Criminal Minds Fanfic

Chapter 4

"This one looks promising," Penelope remarks, scrolling through the data on the screen. "Rita Barnes. She's 27 years old, lost her mother when she was 2 and lived with her abusive father until the age of 15 when she was put into foster care."

"What does the father look like?" Lauren asks from over Penelope's shoulder. She pulls up a picture and slides over a little to let Lauren see. "That's him," she proclaims.

"What?" Hotch asks on the other line.

"This guy looks exactly like our victims," Lauren explains.

"Sending you the photo now," Penelope chimes as she types.

"Garcia," Morgan calls out. "Where does this guy live now?"

"Sending you the address as well," she boasts, tapping her keys.

"Thanks Mama," Morgan remarks, before hanging up the phone.

"Wow," Lauren exclaims, putting the tablet into her bag.

"What?" Penelope asks, turning to face her.

"How did you get so good at what you do?"

Penelope turns her face to the computer for a second before returning her gaze. "I've been doing it for so long it's just... natural."

"Your parents must be really proud," Lauren remarks. Penelope's smile fades and is replaced by a small frown. "Did I says something wrong?" Lauren asks, leaning forward.

"No," Penelope croaks, holding back her tears. "It's just... my parents died when I was a teenager."

"I'm-- I am so sorry," Lauren apologizes. "I didn't know."

"Oh, don't worry about me," Penelope smiles. "I haven't had my parents around for years. It's just hard to remember sometimes."

"My mom died when I was 19," Lauren offers. "Aneurism."

"Oh," Penelope stammers. "You have no one then."

"Except my aunt, Mallory," Lauren explains. "She's the only family I've got now-- besides my dad."

"Have you talked to him recently?" Penelope asks.

"I haven't seen or talked to him in 16 years."

***

The next day, Hotch calls to say that they were able to stop Rita before she could kill the latest victim. He also mentioned that the father had sold the house Rita had grown up in just two weeks before the killings started. They also found the father's remains buried in the backyard. He had been the first. After Hotch's call, Penelope closes down her computers and Lauren collects the correct paperwork and divvies it out to every team members' desk. After everything is done, Penelope works on her laptop and Lauren sits on the sofa in the conference room. Both have decided to wait for the team to return.

"It'll be nice to go home and get some sleep," Penelope remarks.

"Yeah," Lauren exclaims, rubbing her shoulder.

"Shoulder bothering you?" Penelope asks.

"Ever since I was a kid," she explains, bowing her head.

"Injury?" Penelope offers.

"Something like that."

Lauren lays back on the sofa and rests her eyes. Some time later she falls asleep and is greeted by a different dream than the one she had had a few nights before.

***

Lauren is on her back in a small shed. Whatever she is laying on is making the hair on her arms and neck stand straight up. She tries to move her arms but they are strapped to her sides. She tries to scream but her mouth is covered with fabric. Her eyes wander wildly, looking for a way out. The shadowy figure appears and starts walking towards her. He is speaking to her but the words are inaudible. Lauren jolts her body back and forth, trying to escape from this horrible man. His hands reach out for her and she tries to scream. The hands rest on her shoulders and shake her violently.

***

She wakes to find Penelope and JJ huddling over her. They both stare down at her with concern in her eyes. She sits up and wipes the sweat from her forehead.

"You were sleeping so peacefully and I didn't want to wake up but then you started twisting and turning. It looked like you were trying to scream," Penelope explains.

"Maybe you should go home," JJ suggests. Lauren nods and stands from the sofa, grabbing her bag.

Lauren finds the bathroom and washes her face. Her makeup is smearing so she takes a makeup remover wipe from her bag and cleans up the mascara under her eyes and the lipstick on her chin. She throws away the wipe and leaves the bathroom. By the time she reaches the elevator most of the lights are out. Lauren peers into the bullpen; Derek sits at his desk filing paperwork, JJ is carrying a handful of files back to her office and Hotch is in his office unpacking his briefcase. She turns to the elevator and tries to run to it before it closes. A hand reaches through the slit and pulls the door back. Spencer stands in the elevator, waiting.

"Going down?" he asks, keeping his gaze away from her eyes. She nods and steps inside. She stands closer to him than she had before and both sit in silence. This time, Lauren is careful to avoid his gaze in the reflection of the doors. "I mentioned to Hotch about your help over the phone yesterday."

Lauren turns to face him. "You did?"

He nods and gives a half smile. Lauren smiles back and bows her head down. "Thanks."

They ride in silence the rest of the way but walk out of the building together.

"You didn't drive here?" Lauren asks after passing the parking garage.

"Don't own a vehicle to drive," he remarks, putting his hands in his pocket.

"Neither do I," she offers.

They walk to the train station together but eventually part ways. Lauren sits in one of the seats against the wall, which she never does. 'My under eye circles must be really noticeable now.'