without you¹ | derek morgan. ✓

34 | gunshots

charlotte's pov.

My mind goes blank as I reread the message displayed on the screen over and over and over again--all the way until it feels like my mind is going to explode.

"I spy with my little eye,
seven scared profilers,
one dumb tech analysis,
and one stupid unit chief.
They say teams like these bond like family,
but how many secrets do you all really hold?
Why don't we all fuck around and find out?
Xoxo, Gossip Girl...or is it ;)

I shake my head, letting out a sharp and heavy exhale--How the fuck could this have happened? This isn't something Gossip Girl would do...is it? I mean, it shouldn't even matter if it something he/she would do because I should've escaped Gossip Girl the second I left New York.

As my mind racks itself with thoughts, I feel a familiar, tall body get even closer to me, our shoulders touching in comfort.

I smile softly to myself as I feel the familiar body lean over, "It's gonna be alright. We'll be alright. I promise, pinky promise." The familiar tone rasps in a reassuring tone.

I smile softly as I feel his familiar touch traveling to my hands. His pinky finger laces with mine as he makes the pinky promise, making my heart rate slow down in comfort and reassurance.

I look up to Derek, a small smile dancing on my lips as my eyes land on his, holding his gaze, "Thank you, huckleberry." I whisper.

Derek nods, a small, comforting grin spreading across his face, "We're gonna put an end to this, newbie. It's gonna be over before you know it." He states, reassuringly.

I nod, looking back to the computer screen.

Who the hell could have done this? And what the hell do they want from me?

"Charlotte..." I hear a familiar voice state.

I look up, my eyes landing on Hotch, "Yeah, uh, hey. What's up?" I ask.

Hotch glances to the computer screen and then back at me, "It was signed Gossip Girl, so it clearly has something to do with you."

I shake my head lightly, "Hotch, I haven't been in contact with, or spoken to, anyone since we left New York after our last case. I've been too humiliated to even say anything to anyone since the incident." I state in a quieted tone, looking around the bullpen.

Hotch nods slightly, "I understand, but we still need you to help us out here. We're going to probably have to go back to New York to track this person down, and we'll need to work with NYPD. Do you think that you can handle that?" He asks, curiously.

I hesitate for a moment before nodding at his words, "Y-Yes. I'll do everything in my power to help, sir." I state.

"Are you sure?" He asks.

I think for a moment before nodding, "Very sure. I will do anything and everything, but only under one condition." I negotiate.

"Your friends can help." He states.

I shake my head, "What? N-No. That's not- no, that's not what I was going to negotiate with." I state, giggling softly.

Hotch's lips part slowly as he nods in slight understanding, "Oh, sorry. They just seemed to be such a great help last time, I'd thought you'd want to see them again and get their input on this--see if the same thing was happening to them." He states, shrugging his shoulders a bit.

I nod slightly, "I'll think about that." I pause for a moment, "But that's not what I wanted to talk to you about." I state.

"Oh, then what is it?" He asks.