New Beginnings

Nine

Six weeks passed and Joshua Cane still hadn’t been caught. You were trying to go about your life as normal and not let it get to you, but it was kinda hard knowing that the man who had assaulted and tried to kill you was on the loose and no one had a clue where he was.

Agent Hotcher had remained in close contact with the authorities in the UK and kept you informed daily of any news. There had been sightings of him in Scotland, Wales and finally France. Interpol had naturally become involved. You spoke to your parents on a regular basis assuring them that you were fine and no, you didn’t want them to fly out to be with you.

Hotch had honoured your request and not revealed anything to the rest of the team, and he’d made sure that when you were out on cases, you were never left alone. When the case required a stay over he made sure that you and Spencer were given a room together, and when he tired of Morgan's teasing he placed you in rooms next door to each other instead, knowing that one of you would eventually creep into the others room.

The security detail remained in place outside of your apartment at all times, and different officers tailed you in unmarked police cars to and from work when you were back in the city. You got used to seeing their faces and recognising their vehicles.

Spencer rarely left your side outside of work. He refused to leave you during the night and although you protested stating that he was just downstairs and would hear a commotion if anything were to happen, you were secretly glad of his company.

After the first few nights of him sleeping on your couch you’d finally convinced him to share your bed. It was completely innocent, although some mornings you did wake up to his arms wrapped around you and his legs tangled up in yours. You never spoke of it during the day. You’d taken to spending a few nights in each apartment so he got chance to spend time at his place too.

Your 28th birthday had come and gone, you and the team celebrating quietly with Rossi cooking a meal for you all at his house. You’d received various gifts from them all including a pair of gorgeous heels and a matching bag from Penelope and Emily. Your favourite had been from Reid. He’d gifted you a beautiful charm bracelet, the charms all meaning something to you. They included a moomin charm, which you’d told him was your favorite show as a kid, a white rabbit which was in obvious reference to the first edition of Alice in Wonderland you kept on your bookshelf, as well as charms representing the various countries and states you’d told Spencer you’d lived in. It was so thoughtful you’d wanted to cry with happiness when he’d given it to you. Instead you’d hugged him tightly, kissing him on his cheek and asked him to put it on you. It now rarely left you wrist.

It was Friday and you and the team had returned from a case in Phoenix the day before and were busy completing the mounds of paperwork that had come with it. You and Prentiss had gone for a quick lunch in the cafeteria and had stepped into the elevator ready to return to your floor. Two Agents from the floor below yours stepped in as well, nodding in greeting to you both.

You could hear them talking between themselves as you waited for the elevator to move.

“Hey, did you hear that they still haven’t caught that English bastard who jumped his parole?”

You stiffened watching the numbers of the floors pass, desperately trying to block them out. The case had garnered some attention in the states, but not much thankfully.

“I know,” you heard the other agent reply. “It’s ridiculous isn’t it. He should have never been released in the first place.”

You wholeheartedly agreed with him but kept quiet.

“Did you read what he did to that girl who he attacked,” the agent continued.

That was it. You hit the button for the next floor, not bothered that you were still two floors away from the BAU. You flew through the doors as soon as they opened heading straight into the nearest bathroom.