Criminal Minds International

#10

« Clara : I was there too, with another agent of the IRT, Matt Simmons. Matt killed your guy. They almost told us right away that you were the one who sent them. Mae never said anything because she didn't know what they were gonna do to Matt if they knew the truth. She probably saved his life.
CJ : What did they do to her?
Clara : You don't wanna know.
CJ : Actually, I do.
Clara : I'm not the one who should tell you about that. And I want you to know I understand that you were just following given orders and trying to survive. Most people only see what you did and forget what's behind. You were just a kid, you didn't deserve that. »

Somehow, it felt really good to hear this, even coming from a stranger. For the first time of my life, I felt seen and understood. Thanks to Clara, I learned that this was the reason Barnes shut down the IRT. Now, what Monty said earlier made sense.

At the end of the day, they locked me in a cell. It was Friday night and I spent the whole weekend there.

On Tuesday morning, I got sick of waiting so I tried to get the guard's attention but he was ignoring me. It felt like I had been stuck in here for weeks when it had only been 3 days. I had no idea what was happening out there. Were they going back after Mitchell? Was I going to get transferred or were they gonna keep me here forever? But most importantly, was Mae okay?

As I was resting on the stone bench that acted as my bed, I heard the key turning in the lock and recognized Clara Seger's voice. I opened my eyes and turned my head to see her in front of me. The guard locked the door behind her. I sat up, confused.

« CJ : What's going on?
Clara : I'm just here to check on you. Are you okay?
CJ : Well, I would be better if someone could tell me what you guys are doing, out there. Are you doing anything to catch him?
Clara : Barnes is working on it.
CJ : Working on what?
Clara : She, with the director's approval, is building up a new team to work on the case.
CJ : Why? She already has a team, the IRT.
Clara : That's not how it works. The IRT doesn't exist anymore. We haven't worked together in 4 years and Mae and our ex unit chief are not part of the FBI anymore.
CJ : That's bullshit. I told Barnes that Mitchell could have people everywhere, maybe even in the FBI. Telling new people would be a loss of time and we don't even know if we can trust them. If she wanna build a team, why doesn't she build back the IRT? I would feel safer.
Clara : You don't even know us.
CJ : Mae trusts you so I trust you. »

Clara nodded.

« CJ : How is she?
Clara : She's okay.
CJ : Am I gonna see her again?
Clara : I don't know. »

Barnes was a real pain in the ass. She wouldn't let Mae see me but she authorized Clara to do so, knowing that Mae and her are good friends. This didn't make any sense.

« CJ : Can you tell her something for me?
Clara : Of course.
CJ : Tell her that I know about what happened back then and that if I could go back in time and change everything, I would. Tell her that I'm sorry.
Clara : I'm not sure it's a good idea. She didn't mention anything to you, there must be a reason.
CJ : What? You want me to act as if I didn't know?
Clara : For now, that might be better. »

I sighed.

« CJ : I won't see her, anyway, so what's the point.
Clara : You're not responsible for what they did.
CJ : Yes, I am. I sent them to torture her.
Clara : CJ, how old were you in 2017?
CJ : I was 19.
Clara : Exactly. You were just a kid.
CJ : You don't get it.
Clara : Then explain to me.
CJ : I wasn't just a kid, you can't understand, Clara. If we're using first names, now.
Clara : Maybe I can't understand what you've been through but I know you didn't deserve that.
CJ : You don't know that. Maybe I did.
Clara : I can promise you, you didn't. »