THIRTY


THIRTY. THE LETTER


DAISY WAS EXHAUSTED BY THE TIME SHE MADE IT TO HER APARTMENT. Her eyes were drooping, her legs were weak, and all she wanted was to collapse onto her mattress and sleep until noon the next day. She had a late start at work, and was looking forward to doing absolutely nothing the entire morning.


In one hand was her used go-bag, and in the other was a short stack of mail from her locker in the lobby. She was yet to sort through it, and she didn't pay it much mind as she tossed it on her kitchen island.


Slipping her shoes off and grunting as her sore feet hit the hardwood floor, Daisy grunted, her fingers massaging the skin on her neck. She hadn't gotten any sleep on the flight home, and she was looking forward to a nice dose of melatonin to help her drift off.


She trudged through the kitchen, yawning as she opened the fridge and took out the orange juice. She squeezed the opening and drank from the carton (it wasn't like she was sharing with anyone), and relished in the sweet taste hitting her tongue.


With her free hand, Daisy sifted through junk mail and flyers for the local election, only to find a plain white envelope with DAISY scrawled messily on the front.


Her brows knitting together in confusion, Daisy put the carton down and used her thumb to tear the paper apart. Two items fell out; a letter and torn piece of material. Daisy pursed her lips, not daring to touch the cloth. She instead picked up the letter and opened it.


Praise Him, for I have found my love.


That was all that had been written, the handwriting almost unintelligible. However, as she read it, a deep fear struck in her chest. She opened her top drawer and pulled out a pair of tongs, using them to pick up the material. Turning it over, her eyes widened at the icon printed on the crusty white surface.


An 'L' and 'C' interlocked in faded black ink, with small lettering dotted around. Liberty Church, La Plata County.


Squeezing her eyes shut, Daisy tried to control her quickened breathing. She acted quickly, putting the cloth in a ziplock back and fastening it, making sure not to contaminate it with her own DNA.


A sickening feeling rose in her stomach, and she ran her hands through her hair. Somehow she knew exactly who it was.


It was him. He'd made it out of the church before it exploded.


Harrison.


Daisy grabbed her phone and punched in the first number she could think of as she raced around her apartment, double checking the locks on the windows and doors. She chained her front door and closed all her curtains, her phone between her ear and shoulder as she listened to it ring.


You've reached Aaron Hotchner, I'm unable to come to the phone right now. Please leave a message with me or the Behavioural Analysis Unit at...


Daisy's eyes began to water a little as she hung up and dialled the next number. 


"Daisy?" Spencer sounded tired too. He must have just made it back to his apartment. "Is everything okay?"


"Define 'okay'," Daisy muttered, taking her gun out of her holster and checking the magazine.


"What is it?"


"Do you remember that guy...from the ranch in Colorado?" she trailed off, her eyes darting back and forth. She chanced peering past the large curtain that led out to the balcony, looking for a car she didn't recognise. There was nothing. "Harry?"


"Yeah, what about him?" Spencer sounded a little more awake now, his voice edging on concerned. "Daisy, what's going on?"


Daisy hesitated. "I think he's back."


★☆


"Daisy!" Spencer burst into the apartment as soon as Daisy let her in, his hand on his gun and his eyes wide. He kicked the door shut behind him and locked it, before he checked her over. He was in his pyjamas, which took her by surprise. It was very out of character for the professional man. "Are you okay?"


"What are you doing here?" she asked in a sharp tone, not having expected him to show up. She thought she'd done the responsible thing in calling him, but now she feared she'd gotten him into trouble as well. "Spence, what if he's outside? What if he sees you with me? What if he hurts you?"


"I don't care," Spencer shook his head, pulling her in for a tight hug. Daisy sniffled, burying her head in his chest. His hands tangled in her hair, and he rocked her back and forth. "If it's Harrison, then I'm gonna help you find him. And you didn't answer my question, are you okay?"


"I'm fine," Daisy muttered, her voice muffled against his shirt. She pulled away after a moment and grabbed his hand, tugging him further into the apartment. She continued to look back and forth suspiciously, as if anything could jump out at her at any given moment. She nodded to the cloth and letter on the kitchen counter, the rest of her body shaking. "Just...I can't-"


"It's alright," Spencer assured her in a gentle voice, before he dug around in his bag for a pair of disposable gloves. He slipped them on, and picked up the letter, reading it over a few times. "It's brief."


"But it's him."


"I'd need to compare it to something, but I'd say yeah," Spencer nodded solemnly, looking up at his friend. "It's authentic."


Daisy sat down on one of her barstools, her head falling into her hands. "I forgot about him, Spencer. I completely forgot. How could I be this stupid? I thought-"


"They never identified the remains of the men in the church when it blew up," Spencer told her softly. "The remains found were scattered and couldn't be identified. The only people we know that died were Benjamin Cyrus and four of his close followers."


