ABLOCATE ▇▇▇▇ VOLUME ONE
━━ ❛ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒆𝒔 ❜

chapter no. 017!

❝ STILL A CRIMINAL. ❞
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     "YOU'RE NOT SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING THIS, RIGHT? HOTCH?" MORGAN ASKED INCREDULOUSLY, HIS BROWN EYES WIDE AS HE LOOKED AROUND AT EVERYONE. Directing his gaze back to the Unit Chief, he raised a brow, waiting for an answer.

     Tucking her hair behind her ears, JJ sighed softly as she glanced over at Spencer, who was anxiously tapping his foot. The doctor wanted Hotch to say yes. That much was evident. Cara Valentine had gotten to him somehow; he trusted her quite a bit, and he cared for her more than any of them did. The way the corners of his lips would flicker upwards and how his eyes dilated whenever he saw her were both indicators that he was interested in and felt comfortable in her presence. Everyone had noticed, some more than others.

     "Hotch?" Blake called, placing her coffee cup on the conference table.

     Hotch backed away from the glass boards and turned to face the rest of the team. His stance was calm and stoic. "Matt Cruz and I have talked. I told him about Valentine and her skills, as well as sent over all the files and documents she gave us at the bunker," he said, crossing his arms.

     "And?" Spencer asked, his eyes hopeful.

     It was silent as everyone waited for their leader to say the words one of them so desperately wanted to hear.

     Spencer promised Cara that he would find a way to get her out of this mess and he was hellbent on ensuring he didn't break it. He was going to save her. All he needed was for the FBI, DOJ, Homeland Security, Virginia State government, Hotch, and Matt Cruz to say yes and let her into the US. The chances of all of them saying yes were very low, but he was holding onto the smallest shred of hope that things would work out in his favor.

     "I believe Valentine is gifted at what she does and that she would be an asset to the team. However, there would be rules and contingencies that she'd have to adhere to," Hotch said carefully, eyeing Spencer as he spoke.

     A bright smile spread across Spencer's face, and Morgan sighed heavily, rubbing his temples.

     "Hotch, are you sure this is a good idea? Cara's talented, and she's been helpful, but she's still a criminal," JJ voiced, to which Morgan nodded in agreement.

     "How do we know if we can trust her or not?" Morgan followed up.

     Rossi raised his eyebrows and looked at Hotch. He didn't have a strong opinion on the matter, and wouldn't share it unless prompted.

     "JJ, you said yourself that she might be the reason we close the Red Scorpion case for good," Spencer countered, turning to face both JJ and Morgan, who were leaning against the wall.

     JJ sighed, giving him a pointed look. "I said that, yes, but that doesn't automatically erase everything she's done and who she is," she said, gesturing to the woman who sat out in the main lobby, a cup of coffee in her hands as she stared at the floor.

     Spencer quickly glanced out of the conference room windows, his eyes resting on Cara for a moment before snapping back to his teammates. "Throughout the entire time we've had her in custody, she could have chosen to stay quiet and not help us, but she didn't. Cara helped us and betrayed the only family she'd ever known. She risked everything she had left to give us what we needed, and due to that, we've gotten valuable information that we would have never known otherwise if it hadn't been for her," he reasoned, his eyes darting between JJ and Morgan.

     Reaching up to rub his forehead again, Morgan sighed again. "Look... the woman's been helpful and is the reason why the leaders are behind bars now, but that doesn't mean we all trust her," he said, gesturing to everyone in the room.

     "Then trust me," Spencer insisted, looking at Hotch pleadingly.

     "I trust Cara Valentine," Hotch announced, causing every head to turn towards him. "Reid, go get her."

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     FIDDLING WITH THE EMPTY COFFEE CUP IN HER HANDS, CARA SLOUCHED FURTHER DOWN IN THE CHAIR. It was getting late in the Vancouver Police Department, and many had begun to leave, going home to their families while the next shift of officers was rotating in. So, naturally, the place was a little less hectic and loud, which left her alone with her thoughts as her brain was trying to do anything but focus on the present.

     The BAU team had been in the conference room for two hours talking. Hotch had said they needed to discuss the case without prying ears, but the way he held eye contact with Cara the entire time he spoke revealed right away that he was lying. The team was discussing something else— something Cara couldn't know about, and she was perfectly fine with that. She didn't care what they talked about. All she wanted was a distraction or to go back to the hotel, where she was temporarily staying, and sleep.

     Sighing heavily, Caraa placed the empty cup on the desk to her left. She rested her chin in the palm of her hand, massaging her temple with her other for a small headache had blossomed.

     The past three days had been nothing but a complete drag, and she felt drained in every sense of the word. Physically, emotionally, mentally— everything.

     The mere thought of what would come was enough to send her mind into a downward spiral, as she had no idea what she was going to do next. Her name had been released to the public— everyone knew who she was. She was the daughter of one of the Founding Fathers of the gang who'd ruled British Columbia without consequence for years. Once she left the precinct, her life officially changed, and she didn't have a clue as to what she should do. All she knew was that she couldn't stay here.

     Cara needed to get away. Far away. Go to a place where the Founding Fathers couldn't reach her. A place where no one would know her.

     At the mention of Owen's name, her gaze snapped up and landed on two officers who sat on the opposite end of the precinct. They were discussing the Red Scorpions case.

