Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds or Ted Lasso and am not making any money off this venture.

Authors Note: Please do not ask where this came from, all I know is I finally got on the Ted Lasso bandwagon, fell in love with Rebecca Welton (and in lust with Hannah Waddingham) and then my brain went 'What if Rebecca was friends with Emily Prentiss (whom I adore more than any other fictional woman)?'. It all just snowballed from there. Also go check out 'Ain't no little girl' by Kasey Chambers. It's quite on the nose for Rebecca.

https/www youtube com/watch?v=Lp2j579fglI

After you've done that, go check out Kasey's live cover of 'Lose Yourself'.

If this is your first time reading any of my works, a couple of things to warn you about. I don't write fluff and I don't write romance, any pairings are generally canon and background. I also have no issue with upping the trauma stakes, whumping my faves and making nasty characters truly evil. I have done all of that here. If any chapter gets particularly nasty I'll add a warning at the top of it.

As always, constructive criticism and feedback is welcome. Flames and nastiness not so much, that being said, I've been around too long to give a shit if you don't like this. The back button and close tab option are right there for you to click.

Spoilers: This starts pre season 1 for Ted Lasso and early season 6 for Criminal Minds but let's just say everything for both, it's safer that way.

This work is complete and 24 chapters long.


CHAPTER 1

It was paperwork day in the BAU.

They'd returned from Iowa the day before, finished up their reports on Jeremy Sayer and then moved onto other consults.

Emily Prentiss was startled out of the paperwork fugue by the buzzing of her cellphone, glancing down she bit back a wince at the name flashing up.

Clyde Easter

She'd been out for over 5 years now and in no way shape or form did she want to go back to the world of international espionage. Reaching out she declined the call and turned back to the case in Wichita.

She ignored the ping of a voicemail.

The second and third calls were declined as well, she didn't need to listen to the messages to imagine what they would say.

Then the text messages started coming in.

The 5th finally broke her resolve Don't make me call your boss and force you to talk to me.

With an irritated huff, she grabbed the phone, ignored the worried looks from Reid and stalked up to the empty conference room.

"What Clyde? What could possibly be so important that you'd blow up my phone and then threaten to fuck up everything I've built here by calling Hotch?"

"Hello to you too Darling!" she could hear the amusement in his voice "The most interesting thing happened this evening…" he trailed off and Emily knew it was just to screw with her and he wouldn't continue until she asked what had happened.

She sucked in a deep breath and let it out again slowly to try and calm her temper, but didn't give in, confident that she had more patience than him. The confidence paid off as 15 seconds later he started speaking again.

"Before calling you I hit send on a request to your Section Chief asking for you to be seconded to my team for a few weeks because one of your old burner phones was called an hour ago and a very interesting message was left…"

Emily peered through the slats just in time to see Erin Strauss stride into Hotch's office.

"Why do you hate me Clyde?" she groaned.

"Darling, I don't hate you" he chuckled "Quite the opposite… listen to this and tell me you're not willing to hop on the next flight across the pond" there was a brief pause and she could just make out the tap of a keyboard before a familiar voice echoed across the line.

'Hello Lauren… I don't… you told me to call if I needed help getting out.. I… Rupert…" a sob echoed through the line "I need to get out, away from him… I don't even know why I'm calling you… it's been years but you saw him for what he truly is and I never forgot your words… nor that you offered to rip his balls off and shove them down his throat on my behalf. An offer of which I am now taking you up on'

The recording ended abruptly and Clyde's voice came back over the line "Now if we're right, and I know we are, that was the dulcet tones of…" he didn't get a chance to finish the sentence before Emily interrupted.

"Can your tech spoof my call to look like I'm calling her back from that number?"

"Of course darling" Clyde smirked, hook line and sinker. "Ready whenever you are."

Of course they were, Emily hated it when he cornered her like this and with only seconds to prepare she quickly pulled the Lauren Reynolds file to the forefront of her mind.

