Criminal Minds Fanfic

Chapter 1

The alley is lit only by a small street lamp across the street. Lauren stands looking to the opening, waiting. A shadow appears in the opening and starts in her direction. She begins to frantically panic, her breathes becoming rapid and uneasy. She slams her back against the wall, feeling the cool stone beneath her fingers. The shadow comes closer until it is within inches of her. She can smell the alcohol on his breath. He grabs her arms and her whole body goes rigid. He pushes her to the ground. He's on top of her now. She struggles to breathe. It's as if she's that helpless child once again. Hoping that it will all stop. The shadow comes into focus and she sees the face that has haunted her for 16 years.

***

Lauren Miller wakes in cold sweats, her head pounding. She sits up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Her hands tremble and sweat trickles down her arms. It takes her a few minutes to calm herself before she peers at the clock. 4:00 AM.

"It was just a dream," she says to herself, throwing the covers aside.

She swings her legs off the bed and slugs her way into the bathroom. She turns the shower on and sits on the ledge of the tub, breathing in the steam as the water heats up. Lauren's muscles relax and she turns the shower head on. After removing her pajamas, she slips into the shower, washing away the sweat of lasts night's nightmare.

After her shower, she wraps herself in her robe and shuffles into the kitchen. She pours some water into a kettle and sets it on the stove. Opening yesterday's mail, she leans against the smooth, granite countertops. Her eyes wander from the bills and junk mail in her hands to the ensemble laid out on the back of a kitchen chair. The black pencil skirt, fuchsia blouse, and black blazer pressed and laid carefully. Her great aunt, Mallory, had bought it a few days ago as a "congrats on your new job" gift. She had decided to wear it on her first day because it was the nicest thing she now owned.

The kettle begins to whistle and Lauren takes out her tea bags and a mug. She pours the steaming water into her "Big Ben" mug Mallory had given to her a few years back. Grabbing her mug, Lauren walks across the living room over to the grand piano.

The mahogany stained wood is smooth and shiny. She runs her fingers over the lid, collecting dust. Sitting on the bench, she sets the mug on a coaster and lifts the fall, revealing the keys. The sheet music, Ludwig van Beethoven's Fur Elise, rests upon the music rack.

Lauren stares down at the keys, her fingers resting on the keys.

'I can do this,' she thinks to herself, 'this used to be child's play. Why can't I play it?'

She stares at the keys, her fingers still sitting on the ivory keys. She looks up at the sheet music, remembering when she once could play the notes splayed on the paper. Now they were so foreign, so distant.

"Maybe one day," she says to herself, shutting the fall and picking up her mug.

***

After getting ready for the day, she finishes her tea, stuffs her paperwork into her briefcase and checks herself in the mirror. The bags under her eyes are still quite noticeable, even after applying layers of makeup. Lauren lets out a sigh before grabbing her keys, opening the door, and stepping out into the hallway of her condo building. She checks her watch: 4:45 AM.

Each floor of Lauren's condominium has two decently sized condos, each approximately 2,000 square feet. Inside has two bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room, and one and half baths.

The woman across the hallway, Gloria, walks out of her door just as Lauren does, holding a garbage bag in hand. She glances across the staircase separating the two condos and smiles politely.

"Good morning, Gloria," Lauren says.

"Good morning!" Gloria replies, giddily. "Off to your first day of work?"

"Yep," Lauren replies, checking to make sure the door locked behind her. "Couldn't sleep again Gloria?"

"You know it. Did your aunt buy that outfit for you?" Gloria asks, making her way around the banister, towards the stairs.

"Oh, yeah! It's lovely isn't it?" Lauren asks, enthusiastically.

"Darling," She answers, with a wave of her hand. They both trot down the flight of stairs. "Well, good luck dear," Gloria offers, waving to Lauren as she opens the door leading outside.

"Thank you, Gloria," Lauren says, turning down the street in the direction of the Quantico station.

Once aboard the train, Lauren stands close to the door, avoiding the gazes of other passengers. She stands holding the strap suspended from the ceiling, jerking back and forth at every stop until it comes to hers. The train screeches to a halt and Lauren releases the strap, waiting for the door to open. As soon as the door opens she strides across the station to the street.

She walks along the streets, elbowing her way past the people walking to work at 5:15 AM. She glances from building to building looking for the signs. She stops and waits at a crosswalk, glancing at her watch again: 5:20 AM. She looks up the street a ways, looking over the heads of the people on the street. She notices the towering building from a block away. Making her way past the people she finally makes it to the front steps. Glancing at her watch once again, Lauren takes a deep breath and walks up the stairs, through the doors marked: Federal Bureau of Investigation.