chapter sixteen

Nina slipped away from the conference to outside of the precinct. While waiting for the rest of the team to report back from their tasks, she settled on a bench basking underneath the bright sun in Long Beach, California. She pulled out her phone to dial up a call. After a few rings, the line clicked as the person finally answered.

"Hey, what's up?"

The sound of the Chicago detective's voice caused a soft smile to elicit upon Nina's lips.

"At the precinct after checking out another crime scene."

"Another crime scene?" Jay intrigued.

She pressed her lips together and hummed, "Yeah, we got a message about it once we landed. Hotch had Rossi and I to take a trip there. Now, we're waiting for the others to come back." She further explained. "So, I thought I could call you up and see how you're doing. You're not busy, right?"

Jay folded his arms against his chest, leaning back on the wall in the locker room. "I'm not. We just finished planning an extraction tonight. Hoping it goes well. I bet you called because you miss hearing my voice, huh?" He smirked, earning a known eye roll from the woman on the line.

"God, you're such a loser." She murmured out, hearing tiny chuckles on his end.

"Yet, you're dating me."

Since reconciling at Molly's that night, the duo decided to date exclusively. Navigating a long-distance relationship was less of a challenge as they have an understanding about the demands of their jobs. This is the very first relationship since Brandon, which tugged Nina's heart a little to move on. However, she couldn't deny the profound feelings for Jay. Taking that leap of faith with him, soon assured there was no regret.

"Anyways, I want to ask but don't want to get my hopes up—"

Jay roughly sighed, aware of the incoming question. "She didn't show. Didn't bother to answer mine or Darren's calls and texts. He asked Voight about her earlier but nothing." Referring to Erin who spiraled after finding solace with Bunny for the worse. Hank attempted to steer back the woman to her senses to only receive her badge indicating a resignation.

It saddened Nina to find out about her friend's current state, though she couldn't blame the woman wallowing in her own grief and guilt. Like her godfather, she tried to reach out but led to voicemail and texts on delivered. She hasn't been able to fly out to Chicago due to cases piling up. Especially with Kate's departure from the team and having JJ until she goes on maternity leave in a matter of months.

The best she could do is wait for updates from her boyfriend or Darren. Jay cared about his partner as Darren who found himself to have romantic feelings for the woman, once again.

"Bunny really has her wrapped around her finger that bad...and her three-week furlough ends soon." She groaned, combing back her hair with her fingers. "I could come up there and hope that she'll listen to me."

Possibly dragged her away from Bunny's wrath.

"No, you go focus on your case. Darren and I can track her down and talk to her." He assured his girlfriend.

"If neither of you are able to get through to her, I'm taking the first flight to Chicago then." She warned in a serious tone to which her boyfriend knew she wasn't joking. Her eyes casted over to Spencer and JJ coming up to the precinct from the bar. "I need to get back inside. I'll talk to you later, possibly when I get to the hotel. That's if I make it there before midnight."

"It's no problem. I might be busy with the extraction and locating Erin." He chuckled on the line. "Good luck with the case. I miss you."

"Good luck with yours and talking to Erin. I miss you too."

Last night, another murder occurred when a woman called the precinct to what she perceived a harmless threat by neighboring children. The uniformed officer who connected the apparent threat to the unsub, became alarmed. Rossi managed to catch the call and inform the civilian this threat was much less of a prank. Unfortunately, by the time they were sending units to her location the serial killer was already inside the house. Rossi had to listen to the shrieking woman being attacked and gasping on her last breath on the line.

It came to the team's knowledge that their geo profile of the unsub's hunting ground was proven wrong. Retreating to the evidence board—one significant piece caught Spencer's eye to which circled around the motive of these past killings.

Once delivering the profile, Penelope shared relevant information about the latest victim's whereabouts. It pinned her within the perimeter of the unsub's hunting ground. Both Nina and Spencer went over there to the place being a coffee shop.

Wrong place. Wrong time.

That's what the team gathered after surfing through the coffee shop's security footage where their four victims appeared in line at the cashier. Although, there was a young woman last in line assumed to be a potential victim.

JJ lifted her head at the sound of the door opening in the conference room. Nina returned to the table after reaching Jay's voicemail. She didn't speculate anything considering he was working on a big case. The couple haven't spoken for almost a day, only texted a little bit. She figured he'll respond eventually.

Unknown to her, the Intelligence Unit's operation ended with Jay abducted by a notorious gangster named Derek Keyes. His cover had been blown and the brother, Beni was murdered by his older brother at the airport. Now, Hank and his unit are scrambling for the detective all over the city.

"Couldn't get through to "Detective Hottie"?" The blonde teased with a playful smirk.

