Detective Reid (Criminal Minds / One Chicago FanFic)

Chapter 20

Intelligence Unit, 21st District Police Department, Chicago Illinois

The week went surprisingly past and Lauren wasn't sure if it was because she was back at work or if it was because when she finished work for the day that she and Mouse would hang out after like they had since she messaged him to come over a week ago. 

Lauren sat at her desk in the bullpen drinking her coffee trying to wake up after spending the night waking up from nightmares. The detective finished her coffee before she stood up and walked into the break room to pour another cup. "You're quiet today, you good?" Jay asked walking into the room behind. The sound of his voice caused her to jump and burn her hand on hot coffee. 

Lauren took a sharp breath muttering a swear word as she put the coffee pot back and set the mug down and went to run her burnt hand under cool water. "You okay Laur? You jumped," her partner said after she turned the water off and went back to making her coffee. "You snuck up on me, and I'm still not fully awake," she replied as she went to add sugar and cream to the mug. Jay went quiet looking at Lauren knowing what happened to her was affecting her even if she didn't want to admit it.

Jay went to say something when Lauren's phone rang from her pocket, the brunette fished the device out noticing the caller ID said, Spencer. "Hey Spence, how's it go-Lauren it's Emily..." Spencer's voice was shaking like he was crying. "What's going on? What happened?" the detective asked instantly worried. "We were working a case and- and Emily got taken, The team managed to find her but It was too late by the time she got into surgery... she's- she's gone Laur," Spencer choked out causing the brunette to freeze at the words. 

"Spence, what do you mean she's gone?" Lauren asked trying to stop her breath from shaking. Tears started to fill her eyes. "She didn't make it off the table," her brother said clearly crying. Lauren covered her mouth turning to look out the window fighting the tears threatening to spill along with the growing lump in her throat making it harder for her to breathe. "I'll be on the next flight out," the detective said as her voice cracked. "I'll pick you up from the airport when you land," Spencer said. "Okay," Lauren said barely above a whisper as she hung up the phone and took a shaky breath as a tear fell from her eye. 

Lauren wiped the tear away quickly, "Everything okay?" Jay asked already knowing something was wrong. "not really," was all Lauren said before she simply just walked out of the break room and across the bullpen over to Voight's office. Lauren knocked on the door causing the man to look up, "Reid, what's up?" he asked her as she walked into the room and shut the door. 

The motion cause Voight to put his pen down and sit back giving the detective his full attention. "I just got a call from my brother letting me know that one of our best friends from the bureau was killed on the job," Lauren started to say as her voice shook and she fought back tears. "Take as much time as you need Reid, I'm really sorry to hear about your friend," the sergeant said. "thanks Serg," Lauren said softly before she opened the door and walked out of the office walking over to her desk and picking up her phone and bag. 

"You're leaving already?" Ruzek asked noticing Lauren grabbing her stuff. The detective didn't say a word honestly just trying not to start sobbing in the middle of the room. She had to at least make it to her car. Lauren went down the stairs running past Mouse who said something but she didn't catch it before she half walk ran out of the station and to her car in the back lot. 

Lauren climbed in the car and shut the door behind her completely losing it. She started sobbing uncontrollably she and Spence had known Emily for almost 5 years. How was she just gone?! A soft knock sounded on her passenger window causing the detective to jump and look in that direction. Mouse was standing outside the passenger door and Lauren hit the unlock button. 

Mouse opened the door and got in the passenger seat, Lauren wiped her tears away looking out her window away from him. "Hey, what's going on?" he asked as she sniffled a little and took a shakey breath. "Do you remember agent Prentiss? she helped intelligence work the serial killer case and when I got shot," she said more than asked as Mouse nodded. "She- she died working a case with my brother's team," her voice cracked as she said the words and a tear fell from her eyes. 

Mouse pulled Lauren into a hug from across the car, "I'm sorry Laur," he said as she let go of the embrace. Lauren took a few deep breaths, "Thanks for checking on me, but I should probably get going," the detective said earning a strange look from Mouse. "I'm going with you, plus I got the tickets," Mouse replied causing confusion to cross her face. "Voight asked me to go with you, I'm just kinda glad I didn't have to chase you down to the airport," he replied. "I don't need a babysitter," the detective replied. "That's Halstead's area, I'm more just emotional support," Mouse replied causing Lauren to let out a light laugh and smile at him. 

"Alright," she replied as she started the car and started driving. "We'll stop by your place so you can pack some stuff than we'll stop by my place before we head to O'Hare," Lauren said as she drove her Mustang through Chicago pulling up outside Mouse's apartment within 20 minutes. "I'll be right back," he said as he climbed out of the car and ran into the apartment returning in 10 minutes with a duffle bag over his shoulder. 

Mouse climbed back in the car tossing the bag in the backseat before Lauren started driving toward her apartment which was only a 5 minute drive from Mouse's weirdly enough. Lauren pulled her mustang along the curb in its usual spot placing the vehicle in park. "I'll be less than 5 minutes," she told Mouse as she got out of the car leaving it running as she ran into the building, up to her apartment, and took her pre packed go bag out of the closet in the front hall before she left locking her apartment behind her. 

Lauren climbed back in the car throwing her go bag in the backseat with Mouse's. "That was fast," he remarked as she fastened her seatbelt and started driving toward O'Hare. "I had a bag repacked, an old habit from the bureau I guess," she replied keeping her eyes on the road as she drove toward the airport. 

O'Hare, International Airport, Chicago Illinois 

Lauren parked her car in the parking garage before she and Mouse took their shoulder bags and walked into the massive building. They went through security before walking over to their flight gate that would be boarding to Virginia within the hour. Mouse tried to make small talk but Lauren was lost in a whirlwind of memories and emotions. The flight eventually boarded and due to the fact they got the seats last minute, Mouse and Lauren were lucky to be on the same last minute flight. They didn't sit beside each other for the flight which was only an hour long. 

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Quantico Virginia

Mouse and Lauren departed the flight when they landed in Virginia, she messaged her brother before she left letting him know that she was flying into Virginia within the hour with a friend. The two walked outside where Spencer was standing beside his '65 Volvo 122S Amazon waiting for them.