30 seconds later the call was ringing on the other end and it was picked up halfway through the second ring.

"Lauren…?" Emily could hear the desperation and fear, almost taste it.

"Where are you?" Lauren and Emily's first instinct was to make sure Rebecca was somewhere safe.

"At the Rosewood" was whispered over the line.

"Where's Rupert?"

"He left for Spain this morning, scouting, he'll be gone a week." Rebecca's voice was cracking with the strain.

"Do you need medical attention?" Emily didn't like how long it took Rebecca to answer.

"N… I don't think so…" she didn't like the answer either, it was clear Rebecca was lying.

"I won't be able to get to London for at least 12 hours, probably closer to 14. Will you be ok or do you want me to get someone to pick you up?"

Emily had no doubt that Rupert Mannion knew exactly where his wife was right now. The man was controlling and paranoid in a way she had seen so many times over her career and it never ended well for the people who got in between them and their goals or refused to comply with their wishes.

"I don't…" Rebecca's voice hitched but she took a breath and tried again "I'd prefer to wait for you"

"Ok, this is important. Don't repeat anything I say, don't write it down or put it in your current phone. I'm going to have a burner phone sent to you. Once you have it, text me the address of somewhere public and where you'll be recognised, don't say it out loud just a text. I'll respond from this number with a time for you to meet me there. Until I tell you otherwise use the new phone to contact only me and only via text. Do you understand?"

There was a pause and a shuddering breath "I understand"

"In the meantime, sleep if you can and if you start to feel like you can't wait, call me immediately and I'll have someone pick you up."

"Okay…"

"Are you sure you don't need medical attention?" Emily pushed gently as the door to the conference room was opened by a concerned Hotch, he stood silently and waited.

"I probably do but…" Rebecca stared down at the bruised and swollen fingers on her left hand, she hadn't dared look at her ribs or face yet "I can't deal with anyones questions about it right now…"

"I need you to call me the second that changes."

"I promise"

"Text me the address once you get the replacement phone" Emily reiterated.

"14 hours" Rebecca confirmed. She could last 14 hours. Without saying anything else she hung up the call and let the phone drop from her hand in exhaustion.

On the other end Emily let her head drop and took a moment.

"Clyde?" she knew she didn't need to ask.

"I'll get one of our clean phones over to her and get a watch set until you can get to her."

"Thanks, I need to fill in Hotch, am I flying commercial?"

"Sorry Darling, I don't have a free jet for you. You're booked on a flight from Dulles in 3 hours."

"See you in 10" Emily hung up and turned to her boss.

"I'm approving the secondment?" He wondered if he was finally going to be able to fill in some of the blanks around his profiler who had turned up mysteriously 4 years before with skills and knowledge she shouldn't have and wouldn't give a straight answer on where they came from. While officially Emily had been in the midwest for a decade they all suspected she had been working all around the world. There was no way the higher ups would have wasted her skills and talents.

"Old case…" she bit her lip in thought.

"I understand classified and won't demand any details you can't give me but I need enough to one, keep the rest of the team off your back and two make sure I can give you the support you need from here if necessary."

Her shoulders dropped in relief.

"7 years ago my team was tracking an arms dealer. I was undercover and my target introduced me to a 'friend'. We never managed to pin anything on said friend" Hotch quirked his eyebrow in an unasked question "Oh he's as dirty as they come but we could never prove it. I started working the wife, but she had no idea about her husband's murkier activities so I settled for being her friend because while I never saw him do anything to her, all the signs were there…" she trailed off, thinking back to the number of times Rebecca Mannion flinched away from her husband's touch.

"Spousal abuse?"

"Yeah, anyway the last time I saw her was about a month before we wrapped up our investigation and made the arrest. I told her that… I told her to call me if she ever needed help. That I didn't know when I would be back in London but if she needed help I'd help her and left her with a number to call. I also told her that she only needed to ask and I'd rip his balls off and shove them down his throat on her behalf."

Hotch chuckled at the very Emily threat.

