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BITTERSWEET
::  lv. | i see red (part 2)

The teen walked through the kitchen to the living room and then the halls. Cole was stunned of what she saw, her vision masking out the loud banging and yelling coming from behind the door that was next to her.

Her eyes began blinking rapidly, coming back to reality.

"Hello! Is someone out there! Vanessa!"

Cole recognized the voice. It was the nanny. She walked up to the door, "It's me!" She tried jiggling the knob, "It's locked! Just give me a minute!"

She ran to her bag and dug around for her phone. After pulling it out, she immediately dialed 9-1-1.

Within five minutes or less, the police arrived. Within a span of minutes, doors were knocked down and someone reached agent jareau who was out of state on a case.

Cole was barley there. She watched her mom be put on a gurney and be given cpr. She was in the worst condition possible. But that message that was on the wall, that's what really haunted Cole.

I'll be back.

What the hell did that mean? Why was this happening? And Cole hoped so bad that they didn't need to go back to witness protection.

As the police secured the crime scene and take pictures, Cole rode with her mom to the hospital. The nanny however, she said that she'll continue to watch Henry at her place. Just when they rolled up at the hospital, the doors opened and Cole jumped out. Her vision was blurry, but she saw Will coming her way.

She ran to him with open arms and hugged him. He hugged her back, arms around her as he pat her back trying to soothe her a bit.

She mumbled into his shirt, "This can't be happening again."

• • •

Jj was eventually called and she was on the next flight back to Virginia. The team didn't go with her because they were still working the case, but Hotch mentioned as soon as they were done, they were quickly going to be on their way back.

Will and Cole were already at the hospital, but they weren't allowed to see her. Strauss went to jj's home to oversee what the police were finding, waiting for jj and to fill her in on the plane back.

The police aren't the FBI or detectives, but some know how to do their job.

One instructed Strauss to follow him to the beginning of where the scene starts. So the two went to the front door.

He then began, "From what I can tell, the intruder got in by punching a whole in the door and then walked all the way to the back room." He made his way to jj and Vanessa's room with Strauss following, "Here is where everything happened. They must've grabbed a weapon of opportunity."

Strauss nodded listening, "But why didn't they break down the other locked door?"

The officer shrugged, "My guess is as good as yours. But if I'm throwing something out there . . . this person has probably been here before to know exactly what room to go too."

"Yeah . . . " Erin softly spoke as she pulled out her phone to call Hotch.

Not only two rings later did he answer.

"Is everything ok?" He spoke on the other line.

"Jennifer can't be on this case. She won't be able to think clear, her emotions will get in the way."

"I understand, but I don't agree. I'll let her know."

The call then ended and Strauss continued to oversee the findings.

• • •

Once jj landed and got off the plane, the first place she headed was the hospital. No one was allowed to see Vanessa yet, but the doctor was able to provide some information of her well-being.

The doctor pulled agent jareau to the side, so the two could talk alone.

A deep sigh escaped his lips, "She's in critical condition, agent. May need surgery, but we're still running test."

Jj treaded lightly, "What exactly was done to her?"

"She had a nasty gash on her head, slashing to her lower and upper body, and handprints around her neck." He continued, "We were able to tell that she blacked out during the excessive chocking." He concluded, "In result to that, oxygen to her brain was cut off."

"Is she stable?"

That's literally all jj wanted to know at this point.

"She is, yes. She's also on an oxygen supply." He gave her a look of sorrow, "I'll let you know when you can see her."

And with that, Jennifer headed back over to Will to let him know that she was headed to the house. Firstly, she had to speak with Cole first. This was now an investigation and they needed all the information they could get. It was only a matter of time before Hotch gave her a ring.

She sat next to the teen who was leaning back with her arms crossed over her chest and a look of worry written across her face.

"What happened? I need to know everything." Jj spoke softly.

Cole just shrugged, "I don't know." It took her a minute to continue, "I got home and the door was busted, blood was everywhere. The nanny and henry were locked in the nursery." She finished, "And that stupid message on the wall."

Jj looked at her, "What'd it say?"

"I'll be back." Cole shook her head, "Whatever the hell that means."

Jj stood up and kissed the top of Cole's head before heading out the hospital. She was able to take the bus back to her apartment and just as she expected, there were cop cars all around.

• • •

Her heart practically stopped beating as she walked around the apartment. Police were coming in and out the apartment. Just when Strauss turned around, she saw jj staring at the message on the wall that was written in blood. They could only guess it was Vanessa's blood.

Erin approached Jennifer, standing next to her.

"How is she?"

Jj sighed, "I don't know. All we can be is optimistic."

"Has Arron called you yet?" Strauss changed the subject.

Jj shook her head, "No. Why?"

Just before Erin could say anything else, Jennifer's phone starts ringing in her back pocket. She pulls it out, walking away to a private area in the apartment.

She answered the phone, holding it up against her ear.

"Hey, we're on our way. It'll be a few hours, however."

"Ok. How the case go?"

"How one would expect. But our only focus is catching this bastard, but there is protocol when one of our loved ones is caught in the crossfire."

Jj shook her head, "Aaron, don't remind me of that."

"It's an order jj. Come anywhere near this case, you're suspended. So if you're at your apartment, I suggest you go back to the hospital and be with Cole." He finished, "She needs someone more than ever. Her dad is gone and her mom is fighting for her life."

It took her a moment to respond. She hated being on the sidelines, "Yeah. Ok. I know you're right."

The call then ended and jj slid the phone back in her pocket. She remembered Strauss asking about a call from Hotch and now thinking of it, it could've been her idea to sideline jj.

Jennifer glanced up at Erin who talking to an officer.

Anger was fuming in her eyes and her blood was practically boiling.

No one hurts her family and gets away with it.

So it looks like she might have to disobey Hotch's orders for once.

a/n:
another update!!