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BITTERSWEET
:: xxxv. | comatose

Red wine. There it sat on the coffee table next to a fallen glass, while Vanessa laid right side up asleep at one in the afternoon the next day. It was the aftermath of what happened with her house being shot down and finding out about Miguel. She didn't know how to take it or deal with it. She felt lost, like it was the beginning of the end.

She continued to sleep up until she heard the door bell ring over and over. Her eyes fluttered open as it rang a fifth time.

"I'm coming!"

Vanessa stumbled a bit as she stood up and as she began to make her way to the door, she wasn't all there. Her eyes kept trying to close and her legs wanted to give out. It was clear to say she was the drunkest she's ever been. She had definitely hit rock bottom.

Just as she approached the door, she caught herself from falling. She opened the door and there stood agents Reid and Prentiss.

"Hi." Emily began, "Hotch sent us. We've been trying to reach you all morning."

Vanessa turned around, heading back to the living room, "I'm awake now. So, what?"

"Well, you're still holding information that could help us." Spencer chimed in, following behind Emily who was following Vanessa.

Once they stepped foot into the living room, Emily immediately noticed the wine and the fallen glass as did Spencer. The two agents shared a look as Vanessa picked up the glass.

"So, where's cole?" Emily continued.

"Not here." Vanessa then reached for the wine bottle, "It's safer that way."

"Because of the house or you don't want her seeing you like this?" Emily ask the tough question.

Vanessa let out a chuckle with a slight scoff, "You have some nerve, Prentiss."

"Is she wrong though?" Spencer walked into Vanessa's view, "You have been through a great ordeal in the last hours but so has Cole. She needs you right now — sober you." He continued, "She's out there right now with her friends, worried about you and trying to comprehend what happened last night. She knows her friends won't get it."

Emily sat next to her, "We want to help you. Talk to us."

She began to pour the red liquid in the glass, "And look where that got me — my house shot up."

"We can guarantee you and Cole protection." Spencer offered, "But you won't like it."

Vanessa passed the boy genius a look before glancing at Emily. She knew what he was offering and although it wasn't ideal and a lot of people would worry, she knew it was best for her and her daughter. She also knew Cole wouldn't like it but then again, these are desperate times.

• • •

After drinking three water bottle, a shower, and a breath mint, she drove to the BAU with the agents. Vanessa was going to meet Cole there and the game plan was bound to be revealed when the team returned.

Once Morgan came through the double glass doors with Cole, she immediately ran into her mom's arms. Vanessa hugged her so tight as did Cole. They did not want to let each other ago. At the end of the day, they only had each other.

"Ok." Morgan approached the two, "Everyone else is waiting."

The three of them headed to the conference room. Morgan closed the door once they all walked in. Hotch made his way in front of everyone. He sighed deeply before beginning to speak.

"Thank you, Vanessa for coming forward and we know it's a high risk. Which is why, effective immediately, you and Cole will be put into witness protection." He continued, "We will not know where you guys are for reasons. And as soon as this case is closed, you will be the first to know."

Cole spoke up, "People only go into that if there's a chance they could die." Cole looked to her mom, "Are we going to die?"

Vanessa squatted down to Cole's level, "No. But it's for our safety. You are not going to die."

Soon enough, Vanessa and Cole were escorted to a truck that took them to the airport where a private jet and an assigned agent waited for them.

They had nothing but Cole's duffel bag and Vanessa's purse. Everything else was left behind at their shot up house in Virginia which they were now hours from and heading to New Jersey. Vanessa couldn't remember the last time she got out of state and though this was life or death, she kind of saw it as a refresher.

She kind of saw it as, maybe moving would be best for her and her daughter. No more Miguel, drama, bullies, or police involvement. It would be a fresh start for the Reign girls and hell, Vanessa knew they both needed it.

However, through it all though, Vanessa felt numb. Not necessarily her emotions but physically. She felt stuck, she didn't know steps forward. How was she supposed to be there for her daughter when she didn't know how to be there for herself? She's never been in a situation like this before, hating the man she thought she loved and wanting her daughter to have nothing to do with him. Not only that, Cole had siblings now and Vanessa didn't know what to do with that either.

Soon everyone felt a little bump with the jet. The agent got up from his seat to go see what that was about and turns out it was nothing serious. However, he was informed that the jet would be landing in less than ten minutes. He soon returned to Vanessa and cole, informing her of the news.

She just continued to sit there with Cole's head resting on her lap as she slept. She was glad at least one of them was getting some rest.

a/n:
i just wanted to say that,
even though this is a jj fic,
the book isn't surrounded
around vanessa and jj's
love story. their story is
like a subplot within Vanessa's
story ((: