The Calamawy Saga

Ch.7: Ugliness

"Everything is connected. Concern for the environment thus goes hand in hand with safeguarding the rights of the poorest." - Pope Francis

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No sooner had Hotch opened the door of their meeting room than he was met by a very angry, and very bruised Detective Jones.

"So what are you guys doing now?" Jones asked with a false sense of authority, trying to save his hurting ego by acting in charge.

"We're ready to give the profile," Hotch answered stoically, "please, gather the officers."

"Nah, wait. I wanna know what you came up with first," Jones walked into the meeting room, "I'm still the primary detective on this case."

The team shared unimpressed looks among them as Hotch tried hard to not lose it on Jones.

That's when Jones's phone rang.

"This is detective Jones," he answered immediately.

"Rude," Calamawy whispered to Morgan besides her, who smiled slightly.

The team watched as Jones's demeanour hardened as his face paled.

"What is it?" Hotch asked the moment Jones ended the call.

"Tyla Quinn was found dead by the side of the road," Jones answered numbly, a haunted look in his old brown eyes.

The air in the room shifted, became suffocating as the team processed. They'd failed. Tyal Quinn was dead.

Calamawy glanced out of the glass door to where Nick and Renée were sitting by one of the desks in the bullpen. She watched as Nick held his wife's hands in his lap while she rested her head on his shoulder. She glanced at Stuart Hawk as he walked towards the couple with two cups of coffee, his shoulders slumped, his feet dragged. If they looked so destroyed now, Calamawy feared how shattered they'd be once they knew that their baby was dead.

JJ turned to Hotch, looking for guidance. Hotch answered her silent question with a nod; they should tell them. JJ slumped slightly; she hated this part of the job, ever since she was the media liaison, breaking the news.

Before anyone could react, Jones moved with a newfound speed and energy, and walked out to where the family was sitting with Hotch hot on his heals followed by Calamawy, processing the impending disaster faster than the rest of the team. Jones zeroed in on Hawk as he stood with his arms by his sides: "Hope you've let it all out, Hawkins, with that punch."

Hotch put a hand on Jones's shoulder and discreetly pulled: "Detective Jones-"

"What are you talking about?" Hawk asked, pissed and exhausted.

"Just got a call," Jones drawled and Hotch pulled him forcefully.

"Call? You found Tyla?" Nick asked with Renée straightening up beside him. Stuart looked at Calamawy in question.

Calamawy hesitated for a moment but it was all Stuart needed to figure it out. His face went blank as he paled. Renée, noticing her brother's reaction, looked frantically between Hotch, Jones and Calamawy.

"I'm so sorry" Calamawy spoke softly.

"no, No. No, this can't be happening. No! NO! THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING! NO! MY- Oh my God, no!" Renée's soft crying turned into all out wailing and bawling, Nick beside her covered his crying eyes, sliding from his seat to his knees. Stuart remained still as a statue as his eyes looked around, still trying to process the loss.

Thankfully, JJ stepped in, to take Renée in her arms, followed by Rossi, to comfort Nick. Hotch used them as cover to manhandle Jones into the nearest room; probably to give him the talking to of the century. Calamawy stepped up to Stuart and put a hesitant hand on his shoulder.