chapter six

Devastation within the bullpen after Hank announced to his team that the prime suspect of their case, Patrick Shostack abducted Nina. There were a set of photos of her, and Jay taken the night they went out. Another set unfortunately shown proof of the woman bind to a chair and brutally beaten. Questions arise to Jay, who became speechless when his eyes darted at the photos plastered onto the whiteboard. Unable to look at those photos, he stormed off as a whirlwind of emotions gutted him. His bounty caused a shootout inside a bar where Maddie is clinging onto life in surgery to Nina being kidnapped by a contract killer. Hearing about the following cold-blooded murders of those on this list only anger him more. 

Erin followed her partner into the locker room to see him lashing around in aggravation. As his partner, she tried to calm him down while processing her friend's endangerment. 

"Jay..." Erin softly called, watching him put his head into his hands on the bench.

He snapped his head at his partner with infuriation infiltrating his eyes. "Don't tell me it's not my fault, Erin." He shot up from his seat and marched towards her. "They took Nina because they want me. As long as I'm alive, Nina's life is on the line. I didn't take any precaution about her safety, and now I'm paying for it." 

Unlike Erin, he barely knew the Shi woman. However, one thing he knew is that she wasn't deserving of his consequences.

She nodded along, sniffling. "We're going to get her back safe." It gutted her due to the awareness of her friend who has endured worse. Yet, knowing the terrible predicament started to take a toll internally. 

After a couple of minutes in the locker room, consoling each other they returned to the bullpen with their team, searching through every detail about Shostack and locating Nina. Meanwhile, Jimmy trailed Hank into the interrogation room meeting a familiar face, Joe, and Alvin to coordinate a plan. 

Hank entered the bullpen from the interrogation room, "Hey, Ruzek and Atwater, I need a cell phone rigged up right now." He demanded from the detectives.

Looking like a deer in headlights, Jay rose up from his desk. "What's going on?" With his mind on the victims darting at him, he grown restless to be practically chained to his desk. 

"Sit tight." 

"I'm tired of sitting," Jay argued, though ignored by the older man reporting back to the interrogation room. 

As Adam started setting up the system in the interrogation room, Joe peered like a parrot on a pirate's shoulder. "You're never going to be able to trace a call from him. He goes from one drop phone to another." He commented after given the phone. "I don't know why you're bothering."

"You know what, how about I do my job, you do yours? How about that?" Adam snarled, proceeding to check the connection between the burner and the incoming call to track.

Antonio, Erin, Jay, and Rick resided in the observation room, watching through the double mirrored where Hank, Alvin, Adam, Jimmy, and Joe stationed. Hank maneuvered his eyes to his old partner, leaning his back on the wall and tapping his foot on the floor. He clamped his hand on his shoulder for comfort as any father fears for the state of their child's life. 

The sound of the phone rang broken everyone from their trance. Jay slipped into the room when Joe answered the call. After a few exchanges, the former contract killer succeeded to further Hank's plan. Joe would claim to have Jay captive then struck a negotiation with Patrick.

"Okay. I'll take care of it. I'll bring you a photo for proof." Joe declared. 

Patrick immediately cuts in, "No, no, no, no. Just because I'm talking to you doesn't mean I trust you." He chuckled on the other line. "I want to see him alive."

Joe's eyes flickered to Voight, who automatically disagreed with the idea. Yet, Jay motioned his approval of the deal, gaining a perplexed expression from Hank. "Highway between Cermak and Kedzie. 30 minutes." Patrick informed Joe before hanging up the phone.

Hank's eyes remained on Jay after willing to volunteer in the trade off that will bring severe danger to his life. This was his team. His main priority as any Sergeant was to bring his team home after each case. 

Brushing off the many scenarios that could later play off in the trade off, Hank and the rest of his team went on to orchestrate a plan. One of many that'll lead to an apprehension on their prime suspect and to bring Nina home. They departed in pairs and their cars, surrounding the perimeter of the met up. 