Nina snorted at the given nickname by Penelope which stuck easily with the rest of the colleagues to call the Chicago detective. Specifically, now that the woman is dating him. She didn't mind yet thought it was ridiculous.

"He'll get back to me later. He's working on this big case."

JJ etched a tiny smile, "I'm really happy for you, Nina." She spoke in a genuine tone, noting the journey to heal hasn't been easy for her. Herself and the rest of the team seen to what seemed like a weight on their friend's shoulders be relieved. Not saving face half of the time.

"Me too." The raven-haired woman exhaled slowly, feeling confident in her response. She lowered her eyes on the visible bump poking the blonde's shirt. "How's my god son doing?"

Officially announcing her second pregnancy, she asked Nina to be the baby's godmother. She was the first person besides her husband to open up about her miscarriage. They connected on their losses. With this pregnancy, JJ wanted Nina to take part in a notable role of this baby's life. Not a second surpassed for Nina to accept.

Following her gaze, her hand caressed her bump. "He's doing well. One hell of a kicker." She laughed.

"He's eager to meet one of his favorite people. Only a couple of more months to go."

JJ let out a small laugh, "I know this is...too early to ask but do you think you will want kids? Doesn't have to be with Jay." She asked out of curiosity.

"I just took a leap of faith to enter a relationship with the guy, JJ." Nina humored her friend. "I'm kidding. I can tell you that I hope, one day. Not a priority but potentially in the future. I'm content where I am with my life and new relationship." The bits of heartache of the miscarriage will always be carried with her. Perhaps it wasn't meant to be. To think about what she's experienced in the aftermath of that night, she realized it wouldn't have been great timing for her to be a mother. She aspired to be the best version of herself and the right partner when the time came to bring in a life into the world.

She knew her time will come to raise a child of her own.

Hours of rummaging tirelessly through the coffee shop's security footage and narrowing down hospital records to place a face on their unsub, the team was able to pin down his home address. Furthermore, the nameless woman had been discovered on the footage with a visible name tag.

By the time they arrived at the woman's home nothing added up. There was a threating note in her mailbox, but it seemed the unsub didn't go through with his plan. It came to their realization that another target was prioritized.

Nina and Derek rush to the boat warehouse, making it on time to find William Harding the unsub and his friend Wick, presumed to be the next poisoned victim. After getting through to him, they made the arrest while escorting Wick for immediate medical attention.

Once closing the case, the members of the BAU reported back on the jet home to D.C.

Penelope shut the door to her office. She couldn't wait to sink into the comfort of her bed and cozy pajamas. On her way to the elevator doors, she took notice of Nina's presence at her desk. The curious blonde pushed through the glass doors and towards the restless raven-haired woman leaning back in her chair.

"What are you still doing here?" She would've thought she'd be home after landing with the team hours ago.

Nina wavered her eyes to the blonde from the ceiling. "Finishing up paperwork." She quipped.

Of course, she'll remain in the office with the work ethic she has. There were times she pulled late hours or having colleagues forcing her out of the building to go home.

"You're exhausted and need some beauty sleep, my precious angel. No need to push yourself too hard."

A wary expression spread on the woman's face which caught Penelope's eye. She knitted her brows together. "Okay, what's wrong? Something is wrong. Tell me!"

Nina straightened up in her seat, puffing her cheeks. "This might sound stupid, but I haven't heard from Jay. He's working on this case, I get it. But I don't have a good feeling. Again, I might be over my head about this." She vented to her friend.

She assumed he would've said something by now.

"Do you want me to locate him?" Penelope began taking out her laptop ready to search for the man's location to soothe her friend's worries. "I can do it right now." She proposed.

Instead, Nina shook her head though pleased by the blonde's willingness to do that for her. "No, it's okay."

"If you don't have a good feeling—"

"Like I said, I could be over my head. It might be that I feel triggered or fearful of it happening again." She confessed, pursing her lips together at the excruciating thought. "Plus, I would've received some indication that something happened with him from my uncle."

Unfortunately, her gut was proven right when Alvin finally called later that night to inform about Jay's abduction.

"What was the last thing you remembered, Nina?"

Inside the hospital room, Dr. Watson, Hotch, and JJ surrounded the bed where Nina lied. She had awakened after being unconscious for several hours. The second her eyes fluttered open, she felt sore all over her body like after running a marathon. It was a struggle to straightened herself on the bed, luckily JJ being present in the room assisted despite protesting to sit up quickly. Eventually, JJ left the room to fetch Dr. Watson and Hotch.

"Uh...going into that house. I-It was dark, and I search around the house. I think something hit me in the back of my head when I was upstairs." Nina shuddered; her hand lightly touched the back of her head causing her to wince at the pain.

