MEG'S POV
I threw my head back in a laugh, my blonde hair scraping over his face. He reached out to touch it, and I smiled, taking his hand and holding under the table on my lap. He smiled back at me.
Spencer and I had officially reached the 'It's Complicated' stage. When I was almost raped last week, it was him I called out to save me. When he was in pain, I was the first one to fall to his side. I loved him. Er...wow, that just slipped out.
I didn't...er...I couldn't...tringler. Uhh...
I felt the warmth from his hand near the hem of my skirt, and I had this sudden temptation to lead up and under the obstruction, just so he could touch my thigh. I had no intention of making love to Reid, but he and I had never kissed to begin with. I refused to start my first kiss, and he was just too shy to make the move. I wouldn't kiss Reid, though. I'd just have to make him kiss me.
It was late, and we were at a little coffee place he'd found. So far, it looked like it hadn't been cleaned in 30 years, and there was just a hoe hanging out with a biker in the back, and a nervous man in the front shaking, coffee in hand. And then there was Spencer and I, so close, I could hardly breathe normal air, just the smell of him:old books and coffee, and a hint of crisp cotton. This was Reid.
"You wanna go back to my place?" he asked. I pulled away and looked at him. I'd never been to Reid's apartment. No one had been to Reid's apartment.
"Really?" I asked, leaning on him. He smiled and laughed at my eagerness.
"Of course," he said, stroking my cheek. I looked at the floor, blushing. I wanted more than anything for his lips to be on mine right now. A taxi and an elevator ride would dissolve this. No. I didn't want to go with Spencer and sit awkwardly on his couch. I would wait for this moment.
"Can we stay here, just a little longer?" I asked.
"As long a you want," he said.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
― Margaret Mead
NESS'S POV
I blushed as Robert tickled my side out in the parking lot. I squirmed but it was hard to do in a wheelchair. Yup I had reinjured my leg in the last mission but that was okay. Now Robert had to help me to and from classes. Yup Robert was the boy in my pshycology class and the one I was going to ask to go get coffee with me. I had finally decided to let love into my heart and take a risk.
"So Robert, would you maybe want to grab a coffee?"
"I would love to!"
He was tall with broad shoulders and light skin. He had curly black hair and bright blue eyes. He was captain of the football team and the wrestlng team. He was also intellectual and that was enough for me. Plus he had dimples. PS guys girls are suckers for dimples. He loaded me into his trailblazer and set off. We drove to the local coffee house Meg reccomened and we got inside as it started pouring buckets of water. Water which the inside of this building needed. Desperatly. He parked me at a table and went up to order. He ordered himself a black coffee and me a green tea. I can't beleive he remembered! I only mentioned it in passing during one of our breaks in pshychology. He walked back over and put a straw in the cup so I could drink by myself. He sat down and leaned towards me.
"So Ness, I feel like I'm missing so much of your life story. Could you tell me more?
"Maybe later. I don't like to relive parts of my life."
He nodded in acknowledge ment and we sat their quietly drinking. I cautiously leaned over and put my head on his shoulder. He leaned his head on top of mine and we just sat there. He sat up and collected our trash to throw away and pulled the wheelchair with me in it along with it. He put his jacket on me to sheild me from the rain and rushed us towards the car laughing all the way. He loaded us in and quickly pulled out. I leaned back and simply stared at him as he focused on the road. Soon we pulled up at my house. Too soon for my liking and he wheeled me up to the door leaving his coat on me. He knocked on the door and as soon as Garcia opened the door he bent down and planted a kiss...straight on my cheek. I blushed and he started towards his car. I quickly motioned towards his coat and he simply said,
"Keep it. You may need it tommorow."
Garcia all but yanked me into the door and pulled her phone out and dialed Meg's number.
"Okay girly, time for you two to spill all."
"Love makes us, but it also can break us. Countless are the stories from time immemorial of love unbroken, love betrayed, and love unrequited"
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MEG'S POV
I coughed again into my hankerchief, my back toward the conferance room door.
I groaned as I looked at it, snot with a reddish tinge to it. Blood.
"Whatcha got there?" some one asked behind me, and I jumped. I quickly folded over the hankey, and tucked it back in my pocket.
I turned to see Spencer. "Hey," I said, wrapping him in a hug.
"What'd you have?" he asked again.
"Oh, nothing."
"You have a cough?" he asked.
I backed away from him. "It's nothing, okay?" I said, a little too harsh and too defensive. He knew something was up. I wish I knew what.
Penelope looked at me as we began the meeting, knowing. I recalled our phone conversation from yesterday.
"Okay, girly, time for you two to spill all,"
"What are you talking about?" I asked. I was brushing my teeth while trying to gather candles, hoping the storm wouldn't knock the power out.
Penelope sighed. "I can't understand a word. Can I put you on face time or skype?"
"Should I know what that is?"
Regardless of my technical impairing, I figured out how to work the computer's skype.
"You and Reid. Her and her new boyfriend."
"He's not my boyfriend!" I heard from behind Penelope.
"You have a boyfriend!!" I screamed, toothpaste flying onto the monitor. "Ew," I said, wiping my screen.
"No, he's just...a...er..." her look got far away really fast. I sighed for her.
"Ah, l'amour des jeunes. Telle est la vie."
"You and Reid. Now."
I blushed. "Uh, well...it's complicated...He asked me to go to his apartment yesterday. Does that mean something?"
Penelope stared, mouth agape. "Oui," she mumbled, then snapped. "His place?! No one's ever seen his place!!"
"I know!!"
"What did it look like?" she asked, leaning forward. I looked away.
"I didn't go." Penny growled. "I got scared!!"
"Of what? That there would be some weird machine that pushes facts into his brain?!"
"No! Nothing like that! I was just...scared. Of him making a mistake about me. That's special to him and...I didn't want to intrude."
"So are you like, exclusive?"
"...I dunno, Pen, I just...would it be okay to see other guys?"
"Uh, no."
"I really care about Reid! And that's why this is dangerous. If I..." I swallowed. "If I fall in love with him, I'd be about 20 times more likely to lose him. I...I need to try and end this. I..." Think I love him. No. I can't say that. "This is dangerous. I need to see some one else. If I loose him, and I love him, I'll think I have nothing left to live for and-" I stopped, thinking about those days alone in the opera house. When I could hear the older girls gossip and the Prima Donna's get praise from my mother when I was nothing. When I was so unloved.When I-
"So you're going to find another guy?"
I sighed. "Maybe. Probably not. My best bet would be to die alone with cats."
Now I was sitting in the conferance room, Penny clearly waiting for the change in I and Reid. I kept his hand in mine, as Penny droned on about some dead bodies in Iowa...
NESS'S POV
I sat in the corner of the conference room and watched Meg and Reid. They were holding each others hand and I wondered what had happened to keep her from breaking up with him. I noticed something tinged red poking out of her pocket but from this distance I couldn't tell what it was. I figure it was just a pamplet or something. I started daydreaming and I remembered my dream from last night
It was dark and I was alone on a city street. I heard that distinctive scream I still shuddered at. Meg. I rushed towards where I heard the scream but I tripped and realized I had no arms to pick myelf up with. It was becoming reality. I heard "DEAR GOD LET THIS END!!!" It ripped through me and I pushed myself to a wall and tryed to stand desperatly. The buildings tightened in on me cutting off my space to move and breathe. I fell down again but this time I fell through the earth. I fell back into the room of my old captor. He had me chained to the wall again and had me propped on one of his pillows so I was "comfortable" that had been before I refused hus sexual advances and was raped. I remembered all to clearly the night he took me as his own. He had used me repeatedly and then cut my arms off because "sluts don't deserve to be able to do anything." I had never told anybody what all had actually happened and I couldn't. Meg was the only one who could halfway understand and she had never actually been raped. She had been one of those near misses you hear about on TV. I almost .and as cruel as this sounded. wished she had been raped. Then I wouldn't be alone.
I snapped back to reality as someone shook me. I looked up through my glazed eyes and saw Rossi bending over me. I smiled weakily up at him and he shook his head. I realized I must have been crying louder than intended because the team was staring at me. He kneeled in front of me and rapped me in his arms. He smelt like expensive cologne and suprizingly olive oil. I guess it wasn't so suprizing since he cooked.
He whispered gently as he leaned his forehead against mine,
"Il mio povero angelo prezioso. Non piangere. Nessuno ti farà del male di nuovo. Non finché sono in grado di dire nulla. Cry non è più il mio amore."
I had grown up with Italian always being spoken in the house as my mother was Italian.
I spoke back to him,
"Mi dispiace nonno Rossi. Non preoccuparti per me. Sono solo una ragazza adolescente ormonale. E 'solo una fase giuro."
"Non abbiate paura di piangere. E 'naturale, dopo tutto quello che hai passato. Io so di più di un semplice successo lo tagliare le braccia. Ma fino a quando il tuo pronto a parlare, mi limiterò a essere una spalla su cui piangere."
I smiled through my tears at his words and leaned into him. He motioned for the team to continue and he sat back there with me the entire rest of the time drawing lazy circles on my back as I leaned against him. I caught the victims names at the end however. They were Turtleheart Harlen and Frexspar Thropp. A gasp caught in my throat and I turned before I could see the bodies of the people I had once called family.
"Family quarrels have a total bitterness unmatched by others. Yet it sometimes happens that they also have a kind of tang, a pleasantness beneath the unpleasantness, based on the tacit understanding that this is not for keeps; that any limb you climb out on will still be there later for you to climb back. ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic's Notebook, 1960"
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MEG'S POV
I stared over at Nessa, concerned. I had heard my name in her sobbing, but I wasn't sure what it had to do with me. But I had seen her face, and I knew what she had to be thinking about-the rape. When she lost her arms.
I'd thought about it that night, when I rode on the plane, balanced in Reid's arm, he mumbling Sonnet's into my ear. I knew what I had been through was nothing. I was just scared in that moment. It was nothing. Nothing compared to what could've happened.
I'd seen girls, when I was young, in the Opera House, who'd been raped. It wasn't uncommon. But then, who believes a whore that cries rape?
I'd left Nessa there alone, left her in that same situation. I'd stared bawling on the plane ride home, thinking of this. But I couldn't think about it anymore.
Reid tightened his grip around me. "Don't worry about it," he said, and kissed my neck. I closed my eyes and managed a smile. But I couldn't smile either. I didn't deserve it. I looked at the screen again, wondering if Nessa caught that the dead bodies were her biological father and ex boyfriend. I prayed not. Nessa's life was so unfortunate. I shivered.
"Cold?" Reid asked. I nodded sheepishly.
"I've got a sweater in my desk if you want to go get it."
I bounced off and checked drawer after drawer. I opened the bottom one.
"No, don't-!" But it was too late. There was Reid, on the cover of some tabloid. There was a girl in his arms. She wore too much eye make up and was much too skinny. She looked a lot like me.
Lila's New Man.
I stared, sick to my stomach.
"Who is she?" I asked, scanning the magizine cover. Reid...some girl...My stomach turned. I was going to be sick.
"Meg-"
"I want an answer!"
He stared helplessly at me, throwing up his hands.
