Chapter Twelve-Flashback to a Girl With a Song in Her Heart (PART I)

Chapter Twelve

Flashback to a Girl With a Song in Her Heart

     It had been weeks since Melanie Wilkes had been to the BAU. After Johnny's death, no one had seen Melly. She had spent days alone, in her home. She spent time with Charlie and Phillip. Neither was the wiser to what she had been doing with the MLB player, and both assumed she was victim. Spencer, Penelope, and Emily took turns driving by Melanie's house. Every night the light was on and every night Melly walked past the curtains to turn off the light at 9:05 on the dot. A few others drove by the house to check on the girl, but only the former three were aware.

     It was a shock when Melanie entered the Quantico office four weeks after her secret fiance's death. It was twice as shocking when she entered with a smile, laughing on the arm of her future husband, the Vicomte Dufour. Melly held a little coffee cup in her pale hands, her gold engagement ring with the ruby on her left ring finger. She had her black woven blanket strewn across her shoulders over the black dress she was wearing. Her hair was up in a roll at the nape of her neck, and her white teeth were gnawing at her crimson lips.

     The Vicomte was a tall man with a boy's face. His skin wasn't pale like Melly's nor dark like Johnny's. It was a peach with lily colored cheeks. His eyes were crystal blue and his lips were pink in his perfect Prince Charming smile. He had broad shoulders and biceps smaller than Morgan's but bigger than Charlie's. His blonde hair fell to his neck and sometimes tempted at his shoulders. Some days it was light as a budding daffodil, others it was the color of spun brass. It looked lovely next to Melanie's pure gold hair. Their children would be perfect.

      They waltzed into the conference room laughing and smiling and her team merely stared.

"Well, this has got to be the weirdest case. This guy's a total...freak..." Penelope stared wide eyed as she walked in behind her friend. "Melly..."

Melanie jumped, wrapping her arms around the technical analyst. They were both squealing like school girls.

"You're back! You're back! ...You're back! Aw! If I had known I would have had balloons and cupcakes and-"

"And I would've hated the attention," Melanie crooned, hugging her friend again.

"I guess I should go," sighed Phillip, kissing his fiance on the forehead. "Where are you going?" he asked.

"Where are we going?" Melly asked.

Hotchner glanced at the file on his lap. "Coney Island."

Melanie didn't respond as Phillip stared at his fiance. Melanie started to wobble as her knees gave out. "Coney?" she breathed.

"There's been a series of murders-"

"Let me guess. A theme park/freak show? All hanged?" her team mates stared at her. "It's him," Melly whispered to Phillip.

"How did you know that?" Hotchner asked.

Melanie didn't answer as she took a seat on the couch in the corner of the room.

Phillip sighed. "Melanie ran away when she was very young...she joined a freak show. On Coney."

"So you know this man?" Hotchner asked the silent girl.

Her eyes were rimmed red when she answered,"He was my master and my teacher. He was practically my...father..." Melanie choked out the word. "He loves me..."

*****************************************************************************************************************

Phillip had fallen asleep on the plane. He insisted to go with them, to insure Melly's safety. His head was on her lap and she was toying with his hair. She sat ridged and straight and she hadn't said a word since boarding. Garcia was with them because Melly informed them there was an odd thing on Coney where nothing really worked or went your way when you wanted it to.

"Melanie?" Rossi asked. "In order for us to understand this man, you need to tell us what happened. We need to profile you in order to do this. Let's start from the beginning. Why did you run away?"

"...My father died...when I was 12. It tore me apart. He and I were so close, but that's not what started everything. I just...couldn't do it anymore."

"What?"

"...Live."

"Tell us everything Melanie."

"...I was 13..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The oldest class would be the last for the day, and it would last till 1 o'clock or so. The teenagers were always tired by the end of the day, and Mr. Rickman was working with the main cast at this point and the chorus was growing bored. They all sat in circles, cliques, as was expected of the children their age.

     But this was theatre, and all the children were really alike. Some were more popular, some  had more money, others were nerdy and bottom of the food chain.

      One group of younger girls sat hidden behind the stage curtain. One had tan skin, she was skinny and dark blonde hair. It fell in curls over her brown eyes and swirled toward her high cheek bones. Her braces glinted in the lights over head when she laughed and smiled, which occurred frequently.

     The other girl had copper brown hair, falling straight down her back. She held it back with a green ribbon, matching her cotton top. It made her chocolate eyes glow as well as contrasted her pink lips and white teeth. She was skinny about the waist but curvy around the hips and bust.

     The third girl had gold hair which hung to her waist. Two strands had been gathered from the front of her head and pulled back together with a black lace ribbon in a bow. Her watery blue eyes were blinking in the lights and her nose and cheeks were dotted with freckles. She had on a tulle white dress with white tights and black jazz shoes. Her ruby red lips made her look a little funny. Her eyes were a bit to big and her arms were too skinny, but a group of boys across the room kept glancing over. One blonde boy never took his eyes off the golden haired girl.

 "Hey," a brunette boy with a mousy face and thin frame came up to the group. The dark blonde haired girl frowned.

"What do you want, Tommy?"

"Easy, Aud. Calm down. Just wanting to talk."

"Can't we talk?" asked a tan boy with black spikes for hair.

"Leave, Zayn," the brunette huffed.

"You girls are lucky," Zayn cried,"me and Niall and Tommy come over her to grace you with our presence, and what do we get?"

"A high heel up your rear end if you don't can it. And get that Phillip to quit staring over here! It's creeping me out!" Audrey cried.

"He's only looking at your blonde beauty over there," Tommy said, throwing his script toward the golden haired girl.

"Me?" she asked, looking at Phillip, biting her lower lip.

"Doesn't he always look at ya?"

"Don't answer him, Melly!" urged the dark haired girl.

"...India!" Melly cried, gripping her friend's arm. The blonde haired boy from across the room was walking toward them. Tommy, Zayn, and Niall began to pester the other girls to keep them away from Melanie as Phillip came up to her. He didn't say a word and his eyes never left her face as he sat with a sigh next to her.

"Hey," he said, facing her. Melanie stared wide eyed at the crystal blue eyes, thinking how beautiful they were. Phillip smiled at licked his lips at her expression. "I'm Phillip Dufour. I live about 3 miles from your estate?"

Melanie stared, then remembered how to speak again. "Oh...oh, yes. You live at Ramblings with Mrs. Graywald and her daughter."

"Charlotte," he reminded.

"Yes. Charlotte. She's had a few play dates with my sister. Charlotte is just a few years older than my sister. Victoria is nine."

"Charlotte's eleven. You're brother is Charlie, right? He's just a year younger than me."

Melanie's eyes went wide again. "You're sixteen?" she gaped.

"Yes," he chuckled. "And you're thirteen."

"Yes," she whispered.

"You live at Ardely Tower, correct?"

"Yes," Melanie whispered, twisting the charm on the necklace she always wore. A key and gold cross. Phillip boldly reached across, trying to touch it, but Melanie yanked away.

"It was your father's," Phillip stated.

"Yes...It's the only part of him I have left that is totally mine. I'm sorry, I just..."

"It's okay. If I had ever met my father, I guess I'd feel the same way."

"He's dead?" Melanie asked, staring caringly at the boy.

"No. My parents don't live in America. They're politicians in France. When I was 5 months old they sent me to live here. It's not that bad, but that's because it's all I've ever known. Here I have a mother and a sister and friends."

"Why did they send you?"

"My father is an ambassador to America. He wanted me to be in the culture so I could do it too, one day."

"What if you don't want to do it?"

"...I never thought about it."

"You're here, don't you want to be on Broadway?"

He shrugged. "This is more of a hobby for me."
"This is my life," Melanie sighed.