"I'm guessing she has no idea that you were an undercover agent?"

"None whatsoever…"

Hotch winced "So, what's the plan?"

"I'll get her somewhere safe, find out what happened and go from there." She hedged, Hotch knew exactly what she was doing.

"And if she can give you enough to reopen the investigation?"

"I guess I'll burn that bridge when I come to it." Emily knew the investigation had never really stopped and she didn't want to leave the BAU but if this turned out to be something she was self aware enough to know she would want to see it through.

"Your desk will be waiting whenever you return" he promises her.

Emily takes the cowards way out and doesn't speak to the rest of the team before leaving. Hotch nods knowingly and promises to deal with any questions as well as futilely attempt to stop Garcia from snooping while being egged on by Morgan and Reid.

Her flight is taxiing up the runway when the message comes through from Rebecca with her chosen location.

The Crown and Anchor in Richmond

Clever girl, Emily knew that particular pub. Rupert had taken her and Ian there after a game. Rebecca would be well recognised there by the local fans. If she recalled correctly, it was owned by a fierce publican who ran a tight ship and had an eye for trouble and depending on the type would either encourage or put a stop to it.

A glance at her watch and a quick calculation confirmed she would be landing in London just after 7am local time.

An hour to get through customs, 2 to work their way through London traffic and debrief with Clyde would put her at the pub just after 10 if everything went well.

She didn't want Rebecca sitting there alone for any length of time so she didn't put a time in her response.

On a flight now, I'll confirm the time ASAP


Rebecca had managed to get snatches of sleep throughout the night but between the pain radiating through her body and jumping at every slight sound none of the sleep she did get was good.

Just after 6, she forced herself upright and groaned in pain. A glance over her shoulder in the dim light gives her a brief glimpse of her reflection and the line where she'd landed on a side table was stark black and purple. She quickly looks away not wanting to think any more about the events of the previous morning.

It hadn't been the first time Rupert had become physically violent and it wasn't even the worst. Most of the time he limited himself to bruising grips around her wrists and fingers dug painfully into her side when he was unhappy and the occasional thrown glass once they were behind closed doors. Every now and then though…

Glancing at the phone Lauren had sent her, she was disappointed to see the younger woman hadn't sent another message since confirming she was on her way.

If she could take a deep breath to prepare herself for standing she would but the damage to her ribs doesn't allow it.

She's regretting not taking Lauren up on her offer of medical assistance as each moment passes.

A proper shower is beyond her but rinsing off in the cold water helps take the sting out of the worst of the bruises.

A quick comb is run through her hair, and then she focuses on her makeup. Without the use of her left hand it will take more time than usual to make herself presentable… and like she hadn't been in a bar brawl. The sight of the fingerprints on her neck and the bruise on her cheek where his hand had landed caused her breath to hitch in her throat and the nauseated swirling in her belly roared up. Swallowing against the bile she tried to will the contents of her stomach to stay where it was but to no avail and several seconds later she was hunching over the toilet crying out in pain as her body spasmed, the pain making the nausea worse and her vomit more.

It's nearly 8am by the time Rebecca has managed to get the bruises covered to her satisfaction and the phone dings with an incoming message.

See you at 10am.

It would take her a little over an hour in a taxi to get over to Richmond and the four walls were starting to close in.

The acrid smell of her vomit was still lingering and she couldn't stand to see herself constantly in the mirrors.

Lifting the phone from the handset, she ordered a car from the concierge and left the room.


Emily was absolutely exhausted by the time she slid into the car with Clyde. While she had attempted to sleep on the flight, her brain wouldn't shut off with the possibilities that Rebecca's call could lead to and she had spent most of it on her laptop going through the original case files they had on Rupert Mannion.

His legitimate businesses had provided him too much cover and her time with Doyle hadn't given them anything solid to go on. Despite the Irishman's reassurance, Mannion was too paranoid to talk business in front of her and Doyle had respected that.

