Home (Spencer Reid)

Chapter 20

"I need to speak with Susan." I said, pulling her aside, much to the other parent's protest.

We were currently in the middle of a case involving a missing child at a mall, but it was so much more involved than that. Possible molestation by the uncle. The whole team was here except for Spence, who was visiting his mother out of emergency. She had some health problems recently, so I hadn't seen Spence in about 3 weeks.

"You used to work in retail?" I asked. "I'm sorry how is that ..." She trailed off. JJ and Morgan were trying to hold the parents back.

"You mentioned it earlier." I said.

"So what?"

"What you didn't tell me was you used to work in THIS MALL." I said angrily. "Years ago!"

"What does that have to do with anything." She said shakily.

"Susan! Do you know something?!" The mother called out.

"You know this building like the back of your hand!" I said.

"Earlier, you made sure to separate from the group." I continued.

"Someone tell us something!"

"What the hell is happening?!"

"C'mon let's go." I led her away.

"What did you do with Katie." I demanded.

"Why would you ask me that?" She asked.

"You and Richard have been playing the happy family. When the truth is you've been separated. Why else didn't you realize he hasn't had a cigarette in over a month?" I asked. "He has no use for a new lighter."

"Richard and I have been trying to work things out." She said.

"Did you really believe, that getting rid of that little girl would take away his sickness?" I asked.

"You're not making a bit of sense." She played innocent. It pissed me off.

"Did it occur to you last week? When you saw on the news a little girl was snatched from a local mall, and found dead three days later? Did you duct tape her mouth too? You know if you do that to someone with asthma they can die?!" I rose my voice.

"But I guess you already figured that, didn't you?"

"This was not supposed to happen to my family-"

"It didn't just happen Susan, you took her. A six year old VULNERABLE CHILD.

Who trusted you.

WHO TRUSTED YOUR HUSBAND!" I slammed my hand on the table.

She stayed silent.

"You need to tell me where she is." I said. She shook her head.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

I leaned off of the table and turned around to the other table and grabbed the barbie doll.

"This." I slammed the barbie doll down on the table. It's left eye was colored black, it's hair cut, and a paper clip was wrapped around its neck.

"Is how Katie sees herself." I said.

"Self loathing. Dirty. Disgusting. That is what your husband made her feel."

She looked nervous, ashamed.

"No." She murmured.

"Those nights that she would stay at your house. And he would sneak in her room, "

"no..."

"And tell her not to make a sound."

"No, please..."

"Do you have ANY IDEA how terrified she must've been?!"

"stop..."

"How confused?"

"Please..."

"While YOU lay awake, protecting an animal who will ALWAYS have those urges!"

"no no no..."

"AND ALWAYS HAS!"

"DON'T! Please don't-"

"There's nothing left for you to protect, Susan. Instead of shielding her from more pain, you BLAMED HER for your own." I said.

"no, no NO I didn-"

"Yes you did! You have robbed Katie from her childhood. Are you gonna steal the rest of her life from her as well?!"

"no nO ENOUGH!"

"WHERE IS SHE?!"

"Bottom level seasonal closet!" She yelled.

"Hotch bottom level seasonal closet." I said into my comms unit. I left the police to deal with Susan and raced down the stairs. I ran into the closet to see Katie laying on the ground, receiving CPR from Morgan.

"Shields!" He called. I ran over and continued the CPR.

The paramedics ran in and put an oxygen mask to her. I continued as her parents ran in. She wouldn't breathe. "C'mon." I murmured. She finally coughed and took in a huge breath. I let out a breath as the paramedics helped her sit up.

" You saved her life." Katie's mom cried. I smiled and she hugged me. Same with the dad.

We followed the paramedics out to the front of the mall, and they loaded Katie into an ambulance.

"Agent Shields." Hotch came up to me. I offered my hand out to him. He smiled and pulled me into a hug. "You did good." He said. I smiled. "Let's go home." Derek said.

We were boarding the plane. I thought I was the last one to board when I heard a voice behind me.

"I think someone's six months is today." I stopped mid-step and turned around. I saw Spencer at the bottom of the stairs, holding roses. "It's been that long already?" I smiled and jumped on him, wrapping my legs around his waist. I gave him a long kiss. "Happy six months, sweetheart." He whispered. I grinned and my heart fluttered. "Happy six months."

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Aaaaayyyyyyeeeee short and sweet. Hope you guys are enjoying the story! For those of you who recognize the scenes, this is season 3 episode 5. In the next chapter I will be introducing one of my favorite characters!

Lots o' love

Brooke