No-one had seen Annabel Bradey in a decade, that was until she resurfaced in SSA Aaron Hotchner's office in Quantico. She was carrying scars both physical and mental, but wouldn't share her story. Or at least not until everyone she loved was in dang...
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Penelope Garcia could have sworn she knew that face. The woman was clearly distressed, her hands pulling at her hair as she paced backwards and forwards in the office, never once turning her face to the window. Even though she wasn't a profiler, Penelope was able to put the actions together and understand that the woman was paranoid. The phone had been taken off of the hook, and the external curtains had been pulled closed.
She lowed her pace as walked past her boss' window, becoming sure of the recollection the moment that she saw the woman's eyes. Somehow, her bone structure paired with the unique dual coloured eyes struck a match in Penelope's mind. From a glance, she knew this woman, now she had to place the face.
Crossing towards the rest of the team, her face firm with confusion, Penelope was on a mission. Taking Jennifer's seat, she continued to glance into the office, ignoring whatever conversation Derek and Spencer were having beside her. Stood in Aaron Hotchner's office was a woman she knew; she wasn't going to give up until she had successfully identified her.
It wasn't until Aaron entered the floor, greeted by security who said something before pointing at the office, that Penelope understood where she knew the face. It was Aaron's quickened pace to the office, ignoring the calls from the other agents that helped her make the connection.
That face had been on her screen every few months, as she tried to find her. However, she had stared at her dual-coloured eyes and jagged scar on the left side of her jaw. She knew her name, having followed any breadcrumb she could every few months.
Turning to Derek, Penelope asked, "Is that Annabel Bradey?"
"I don't know who that is, Mama." Derek Morgan replied, having followed her eyesight to the office where Aaron was now embracing the woman. "But Hotch seems to know the girl."
Having heard the slight laughter in Derek's voice, Spencer joined the two of them in the observation of their boss. Taking in the sight, the youngest team member stated, "She seems nervous, maybe she doesn't know him that well."
"If it's who I think it is, she doesn't know anyone very well." Penelope muttered, catching both the doctor and the agent's attention. They each looked at her questionably, prompting the woman to announce, "I shouldn't tell you anything."
Taking in a deep breath, Penelope tried her hardest to find the strength to keep the knowledge internal. Personally, she didn't know the identity of the girl, she only knew what was on file, and even that wasn't a lot. That information wouldn't even be settled in her mind had Aaron not trusted her, something she had felt oddly honoured by.
She knew that by sharing what she knew, she would be sharing a part of her boss. A part she was sure he wanted to keep private. With Foyet and Haley all information had been public, yet with everything she knew about Annabel Bradey he had never once attempted to share it. Yet, if this was the woman resurfaced, then it was in his best interest for all information to be shared.
Turning on the chair, Penelope sighed before explaining, "She went missing over a decade ago, and – when we got the new system – he asked me to search for her. After everything with Foyet he's been asking me almost monthly."
"Over a decade ago?" Derek asked, causing the technical analysis to nod her head. "That was before Jack was born."
"Hotch reported her missing after she failed to turn up to his and Haley's wedding." Penelope explained, causing Spencer to look confused. "The police didn't take it seriously until at lease two weeks later when no-one had heard from her."
Noticing that the binds had now been shut, Spencer questioned, "Did they not trust Hotch's judgement?"
"They thought it was a choice not to go to the wedding," Penelope explained. "The reaper case had just gone cold as well."
"That must be way he asked more after Foyet's death." Spencer thought aloud, causing Derek to nod in agreement. "But if it's been a decade, why hasn't she ever gotten into contact with him?"
Behind the trio, Jennifer and Emily had walked in, confused by the end of the conversation they had caught, "Who's not gotten in touch?"
"Annabel Bradey." Spencer stated earning a glare from Penelope who was aware that she shouldn't have shared her knowledge. "We think that's the girl who is in Hotch's office."
Jennifer shook her head, stating, "I asked at the desk where Hotch was earlier, and they said he wasn't in yet, but that Mabel Stanley was in waiting in his office."
"Mabel Stanley is a character in the Pirate's of Penzance." Spencer stated, looking at the group having put the pieces together.
Looking from Spencer, to the office, and back again, Emily took in a break before asking, "Wasn't that the play he and Haley met in?"
Penelope nodded, suddenly being hit with the sheer connection of Annabel and Aaron. He had always assumed she had been an old family friend but given the speed he had made his way towards the office after security had spoken to him, he knew who it was.
"Who is that girl hiding form?" Jennifer asked, her voice catching in her throat as she pictured what it took for someone to hide their identity in a federal office.
