safe inside, criminal minds [ 1 ]

024. nelson's sparrow

Danielle messes with her hands as Spencer drives up to Gideon's cabin. She constantly glances over at him, her brother having been silent the entire ride.

Spencer parks in front of the cabin, turning the car off. He stares ahead, Danielle's worry only growing more.

"We don't have to go in ju--" Danielle stops as Spencer opens the door and gets out. She sighs, quickly getting out and walking with him into the cabin.

Everybody but Penelope and Derek are standing around the sheet covered body.

Spencer holds his cries in as he glances between them and the body. Danielle's eyes water as she stares at the sheet covered body.

Penelope and Derek walk in.

"Are you sure?" Penelope asks in a soft, broken voice.

"It's Gideon." Hotch confirms.

Spencer turns and rushes out.

+++

Danielle stands on the porch, watching the medics take Gideon's body to the back of their van. She messes with her ear as she watches the doors shut, letting out a sigh.

Catching up to Derek and Spencer, she gets in the back of the SUV.

+++

"Out of respect, I kept him covered." The M.E. says.

"Thanks." Danielle quietly tells her. She glances up at Spencer, his gaze stuck on the body.

"Appreciate that." Derek says.

"Cause of death was hypovolemic shock due to ballistic trauma." She says. "3 points of entry -- left shoulder, right abdominal wall, and right temporal."

"Did he suffer?" Derek asks.

"Not for long, no. His brain stopped working before he was able to process his last breath. After the final shot, he was gone within a fraction of a second."

"Would you excuse us, please?" Derek asks.

"Of course." The M.E. leaves.

"Did you hear any of that?" Derek asks Spencer. "He didn't suffer." A tear runs down Spencer's cheek and he sniffles, quickly wiping the tear away with a tissue. Derek holds onto Spencer's shoulder.

Danielle resists the urge to hug him, knowing he isn't always huge on physical contact, especially in this state.

"Listen to me." Derek says. "Sometimes you put up these walls and you block us out, and you can't do that, not right now. We need you, kid. Gideon needs you."

"We're going to step right out there, and when you're ready... let's go get this son of a bitch." Derek says.

Spencer nods. Derek pats him on the shoulder before walking out.

Danielle gently squeezes her brother's arm before following Derek out of the room. She sighs as she walks out, running her hands through her hair.

"How are you doing?" Derek asks.

"What?" Danielle asks. "No. Nothing, I'm fine."

"Danielle." Derek gives her a look. "You knew him, too."

"Yeah, but... barely." Danielle shrugs. "I mean, I referred to him as the grandpa 98% of the time. The only time we ever talked for more than ten seconds was when he called me because Spence was taking--" Danielle cuts herself off, clearing her throat to push her sob back down.

"You knew him." Derek says. "He looked after you, too."

"Okay, well, I'm doing a lot better than him, so could we just focus on catching the piece of shit who did this?" Danielle pleads.