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BITTERSWEET
:: xxxviii. | favorite crime

Two months now and now knowing makes the waiting worse —— for Mia, Daniel, Arlo, Ashton, and Savannah. The ones who are close to them. They didn't know what to do with themselves because of how alone they were in the suspense, especially Savannah.

The young woman had a lot on her plate. She had to take care of her son, grades, ultimately deal with problems that weren't her's because apparently that was in the job description of a teacher. However, how was she going to deal with her own? She just wished that she was the one to be turned too when Vanessa has a problem. Either Vanessa goes into a hole or she calls a certain blonde.

Savannah knew going into the relationship that she may have to stand up for herself and show Vanessa that she can be everything, but it's hard to do that when she was never really given a real chance. Women supporting women? Her and jj were far from that.

But it wasn't just herself she had to watch out for now, it was everyone else who knew. It made them all on edge, worry, paranoid, and unsafe. Which is why she started a small group after school consisting of Daniel, Mia, Ashton, Arlo, and herself. She wanted to make sure all of them stuck together during this time that they really knew nothing about which pissed them off.

"How are we supposed to continue our every day life knowing nothing? How do they know if they're safe? The BAU doesn't know anything either."

"All relevant questions, but we just have to trust they'll do their job to the very end." Savannah told Mia.

Daniel spoke softly, "What kind of end are we talking about here?"

"I bet my money on her dad." Mia took no hesitation in mentioning him. She never liked him anyway.

"Her dad?" Ashton questioned and Mia just nodded, "What does he have to do with anything?"

"A lot." She responded nonchalantly.

With a slight sigh, Savannah leaned back against the desk, "We know of the circumstances now, but don't go playing cop. Ok? It won't just be you guys who could get hurt, but Cole and Vanessa too."

"By staying silent, we protect them?" Alro finally spoke up.

Savannah nodded, "Exactly and yourselves."

Soon enough, everyone got up and left, Savannah was all alone. The last one to leave the school building. She had a kid to go home too and well, there's no one to admit it to but Savannah was feeling something. A feeling that was unfamiliar —— one she didn't hate.

The young teacher realized that she loves Vanessa. If she has to convince her that she is the one for Vanessa, then she'll do that.

Yes, love was foreign to her before this. Her son wasn't even conceived out of love. She remembers that night. He was conceived out of hatred. Savannah and her ex were in a middle of a toxic relationship. She never told him she loved him because she never felt it and one night they were both angry and horny. Then afterwards, she found out she was pregnant. Just because Jonah was the product of that, doesn't mean she loves her son any less.

• • •

Once again, another night, Vanessa was out partying at that club dancing with that man that she met only a couple of days ago. She felt alive again and the best part was that she didn't have to worry about anything. She thought being jasmine was fun, she even created her persona a whole backstory.

Hernandez on the other hand, loved getting to know her. He thought she was smart, funny, kind, beautiful. He was beginning to think that maybe he would want something more. And now the problem with that is, his job comes with many responsibilities. Not just running the club, but making sure his girls are alright and that his customers are satisfied as well as giving him the money that they owe for his girls.

He had this whole idea that he was going to come clean to Vanessa tonight, but first he had to make sure he could trust her.

"Follow me." He instructed, taking her hand and guiding her off the dance floor. He took her to the back, his office. Once the two entered, he close the door and locked it behind them. The light was switched on and Vanessa stood in front of him waiting, "Can I trust you?"

"Of course." She held his hand.

He lightly smiled, "Can you prove it?"

She didn't understand, "What do you mean?"

"I have something to tell you." He admitted, "And I have to make sure you're all in."

The problem was Vanessa's heard that before. That's how Miguel phrased it before her life went to shit. Let's be real, she was only doing any of this because she wanted to have fun and she wasn't looking for anything serious. To top it off, she never even kissed him and nor did she want to. She would never cheat on Savannah and that's who she thought about in that moment.

She let go of his hand and stepped back, "I don't want want to know. I have a feeling and Hernandez, I don't want this for me and my daughter."

"I understand." He nodded, "It probably isn't for you."

She breathed out, "Yeah."

He gave her a small smile before turning around and opening the door, "I'll walk you out."

So Hernandez walked Vanessa through the long hallway and out the door to the club. He and her then made their way to the exit, outside where it was dark.

She looked at him once more, "Goodnight."

He nodded, "See you around, jasmine."

And with that, Vanessa began her way back home. It was quite early for her because she usually didn't get back till after midnight, but this time it was only around ten at night.

• • •

Back at the BAU, it was the middle of the day. Everyone was still giving it their all with this case and actually, finally, some dots were connecting.

And it wasn't till spencer walked back into the conference room with another cup of coffee in hand when he noticed something that he definitely didn't before.

The cup practically fell from his hand, spilling coffee on the floor. He was in shock. He rushed to garcia's tech room to ask her if she could get everyone back here. And within the next ten to fifteen minutes, they all arrived back.

"Coffee on the floor? Must be really important." Emily noticed ask she walked in with everyone else.

"I'll clean it later." Spencer went up to the map that was on the board, "Guys, this is bigger than we thought. This is bigger than Vanessa and Cole . . . we're looking at a drug ring."

"Wouldn't it still be the same? We get Miguel, Vanessa and Cole can come back." Jj spoke.

Spencer shook his head, "Not if he's working for someone."

"He's right." Morgan chimed in, "If they come back early, it'll put a bigger target on their back. Think about it, Vanessa's ex drug dealer was a lose end so he had to be killed. That could end up being Miguel."

"Or worse, they would get back at Miguel by going after Cole and Vanessa." Spencer finished.

Hotch intently listened to everything that was said before nodding and walking out to head to Strauss' office. He had to inform her of what was going on and what the next steps were. Then she made a decision and that was that she was going to be apart of this case now. She also knew that she would be receiving calls soon from higher above.

But the real question was . . .

How much longer were Vanessa and Cole going to be away?

a/n:
y'all, we approaching the end
of this act.