"Alright!" Mr. Rickman was down stage and the main cast was in tow. "Take it from the top of track 7! This will be the first time practicing it and we will practice it till it is perfect!"

"Or 1 o'clock," Tommy mumbled.

"Thank you, Mr. Djlas. Partner up!"

Phillip extended a hand to Melanie.
"Be my partner?"

"I'd be honored."

***

"Whose picking us up today?" asked India, blowing a strand of brown hair as she undid the tap on her ballet slippers. "Is it Charlie?"

"What is with you and Charlie?" asked Audrey.

"Charlie's nice..." India murmured.

"If you have a crush on my brother, it's cool, Indie," Melanie said, putting a hand on the girl's shoulder so she could remove her jazz shoes. "Wanna sit in the front seat with him?"

"Yes! Er...yeah...cool..."

Audrey and Melanie burst out laughing at their friend's over eager response.

"What's so funny?" Christine asked, entering the changing room and shaking out her carmel colored hair which was sticking to her head due to the shower she had just taken.

"God, just spray me!" Audrey cried, wiping water off her chest plate. Melanie laughed at her friend again.

"What's so funny?" Christine asked again.

"Looooooooovvvvvvvvvveeeeeeee!!" Melanie and Audrey crooned together.

"No! I don't love him!"

"Niall?" Christine asked.

"No," India replied.

"Good. He's mine." And all the girls squealed again. A knock came at the door.

"If you have a penis, don't come in!" Carla, a redheaded girl in the corner sang. She was shirtless and was taking the tape off her breasts. You have to tape if you're too busty, otherwise you bounce. Which isn't good.

"Well, can one of you come out?" a male voice asked, and Melanie froze in the middle of pulling up her hair.

Audrey smiled. "Who do you need?"

"Melanie," he yelled through the door.

"I'm. Not. Here." Melanie mouthed.

"She's coming!" India yelled as Audrey took down Melly's hair and shook it for volume. Melanie swatted the hands away, but her hair was ready as Audrey and India shoved her out the door, and she fell onto Phillip Dufour. Melanie stared and didn't know how to move her legs, so they laid there for a moment, until Phillip wiggled out and pulled up the golden-haired girl.

"Hey, I don't have a ride and I figured since I don't live that far from you could I...?"

"Catch a ride? Yeah, we have room for one more and you're on the way. Yeah, I'm sure Charlie would take you."

"Charlie's driving. Not you're Mammy?"

"Nope. It's Saturday. Mammy takes morning's off Saturday and afternoon off Sunday. She'll still help, but Charlie picks me up. India and Audrey will be with us too."

Phillip sighed. "Super..."

"What is it?" asked the blonde girl as the boy was retreating.

"...I was hoping to ask your Mammy if...if it was okay for me to take you out this weekend. See a movie or something."

"Come up to Ardely anytime. We won't turn you away. There's a stable out back if you ride and a huge lake. Great for swimming. Come over any time. Really."

"Cool. Maybe I'll call on you tomorrow?"

"After Mass before prayer. After prayer is supper, so you could stay for that. Mother would be happy."

"Great."

"Ready?" India asked as she and Audrey came out of the dressing room.

"Ready," replied Melanie. "I'm sure Charlie is waiting for us."

      The four went out to the parking lot where Charlie's convertible was waiting. It was an old piece of crap but still, it was pretty cool. Melanie hated when he had the top down, which he did.

"Charlie!"

"There's my favorite little sister!" Charlie cried. He hopped off the hood and hugged his sister and twirled her around.

"Charlie, is it okay if Phillip catches a ride with us?"

"Where does he need to go?"

"Just to Ramblings. You know the way."

"Yeah. Hop in."

Charlie stared when India climbed into the front seat. "I hope you don't mind, Charles. Do you?" 

"...No. 'Course not, India." She looked down to hide her smile when he said her name.

Charlie played a few Beatles songs and Phillip some how had gotten his hand very close to Melanie's. She hoped her hand wasn't sweating if he tried to grab for it. He couldn't with her brother in the car. Could he?

     Audrey was the first to be dropped off, then India. Phillip strayed ever closer to Melanie on every turn. Charlie took great joy in informing him they were at Ramblings and he could go. Melly flopped into the front seat, smiling. Charlie looked over at his sister frowning.

"I know what you're thinking," Charlie said.

"How can you possibly know that?" Melanie sighed, her eyes watching the wildflowers in the fields on the way to Ardely.

"He's too old for you."

"Fiddle-dee-dee, Charlie."

"Melanie, I love you. And I don't like making you unhappy-"

"You've never made me unhappy, Charlie."

"That's because I'm totally devoted to making you happy. Giving you a good life. That's what father wanted."

"...I know, Charlie."

"He's older than me, Melly! You've got to love what's good for you, what will benefit you."

"You sound like mother."

"Maybe so, but, Melly, it's what's good for you."

"Phillip has money."

"Melly-"

"Who even said we were together! Not me! This is the first time I've spoken to him! I mean, I knew who he was but, still....Are we fighting?" she whispered.

Charlie looked down to his little sister and smiled weakly, taking her little hand in his.

"No, Melly. We're not fighting. We're just disagreeing. It's okay to do that. We'll talk about it later. We need to watch the baby. Mother needs us."

"Yes...Mother needs us..."

     The iron gates peeled open once Charlie's car was identified and they drove up the drive toward Ardely. Ardely was a big house sitting on big plantation. It belonged to Melly's family as far back as it could be traced. It survived the Civil War and it survived the small fire Cal, the chef, set two winters ago. The last winter Melanie's father spent with them. He had laughed as Cal and Xylen, the house worker, put it out.

"We must live in an immortal house!" he cried, and smiled as Melanie was the only one who fell into hysterics at his joke. He picked her up and kissed the curls Mammy had put in her hair and Melanie smiled.

"I love you, Abba," she had whispered.

"I love you, too, little dove." She smiled at his pet name for her.

     Charlie and Melanie tore up the front steps and Xylen opened the door for them.

"Good Afternoon, Xylen," Charlie said absent mindedly, handing him his cap.