I nodded through the tears. "Yeah...yeah, okay, just save it. I don't need your stupid sweater," I spat, throwing the magazine into his chest.
"Meg-"
"Shut up!" I screamed, hands over my ears. I ran to the elevator, and shut it before he could make it in. I sobbed as I sunk to the floor, thinking of the last time I did this, he and I had almost kissed. Now, it was my sorrow.
I didn't need to make a painful departure with Reid.
I had found one.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NESS'S POV
I watched as Meg stormed down the elevator and Reid just stared at her. I remembered the day I first saw that magazine. I had thought the same thing as Meg at first but Reid had explained he had cut his ties to her after his tenure out there. I knew Meg would listen to no one until she had cooled down. I decided to focus on the....case.
God saying it got me chocked up. I hated that I was still so weak after everything I've been through. I knew me being soft would help no one on this case. Solving it and getting back as far as possible from Wizamania was my objective for this. And explaining to Meg what was actually going on.
We started towards the plane and I saw Meg fall in step with the rest of the group. She pointedly stayed as far from Reid as possible. You could see him trying to figure out how to make amends and explain the circumstances. I knew she would never hear him out on her own free will and she wasn;t going to listen to the rest of us for right now. We all sat awkwardly on the plane not quite sure what or what not to say. We felt the plane begin descent and the tension had yet to fade. I looked out the window and saw the familiar landscape of Wiz. The place never seemed to change. The mayor still called himself "The Wizard", girls and guys still went to separate high schools, and animals were still not allowed in city limits. Wiz had always said it was quote "The happiest place on earth!" But that was wrong. And not only because they ripped Disney off! The plane landed and I noticed the SUVs they got us were emerald color just like everything else in Wiz. The rest of the team looked like they had landed in a alien world. They weren't quite sure what to make of it except Hotch who had to come here to complete the adoption. Meg looked slightly queasy and a little pale. Even for Meg the queen of the albinos. I passed it off as the stomach bug that was going around. I noticed every was staying at least 10 feet from Meg at all times and I felt bad for her. When everyone went to load up I had dad load me into the SUV she was driving. From the moment I got in the car there was absolute silence. Like the kind in horror movies right before the bad guy appears. I tried to get the conversation rolling,
"Meg it's not what it se..."
She cut me off with a flick of her hand. I sat there and seethed. She was treating me like a baby! All because I tried to explain what really happened! Fine, she could live loveless for all I cared! I was furious and probably not in the right shape of mind when I said this.
" God you really are a harpy! I see what you did, you ripped apart a heart that was wanting to love you. You tore a man who was so adamant in his pursuit to love you. Now he will never be the same, he will always shy away from fully trusting a woman with all of his heart! You have a guy that loves you and two mothers who love you even if one won't admit it! She was tough on you so you would rise above her expectations! And Emily loved you with all her heart! She left so but she needed to! And your 19! Your not some helpless kid! You had no father but do you really need one with a mother like Madame Giry? My mother died when I was 10 and left me with a demented father! He abused me and my sister! He killed off the 4 month old my mother had died giving birth to! He nearly raped my sister before she escaped! Then she left me alone with him! Do you know why I said your name earlier? It wasn't because I blamed you! How could I blame you? I was afraid for you! You were being raped in my dream! It was my worst nightmare only it happened to you! You were the one that was attacked during the mission! You are my best friend and that last mission made me realize how deeply familial feelings ran through me for you! YOU just urggghhhhh!!
I was beyond pissed now and she just ignored me! I was going to kill her before we ever got to the police office!!
We finally arrived and my dad came to help me out of the SUV. I growled and walked inside before Meg could get out. I bumped into someone as I walked in and I fell backwards. I looked up furiously and noticed something familiar about the dark hair and skin. It was Fiyero! Elphie's beau and Boq's best friend. He stared at me perplexed for a minute then it hit him.
"Nessa why are you here? And why are you armless?
He was a transfer student from overseas so I guess he wouldn't have been around during "It". He transferred around alot so as to redo his student visa. I guess an anwser was in store for him.
"I see what you did, you ripped apart a heart that was wanting to love you. You tore a man who was so adamant in his pursuit to love you. Now he will never be the same, he will always shy away from fully trusting a woman with all of his heart."-Travis Martin
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MEG'S POV
I took Nessa beating silently. When we came into the conferance room, I excused myself to the bathroom to cry. Sobbing. Another girl. Reid was loving some other girl. I couldn't...how long? How long had this been going on? Nothing made sense...And Nessa...the rape...The thought of her bringing up my mother caused me to be sick. I threw up. I could see Spencer pouring his heart out to some worthless girl who didn't care a lick for him, and I saw my Mother, not certain what had happened to her daughter, whether she was alive or dead. I thought of my past, and I touched my neck gingerly....
"Meg?" I recognized Alex's voice.
"Coming," I choked out, a sob escaping before I could stop it. Why? Why couldn't I stop this? I needed to move on. Reid was always...just...different than other guys. I didn't flirt with him the way I flirted with other men, because I saught no relationship with those men. I only wanted Reid.
I could never have him.
I checked my make-up and cleaned myself up before exiting, and ran smack into a tan boy with curly dark hair.
"Oh!" I cried, falling to the floor.
"Oh, hey," he said, leaning over and flawlessly pulling me up. "I'm sorry." He smiled at me, a big, goofy smile. "I'm Fiyero, by the way. I'm the police cheif here."
"I'm Megara Giry," I said. "BAU."
He nodded. "Awfully big job for an awfully young girl."
"I could say the same for you," I nodded, walking away. I knew my face looked long and sad, so why did this boy wish to speak with me? I didn't want to talk. I didn't want to learn about him.
"Well, education pays off if you focus."
"Indeed," I mumbled, intently staring at the carpet.
"What's up?"
I looked up, shocked. "What do you mean?"
"Do not answer a question with a question. What is wrong?"
"...That's a very personal question," I hissed.
He threw his hands up. "Alright," he said, and started to walk away. I wondered if he was flirting. I saw a ring on his finger, and thought that this boy could easily be married. I would never care for a boy like that though. I looked over at Reid, who was ignoring me now. He didn't want to make ammends, nor did I. This is how it has to be. I knew I just needed to get over this. I wasn't going to accept his open arms. I loved Spencer Reid, but I could never have him. I needed to move on.
"These Violent Delights have Violent Ends."-William Shakespeare.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NESSA'S POV
I nodded for Fiyero to follow me to one of the empty rooms I knew well from my time here. I sat down on one of the plush easy chairs that always sat back here. I cleared my throat and glanced towards Fiyero.
"So your probably wondering why I'm back and armless yes?"
"No I was just wondering why the skys blue. Of course I wondered those two things!"
"God anyways its a long story that involves rape and adoption. You see after I ran away I was kidnapped by this sicko and he pampered me until one day he just snapped from me refusing to have sex with him. He raped me then cut off my arms. I was saved by SSA Hotchner and he adopted me. So long story short I travel with them now."
He looked quite shocked and I couldn't blame him. It was alot to digest about your fiance's sister's life. He stood up and pulled me against him.
"I'm so glad your back little bear. You know Elphaba misses you alot."
"She gave up the right to miss me 8 years ago when she ran away and left me alone with dad!"
"You know she regrets that Nessa. Why can't you two try to get along?"
"Don't push it Fiyero. Be glad I came on this case at all."
"Do you need help getting to the office?"
I nodded my dissent and began walking there myself. I wondered how Meg was doing. I agreed I probably shouldn't have said all that but it was nessasery to get her to see reason. She was holding something against Reid that happened 4 years ago. No one even remembered Lila Archer anymore. She was a hasbeen. Meg was a yet to be. That being said I wasn't going to apologize. I was right when I said all those things and we Wiz kids never gave up on what we said. It was part of this towns mentality. I decided to go check on Reid first because I felt like he was the one being wrongfully accused in this case. I made it to the office and noticed Meg and Alex were missing. I looked around and noticed everybody talking with somebody except Reid. He looked pissed and sad at the same time. I walked to my father and burrowed into his side. He looked down and a tight smile streched over his face. He was probably thinking of the last time we were here. The circumstances were just as grim then. I stared up at him and he rubbed my back. Just like my dad used to do. Till my mom died. She had been his medicine and saviour. When she passed he lost all grips on reality. It was quite disturbing. Then he had murdered Shell. My adorable four month old brother. I imagined he would look like Elphie. Black hair with brown eyes. Then I had walked in on Dad trying to pull Elphie's panties down as he was naked. Then he took the poker iron to my back. It was the stuff of disturbing documentaries. Then Elphie had run away to Shiz. The private college in Southeren Idaho. It was for intellectualy gifted. Elphies kind. Okay time to get off this train of thoughts. I looked around and noticed Alex had come back. I looked around and noticed Meg still wasn't here. I ahdn't intended to hurt her that badly. I was always told by my father I needed a filter between my mouth and brain. I said what came to mind with no concern for others feelings. God now I felt bad. Meg was a fragile spirit and I probably shouldn't have brought up the mom situation. Or the Reid situation. Or centered the argument on how she had never had a terrible life like I had. She had left Paris for a reason. One she still hated to talk about. I never understood her reluctance to talk about her life. One thing I learned was talking about it helped. It put the fears out there in the open and as soon as you acknowledged fear it became irrelavent. It was the ultimate conquering tool. I decided not to apologize to her but to attempt to at least back on casual glances at each other before the week was over. That gave me seven days to accomplish this. But for now I was rooming with JJ, the only other person dad trusted to watch me overnight.
"Obstacles are like wild animals. They are cowards but they will bluff you if they can. If they see you are afraid of them... they are liable to spring upon you; but if you look them squarely in the eye, they will slink out of sight." ~Orison Swett Marden
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MEG'S POV
I stared dead from my spot. I didn't even know where that was. I only heard when Hotchner yelled for us to hotel. I didn't room with anyone, and my sorrow increased as I sobbed and sobbed, alone in the dark. I turned on a light, and as I reached for my book, I realized my favorite Sense and Sensibilty was discustingly ironic now. I wanted Reid. I wanted Emily. I wanted the Mother I should've had. The Father who was there, and didn't push his finger to shush me...the beau who was faithful...the career I should've had....
I shook Paris from my head. I wouldn't come on the next case, that was all I knew. I wouldn't come. I got straight A's, as long as I was job shadowing the BAU, other wise, I went to normal classes, and got an education. I couldn't take it here any longer. It was just hurting. One day, maye soon, I'd come back to the BAU, but now, I needed some time to collect my thoughts and emotions.
I got a phone call that night, waking me from a nightmare, my palms sweating as I fumbled for it.
"SSA Giry," I said, yawning.
"SSA? Don't ya have to have a degree for that, hoe?"
"Sorelli?" I said, shocked. Annie Sorelli was my dorm partner. She was looking to be a lawyer, regardless of the fact she was teased for her Jersey-Shore type of attitude and appearance.
"Hey, little Giry!" she said. I groaned mentally. I could see her now, sitting on her bed with the light on at 3 oclock, chomping her pink bubble gum and changing her toe-nail color for the fourth time today.
"Sorelli, what do you want? Do you know what time it is?"