Meanwhile, Nina brown orbs hung low as her aching body shot up in immense pain after Patrick's partner carelessly carried her from the car into a wooden brown chair in an unfamiliar household. She tried to fight her eyes open despite the drugs dismantling internally. Moreover, to the fact, being trapped inside a trunk of a car where she was shielded from any light or scenery that could pin a location nor plan in liberating herself. Now, she sat in the chair with tight knots burning her skin once again.

She took a sharp inhale to compose herself and devise a plan without a second surpassing. She forced herself to blink rapidly to gain a clearer visual of her surroundings. However, the dark flashes that triggered her mind seemed to send her in a spiral. 

Everything felt like déjà vu, sending a thrust of pain into her heart and chills underneath her skin. While being physically tortured, her mental state was gradually daunting her. She shook off the hostile memories after an audible resistance occurred besides her.

Patrick and his partner, Garrett to which Nina finally learned had placed a young man in a chair next to her. He appeared to be a few years older than her younger sister Camille. His eyes filled up with fear and panic due to the two estranged older men overtaking his home with Nina tied up on a chair. 

Just moments ago, he was upstairs in his bedroom then suddenly a cold gun barrel pressed against his temple. When the young man's gaze met Nina's, she immediately confirmed responsibility to save his life as well.

Nina coughed dryly, gaining the attention of the two men. "What do you need him for? I thought I was your bait in all this?" Tiresome eyes glowered at Patrick while Garrett finished tying the young man to the chair.

He groaned before stomping to the woman and slapped her with his gun. "None of your business. Keep your mouth shut." He ordered then averted to the latter. "Smile!" He displayed a wicked grin and captured a picture of second hostage.

"He's an innocent kid. You should let him go."

Growing irritable by her protests, Patrick grabbed her face. "You don't tell me what to do. Hear me?" He hissed, detaching his hand from her face. "I can't wait for this exchange, so, you and your cop boyfriend can watch each other die." He sneered out, motioning to his partner while storming out of the room.

Helpless.

The word that Nina soon felt when Garrett muffled her mouth with a rag like the young man next to her. Before he did, she voiced reassurance to him. Although that reassurance was meant for her to keep in mind and disregard her internal fears. 

She startled from the sound of the chair scraping against the hardwood floors. Her eyes fluttered to the sight of the young man being removed from his seat and out of the house after hours surpassed.

Her eyes widened, her screams muffled through the rag which sent her into an instinctive frantic—uncertain to where and what they were going to do with him. She started to utilize any strength left to loosen the tight knots securing her wrists after previous attempts. Simultaneously, she tried to make out the quiet conversation shared between the captivators. 

She scowled at the failed attempts due to her weak limbs. She couldn't waste any second the longer staying in this chair.

At the sound of a reviving engine, the door slammed close. Garrett reappeared in front of Nina with a smug smirk. He released the woman to only tie her wrists together then carried her into a room. Her body hit the mattress of a queen-sized bed. The second he left, she sat up in a haste ignoring the agonizing pain in her body. She continued to drive a wedge between the restraint after finding a significant section to loosen up.

After much difficulty, the determination enabled her to liberate herself after a few days. She untied the rag from her mouth, panting out. Her hand laid upon her stomach to steady her breathing, momentarily. She tips toed across the room to peek outside of any sign of the man. Once in the clear, she slithered around the door and shut it silently while keeping surveillance.

Each step was taken with precaution down the staircase. As soon she climbed down to the last step, her brow raised by the discovery of a gun likely belonging to Garrett in the next room on top of a brown drawer.

"Hey!"

Garrett's voice caused Nina to snap her head at the man standing across the hallway. He took notice of the woman currently free of the restraints.

Instinctively, Nina snatched the fun from the other room then pointing it at the man. Like Nina, he worked quickly by pulling on the carpet underneath them. The gun flew from her hands as her body fell hard on the floor. She scrambled back on her feet, catching a punch thrown at her. She twisted his arm back as they traveled roughly into the next room. Garrett turned back by throwing another punch directly to the woman in which she continued to block. The latter battled through punches in where the other would catch on in defense.

She punched his face and then shoved him against the wall, causing a picture frame to fall on the ground. Once again, he lunged more punches with attempted kicks. In spite of blocking every movement, he managed to gain advantage in catching one of her punches then forcibly pulled her into an armbar move, locking it.