"Good afternoon, Master Charles. Good afternoon, Miss Melanie."
"Good afternoon, Xylen. How are you feeling?"
"Oh, fine, Miss Melanie. Thank you for asking."
"I like your hair today. You got it cut, didn't you?"
Xylen smiled, and ran a hand through his greased copper hair. "Oh, yes Miss Melanie. I did. Thank you."
"Miss Melly!" Melanie turned to face the voice of her nurse maid. The old black woman had a stern expression on her face, so Melly thought it best to smile.
"Hello, Mammy. My, don't you look darling today!" Melanie smiled, and she meant it. "You always look so pretty. I wish I was a pretty thing like you!"
"Don't put none of your flattery on me, Miss Melly. What are you wearing?"
Melanie looked down. "My white tulle gown with tights and slippers. What's wrong?"
"What's wrong? Miss Melly, that dress is got one low neckline. You ain't fallin' outta it, but you is gonna be dotted with freckles. How much time did you spend in the sun?"
"Oh, not much Mammy. I walked from the theatre to the parking lot and Charlie put the hood up on the car so I didn't get much. I'm sure if they do pop up, it's nothing a little lemon juice can't handle."
"That's what you said last week when you and Master Charlie went racing through the woods and now look at ya. You is lucky you was wearin' a high collar, but you failed to wear a bonnet. If you go out 'fore three o'clock , you put on a hat and sunscreen, and a high collared dress. Got it?"
"Yes, Mammy," Melanie smiled at her nurse maid. "Where's Angus?" she asked.
"He just woke up from his nap. Miss Victoria asked to watch him for a minute while I come in here to chew you out."
"Little traitor..." Melanie mumbled. "Can I help with the baby?"
"Yes, ma'am. But you be quite now. You're mother is taking her nap, and you need to take one too. You is a lady, and ladies take naps."
Melanie groaned. "Oh, Mammy! Babies take naps-"
"No. Ladies take naps. Now you go take one."
"But I'm not tired."
"Go," Mammy sternly yelled. She and Mammy ascended the stairs to Melanie's bedroom, where Mammy stripped her of her dress and tights and bustle, leaving the girl in corset.
"And you didn't even wear pantilettes today."
"The dress came to my knees, Mammy. And no one wears pantilettes anymore. I wore tights."
"Then no more short dresses. You is gonna wear you're green dress to supper."
"Can't I wear my sparring gown?"
"No!"
By now Melanie was in bed and her eyelids were drooping. She didn't bother to fight her nurse maid anymore, and she fell asleep.
***
Melanie woke and stretched her arms after the nap. She stared at the green dress laid out for her. Melanie looked at the clock. It was four in the afternoon. The dress was low cut so Melly could wear it outside. The hoop that went with it was large though, and Melanie found it dreadful to move in. She groaned as she pulled it on, and the bonnet that went with it. She tied the green ribbon below her chin, then a matching hair ribbon around her gold hair. Green wasn't the best color on Melly, she looked best in reds and violets. But that didn't matter. Melanie pinched her cheeks and tried to get them to look rosy, for her face looked awfully pale next to her red lips. She sighed at the avail and took to the stairs.
"Melly!" Victoria cried, her brass hair was frizzy and bouncing as she came and attacked her sister. "I was just coming to tell you. There's a boy here for you!"
"A boy?"
"Yes! He's awful handsome!"
"Blonde hair? Blue eyes? Tall?"
"That could fit any number of boys, but yes, that's him," her sister teased.
"Why are you so precocious?"
"Why are you so boring?"
The two stuck their tongues out at each other, making faces.
"Hey!" Mammy came up the stairs to meet them. "You want that gentlemen caller of yours to see you doin' that?" she hissed. "C'mon," Mammy sighed, pulling Melanie by the wrist.
"Where's your kid gloves?" she hissed.
"In my room," Melanie whispered. Mammy groaned.
"Phillip," Melanie sighed, her stomach in knots.
Phillip smiled as he rose. He bowed low, removing his hat. "Melly," he sighed her name. Melanie swallowed.
"I do believe, Miss Wilkes, you promised me a riding session."
"Oh," Melanie's face went crimson,"I'm in no state to ride. I just woke from my nap and I'm not properly dressed."
"Oh, that's fine, Miss Wilkes. How about you show me around Ardely? I'll have to take you up on riding next time."
"That's fine by me," Melanie smiled. Mammy mouthed something to Melly behind Phillip. "As long as you stay for supper," Melanie stumbled out of her mouth.
"Of course, Miss Wilkes," Phillip smiled at her again and Melly looked at Mammy asked for her bag. The blue one. The one with my smelling salts. If I don't faint before I get to them!
***
"Supper was lovely," Phillip supplied.
"I'll be sure to tell Cal," Melanie whispered, her eyes on the ground. It was dark now, and they were walking along the gravel path toward the lake. Phillip wanted to see it before he left.
"I was upset I didn't get to see your mother."
"She has supper in her room often. She just had a baby a week ago. Once she's back to normal, she'll dine with us. And you've already found seven excuses to come back here," Melanie sighed, elbowing him in the ribs. He chuckled.
"Eight."
"Of course," the girl rolled her eyes.
"Bring Charlotte sometime. It would shut up Victoria for some time."
"But then," Phillip turned to face her," I couldn't do this." He leaned down, Melanie's chin in his hands and she stared wide eyed as he tried to come down on her.
"S-Stop!" she sputtered, and he did.
"What's wrong?" he asked, moving his hands from her face to her waist.
"Nothing...I just...I want my first kiss to be with my fiance, not a boy I just met."
Phillip groaned. "That's all I am? A boy you just met?"
"Did you think you were more?" Melanie asked. He looked away. "Do you want to be more?" she whispered.
"I called on you, didn't I?" he huffed.
"You really wanna do this?" she asked.
"...Yeah."
"Alright. If you want to do this, I'll do this. If you look at or talk to any other girl without my permission I'll slit your throat. If you don't spend every day with me, I will never speak to you again. Got it, loser?" Phillip turned to face Melly and his expression made her burst out with laughter. "I'm kidding, Phillip! Goodness!" He pulled on her waist, bringing her to his chest, and he kissed her forehead. "Goodnight, Melanie."
"Goodnight, Phillip."
And he started down the drive, glancing back every once in a while to look at Melanie Wilkes, and sigh at the way the moonlight shone on her hair.
***
"Are you crazy?!"
"Yes!"
Phillip Dufour took two steps back and got at a running start off the tree branch and into the window. He landed on the pillow Melanie laid out for him every night and every night the pillow broke his fall. Week after week.
"It's five in the morning!" Melanie whispered in a yelling voice. Regardless of the time, Melanie was in her corset and sparring gown. If Mammy knew she was wearing this in front of any boy, she would have her head. If Mammy knew she was wearing this at five a.m. while her boyfriend scuffled through her window while they hugged on her bed...the world would explode. Phillip climbed on the sheets and Melanie pulled them tighter around her. She never let Phillip under the sheets.
"That would be untoward," she crooned. But Phillip cuddled next to his girlfriend, wrapping his arms around her, letting his lips trace up her shoulder to her neck. He groaned loudly and Melanie slapped his head.
"You want someone to hear you like that?!"
Phillip kept kissing her body, his hands gripping her shoulders gently. His lips were going across her clavicle, and Melanie put her hands into his hair.
"...This isn't right, Phillip."
He was in front of her, his legs over hers, his lips going lower.
"Stop!" she hissed quietly. Phillip pulled back slowly.
"Let me kiss your lips," he whispered.
"No," she said, and stared out the window. Hers was the only room with the view of the lake. Her father's had a view of the field, where Charlie and Melly used to play, and Melanie always wondered if Father was watching, if he wanted to join them. But she would never know that answer.
"Look at the sun coming up..." she whispered.
"What time does Mammy wake you?"
"It's summer...Tuesday...8 o'clock."
"Great. Have you asked your mother about coming to that camp with me?"
"Not yet. I will today, though, if you want me to."
"Yeah...that'd be great...I'll go, Mel. I'll come by later. Go riding?"
"Yeah...great...we've rehearsal today though, too. At 10:30. Maybe Mammy is waking me up earlier..."
"I'll head out. 'Night, love."
"G'night, Philly."









Meg here. Part II will be up ASAP (emphasis on the P) and Melanie's flashback will continue from there.
Love and regards,
-MEG

Chapter Eleven-Each Other's Only Hope

Chapter Eleven

Each Other's Only Hope

Spencer and Johnny both rose excitedly as Emily Prentiss tore off her jacket that was now soaked in blood, as she closed the bathroom door behind her.

"I got the bullet out," she said, sitting, and rubbing her eyes.

"Is she okay?" Johnny asked fervently. "Please tell me she is okay!" he whispered.

"She's fine. Asleep. She's lost a lot of blood, so take it easy tonight. You have about 6 hours of night left. Let her sleep then do whatever. You mind telling me how this happened?" she asked.

"Turn on the news..." Johnny whispered, turning his head so his expression was kept hidden. Spencer mumbled under his breath as he did as he was told. He turned the set, and Johnny's face was there. They always acknowledged him as MLB player that he was, not the boy Melanie knew. Reid turned through seven more channels, showing Emily the contents. Each was the story of the baseball player, only 19, and how he had killed a man in cold blood, then stole away with a young girl. The girl was thought to be a victim, and that's what really made Johnny's blood run cold.

