✍️ | 𝐈𝐍 𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐍 | 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑 𝐑𝐄𝐈𝐃

𝐓𝐄𝐍!

●'I'●'I'●'I'●'I'●'I'●'I'●

SMELLS LIKE VACATION 

●'I'●'I'●'I'●'I'●'I'●'I'●

IT HAS BEEN A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE MASS GRAVE CASE. It took them four days to solve the case because the UnSub started to run away and hide from them, but in the end, they caught him. It was a wonderful feeling to see the families of victims so grateful that they caught the guy who murdered their daughters. And it made Charlotte realise that she was exactly where she wanted and needed to be. Yes, they were seeing terrible and inhuman things and this job required a lot of energy, but they were doing their work and helping people by catching criminals. 

" Elle, two weeks of pure heaven, " Derek said, talking with Elle about his friend's resort and vacation there as they walked to their desks. Elle dreamily sighed and then gave Charlotte a small but friendly smile when she joined them at Derek's desk. 

" I can't imagine what two weeks away from this place is going to feel like, " Elle told her colleagues, holding her cup of coffee and thinking of the upcoming vacation. 

" Tell me about it, " Charlotte agreed with Elle as she leaned against Derek's desk. They were getting two weeks off work and Charlotte could not wait for it to start. It felt like all their hard work paid off and those two weeks of vacation were a well-deserved reward. 

" Well, you know, you better thank your man upstairs for making it the whole team. Otherwise, you know they'd find a reason to bring us back up in here. "

" Don't jinx it, " Charlotte said, glancing at Derek and he smiled in response. 

" Oh, there he is. Pretty boy, last chance. I can get my man to swing you a hotel room for practically nothing. Even you might get a little loving out there," Derek Morgan walked towards Spencer who was grabbing his things. " You too, " he looked at Charlotte who was still leaning against his desk and winked with a smile on his face. 

" It sounds amazing, but I have planned a road trip with my family and I can't wait for it, " she smiled, thinking about all the plans she has for these two weeks with her family. It was her time off and she was ready to spend it with her parents and siblings. 

" Thanks anyway. I have to go. Going home. Have a good one, guys, " Spencer did not throw a glance at his colleagues. He just grabbed his things and left. 

•••

Charlotte grabbed her luggage and started to walk towards the JFK airport exit as a small smile appeared on her face. She was back in New York where she was born and raised. It took her a few minutes to catch a taxi and then she was off to the place she called her home until she decided to join the FBI and moved to Washington DC. When they reached her neighbourhood, Charlotte told the taxi driver to stop two houses away from the address she gave. Her family was expecting her to arrive tomorrow and not today so she wanted to surprise them. She paid the driver, took her luggage and stepped out of the taxi. Charlotte walked to the house and pressed the doorbell. 

" Hi, " Charlotte smiled widely when her dad opened the door. He stared at her for a second or two as if he could not believe that his middle child was standing at the doorstep and then he hugged her tightly. Charlotte chuckled, wrapping her hands around her dad. 

" You said that you're flying here tomorrow, " Michael Winslow said, grabbing his daughter's luggage and ushering her inside. She took off her jacket, hung it on the coat rack, and took off her shoes. 

" Well, I wanted to surprise you all. "

" Honey, who was at the door? " her mother asked when she heard Michael coming back to the living room. The dark-haired woman was curled up on the couch with a book in her hands, and her reading glasses on her nose. 

" Hi, mom, " Charlotte greeted the woman. Taylor Winslow raised her head and gasped when she saw her daughter. She quickly stood up and met Charlotte in the middle of the living room, pulling her into a warm, motherly hug. 

•••

Charlotte laughed with her parents and younger sister when her brother finished his funny story and took a sip of her wine. She was happy to finally see their faces and hear their voices in real life, not through phone or video calls. It had been way too long since they were all together like this. Her brother Luke grabbed the United States of America map and put it on the coffee table.

" So, the day after tomorrow we grab our camper and leave New York, right? " Luke started to speak, glancing at his family members. His father nodded and Luke looked at the map, checking the route they were going to take to drive to Los Angeles. 

Charlotte's phone dinged, alerting her to a new text message. She furrowed her eyebrows, pulling it out of her pocket and wondering who could be texting her at almost one in the morning. Elle and Derek were already in Jamaica, Hotch was spending time with his family and Gideon was in his cabin. She and Reid were not friends so they did not text each other. Everyone who was on vacation was enjoying it. Penelope and JJ were working, but she was sure they would not be texting her at this hour. Well, unless Penelope decided to send her pictures of Kiki whom she was petsitting while Charlotte was on her trip. 

UNKNOWN: You must help him save her. He can not do that without you. 

'What the hell?' Charlotte thought when she finished reading the message from the unknown number. Her family was doing the final touches of their upcoming road trip and she was reading this message over and over again until her phone started to ring. When she saw Hotch's name on her screen, she excused herself and left the living room, her family giving each other confused looks. 

" Hotch? " Charlotte asked, answering the call. Something must have happened if he was calling her while on vacation and at one in the morning. 

" One of the youngest holds the key. The other must help the other. You must help him save her, " Hotch said, explaining the call he got a minute ago from the stranger.

" Something is happening here, " Charlotte murmured, a bad feeling coming over her. " I got the text message that said I need to help him save her and he can't do that without me. "

" Morgan's calling me. How fast you can get back here? "

" I'm on the next flight back. "

●'I'●'I'●'I'●'I'●'I'●'I'●

We have reached the first milestone of this book - chapter ten! I'm grateful for every reader and I love you all! ♥