БСмь

БСмь. russia
" missing in action "



VALENTIZINA SIGHED, driving the car slowly. On this Wednesday afternoon, Valentizina was nice enough to offer Spencer a ride. Considering that he chose to walk from work and it was raining like no tomorrow, Valentine knew that the least she could do for him after he saved her life was save him from the rain. It was a beginning - at least. Yet unfortunately, due to the long day they had in the rain, her curls had dropped into her naturally straight hair which was still rather wet from the rain.


But the rain was just an excuse. The events of earlier lead Valentizina to come to a conclusion.


She just needed someone.


"You know," Valentizina started the conversation, "Somehow we're always together but can never hold a proper conversation," she mocked him from a few days ago, making him smile, looking ahead.


"Fine, then what would you like to talk about?"


"Boyfriends? Girlfriends? Wives? Husbands?"


"Come on, Val. Let's talking about you. When is the Valentizina Alianovna going to tell me who she is?"


His question made her raise a brow, glancing at him quickly before looking back on the road, "Are you trying to avoid my question, Spencer?"


"No! I-"


"So you do have a girlfriend?"


"No I don't."


"Nobody special?"


"What, like you?" he joked.


Yet Valentine let out a smirk, looking at him for a second. The right corner of her lips tugged upwards, head tilting.


"You know Val," he sighed, "In a job like this, it's kind of hard to find someone with shared experiences. Someone who gets you, you know?"


"Spencer, with your looks you can get any girl you want. May I remind you, you get letters from secret admirers delivered to your desk," Valentine reminded him, making him chuckle.


"But that's different. I want someone who understands me, you know?"


"What, like me?" Valentine joked. He chuckled at the redhead who was still smirking in amusement before he shook his head in disbelief. Yet she breathed out, looking back at the road, "Just make something up."


"What?"


"You don't always have to tell the truth, Spencer."


"Like you then? Considering that you don't tell anyone the truth about yourself."


"Believe it or not, the truth is a matter of circumstances. It's not all things to all people all the time. Neither am I."


"So you admit, you lie about who you are."


"I lie about the past because I don't want anyone to know."


"That's a tough way to live."


"Good way to not die though."


"And what do you mean by that?"


Valentine stayed silent.


She means that if she ever did tell the truth about the past to Spencer, then nothing good could ever come out of it. That blood will be shed. And it will be her blood. And it will be her dead body that the truth attacks.


Valentine looked at him, her smirk slightly returning, "Just a saying."


"You know, it's kind of hard to trust someone when you don't know who that someone really is," Spencer smiled teasingly, raising his brows at the girl who looked back at the road, still driving ahead on the highway.


"Yeah? Who do you want me to be?" she asked.


"How 'bout a friend?"


All the sudden, Valentine looked at him, her smirk now fully evident as she spoke lowly, "Chances are, you might be in the wrong business then, Reid."


Spencer grinned and rolled his eyes making her speak up once more as she looked on the road.


"But, I'm sure that I can try arrange something."


"So what are you saying? That we're friends?" Spencer smirked, making her roll her eyes and look at him, taking her eyes off the road.


"I hate to admit it but we're halfway there."


He smiled, looking back on the road. His house has slowly began to come into view, making Valentizina slow down the black, expensive Lamborghini outside the rather-nice looking house. It was bigger than she expected, and could fit a whole family there. But it was a shame that Spencer lived alone in a house like that.


And, much to her shock, he looked like he had a lot of money. Of course she wasn't surprise by it considering he was an FBI agent, but it simply looked more expensive than she imagined it to be...


"Well, I'll see you tomorrow," Spencer smiled at the redhead who leant back in her seat and unlocked the doors.


"Don't miss me too much, handsome."


His hand pushed open the door with a roll of his eyes before stepping out, closing the door. Throwing her one last wave, he turned around, beginning to stroll into his house. Valentizina stayed looking at him a little longer, brows furrowing, eyes falling down at the seat he sat in.


A friend.


Letting out a little smirk she huffed, looking back ahead and pressed down on the pedal beneath her feet. The car set into motion again, smoothly driving out of Spencer's street, towards the highway she'd need to take.


