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FORTY FOUR. BEANIE

BY THE TIME DAISY WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING, HOTCH WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. She expected as much, though it would have been nice to see him before he ducked out for work. In his place, she found a note in his neat handwriting accompanied by a glass of water and some painkillers.

Daisy,

I'm sorry to have to leave like this, but I'm sure you understand why. Have the next few days off, you deserve it after the past case. Take your time and help yourself to any food in the apartment, though I can't guarantee a five course meal. If you need to go anywhere, there's a key to the front door, and the alarm code is 8937.

Aaron x

Daisy smiled lightly, putting the note back on the mattress and pushing back the duvet covers. She stretched out her legs and stood up, wincing slightly at the aching that surged through her body. Part of her was glad she didn't have to go into work - they'd all know exactly what had gone on the night before. It was hard to decide whether or not she was glad the secret was now out to everyone - what was expected of her now?

Grunting a little as she took a step, Daisy's knees trembled slightly. She cursed as she wandered into the bathroom, catching sight of herself in the mirror. Her braids from the night before were slightly loose, though the sight of them made her chuckle. Hotch had been adamant on taking care of her afterwards, even trying his best to do her hair (he did an awful job, but she appreciated the sentiment). She may have been sore, but she felt amazing.

As suggested, she took her time getting ready for the day ahead. She had a long shower, relishing in both the hot water, and the knowledge that she had the whole day ahead of her.

She changed into a pair of jeans she kept in the apartment, and one of Hotch's pullovers. She pulled her hair into a ponytail and finally reached for her phone, which was still in the pocket of her FBI jacket. Turning the device on, she saw that there were three texts and a phone call waiting for her.

MISSED CALL: ST. CAMILLUS CARE CENTRE

TEXT MESSAGES:

A. HOTCHNER: Just checking in, hope you're feeling alright this morning. Let me know if you need anything.

ST. CAMILLUS CARE CENTRE: Ms Daisy Alvarez. I am contacting you in regards to Beatrice Alvarez's current health condition. Please call me back at this number or come to the care centre so that we can have this conversation face to face. Thank you.

E. PRENTISS: You'd better get your ass laid tonight otherwise I owe JJ thirty bucks

The first thing Daisy did was call back St. Camillus. She held the phone up to her ear and began pacing, the euphoria of the previous night quickly draining from her body. Listening to the phone ring, she felt her heart sinking in her chest, her mind immediately shifting to the worst things possible.

"St. Camillus Care Centre, how may I help you?"

"Hey...hi, uh, this is Daisy Alvarez," she sat down on the edge of the bed, tucking one leg under the other. "I missed a call last night regarding my sister, Beatrice?"

"One moment," the tapping of a keyboard filled the silence. Daisy's stomach churned with anticipation, and she started tugging at the loose strands of hair beside her face. "Beatrice Alvarez, who is under the care of Doctor Weyland. Would you like me to transfer you to his personal line?"

Daisy pursed her lips, her head pounding. "Um, can you just tell me what's happened? I'll be in later today, but I just need to know what's happening beforehand."

"Of course," the receptionist's voice was sympathetic now, and that only made Daisy feel more sick. "Ms Alvarez, I'm afraid Beatrice's pneumonia has returned."

Daisy closed her eyes. "Is it treatable? Last time she got better-"

"She did, however it weakened her immune system and due to her condition, she is more susceptible to infections," the receptionist must have been reading off of Beatrice's medical chart. "Ms Alvarez, I'd recommend you come into the centre as soon as possible to consult with Doctor Weyland."

Swallowing, Daisy felt her chest contract. She hesitated, before tightening her grasp on the phone. "I'll be there in an hour."

★☆

"There was a guy who wanted to kill me?" Beanie asked, using the strength she had to express her surprise. Daisy nodded from where she sat beside her bed, watching her carefully, as if she'd missed something if she looked away. Her sister's face was paler than usual, her eyes sunken in and her skin was hot to touch. She didn't look like herself - though that hadn't been the case in several years.

