Wheels Down in 30

~ trachea ~

"Reid informed me that a brolly is apparently an umbrella." Aaron announced in the car, breaking the awkward silence. I couldn't feel my legs. My stomach was twisting, origami butterflies swimming around. My mouth felt like it was stuck in my nose and my ears were ringing. The closer we got towards my old house the faster I felt myself tap my foot against the car mat.

Rossi and Penelope sat in the back. David studying me like a hawk and Penelope asleep against the door. Landing was delayed due to a massive storm and we hadn't touched down till 2 am, even though we had left at 10 this morning. It was an hour drive from Gatwick airport to Rye in East Sussex and we were all exhausted.

Aaron had requested Penelope to come for "emotional support" but I knew it was so she could go through my old computers in person before she could hide anything from him for me. Not that I had much to hide. And it was doubtful my parents kept any of my shit around.

David pierced his lips, "I for one wish I had a brolly when we touched down. I'm not to good at shielding myself from the rain with a briefcase." I barely registered his words, my eyes catching street signs and my brain flooding with memories.

When Aaron glanced down at google maps and took a left off of Harbour and onto New Winchelsea my heart dropped to my stomach and my stomach dropped to my uterus. I didn't want to be here.

David reached over and laid a hand on Garcia's arm, "Garcia, wake up piccolo testa." He muttered, making me roll my eyes.

"Don't call her a noodle."

David raises his brows, "Don't translate my Italian, she thinks it means mouse."

Aaron rolls his eyes well he parks the SUV, Derek pulling in behind us. I go to open the door but Aaron lays a hand on me knee, keeping me there well Rossi coaxes Garcia awake.

It wasn't until Derek opened her door and ran a hand through her hair that she decided to Grace us with her presence, "I can't wait to see my beautiful Francesca's home." She announced, holding Derek's hand as she got out of the car. Once the two back doors were shut, Aaron turned to me.

"Dani, I know this is a lot. We want to stop your dad, not intrude on your privacy, you are in control, you know what to do, don't let your past dampen your knowledge."

"I don't want to be here Aaron." My voice was embarrassingly airy, "My mother isn't-" I could feel my heartbeat in my abdomen and the urge to puke was now at the forefront of my mind, "Aaron I don't feel so good."

"Dani, look at me, look at me." He smiled at me, taking my hand, "Hey I'm right here Danielle, I'm not going anywhere. The team, we all have your back. You are going to be okay. Come on, breathe with me, you're going to be just fine Danielle. We are going to be fine." I wanted to respond but I caught a familiar pair of ice cold blue eyes. My face hardened and the zoo in my stomach scattered. Anger crawled up my throat and I was out the door before Aaron could even ask me what was wrong.

"What the bloody hell is she doing here?" I snap, my voice louder than I intended. My mother was on the porch talking to JJ, but inside the house was Hannah, the bitch who was supposed to be dead. I know because I killed her.

"Oh what Franny?! You thought you actually killed her. Wake up and smell the roses, you weren't stupid enough to believe you were successful." My mother snapped, hands on hips, her frail frame shaking at the movement. Everyone grew quiet, Aaron tensing beside me.

My nostrils flared as I walked closer to her, "I slit her throat. I don't know what games you are trying to play. I went straight for the trachea, just like dear old dad taught me." My words caused Garcia to gasp and JJ to stumble back away from me.

"You are so dumb Francesca, you never stayed to see if she died."

I scoffed, "Oh please, the next time my father and his mistress try to break my ankles so I can't run away, I'll be sure to stick around and make sure I actually kill the bitch." My words were laced in venom, my face a mer four inches from hers.

My mother growls, "Well maybe if you were smart enough to do what was asked of you, your father wouldn't have to resort to such measures." Her eyes were wild, she had grown older since I was gone. Of course she had. Uglier too, unsurprisingly, truly.

"You tried to sell me for crack Samantha. I was 16. 16 and terrified. Of course I would run away."

"Alexander was a good guy."

"Alexander was a pedophile who raped and beat me-" a loud smack rang across the yard, my mothers frail hand falling back to her side. I didn't flinch.

My head nodded and I closed my eyes for a moment, "You don't like to hear that do you?" I muttered lowly, "Hear about how you are a shit mother who cared more about her next high than her child's safety. You are a desperate, low life, bitch who deserves to rot in hell." That earned me another slap.

"And you are a whore, a skank. You think moving to America and fabricating a new life makes you somehow better than me? You were born nothing Francesca, you will die the same."

"Get out of my way." I spoke calmly. I wanted to scream, to slap her back, to cry, something to show her I wasn't what she said. But I knew that she was right. And I knew she didn't give a shit about what I had to say.

"Be my guest, but you won't find your dad Franny, not before he kills all your friends." Derek pulled her out of my way, going to restrain her but I shook my head, "Let her go. She knows nothing, my father isn't stupid."

Aaron had reached for my arm but I shrugged him off, stomping into the house in a fit of rage. "Tear the place apart, I don't give a fuck Francesca, YOU WONT FIND A THING!"

I caught Derek's eyes and pointed towards Hannah, who was at the kitchen sink staring at me. "Get her out of my sight or I'll slit her throat again." I demanded, voice slightly shaking.

"Danielle-"

"Get to work, everyone, we don't have time to hang out and chat." I was angry, I needed answers, I needed away from my mother, and most importantly, I needed to kill my father.