"Uh, yeah. I'm not stupid," she said. I could imagine her making faces at me right now, as I had seen her do thousands of other times when she kept me up at night while calling friends.
"Hey, little Joey from Psych wants ya homework from Tuesday to study."
"Then why don't you give it to him?" I asked shortly.
"I didn't know if you'd be mad or not."
"Just give it to him!!"
"Geesh, Megara, babe, whats up with you? Anyway, I think he was just wanting to check up on the blonde in Dorm G," she said. I groaned, realizing once again I was the only blonde on my floor. The stereotype was sadly mostly true-blonde's aren't dumb, but they have way to much fun first semester and flunk out. "He'll want to give it back to ya."
I sighed. "Joey...?"
"Ya know. Joe Walker? Blonde, tall, gor-ge-ous blue eyes!" her voice went up. "In choir with ya."
"Oh! Him...yeah...He's nice."
"Nice? Babe, that is one sexy piece of testosterone. He can build me a cabinet any day he wants to."
I sighed.
"He's just a little shy," she said, trying to coax me into to this.
"No. He's nice. A friend. An aquantance. Besides, he's just not...er...intelligente enough."
"Then you'll like to know William Darcy has taken over your spot in the library. Perhaps when you get back, you to can have a battle of the brains and all the built up sexual tension can be released."
I lunged to close the phone, upset with myself for putting it on speaker. "Hush up! Do you want this whole hotel to hear you? What sexual tension?"
"You know," she screamed in my ear, and I remembered my reasons for putting it on speaker. I could only take so much of the Bronx-meets-Italy accent. "You two are just...made for each other!" I slapped myself as she started screaming again the second I opened the phone again. I turned down the volume, praying Morgan and Reid couldn't hear her next door. "Just...You and Darcy would be...wow. Hot."
"Sorelli, that's weird," I said.
"I'm sorry, but Darcy...Mmmm...It's like Dracula meets James Dean."
"And either of those men have traits I should respect because...?"
"Oh, come off it. You love James Dean."
"Is he amazing? Yes. Is he a womanizer? Yes. Do I approve? No. Besides, Darcy is just...too...mysterious."
"And you love it."
"And how healthy would a relationship be, when I am simply attracted too this man because he is mysterious? Once the mystery wears off, how will I think him then? Let's face it, William Darcy is nothing but-"
"Your perfect match? Ah, Oui, my little French Turtle dove."
"Sorelli, there is no such thing as love. Get used to it. It doens't exist outside of fiction novels. That's why I live inside my head...no one can hurt me there..."
"...You want me to give Joey your notes?" she asked after a moment.
"Yeah, Annie, go ahead."
I stared at the breakfast Morgan had brought up for me, that I didn't intend on touching, but thanked him anyway. I knew this was shallow, but did he have any idea how long it would take me to dance off the carbs in this pancake? No thank you. He knew this, and sat in front of me. Okay, someone was staying.
I gingerly took the smallest bite ever as he began.
"So, whose Mr. Darcy? I presume not the fictional character."
I paled. "You heard all that?"
"Every word. Poor Reid...God I thought the kids mind was gonna exploid."
"It's dangerous, Morgan. You know this."
"I know it, but you're not playing fair."
"I don't know how to play!" I screamed, throwing my head into my hands.
"Hey, Meg," he said, taking my hands away and making me look at him. "I'm not saying to stay with him. Just, at least, give him closure."
He stood and rose to the door, but stopped. "Lila was nothing."
"He said he loved her," I said.
"You read the file?"
I nodded.
"Then you know it was nothing. You've never had another boyfriend?"
I looked away. "Not one."
And Morgan left me alone, and I dropped the pancake into the trash.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NESSA'S POV
I woke to the gentle lull of JJ's voice talking to Will. She had probably been up for a while by the sounds of her conversation.
"Hey Will, Nessarose just woke up I'll cal you later okay? Tell Henry I love him!"
"You didn't have to hangup for me. He is your husband."
She shook her head and washed me off before dressing me in skinny jeans and an overly large sweater for it was spitting snow. That was one thing I missed about Wiz. They had the prettiest snow in all the world. Just the right snowflake balance. We ate a hurried breakfest of milk and a bannana. I steeled myself to be on the receiving end of Meg's anger. It was like a hurricane. I just had to make it to the eye of the storm. We hurried downstairs and noticed everyone was wintered out. All dressed in those damn puffy coats I hate. I liked my trench coat much better. I glanced around and noticed no Meg or Morgan. WTF? Those two were usually some of the first down here. I glanced at my dad and he carefully escorted me over the ice covor on the ground. I guess Morgan, Meg and JJ are riding together. The rest of the team was with us and it was a silent ride to the police station. I was listening to the radio when I heard the most amazing song come on, "Hall of Fame" by The Script. I loved the moral to that song. Plus the lead singer was hot. Ahhh Danny O'Donoghue. Only one of the hottest men ever. Needless to say, I started singing along.
" And you'll be on the walls in the hall of fame! 'Cos you burn with the brightest flame!" This was the song we were singing at graduation for the seniors. I loved how the melody flowed so well. I noticed everyone was staring and I shut my mouth. I sucked at singing and I hated doing it in public. I just got so into this song. I stared at my lap and dad turned the radio down. I felt the car stop and park. I realized we were already at the ugly emerald green station. I was helped out and I walked inside. I noticed someone was in the booking area. I looked closer and noticed something familiar about the brunette guy and the blond girl. Ehhh oh well. We had a case to work and I need to start if we wanted to solve it. I sat down and noticed someone had set my laptop up. I called Garcia and asked her to cross reference a list of enemies of the dead and any "business" they had left unpaid. By business I ment drugs. She promised to get back to me and I leaned back. I had had another damn dream last night and it had been worse than the first.
" I was arguing with Meg again and she had run off. I chased her and found her in a room surronded by a pool of her own blood. She had slit her wrists. I ran to her and she had slumped into my side.. I tried to prop her up with no arms but she knocked me backwards into a door. I was back in my captos room. But I wasn't the captured one. Meg was. I was the captor. I watched myself abuse Meg and I heard her dainty screams. It ricocheted off the walls and reverbrated off my bones. I hated the sound of them. I ran towards her but our positions were reversed. Meg was the one beating me and I screamed at her to stop. My pleas fell on silent ears. I felt the cane swish towards me and as it hit I was in a different place. I was in Paris circa 1990's. I walked towards the opera house and walked in. I saw a older lad talking to two young girls. One was very short with a lean body and brown curls. The other was taller, leaner and had straight blond hair. The three appeared to be arguing. I watched the blond run out and the curly haired one went to chase her. I watched as the older lady stopped her and pointed towards the stage/ I caught the implication. She wanted her to practise instead of going after her friend. I watched the brown haired girl break down in tears and she sunk to the floor. I watched the blonds progression out of the open door. She seemed determined to not come back. I tried to chase after her but the memory stopped. Like a damaged tape. The part had been erased. I felt the cane hit my back as I reentered the room with Meg beating me. I saw the tears in her eyes and I woke up.
That was were the dream ended and I couldn't figure out what the one part had ment.
**********************************************************************************
MEG'S POV
The cold wind numbed my body, causing me to freeze and shake. Morgan offered me his scarf, but I couldn't take it. I deserved this, to be alone, shaking in the cold, without help. I had done it before.
"What's your name?" The woman's voice was rich and honest, but I couldn't help cowering from her. She said something I couldn't understand-my English still limited. I'd been in NYC a week now, but I had picked up a lot. How to survive. Run, and hide.
She touched my chin with her pale, thin hand, and I jerked away, but she held it there, gently.
"What's your name?" I knew this one bit of English, and responded.
"Mlle. Megara Jules Giry."
She turned around to a dark-skinned man. I caught the words,"She speaks French," but then I lost everything else. She gave him some direction, and he pulled out his cellphone, and dialed. I didn't know then this woman was Penelope Garcia.
While the phone was ringing, the black-haired pale woman looked at me, with a wide, perfect smile. Her lips were thin, and just a pinch darker than her skin, and her eyes were perfectly round. Her cheekbones were high, and her nose was long and pointed. Her hair was parted perfectly down the middle, and I knew my mother would've thought these the characteristics of a witch. But her eyes, were perfectly coal-black. All she did was smile.
"My name is Emily Prentiss."
I pointed to her,"Emily Prentiss."
I knew my French interpretation was a failure, but she smiled still.
"Garcia...phone..." was all I caught her saying as she turned to the dark-skinned muscular man. He nodded. Emily talked into the phone for a moment, before speaking to me.
"Bonjour. Mon nom est Emily Prentiss. Je ne vais pas te faire de mal. Je suis avec le gouvernement américain."
At this, my eyes went wide, and I tried to run.
"No! No! Wait!"
I don't know what made me, but I stopped, and turned slowly. I heard mumbling on her phone, and then she spoke again.
"Je ne vais pas vous faire de mal, je le promets. Je ne vais pas vous prendre n'importe où. Je peux vous aider, de toute façon vous voulez..."
"Meg?" Alex Blake looked over at me.
"Hmmm?" I asked, eyes wide.
"...Your phone?"
I listened again, and heard my phone distractingly fussing in my clutch.
"Oh," I said, and dug for it.
"Oui?" I asked. I heard Sorrelli saying something about Exams, but I wasn't listening. I just heard Emily's voice in my head.
"I can help you in anyway you want, but first, you have to help me..."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NESSA'S POV
I woke up in the same room I had fallen asleep in and I noticed no one was in here. I looked around and noticed they were all out in the conference area. I watched for a minute before deciding to keep looking stuff up in my computer. We needed to solve this case and ASAP. I saw Penny got my papers I requested delivered. I tabbed through the results and none stood out till I got to the seventh page. I noticed a famialier name under the list of people they owed money for drugs. Mr. Boq. I saved that report and continued reading it. It said he was charged with harassment after delivering several death threats to Frex. He claimed he was simply the messenger but he refused to admit who he delivered them for. Maybe the guy he worked for could be the one. I decided maybe we could bring him in for questioning. That might he might give us more info on who wanted them dead if nothing else. I stood up and walked towards the door. I realized I couldn't open it and no one noticed I was still in here cause the light was off. Come to think of it why was the light off? Oh well I can just kick on the door and see if they notice. I started kicking and as soon as I felt the door I knew this was going to be a issue. It was military grade bulletproof metal. I quickly tapped the glass and it was plexiglas. Damn I was running out of escape ideas. I looked down and noticed the door had one of those disabled door openers. God now I felt like an idiot. How did I not see that before? I shook my head and bummed it with my hip. It beeped and the door opened. The team looked deep in thought and I looked around. They all seemed centered on the board. Another murder had occurred. But this time it was a women. Mrs. Galinda of the uplands. It left no doubt in my mind. We had to question Boq and soon.
*********************************************************************************
MEG'S POV
I stared at the celieng, my eyes not focused, thinking about nothing as Sorrelli dronned on and on in my ear...
"And Joe wants me to tell you that he's really exicted your coming back. He said choir is boring with out you."
I laughed darkly at this.
"Yeah, right. He just wants a girl to fuck."
