Gold Blood (Criminal Minds, Derek Morgan x OC Fanfiction)

Elizabeth Ends

[Trigger Warning: mentions of physical & sexual abuse. Reader discretion advised]

***

[Third Person's Point of View]

The rest of the team were glancing curiously at Hotch's closed office and were whispering to each other in hushed voices. Through the window blinds, they could see that he and Erin Strauss, the BAU Section Chief, was having an argument over Liz's redacted record, but none of them could hear what was exchanged between the two.

Inside, Hotch's expression was tight. "You should have disclosed this to me the first time you recommended Dawson into my team," he said, his tone remaining flat as he expressed his displeasure.

"It was a need to know," Strauss answered matter of factly. "You didn't need to know."

Hotch was having none of that. "I do now. My team is out there every day putting their lives at risk, even as they go home. We could have saved twelve hours from trying to get this file opened. The twelve hours my agent may or may not have."

"Then I suggest you waste no more time arguing with me about the system and start briefing the team about Dawson," countered Strauss rather coldly. She got up and straightened her expensive work suit. With an exhale, her face softened a bit. "I hope you do find her in time, Agent Hotchner."

Hotch nodded, brooding quietly as he chose not to continue arguing with his direct superior. He opened the door quietly and ushered the woman out before getting out to meet the team as well, a file in his hand.

As soon as Strauss left the vicinity, the team ceased pretending to be busy and immediately fixed their gaze on their boss who was walking down the staircase to the big round table at the floor where they were going to hold their follow up meeting.

"We got her," Hotch told the team, then to Garcia, "Strauss has forwarded the softcopy of this file to your laptop. Please pull it up on the screen."

"Right away, sir," muttered Penelope as her fingers began to type fast on her laptop.

A mugshot of Elizabeth holding a placate as she was being booked in Chicago Police Department appeared on the screen. She was a brunette back then; with nose piercing, smoky eyes, black eyeliner and pinky nude lips. There was a hint of rebellious youth look on her expression. Just looking at the injury on her face-a cut on her left eyebrow and a swollen bruise on the same side of cheekbone-the team could tell that they were right: Elizabeth Dawson used to suffer from abuse.

Derek was upset of the fact. Not because Elizabeth was obviously hiding her past from him or the rest of the team, or because of the fact that she looked like a totally different person between then and now. It's because he realized, even after leaving whatever life she had left behind-even ditching her own self, from the looks of her appearance now- she still carry that same mellowness in her hazel eyes. And now Derek knew why.

"Woah," Emily muttered in shock.

"Woah is right," mumbled Penelope, an equal look of shock lining her face as well, "She looked like the corrupted, tortured twin of Elizabeth that we know."

"She looked so sad," commented JJ, her eyes soft in sympathy as she looked at the picture of her introverted friend. "Someone beat her up. Poor girl."

Hotch nodded. He gestured to Elizabeth's picture on the screen. "Meet Alicia White a.k.a The Red Queen."

A gasp, then all of a sudden, Penelope jumped from her seat, her mouth wide agape. "No. No! You did not-!"

"-I did. Sit down, Garcia."