A Fathers Daughter: Alternate Ending

*Alternate* Chapter Twenty-Three

I haven't been able to sleep since my nightmare. Every time I close my eyes I see the image of my father slitting Spencer's throat. The entire team has noticed but none of them are willing to say anything to me about it. Well, anyone other than Spencer.

We were in Texas two weeks ago on a case and Spencer and I stayed together in my hotel room. The first night, I woke up panicking from yet another nightmare and Spencer forced me to talk about it. I lied and said it was about Mary Ellen and that she actually managed to kill me. He held me tight and assured me that everything was okay. But every night after that I was too scared to even close my eyes because I knew what would happen as soon as I did.

So in lieu of a regular sleep schedule, I drank a ridiculous amount of red bull and tea, took caffeine pills, and took short 5 to 10 minute naps when I could because any longer and the nightmares would start. But Spencer caught on after the second day of this and tried to get me to sleep but it didn't work. 

Nothing worked.

So I suffered through it and the only downside was that Hotch made me stay back at the police station while they went to apprehend the unsub. He said that he could tell I hadn't been sleeping well and couldn't risk having me in the field.But it will all be over soon. The only way to get rid of my fathers ghost, is to complete my mission to avenge his death. 

This wasn't an easy decision to come to. Part of me still isn't sure it's the right call to make. I mean what a small part of me wants to do is to come clean to Spencer, admit everything I'd done and who my father really is. But that would just end with me losing him, all of my friends, and I'd be letting my father down. At least this way, I'm able to make him proud.

I've been preparing for this for a while, just in case I didn't change my mind I knew I would need basically everything done otherwise I might back out. But I finalized my plan after we left Texas, and now all I need to do is get the last member of my team on board. I already have one crucial associate locked in, now I just need to secure the distraction.

"Fuck, Amber," Katie says, when she approaches me, "you look like shit."

I roll my eyes at the alias that I gave her during our initial meeting and give her a tired smile, "haven't you heard? Dark circles are all the rage this season."

She laughs and takes a seat next to me, "so what's up? I haven't heard from you since that night in the restaurant."

I nod, "yeah, you did amazing by the way. They're legally separated and on the road to divorce." I take a sip of my vodka redbull and Katie orders a glass of wine. "But I didn't invite you here to give you an update on a failed marriage. I have another job for you, if you're interested. It pays $1,500 for only a couple hours of work."

She presses her brows together and gives me a skeptical look, "you do know I'm not a prostitute right?"

"Of course not," I say with a short laugh and I shake my head, "trust me, it doesn't involve any sexual activities. I just need a favor and I figured I'd make it worth your time."

She nods as the bartender drops off her wine and she takes a sip. "So, what's the job?"

I smirk over my glass, "I thought you'd never ask."

--

"I really appreciate this, Ash," Hotch tells me as he lets me into his apartment.

"It's no problem, really. I like hanging out with Jack and it's not like you could say no to having dinner with Rossi before he leaves."

I set my large tote-bag down on the couch and Jack runs into the room.

"Cara!" He wraps small arms around my waist and I laugh.