Everything was fine, in the midst of the highway. Her eyes drifted to the right, brows furrowing as she noticed a broke down car, yet she shook it off, looking back ahead.


But she saw nothing good.


Valentizina had noticed a man standing in front of their car with a machine gun pointed at them. The redhead slammed the break. As fast possible, rolling onto the passenger seat. She saw the way the bullets ripped through the headrest, making her curse under her breath and look ahead. He had stopped firing, and instead ran towards the car, making her roll back into the drivers seat, slamming onto the gas pedal, speeding towards him.


The masked man immediately jumped on her dashboard, making her turn the wheel aggressively towards the end of the bridge. Below the bridge was another road, guaranteeing a somewhat safe landing for her. She opened up her jacket, grabbing a grappling hook out of the inside pocket.


All the sudden, something was thrown into the car.


"Shit!" she cursed, looking at the seat beside her.


A bomb.


She slammed onto the gas pedal, kicking the door open with her foot.


The car went flying in the air.


And then, it burst out in flames.


Yet luckily, the redhead fell out the car in time, pushing the button on her grappling hook.


The hook flew out and attached itself onto the roof of the bridge, causing her to swing down from the burning car onto the ground. She pushed the button once more, de-attaching the hook and sending it to fly back inside of the device as she sprinted away from the car.


All the sudden, she stopped as she was at a good distance away from the car, turning around to find no sight of him.


Or so she thought.


Valentizina gasped for air as she felt a pair of arms wrap around her neck, making her choke. She immediately wrapped her own arms around the back of his neck, jumping up and pushing herself against him, landing away from him, flipping his whole body over onto the ground along with herself.


She let him go, jumping back up using both her arms and legs from a crab position. She spun around aiming a gun at him.


Yet the masked man grabbed her gun, pushing himself up and throwing a punch at the redhead who ducked and grunted, backing up as he threw kicks and punches at her.


Successfuly, Valentizina blocked his punch by grabbing his arm, kneeing him in the stomach. She bent his arm back, making him growl in pain.


Yet he was much stronger than Valentizina, grabbing her neck and throwing her on the ground.


This was bad news.


The redhead knew that. She let out a little groan, squeezing her eyes in pain as she coughed out.


"She's still alive. You didn't stop anything. But me on the other hand," the man spoke out, pointing a gun at the coughing redhead. Her eyes immediately widened as she grunted, jumping back up, grabbing his hand that had the gun. Instantly, she pushed herself up into the air, landing on his shoulders. She wrapped her thighs around his neck, spinning around him making a loud groan leave his mouth.


Immediately, she took out the string from her pocket, straightening herself back up on the back of his shoulders, wrapping the string around his neck. One of his hands slipped under the string, attempting to push it away from him, groaning as he felt her thighs squeeze his neck tighter.


All the sudden, she kicked the gun out of his hand, up in the air as she caught it. Her legs tied around his body, flipping them both over yet slamming him down against the ground.


She pointed the gun at his leg, pulling out the trigger with no hesitation, a bullet flying into his leg. A loud yell of pain left his mouth but she set off in a sprint, using all of her strength to run as fast as humanly possible.


Her legs burnt in pain, yet she carried on sprinting.


And sprinting.


And sprinting.


Until she stopped.


24 HOURS EARLIER


Valentizina sat beside Hotch, her eyes scanning the case file that was assigned for them. Her brows furrowed, eyes narrowed at the structure of the building they had received pictures of. The location brought back nothing but bad memories and Valentine knew exactly what this building was... She knew the secrets that laid amongst it. She knew everything. And she had feared that it would be today that everything would be revealed to her team. That they were finally going to find out the truth.


The building was the academy. The academy for little girls and boys to train in to become assassins. It was the reason Valentizina sat there, her hands trembling, struggling to look up straight at everyone. Someone had called in regarding the suspicious activity to do with the building.


It was in the middle of nowhere - which made the whole case a whole lot harder. Probably because they didn't have CCTV monitoring the area - and most like, no one likes to go near the hauntingly large, prison-like building. Yet a man had called in bloody footprints in the snow the other day and after the police identified the blood belonging to a little girl, they attempted to break in. But failed.