"Look, the more you try to do this. The more you hurt yourself." Garrett said, huffing out of breath.

"You're going to kill me anyways, that's why I'm here, right? As bait." She spat out. "Besides Garrett, you have no idea how much pain I can take." She took initiative to break her right elbow in order to be released from his grip and knock him down.

She limped away until a tug on her ankle caused her to tumble forward on the floor. Moaning from the pain shooting through her body, he took the fun nearby and pointed at her face. His words were inaudible to Nina from feeling weak.

It soon became a blur when Garrett's smirk disappeared from a few new intruding voices that ambushed the house. Bullets penetrated his body, leading him to fall dead on the other side of the woman. She scrunched her face in confusion when two uniformed officers appeared. Their mouths moved except she couldn't make out to what they were saying.

Finally, a familiar face came into her view. Hank held a worrisome expression though softened when he lifted her head. Her eyes started to flutter close in spite of the unheard protests. 

Hospital monitors flooded inside Nina's room where she laid unconscious with bandages and bruises surfaced upon her skin. The needles from the IV bags restored fluid after a number of drugs shot up inside her body which has left her weak and desperately perched in the last few days.

Nina's eyes shut opened, meeting the plain white room, and sinking into this continuous loop of déjà vu. She blinked a few times to regain consciousness in the room. From the audible sound of the monitors, she figured the last memory of her godfather in the house wasn't a dream.

The second she attempted to straighten herself in bed, an immediate pang of discomfort shot up her body causing a gasping sob escaped her lips. Her chest heaved in panic as she endured it, feeling the serve dryness in her throat. Suffering through the immense pain, she hadn't realized someone came rushing in attendance to the bedside. 

"You're safe in the hospital. Don't even dare to try to get up, missy." Penelope hushed, brushing her friend's hair back and laying her down in bed. She grabbed a cup of water by the desperation spread on her face. Nina shared a weak smile at the thought of the woman flying all the way from D.C. "I'm going to call for a doctor to check you out."

Before she swiftly turned to exit, the blonde embraced her friend in relief then kissed her head. "God, I'm so glad you're okay." She murmured out.

Nina absorbed the peaceful moment after the last few days of torment. She shakily breathed out when glimpses of the past enveloped in her mind. Resting back in the comfort of the white pillow supporting her head, she casted down to the arm sling from dislocating her right elbow. She assumed the soreness will evidently come after the numbness of pain medication wears off.

Eventually, the room became crowded after Penelope located a doctor to notify that Nina has awaken. Her family, who were in the building had retreated to the room to see her wide awake. Eliana and Jimmy uttered a reliving sigh before racing to their eldest's bedside. The concerned mother had tears streaming down her face while apologizing yet grateful of her safe return. Her father cupped the side of his daughter's face, admiring the sight. He tried to withhold his distraught emotional state that has sent him in a spiral.

Camille went to hug her sister in a tight hold causing her sister to groan in pain. She profusely spared her apologies to which was wavered off as she clutched onto her. Then, Christopher who intends to hide his emotions, playfully poked at his older sister earning a faint giggling response.

"Reid figured you'll entertain yourself with these for the next few days." Derek handed a couple of books to Nina while he and Penelope were in the room.

Nina's family went to get dinner in her favor after camping out in the building since they brought her in. Aside from Penelope, Derek tagged along—not only as a concerned colleague but a friend as well. Everyone on the team were on their teams when the news of her kidnapped was heard. "Hotch said you could take your time to recover before heading back. Even letting Garcia and I to stick around with you till then."

"You two don't have to stay when the team needs you for cases to work on."

The blonde chimed in, "You can't do anything about because I'm staying. Also, Hotch recruited temporary replacements in our places. We're a family, Nina." She narrowed at the stubborn woman.

"Also, I can always go to my moms if you get annoyed with your babysitter." He surrendered in a teasing tone. Nina rolled her eyes and muttered out a "fine" to the proposal nor if she had any choice.