But now with Rebecca reaching out, seemingly ready to pull the pin on her marriage they might be able to get something to reignite the investigation, no matter how small. Rebecca may not even know that she knew something that would help.

They take the long way, circling Richmond Green a number of times while she and Clyde discuss next steps and confirm the best spot for a pick up. Just before 10 she gets out of the car two blocks away and starts the walk to the Crown and Anchor.

Rebecca had been sitting in the pub for nearly an hour, Mae's worried eyes never leaving her for long and the older woman keeping her well supplied with tea.

The biggest surprise had been Roy Kent sliding into the seat across from her with a grunt.

Rebecca kept her left hand tucked out of sight and her face turned to try and hide the swelling her concealer couldn't.

"I'm only gonna say this once, then I'll fuck off and leave you be" the star midfielder growled "Say the word and they'll never find his fucking body, not all of us have fallen for the fuckers mind games and we see the way he treats you."

Without her permission tears spring to Rebecca's eyes and her bottom lip trembles slightly.

She reaches out to pick up the tea and takes a sip to fortify herself, wondering how much to tell Roy.

"I'm waiting for a friend…" her voice is still raspy "she's…" Rebecca searches for the right words but can't find them "Do you mind sitting with me until she gets here?"

He nodded his agreement as her eyes floated around the room and settled momentarily on two men that she knew were on Rupert's payroll.

Her breath hitched again as the meaning of their appearance started to take root in her mind.

How had they known where she was, was it a coincidence or had they followed her from the hotel, had they followed her from the house to the hotel and then the pub from there or did Rupert have other ways of tracking her?

How often did he have her followed, how had she not seen it before now.

Rebecca tried to take a deep breath to calm her racing heart and frazzled nerves but once again the expansion of her rib cage caused white hot pain the lance through her body and a mewl of distress and pain escaped through her lips.

Across the table Roy Kent felt completely out of his depth as the boss' wife started to spiral.

He watched as her eyes fell on something just behind his shoulder, and seconds later witnessed her try to take a deep breath with either bruised or cracked ribs. He'd been there in the past and seen it on others as well. The tiny noise that escaped her lips was a testament to her self control.

Her eyes glazed over and he was at a loss on what to do to help her. He could see her breathing had devolved into short sharp gasps. He was about to reach out and grab her hand to try and get her attention back on him when another woman appeared at the table.

Pale skin, dark hair and eyes that scraped over him, studied him, dissected him in mere seconds and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.

This woman was dangerous.

He expected her to snap something at him or Rebecca, sharp demands or instructions. Instead, she reached out one hand to gently take Rebecca's and the other cupped the blonde's shoulder.

"I've got you" she whispered, American accent clear "I'm here"

"Lauren…" Rebecca stuttered out, still trying to breath through the pain and panic.

"Yep, 12 hours 13 minutes" Emily let a small smile through as Rebecca sucked air through her teeth and pitched towards the younger woman desperately craving the gentle contact she was offering.

They remained like that for several minutes, Emily standing by the table with Rebecca resting against her, feeling safe for the first time in so long. Roy sat there awkwardly, not willing to leave Rebecca with a stranger until he was told to leave.

He didn't know her well, they'd seen each other at games and the charity gala and would nod hello and ask about life and the weather and that was all the interaction they had but Roy had seen something… seen a sadness and a tension that he didn't like. The way Mannion and Cartrick led the team in their treatment of anyone who wasn't them didn't sit right with him. Playing the boys off one another, the blatant favouritism and sexism. Attitudes like that bled over into personal relationships as well.

It had been Shannon who'd spotted the owner's wife sitting alone and barely holding it together and pointed it out. As captain Roy had let out a low "fuck" and headed over to check on her.

Now all he wanted to do was get away from the crying woman, but he was too worried to walk away.

After several uncomfortable minutes Rebecca pulled back and wiped at her eyes with both hands, Emily didn't react to the damage to her previously hidden hand but the low growl that escaped from Roy was heard by both of them.