"This is the FBI's case now. We need to find a way to get in."


"You can't," Valentine shook her head, tossing the file on the table, "The building is covered head to toe in security. Trust me, Hotchner, this is more of a death wish than a case. If you step foot even 5 inches through that door, you'll be greeted by bullets left and right unless they recognise you."


"And you know this why?" JJ commented, furrowing her brows as she crossed her legs.


"You really think this is the first time the FBI has been assigned this case? I lived in Russia. I wasn't stupid enough to not read the news. It's a dead end, trust me, people have tried it. Besides why is this the BAU's problem?"


"It's our problem because we need to find the sick psychopath behind this place," Derek fought back, raising his brows at Valentizina, "Why are you so defensive about this? What are you not telling us?"


"We don't know what this place is."


"That's why we need to find out-"


"Derek, it's a death wish! Believe me! I've tried! Okay? I've experienced it! One bullet in the waist. It left a scar for life. And ever since then, it's been a goodbye to bikini's."


"Yeah, bet you look terrible in them now," Spencer sarcastically spoke, shaking his head in disbelief, "Valentine, you're not telling us something."


"Fine," Valentizina stood up, snatching the file off the desk as she looked over the agents, "You wanna go see it? Then let's go. Be my guest. And I'll be stood watching bullets fly into each one of your body parts as you attempt to break in. Wheels up in 10."


She didn't mean that.


And she knew she didn't mean that.


β€’β€’β€’


The sound of muffled chatter amongst the agents was ignored by Valentizina, whose eyes couldn't leave the photograph being held in her fingers. The very same walls that she had once attempted to jump off from, and the windows that she saw nothing but blood through. The locked doors that held nothing but red behind them, the scent that would never ever be forgotten... It was a wicked place to go to.


And those 13 years that Valentizina had stayed within the academy (from five to eighteen) haunted her everyday.


Now she was going to have to face them again. Risk everything being let out.


Her brows furrowed, dropping the picture and looking outside the window once more. Would they recognise her? Could she run? Could she fight the people who could kill her in a second? Because Valentizina was strong, but she was afraid they were stronger. They had the power to destroy her life within the palms of her hands and she knew that so very well.


She almost didn't notice the presence of someone sat opposite Valentizina, making the redhead look towards him. Derek poked the inside of his cheek with his tongue, raising a brow at the girl who just wasn't feeling it today. The questioning look he threw her made her lean back in her seat and inhale sharply, crossing her legs.


"What's your plan then. Get a squad of gunmen shoot down the doors?" she asked, sarcasm dripping off her words like sticky honey.


"You said you tried to get in. When?"


"My friend was took when I was little. I was curious and I was smart enough to not get caught. So I followed. And I found the building. I tried to break in. And I did - but it came at a price. I got shot. I was young and stupid. And now, I'm just warning you this isn't going to be a fight you can take."


"That was you against a group of them. This is different."


But Derek didn't understand. He didn't get it.


These were assassins. He wanted to fight assassins.


Valentizina nodded, looking down at her feet. This was nothing but a death wish. She kept repeating it. She knew none of this would end well - they wouldn't ever shut down the place. It was impossible to. Or at least without paying a price. Looking up at Derek, she breathed out.


"I just don't want anyone hurt," Valentine quietly spoke, making Derek smile.


"And no one will. But really, I appreciate that you care about me."


"Oh I take that back," Valentine raised her brow, shaking her head as he chuckled and wiggled his finger at her to say 'no'.


"Ah, no no no. You can't take that back. Too late."


"Fine, but I do the fighting."


"Wait, there's fighting involved?"


"Don't act so surprised, macho."


β€’β€’β€’


Russia's winter breeze sent chills running down their skin. They were shaking, absolutely freezing out in the cold weather. Yet Valentizina remained still. It had been a while since she'd last been in her home-town - better yet, a while since she had been to the place where she grew up. And unfortunately, not long enough. She breathed in the fresh, crisp air, feeling the minuscule flakes of snow fall down through the grey sky. The short-haired redhead looked around.