"G-guys?" Melanie's weak voice trembled from the corner. Spencer ran to her as she tried to grip the wall for support, but began to fall. Her legs were wobbling like a new born horse, and she couldn't stay standing. Spencer dragged her to the couch (she was probably the heaviest thing he'd ever lifted like that. He was dying afterward), laying her down. He put her head on his lap, and he stroked her hair. After, a moment, she tried to sit up, and she failed miserably, falling back onto Reid.

"Stop moving. Your wound may be bandaged but it's not closed. Your just pushing it out with every movement," Emily growled lovingly at her.

"You've already lost so much blood," Spencer whispered, taking her hand.

"I'm gonna go take a shower," said Johnny, who didn't bother to ask. He left the three in the room.

     Melanie looked like she was going to fly away if any puff of air hit her. Reid had never seen her so pale and skinny. Even her ruby red lips had turned a unnoticeable pink. That scared Reid the most.

"...So...you don't hate me?" Melanie whispered in her little meek voice.

"What?" Spencer whispered. Melanie blushed, and Spencer was pleased to see that she had enough energy to do that. Emily excused herself into the kitchen.

"...You didn't ask me to dance last night. I stayed by your side practically all evening, and you never danced with me...I thought you hated me, and you were just...repulsed. That you didn't want to touch me." Melanie looked away and her face turned even redder.

"God, no...Melly...I never...I have never been repulsed by you. Your my best friend."

"...Then why didn't you dance with me?"
Emily came back in at this point, a false smile on her face. "Drink this," she said. Melanie did as she was told, and gave a grimace after downing the mysterious drink. 
"You may be the first person to take that drink well."
"No one can take that drink well. And I have a horrible gag reflex, just saying." Melanie sat upright without any trouble, and stood. She had to steady herself, but then turned to her coworkers, her head hidden on her chest. "I'm leaving with him," she whispered.
"What?" Spencer asked after a moment.
"I have to."
"Melanie," Emily hesitantly began,"You don't have to do anything. You didn't kill that man. You don't have to run."
"No...you see, I do. I know I won't be held responsible for that young man's death, but I am going to face hell. I can't marry Phillip...I just can't...That's hell!" she screamed, covering her face. "Living in France for the rest of my life while he does politics and I look pretty. What is that? Nothing good can come from it. He'll get me pregnant and I'll have kids and maybe that will give me purpose. But...they'll take them from me too. Everything good in my life has been stripped from me! My father...my master...my safe house..." Reid couldn't understand Melanie's rants but he felt as if his legs were going to give out. "Johnny told me he loved me. We are going to get married. Soon. We'll run, get out of the country, change our names. That life is better than the one I'm supposed to lead."
"Melly, you can't-"
"What do you want to do, Melanie?" Emily asked.
"...It's too late for that. You know when a Princess is born, she doesn't have the choice to be a doctor, or a singer, or whatever she pleases. She is bound by laws that others aren't bound by. I have those rules ingrained in me so deep...but I can't any more...I just can't...it's too late..."
"What can I do?" Spencer whispered.
"...I need you to call the justice of the peace, but don't tell them our names. Don't mention the FBI or even baseball games."
Johnny entered again, his dark curls wet and pressed to his forehead. "Book the nearest bridal suite, one room will suit us fine."
"What names should I use?" Spencer choked, his back to the couple.
"Mr. and Mrs. Smith..." Melanie sighed.
Spencer heard Johnny groan, and he knew he was kissing some part of Melly. (Her hair at this point). "Imagine it!" he cried, twirling his future wife as Emily stole the phone from Reid. "No early calls, no big premiers, no press always watching..."
"We'll spend the nights making our own little league baseball team," Melanie crooned.
"We're no one you've ever seen..."
"Movie stars don't live anywhere here, except on the local drive-in screen..."
"Where do you want to live, Melly?"
"Let's move to Main Street, USA...We'll both get good, blue collar jobs. Work 9 to 5. We'll struggle with money and it will all be okay. We'll...suffer and cry but we'll be so happy," she whispered.
"I'm going to the store. I've got a gun. I'll be fine. I'll get supplies, then we'll go." Melanie smiled at her future husband and his plan. He left and Melanie tensed.
      Spencer went to his window and stared out it, trying to hide the tears he couldn't hold in. He would never see Melanie again. He would never see her hair down...he had only seen it once, but it had been so dark and he couldn't remember. This was the only time he had ever seen her in casual clothes. Emily had brought them for her. A black and white hoodie-sweat shirt and black sweat pants. Her hair was braided and slicked back. He would never see her walk down the isle, or get pregnant. He would never hold her children. He wouldn't see her smile again, or bite her ruby red lips. He wouldn't watch her cry, her pain, ever again.
"Talk to me," she whispered behind him, pain in her voice. Reid turned on a heel, and left the room. Melanie wiped a tear away, and turned to Emily.
"Who were you dancing with last night?" Melly asked her close friend.
"...An old friend. Mick Rawson."
"I remember the name. He's from Doc's group. You worked the one case with them, when it was the annual killing of the father, daughter, and a few homeless men. I remember it."
"He had a little crush on me...it was nice to talk. He was from the younger, less careful me. It was fun to see how he thought I would act, the same. Of course I didn't...I really lost the ability to trust...like you."
Melanie didn't say a word as her smile dropped. "You sound like you like him."
"I do. I didn't call him then and I won't call him now. He's nothing special to me."
Melanie smiled weakly, and took her friends hands in her own small, pale one. "Thank you, Emily. You are one of the best friends I could ever ask for. Thank you...so much, Em."
***
"Melanie...Melanie...Wake up!! Melanie!! Now!" Emily was shaking her friend awake. Her head fell back slack as she tried to sit up again. Melly's bandage needed changing badly.
"W-wha..." she whispered.
"I'm going to look for him!" Em screamed as she lunged off Melly.
"Prentiss, no!" Reid struggled to stop her in the door way. She stopped not because of force, but respect.
"What's wrong?" Melly whispered, blue eyes locked on Reid. "Where is he? What's happened?"
"...He shot a cop, Mel."
Melanie's heart sunk. She realized how deep she was in this.
"Who?"
"...Mick!" Emily cried, her head flopping lifelessly into her hands.
"...Is he?"
"No," Spencer whispered. "Just in intensive care. But he could..." Emily moaned again.
     The world stopped around Melly in that moment. A life on the run or a life of pointlessness and luxury? Did it matter?
"What am I-"
"Hush!" Prentiss whispered, and they all slapped out of their emotions. "Listen..."
"It's my phone," Melanie moaned.
"Don't answer it," Prentiss growled in warning.
"What if it's him? I have to." It was evident none of her friends was going to grab for her phone, so Melanie dragged herself out of bed to get it.
"Hello?" she whispered hoarsely into it.
"Melly? Thank God..."
"Johnny!" she cried, and sobbed into her hand.
"I'm fine, Melly. Listen, I need Reid or Prentiss to get you to the outskirts of town. You know that old bridal shop on 52nd? Go there. There is a fence. We get over that, we are home free. I've got plane tickets out of the country. I won't say where, now. I've got birth certificates and other crap like that. Enough supplies to last us months. This is a disposable cell, so I'll throw it away and don't call it again. Cool?"
"...Cool..."
"Bye, Mel."
"Good-bye, Johnny..."
"I love you, Melly."
"...Love you, too..." and the line clicked dead. "My God..."
***
Melanie left the house alone that night. She told Spencer and Emily what was going on. She found she couldn't whisper the word good bye, so she collapsed in her friend's arms. She left sobbing, her hood up and hair tucked in. She was a ball of black and white, both good and evil.
    Melanie stalked up 52nd. There was a turn, and if Johnny was where he should be, she would be in his arms in just 40 or so feet.
"Mel?" she heard his voice before she saw him in the dark.
"Johnny?"
"Melly!" they both set off at a sprint for each other's arms, but the gun came out so fast and Melanie never saw the bullet hit her partner, but she felt his blood on her hands and his heavy body falling on her, making them both collapse.
"Get away from there!" one of the cops screamed, but Melanie just stared wide eyed at the boy in her arms. He was choking on his own blood, trying to gurgle something to Melanie. She watched as his wide eyes stared into her own, and she watched them die. She slowly sat down the body, and rose. She looked around, and saw the cop with the gun in his hand. She pulled out her FBI credentials and held her hand out for the weapon. He gave it to her.
"How many bullet's are in this gun, sir?" she whispered lifelessly. He didn't respond.
"How many! How many people can kill, like you killed him?! Huh?! How many people can I kill and still save one bullet for me! Because I can kill because I have hate! I know what the meaning is now!" she screamed, sinking to the ground. She caught Reid's stare out of the corner of her eye, then two men trying to take the body.
"Don't touch him!" she screamed, covering his body. Spencer came to her, sinking to her side. "He was my only hope..." she whispered.
"...I know..."
     Spencer looked at Melanie. He had never seen her eyes so dark and scared and...angry. Melanie had never been this angry. Life had been taken from her, she had seen it leave him. It left her a shell, left only to fill by evil. But Melanie was still there, and she would come back. Perhaps not the same, but there. Because Melanie was different. She was beyond good and evil.