I noticed a few of the team members looked my way.
"Maybe off the clock, Meg," Hotchner said. I blushed deeply, and mumbled my good bye. I saw Nessa look at me.
"What? It started off about school."
"And ended about men?"
"Dumb men," I growled. "But then again, 90% of them are. Just looking for a good fuck..."
"60%" Reid said after clearing his throat, staring ath the ground, eyebrows pushed together. "If you want the whole deal about it. Sixty percent have taken advantage of an incapicated or unwilling female."
"...Whoa..." I said. "It's still over 50," I grumbled. "Men are putes."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NESSA'S POV
I guess me and Meg were on talking turns since she addressed me. All I heard was
"He just wants a girl to fuck."
God, did she think that little of Reid? I motioned for the team to gather around my laptop. I showed them Boq's files and how he had affiliated with all of the deseased in a persanol manner.
"We need to question him."
"We cant just drag him in here for no reason though."
"Maybe if we can get him to agree, he could coe in on his own will."
"Yes because he is obviouly going to come in to get questioned on his own free will."
"We do have a advantage."
"What?"
"Have you ever noticed Meg looks alot like Glinda......."
I trailed off and you could see the shock register over their eyes. I was suggesting sending Meg in there alone, dressed like the crazy persons love interest. I nodded and they looke at me like I was the insane person. I was just doing what needed to be done. Boq was not a threat and we could always rescue Meg if anything went down.
"We'll need to dress her up like Glinda first."
"She still has to consent first."
"She'll need a bubblegum pink dress and pink heels and extensions....."
"Hello. I said she needed to consent first!"
I glared Morgan down and he stared right back. I let loose my patened death upon the mortal scum glare and he reeled back.
"What the 'eff was that look?"
"Death glare."
"Hello Meg still has to consent here!!!!
"Well Meg? What will it be?"
**********************************************************************************
I stared, eyes wide at the two. I honestly didn't want to do this.
"No," Reid said, then caught himself, looking away from me. His voice pitched and squeaked. "No."
"Is it because I'm a blonde whore?" I asked, tears welling behind my eyes, thinking of the warehouse Nessa and I had been in, and the black rope, and Jace touching my midriff. I squirmed.
"You know that's not it," Nessa said.
"No, you're right. It's because some other girl was a whore, and I can be a quick surogate."
"Meg-"
"That's all I ever am!" I screamed. "It's all I've ever been. For cases, for Reid, in Paris-!" I stopped, the tears coming out now, and I couldn't halt the flow.
"Megara," Nessa said, looking at me.
"Yeah, I'll do it, but then I'm gone," I said.
"What?" Morgan said. I stared at my team mates, and wondered silently how much longer I'd be able to call them that.
"...I...well, that's why Sorrelli's been calling me. I...I've decided to go to class next week."
Silence followed, so I gave the end to the biconditional statement.
"I won't be coming back to the BAU."
Nessa stared. "For how long?" she screeched.
I looked away. "I don't know. However long I need to."
"Is it my fault?"
I looked up at Reid. "No, no. Spencer...It's not you..."
"Don't start."
"It's not! Okay? I just need to...sort out my life. Get on with it. Find a life outside of the BAU."
"Meg," he said to me, eyes hard. "You ran from Paris, and not here. You can't keep running when it's you your running from."
I stared hard the ground, but the tears blurred my vision.
"...Okay...Ness, just let me know when you need me to go undercover, okay? Then I'll just get out of your hair."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NESSA'S POV
I nodded at Meg and sunk into the closest chair. God I felt like such a bitch. I didn;t mean to imply Meg was a slut. Glinda had been a classy lady that got flung down the wrong path. Her fiance had called it quits the day of the wedding. He also told her he had been cheating on her the whole time with her best friend. My sister. I decided after this maybe I needed to step away from here. Get my prioritys in order and work on this damn temper of mine But for right now I needed to set Meg up for tonight.
I wondered into the undercover closet and started pointing out items to the designer. A pink ruffly top with sleeves that came to the elbow. I pared it with a knee length pink skirt and pink booties. A carefully concealed gun pack and all that was left was makeup. I told them pink eyes and pink lips. They finished her up and she walked out looking miserable. I felt horrible just looking at her. Eye contact might have killed me inside. I nodded towards the recreation of Glinda's car and she walked towards it. I watched her progression and finally I walked towards our SUVS for the stakeout.
We pulled out and followed Meg in her car. I noticed tears dripping down her nose and I was glad I wasn't in the car. Other people crying always got me in tears. We circled the building were she was meeting Boq and attached the mic to her. She wondered inside and I wondered if I hadn't lost the best friend and sister I ever had. I felt the tears dripping down my face and I did my best to stop the tears so I could hear what was going on.
**********************************************************************************
MEG'S POV
I wobbled in my high-heels ask my hair-curled into tight gold ringletts-bounced in a halo around my head. My hair was a lot longer than Glinda's but by curling it, it had taken two or three inches off my waist-length hair.
Stalking into the warehouse (shaped different than the last and first one I'd ever entered),hobbling on my heels, with my shoulder's thrown back and feigning the best walk I'd ever done. I hardly wore heels. Ballet shoes were so much more practical.
It wasn't long before I found Boq, Nessa's ex-beau. His hair was a deep bronze, like the color of an old penny. He was short, and his features were big and round, but still, he was attractive. His eyes looked intelligent, like he could've been a good student in school. His hands were small, but his voice was honest and loud.
Now, he was dirty. Face, hands, arms, feet. His hair was oily, and he had a baseball cap turned backward on his head. There were dirty syringes on the table, and I flinched in looking at them.
He sat up in his seat when he saw me from a distance.
"Glinda?" he asked, getting up, and tripping over his own feet.
I didn't respond, just kept clicking my way down to him. I watched his face fall when he came to realization.
"I'm sorry...I thought you were-"
"It's okay," I said, touching his face, interupting his slurred speech.
"You're not...who are you?"
"Rose Northland," I said. "I'm Glinda's half-sister."
"Half-sister..."
I jumped in before he could question too much. "Yeah, remember when Glinda's parents got a divorce a few years ago? Well, let's just say, I'm the reason why," I said smiling dumbly. "Her mom's year-long trip to explore the world? Yeah, well, it was more like a conception time, then dealing with a pregnancy."
"Oh..." he said. "I remember now..."
"Yeah," I said, skipping up. I ran my hand down the length of his arm.
"Boq, I came to offer my condolences to you, because I knew how Glinda felt about you. If there is anything I can do to...or for, you, don't hesitate to ask." I bit my lip, smiling still, gazing through my black lashes. I slipped off my shrug, and walked away.
"Whoa, is it hot in here! How can you stand it?" I asked, my voice replicating Marilyn Monroe's.
"Uh..." he said, eyes following my dancer's legs.
I slipped down the sleeve my blouse, then leaned in over him.
"I just can't stand how hot it is, Boq. Would you...?"
But his lips were on my neck, and my sweet smile turned to a sneer. I flippe him over, and took the cuffs I had hidden off of my waist and snapped them onto his wrists.
"What did I say, guys?" I said to my team. "All men want is a good fuck."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NESSA'S POV
I shook my head at what Boq had become. A man whore. When I first met him, he wouldn't have dreamed of whoring himself out. He hated to even look at women. I saw Morgan escorting him to interrigation. Her was were I came in. I loved breaking the men down and reducing them to babish tears of help to their mommies. I sipped some more wather through a straw and stood up. Time to go.
I walked into interrogation. He looked up and I saw awareness slip into his eyes.
"Ness.."
"No. You lost the right to call me that years ago. You played me and my family for fools Boq!"
"Nessarose I'm sorry but the circums..."
"You broke my heart and crushed it! You told about my father being gay! You threatened Elphie with exposing her secret to Glinda!"
I was fake sobbing by this point and he looked like I had slapped him. Now it was time for the double whammy.
"You sent death threats to my dad and his boyfriend. You made petitions to get them removed from town! You nearly got Elphie kicked out of school for a fake drug raid you set up to get back at her for hurting Glinda!"
He was leaking tears and mine were fast becoming too real to deal with. I hated my past and I strove to move forwards.
"You insinuated I was pregnant with my dad! You and others attacked Elphie for dating Fiyero and had her wound up in a hospital for two months in a coma! You had Fiyero attacked and he was on deaths doorstep!"
He was sobbing now and I was bawling. It was time to get what I needed.
"So who killed my dads and Glinda, Boq? I know you wouldn't so who did!!"
"He said he would kill me if I told! I can't risk that!"
"Please tell me Boq! I need closure from this and you do too!"
"Fine...it was.....it was....it was.......IT WAS THE WIZARD!!!!!"
I gasped in horror! I knew the Mayor hated us but he was the Mayor. He wasn't supposed to kill somebody!
I walked to Boq and bent down."I never blamed you Boq, never."
I walked throught the door. It was time to arrest the mayor and get the hell of of Wiz.
********************************************************************************
MEG'S POV
I stared through the interigation window. Whoa. Blows for Wizimainia.
I left with Nessa and the team to the Town Hall, and into the mayor's office.
"Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkel Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs, you are under arrest for the murders of Frexspar Thropp, Turtleheart Harlen, and Glinda Upland," I hissed.
"Put up your hands!" Morgan screamed as he reached in his desk.
"Okay, muscle, okay," he said.
Shit....
"Or...I could do this."
He pulled out a gun, and leveled it at my head. I didn't even flinch.
"...Put it down-"
"Shut up!" he silenced Morgan.
"Come 'ere, Prissy," he told me, and I stalked over.
"Drop your gun...DROP IT!"
I did as I was told, knowing there were several others aimed at us.
"Just shot him," I choked out. "Worst comes to worst it goes through me and hits him. The world loses one blonde. Big whoop. They'll be another one starting their period and claiming womanhood tomorrow. My spot will be filled."
"Meg, shut up!" Nessa cried, tears in her eyes. "Are you stupid or something?"
I stared. "Nessa!"
"Don't you know we love you? That I love you? God, you're so stupid!"
"Nessa..." I stuttered. "I'm sorry..."
"You act as if we don't care about you at all, Meg. We've done everything for you!"
"...I've always felt like you did it because you thought you had too. Isn't that why...?"
"No, stupid. We love you. And no one here is going to shoot."
"Nessa-" Hotchner began.
"Put down the gun," Nessa hissed.
"Morgan-" I warned as I watched his finger pull the trigger, and Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkel Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs never stirred again.
I sat alone in a bar that night. It was more of a little jazz club. I coughed into my hanker chief, and I noticed I hadn't eaten at all today, and that I wasn't hungry in the least.
Notes were plugged into the grand piano, and I mumbled the words to the song.
"The road gets rougher,
it's lonlier and tougher,
with hope you burn up,
tomorrow he may turn up,
there's just no let up,
the live-long night and day,
ever since this world began,
there is nothing sadder than,
a one-man woman,
looking for the man that got...
away..."
I stumbled out of the bar, my hands gropping the brick wall of buildings for support. I was tripping over my feet. I didn't have any alcohol in me, but no food either. What was wrong? The last thing I remember was falling into blackness.
