Criminal Minds: When two brains meet

Chapter 8

Disclaimer: Contains content from Season 2 Episode 2 of Criminal Minds.

When I walk into the meeting room, Gideon is immediately at my side, forcing me to stop.

"You're back!", he says, though it sounds more like a question than a statement.

I nod. "Yeah, lying around in bed for 2 months is long enough."

"Are you really sure you're fit to work again yet?", he asks.

I would be offended, if it wasn't for the concern I see on his face.

I almost died. I remind myself. He's worried.

"I'm absolutely sure. I've been cleared to be back in the field.", I say.

His face changes slightly. Is that guilt?

"I'm sorry.", he says and I realize that he blames himself for what happened to me. "I'm sorry, that my decision got you shot."

"It's not your fault. I understand why you made that decision and being shot is just a risk of the job.", I shrug.

Gideon retreats and I find myself a seat at the round table.

The case appears on screen and I immediately zone out. Everything the others are talking about only lightly scratches my awareness. It's as if I'm underwater. Their voices seem dull and far away and there is another voice in my head that is so much louder. It's HIS voice screaming.

"You think you're so much smarter than me, don't you? You little piece of shit. Let's see how that brain of yours is gonna help you in there."

On the screen there is a small boy locked into a small dark room, but in my head this is me. I'm back in the darkness. I'm hungry. I'm freezing and I can't see anything. All I can feel are walls all around me. It's so cramped. I'm having trouble breathing.

"40 000 images of child porn are posted every week on the internet, along with the appearance of 20 new children. The appetite for babies as young as four months old has soared. Many of these children had been kidnapped and sold into pedophile rings.", Reid says, but it doesn't really register with me.

"Guys, that room is really small and I don't see a door in there. Do you think he has been in there for almost a year?", I manage to squeeze out between forced breaths.

No one answers. The message is clear. We can't rule it out.

I suck in another forced breath. It's audible and I'm sure the others can hear, but they know me by now and let me be, continuing their discussion. Reid and Morgan throw worried looks in my direction. But all I concentrate on is breathing.

I'm in the dark again. It's freezing cold. My stomach is grumbling and all my bones are aching. This room is soo small that I can't fully stretch my legs. Standing up is not even up for debate, I wouldn't even make it to my knees without hitting my head. How long have I been in here ? Hours? Days? My mouth is dry and I would kill for a glass of water. Outside I can hear my mother humming in the kitchen with not a care in the world. So father must be gone then, otherwise she wouldn't dare to hum. Good, so he won't pull me out just to hit me again. How could I have been so stupid to correct him? What was I thinking? I know how he gets. I should have stayed quiet. He's father, I have no right to correct him! My stomach grumbles again. I try to put my hand on it, but hit my elbow. Is it just me or does this room get smaller. I feel like the walls are closing in. I can't breathe. Am I getting enough oxygen in here? How long have I been in here? Did my oxygen run out already? The walls are definitely getting smaller. I can't move, I can't breathe. I can't get out. I'm buried alive. Help... Please, someone help... Please... A small whimper escapes my lips and the humming in the kitchen stops. Did she hear me? Steps are coming towards the little door in front of me. She heard me. No, no,no no... Please, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have made a sound. I'm fine in here, please don't come in here. Please, don't....