A House Is Not Always A Home: A Criminal Minds Fanfic

Chapter 6 - Threads of Records

The video was grainy, and the sound was muffled at first, but soon distinct voices emerged, echoing in the bullpen as if the past was coming back to haunt them.

"Are you sure she's ready?" a male voice asked, filled with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. 

"Ready? We've been prepping her and that other one for weeks. Trust me, she won't remember a thing and after they get through with the rest of those nuisances, niether will they," replied a second voice, this one cooler, more calculating. "This is our chance to see how well our methods work. Besides no one's going to miss them."

As the footage played on, a small figure came into view—a girl, her face partially obscured by shadows. She was clearly frightened, her wide eyes darting around the dimly lit room. "Remember the rules. You play nice, and it'll be over quickly. But if you don't... well, we can't guarantee your safety," the second voice taunted.

The camera panned closer, revealing a stark white room filled with unsettling instruments, and it became painfully clear that this was a setup for something sinister. Emily's stomach churned as she exchanged horrified glances with Rossi.

"What the hell is this?" she whispered.

"It looks like some kind of twisted experiment," Rossi muttered, his jaw clenched. "We need to find out who these people are."

The footage continued, and the girl's small form trembled, but she didn't speak. The camera zoomed in on the object in her hands—a crude toy, frayed and worn.

"Show us your toy, sweetheart," the first voice coaxed, but the girl remained silent, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"It's a form of control," Penelope breathed, clutching her tablet tightly. "They're trying to break her spirit."

Just then, the tape flickered again, and the male voice cut through the tension. "We've got to hurry; they'll be coming soon. The last thing we need is to get caught."

A loud crash echoed from off-screen, followed by a series of muffled cries. Emily's heart raced. She knew they had to act fast.

"Turn it off," she said, her voice firm but trembling. "We need to get this to the precinct. If they've been recording their sessions, there's bound to be more."

Garcia nodded, her fingers flying over the tablet as she prepared to export the video. "I'll start tracing the origins of this tape immediately. We can't let them get away with this."

As the footage ended, the team sat in a tense silence, grappling with the implications of what they had just witnessed. JJ and Spencer were still at the hospital, fighting for the girl's life while they raced against time to uncover the truth.

"Emily," Rossi said, breaking the silence. "We need to look into recent disappearances, especially involving children. If this girl escaped, we have to figure out where she came from."

"Right," Emily replied, her mind racing. "Let's split up. I'll head to the precinct and coordinate with local law enforcement. We need to get a list of every case that's gone cold involving young girls."

"I'll look into the recordings and see if Garcia can recover anything more from the tape," Rossi added, already pulling out his phone to call her.

As they dispersed, the weight of urgency hung in the air. Each team member felt the pull of responsibility—to protect the innocent and bring justice to those who thought they could operate in the shadows.

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Back at the Hospital:

Meanwhile, at the hospital, JJ sat in the waiting room, her heart racing as she stared at the closed doors where the medical team had taken the girl. Spencer paced nearby, his brow furrowed with concern.

"Do you think she'll be okay?" JJ asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"She has to be," Spencer replied, his own anxiety bubbling to the surface. "But if they've been experimenting on her—"

"We won't let them get away with it," JJ interjected, her resolve strengthening. "We'll find out who did this."

Spencer stopped pacing and looked at her, his expression softening. "I don't want you to put too much pressure on yourself, JJ. We'll handle this together."

"I know," she said, her voice steady. "But I feel responsible. We brought her here, and we're the ones who found her."

Just then, a doctor emerged from the doors, wiping his hands on a cloth. "Are you the family of the girl we brought in?"

JJ stood up, heart racing. "Yes! How is she? Is she okay?"

The doctor's expression was grim. "She's stable for now, but we're running tests. She's malnourished and dehydrated, and there are signs of trauma. We need to keep her under observation for at least twenty-four hours."

Spencer moved closer, his brow furrowing. "Can we see her?"

"Not yet. We'll let you know when she's able to have visitors," the doctor said, then paused, his gaze shifting to the floor. "She's been through a lot, and it may take time for her to process what happened."

JJ's heart sank. "What can we do to help her?"

"Right now, just be here for her," the doctor replied softly. "Children like her need support and stability. I'll keep you updated."

As the doctor walked away, JJ felt a wave of helplessness wash over her. She wanted to do more, but all she could do was wait.

"JJ," Spencer said gently, his hand resting on her shoulder. "We'll find out who did this. I promise."

"Together," she echoed, her voice firm despite the storm of emotions swirling within her.

Just then, JJ's phone buzzed, and she glanced at the screen. It was Emily.

"Everything okay?" Spencer asked as she answered.

"JJ, we've got a lead," Emily said, urgency filling her tone. "You need to get back to the BAU. We're going to need you both."

"What is it?" JJ asked, her heart racing with hope.

"We found more tapes, and there's a connection to a series of disappearances. We might be getting closer to identifying the people behind this," Emily explained.

Spencer's eyes widened as he listened. "We'll be right there."

As they raced out of the hospital, through the slush of snow, a sense of determination fueled their steps. With renewed purpose, they knew they were one step closer to bringing light to the darkness that had enveloped so many innocent lives. Together, they would kindle the flame of justice that would burn brighter than ever before.