Work Relations || Aaron Hotchner

Chapter 45

The next morning, another victim was discovered and David and I went to the disposal site. Right off the bat, one important thing for this unsub was missing. "Where are all the stabs and brutality of the other kills?" I ask David
"And no signs of restraints. This was unplanned" he says
"She was also covered with a blanket which means that he showed remorse. The unsub probably knew here" I say
"So the unsub is doing his thing, she accidentally sees something she shouldn't, he is caught off guard and has to improvise" he says
"Exactly" I say.

I call Penelope "Give it to me" she says
"Hey, narrow your suspect list to only those who somehow knew Margaret Linch, the latest victim" I say
"Ok, I'll hit you back when I have it ready" she says and hungs up. We head back to the car and I can tell that David wants to ask me something
"Say it" I say
"You've been a little weird since your talk with Hotch and Strauss yesterday. What happened?" he asks
"I got an offer. A really good one" I say
"To another department?" he asks
"To another continent. Interpol wants me to run the Italian office" I say
"What did Aaron say?" he asks
"To make a decision and then we'll find a way to make it work. Sometimes I hate how supportive he can be" I say and he chuckles.
"You should do whatever will make you happy because the one thing I learnt from Carolyn's death was that life is too short. You deserve to be happy" he says
"Doesn't really help right now but thanks" I say
"Trust me, it will" he says and I nod.

When we got to the station we learned about another woman who had gone missing, Stacey Brooks. The phone rings and it's Garcia. "I got him! Trevor Simmons. Home and work address are on your phones but he checked out of work about an hour ago" she says immediately and we leave for the house.

We went half from the front and half from the back of the house. "Clear" I say as I check the dining room "Clear" I hear from the kitchen and living room. I go to the door that lead to the basement with Morgan and Hotch. Morgan kicks the door down and we go in. There was Stacey Brooks tied down to a table. "It's clear" they say as I start to untie her.

Hotch and Morgan help Stacey out of the house but I stay in the basement. I notice scratches on the floor next to the shelves with the tools. There is probably a door... I pull my gun out and I open it quickly. But before I could fully open there were four shots and I was on the floor. I see Trevor running away but when I try to get up, I realize that I can't.

With my right hand I touch my side and I feel the blood. I try to move my left hand but I can't. There was another bullet on my left shoulder and two more that were luckily caught on my vest but they were causing my chest to hurt like hell which didn't help me stay calm and breathe properly.

With my right hand, I try to put pressure on the wound on my side but blood was running pretty fast. Because of the pain in my chest and the difficulty of breathing I couldn't call for help. I try to bring my left hand up so I can call the others through our intercom but it was easier said than done. With a quick yank I bring my left hand on my chest. I groan from the pain and for a moment it was like someone just cut off my hand. But I wasn't strong enough to move it more so it slide back down. A tear escapes my eye and I groan in frustration.

"Jessie?" I hear and I see Morgan running to me. He kneels next to me and tries to stop the bleeding from the wound on my side
"He left.... The suspect... He was hiding in here the whole time and but he left. You need to search the perimeter and the surrounding area" I say immediately as fast as I can but between small breaths
"I need paramedics in the basement ASAP, we have a federal agent down. The suspect is still in the area and he is armed" he says in the intercom as he puts pressure on the wound on my side causing me to groan in pain "You hang on there Grey, help is on the way" he says
"Reid, Morgan, JJ, Rossi and Grey, search the surrounding area within half a mile radius. Blake and I will stay around the house" we hear Hotch say in our in-ear.

"I repeat, we have a federal agent down. Agent Grey have been shot by the suspect. We need paramedics in the basement now!" Morgan says. Not more than a few seconds later, Hotch came running.
"An ambulance is on its way here. What happened?" he asks as he kneels next to me
"I don't know, I came to check on her and I found her on the ground" Morgan says
"He was hiding and he came out and started shooting and I couldn't--" as I was saying I start coughing and I can taste blood.

"Jessie, you stay awake, you hear me? That's an order" he says as he cups my cheek.
"I... I don't... I ca... I'm fading pretty quick" I manage to say between short breath and he takes my hand
"No, hey, look at me. Jessie look at me! You're gonna be just fine" he says
"I... I'm gonna be fine" I repeat after him and he smiles
"Yes, you are" he says stroking my head
"I am. I am... I'm cold" I say between breaths and then more blood comes out causing me to start coughing. They turn my head to the side so I can spit it out.

"I... I want... I want to go home" I say looking him in the eyes and crying while I was trying to stay awake and breathe because the truth is that I was scared.
"We will baby. We will" he says and kisses my hand. I could feel my eyelids get heavier and I didn't even had the strength to spit the blood that was in my mouth.
"I love you" I say
"No, no, don't say that" he says
"I don't... need Italy to... be happy. I need you... I love you... and Jack. Please tell him that" I say between breaths
"I will but you stay with me right now. You stay with me. Look at me" he says shaking my head but my eyes were closing "Jessie!" he yells but it sounded it like he was from far away. I manage to squeeze his hand and that's the last thing I remember.