And I woke, fettered to a wall.
I threw my head back in a laugh, my blonde hair scraping over his face. He reached out to touch it, and I smiled, taking his hand and holding under the table on my lap. He smiled back at me.
Spencer and I had officially reached the 'It's Complicated' stage. When I was almost raped last week, it was him I called out to save me. When he was in pain, I was the first one to fall to his side. I loved him. Er...wow, that just slipped out.
I didn't...er...I couldn't...tringler. Uhh...
I felt the warmth from his hand near the hem of my skirt, and I had this sudden temptation to lead up and under the obstruction, just so he could touch my thigh. I had no intention of making love to Reid, but he and I had never kissed to begin with. I refused to start my first kiss, and he was just too shy to make the move. I wouldn't kiss Reid, though. I'd just have to make him kiss me.
It was late, and we were at a little coffee place he'd found. So far, it looked like it hadn't been cleaned in 30 years, and there was just a hoe hanging out with a biker in the back, and a nervous man in the front shaking, coffee in hand. And then there was Spencer and I, so close, I could hardly breathe normal air, just the smell of him:old books and coffee, and a hint of crisp cotton. This was Reid.
"You wanna go back to my place?" he asked. I pulled away and looked at him. I'd never been to Reid's apartment. No one had been to Reid's apartment.
"Really?" I asked, leaning on him. He smiled and laughed at my eagerness.
"Of course," he said, stroking my cheek. I looked at the floor, blushing. I wanted more than anything for his lips to be on mine right now. A taxi and an elevator ride would dissolve this. No. I didn't want to go with Spencer and sit awkwardly on his couch. I would wait for this moment.
"Can we stay here, just a little longer?" I asked.
"As long a you want," he said.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
― Margaret Mead
NESS'S POV
I blushed as Robert tickled my side out in the parking lot. I squirmed but it was hard to do in a wheelchair. Yup I had reinjured my leg in the last mission but that was okay. Now Robert had to help me to and from classes. Yup Robert was the boy in my pshycology class and the one I was going to ask to go get coffee with me. I had finally decided to let love into my heart and take a risk.
"So Robert, would you maybe want to grab a coffee?"
"I would love to!"
He was tall with broad shoulders and light skin. He had curly black hair and bright blue eyes. He was captain of the football team and the wrestlng team. He was also intellectual and that was enough for me. Plus he had dimples. PS guys girls are suckers for dimples. He loaded me into his trailblazer and set off. We drove to the local coffee house Meg reccomened and we got inside as it started pouring buckets of water. Water which the inside of this building needed. Desperatly. He parked me at a table and went up to order. He ordered himself a black coffee and me a green tea. I can't beleive he remembered! I only mentioned it in passing during one of our breaks in pshychology. He walked back over and put a straw in the cup so I could drink by myself. He sat down and leaned towards me.
"So Ness, I feel like I'm missing so much of your life story. Could you tell me more?
"Maybe later. I don't like to relive parts of my life."
He nodded in acknowledge ment and we sat their quietly drinking. I cautiously leaned over and put my head on his shoulder. He leaned his head on top of mine and we just sat there. He sat up and collected our trash to throw away and pulled the wheelchair with me in it along with it. He put his jacket on me to sheild me from the rain and rushed us towards the car laughing all the way. He loaded us in and quickly pulled out. I leaned back and simply stared at him as he focused on the road. Soon we pulled up at my house. Too soon for my liking and he wheeled me up to the door leaving his coat on me. He knocked on the door and as soon as Garcia opened the door he bent down and planted a kiss...straight on my cheek. I blushed and he started towards his car. I quickly motioned towards his coat and he simply said,
"Keep it. You may need it tommorow."
Garcia all but yanked me into the door and pulled her phone out and dialed Meg's number.
"Okay girly, time for you two to spill all."
"Love makes us, but it also can break us. Countless are the stories from time immemorial of love unbroken, love betrayed, and love unrequited"
*********************************************************************************
MEG'S POV
I coughed again into my hankerchief, my back toward the conferance room door.
I groaned as I looked at it, snot with a reddish tinge to it. Blood.
"Whatcha got there?" some one asked behind me, and I jumped. I quickly folded over the hankey, and tucked it back in my pocket.
I turned to see Spencer. "Hey," I said, wrapping him in a hug.
"What'd you have?" he asked again.
"Oh, nothing."
"You have a cough?" he asked.
I backed away from him. "It's nothing, okay?" I said, a little too harsh and too defensive. He knew something was up. I wish I knew what.
Penelope looked at me as we began the meeting, knowing. I recalled our phone conversation from yesterday.
"Okay, girly, time for you two to spill all,"
"What are you talking about?" I asked. I was brushing my teeth while trying to gather candles, hoping the storm wouldn't knock the power out.
Penelope sighed. "I can't understand a word. Can I put you on face time or skype?"
"Should I know what that is?"
Regardless of my technical impairing, I figured out how to work the computer's skype.
"You and Reid. Her and her new boyfriend."
"He's not my boyfriend!" I heard from behind Penelope.
"You have a boyfriend!!" I screamed, toothpaste flying onto the monitor. "Ew," I said, wiping my screen.
"No, he's just...a...er..." her look got far away really fast. I sighed for her.
"Ah, l'amour des jeunes. Telle est la vie."
"You and Reid. Now."
I blushed. "Uh, well...it's complicated...He asked me to go to his apartment yesterday. Does that mean something?"
Penelope stared, mouth agape. "Oui," she mumbled, then snapped. "His place?! No one's ever seen his place!!"
"I know!!"
"What did it look like?" she asked, leaning forward. I looked away.
"I didn't go." Penny growled. "I got scared!!"
"Of what? That there would be some weird machine that pushes facts into his brain?!"
"No! Nothing like that! I was just...scared. Of him making a mistake about me. That's special to him and...I didn't want to intrude."
"So are you like, exclusive?"
"...I dunno, Pen, I just...would it be okay to see other guys?"
"Uh, no."
"I really care about Reid! And that's why this is dangerous. If I..." I swallowed. "If I fall in love with him, I'd be about 20 times more likely to lose him. I...I need to try and end this. I..." Think I love him. No. I can't say that. "This is dangerous. I need to see some one else. If I loose him, and I love him, I'll think I have nothing left to live for and-" I stopped, thinking about those days alone in the opera house. When I could hear the older girls gossip and the Prima Donna's get praise from my mother when I was nothing. When I was so unloved.When I-
"So you're going to find another guy?"
I sighed. "Maybe. Probably not. My best bet would be to die alone with cats."
Now I was sitting in the conferance room, Penny clearly waiting for the change in I and Reid. I kept his hand in mine, as Penny droned on about some dead bodies in Iowa...
NESS'S POV
I sat in the corner of the conference room and watched Meg and Reid. They were holding each others hand and I wondered what had happened to keep her from breaking up with him. I noticed something tinged red poking out of her pocket but from this distance I couldn't tell what it was. I figure it was just a pamplet or something. I started daydreaming and I remembered my dream from last night
It was dark and I was alone on a city street. I heard that distinctive scream I still shuddered at. Meg. I rushed towards where I heard the scream but I tripped and realized I had no arms to pick myelf up with. It was becoming reality. I heard "DEAR GOD LET THIS END!!!" It ripped through me and I pushed myself to a wall and tryed to stand desperatly. The buildings tightened in on me cutting off my space to move and breathe. I fell down again but this time I fell through the earth. I fell back into the room of my old captor. He had me chained to the wall again and had me propped on one of his pillows so I was "comfortable" that had been before I refused hus sexual advances and was raped. I remembered all to clearly the night he took me as his own. He had used me repeatedly and then cut my arms off because "sluts don't deserve to be able to do anything." I had never told anybody what all had actually happened and I couldn't. Meg was the only one who could halfway understand and she had never actually been raped. She had been one of those near misses you hear about on TV. I almost .and as cruel as this sounded. wished she had been raped. Then I wouldn't be alone.
I snapped back to reality as someone shook me. I looked up through my glazed eyes and saw Rossi bending over me. I smiled weakily up at him and he shook his head. I realized I must have been crying louder than intended because the team was staring at me. He kneeled in front of me and rapped me in his arms. He smelt like expensive cologne and suprizingly olive oil. I guess it wasn't so suprizing since he cooked.
He whispered gently as he leaned his forehead against mine,
"Il mio povero angelo prezioso. Non piangere. Nessuno ti farà del male di nuovo. Non finché sono in grado di dire nulla. Cry non è più il mio amore."
I had grown up with Italian always being spoken in the house as my mother was Italian.
I spoke back to him,
"Mi dispiace nonno Rossi. Non preoccuparti per me. Sono solo una ragazza adolescente ormonale. E 'solo una fase giuro."
"Non abbiate paura di piangere. E 'naturale, dopo tutto quello che hai passato. Io so di più di un semplice successo lo tagliare le braccia. Ma fino a quando il tuo pronto a parlare, mi limiterò a essere una spalla su cui piangere."
I smiled through my tears at his words and leaned into him. He motioned for the team to continue and he sat back there with me the entire rest of the time drawing lazy circles on my back as I leaned against him. I caught the victims names at the end however. They were Turtleheart Harlen and Frexspar Thropp. A gasp caught in my throat and I turned before I could see the bodies of the people I had once called family.
"Family quarrels have a total bitterness unmatched by others. Yet it sometimes happens that they also have a kind of tang, a pleasantness beneath the unpleasantness, based on the tacit understanding that this is not for keeps; that any limb you climb out on will still be there later for you to climb back. ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic's Notebook, 1960"
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MEG'S POV
I stared over at Nessa, concerned. I had heard my name in her sobbing, but I wasn't sure what it had to do with me. But I had seen her face, and I knew what she had to be thinking about-the rape. When she lost her arms.
I'd thought about it that night, when I rode on the plane, balanced in Reid's arm, he mumbling Sonnet's into my ear. I knew what I had been through was nothing. I was just scared in that moment. It was nothing. Nothing compared to what could've happened.
I'd seen girls, when I was young, in the Opera House, who'd been raped. It wasn't uncommon. But then, who believes a whore that cries rape?
I'd left Nessa there alone, left her in that same situation. I'd stared bawling on the plane ride home, thinking of this. But I couldn't think about it anymore.
Reid tightened his grip around me. "Don't worry about it," he said, and kissed my neck. I closed my eyes and managed a smile. But I couldn't smile either. I didn't deserve it. I looked at the screen again, wondering if Nessa caught that the dead bodies were her biological father and ex boyfriend. I prayed not. Nessa's life was so unfortunate. I shivered.
"Cold?" Reid asked. I nodded sheepishly.
"I've got a sweater in my desk if you want to go get it."
I bounced off and checked drawer after drawer. I opened the bottom one.
"No, don't-!" But it was too late. There was Reid, on the cover of some tabloid. There was a girl in his arms. She wore too much eye make up and was much too skinny. She looked a lot like me.
Lila's New Man.
I stared, sick to my stomach.
"Who is she?" I asked, scanning the magizine cover. Reid...some girl...My stomach turned. I was going to be sick.
"Meg-"
"I want an answer!"
He stared helplessly at me, throwing up his hands.