Derek headed out to grab some dinner for themselves while Penelope stayed back with Nina. Nina discussed about the following events prior to the kidnapping. "All I had planned that day was running an errand which was grabbing my dad's birthday cake." She briefly uttered a laugh, raking her fingers in her hair. "Even though I've been on the job, aware of the precautions to take in these scenarios...there were moments where I felt helpless. It wasn't the drugs intoxicating my body. They held me captive for so long, I started to think about the darkest part of my life." She deeply inhaled, blinking away the tears welling up.

She blew through her lips, "I miss them, every day. Not a day goes by where I don't think of what I could've done." She sniffled then looked up at Penelope, bracing a sympathetic expression. "You might think I'm going crazy to dwell into the past. It won't bring them back, but he doesn't deserve to be free with the idea of him taking more innocent lives.

"Well, you can't let me not worry about you, Nina." Penelope finally spoke in a soft tone. "And I won't let you do this on your own because I'm letting myself help you." She reached out for the woman's free hand, squeezing it.

A knock on the door, tore the latter away from their heart to heart moment. The figure standing in the doorway was Jay, who built up the courage to face her. He licked his lips out of anxiety rising after seeing the visible bruises on the woman's face. He shuddered, clutching to his jacket in his hand. Not too long ago, he had a small breakdown in the empty waiting room due to the good news about Maddie. However, guilt lied within him about the two women. 

"Hey."

"Hi."

Penelope switched her gaze between the latter, noting the awkward tension in the room. She took the notion to rise on her feet and pick up her bag. "I'm going to call Derek to see if he's close with our dinner." Traveling out of the room, she halted in front of the brunette man with an extended hand. "You must be Jay. I'm Penelope."

He kindly took her hand in return. "Yeah, it's nice to meet you." He lightly grinned before replacing her in the seat next to Nina's bed.

Nina loomed over at Penelope in the doorway who mouthed "hottie" and sent a cheeky wink to her annoyance. She rolled her eyes playfully then reverted to the brunette settling in the seat. "I thought you were going to show up earlier with Hank, Alvin, and Erin." She mentioned, striking up the conversation.

"Yeah, I got held back for a bit and wanted to check on—"

"Maddie?" She finished, seeing him baffled. "Umm...they told me about her and everything that happened. How is she?"

He sighed out roughly, clasping his hands together. "She made it out of surgery and stable in the ICU."

"Good. That's good." She whispered out, pursing her lips.

They stared at each other in silence before he cleared his throat. "I'm glad you're well and alive." A nervous chuckle left his mouth hindering his guilt. "Either way this shouldn't have happened to you. I couldn't imagine if..." He trailed off as his face faltered.

"Don't. Be happy that I am safe. I've been trained to survive any predicament, so, this isn't new to me." She said to uplift him though he didn't budge. "I know what it feels like to feel at fault. Yet, we have to remind ourselves we aren't in control of everything." Her eyes fell to her lap. "Which ultimately is frustrating sometimes because we lose people along the way. You and the team caught the guy at the end of the day. Keep your head up."

Jay nodded in agreement, "So, how long are you staying?" He pondered, deciding to change the subject.

"A few days. I'm hoping to fly out of Chicago next week. That's an "if" though because I'm sure my parents will be overbearing about reporting back to my job." She amused with a slight giggle to which is becoming to Jay who chuckled. "I understand they're concerned after experiencing these eventful few days. Anyways, I shouldn't be holding you up since I've heard from Alvin that everyone will be at Molly's tonight. You should celebrate with the team after closing the case."

Nina didn't intend to keep Jay, assuming the man wanted to relax with his friends and a beer in his hand. With a job in this field, it makes you want to pour out a drink either in celebration or after a rough week. However, for some reason she had this urgency to tell him to stay.

"Unless you want to stick around with Penelope and Derek when he brings in our takeout."

A tiny grin elicited on his lips, "What kind of takeout?"

-Look who finally updated this book. My inspiration for this book sort of been lacking, thought felt conflicted to proceed to continue to write. I don't even like my writing for this chapter as much. Out of curiosity, does anyone want me to continue? If so, comment below. Tell me what you think. Don't forget to comment and vote! Stay tuned!-

WRITTEN: 11/1/2020

PUBLISHED: 11/25/20