The forest was blocked off by yellow tape and multiple police cars. The academy was placed in the middle of the woods, hidden away from everyone, meaning they'd have to walk down to find it which was a risk, considering the fact that Valentizina knew traps would be set in place.


"You okay? You've been quiet since you've got here," Spencer stood beside the redhead who turned to face him.


"Always. Listen, I'm not sending everyone into those woods with guns. They stand no chance. I need people who I can trust and listen."


"Me, Morgan and-"


"Not you."


His brows furrowed, looking down at the tiny redhead who looked down at her feet and back up, crossing her arms and breathing out with her brows slightly furrowed in guilt.


"Spencer, I don't want you going in there," she admitted.


"Why not? Valentine, I'll be fine."


"I can't take that risk. You trust me to save your life, right? Here I am. I'm saving your life. You're not going in."


"Hey, no, don't push this back on me, Val. This isn't a one-sided deal. I'm helping you."


"Spencer, this isn't your field of work."


"When it comes to solving the case and doing my best to help my co-workers, it is."


"I don't want you hurt."


"And I don't want you hurt. So looks like we're both taking a risk."


Valentizina grew quiet, looking up at the eyes of Spencer. He was dead serious. His jaw was clenched, brows slightly furrowed, mirroring her tough and serious expression. Her eyes flew to his short, messy hair that held snowflakes within them just like hers. She just couldn't win. He would always be ahead in this game and Valentizina hated it. Because she was used to always being two steps ahead. Always the muscle. Always the brain. Always the one to solve the case and then Spencer Reid walks in, and suddenly, she feels different.


She feels weaker.


Yet all at the same time, that weakness felt like a little bit more. Like a comforting feeling that Valentine wasn't used to, so it agitated her.


Therefore, Valentizina brought her two fingers up to her plump lips, blowing. A loud whistle immediately made their heads snap towards the redhead who stood confident.


The 5'1" redhead wasn't even shivering as she wore black jeans, and a brown leather jacket with a black, thin turtle neck beneath.


"Alright, I need you to listen," she exclaimed, everyone giving her their full attention, "This place is heavily set up with dangerous traps that could take away the lives of many. Trust me, whatever this place is advertised as isn't true. Therefore, only selected people are going in. The rest will be waiting for a signal that Gideon is going to receive. When the signal is received, that means we're in danger. In absolutely no circumstances are any of you to move from this area or even step foot into the woods. Safety regulations."


"Who says they're safety regulations?" one of the officers smirked, making the redhead look at him with a straight face.


"Me. Because if you don't, you'll get gutted from the inside out and sold on the black market. Got it?"


The officer's smile dropped, quickly nodding his head as she continued.


"Whatever goes on in that building, it's far more complicated than you think. And it's much more than you can handle. So I want the following to join me. Aaron Hotchner. Derek Morgan. Emily Prentiss," Valentine paused, looking down.


Was she seriously about to do this?


No, why was she growing soft on Spencer?


That was the question.


Two months ago, she wouldn't care.


So why now?


"Spencer Reid," she finished.


On her wrists were electroshock bracelets that delivered powerful electrical discharges, in the shape of a long bracelet with multiple bullets that could be shot out to electrocute. Pressing the button beneath her wrist on each arm, it activated the weapon, sending a blue current of electricity to flow through.



Yet hidden in the gauntlets were two batons. As she raised her hands, she pressed the buttons located near her wrist, the batons shooting out that she gripped, immediately swinging them down either side of her.



Their eyes widened at the sight of the weapons glowing a bright blue colour, wires of electricity appearing for a few seconds before disappearing. Her eyes looked to the sides, noticing Derek Morgan and Spencer Reid stand either side of her, Aaron Hotchner and Emily Prentiss standing together beside the trio.


"And most importantly," Valentizina warned, twirling the batons in her hands, "Stay safe."