I nodded through the tears. "Yeah...yeah, okay, just save it. I don't need your stupid sweater," I spat, throwing the magazine into his chest.
"Meg-"
"Shut up!" I screamed, hands over my ears. I ran to the elevator, and shut it before he could make it in. I sobbed as I sunk to the floor, thinking of the last time I did this, he and I had almost kissed. Now, it was my sorrow.
I didn't need to make a painful departure with Reid.
I had found one.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NESS'S POV
I watched as Meg stormed down the elevator and Reid just stared at her. I remembered the day I first saw that magazine. I had thought the same thing as Meg at first but Reid had explained he had cut his ties to her after his tenure out there. I knew Meg would listen to no one until she had cooled down. I decided to focus on the....case.
God saying it got me chocked up. I hated that I was still so weak after everything I've been through. I knew me being soft would help no one on this case. Solving it and getting back as far as possible from Wizamania was my objective for this. And explaining to Meg what was actually going on.
We started towards the plane and I saw Meg fall in step with the rest of the group. She pointedly stayed as far from Reid as possible. You could see him trying to figure out how to make amends and explain the circumstances. I knew she would never hear him out on her own free will and she wasn;t going to listen to the rest of us for right now. We all sat awkwardly on the plane not quite sure what or what not to say. We felt the plane begin descent and the tension had yet to fade. I looked out the window and saw the familiar landscape of Wiz. The place never seemed to change. The mayor still called himself "The Wizard", girls and guys still went to separate high schools, and animals were still not allowed in city limits. Wiz had always said it was quote "The happiest place on earth!" But that was wrong. And not only because they ripped Disney off! The plane landed and I noticed the SUVs they got us were emerald color just like everything else in Wiz. The rest of the team looked like they had landed in a alien world. They weren't quite sure what to make of it except Hotch who had to come here to complete the adoption. Meg looked slightly queasy and a little pale. Even for Meg the queen of the albinos. I passed it off as the stomach bug that was going around. I noticed every was staying at least 10 feet from Meg at all times and I felt bad for her. When everyone went to load up I had dad load me into the SUV she was driving. From the moment I got in the car there was absolute silence. Like the kind in horror movies right before the bad guy appears. I tried to get the conversation rolling,
"Meg it's not what it se..."
She cut me off with a flick of her hand. I sat there and seethed. She was treating me like a baby! All because I tried to explain what really happened! Fine, she could live loveless for all I cared! I was furious and probably not in the right shape of mind when I said this.
" God you really are a harpy! I see what you did, you ripped apart a heart that was wanting to love you. You tore a man who was so adamant in his pursuit to love you. Now he will never be the same, he will always shy away from fully trusting a woman with all of his heart! You have a guy that loves you and two mothers who love you even if one won't admit it! She was tough on you so you would rise above her expectations! And Emily loved you with all her heart! She left so but she needed to! And your 19! Your not some helpless kid! You had no father but do you really need one with a mother like Madame Giry? My mother died when I was 10 and left me with a demented father! He abused me and my sister! He killed off the 4 month old my mother had died giving birth to! He nearly raped my sister before she escaped! Then she left me alone with him! Do you know why I said your name earlier? It wasn't because I blamed you! How could I blame you? I was afraid for you! You were being raped in my dream! It was my worst nightmare only it happened to you! You were the one that was attacked during the mission! You are my best friend and that last mission made me realize how deeply familial feelings ran through me for you! YOU just urggghhhhh!!
I was beyond pissed now and she just ignored me! I was going to kill her before we ever got to the police office!!
We finally arrived and my dad came to help me out of the SUV. I growled and walked inside before Meg could get out. I bumped into someone as I walked in and I fell backwards. I looked up furiously and noticed something familiar about the dark hair and skin. It was Fiyero! Elphie's beau and Boq's best friend. He stared at me perplexed for a minute then it hit him.
"Nessa why are you here? And why are you armless?
He was a transfer student from overseas so I guess he wouldn't have been around during "It". He transferred around alot so as to redo his student visa. I guess an anwser was in store for him.
"I see what you did, you ripped apart a heart that was wanting to love you. You tore a man who was so adamant in his pursuit to love you. Now he will never be the same, he will always shy away from fully trusting a woman with all of his heart."-Travis Martin
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MEG'S POV
I took Nessa beating silently. When we came into the conferance room, I excused myself to the bathroom to cry. Sobbing. Another girl. Reid was loving some other girl. I couldn't...how long? How long had this been going on? Nothing made sense...And Nessa...the rape...The thought of her bringing up my mother caused me to be sick. I threw up. I could see Spencer pouring his heart out to some worthless girl who didn't care a lick for him, and I saw my Mother, not certain what had happened to her daughter, whether she was alive or dead. I thought of my past, and I touched my neck gingerly....
"Meg?" I recognized Alex's voice.
"Coming," I choked out, a sob escaping before I could stop it. Why? Why couldn't I stop this? I needed to move on. Reid was always...just...different than other guys. I didn't flirt with him the way I flirted with other men, because I saught no relationship with those men. I only wanted Reid.
I could never have him.
I checked my make-up and cleaned myself up before exiting, and ran smack into a tan boy with curly dark hair.
"Oh!" I cried, falling to the floor.
"Oh, hey," he said, leaning over and flawlessly pulling me up. "I'm sorry." He smiled at me, a big, goofy smile. "I'm Fiyero, by the way. I'm the police cheif here."
"I'm Megara Giry," I said. "BAU."
He nodded. "Awfully big job for an awfully young girl."
"I could say the same for you," I nodded, walking away. I knew my face looked long and sad, so why did this boy wish to speak with me? I didn't want to talk. I didn't want to learn about him.
"Well, education pays off if you focus."
"Indeed," I mumbled, intently staring at the carpet.
"What's up?"
I looked up, shocked. "What do you mean?"
"Do not answer a question with a question. What is wrong?"
"...That's a very personal question," I hissed.
He threw his hands up. "Alright," he said, and started to walk away. I wondered if he was flirting. I saw a ring on his finger, and thought that this boy could easily be married. I would never care for a boy like that though. I looked over at Reid, who was ignoring me now. He didn't want to make ammends, nor did I. This is how it has to be. I knew I just needed to get over this. I wasn't going to accept his open arms. I loved Spencer Reid, but I could never have him. I needed to move on.
"These Violent Delights have Violent Ends."-William Shakespeare.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NESSA'S POV
I nodded for Fiyero to follow me to one of the empty rooms I knew well from my time here. I sat down on one of the plush easy chairs that always sat back here. I cleared my throat and glanced towards Fiyero.
"So your probably wondering why I'm back and armless yes?"
"No I was just wondering why the skys blue. Of course I wondered those two things!"
"God anyways its a long story that involves rape and adoption. You see after I ran away I was kidnapped by this sicko and he pampered me until one day he just snapped from me refusing to have sex with him. He raped me then cut off my arms. I was saved by SSA Hotchner and he adopted me. So long story short I travel with them now."
He looked quite shocked and I couldn't blame him. It was alot to digest about your fiance's sister's life. He stood up and pulled me against him.
"I'm so glad your back little bear. You know Elphaba misses you alot."
"She gave up the right to miss me 8 years ago when she ran away and left me alone with dad!"
"You know she regrets that Nessa. Why can't you two try to get along?"
"Don't push it Fiyero. Be glad I came on this case at all."
"Do you need help getting to the office?"
I nodded my dissent and began walking there myself. I wondered how Meg was doing. I agreed I probably shouldn't have said all that but it was nessasery to get her to see reason. She was holding something against Reid that happened 4 years ago. No one even remembered Lila Archer anymore. She was a hasbeen. Meg was a yet to be. That being said I wasn't going to apologize. I was right when I said all those things and we Wiz kids never gave up on what we said. It was part of this towns mentality. I decided to go check on Reid first because I felt like he was the one being wrongfully accused in this case. I made it to the office and noticed Meg and Alex were missing. I looked around and noticed everybody talking with somebody except Reid. He looked pissed and sad at the same time. I walked to my father and burrowed into his side. He looked down and a tight smile streched over his face. He was probably thinking of the last time we were here. The circumstances were just as grim then. I stared up at him and he rubbed my back. Just like my dad used to do. Till my mom died. She had been his medicine and saviour. When she passed he lost all grips on reality. It was quite disturbing. Then he had murdered Shell. My adorable four month old brother. I imagined he would look like Elphie. Black hair with brown eyes. Then I had walked in on Dad trying to pull Elphie's panties down as he was naked. Then he took the poker iron to my back. It was the stuff of disturbing documentaries. Then Elphie had run away to Shiz. The private college in Southeren Idaho. It was for intellectualy gifted. Elphies kind. Okay time to get off this train of thoughts. I looked around and noticed Alex had come back. I looked around and noticed Meg still wasn't here. I ahdn't intended to hurt her that badly. I was always told by my father I needed a filter between my mouth and brain. I said what came to mind with no concern for others feelings. God now I felt bad. Meg was a fragile spirit and I probably shouldn't have brought up the mom situation. Or the Reid situation. Or centered the argument on how she had never had a terrible life like I had. She had left Paris for a reason. One she still hated to talk about. I never understood her reluctance to talk about her life. One thing I learned was talking about it helped. It put the fears out there in the open and as soon as you acknowledged fear it became irrelavent. It was the ultimate conquering tool. I decided not to apologize to her but to attempt to at least back on casual glances at each other before the week was over. That gave me seven days to accomplish this. But for now I was rooming with JJ, the only other person dad trusted to watch me overnight.
"Obstacles are like wild animals. They are cowards but they will bluff you if they can. If they see you are afraid of them... they are liable to spring upon you; but if you look them squarely in the eye, they will slink out of sight." ~Orison Swett Marden
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MEG'S POV
I stared dead from my spot. I didn't even know where that was. I only heard when Hotchner yelled for us to hotel. I didn't room with anyone, and my sorrow increased as I sobbed and sobbed, alone in the dark. I turned on a light, and as I reached for my book, I realized my favorite Sense and Sensibilty was discustingly ironic now. I wanted Reid. I wanted Emily. I wanted the Mother I should've had. The Father who was there, and didn't push his finger to shush me...the beau who was faithful...the career I should've had....
I shook Paris from my head. I wouldn't come on the next case, that was all I knew. I wouldn't come. I got straight A's, as long as I was job shadowing the BAU, other wise, I went to normal classes, and got an education. I couldn't take it here any longer. It was just hurting. One day, maye soon, I'd come back to the BAU, but now, I needed some time to collect my thoughts and emotions.
I got a phone call that night, waking me from a nightmare, my palms sweating as I fumbled for it.
"SSA Giry," I said, yawning.
"SSA? Don't ya have to have a degree for that, hoe?"
"Sorelli?" I said, shocked. Annie Sorelli was my dorm partner. She was looking to be a lawyer, regardless of the fact she was teased for her Jersey-Shore type of attitude and appearance.
"Hey, little Giry!" she said. I groaned mentally. I could see her now, sitting on her bed with the light on at 3 oclock, chomping her pink bubble gum and changing her toe-nail color for the fourth time today.