She was Melanie Wilkes. And she had been through hell.

And there will be hell to come.

Johnny Potter was not her last chance. 

Chapter Ten-The Forbidden Fruits Taste the Sweetest

Chapter Ten

The Forbidden Fruits Taste the Sweetest

"Spencer...Spencer...Spencer Reid! WAKE UP!"

Spencer flew out of the comfort of his bed and onto the wood floor of his home.

"You are one sound sleeper," Melanie commented.

"When I want to be," he mumbled, rubbing his neck. "Why are you in my house...how did you get in? You didn't want a key."

"I picked the lock," the blonde girl smiled, showing him the dusty hair pin in her hand. It was mangled from use and the rust had worn off onto it. She bended it into shape, wiped it off, and stuck back into her hair to help hold it into the stiff pony tail it was constantly kept in.

Spencer sighed, continuing to rub his neck and kept his eyes closed.

"Do I dare ask why you are here?" he said in his high pitched voice.

"Because," said a familiar voice from another room as the BAU's technical analyst stepped into view. "We need your bathroom."

"Why?" he asked.

"Because!" Melanie held out the word, taking his hands and yanking him to his feet. "We're going to a ball!"

********************************************************

As Spencer once again stuck his head in through the bathroom door, he could only see Melanie Wilkes face contort into a grimace.

"Are you sure we can't go back to the house and get a prettier dress? This isn't one of the best I've stitched," she pouted.

"No. You may want it, but you can't be noticed."

"I'd rather be a raven than a robin," Melanie humphed. "Penny, I just...I want this. This rebellion I'm going through. It's been building up in me...who cares if anyone finds out I went?"
"You'll get in trouble, I'll get in trouble, Hotch will, Emily will, Rossi will, Derek will-"
"They are strong people. I will take the blame for this. I swear."
"Reid will."
Melanie's eyes burned a hole in the mirror, staring at her reflection. "Alright, Penny...but please blend in this foundation! I'm not tan and this does no favors the rest of my pale body!" the pair laughed. Garcia came toward Melanie to do as her friend asked, not before slamming the door with her high-heel to close it shut from prying eyes.
**********************************************************
"Look at you!" Emily said as Melanie waltzed up, her face glowing from the warmth of the candle-lit room. The blonde girl dropped to a curtsy, pulling her skirt out to her side.
The dress was a pretty silken gown, which flowed down Melanie in a bronze river. ("It's brown," Melanie sighed,"why on Earth did I make a brown dress?" "It's bronze," Penelope argued. "It's brown!") a little cloak concealed Melanie's bare shoulders. It was the same fabric of the dress, and it buttoned in the front. It lead up to a high, rounded collar, but not so high that is bumped her chin when she chose to hide her face.
Her gold hair was piled on her head in a little wrap-in bun. It looked darker because of the lighting, but that only made her seem more beautiful in the dark dress.
"You look gorgeous," Morgan said, bowing dramatically at the girl. Melanie blushed and thanked him. (Reid had said the same thing to Melanie, she only punched his arm and told him not to lie to her face again. (He saw her smile and knew she didn't mean it.))
"I am a product of Penelope Garcia, Queen of many-if not all-talents," Melanie said, hugging her friend. Penelope laughed.
A song began to play, and the group dispersed, JJ and Prentiss toward the bar, Morgan to dance with Penelope, and Melanie and Reid stood by a banister of the grand stair case.
Melanie hummed and Spencer wanted to ask her to dance, but felt to frightened. Melanie looked at Reid several times, asking him how he thought the room looked, about the music, even venturing so far as to ask him whether or not she should leave the cloak on or off her body. Reid answered she should probably keep it on, or get cold. Melanie frowned at him, and turned away. She had never been good at flirting, and she knew men like Reid couldn't take a hint, but golly! Reid just couldn't catch on.
Spencer kept wanting to ask Melly to dance, but couldn't find any courage. Soon, even there conversation began to lack. Melly felt cheated out of a ball when there was no man willing to dance with her. She even felt angry at Reid for not asking her to dance. She hated that feeling, but couldn't help but think that even as a friend, Spencer didn't want to touch her. She loved Spencer dearly, as she loved all her friends at the BAU, she even loved Phillip and Charlie in their own ways, but no one ever could love Melanie back. Her heart felt like it was breaking.
"SSA Wilkes?" a short pale man asked, coming up to her.
"Yes-" Melanie sniffed, then saw the visitor.
"SSA POTTER! OH-ehm, SSA Potter, sir. What are you doing here?"
"To dance, and I believe this is honestly the first time we've met. Please to meet you, Miss Wilkes."
"Oh, no sir! The pleasure is all mine!" Melanie fervently shook the hand of the old, short hand. "Spencer!" Melanie hissed,"Do you know who this is?!"
"SSA Potter of the...BIA? Right?"
"Yes," said Mr. Potter to the young BAU agent. "And you?" he asked.
"This is Dr. Reid of the BAU," Melanie cut in, again with a beaming smile.
"Well, the BAU certainly has some young ones," said the SSA agent with a smile. "And I hear very pretty young women. I've met Miss Jareau before, and I've heard great things about Miss Prentiss, and now upon seeing Miss Wilkes, Doctor, you must be overwhelmed!"
Reid blushed. "Er, yes..."
"Well, I've heard you married a very beautiful woman years ago. You have a son, do you not?" Melanie said, smiling.
Morgan walked up silently, Penelope behind him, both faces glowing from the exercise of dancing.
"Yes, actually, I married a woman from a reservation I was sent to. Tay was as sweet as can be. We have a son just about younger than you, Miss Wilkes. Johnny Potter. Maybe you've heard-"
"Johnny Potter the baseball player?" Morgan asked.
"The same," Mr. Potter replied smiling for his son. "You've heard of him?" he asked Melly.
"Er, yes. On the news..."she said, her face twisting.
"I take it wasn't good news," frowned the BIA agent.
Melanie frowned.