The strawberry blonde made her way into the woods, past the officers that were no longer trembling due to Russia's minus-degree weather yet at the presence of the assassin. But of course, they didn't know she was an assassin. Her eyes remained still ahead of her, her feet strutting past everyone, nose high up in the air as she finally crossed the yellow police tape, ducking beneath it towards the terrain of danger. She threw Gideon a nod, catching one back before the man turned around, making his way towards the officers to speak to them.


Valentizina cautiously stepped amongst the twigs that snapped, and the frozen leaves that crunched, the ice melting beneath the touch of her stiletto heel. She admitted, wearing heels knowing well she'd fight was stupid of her, but it was nothing that she couldn't handle. She'd done it many times before - and won.


The snow managed to slip through the empty branches of the towering trees that casted a large amount of shadow, yet she still made sure that her eyes remained in the look out for any traps either way. Her footsteps were rather slowly, ears perking up at the slightest of sounds. Unlike her co-workers, she wasn't wearing a bullet proof vest which was probably a stupid idea yet she could care less.


Carefully, Valentizina slipped the batons back up the gauntlets after she showcased them for dramatic effect and a good warning.


"How do you even know all of this?" Emily finally broke the silence, Valentizina quietly speaking up.


"Let's just say, this wasn't the first time I've came to face this building."


"I suspect you want us to leave the fighting to you," Hotchner chimed in, Emily immediately furrowing her brows.


"We're supposed to have her back. She can't fight on her own."


"Emily, from the week that I've known you, I admit, I like you. But you've got to trust us on this one when we say you leave the fighting to me," Valentine looked behind her, throwing Emily a wink before her attention returned back ahead.


"Why's that?"


"It's really not that complicated. I've got a very specific skill set."


All the sudden, Valentine immediately came to a halt, her eyes widening and hands flying to the side, stopping them all. Her eyes were plastered on a trip wire beneath her feet. Yet it wasn't exactly the trip wire that made her eyes narrow. She slowly kneeled down, noticing the light red stains in the snow, growing larger.


"Is that..." Spencer muttered.


"Blood?" Valentine finished off, standing up and looking at the diagonal direction of lead towards, "It is. Careful, trip wire."


Stepping over the thin wire, Valentizina immediately furrowed her brows, following the trail of blood - yet being careful to not step on it. She and most the team weaved in and out of the tree's, being careful to be extremely quiet.


Yet the further they walked, the slower they made their way through. Because the clearer the view got.


And the view revealed a colossal, prison-like building that Valentizina parted her lips at.


The trees began to slowly disappear the closer they got, appearing less and less, giving them a bigger overview of the building. Valentine's heart pounded, her hands growing clammy in fear. She sweared to herself that her legs even began trembling as her fists slightly clenched to themselves. Her tongue ran over her cold lips.


And her heart froze as soon as they came out of the trees...


There was only a building. A building that stood tall and mighty. Yet there was a vast amount of space between them and the building, covered with a thick layer of snow.


"Suspicious Activity Confirmed!"


The robotic sound immediately made Valentizina curse.


She forgot about that alarm.


Valentizina immediately looked at the team.


"Don't move. Hide."


Her head returned to look back forward. Closing her eyes, awaiting for the sound she dreaded. And eventually, it came. The blasting alarm that sounded as if the purge had been announced. Her eyes opened, watching every single metal blind in the academy slam down, covering the windows, the building going into lockdown.


Eventually, Valentizina knew she had to step forward.


So she did, raising her arms. But she continued walking to the centre of the vast courtyard, not looking around. She kept her eyes focused on the building because she knew one thing.


They weren't going to come out of the building.


They were going to use the underground tunnelling system and she felt the ground beneath her lightly bounce. As lightly as a feather yet still, enough to warn Valentizina.


Then it stopped.


Bang!


Valentizina ducked down, jumping back up and looking to the left side of her at the two assassins that charged at her.Β  She sprinted towards them, immediately leaping high up into the air. She wrapped her thighs around the neck of one the assassins, punching the weak spot on his neck before pressing the button on her gauntlets, pressing both of her fists onto his neck.