The sisters were, as usual, watching Avatar: The Last Airbender. It was a replay of the season finale, one that Daisy remembered airing when they were younger. Despite the excitement on the screen, the conversation strayed to why they had been apart so long. Despite her condition, Beanie had noticed the tightening of security around her. She'd bothered everyone she could about it (she was unsuccessful in her attempts to get information), only to be told it was classified information. It was the most exciting thing that had happened to her in a while. "Oh my God, that's awesome."

Daisy scoffed, shaking her head. "I wouldn't use that word to describe it."

"Well, it looks like you didn't do too bad afterwards," Beanie vaseline-coated lips stretched into a smile. Daisy's hands instantly reached for her neck, where her failed attempt of covering Hotch's markings was on show. "Was this the hot boss?"

Flushing, the older Alvarez sister adjusted her shirt, averting eye contact. Beanie chuckled softly, finding the sight quite amusing. "Yeah, maybe."

"Why don't you bring him next time?" her sister teased, before she began coughing. It was frightening loud and throaty, her cheeks reddening as she spluttered for breath. Daisy reached for the nurse alert button, but Beanie grunted in protest, inhaling sharply. "I'm fine."

"No, you're not," Daisy's lips flattened into a thin line. "Beanie, you're-"

"Don't," Beanie cut her off. Daisy looked over, reaching for her hand. Beanie wished she could hold her back. "Just be with me, okay? That's all I want."

★☆

"We caught it last night and thought it best to inform you as soon as we could," Doctor Weyland muttered, his grip tightening around his clipboard as he spoke. Daisy chewed on her nail anxiously as she received the words she hoped she'd never have to hear. "Ms Alvarez, I'm afraid her condition makes her vulnerable to this particular strain of pneumonia. As you were informed over the phone, we managed to treat it last time, but this infection has already reached her lungs."

Just like that, her world came crashing down.

"How long do we have?" she asked, looking back into the room, where Beanie was being monitored by her nurse. Tears filled her eyes once more, the thought of having been through everything over the last few days only to lose what mattered most? Her heart was so close to breaking.

"We're hoping to have her for two more days," he said softly, reaching out to touch her shoulder. Daisy sniffled, dipping her head and letting the tears roll down her cheeks. "You are welcome to stay here, however..."

Daisy looked up at him, pausing as he trailed off. "However?"

He could see the anguish in her face. It was something he saw often in his line of work, but it didn't make it any easier. "The sight of her passing is not a memory you need."

Daisy wiped her eyes with the pad of her thumb, feeling her sensitive skin sting from the salt water. "Doctor Weyland, I've seen her on the brink of death before. I've seen her covered in blood, scared out of her mind. I've seen her confined to that bed for the last four years, unable to move. She's been through so much, so I want to be there when she finally finds peace."

The doctor bowed his head. "Of course, Ms Alvarez. Please let me, or other members of our staff know if you need anything."

With that, he offered her a sympathetic smile and stepped back into Beanie's room to consult with the nurse. Daisy squeezed her eyes shut, her jaw tightening in frustration. She tried rubbing her forehead to get rid of her headache. It didn't work, and she was left instead with the lump in her throat that threatened to cause a scene in the middle of the care facility.

★☆

LMFAO YALL THINK I'D LET YOU RECOVER FROM HARRISON???? AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH YOU'VE GOT A BIG STORM COMING

also!! if you didn't read the last chapter (which i don't blame you for), i've got a spencer book in the works !! rhea is the main love interest and it's in the same universe as this book!! what i'm gonna do is set it in season 8, so it'll be after this book is finished (i plan to end this after ep 100) - but you hopefully won't be disappointed abt hotchxdaisy in the spencer book cause there's a cute subplot for them!!!

and the trailer. ugh the traILER. i made one but it's not my best work and I'm :(( about it cause yall deserve the greatest content !

anyway here's me and my dog flipping u off cause we're tired and hungry and kinda sad