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BITTERSWEET
:: lvi. | alive if i die

Vanessa laid in that hospital bed. Alone. Eyes were shut, breathing through a mask, and waiting for the doctors to decide if they should go through with surgery. The gash on her head was so bad that it wasn't going to heal on its own. If it wasn't treated correctly, then there would be way more doctor appointments in the long run.

It wasn't her doing of being alone, the doctors wanted her to have no visitors until after the surgery. But because Vanessa was asleep and unable to answer herself, they had to go to agent jareau to make the tough call.

After having that conversation with Hotch, jj went to the hospital and sat next to Cole, consoling her. That's around the time everything went down. The doctor pulled Jennifer away to talk to her and Will got a call from the chief that informed him someone was on their way to Vanessa's room.

Just in the middle of their conversation, heads were turned, seeing Will running in the direction of vanessa's room. It didn't take jj any second later to follow him, after quickly telling the doctor he can do what he needs to.

Jj stood outside the room with Will and another officer. They looked in and out, Will told Jennifer of what he was told. As the three discussed, that's when will glanced up to the convex mirror and noticed someone peeking around the corner, watching them.

He quickly turned around, "Hey!" Will ran after the suspect, leaving the other officer and jj in front of Vanessa's closed door.

Just outside in front of the back door, Will tackled the suspect down. He straddled the suspect as he pulled out handcuffs. Will snapped them on, then got up, pulling the suspect up. He walked back in the hospital with the suspect, calling jj to tell Hotch that someone will be waiting for them in the interrogation room of the BAU. Will personally drove him to the fbi headquarters.

He wanted to keep an eye on this guy. From what jj filled him in on from what Vanessa had said before the accident, this could be the guy who was watching her and Cole.

But just like the last couple of hours, everything was up in the air. He just hopes the case isn't dragged out the like Miguel one because a year is a very long time.

• • •

A few hours later, the rest of the team was finally back in Virginia and the rush to the BAU was quick. Already someone in custody, some of the team can now canvas the apartment, and Vanessa was one step closer to hopefully getting better.

As soon as the team stepped on the sixth floor, Will said his hello and began his way back to the hospital while the team made their way to the conference room. Now it was game on, for sure.

"Alright, " Hotch began, "Dave, you got our suspect. Prentiss and Reid, Strauss is already there but see what you can find out at the apartment and Morgan, hospital." He finished, "I'm going to check in with Garcia."

Just when everyone went on their assignments, Dave quickly made his way to Morgan for a brief moment. Maybe it was nothing, but considering the nature of the case, they had to dot all their i's.

"Derek, a moment please." He stood next to him, "You think you can find out who told will about the suspect?"

"It was his boss, rossi."

"Exactly. Where did he hear it from? Who's his source?"

Morgan nodded, "I see where you're coming from. I'll let you know."

He then proceeded to the elevator and was on his way to the hospital.

To say he was angry and torn was an understatement. He couldn't believe that something was happening again to Vanessa. He never stopped caring about her. He just wished in this moment, that he could do more. Knowing it isn't just Vanessa, but his team and everyone else who is associated with them . . . he couldn't see this case going anywhere good anytime soon.

• • •

While the team was doing everything in their power, the bad guys were heading into the next step of their plan. They were finishing preparations for the truck because but it wasn't just one. It was at least four, but one of them was in a different state.

The boss approached one of his guys, "We're ready?"

"Yeah." The guy glanced his way.

The boss just nodded as he pulled his phone out, "Let's roll."

The first stop was the hospital. Two goons went around looking for Jennifer and once she was spotted, they waited till she was alone to strike. So after about ten minutes, they made their move.

One of them walked behind her and held a cloth against her mouth to get her to pass out. It didn't take long, only a couple of seconds. When it was done, him and the other carried her to the truck. But it wasn't just her. After they dumped her in the back of the truck, they went after Cole, Henry, and the nanny. Next was Strauss and her family.

Fair game was out of the question now.

By the time someone noticed people were missing, the boss was long gone to a special facility that was abandoned. It was perfect for them because it gave him time to make sure to get what he really wants . . . which he assumes Strauss and jareau might know where it is.

So everyone came too, they were all locked in different rooms. Strauss' kids in one room, jj's kids and nanny in the other. However, Strauss and jj were hanging from the ceiling by their wrist chained up. Both were drowsy and completely out of it.

As jj's eyes fluttered open, that's when she saw him standing in front of her. She definitely recognized him. She turned her head and saw Strauss coming too. Her head looked back in front of her and that man was just smiling at her.

And that's when she knew . . .

They were fucked.

a/n:
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