     Farell, Arthur, and Owen were still locked in the interrogation rooms with eight guards keeping an eye on them. The remaining followers that'd been found were in holding, awaiting further instructions from the FBI and VPD. It was still unclear as to what the government and law enforcement were going to do with them and the leaders, but part of Cara was hoping they'd be locked away for good, never be seen again.

     "Cara..."

     Immediately, she turned her head and saw Spencer approaching. She pushed out of the chair she sat in and tossed the empty cup into a nearby trash can.

     "What happened?" she asked, walking forward to meet him halfway.

     Spencer's eyebrows scrunched together and he tilted his head to the left. "What do you mean?" There was a twitch in the corner of his left eye and he was tapping that one-two-one pattern against his right thigh.

     "I can tell when you're hiding something... What aren't you telling me?" Cara rephrased.

     Before he spoke, Spencer's eyes darted between hers. "We need to talk," he said softly. The tone of his voice grabbed her attention, but as she opened her mouth to speak, he grabbed her hand. Immediately, her mouth shut and she allowed him to drag her toward the room the team had been tucked away in.

     The closer they got to the room, the more Cara could feel the beat of her heart against the bare bones of her ribcage. She glanced down at her and Spencer's connected hands and frowned for the slightest second.

     The separation of their hands and the sound of a door shutting pulled her out of the tiny bubble she'd floated into, and she looked up. She was back in the conference room. Cara could tell because the same two glass evidence boards were in the same spots as before, along with the photographs that covered them.

     "Valentine, take a seat."

     Cara barely glanced at Hotch and walked forward, grabbing the nearest chair. She pulled it out and sat down. The room temporarily filled itself with the sound of moving chairs while everybody else took a seat. Inwardly sighing, Cara raised an eyebrow at Hotch, wondering why they were all sitting down as if it was about to be the Last Supper.

     Expressions of reassurance were sent her way by Rossi and Blake while Morgan and JJ just stared at her solemnly. Cara darted her eyes to Spencer whose lips continuously flickered upwards, tempted to form a smile. Then, she moved her eyes back to Hotch, who caught her one-second look-over of the team. He was staring at her with mild curiosity.

     "I have a proposition for you," he said, maintaining steady eye contact. "How would you like to work for the FBI and join the team?"

     It took five seconds of tense silence before the reality of what the man asked her sunk in.

     "I'm a criminal," Cara said bluntly, wondering if this was a test of some sort. They couldn't seriously be asking her, a drug trafficker, to join the FBI, right?

     In her peripheral vision, she saw Morgan and JJ share similar looks of contentment. Whatever was going on, it was more than obvious that Cara's response was identical to theirs. 'Cause it was true— she's a criminal. She was responsible for thousands of incidents, heists, attacks, missions, and deaths. There was no place for her in any profession, most certainly not law enforcement. She'd likely broken every law in Canada by now.

     "Garcia was a criminal before she joined the FBI," Rossi spoke, causing Cara to pause.

      That colorful and joyful woman was once a criminal? There's no way...

     "Valentine," Hotch called, gaining her attention, "you have proven you're skilled at detecting lies and analyzing behavior. You are good at what you do, and that makes you valuable. You've helped us and the VPD solve this case without asking for anything in return except for your father's safety, and we will still be searching for him. You helped this team despite having a target on your back."

     His words made her uncomfortable. Cara didn't like the acknowledgment he was giving her. In her mind, she didn't deserve it. She played a major role in causing all of this hysteria; she had for years. The last thing she should be acknowledged for is helping the FBI.

     "I talked it over with our director, who talked over it with the Secretary of State and then the federal government, and so on. They've read over the documents you provided and our case reports, and concluded that you are permitted to work for the FBI, given that you still help us find your father and the rest of the Founding Fathers," Hotch finished, sliding a crisp, manila folder to her.

     Cara grabbed the file and opened it. There was a document inside with a line for my signature at the bottom of the page.

     There's no possible way they're being serious.

     "What's the catch?" she asked, closing the file and pushing it away.

     "Catch?" Blake echoed from beside Rossi, her eyebrows furrowed and her hands rested on top of one another.

     "The U.S. government would not have agreed to legally let me cross country borders and join the FBI free-willingly. There's always a catch— a compromise. So, what is it if I say yes?" Cara asked, staring directly at the man in charge.

     Hotch slid the folder back to her. "If you say yes, you would have to live in the same apartment building as one of the team members, adhere to a monthly drug test, only use the phone we provide you, unless it's a phone from one of us, stay out of contact with anyone affiliated with the Red Scorpions, and when you're not working, adhere to a curfew from six to ten at night."

     Hmm.

     Cara put her hand on top of the file and brought it closer. Her lips were pressed together and she was silent.

     Suddenly, someone nudged her, and she met the relieved expression Spencer wore. "I promised you that I would find a way to get you out of this, for good, and I have. This is it," he said softly, his eyes searching hers for an answer to the proposal.

     A small smile began to form on his face and Cara couldn't but smile the tiniest bit. His grew when he noticed.

     "Valentine, do you have an answer?" Hotch asked, dragging her attention away.

     Cara sighed quietly. Signing that piece of paper was the key to a new life and a way out of this mess. Even though she'd still be helping hunt down the Red Scorpions, she would be living in a new place— creating a new life and getting the fresh start that her father wanted for her all these years. She could be happy. Possibly.

     "I'll sign."