears as they fell down her face. While she hadn't known the girl for very long, it was only thanks to Leila that she wasn't currently being raped by some psychopath. She owed the younger woman more than her life- she owned her her sanity. "Please, don't make me leave you."

"The infection." Leila tried to explain. "I can't run. Too slow. We won't make it." Robyn understood what she was trying to say. However, it didn't stop the tears as they continued to steam down her face in spades. Robyn reached out and brought the girl against her chest for a hug. She cried into the beautifully dark hair as she rocked her.

"I'll find them." Robyn promised, her voice barely a whisper. "I'll find them and I'll lead them back to you. I swear."

"I know." Leila smiled slightly against the woman's breast. She could feel how much the blonde was trembling, every fiber in her being telling her that if she left, Leila would die. Better one of us than both of us. "Go. Run."

"Stay hidden, Leila." Robyn instructed, slowly easing the girl as far back into the hollow tree as she could before placing a quick kiss to her forehead. "I'll see you soon." She didn't miss the handful of tears that fell from Leila's eyes as she stood. Robyn offered the girl one last smile before turning her back and sprinting away. Leila fought against the heaving sobs that threatened to escape as she watched the woman run. She would wait until Robyn was far enough away.

Leila knew better than to be hope that Parilla wouldn't find her. They had left quite an obvious trail of broken branches and footprints on their way south. It wouldn't be too difficult to track. Besides, Leila was fairly certain that she had bled the entire way. Parilla could just follow the path she had practically made for him. While she doubted Parilla would kill her right away, she wouldn't be surprised if his temper got the best of him once again. Besides, he hadn't meant to stab JJ. His lack of self control and discipline had caused that. Who's to say it wouldn't be the same here? Resigning herself to her fate, Leila allowed her tears to flow freely, knowing that this might be the last time she was able to. She closed her eyes, leaning her head back against the tree trunk as she tried hard to push thoughts of Parilla away. Instead she thought of her family- all of it. Her newly found mother and father, Jackson, her nephew, her brother-in-law, the BAU- but mostly, she thought of her sister. Leila almost laughed as she realized that her anger at JJ had long since dissipated. How could she be mad when her sister was alive? That was all she had wanted from the moment Emily had lied to her about her death. Leila found that she didn't have the energy to be angry at anyone. Emily was just doing what she had been told. JJ was just trying to survive. Will wanted nothing more than to keep his family safe. In the end, there was only one person she had the strength to be angry at…and he was running straight towards her.