Hotch spoke up, "We found you in the basement. Norton tried to kill you, but Morgan and JJ got to him." He sighed as building up this conversation will be brutal to hear for his agent.

Nina blinked rapidly, "So, you got him?" Her heart started to pound in her eardrums due to the unreadable expressions in the room. Something felt severely off in this room to which entailed the worst has yet to be told.

"He escaped through this secret passage. Derek went after him but lost him through the pathways." JJ shared a solemn expression.

Hotch added, "We sent out word to PD with the team to track him down. They'll check the border in case he tries to leave."

"And what about Brandon?"

The question taunted the trio in the room. At the mention of his name, Nina began to recall the last she seen her fiancé. Only blurred flashes of him and blood, so much of it. By the silence brewing due to hesitation, her body felt numbed.

Tears were spilling endlessly when her eyes reached the gaze of the one informing the news to which she already confirmed from the hollowness in her stomach. "...I'm sorry, Nina. He's gone." As those words became an affirmation to her ears, her hands shakily clutched onto the white sheets.

Many emotions stirred inside Nina from that call. She is more furious at Hank for not telling her about Jay getting kidnapped. Alvin earned an earful from his niece who told her until mere hours of the exchange the Intelligence Unit agreed to. She is upset at the thought of Jay.

Nina booked the earliest flight to Chicago and packed a bag in a haste to get to the airport. During the entire flight she couldn't sleep considering the adrenaline rushing through her body and inability to register anything after that phone call. The worst-case scenarios swarmed in her head.

To what seemed like the longest flight in her life, it finally landed by the time the Intelligence Unit managed to retrieve their member back to safety. Hank sent out patrol officers Kim and Sean to pick her up from the airport then directly to Gaffney Chicago Medical Center.

Despite the relieving news about Jay, Nina remained quiet and shown to still be in distress in the back of the patrol car. The brunette patrol officer attempted to spare some comfort and reassurance but given short responses.

At the front of the hospital stood Christopher anticipating for his older sister's arrival. The first thing she uttered to him was the whereabouts of her boyfriend. He entailed in a calming tone that his injuries weren't drastic due to her urgent eyes. The two siblings traveled down the corridors to where he guided her to the assigned hospital room.

Finally, Nina felt stabled on the ground once reaching the doorway. She sucked in her breath at the sight of Jay hooked to monitors and IV drip in bed. There were apparent stitches on one side of his face with bruises and scratches.

She stood still—incapable of moving her feet forward into the room. Her eyes became glossy after having loss of words while a nurse checked his vitals.

"Can I have a moment alone?"

Nina asked JJ in a quiet tone after removing the cover to unveil Brandon's cold body in the morgue for her. She sat in the wheelchair from where her dull eyes daggered at the love of her life. After speaking to Dr. Watson alone, all she demanded was seeing him. She refused to talk or see anyone until she saw him.

JJ rubbed a comforting hand on her friend's back before taking her exit.

Once hearing the doors shut, Nina's face softened. "You should've kept your eyes open for me, honey. Just a little longer." She used the arm rests on the wheelchair to alleviate onto her feet to gain a better look at her fiancé's face. "I'm so sorry. It shouldn't have been you. You didn't deserve this." She leaned over to caress his face.

She took a glimpse down at her stomach where her hand ran across it. "T-The doctor told me...we were pregnant. Pregnant, you hear that? But I think you knew because you know me better than anyone else." Her lips quivered as tears threatened to spill from her eyes. "I'm sorry. It wasn't supposed to be like this for us."

"Nina."

Christopher's voice cleared to call on his sister, once noticing her spooked state. Her head perked to see his hand upon her shoulder and the realization that all eyes were on her. The nurse excused herself not without Christopher trailing after to give the couple privacy.

"Hey." Jay's face flushed in relief seeing his girlfriend.

"Hi."

She advanced to the side of his bed and sat in the small space he provided after scooting a little.

As composed, she strived to exhibit, her body didn't coordinate from the way her hand shakily reached to cup her boyfriend's face. He had already taken in her frightened eyes as if she's seen a ghost. To help reel her back into reality, Jay hovered his hand upon hers that rested on his cheek. It appeared to soothe her when her fidgeting hand stopped.

"You're okay."

"I'm okay."

-I had this drafted since February but reworked it for two days. I can tell you it's much better than what I had before. Back then I didn't have the motivation to continue especially the uncertainty if anyone still reads this book. The next chapter will be a major time jump, basically skipping a season. Tell me what you think! Hope you like it! Don't forget to comment and vote! Stay tuned!-

WRITTEN: 6/3/22

PUBLISHED: 6/3/22