SSA Scottley - A collection - S.R.

Bridget Scottley

There was a knock on her door. It was almost midnight. Who the hell was knocking on her door at eleven thirty-two in a Wednesday? With a huff, she got up from her couch, threw the file she was working on in her center table and opened the door. Her eyes widened when she saw her brother standing outside.

"Hey. What a nice surprise."

"Yeah." He responded with a half-smile. "Missed you, baby sister."

Lily rolled her eyes at the nickname and punched him slightly.

"Not a baby." She mumbled. "And I missed you too. But it's sort of late already, so... Why exactly did you come?"

"Can't a big brother pay a visit to his little sister every once in a while?" He asked, but Lily could see right through it. Not because she was a Profiler, only because he was her brother.

"George..."

"Fine, I... I need to tell you something." He breathed out.

"Is that it?" Lily frowned. "You could've called me."

"That's not the kind of thing you say through the phone." He whispered.

Lily pulled out a shaky breath. She grabbed her brother's hand and pulled him with her toward her living room, before sitting him in her couch and leaning against her table, pushing the file she was working on aside.

"Tell me." She said. He looked down.

"I don't know how to say it." He admitted.

"Just spit it out." She pleaded. "You're killing me."

George lifted his eyes toward hers and sucked in a deep breath.

"Mom's sick." He said.

"S-sick." She asked, her voice trembling. "Like w-what? She has a fever or something?"

"Lillian..." He sighed. "You know what I'm talking about. Grandma died of it and it's genetic, so, it was really only a matter of time before..."

"How is she?" Lily asked.

"Fine. She's in the Hospital now. They're making a few tests and exams and such. But she's strong. She's getting through it."

"They're gonna start chemo?"

"Yeah." George nodded, before sighing. "It's the early stages of it, so there might be a chance of..."

"I know." She interrupted him again. George shook his head, before grabbing his sister by the waist and sitting her down on his lap.

"Mom knows you have a tough job and you can't just go asking for days off every now and again, but she asked me to ask you to call her. She wants at least a call every day, so she can talk to you in case... In case she has a sudden collapse or something."

"I'll call her." Lily nodded against her brother's chest. "First thing when I wake up tomorrow."

"Good." He smiled, placing a kiss to her forehead. He got up, but Lily grabbed his hand, stopping him from moving. "It's late. Don't you want to spend the night? The couch is quite big, considering I live alone."

He chuckled.

"I'd love to spend the night, Lily."

She smiled.

"I'll grab some clothes for you then." She said, getting up and throwing the remote toward him. "Pick a movie. I want to enjoy some time with you."

"Yes, ma'am."

***

"Lily." Morgan called, making the young woman to lift her gaze from the pen in her hands to the man beside her. "Did you listen to me?"

"No. I'm sorry, Morgan. What was it?"

"I've asked if you finished the report on last case?"

"Oh, yeah." She nodded, reaching for the drawer underneath her desk. "Here."

"You okay, Lily?" Emily furrowed her brows as Morgan grabbed the file from Lily.

"I'm fine." She assured, even though she could tell Emily, Morgan and Spencer didn't buy it. "I'm fine, really."

"You seem... Off? Something happened?" She pressed. "Anything we should know of?"

"No, guys, I'm fine. Just... Couldn't sleep, alright?" She sighed, getting up from her seat. "Now if the interrogation is done, I'm going to check on Penny. You guys need anything?"

After they all mumbled their answers and thanks, Lily walked off the bullpen and toward Garcia's office, where she – after chatting a bit to the pure ray of sunshine she was – grabbed the archives she needed.

"Visit me more often, pup. You only call me when you need me to look up some creepy stuff for you during cases." Penelope called, as Lily walked out of her office.

"I'll keep that in mind, Penny, don't worry." She laughed, before walking down the hall back to her desk.

Before she could get there, though, Hotch's office door opened and he called her in.

"Yes?" She asked, as he motioned for her to take a seat. "Am I in trouble?"

"Not that I know of." He answered, before sitting down himself and staring at her. "I just want to know what happened to you. And..." He raised his hand as she opened her mouth to speak. "Don't say it was nothing because I know you, Lily. I'm not just a profiler. I'm not just your boss. I'm your friend, you understand that? You can talk to me."

"I know, Hotch, it's just..." She sighed, dropping the files on his desk and rubbing a hand in her face. "Talking about it will make it real."

"It probably is already real, Lily." He said, as she lifted her gaze to meet his.

"My mum..." She gulped, trying to form the phrase. "My mum is sick. She has, hum... Ovarian Cancer."

The woman was fighting back the tears, but once she saw the look of pity her boss was sending her way, she broke.

"It's okay to cry, Lily." He offered with a gentle smile. "My dad had Pullman cancer and he survived. Maybe your mother can too. It's in an early stage I assume?"

"It is." She nodded, wiping away the tears. "But my grandmother had it too and she... She passed away. So, it means that my mum's chances of getting cancer-free are minimal."

"I'm sorry, Lily." Hotch offered honestly and she smiled.

"It's okay." She shook her head. "Now, if you excuse me... I'm going to re-do my makeup before returning to work."

Lily was about to reach for the files, but Hotch was quicker.

"Go freshen up. I'll take those for you." He said. She was about to protest, but he dismissed her with a wave of his hand. "Is no trouble, really. I needed to get out of this office anyway."

"Thank you, Hotch." She said, walking toward the door. "For everything."

As soon as she left, Hotch got up and walked toward the bullpen. As he expected, when he placed the files on Lily's desk, Morgan, Emily, Spencer and now JJ all turned to him.

"What happened to her?" JJ asked, her motherly, protective instincts kicking in.

"Her mother has cancer." Hotch said, solemnly. They gasped. "But don't you dare say a word about it to her. If she didn't tell you, it's because you weren't supposed to know. She trusts you guys and, eventually, she'll open up about it. Just give her time."

"Got it." Morgan nodded.

"Yes, Sir." Emily said.

"Not a word from me." JJ zipped her mouth.

"You're right." Spencer agreed.

"Good, now, back to work." He said, walking away, but stopping mid-way. "Oh, and don't say a word about this to Garcia. She won't be able to keep her mouth shut. And yes, I'm talking to you, Morgan."

Emily and JJ snickered. Spencer smirked at the older man. He shrugged.

"Yes, boss."