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BITTERSWEET
:: ii. | guilty conscious

"Morning, kiddo." Vanessa walked into the kitchen, greeting her daughter who at their small table finishing her homework.

Cole just smiled up at her mom, before quickly looking down to finish her homework. She hoped badly that her mom knew nothing about last night, the girls and the apparent police officer. She tapped her pencil on the table before putting the eraser in her mouth. She looked up at her mom who was fixing cereal for them.

"Hey, mom? I was wondering if dad could come by tonight? Your staying late at work and so I thought—" She spoke so innocently.

Vanessa cut her off, "We talked about this. No. I don't want him here." Vanessa picked up both the bowls and carried them to the small kitchen table. Once Vanessa sat down, Cole stood up. "Not hungry?"

"Lost my appetite." Cole continued to put her things in bag as Vanessa began to eat. Once Cole finished packing, she made her way out the kitchen and to the front door but before she could even open it, her mother called out.

"Hold, up!" Vanessa walked behind her and Cole turned around, "You gonna tell me why you have a busted lip and uh— " Vanessa licked her thumb then wiped her daughter's cheek removing some foundation, "Purple cheek?"

Cole shrugged, "I ran into a pole."

"Really?" Vanessa rose her brows, she could tell her daughter was lying but if cole wasn't ready to talk then she wasn't ready to talk yet— so she let it slide.

"Yeah." Cole nodded.

"Ok, kiddo. See you later." Vanessa grabbed her daughter's head and kissed the top.

Cole gave her mom a quick smile before running out the house to the bus stop. Once she approached, she waited and waited. She thought it was odd, so she double checked her watch. She then compared it to the time on her phone and she was late. Considering the school was twenty minutes away and school starts in thirty, she began to run. Sure she could've asked her mom for a ride but that didn't go through her head until she was already halfway to the school.

• • •

Cole was panting as she reached the entryway to the school. She couldn't believe she made it, luckily she had ten minutes to spare— well nine to be precise. She walked through the double doors and headed straight to her locker. Unlike some people, Cole likes to keep to herself. She doesn't like to talk in the mornings, unless it's Mia. Till this day, she still wonders how she became friends with Mia because they are totally opposites.

Mia is quite popular, super girly. Every girl wants to be her and every guy wants to bang her. Maybe even the girls too. Cole on the other hand is a tomboy, shy, not necessarily popular but she knows quite a few people.

She was putting some of her books in her locker when Mia came from behind, wrapping her arms around cole's waist and resting her chin on her shoulder, "Hi, Lauren."

Cole rolled her eyes at the sound of her middle name, "I hate when you call me that."

"I know." Mia smiled. She unwrapped her arms, then went to cole's side, standing next to her. "Dude, what happened to your face?" Cole didn't say anything but at the corner of her eye, she noticed the two girls that did this to her. Mia noticed her staring off and looked in that same direction. "Oh." Was all she could say.

Cole just rolled her eyes, shutting her locker before speeding to class. She just wanted to forget it.

While Cole was at school, Jennifer was debriefing the agents on a new case. Just like the last, this one was just as bad. This unsub was fascinated with fires and anything that can start a fire. The murders were brutal. Jennifer might've been present, but her head was somewhere else. She couldn't get that teenager out her head. Being a profiler has its ups but it also has its downs. She just kept hoping the girl was safe. Though her head was somewhere else, she knew she had to focus on what was in front of her— the case.

Everyone continued to pitch in their theories and thoughts about the unsub. After about a good five to ten minutes, hotch announced they would be leaving in about twenty minutes to Tempe, Arizona. Jj gathered up her things off the table then left back to her office. She was the first to leave the conference room and because of that, everyone was a bit worried about her.

Sure jj was new and no one really knew her all that well yet but that didn't stop elle from going to her office and asking her what was wrong.

Elle lightly knocked on jj's open door. Jj looked up and gestured her to come inside. Elle closed the door behind her so in case something was really wrong, they could have some privacy.

"Everything ok, jareau? You didn't seem like you were there during the debrief." Elle sat on the chair across from jennifer.

"I met this kid last night on my way home and she seems alone and all by herself. I'm just worried about her, like if she got home ok or if she went home. I just regret not pushing hard enough when I offered to ride her home." Jennifer told Greenaway.

"Could i be blunt with you?" Jj nodded in response, "She's not your responsibility. If she's anybody's, it's her parents'. It's nice that you're worried but that was hours ago— I'm assuming." Elle finished.

Jj clarified, "It was and you're right. Hell, I don't even know her."

"Exactly." Elle lightly smiled.

Soon afterwards elle exited jj's office and after another ten minutes, the team was boarding the jet. They continued to talk about the case and well, Jennifer's mind was still stuck on that teenager.

• • •

The final bell had rang and Cole zoomed out of class. She immediately went to her locker and grabbed the books she needed to use for her homework. Usually after school, she likes to walk home. It's good exercise and she's getting her steps in. Mia did offer a ride home but Cole refused.

