Army Brat

Chap 7 "Why I Didn't Tell"

Scarlett's POV
I ran to the park as fast as I can. I sat there and just broke down. My dad joined me a couple minutes later. "I don't wanna talk to you," I replied.
"Then just listen," Dad sighed. "They had a right to know. You wouldn't be where you are now if you hadn't told." I scoffed. "I may have been out of line when I told your team. But I've been thinking. What if this is your brother trying to contact you?"
"Then he could've, oh, I don't know, pick up a phone like a normal person," I sarcastically replied. "Or write me. Anything but become a serial arsonist and trying to kill innocent people." I looked at Dad. "What if it isn't Kelson? I don't even know when he's to be released." I saw a red dot on Dad's uniform. "Dad, get down!" I grabbed my dad and we hit the floor as soon as gunshots went off. We crawled over to different trees to shield ourselves. I withdraw my gun and Morgan ran over to my dad. "Get him to safety!" Morgan and my dad ran off. I ran and hid behind items to make sure I wouldn't get hit. Just jn case they were going to shoot. I got to the field office and walked inside. "That's the last time I'm being out in the open."
"We have to talk," Morgan sighed. We all sat in the conference room, including my dad. "Okay, General Diamond, you have just got your fourth star. I understand you have your orders but we have to put you under protective custody until this is over."
"You think it's Kelson?" Dad asked.
"There's a possibility," JJ nodded.
"He's not out of prison, is he?" I asked.
"He's been released for a year and a half, baby girl," Morgan replied.
"Why hasn't he tried to contact us like a normal person?" I asked. "That is if he's trying to contact us."
"Prison can change people," Hotch replied.
"To do the right thing," I nodded. "Not make them worst."
"What are you going to do if this is your brother?" JJ asked.
"I honestly would say I'm not surprised," I replied. "The reason I didn't tell you is because I knew you'd do an in-depth background check and see if I will still be able to do the job." I sighed. "It was a thing of the past and it still haunts me till this day that my brother would do something like that, and now doing something like this."
"It's not your fault," Morgan replied. "None of this is your fault."
"No, but it's my fault that I didn't tell you about my brother, huh?" I asked. I read Hotch's mind right off the bat. "I had my personal reasons." The phone rang and I hit the pickup button. "Go ahead, Garcia."
"Scarlett," said the male voice. I snapped and pointed at Morgan. He understood and made a call. "Where are you hiding at? I know you're in Seattle. I saw you run to the FBI's field office."
"Who is this?" I asked.
"You know who I am," he replied, as I could feel his smirk. "It's your little brother, Kelson."
"Kelson," I sighed. "Where are you?"
"You know I can't tell you that," Kelson replied. "Scarlett, I need your help. I've done something horrible."
I looked at Hotch and he told me to keep going. "Kelson, I can't help you if you don't tell me where you are," I replied. "Remember when we were little? I told you we can't help someone if they don't, first, help themselves? Remember that?" I could feel him nod through the phone. "Then you gotta help me out first. You have to tell me where you are and Dad and I will come get you. You have nothing to be afraid of."
"Just you and Dad?" Kelson asked.
"Me, Dad, and --" I looked at Hotch as he held up two fingers. "-- and two of my friends."
"One," Kelson demanded.
I looked at Hotch and he nodded. "Fine, one," I sighed. "Now, where's your location?"
"8374 Heltic Lane," Kelson replied. "If I see anyone else other than you, dad, and your friend, the little girl dies."
"Wait, Kels --" He hung up the phone before I could finish. "Now he has a little girl hostage."
"Morgan, you go in with Scarlett and her dad," Hotch nodded. "Please wear bullet proof vests under your clothing."
"Always do," I nodded as I pulled up my shirt to reveal my vest. I put it back down. "Let's go and save the little girl." Dad, Morgan, and I got into an SUV and Morgan was driving. "So, either way my brother is going to prison for kidnapping and possession of a deadly weapon."
"According to the law, yes," Morgan replied. "And if he did set that building on fire, he's going away for life."
"How'd he get out in the first place?" Dad asked.
"If you're good in prison, they have this thing about an early release," I replied. "You're basically in their good graces. They watch you in prison."
"We're here," Morgan replied as he parked the car. "Let's go."
"Yeah," I sighed. We walked into the building. "Kelson? It's Scarlett."
"I see you," Kelson replied. He walked into the room with a little girl and a gun to her head. Morgan and I withdraw our gun. "Lose the vest and gun."
"Okay, but just me," I nodded. I put my gun up and back into my holster. I took off my FBI mask, but he didn't know I had a vest under my clothes. "I'm unarmed, Kelson. Talk to me." He looked at Morgan, and back at me. "Don't look at him, look at me."
"Just let me know when I'm good to take the shot," Morgan sternly stated.
"No, don't shoot," I pointed at Morgan. I looked back at Kelson. "Kelson, let her go and we can talk about this." I looked at her. "You don't want to hurt her, Kelson."
"Daddy, please," the girl begged.
"Daddy?" Morgan questioned.
"Sweetheart, how old are you?" I asked.
"Seven," she cried. "Daddy, please, don't do this."
"You're holding a gun to your seven year old daughter," I pointed at Kelson. "Don't hurt her. If you're trying to get my attention, you got it. Just let her go." Kelson groaned and pushed her towards me. I grabbed her and put her behind me. Morgan grabbed her and put her behind him. "What's her name, Kelson?"
"Evelyn," Kelson replied.
"Put the gun down and we can talk about this," I nodded. Kelson did and slid the gun over to me. We relaxed and I walked over to him. I grabbed Kelson's left hand. "I'm so sorry." I twisted it around back along with his right hand and cuffed him. "Now, where's the mother of the child?"
"Dead," Kelson replied as we heard cop cars outside. We walked out and I put him in one of the cars. "I'm the only family she has left. Other than you and Dad." He smirked at me. "Take care of my sweet Evelyn. She wanted to get to know her Aunt Scarlett."
"You have fun in prison," I replied as I closed the door.
"Hey Princess," Morgan stated as I walked passed him.
"Hey," I sighed.
"Pump your brakes," Morgan replied. I stopped and walked over to him. "You know our routine. I say hey and you usually insult me. Every single time, but not this time?"
"I hate profilers, even though I'm one myself," I sighed.
Morgan smiled at me, "Spit it out."
"I have to take care of Evelyn," I sighed. "I'm not letting my niece into foster home." I looked at Morgan. "And if Dustin wants to stay with me, I'll let him stay."
"You're going to have to pray for that," Morgan nodded.
"Scarlett," JJ walked up to us. "Hotch didn't want to talk to you about this but Dustin's parents committed suicide. They drowned themselves." I looked at JJ. "Do you want to take him in?"
"That prayer was answered pretty fast," Morgan rolled his eyes and walked away.
"I'll take him," I nodded. "I gotta take Evelyn too. It's going to be a hard one and I'm only nineteen, but I'm going to try my best to give the two of them a good home." I looked at JJ. "At least in Morgan's home, anyway."
"Oh, right," JJ nodded. "You're living with Morgan right now."
"Yeah," I sighed.
"Shouldn't be too hard once you see his place," JJ smiled.
"Thanks JJ," I nodded. I walked over to Evelyn. She was holding something in her hand. "What's that you got there?"
"A picture of Aunt Scarlett and Grandpa Randy," Evelyn handed me the picture. "I've always wanted to meet Aunt Scarlett."
"Well, Evelyn," I sighed as I handed the picture back, "the girl in the picture is me."