Daisy huffed, uncovering one eye to see Spencer noting something down on her shopping list paper. "What is it?"


"There aren't any quotes from the bible that directly mirror these words," Spencer hummed in response. "Perhaps it's something that Cyrus preached?"


"Spencer, I-" in truth, Daisy knew the case could wait until morning, if there even was a case. She was glad he'd shown up, she just wanted someone in the apartment with her. Part of her felt like it was wrong to have Spencer there, as if she were...betraying Hotch somehow? But that was bullshit, she had to remind herself. "Can you just come to bed?"


Spencer paused, his jaw slacking a little. "What?"


"Not like that," she managed a chuckle. "Don't get too excited. Feel free to take the couch or the other side of the bed, I just really need the company right now."


Spencer nodded once, packing up the evidence once more and removing his gloves. He circled back around the kitchen island and met her embrace once more. 


"Thanks for coming," she held him tight. "I really appreciate it, Spence."


"Of course," Spencer rubbed comforting circles on her back. "Thanks for calling."


★☆


The moment Daisy stepped into the BAU, she was ushered out again by the newest mission. They were headed to Boston according to JJ, with an old case Hotch had been apart of. The Boston Reaper, something all the agents had heard about. He was relentless, only to have stopped for almost fifteen years. Now, either he had a copycat, or he'd started up again. 


"You have to say something," Spencer urged as the woman rushed past with an energy drink in one hand, a freshly packed go-bag in the other. They'd arrived at the same time, but unlike her and Hotch, they didn't cause any suspicion. They were practically best friends at this point, and it was no surprise that they'd both rolled in looking like they hadn't gotten any sleep. "Daisy, this isn't up for debate-"


"Reid, not now," Daisy insisted, tossing her empty can in the bin and reaching into her duffel bag for the evidence. She put the ziplock bag and letter in her desk drawer, before turning around to look Spencer in the face. He seemed a little taken aback by the fact she called him by his last name. "Look, I've gotten Rhea to stay with one of her coworkers, and they've moved Beanie to a secure room where no one can get to her. This can take a backseat for now."


"But-" Spencer protested, his eyes wide as Daisy brushed past him, far more concentrated on this new case. Spencer sighed, running a hand through his hair. It was no surprise that Daisy was pretending the letter wasn't a big deal - she was putting aside her fear and distracting herself. It was one of her tells, and he didn't know what he could do about it. 


"Is everything okay?" Emily asked, noticing Daisy's abrupt department. She stepped up beside Spencer, a half-finished coffee in her hand. "What's up with Daisy?"


Spencer hesitated, before he reached into Daisy's drawer and pulled out the evidence. Emily walked over, taking the bag and letter from the agent and looking over them. 


Her eyes widened, and she muttered the sentence out loud. "Praise Him, for I have found my love."


"Look at the icon on the patch," Spencer muttered, pointing to the cloth. Emily studied it carefully, and her jaw dropped a little in surprise. "The cult from Colorado."


"You think this is-" she began, and Spencer nodded before she could finish. Her eyebrows furrowed. "His remains were never identified at the crime scene, but how did he find her?"


"It's been six months," Spencer said, crossing his arms. He sighed softly, taking the evidence from Emily and putting it back in Daisy's desk. He didn't want to go against her wishes, but deep down he knew he had to do something.  "She doesn't want anyone to know just yet. Not with this case being too close to Hotch. Have you seen how they get around each other? They're two gigantic balls of stress, and I have a feeling this Unsub isn't gonna be an easy one to catch."


"But her life could be in danger," Emily insisted, and Spencer swallowed anxiously, tapping his finger against his thigh. Emily reached forward and squeezed his wrist. He tensed a little, and looked down at her. "Reid, we need to tell someone-"


"I know," he nodded in agreement, yet he couldn't seem to fully commit. He hesitated, before he sighed softly. "But...it can wait until we've closed this case, alright? Unless he decides to escalate, we're not gonna be able to find him easily. Who knows how long he's been following Daisy without her realising?"


Emily thought about it for a moment. She then took out her phone and sent a quick text to Penelope.  She shoved it back in her pocket and reached for her go-bag. "I've asked Garcia to look for any signs of Harrison since the Ranch. We never got a last name, so hopefully she can find something."


Spencer exhaled once more, looking towards the doors of the BAU, where Daisy had exited just moments ago. Worry clenched in his stomach, memories of his trauma crawling back into his head. He chewed his bottom lip, feeling further anxiety set in. "I hope we're doing the right thing."


Emily forced a smile. How was she supposed to comfort him if she was now in deep concern herself? It was clear the two would do anything for their friend. 


"Yeah, me too."


★☆


the boston reaper AND the possible return of harrison?????? OOOOOOOoooOooOoooooOOOOOO


anyway i'm over halfway through the new season of the umbrella academy but i'm tired and sick at the moment so uhhh we'll see how that goes lmaoooo


bye team!! hope the chapter was aight!!! 

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