Saving Grace |√| Editing

Chapter 13

The one who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The one who walks alone, is likely to find himself no one has ever been - Albert Einstein 

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I walked into my apartment, unlocking the door I walked in when I heard a smash. I slowly brought my gun out of my holster and put it up in front of me, "Who's there!?" I shouted, walking through the house and quickly turning around and checking each room. I finally found my cat and a smashed vase.

"Jesus Spice," I said placing my gun back into my holster and dropping my bag onto the floor in the kitchen. I sighed as I leaned on the kitchen counter and petted my cat as I heard moving behind me. 

"Hello Grace," Said a voice I was to familiar with, I turned around to face my best friend. 

"Carson!" I screamed and wrapped my arms around his body as the lights turned on to show all my college friends standing there. "Happy birthday Graceybear." Whispered Carson and I muttered under my breath.

"Shit, I totally forgot it was my birthday." I said biting down on my lip. 

"Grace. How could you forget your 24th birthday?" He asked as a knock on the door came throughout the room. 

"I'll get it." Said Jasmine, as she walked through my house her heels clicked and I smiled as I kissed Carson's cheek and walked over to my other friends and hugged them and kissed their cheeks. 

I heard coughs behind me and I turn to see my team, Spencer came up to me and lifted me off the ground "Happy birthday Grace." He said as he kissed my forehead. I squeaked as he nearly dropped me on the floor. 

He finally put me fully down on the floor, "Happy birthday babygirl," Said Morgan as he ruffled my hair, I pouted and Alexis and Jayden both laughed, before I looked over at them and glared and they just bit their lips to keep their laughter in. 

I heard Spice meow and I sighed before petting her again so that she wouldn't do it again. I looked over my team, Hotch had changed before coming over here but I could still see that he was worried, Rossi had his arms crossed over his chest and was worried himself. JJ was holding on to Will's arm, Prentiss and Morgan were both looking at me and smiling and Spencer was getting ready to do something that I don't know. 

I heard my phone ring and I dug through my bag to find it, "Reid." I said into my phone, I heard heavy breathing before I heard the voice I hoped I would never hear again.

"Happy Birthday baby," Said the voice I hoped I never heard again, I took a harsh breath in. I ended the call instantly. Before turning around and catching the edge of my kitchen island as I tried to steady myself. 

"Grace?" Asked Hotch coming straight over to me, to help me steady myself. My breathing again became rapid but I managed to calm myself down, "Are you okay?" Asked Hotch and I turned around to face him.

"I'm fine, Let's just enjoy this night." I said as Jasmine poured us a glass each of wine. Hotch looked at me once more.

"Talk to me in the morning," He said and I nodded, as I picked up my glass and drank it. Jasmine and Alexis looked at me worried and gave each other the look like, 'One of us is going to have to talk to her'. 

Alexis walked over to me and dragged me into a totally different room, "Grace. We can all tell that the phone call made you off your game. What was it that happened?" Asked Alexis, crossing her arms over my chest. That's when I looked down at my feet, My hands clenched and I sighed. 

"Joseph called me to tell me Happy Birthday." I whispered. Before I walked out of the room, I knew that Alexis was surprised, and If I was her. I would be too.