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BITTERSWEET
:: lvii. | shelter

The boss lightly tapped jennifer's cheek, "Keep your eyes open, sunshine."

"What do you want, Chris?" She croaked out.

A light chuckle escaped his lips, "Oh, so you do remember me? Flattered." Jennifer just rolled her eyes as he continued, "I'm sure you know what it is I want or your friend over there." He gestured towards Strauss.

Jj spoke lowly, "We don't have whatever you're looking for. Just let us go."

He sucked his teeth, "See I would, but we have your families." He gestured to one of his goons to cue the live feed, "So, im going to ask again and it's best if you think in your family's best interest. So; where's my flash drive, jj?"

"I promise you, Chris —— " She looked him the eyes, "I don't know. If I did, I would happily tell you for the sake of my family."

"Happily?" He brought his hand up, slapping her cheek. He then aggressively cupped her face with one hand, "Not good enough, jareau."

"Seems she needs some motivation." One his buddies suggested.

Chris nodded, "So what will it be boys?" He suggested, "Erin or the pretty burnette on the live feed?" He looked back at jj, "Cole, right? That's her name?"

"I swear to god ——- " Jj clenched her teeth, "If you touch her —— "

He got up all in her face, "You'll what? Call your team? They have no idea where you are and from where im standing, I have the upper hand." He turned to one of his buddies, "Go get the pretty teenager."

Erin's face was written in disgust, hearing the words pretty teenager leave his mouth. What grown ass man speaks about a teenager that way?

Just like jj, Erin hoped so badly that they wouldn't do what she thinks they might because that's something no one may ever come back from.

• • •

"Ok, Spencer —- what do we have?" Hotch ask.

Just before spencer began, Will came rushing into the conference room.

"I tried stopping him." Anderson spoke.

"It's fine, Anderson." Morgan nodded, "Will, everything ok?"

Will spoke quickly, "They're gone. Cole, jj, my son —— nowhere to be found."

Hotch looked to Morgan, "Go back with Will and check the security cameras." He then turned to Garcia, "Can you reach Strauss?"

Garcia tried ringing her and tracking her phone, but no results sadly. That's when Hotch ordered someone to go check her residents and her family's place. Once that was wrapped, saving everyone was definitely mandatory.

Security cameras were checked, the profile was slowing being built as names were coming to light. Even though the higher ups were against it, they had no other choice to reveal only limited names.

Next steps were soon taken, all while Vanessa was still asleep in that damn hospital bed. But surgery was soon approaching and the doctor was looking for agent jareau to share the news with her. However, he found will —— the standing by officer and approached him.

"Excuse me, do you happen to know where agent jareau is?"

Will turned in his direction, "Hey, doc. She had to step out for work. Anything involving Vanessa, you can come to me for now."

"Well in that case, we are moving head with the surgery. She's about to go in."

"Will there be any complications or issues?" Will wanted to make sure on jj's behalf.

"Considering where the gash is, maybe some memory lost." The doctor told him.

"How far back are we talking?" Will brows furrowed.

"That depends on her." He gave him a nod before heading off to prep Vanessa for surgery.

• • •

Chris had his arm around cole as she was seated on a stool in front of jj and Erin. Cole tried to keep a straight face, don't show fear but it was a little hard to do that because in her position, anything could happen right then.

"Such a pretty girl." He patted Cole's cheek.

"Chris, she has nothing to do with any of this . . . " Jj spoke.

"Let her go." Erin finally chimed in.

He sucked his teeth, "You know why I can't do that, Erin. So, ladies, where's my flash drive?" His hands formed around Cole's neck, "Not hearing any answers."

Before Strauss or jj could say anything remotely in their favor, cole blurted out, "I took it!"

Chris put his hands down, "What do you mean?"

Cole hesitantly continued, "I needed something like that for school and I saw it on the table and borrowed it. Realizing it wouldn't work for me, I shoved it in my drawer."

He stood in front of her, leveling with her, "You better not be lying." But she was. Jj and Erin both knew. Honestly, if they didn't say anything something would've happened to cole, which is why the teen thought on the spot, mostly to save her ass. Chris aggressively grabbed her by the arm and threw her to one of his guys, "Put her in the truck."

He then resumed his way out the room and began heading to the truck, leaving Erin and Jennifer as well as their families.

But they weren't alone, a big fella walked through the door and stood in front of it.

"Boss said you say one word, I put you in your place."

Jj and Erin just glanced at each other, knowing damn well this was a losing battle.

The worst was happening and there was nothing anyone can do. She was scared for Cole, Vanessa, her son. Her life was literally falling apart right in front of her and picking the pieces back up will definitely be a handful.

a/n:
any ideas of what y'all
think is coming?