Trying to Escape the Hunt

I don't want you to hate me

Aella didn't like waking up in her car seat while the car was moving. She started screaming her head off and wouldn't stop for anything. My head started pounding, my arm started burning and I was over the outing real quick. I turned the car right around and started heading home. I could order pizza until Spencer got back, he could stay with the baby while I go shopping.

The parking lot was just as empty as I left it, not that it was shocking. There was a truck in my old parking spot. I haven't seen it before and I had a few choice words for the owner, no one's parked in the damn spot since I moved in.

"Come on now." I said to her as I pulled her out of her seat. I couldn't help the frustration in my tone, my mood hadn't improved any since Spencer left. I was dreading the conversation that I would be having with Sam shortly. But Aella didn't deserve my anger, she didn't do anything to piss me off. She's not old enough yet. She stopped screaming but she was still crying. I decided to leave the seat in the car and just grabbed her bag before heading inside. I didn't like the idea of going up the stairs but considering there wasn't an elevator I didn't have much of a choice.

I had to stop about half way up to catch my breath. The doctor wasn't kidding when he said that moving around too much would tire me out. He said that I should avoid stairs if possible. When I finally made it up to my floor, Aella wasn't crying anymore, she was sleeping. It took me a second to balance her, her bag, and my other hand to get the keys, not that I needed them. The door was unlocked.

"What the hell?" My already bad mood seemed to plummet even farther down. I moved to the side of the door and thought about it. I knew I locked the door, Spencer could have come back, but he would have called me. Gideon had a key, but he hasn't ever showed up while no one was home, he wasn't comfortable with just walking into a home that wasn't his. I took a deep breath and glanced down at my daughter. I didn't have anywhere to put her and the thought of putting her in danger made my heart speed up. I didn't have a choice though, I would have to go home eventually. I sighed and turned the knob, moving Aella so I had a free arm.

I let the door swing open entirely before popping my head inside. I moved Aella to the side away from the door as I looked. I wasn't entirely sure what I was expecting, but my dad sitting in Spencer's reading chair. I had half the mind to pull the door shut and leave. I licked my lips and froze. He was looking at me with a blank face.

"Are you coming inside?" He asked in a flat tone. I glanced down the hall and thought about how long it would take me to make it back out to the car. Would he catch me? Would he even run after me? It's not like he would have to, all my shit was inside, I would have to come back eventually. "Don't even think about it." He stood up and took three large strides towards me. He grabbed onto my arm that didn't hold the baby and pulled me inside before shutting the door and locking it.

"Hey!" The force jostled the newborn; waking her up. She didn't start crying but she blinked up at me. I was about to snap at him but the look on his face stopped me. The tension in the room was suffocating. I took a few steps back, hitting the back of the couch. I thought about putting Aella in my room, in her crib, but I didn't want to leave her. I didn't want to do anything other than avoid my father.

"Where's Dean?" I asked carefully, it was the only thing that I could think to ask.

"I sent him off on a case." The tone of his voice made my shoulder hunch down, I felt like I was nine again. He looked down at the baby in my arms. She was still awake, it was only a matter of time before she started crying again. I couldn't think of anything to say.