Tangled Up in You (The Story of Us Book 2)

Chapter 35- Outbreak

Amanda and Spencer were woken by Lacey holding their phones. "Hey, something's wrong at your work. Your phones started going off like 5 minutes ago and your brother told Emily that it's bad," she reveals.

"Emily?" Spencer questions through a yawn and Amanda elbows him as if to signal it's not the time but Lacey doesn't really care.

"Yup she slept over last night," she tells them giddily as if forgetting the reason she was in the room in the first place. "She's still here if you wanted to carpool or something. Then she'd have to come back."

"Great. Thanks, Lace. We're gonna get up and see what's going on at our job," Amanda reminds her and her face pales.

"Right. Sorry, I forgot. Be safe, both of you." She blows them a kiss before walking out of the room and suggesting to Emily that she carpool to 'save the environment' something she had never cared about until it got her something. Emily agrees and the three agents head to Quantico. They are in the elevator when Morgan calls for them to hold it and they do, trying to figure out what was so urgent that Hotch was this worried.

When they arrive on the sixth floor, they grow even more curious when they notice the military is there. They all share a look before heading into the conference room where the rest of the team, minus Garcia, is gathered along with a Dr. Kimura who was sent to help with what was apparently an Anthrax outbreak.

"Anthrax doesn't kill this fast," Spencer points out.

"This strain does," Dr. Kimura tells him solemnly.

"Well that gives us a start on the profile," Amanda states. "Not only are we looking for someone who's able to get their hands on anthrax, but we're also looking for someone with the ability to mutate the strain to make it even more deadly."

Aaron nods at his sister in acknowledgment as Dr. Kimura speaks again. "These pills should help with exposure. We can't be sure that it will prevent it from getting into your lungs or even combat this strand but it's better than nothing." She passes over a tray with 7 plastic cups with two pills in each as well as a paper cup with water. The team shares a look before grabbing the cup and downing the pills and water before Hotch gives them orders.

Once everyone disperses, Amanda makes her way to her office to get Director Adams on the phone to see if the CIA were dealing with any terrorists that might attack with anthrax but he came up empty so she heads to the conference room to tell Aaron and Dave. "The CIA said that none of the known terrorist cells have experience weaponizing anthrax so if this is a terrorist, they're likely domestic." Aaron nods solemnly before he and Rossi give Garcia a list of things to look into.

As she leaves, JJ leads General Whitworth in. "General," Hotch greets him formally with a nod.

"Agent Hotchner," he states, returning the nod.

"This is SSA David Rossi and SSA Dr. Amanda Hotchner," Aaron introduces and the General turns to the blonde.

"You look young to be a doctor. Are the two of you related?"

Amanda bites her tongue and nods, keeping her expression clear. "He's my older brother and I am young but I'm also a genius with 5 PHDs and an MD," she reveals to him confidently and professionally, leading Aaron to send her a silent thank you.

"My scientists are decoding the strain," the general informs them. "The additives used to strengthen the bacterial capsules do not exist at our research labs."

"Are there any other labs using these substances?" Aaron asks.

"No."

"I'd like a list of everyone in your anthrax program."