"That's actually why I came to talk to you. He hasn't been...he's been involved with some...gang activity. It's only a hunch, but I am worried for him...Could you...keep tabs on him? Just enough. I'm not asking a full investigation-"

"I couldn't make that a BAU case if I wanted to, Mr. Potter. But I can make it a practice way. I will not lie, eavesdrop, or commit some unforgivable sin to keep tabs on him, though. Consider this a personal favor, Mr. Potter. I would be in some trouble if anyone found out, and I refuse to take a hit for this. I will go to no great lengths to do this for any acquaintance, even one as great as yourself. Do you agree to my terms?"
"I-"
"Father!" A tall boy came behind Mr. Potter, wrapping his arms his father's neck. They both smiled.
Melanie cocked an eyebrow at the BIA agent, and Mr. Potter nodded to her. He accepted.
"Who are your friends?" the boy asked, looking at the agents.
"These are SA Morgan, Garcia (?), Dr. Reid, and Melanie Wilkes."
The boy called Johnny went with a smile, shaking every one's hands. He got to Melanie, and she challengingly held out her hand, palm down. She cocked an eyebrow and tilted her head. He took the hand, and bowed over it, letting his lips touch her skin. He returned to full height, sarcastically cocking his eyebrows. Melanie's eyes narrowed.
"Miss Wilkes, I presume?" he said.
"The very same," she smiled.
"You look like your brother," he said.
"You know Charlie?" she asked, her angry pretense dropping. He laughed.
"Everyone in my circle knows Charles," he replied.
"...Hmph..." Melanie whispered, eyebrows pushed together.
"My names Johnny," he said, holding out one hand for Melly to shake, using the other to slick back his dark brown hair. Melanie sighed.
"So I've been told..." she mumbled.
Johnny continued to vie for Melanie's attention as the night went on, shocked that any girl could say no to him. Melanie, however, was quite enjoying herself. Not many men-okay, like, four in her life time, ever tried to play this game with her. Melanie took pride in the fact she had a boy interested-and at the fact she was able to keep him at arm's length.
It was late in the night and most agents had left. Mr. Potter even bid his 19 year old son good night early in the evening. It was only 11 o'clock, but Melanie was not used to staying up so late, and she grew more fatigued by the minute. Johnny watched her from across the room, as he had been for the past two hours. He had gone up to her almost 9 or more times, and each time she refused to act interested in the boy. Melanie enjoyed being able to put his ego into check. He hated it.
Melanie just sat on the steps of the staircase, Dr. Reid leaning against the banister, often making a comment to her, which she would respond to with a one worded answer. Johnny was getting bored just watching their conversation, and couldn't imagine how terrible it must be to take part in it.
"Look," Johnny said, no smirk on his face, his hands in his pockets," your too pretty and too smart to be sitting here on the steps, not dancing. Dance with me."
Melanie snorted,"I'd rather-"
"Hey, cut it," he said, looking at her stern. He was tired. He was bored. He was going to be damned if he didn't get one dance with her.
Melanie rose to her feet. "Give me one good reason why I should dance with you," she growled.
"I don't see you dancing with anyone else," he said.
Melanie looked at her feet, and sighed. "Tell me something else...is it just to screw with my brother?"
"No," he answered, honestly.
"Then why?"
"'Cause your damn hot, and your proud, and your the only girl who didn't ask to get in my pants tonight! Look...your something else, Melanie Wilkes, I can just tell. Show me that."
Melanie looked at the man who was in her face, and slowly, a smirk formed. She grabbed his hand tight as she said, loudly enough for Reid to hear, and Morgan and Penelope to hear 7 feet away,"Call me Melly."
***************************************************************
"Look at you!" Emily said.
Melanie's red eyes opened wide and she jumped a foot.
"Oh," she yawned,"it's you." Then she smiled dumbly at the wall.
"How long have you been here after-"
"I just came here after. I had a change of clothes in my car. Took a shower, slept in my office. It was easy."
"How late were you out with him?" Emily asked, poking her friend in the ribs.
"...Two...maybe three...we never left the...you know. Place."
"Yeah. You gonna see him again?"
"...Not outside of the spying his father has set me up to do."
Garcia frowned and Reid turned to hide his smile. "Why not?" protested Garcia,"You two hit it off-"
"And I'm engaged to be married. Plus, he and I? What's a more laughable concept! He was mean, and course, and unrefined! I need a man who gives much more. Like Phillip..."
"Yeah, he's Prince Charming..." Emily mumbled.
"And Johnny was?" Melanie retorted. "...Whatever..." Melanie growled, returning to the file in her hands. "Just...whatever..."
****************************************************************
"Goodnight, Melanie," Strauss said as she left, and Melanie waved goodbye to her aunt.
"SSA Wilkes?"
"Yes, Anderson?" Melanie smiled at the Tech Agent who walked in, and he smiled at the sweet girl. "There's a boy here for you."
"Oh...is it the Comte Dufour?"
"No, it is a boy with a guitar. Dark hair? He'd said you'd remember him from...er...last night."
"Oh," Melanie humphed. "God, Anderson, I assure nothing untoward happened...Just...gah...send him in, please. Thank you, Anderson."

"What are you doing here?!" the blonde agent screamed at her uninvited guest after Anderson closed them in the room together.
"I-I had to see you again, Melly."
"SSA Melanie Wilkes. Didn't your father in the FBI teach you anything about how to address agents? Goodness..."
"You look tired," Johnny whispered concerned. "Maybe you should sit-"
"Don't invite me to sit in my own-..." Melanie trailed off with an odd sense of deja vu. Melanie slowly lowered herself into the chair next to him. "Do you play?" she whispered uninterested, not looking at him.
"Yeah, I came to play...for you..."
"Oh, how nice," Melanie said with a emotionless smile.
"God, you are tired, Melly. I was going to..."
"Yes?" Melanie asked, finally looking at him with awareness.
"...My friends and I are doing this...drag race tonight, and I was wondering if you wanted to go. ...It's a lot of fun, Melanie."
"...Johnny, I'm in a relationship-"
"And that's totally great, Mel. I just want to take you as a friend. Please?" He took Melanie's hands in his, and he smiled when Melanie shivered, then blushed.
"This is an attempt to gain my affection, though, is it not? Or is this just something to screw with Charlie or some other dumb thing, because if it is, I swear to God-"
"No, no, Melanie, I swear, it's not."
"...I've been made a fool before. If you make one of me, I will make you pay, Master Potter."
"...Master?"
"Dear God..."