Immediately, his body began to shake as the currents ran through him, making her easily flip his body around. Noticing the other assassin holding a gun towards the redhead, she grabbed his arms, jumping off from the one she had electrocuted into the other one, wrapping her arms around his waist, slamming him onto the ground. She kicked the gun out of his hand, looking at the two men that were already down.


Immediately, Valentizina jumped around, grunting as she was greeted with a punch to her face. Yet she gripped the hand of the woman that punched her and bent it backwards before slamming her wrist against the blonde's weak point, her body rattling as she was being electrocuted too. Valentine let out a grunt, kicking the body off of her and focusing on the building.


But the sound of gunshots towards her made her eyes widen, heading snapped to the right, watching the multiple bullets fired at her. She immediately jumped up, flipping and cartwheeling multiple times towards the assassin that was shooting with panic at Valentine who dodged every single bullet.


Immediately, Valentine had rolled between the man's legs, kicking him down to the ground before she dug her foot into his spine, definitely feeling it crack beneath her feet. But Valentizina was used to the feeling of being brutal, aiming her hand at his back, taking her foot off and shooting a wire of electricity at him.


All the sudden, she felt a pair of hands wrap around her neck, making her gasp for breath. Yet her hands flew to his neck, grabbing it from behind and squeezing as she picked him up, flipping him over her and slamming him in front of the girl.


Valentizina heard the loud footsteps of running behind her. Her fingers reached for the button beneath her wrist, immediately pulling out one sparkling baton.


"Surpri-"


Valentizina spun around at the sound of them, immediately wacking him across the head with the baton, knocking him out clean onto the ground.


Silence, Valentizina was panting for air, looking around her. Until her eyes fell upon a woman who stood there, lips parted in shock.


Her silver hair... Her pale skin... Her rich, expensive dress that fell just above her ankles, the colour of a crimson red. The way her jewellery still managed to shine the brightest in the midst of the dull, dark sky and the pale, white snow. The same high cheekbones as Valentizina. The same full, plump lips. The same evergreen eyes. And a strip of strawberry blonde hair in the midst of silver. Just one single strip. She knew Valentizina. And Valentizina knew her.


Yet the redhead looked back at the group of agents that stood, completely dumbfounded at what had just happened.


The redhead looked back ahead of her at the woman. Valentine slipped the baton back up her gauntlet, her arms flying out to the side, signalling for the team to start walking towards the redhead. But they were astonished, they were absolutely bewildered. They hesitantly neared Valentizina, all of them gripping guns in their hands. But they were afraid that guns wouldn't exactly do the job against these people.


"You defeated them all!" the woman bellowed from the distance.


But Valentizina stayed standing, chest heaving up and down, anxiety running through her cold veins. The silver haired woman slowly began to step closer towards the agents - or to be more accurate, towards Valentizina.


"You were always the best."


The redhead shook her head.


Psychological manipulation.


Nadia Alianovna. That was the name of the woman who was edging closer to the redhead. The woman who taught her everything. How to kill. How to survive. How to lie. How to manipulate. And here Valentizina stood opposite Nadia, about to use the psychological manipulation that the woman taught her against Nadia. Her mother.


"I don't even know who you are," Valentizina replied, beginning to spit out a bunch of lies to confuse the woman, "This is all part of your fantasy. You're making this up, ma'am."


"Valentizina. Valentizina, dorogaya. Dorogaya, eto ya! Tvoya mama! Your mother!"
Valentizina. Valentizina, darling. Darling, it's me! Your mother! Your mother!


Valentizina stumbled on the spot, Hotch's hand immediately touching the younger girl's back so she didn't fall back. Yet Valentine's brows pointed upwards, a distraught facial expression plastered on, her head shaking.


"You're not my mother. I don't know who-"


"Valentizina-"


"I'm... I- M-my. S.S.A Valentine Alianovna. I-I'm with the FBI. Hands up where I can see them ma'am," Valentine stuttered.


No one had ever seen her that paranoid. No one ever saw her that nervous. That distraught. That panicked. They never heard her stutter, or hear the way her voice broke, or hear the gasps of breath between her words as she struggled to breath steadily.


Yet Nadia stopped, shaking her head and slipping her hand into the pocket of her dress.