As she was nearly home, two girls came from behind and started walking with her by her sides. She knew exactly who they were. The girls from the ally last night, her known bullies at school. She knew exactly what was about to go down, so just like yesterday, Cole made a detour away from home so she won't bring her drama into her peaceful escape that she calls home.

"Last night wasn't enough for you?" Cole spoke as they approached that known alley.

One of the girls' stepped in front, moving forward letting Cole hit her back against the brick wall, "We just want to talk. That cop yesterday— you know her?"

Cole shook her head quickly, "Never met her before."

The girl tilted her head, "Now why you lying?"

"I'm not."

Cole was a bit nervous of how quiet it suddenly got. She watched the girl who stood in front of her gesture to the other girl. Cole wasn't sure what was going to happen but before anything could, she quickly moved. She watched the girl fall to the ground before she began running away. As she ran, she looked behind her and saw the girls chasing after her which only made Cole run faster.

Cole kept running, she ran two blocks. She would've kept running if she hadn't bumped into someone. She fell on the ground. She looked up with the sun blazing in her eyes, it was that cop from last night. Jennifer stuck her hand out, offering to help her up. Cole took it and stood back up. Jennifer looked out into the distance and noticed the two bullies from last night. She kept staring at them before they ran off.

"Thanks. I'm going to get going." Cole awkwardly spoke as began to head the other direction but Jennifer stepped in front of her.

"I'm working a case right now but why don't we go up in my office." She gestured towards the BAU building.

Cole followed her gesture and her eyes widened, "You're with the fbi?"

"Shall we?"

Jennifer began to head back into the building as Cole followed behind. She went through the little identifications to make sure she is who she is before heading to the elevator to head to the BAU level. The walk to the elevator was quiet. The elevator ride was also quiet. No one really said anything until they reached Jennifer's office.

Jj opened the door to her office and let Cole walk in ahead of her. Jennifer stood at the door, watching as Cole sat in the chair in front of her desk.

"Like I said, I have a case to finish. So if you need me ask around. I'll be back soon." Jj finished before she began to close the door.

"So you're just gonna leave me locked in here?" Cole exclaimed.

"The door will be unlocked but I trust you'll stay." Jj clarified as she exited her office and closed the door.

• • •

After about three and a half hours, Jennifer finally came back to her office. As to her surprise, there sat Cole but she wasn't in the same seat. She was sitting in Jennifer's seat. That, not she cared much about it but as long as Cole didn't look through the files, then things would be all good.

"You know what I realized?" Jennifer stood in the doorway of her office, "That we never exchanged names. I'm Jennifer."

Cole stopped the spinning chair in Jennifer's direction, "Cole. You finished your case?"

Jennifer quickly nodded, "Ready?"

Cole got up and walked around the desk, grabbing her bag off the chair that's sat in front of jj's desk as she made her way out the office.

Jennifer and her walked to the elevator to head to the basement of the building. Once they got to one of the black suvs, they both got in— Jennifer in the driver's and Cole in the passenger's. As Jennifer started the engine, Cole mentioned where she lived so Jennifer quickly plugged that into the gps before pulling out the garage onto the main road.

As Jennifer drove, the two made small talk. Cole didn't talk about much, that's mostly because she's a private teen and well she doesn't know Jennifer all that much to reveal certain things that happens in her life even though she doesn't necessarily tell her mom either. Her dad on the other hand, he isn't around much to tell anything too.

After two red lights, five minutes of going straight then two lefts, they finally arrived at cole's house. Jennifer parked the truck on the side of the road before getting out and following Cole to the front door. As Jennifer stood behind the teen, Cole lifted her fist and knocked on the door.

Jennifer thought it was a bit odd because what teenager doesn't have a key to their house, "No key?"

Cole simply shrugged, "Kinda in a rush this morning."

After a few moments, the door opened and Jennifer came face to face with cole's mother. The two women shared a small smile with each other as Cole pushed past her mom to get inside the house.

"By the look of your vehicle and holster on your hip, you're a cop. Did my kid do something?" Vanessa pointed out. She wasn't that bad at reading people either but this time it was just really obvious.

"No, of course not. I just saw her walking so I thought I'd give her a ride." Jj lied which she wasn't sure of why.

"Well, thank you officer . . . " Vanessa trailed off,

"Agent actually." Jennifer corrected, "But you can call me Jennifer."

"Oh!" Vanessa exclaimed, "Thank you, Jennifer." Vanessa stuck out her hand, "Vanessa."

Jj took her hand and shook it. They once again, shared quick smiles before Jennifer headed back to the truck and Vanessa closed the front door. As Jennifer reached her car and got in, she couldn't help but think she heard of the name before. Cole's name. She felt like she came across it in a case but it wasn't her case, it was Gideon's. She brushed it off and started the engine then began to drive back to the BAU.

a/n:
they met 👀