"Was that...Johnny that just left with Melanie?"
"What other tan, dark-haired boy with a guitar could it be, Emily?" Garcia said. 
"...I am really happy for her," Emily whispered.
"What? I don't understand," Reid said.
"...She's falling in love."
"In  her own standards."
"She doesn't love him," Spencer huffed.
"...She will," Emily said.  Spencer palled.
"If she falls in love with him, it will be the greatest mistake of her life!" he yelled.
"That's what love is," Garcia said.
"God, she's just a girl!"
"This is how she grows."
"It's too dangerous, I can't let her-"
"You will," Prentiss growled, outstretching an arm to stop him.
"What is that based on Emily? Your happiness for her or the fact that you got knocked up and you just want her perfect life to have that same horrid out look? Huh?" Reid stopped. "God...Emily...I didn't-"
"I know, Reid. It's okay. But, don't go after her. She has to do this."
"...She's just a girl..."
*****************************************************************
"Whhhhhhoaaaaaaaaaa-Hoooooooo!" Melanie yelped from her place on the side of the alley.
"I told you you would have fun," Johnny whispered in her ear. It was cold, and he had let Melanie stay inside his over sized jacket-with him still in it. His scarf was wrapped around both their necks, and tied at chest level. Her head was ducked into his neck, and his arms were around her waist. He hummed in her ear, and Melanie leaned into him, closing her eyes.
      Johnny's so called friends had turned out to be his gang, and a rival gang. Johnny's crew was a rag-tag bunch, not unlike the boys Melanie used to pal around with when she was young. She didn't spend much time with them, but still, she could call them her friends.
       The last of the races began and Melanie screamed for the driver to hurry down the short-stretch of street. Johnny began to brush his lips against Melanie's ear, and she giggled a little. She didn't know whether she was doing this because SSA Potter had asked her, or because she liked being liked. Maybe it was both. She simply let it be considered as her being undercover. Melanie called out again when Johnny's gang won. She slipped out of his jacket, but kept his scarf so that Johnny could go and celebrate with his friends, jumping and screaming. He came over to Melanie, and tried to kiss her, but she pushed him away. He didn't get discouraged though.
     A leader from the opposing gang, came up to Johnny. He wasn't happy by any means, but they were beat.
"Great game-" Johnny said, but stopped when he saw the gun come from out of the man's pocket. He pulled the trigger, and Melanie cried out, and crumpled to the ground. The man barely had time to laugh before Johnny pulled out a pistol of his own and fired, hitting the man in the forehead. He fell to the ground, dead.
     No one moved, even Melanie stayed silent as she stared at what he had done.
"Melly..." Johnny whispered, he ran over to her, holding her fast to his chest.
"He just nicked my arm," Melanie said, pulling back from the dark-skinned boy she had been holding just a few moments earlier.
"L-Look!...Look what ya did, Johnny..." a boy whispered behind him. Johnny stared and Melanie thought he might cry.
"Murder-!" screamed a boy from the opposing gang, but Johnny pulled the gun out again.
"Any one of youse talks again, and I swear I'll kill ya. Now, I'm gonna take Melanie some where safe, and you all is gonna be quiet when I leave. Got it?"
Melanie yelped and winced as Johnny threw her over his shoulder, then set off at a jog. When they were out of view, it only took a few moments for the howls of "Murderer!" to erupt from behind them. Melanie stared to cry.
"What have you done?" she whispered.
"Is there anywhere we can go, Melanie? We need to get you help and we can't go to no hospital."
"...Yes..."
*****************************************************************
Johnny knocked urgently and softly on the apartment door.
"What are you doing-Melanie?" he whispered.
"Spencer...we need help..."
"You're bleeding..."
"Don't say anything else. Let us in."
"God, Melanie, what happened?" Reid said once he shut the door, helping Johnny lay her on the couch.
"You gotta get the bullet outta my arm, Spence, I'm gonna bleed out..." Melanie coughed. The scarf was wrapped around it, but it was already soaked in her blood. Johnny went and threw up in Reid's sink. He stared at the pair. 
"I...I have to call someone," Reid said.
"No!" Johnny lunged for the phone. "No, authorities."
"Call her, Spencer...I need help, now...please..." Melanie blacked out from the blood loss.
"God, Prentiss?" Reid yelled. "Get over here. Now. It's Melly..." 

Chapter Nine-Personal Expirence

Chapter Nine

Personal Expirence

     "I just wish, oh, how I wish I could go! Please, Aunt, Please reconsider!" Melanie begged to Erin Strauss.

"It's not even official, just some of the agents gathered an idea to form this ball," she said, in her distastful mood. "Besides, the only man I would ever aprove of you dancing with is your fiance. Has he allowed you to go?"

"He would but momma said-"

"Then listen to your mother."

      Erin Strauss left a pouting Melanie in front of her office.

"What's wrong?" Garcia asked as the team came up.

"Aunt won't let me go to the ball that's tomorrow night."

"What's so special about it?" Reid asked her.

"Oh, Spencer! Just the idea of it is so romantic and thrilling!" she held her hands over her heart-or rather the yellow and blue plaid tie, that matched the skirt and yellow wool cardigan she was wearing. "Its just...I've always wanted to see one. And now, when it is right in front of me, I am forbidden to go. I just angers me to the point of no return!"

"Just go," Emily said. "I'll help you sneek out."

"Hold your tongue!" Melanie gasped, signalling her to shush. "If anyone were to hear you-!"

"What would happen? I can't get fired."

"No, but I would get a good beating!"Melanie hissed. It was honestly no secret Melly was abused, but it was the first time she had ever truthfully ackwoldedged it.

"I'll keep quite," Emily whispered as the walked toward the conferance room.

*****

"She was raped?" Melanie breathed. "She was only 12...Oh God..." she covered her face with her hankerchief. Garcia grabbed her hand, trying to console her. They were all on the plane.

"But she survived," Emily said, without a smile.

"Sometimes being dead is better..."Melanie whispered, pulling her sleeves down. Reid eyed her arm, wondering why Melanie had twitched in that way, but tried to ignore it.

"Can I talk to the girl?" Melanie asked.

"You're in charge." Hotcher replied.

Melanie swollowed and replied she would like Emily to come with her. Hotchner agreed that would be best. Reid smiled at Melly who seemed deeply pained by this. He grabbed her little hand with both of his, and rubbed it most of the plane ride. JJ noticed this, and added it to her list to believe the two were together. But Melanie had not once been unfaithful to Phillip. She had thought of it before, and almost accidentally did, but never had. Spencer could never like her in that way...not even her future husband....

****

Reid and Hotchner watched from outside the interview room as Melanie sat down, and Emily stood in the corner, and began talking to the little girl.

"Hi, sweetheart," Melanie said, sitting in front of the girl, taking care not to get to close to her. The girl was small, looking almost 10, and her skin was pale and ivory. She had pretty blue eyes and long red hair, which she braided on one side. "Can you tell me your name?" she asked.

"Au-Audreyanna."

Melanie smiled overly dramatic and said what a pretty name it was, and to belong to such a pretty girl. She asked her if she was hungry, or wanted anything. The girl declined. She asked again, and again the girl said no.

"Audreyanna, this isn't going ot be easy. But we are going to retrace your steps before...what happened."

   The little girl's eyes swelled and she looked stricken.

"I-I don't wanna..." she whispered feverantly.

"I know. I don't want to make you do this either. But we need your help to find him so he can't hurt anymore little girls." Melanie reached out and took the girl's hand. "Can you please help me?"

   The little red headed girl nodded slowly.

"What were you doing?" Melly asked, still holding Audreyanna's hands. She closed her eyes.