"Valentizina. You found me. I knew you would. You belong to me. We belong together."


"What is this place? Just tell us, what did you do!" Valentizina yelled.


But Nadia pulled out a shining glock, shaking her head in negation, steadily pointing it at her own daughter.


Here Valentizina was. Stood in the midst of unconscious bodies, letting the woman who absolutely broke Valentizina point a gun at her. Letting her own mother, who ruined Valentizina's life, attack her own child. The child she broke. The child she destroyed. The child whose childhood she robbed. Whose dreams she crushed.


"You need to tell us, what is this place?"


"I know you. Because you were the best winter soldier there could be. You-"


"What is this place!"


But everything happened so fast.


Nadia's finger wrapped around the trigger, and like a bolt of electricity, she was speedy to pull it. A bullet fired out in the direction of Valentizina.
But it was Aaron Hotchner who grabbed the frozen redhead's shoulders, both of them falling back on the ground, Spencer and Emily both firing a bullet in each shoulder of Nadia, the woman falling back. Valentine let out the breath she was holding in, beginning to breathe in and out, shaking her head at what had happened.


Her mother was dead.


And Valentizina didn't know what to do.


She didn't know whether to be glad. Whether to mourn... Her heart evidently broke. And they could all tell, as their heads turned to the redhead who sank into Hotch's arms, a tear slipping down her cheek. A tear because she didn't know if it was over. She didn't know if her past was over, if the presence for some kids were over, if her mother's life was over.


"I think that's enough, Valentizina. We're sending you home," Aaron quietly spoke to the the younger girl, taking the walkie talkie from her pocket, sending a signal for Gideon. The redhead closed her eyes, feeling more tears escape from her eyes, before opening them back again, whispering to the man.


"Thank you, Hotch."


But deep down, she knew she wasn't thanking him for saving her.


She thanked him for giving her a chance to start again.


β€’β€’β€’


Valentizina Alianovna walked through the jet towards Aaron. She didn't go home - she didn't want to. So instead, she had stayed sitting in the back of the SUV until the agents had finished exploring the building. She didn't want to know what they found. She didn't know what they took. What they did. She didn't want to hear it - nor see it. She wanted to pretend this day had never happened. And she wanted to pretend that the woman she had saw once more today, was nothing but a stranger to her. And she wanted to believe, like them, that that was Valentizina's first time seeing that building and woman.


The man looked up from the case file that he was writing - which was usually Valentine's job. She sat opposite him, crossing her legs and arms.


"You know, Hotch, I don't think we really got off at the right leg when we met," she admitted, making him slightly smile in amusement, "And, quite frankly, you did save my life. There's a lot of that going 'round now," she joked.


He let out a chuckle, knowing she was talking about Spencer and her about two weeks ago.


"So, I'm here to apologise," Valentine breathed out.


"Apology accepted."


"That fast?"


"I don't hold grudges, kid."


Valentine rolled her eyes at the nickname. But she looked back at Hotch, standing up. However, she gave him a small smile, which rather shocked him. But she didn't say anything more as instead, she made her way towards Derek and Spencer.


β€’β€’β€’


Valentizina sighed, driving the car slowly. On this Wednesday afternoon, Valentizina was nice enough to offer Spencer a ride. Considering that he chose to walk from work and it was raining like no tomorrow, Valentine knew that the least she could do for him after he saved her life was same him from the rain. It was a beginning - at least. Yet unfortunately, due to the long day they had in the rain, her curls had dropped into her naturally straight hair her which was still rather wet from the rain.


But the rain was just an excuse. The events of earlier lead Valentizina to come to a conclusion.


She just needed someone.


β€’β€’β€’


Her legs burnt in pain, yet she carried on sprinting.


And sprinting.


And sprinting.


Until she stopped.


Her knuckles had knocked against the wood impatiently, looking around. Her chest heaved in and out, body shivering from the living nightmare she had experienced. Valentizina had just enough of today. She wanted it to be over. She wanted all of it to be over.


Suddenly the door swung open, revealing Spencer.


"Valentine?"

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