Sliding into the seat next to Rebecca, Emily took a moment to study the man. She honestly hadn't expected anyone to be with Rebecca when she arrived let alone a man who wore rage like a high fashion coat. Hidden well beneath the rage was genuine concern and care.

"Lauren" she nodded at him.

"Roy" he nodded back before turning to Rebecca "this your friend?"

Rebecca nodded, not yet trusting her voice.

"Ok, I'm going to fuck off now, you" he pointed at Rebecca "call me if you need anything and you" he pointed at Emily "You better fucking look after her or you'll get my fucking forehead through your fucking skull." He slid out of the booth and walked away before either of them could respond.

"Interesting man," Emily murmured as she turned to face Rebecca and blocked her from the view of the rest of the pub. "I have a car waiting for us and somewhere safe for us to go"

"Can we just sit for a minute?" Rebecca asks, still stunned by the realisation Rupert was having her followed and Roy's offer of help.

"No problem…" Emily laces her fingers with Rebecca's and waits giving the other woman the space she needs.

Across the bar the two women are watched carefully and Emily clocks all of them within seconds. The people Roy is with don't concern her, neither does Mae but the two men badly pretending to not watch them are a concern.

Roy had made sure to keep them in his line of sight at all times with Shannon, Cockburn and O'Brien watched the men that had seemed to upset Rebecca. Mae's gaze flittering between Rebecca and the players and the men that were unable to hide their interest in the two women. One of them even going so far as to take a photo.

"Oi!" Tom yelled the second he realised what had happened. "What the fuck are you taking photo's of them for?"

That was all it took for Roy and Tyler to put their drinks down and stalk towards the two men.

Roy Kents forehead in their faces was the least of their problems when Mae pulled out her cricket bat.

The fight didn't last long, but it was long enough for Emily to get Rebecca out the side door and into the car waiting in the alley.

"Rebecca, I need your regular phone" Emily held her hand out gently for the device, they couldn't stop moving until she'd confirmed they couldn't be tracked.

A cursory check showed there were no hidden apps installed and no trackers in Rebecca's bag but Emily wasn't the expert and while Clyde had a perfectly good tech analyst she didn't trust anyone but Garcia with this particular one. She quickly connected the headphones so Rebecca would only be able to hear her side of the conversation and dialled her tech goddess.

"Emily Prentiss, what on earth do you think you are doing disappearing without a word like this! I mean one minute you're at your desk and the next you've been seconded to Interpol of all places and you didn't even say goodbye." Emily winced at the rage she could feel coming through the phone.

"I know and I'm sorry, I'll explain as much as I can later but right now I need your unparalleled tech skills."

"I see your attempt to distract me from my righteous anger with praise… and damn you it's working. What do you need?"

"Hack a phone for me, create a backup of everything on it and make sure it can't be traced by anyone." Emily rattles off the number without waiting to find out if Garcia can do what she is asking.

"Interpol doesn't have anyone who can do this for you?" The rapid fire tapping in the background tells Emily she's already working on it.

"None as good as you!"

Beside her, Rebecca is staring at Emily. She hadn't even thought about the kind of resources her friend had but hearing her ask for something that is clearly on the wrong side of legal without even blinking was not something she had been prepared for.

"So, first glance shows there's no tracking software on it. I'll do a deep dive on it as I do the back up, meanwhile I've spoofed it in case someone is watching it'll show as being in… ok you're calling me from London so Hyde Park will have to do. I'll let you know once it's all done and you're in the clear."

"Thank you!" Emily turns to Rebecca, "Ok, we're clear. Next stop is a medical centre."

The car settles into silence for a few moments until Rebecca finally speaks "You haven't asked what happened"

"I figured it could wait until we were somewhere not moving and I'm confident you don't have any major injuries…." Emily eyed the blonde carefully "You can't fully lean back on the seat can you?"

"He… Rupert pushed me and I fell back against a side table." she admitted quietly.

Reaching out Emily rubbed her knee "Let's get you checked out and then we'll talk"

END CHAPTER 1