Finishing The Deed (Book #2 of Trails of a Psychopath)

Confession

Chapter Six

"Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times. If only one remembers to turn on the light."
~ Unknown

~ Rachel's POV~

I still couldn't believe I was back. Everything I was just put through in the last couple of weeks. Here I was, seeing my little sister again. I looked over at Reid and watched him as he drove. His knuckles were wrapped tightly around the wheel, but he looked relaxed and had a small smile on his lips. I was surprised when I noticed his shirt untucked, his sleeves rolled up and wrinkled, just disheveled.
It made me realize he was taking this whole situation just as hard as I was. From the time that I've been with him, him not being tidy, neat, and clean, meant he was really being affected by this...by me.
We turned a right and I started to see the office in the distance. It looked eerie in the darkness, empty and quiet. I turned to look at Reid but realized he was already looking at me. I felt his hand wrap around mine and I looked down at them. It looked so weird, but it felt so right at the same time.

"Are you going to tell him about..." I asked quietly, gesturing to our hands.

He thought about it for a moment and then nodded. He seemed hesitant, so did I, But he said yes. I smiled a little, even though my heart was currently ramming against my ribcage. I looked back over at the building, taking a shaky breath. I've been on such adrenaline that the soreness and pain I was feeling had faded away.

"You're going to be okay, Rachel. You're back now, you're safe." He soothed me, getting out of the car and coming to my side.

I opened the door and when I got out, my hand nervously searched until I found his. I didn't know why I was so nervous, or why I was dreading going inside. Reid gently pulled me along with him and I saw in the corner of my eye another car. I somehow knew it was Hotch's and nodded to myself that I was going to be alright.

We walked up the familiar steps and my heart pounded in my ears as Reid pushed open the door. His hand slipped from mine and when I looked up, he nodded to me. I nodded back at him and we walked through the door. I took a deep breath and stepped inside the room. It took a few minutes to adjust to the bright lights and I looked around.

I saw Hotch and Charlotte standing there, my sister was standing right in front of me. She was so beautiful, even with her cheeks bright red from the cold and her nose running. Her blonde hair was put in a small ponytail and she was wearing a pink coat with her duck pajamas underneath.

Her small hand was gripped tightly in Hotch's large one. He looked at me for a few minutes until a small gasp escaped Charlotte and her hand dropped from Hotch's and she started sprinting towards me. I let out a sob and dropped to my knees and opened my arms. She ran into me and I wrapped my arms tightly around her.

"Sissy!? You're back! You're back!" Charlotte cheered, her little arms trying to wrap around my waist.

I chuckled breathlessly and nodded as tears ran down my face. I kissed her face multiple times, making her giggle and squirm. I finally, and reluctantly, let her go as she smiled brightly up at me.

"Sissy? Where were you all this time, why were you gone for so long?"

I struggled to find the words and decided to tell a little white lie. I hated lying to her, but she didn't need to know what I went through. She's already been through enough traumatic events to last her a lifetime.

"Sweetie... I was having an adult problem and I just needed to go fix it." I lied, looking down at her to see her start nodding.

She looked at me in confusion and touched her fingertips to my cuts and bruises littered on my face. I held her hand back gently and kissed her nose. She giggled loudly and jumped in my lap. I sat down and let her lay her head down on my chest as I pulled her closer to me. I breathed a sigh of relief and hugged her tightly. I was finally able to look up at Hotch and see he was still in his same position.