safe inside, criminal minds [ 1 ]

011. nightmares and birthdays

"So Emily's really alive?" Danielle asks.

"Yep." Spencer nods. "She came back about a... a month and a half ago."

"Cool." Danielle mutters, eating a spoonful of cereal.

"Are you sure you're okay with her coming over? If you need more time--"

"I'm fine. I wanna see the not so dead woman after going through the grief of thinking she was dead." Danielle says.

"I was angry too when I found out. It's okay to be angry." Spencer says.

"I'm a lot of things right now, I'm really sure what is and isn't directed at her." Danielle says and Spencer nods.

Danielle flinches when there's a knock on the door. Spencer gives her a reassuring look and goes over to the door. He looks through the peephole before opening it.

"Hey." Spencer smiles at the raven haired woman.

"Hey." Emily smiles, walking in and Spencer shuts the door behind her. "Hey, Danielle. Long time, no see."

"You-- you're actually alive." Danielle mutters.

"Yeah. Danielle, I am so sorry for having to do that, but-- but it was for my safety. And I know you've been going through a lot and--"

Emily stops when Danielle hugs her. Emily hugs the younger woman back, rubbing her back a bit.

"I'm glad you're okay." Danielle mumbles.

"I'm glad you're okay, too." Emily lets out a small sigh, her heart breaking for the brunette.

+++

"No. No, no, stop. Please, stop." Danielle tosses and turns in bed. "No." She whines.

"Dani?" Spencer quietly calls, walking in. "Dani?" He walks over to the bed.

"No. No, no, don't do it. I don't want it." She sobs, Spencer realizing she's asleep.

"Dani? Danielle, wake up." Spencer says as she continues to cry and thrash around. "Dani? Danielle." He tries to prevent her from moving around too much, not wanting her to accidentally hurt herself.

"No!" She sobs.

"Danielle!" Spencer exclaims, the girl jolting awake. She pants as she looks around, remembering where she is before spotting her brother. "Hey. Hey, you're okay. It was just a nightmare. Breathe, Dani."

Danielle tries to take deep breaths while Spencer rubs her back. He continues to comfort her for a while until her breathing has returned to normal.

"You wanna talk about it?" Spencer asks.

"No." She mumbles, her eyes tearing up. "I don't-- I can't anymore. All the-- the cops and the court, I jus-- I'm tired."

"Okay." Spencer nods in understanding. "I'm gonna go get you some water, all right?" Danielle nods, sniffling, and Spencer walks out.

He soon returns with a glass of water, giving it to Danielle who accepts it with her shaky hands.

"Could you just... could you stay? For a little bit, at least?" Danielle asks, fear in her eyes of him denying her or thinking she's being ridiculous.

"Of course." Spencer nods. "I could read a book." Danielle considers for a moment before nodding. Spencer goes and gets a book he knows Danielle won't mind before returning to the bedroom.

Spencer sits on the empty side of the bed while Danielle lays back down. About twenty minutes after reading, Spencer looks down at Danielle, seeing her asleep. He gently smiles at the look on her face, it being the only time she ever appears to be at peace without any of the trauma or negative thoughts consuming her.