Searching For Answers (We Can Make This Work sequel)

Chapter 60

I decided it was such a beautiful day I might as well take a detour to the park, these memories seemed to just all flood back, and I needed some time to clearly reminisce. As I sat on the park bench my mind wandered back to my first encounter with Aaron Hotchner...

..."He's never going to hurt you again, I promise" Hotch whispered looking into my eyes. I don't know what came over me but in that moment I couldn't help myself. I leaned in and put my arms around Hotch's neck. Locking my lips with his and to my surprise he didn't reject it...

Hotch and I just about survived everything together, we stuck it out through thick and thin but there was times when we just had to give up. I thought back to the Foyet case, the case that tore us apart. Up until that time things between Hotch and I were perfect, too perfect! I found out I was pregnant, I was furious and Hotch was over the moon, that was the first crack. I was kidnapped, tortured, raped and I lost our baby, THAT was the avalanche. I closed my eyes as my mind brought me back to the utter trauma, physically, mentally and emotionally. Hotch couldn't bear to come near me, thinking he was the monster, I couldn't do it anymore, I couldn't handle the separation, the tension that one of us was going to snap at any moment, not to mention this all unfolded in front of the team who hadn't the slightest notion there was even a hint of romance between Hotch and I before this all happened. Which led to a bitter coldness between Hotch and I for a while, he wouldn't even speak to me. This heartbreak led me to the one man I ever needed in my life. Dr Spencer Reid. A late night conversation in his hotel room led to many late nights, walks in the park, movie nights but it was just a friendship. We were only fooling ourselves, everyone else could see it except for us. Maybe I was crazy, maybe I just had a problem with relationships but all I know is I couldn't stay away from the men of the BAU. Spencer and I had finally admitted our feelings and within 10 months we sealed our forever...

...He took my hands and looked me directly in the eye. "Darcy I know it's only been 10 months but I've never been so happy or so in love in my life, and with each day we're not getting any younger, and with our job each day we go out there and we're risking our lives. I know that I'll never love another person as much as I love you, and if you feel the same way then there's no point in wasting any more time apart. I don't ever want to lose you, and I don't think I could ever bare seeing you with another man" He said with a lump in his throat. "Darcy Blake will you do me the incredible honour of giving me your hand in marriage?" Spencer said as he got down on one knee...

Spencer and I were perfect for each other. His unending knowledge was a constant source of entertainment and fascination for me. We had the most beautiful honeymoon and were soon thrown back to reality. I found myself pregnant once again but this time I gave birth to the most beautiful and amazing little boy, Jacob Reid. He was, and still is, my whole world. But as cruel faith would have it my happy endings turned violent, a year on from having Jacob I was shot in the street by Casper, he left me to die as he took my child from me. I underwent major surgery but pulled through, little to the knowledge of the team, for all they knew I was dead. I flew to Berlin, Germany within the month of my recovery and from there worked with CIA counterintelligence until my return 20 years later. In those 20 years, each and every day I longed to be home, holding my little boy and loving my husband, every day I cried to be with my family, my team, every minute was torture. I spent my hours working, I didn't go out, I didn't mingle, I worked and I went home for 20 years it was the same gruelling routine. I returned finally, much to everyone's utter shock. Within my return I found out JJ had a relationship with Spencer, just before I returned. Spencer and I's marriage was on the rocks, Jacob was kidnapped and I had to earn his trust, Spencer felt he couldn't move forward with me, he spent his days at the CIA, where he met Carrie Mattheson. I shuddered at the thought of that bitch, I could never ever forgive her! He cheated on me with her 20 years and he did not move on with a single woman but as I soon as I return its 2 women in the space of a year. So that was the end of Spencer and I, right before he left for Islamabad, where he met his untimely death, and took with him the last part of me I so dearly tried to hold on to.

...And in that moment it seemed like the whole world had slowed down and just like that the man pulled the trigger as the bullet ricocheted into Spencer's skull. "No Spencer" I screamed as I fell in front of the screen and tears cascaded down my cheeks. The team covered their mouths in horror. "What have you done?" I screamed but knowing they couldn't hear me. I looked up as the men left the room and I watched as Spencer's body slumped down in the chair...Lifeless...

I don't truly know how I carried on from that day, but somehow, somewhere I found my strength again, and I found it in Aaron Hotchner. When all was said and done, he was there ad he was never leaving. We ended up right back where we started all those years ago, now with 2 amazing sons, Jack and Jacob, and the most wonderful, light of our life, our daughter, Kate. Along with the most adorable grandson Blake. I was finally happy, finally able to let a sigh of relief and take a step back.

I rose from the park bench and made my way to the store. I picked up the few things I wanted and left. On my way back I decided to take a short cut, I knew the detour to the park made the journey a lot longer than intended and I needed to get to the office downtown to finish up a few files before I went out to dinner with Kate and Aaron to celebrate me finishing up in the firm. A cold chill hit me as I walked through the small side street, a chill that hadn't been in the air before now, maybe it was because I was now under shadow.

I heard a rustle from the end of the alley, deciding to not pay any heed to my imagination. Until I heard a set of footsteps and a tall figure emerge from a side door of one of the night clubs.

"Evening ma'am" the man said in a low courteous tone as he side stepped me and continued walking, I heard the footsteps abruptly stop, but I continued walking, not letting my imagination get the better of me.

"Excuse me ma'am" the man's voice reverberated off the walls of the narrow lane, sending a shudder through my body, I stopped in my tracks

"Yes sir" I said cautiously as I slowly turned to face him

"Is this yours?" he asked solemnly

I knew I hadn't dropped anything but I turned to face him anyway. I watched as he produced a gun from his inner jacket pocket

"I do believe we've met before Ms Blake" the man taunted cockily

My blood froze, I couldn't speak, I couldn't move, I was paralyzed with fear, after all these years, the training, the situations I have gotten myself into and fought desperately back out of, wasted.

I was numb and I had no idea how to react. What was I supposed to do? What about Aaron? Kate? Jacob? Would I get to see them again?

"I'm sorry, I don't seem to be able to recognise you" I replied politely trying to sound confident "who are you?"

"That's for me to know and you to never find out darling" his voice died to a deep whisper as he drew nearer to me

"Goodbye Ms Blake, it was nice knowing you" he mocked as he pulled the trigger right against my stomach

I hit the ground hard, I could feel the cold from the filthy pavement rush through my body. This was it, this was how it was all going to end. All the years of work, struggle, heartbreak and pain, for what? For it to all end here in a cruel twist of faith?

I slowly bled out but I knew I didn't have long left, and it was in those slow, darkening moments my killer's face flashed in front of my eyes. I did know him! He was in the court for my first case, he owned that night club and was a huge support of the local drug pushers and pimps. I knew this case would haunt me till my dying breath.

I just hope my family figure it out, I hope they close this case and catch those sons of bitches. I hope they love and care for each other through all their ups and downs. I hope they never make my mistakes.

And like that there was a shroud of darkness that fell over me, I knew no one was coming, I knew it was time to let go, time to finally give up. I hope my family can make it work, I hope they loved me just as much as I loved them.......

I hope they never stop searching for answers...

The End.