Top Notch Agent ; A Criminal Minds Fanfic

Into the Woods

Y/n's POV

"10-year-old Daniel Lanham was reported missing while on a camping trip with his father last November. His remains were just discovered by hikers in Pennsylvania," Penelope told us.

"That's really close to the appalachian trail. The trail covers 14 states and is nearly 2,200 miles long," Spencer recited. "It's a miracle he was ever found."

"I don't think he was supposed to be. But look at this. The unsub could have left him for the
elements, but he wrapped him in plastic," I notice.

"Remorse?" Emily posed.

"You think he bonded with the kid?" Rossi countered.

"If he's an opportunistic offender, probably not," Emily agreed.

"What are the chances that Daniel was his only victim?" Derek asked.

"Not good," Spencer replied.

"Garcia, let the rangers know we'll be there within the hour," Hotch requested.

.................................................

"Guys, I started a geographic profile on the assumption that the Appalachian Trail is this unsub's hunting ground," Spencer informed us.

"We got lucky with Daniel. I doubt we'll find any more bodies," Emily admitted. "The Pennsylvania police considered Daniel's father a suspect. They interviewed him several times."

"Without a body, they couldn't charge him. But now they've got what they need," I point out.

"Well, he appeared to be obsessed with finding his son. He even went back into the woods dozens of times following Daniel's disappearance. He claimed he was searching for him," Emily disclosed. 

"All right, we'll start with Daniel's life. He's been exposed to a large suspect pool. Community, school, family friends," Hotch listed off. "We can't rule anybody out."

Boyd Big Tree Preservation State Park
Pennsylvania

Everything was fine until I stepped into the woods. I was following after Derek and Emily, who were walking ahead of me, when a branch snagged by jacket. All at once, the memories of me being chased by those unsubs a few years back hit me, and I let out a small whimper, screwing my eyes shut to try and make them disappear.

"Y/n?" Derek murmured and suddenly appeared next to me, placing a hand on my shoulder. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," I assure him. 

"You sure?" Emily pushed.

"Yeah I just-I need a minute," I claim and start clenching and unclenching my fists.

"Y/n," Derek started.

"I said I'm fine, Derek," I interject. "I'll meet you guys by the crime scene in a few minutes."

"Okay. We'll see you there," Emily spoke and walked off with Derek trailing after her. 

Once they left, I braced my back up the trunk of a tree and slid to the ground, pulling my knees up to my chest. That movement brought back more memories of me hiding out under a rock to stay out of sight. And no matter what I did, I couldn't get the memories to go away. I thought that because the incident happened years ago, I'd be okay. But I haven't been in the woods since, and being here brought back everything I had hoped to rid my mind of.

"Hey!" Derek called out sometime later. "Where'd you go? I thought you were supposed to be right behind us?"

"I'm sorry," I apologize and wipe away the tears that had gathered in my eyes. "I lost track of time."

"Were you just crying?" Emily quizzed when she noticed the water marks on my face.

"I'm okay," I repeat. "Can the two of you stop asking that? Please? I just want to get back to the ranger station."

"Okay," Derek breathed out. "Let's go then."

Ranger Station

"Emily texted me on your drive back here. She said you were acting off," Spencer said once he had pulled me into an empty room. "I know you probably don't want to be asked this, but is everything okay?"

I let out a shuddering breath. "As soon as I stepped into those woods, all of the memories I thought I had buried about being chased by those unsubs came back. And for a moment I thought it was gonna happen all over again."

"Come here," Spencer urged and pulled me into his arms, allowing me to melt into his embrace. "As long as you're with me, no one's ever gonna hurt you again. I promise."

"Thanks, Spence," I exhale and squeeze him tightly. "But uh, I think it'd be best if I just took this case off. I'm no use to the team when I'm like this. Is Hotch here? I should probably talk to him."

"Yeah. He's in the conference room," Spencer shared.

"Great. I'm gonna go find him," I mumble.

After talking to Hotch, I caught the first flight back to D.C. And because Spencer came back less than 2 days later, I'm assuming the case ended quickly. Spencer entered the apartment late, and I was already snuggled up in bed. Spencer threw on his pajamas quickly and joined me under the covers, pulling me close. By the way he was acting, it seemed like he didn't want to talk about the case, and I didn't want to pry, so I didn't bring it up.

"You feeling better?" Spencer implored and rubbed a hand up and down my arm.

"More now that you're here," I confess and smile at him. "It's been a long few days, and I just want to curl up next to you and fall asleep."

"Y/n, I would love nothing more," Spencer revealed and pulled me closer.