"Sorelli, what do you want? Do you know what time it is?"
"Uh, yeah. I'm not stupid," she said. I could imagine her making faces at me right now, as I had seen her do thousands of other times when she kept me up at night while calling friends.
"Hey, little Joey from Psych wants ya homework from Tuesday to study."
"Then why don't you give it to him?" I asked shortly.
"I didn't know if you'd be mad or not."
"Just give it to him!!"
"Geesh, Megara, babe, whats up with you? Anyway, I think he was just wanting to check up on the blonde in Dorm G," she said. I groaned, realizing once again I was the only blonde on my floor. The stereotype was sadly mostly true-blonde's aren't dumb, but they have way to much fun first semester and flunk out. "He'll want to give it back to ya."
I sighed. "Joey...?"
"Ya know. Joe Walker? Blonde, tall, gor-ge-ous blue eyes!" her voice went up. "In choir with ya."
"Oh! Him...yeah...He's nice."
"Nice? Babe, that is one sexy piece of testosterone. He can build me a cabinet any day he wants to."
I sighed.
"He's just a little shy," she said, trying to coax me into to this.
"No. He's nice. A friend. An aquantance. Besides, he's just not...er...intelligente enough."
"Then you'll like to know William Darcy has taken over your spot in the library. Perhaps when you get back, you to can have a battle of the brains and all the built up sexual tension can be released."
I lunged to close the phone, upset with myself for putting it on speaker. "Hush up! Do you want this whole hotel to hear you? What sexual tension?"
"You know," she screamed in my ear, and I remembered my reasons for putting it on speaker. I could only take so much of the Bronx-meets-Italy accent. "You two are just...made for each other!" I slapped myself as she started screaming again the second I opened the phone again. I turned down the volume, praying Morgan and Reid couldn't hear her next door. "Just...You and Darcy would be...wow. Hot."
"Sorelli, that's weird," I said.
"I'm sorry, but Darcy...Mmmm...It's like Dracula meets James Dean."
"And either of those men have traits I should respect because...?"
"Oh, come off it. You love James Dean."
"Is he amazing? Yes. Is he a womanizer? Yes. Do I approve? No. Besides, Darcy is just...too...mysterious."
"And you love it."
"And how healthy would a relationship be, when I am simply attracted too this man because he is mysterious? Once the mystery wears off, how will I think him then? Let's face it, William Darcy is nothing but-"
"Your perfect match? Ah, Oui, my little French Turtle dove."
"Sorelli, there is no such thing as love. Get used to it. It doens't exist outside of fiction novels. That's why I live inside my head...no one can hurt me there..."
"...You want me to give Joey your notes?" she asked after a moment.
"Yeah, Annie, go ahead."
I stared at the breakfast Morgan had brought up for me, that I didn't intend on touching, but thanked him anyway. I knew this was shallow, but did he have any idea how long it would take me to dance off the carbs in this pancake? No thank you. He knew this, and sat in front of me. Okay, someone was staying.
I gingerly took the smallest bite ever as he began.
"So, whose Mr. Darcy? I presume not the fictional character."
I paled. "You heard all that?"
"Every word. Poor Reid...God I thought the kids mind was gonna exploid."
"It's dangerous, Morgan. You know this."
"I know it, but you're not playing fair."
"I don't know how to play!" I screamed, throwing my head into my hands.
"Hey, Meg," he said, taking my hands away and making me look at him. "I'm not saying to stay with him. Just, at least, give him closure."
He stood and rose to the door, but stopped. "Lila was nothing."
"He said he loved her," I said.
"You read the file?"
I nodded.
"Then you know it was nothing. You've never had another boyfriend?"
I looked away. "Not one."
And Morgan left me alone, and I dropped the pancake into the trash.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NESSA'S POV
I woke to the gentle lull of JJ's voice talking to Will. She had probably been up for a while by the sounds of her conversation.
"Hey Will, Nessarose just woke up I'll cal you later okay? Tell Henry I love him!"
"You didn't have to hangup for me. He is your husband."
She shook her head and washed me off before dressing me in skinny jeans and an overly large sweater for it was spitting snow. That was one thing I missed about Wiz. They had the prettiest snow in all the world. Just the right snowflake balance. We ate a hurried breakfest of milk and a bannana. I steeled myself to be on the receiving end of Meg's anger. It was like a hurricane. I just had to make it to the eye of the storm. We hurried downstairs and noticed everyone was wintered out. All dressed in those damn puffy coats I hate. I liked my trench coat much better. I glanced around and noticed no Meg or Morgan. WTF? Those two were usually some of the first down here. I glanced at my dad and he carefully escorted me over the ice covor on the ground. I guess Morgan, Meg and JJ are riding together. The rest of the team was with us and it was a silent ride to the police station. I was listening to the radio when I heard the most amazing song come on, "Hall of Fame" by The Script. I loved the moral to that song. Plus the lead singer was hot. Ahhh Danny O'Donoghue. Only one of the hottest men ever. Needless to say, I started singing along.
" And you'll be on the walls in the hall of fame! 'Cos you burn with the brightest flame!" This was the song we were singing at graduation for the seniors. I loved how the melody flowed so well. I noticed everyone was staring and I shut my mouth. I sucked at singing and I hated doing it in public. I just got so into this song. I stared at my lap and dad turned the radio down. I felt the car stop and park. I realized we were already at the ugly emerald green station. I was helped out and I walked inside. I noticed someone was in the booking area. I looked closer and noticed something familiar about the brunette guy and the blond girl. Ehhh oh well. We had a case to work and I need to start if we wanted to solve it. I sat down and noticed someone had set my laptop up. I called Garcia and asked her to cross reference a list of enemies of the dead and any "business" they had left unpaid. By business I ment drugs. She promised to get back to me and I leaned back. I had had another damn dream last night and it had been worse than the first.
" I was arguing with Meg again and she had run off. I chased her and found her in a room surronded by a pool of her own blood. She had slit her wrists. I ran to her and she had slumped into my side.. I tried to prop her up with no arms but she knocked me backwards into a door. I was back in my captos room. But I wasn't the captured one. Meg was. I was the captor. I watched myself abuse Meg and I heard her dainty screams. It ricocheted off the walls and reverbrated off my bones. I hated the sound of them. I ran towards her but our positions were reversed. Meg was the one beating me and I screamed at her to stop. My pleas fell on silent ears. I felt the cane swish towards me and as it hit I was in a different place. I was in Paris circa 1990's. I walked towards the opera house and walked in. I saw a older lad talking to two young girls. One was very short with a lean body and brown curls. The other was taller, leaner and had straight blond hair. The three appeared to be arguing. I watched the blond run out and the curly haired one went to chase her. I watched as the older lady stopped her and pointed towards the stage/ I caught the implication. She wanted her to practise instead of going after her friend. I watched the brown haired girl break down in tears and she sunk to the floor. I watched the blonds progression out of the open door. She seemed determined to not come back. I tried to chase after her but the memory stopped. Like a damaged tape. The part had been erased. I felt the cane hit my back as I reentered the room with Meg beating me. I saw the tears in her eyes and I woke up.
That was were the dream ended and I couldn't figure out what the one part had ment.
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MEG'S POV
The cold wind numbed my body, causing me to freeze and shake. Morgan offered me his scarf, but I couldn't take it. I deserved this, to be alone, shaking in the cold, without help. I had done it before.
"What's your name?" The woman's voice was rich and honest, but I couldn't help cowering from her. She said something I couldn't understand-my English still limited. I'd been in NYC a week now, but I had picked up a lot. How to survive. Run, and hide.
She touched my chin with her pale, thin hand, and I jerked away, but she held it there, gently.
"What's your name?" I knew this one bit of English, and responded.
"Mlle. Megara Jules Giry."
She turned around to a dark-skinned man. I caught the words,"She speaks French," but then I lost everything else. She gave him some direction, and he pulled out his cellphone, and dialed. I didn't know then this woman was Penelope Garcia.
While the phone was ringing, the black-haired pale woman looked at me, with a wide, perfect smile. Her lips were thin, and just a pinch darker than her skin, and her eyes were perfectly round. Her cheekbones were high, and her nose was long and pointed. Her hair was parted perfectly down the middle, and I knew my mother would've thought these the characteristics of a witch. But her eyes, were perfectly coal-black. All she did was smile.
"My name is Emily Prentiss."
I pointed to her,"Emily Prentiss."
I knew my French interpretation was a failure, but she smiled still.
"Garcia...phone..." was all I caught her saying as she turned to the dark-skinned muscular man. He nodded. Emily talked into the phone for a moment, before speaking to me.
"Bonjour. Mon nom est Emily Prentiss. Je ne vais pas te faire de mal. Je suis avec le gouvernement américain."
At this, my eyes went wide, and I tried to run.
"No! No! Wait!"
I don't know what made me, but I stopped, and turned slowly. I heard mumbling on her phone, and then she spoke again.
"Je ne vais pas vous faire de mal, je le promets. Je ne vais pas vous prendre n'importe où. Je peux vous aider, de toute façon vous voulez..."
"Meg?" Alex Blake looked over at me.
"Hmmm?" I asked, eyes wide.
"...Your phone?"
I listened again, and heard my phone distractingly fussing in my clutch.
"Oh," I said, and dug for it.
"Oui?" I asked. I heard Sorrelli saying something about Exams, but I wasn't listening. I just heard Emily's voice in my head.
"I can help you in anyway you want, but first, you have to help me..."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NESSA'S POV
I woke up in the same room I had fallen asleep in and I noticed no one was in here. I looked around and noticed they were all out in the conference area. I watched for a minute before deciding to keep looking stuff up in my computer. We needed to solve this case and ASAP. I saw Penny got my papers I requested delivered. I tabbed through the results and none stood out till I got to the seventh page. I noticed a famialier name under the list of people they owed money for drugs. Mr. Boq. I saved that report and continued reading it. It said he was charged with harassment after delivering several death threats to Frex. He claimed he was simply the messenger but he refused to admit who he delivered them for. Maybe the guy he worked for could be the one. I decided maybe we could bring him in for questioning. That might he might give us more info on who wanted them dead if nothing else. I stood up and walked towards the door. I realized I couldn't open it and no one noticed I was still in here cause the light was off. Come to think of it why was the light off? Oh well I can just kick on the door and see if they notice. I started kicking and as soon as I felt the door I knew this was going to be a issue. It was military grade bulletproof metal. I quickly tapped the glass and it was plexiglas. Damn I was running out of escape ideas. I looked down and noticed the door had one of those disabled door openers. God now I felt like an idiot. How did I not see that before? I shook my head and bummed it with my hip. It beeped and the door opened. The team looked deep in thought and I looked around. They all seemed centered on the board. Another murder had occurred. But this time it was a women. Mrs. Galinda of the uplands. It left no doubt in my mind. We had to question Boq and soon.
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MEG'S POV
I stared at the celieng, my eyes not focused, thinking about nothing as Sorrelli dronned on and on in my ear...
"And Joe wants me to tell you that he's really exicted your coming back. He said choir is boring with out you."
I laughed darkly at this.
"Yeah, right. He just wants a girl to fuck."
I noticed a few of the team members looked my way.
"Maybe off the clock, Meg," Hotchner said. I blushed deeply, and mumbled my good bye. I saw Nessa look at me.
"What? It started off about school."
"And ended about men?"
"Dumb men," I growled. "But then again, 90% of them are. Just looking for a good fuck..."
"60%" Reid said after clearing his throat, staring ath the ground, eyebrows pushed together. "If you want the whole deal about it. Sixty percent have taken advantage of an incapicated or unwilling female."
"...Whoa..." I said. "It's still over 50," I grumbled. "Men are putes."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NESSA'S POV
I guess me and Meg were on talking turns since she addressed me. All I heard was
"He just wants a girl to fuck."
God, did she think that little of Reid? I motioned for the team to gather around my laptop. I showed them Boq's files and how he had affiliated with all of the deseased in a persanol manner.
"We need to question him."
"We cant just drag him in here for no reason though."
"Maybe if we can get him to agree, he could coe in on his own will."
"Yes because he is obviouly going to come in to get questioned on his own free will."
"We do have a advantage."
"What?"
"Have you ever noticed Meg looks alot like Glinda......."
I trailed off and you could see the shock register over their eyes. I was suggesting sending Meg in there alone, dressed like the crazy persons love interest. I nodded and they looke at me like I was the insane person. I was just doing what needed to be done. Boq was not a threat and we could always rescue Meg if anything went down.
"We'll need to dress her up like Glinda first."
"She still has to consent first."
"She'll need a bubblegum pink dress and pink heels and extensions....."
"Hello. I said she needed to consent first!"
I glared Morgan down and he stared right back. I let loose my patened death upon the mortal scum glare and he reeled back.
"What the 'eff was that look?"
"Death glare."
"Hello Meg still has to consent here!!!!
"Well Meg? What will it be?"
**********************************************************************************
I stared, eyes wide at the two. I honestly didn't want to do this.
"No," Reid said, then caught himself, looking away from me. His voice pitched and squeaked. "No."
"Is it because I'm a blonde whore?" I asked, tears welling behind my eyes, thinking of the warehouse Nessa and I had been in, and the black rope, and Jace touching my midriff. I squirmed.
"You know that's not it," Nessa said.
"No, you're right. It's because some other girl was a whore, and I can be a quick surogate."
"Meg-"
"That's all I ever am!" I screamed. "It's all I've ever been. For cases, for Reid, in Paris-!" I stopped, the tears coming out now, and I couldn't halt the flow.
"Megara," Nessa said, looking at me.
"Yeah, I'll do it, but then I'm gone," I said.
"What?" Morgan said. I stared at my team mates, and wondered silently how much longer I'd be able to call them that.
"...I...well, that's why Sorrelli's been calling me. I...I've decided to go to class next week."
Silence followed, so I gave the end to the biconditional statement.
"I won't be coming back to the BAU."
Nessa stared. "For how long?" she screeched.
I looked away. "I don't know. However long I need to."
"Is it my fault?"
I looked up at Reid. "No, no. Spencer...It's not you..."
"Don't start."
"It's not! Okay? I just need to...sort out my life. Get on with it. Find a life outside of the BAU."
"Meg," he said to me, eyes hard. "You ran from Paris, and not here. You can't keep running when it's you your running from."
I stared hard the ground, but the tears blurred my vision.
"...Okay...Ness, just let me know when you need me to go undercover, okay? Then I'll just get out of your hair."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NESSA'S POV
I nodded at Meg and sunk into the closest chair. God I felt like such a bitch. I didn;t mean to imply Meg was a slut. Glinda had been a classy lady that got flung down the wrong path. Her fiance had called it quits the day of the wedding. He also told her he had been cheating on her the whole time with her best friend. My sister. I decided after this maybe I needed to step away from here. Get my prioritys in order and work on this damn temper of mine But for right now I needed to set Meg up for tonight.
I wondered into the undercover closet and started pointing out items to the designer. A pink ruffly top with sleeves that came to the elbow. I pared it with a knee length pink skirt and pink booties. A carefully concealed gun pack and all that was left was makeup. I told them pink eyes and pink lips. They finished her up and she walked out looking miserable. I felt horrible just looking at her. Eye contact might have killed me inside. I nodded towards the recreation of Glinda's car and she walked towards it. I watched her progression and finally I walked towards our SUVS for the stakeout.
We pulled out and followed Meg in her car. I noticed tears dripping down her nose and I was glad I wasn't in the car. Other people crying always got me in tears. We circled the building were she was meeting Boq and attached the mic to her. She wondered inside and I wondered if I hadn't lost the best friend and sister I ever had. I felt the tears dripping down my face and I did my best to stop the tears so I could hear what was going on.
**********************************************************************************
MEG'S POV
I wobbled in my high-heels ask my hair-curled into tight gold ringletts-bounced in a halo around my head. My hair was a lot longer than Glinda's but by curling it, it had taken two or three inches off my waist-length hair.
Stalking into the warehouse (shaped different than the last and first one I'd ever entered),hobbling on my heels, with my shoulder's thrown back and feigning the best walk I'd ever done. I hardly wore heels. Ballet shoes were so much more practical.
It wasn't long before I found Boq, Nessa's ex-beau. His hair was a deep bronze, like the color of an old penny. He was short, and his features were big and round, but still, he was attractive. His eyes looked intelligent, like he could've been a good student in school. His hands were small, but his voice was honest and loud.
Now, he was dirty. Face, hands, arms, feet. His hair was oily, and he had a baseball cap turned backward on his head. There were dirty syringes on the table, and I flinched in looking at them.
He sat up in his seat when he saw me from a distance.
"Glinda?" he asked, getting up, and tripping over his own feet.
I didn't respond, just kept clicking my way down to him. I watched his face fall when he came to realization.
"I'm sorry...I thought you were-"
"It's okay," I said, touching his face, interupting his slurred speech.
"You're not...who are you?"
"Rose Northland," I said. "I'm Glinda's half-sister."
"Half-sister..."
I jumped in before he could question too much. "Yeah, remember when Glinda's parents got a divorce a few years ago? Well, let's just say, I'm the reason why," I said smiling dumbly. "Her mom's year-long trip to explore the world? Yeah, well, it was more like a conception time, then dealing with a pregnancy."
"Oh..." he said. "I remember now..."
"Yeah," I said, skipping up. I ran my hand down the length of his arm.
"Boq, I came to offer my condolences to you, because I knew how Glinda felt about you. If there is anything I can do to...or for, you, don't hesitate to ask." I bit my lip, smiling still, gazing through my black lashes. I slipped off my shrug, and walked away.
"Whoa, is it hot in here! How can you stand it?" I asked, my voice replicating Marilyn Monroe's.
"Uh..." he said, eyes following my dancer's legs.
I slipped down the sleeve my blouse, then leaned in over him.
"I just can't stand how hot it is, Boq. Would you...?"
But his lips were on my neck, and my sweet smile turned to a sneer. I flippe him over, and took the cuffs I had hidden off of my waist and snapped them onto his wrists.
"What did I say, guys?" I said to my team. "All men want is a good fuck."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NESSA'S POV
I shook my head at what Boq had become. A man whore. When I first met him, he wouldn't have dreamed of whoring himself out. He hated to even look at women. I saw Morgan escorting him to interrigation. Her was were I came in. I loved breaking the men down and reducing them to babish tears of help to their mommies. I sipped some more wather through a straw and stood up. Time to go.
I walked into interrogation. He looked up and I saw awareness slip into his eyes.
"Ness.."
"No. You lost the right to call me that years ago. You played me and my family for fools Boq!"
"Nessarose I'm sorry but the circums..."
"You broke my heart and crushed it! You told about my father being gay! You threatened Elphie with exposing her secret to Glinda!"
I was fake sobbing by this point and he looked like I had slapped him. Now it was time for the double whammy.
"You sent death threats to my dad and his boyfriend. You made petitions to get them removed from town! You nearly got Elphie kicked out of school for a fake drug raid you set up to get back at her for hurting Glinda!"
He was leaking tears and mine were fast becoming too real to deal with. I hated my past and I strove to move forwards.
"You insinuated I was pregnant with my dad! You and others attacked Elphie for dating Fiyero and had her wound up in a hospital for two months in a coma! You had Fiyero attacked and he was on deaths doorstep!"
He was sobbing now and I was bawling. It was time to get what I needed.
"So who killed my dads and Glinda, Boq? I know you wouldn't so who did!!"
"He said he would kill me if I told! I can't risk that!"
"Please tell me Boq! I need closure from this and you do too!"
"Fine...it was.....it was....it was.......IT WAS THE WIZARD!!!!!"
I gasped in horror! I knew the Mayor hated us but he was the Mayor. He wasn't supposed to kill somebody!
I walked to Boq and bent down."I never blamed you Boq, never."
I walked throught the door. It was time to arrest the mayor and get the hell of of Wiz.
********************************************************************************
MEG'S POV
I stared through the interigation window. Whoa. Blows for Wizimainia.
I left with Nessa and the team to the Town Hall, and into the mayor's office.
"Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkel Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs, you are under arrest for the murders of Frexspar Thropp, Turtleheart Harlen, and Glinda Upland," I hissed.
"Put up your hands!" Morgan screamed as he reached in his desk.
"Okay, muscle, okay," he said.
Shit....
"Or...I could do this."
He pulled out a gun, and leveled it at my head. I didn't even flinch.
"...Put it down-"
"Shut up!" he silenced Morgan.
"Come 'ere, Prissy," he told me, and I stalked over.
"Drop your gun...DROP IT!"
I did as I was told, knowing there were several others aimed at us.
"Just shot him," I choked out. "Worst comes to worst it goes through me and hits him. The world loses one blonde. Big whoop. They'll be another one starting their period and claiming womanhood tomorrow. My spot will be filled."
"Meg, shut up!" Nessa cried, tears in her eyes. "Are you stupid or something?"
I stared. "Nessa!"
"Don't you know we love you? That I love you? God, you're so stupid!"
"Nessa..." I stuttered. "I'm sorry..."
"You act as if we don't care about you at all, Meg. We've done everything for you!"
"...I've always felt like you did it because you thought you had too. Isn't that why...?"
"No, stupid. We love you. And no one here is going to shoot."
"Nessa-" Hotchner began.
"Put down the gun," Nessa hissed.
"Morgan-" I warned as I watched his finger pull the trigger, and Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkel Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs never stirred again.
I sat alone in a bar that night. It was more of a little jazz club. I coughed into my hanker chief, and I noticed I hadn't eaten at all today, and that I wasn't hungry in the least.
Notes were plugged into the grand piano, and I mumbled the words to the song.
"The road gets rougher,
it's lonlier and tougher,
with hope you burn up,
tomorrow he may turn up,
there's just no let up,
the live-long night and day,
ever since this world began,
there is nothing sadder than,
a one-man woman,
looking for the man that got...
away..."
I stumbled out of the bar, my hands gropping the brick wall of buildings for support. I was tripping over my feet. I didn't have any alcohol in me, but no food either. What was wrong? The last thing I remember was falling into blackness.
And I woke, fettered to a wall.
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