"...I was playing...mom told me to stay by her, but there was a rabbit, and I went to pet it. It ran off and I lost it. It was crowded and I couldn't find mom again. It got really dark all of a sudden, and then-" the girl shook and moaned and Melanie assured her she was right there and that no one could hurt her.
"Are you sure?" whispered the girl.
"He will never touch you again. And I'm here. I would die to protect you, sweetie."
Audreyanna smiled with her eyes closed, then gulped. "He came up behind me, and told me he lost his doggie. He looked nice...I thought..." she screamed.
"I know, I know..." Audreyanna ran around the table to Melanie. She accepted the girl with open arms, placing her on her lap. She shook.
"He can't hurt you anymore...we're going to get him...but we need you're help."
"He...he had on a blue shirt...like that," she said, pointing to Melanie's skirt.
"Plaid?"
"Yes. He had...a dark scruffy beard."
"How long?"
     The two went at it for a little longer, and Melanie told the girl she was done and didn't have to do this any longer. She smiled and hugged Melanie.
"Isn't there anything else I can do?" she asked.
"You've done so much. You've been so helpful and brave. You are a strong girl, Audreyanna. One of the strongest I've ever met. You helped me so much. I do believe I owe you. How about I buy you an Ice cream? Huh? Sound good?"
"...Can it be strawberry?"
"It can be a whole bucket full of strawberry!"
Audreyanna smiled. "Will you share it with me?"
"I certainly will, sweet heart."
"Hey, I gotta..." she looked down.
"Go to the bathroom?" Melanie whispered with a slight smiled. Audreyanna nodded.
"Do you want me to take you?"
Audreyanna looked from Melanie to the door to the hall. "No...I've got it."
Melanie lead the red-head out, and she scampered to the bathroom. Melanie smiled.
"Hey," a boy, around the age of Melanie with bright red hair came up behind her. "Thank you, for this. I'm Todd, Audrey's brother."
"You have a brave girl with you, Todd. She's so strong."
"I know. I'm worried about her. She has nightmares...everynight. What do I do? I try to help, but all I seem to do is make things work. How can I help my little sister?"
"...The nightmares will most likely never stop. When something like this happens, most kids curl up in balls, never leave their rooms, and...commit suicide before high school. She hasn't done any of this. Keep her in public, keep her with friends. Good girls. Or boys. It doesn't matter which. Men might even be better, if they're sweet. Don't let her be afraid, but never force her. Always make everything seem like her idea. Let her do things her way. As for the nightmares...hold her. Let her be comfortable with human touch, crave it. This helps."
"Thank you..." the boy whispered. "My parents...."
"I understand. I myself still don't know the answer. Keep her safe and if they are being pessimistic, keep her away from them as much as possible.....Keep her young, Todd. Let her stay young. She still has her innocence and that's all you can ever ask for. That girl is something and you hold on and you save her. Got it? Don't fail her."
"...I got it." He left.
"That wasn't in any psychology book," Hotchner said to Melanie, Reid by his side.
"No," she said, tears running,"That was from personal expirence."
     At this point young Audreyanna came running out of the bathroom and smiled at Melanie.
"Ready for Ice Cream?" she asked her.
"I am always ready for Ice Cream!" Melly exclaimed and the two left together.
****************************************************************
JJ watched little Audreyanna sneak into the BAU's set up room, and roar at a sleeping Melanie. Melanie screamed and sputtered away, eyes wide and filled with horror. Upon seeing it was just the redhead, she slowly untensed.
"I'm sorry," the little girl whimpered.
"No, no...it's okay...you just caught me off guard..."
"...Okay," she replied. "Can I go get a milkshake before we start?"
"Yes, but hurry, dear," Melanie whispered, touching her head as she left.
"Why do you need my daughter, again?" Audreyanna's mother hissed. "Haven't we been through enough?"
"You haven't been through anything," Melanie said cooly, cocking her head.
"Miss Wilkes," Hotchner warned. Melly sighed.
"We need more information from your daughter-"
"She's given you all she knows."
"No. She knows more, but is trying hard to forget it."
"Then why bring it up?"
"Because there are other girls!" Melanie bellowed. "There are other little girls that will suffer unless we find this man! Do you honestly want that? Another girl like your daughter?! Audreyanna is strong, but other's may not be-"
"I want out. Now."
"You're daughter is strong-!"
"We're moving and hiding her. Homeschool."
"Why are you doing this to her-"
"Melanie!" Emily yelled, pulling down on the little girl. Melanie looked from her, to Mrs. Hurst.
"I have expirence with women like you. If I had my way, you would never be able to hurt you daughter again."
"wha-"
"I'm ready Melly!!"
*****************************************************************
Todd Hurst came belowing in with his sister as the BAU was packing up ready to leave.
"Hey," said Melanie, hugging the girl and shaking hands with her brother. "I was hoping you'd come before we hauled off."
"You caught him?" Todd asked.
"...Yes," Melanie whispered, pulling Audreyanna tight when she felt her tense.
"I want to see him," Todd said firmly.
"...I can't let you, Todd," she whispered, setting the girl on the ground. She stepped closer to the boy as she whispered. "Things like that...they engulf you. The hate...you won't be able to think straight. Take her home, love her. Keep her strong, pure, and young. Let her be. Let her live and make mistakes. She has one tough skin."
"...I have to see him."
"Please, Todd, trust me."
"...Say good-bye, Aud."
"Goodbye Miss Melly."
"...Bye-bye, sweet heart."
"Hey!" Todd yelld as they were leaving.Melanie turned to them. "Can we call you some time? To talk? I think you're like some kind of genius or something the way you know everything."
Melanie laughed," No...I am no genius, and Todd...no one knows everything...some people just know things people need to know."
*****************************************************************
"You did good," Derek said to Melanie on the plane, slapping her leg.
"But you crossed lines," Rossi said.
"I did what I thought had to be done, said what I thought would help."
"You thought-" Hotchner scolded.
"I did. Nothing can be changed. I will learn from expirence and not what you have learned. I'm stubborn, boys. It's time you learned it." Melanie smiled when Derek wrapped his arm around her and she hugged Em. She was finally fit in some where.


But is that what she wanted?

Chapter Eight-Thank God for Crazy Dreams

Chapter Eight-
Thank God for Crazy Dreams

    "Hey, Henry, a blluuuuuuuuuuuuuuuulllllewww!!" Melanie bellowed at the little boy, who laughed. She tousled his blonde hair, and unhooked him from his high chair, at which he ran to his Godfather, who excepted him with open arms. Melanie smiled at the pair. She walked forward and kissed Henry's forehead. "That's my boy..." she whispered. Reid blushed at her face being so close to his, and her hand on the crook of his arm while they held JJ's son.

"Okay, you two," JJ said, in a short purple dress, standing in the door frame,"No teaching him to read, no weird music, and no pretending Henry is yours because he looks close enough to be your child."

"Did you just insinuate I had a child with Reid and what is your definition of weird?" Melanie said, cocking an eyebrow.

JJ sighed sarcastically. "Just no heavy metal."

"I know the limits, JJ. Wave bye-bye to Mommy, Henry! Bye-bye. That's it. Bye-bye." Reid laughed as the little boy shook his arms.

"Bye-bye, Momma!!" he wailed as she left with Will.

    Melanie sighed as she flopped down on the couch. "They're so cute together. And they made the cuttest baby!!" she screamed, and lifted Henry's shirt so she could blow on his stomach. He giggled, and all Reid could think about was how close her lips were to his arms. To him. Melanie laughed.

"You want me to take him?"

"Sure," he supplied.

She sat down on the couch and held little Henry in her arms.

"He's getting tired," Reid said as he rubbed his eyes.

"Isn't he too old for naps?" she asked.

"Most kids take naps in Kindergarden."

"Well, I never took naps," she mumbled, as she tucked the 3 year old in his bed.

"You gonna go to sleep for Uncle Spencer and Auntie Mel?" she asked. Henry shook his head.

"Sing!" he cried. Melanie sighed.

She began to sing, and little Henry closed his eyes as Reid watched from the doorway, turning off the lights and turning on the nightlight.

"Hello you long shots, you dark horse runners. Hairbrush singers, dashboard drummers. Hello you wild magnolias just waiting to bloom. There's a little bit of all that inside me and you. Thank God, even crazy dreams come true. I stood at the bottom of some walls I thought I couldn't climb. I felt like Cinderella at the Ball just running out of time. So I know how it feels to be afraid. Think that it's all gonna slip away. Hold on. Hold on. Here's to you free souls, you firefly chasers. Tree climbers, porch swingers,  air guitar players. Here's to you fearless dancers, shaking walls in your bedrooms. There's a lot of wonder I left inside of me and you. Thank God, even crazy dreams come true. Never let a bad day be enough, to go and talk you into giving up. Cause sometimes everyone feels like you. Oh, feels like you, just like you. Thank God, even Crazy Dreams come true. Thank God even craaaaaazzy dreams come...true," she whispered. And soon little Henry was breathing hard, asleep. She smiled and kissed his bright blonde hair. Rising, she tipped-toed out, grabbing Spencer's hand, and he stared down at her.

"How do you do that?" he asked her when they were in the living room. She sat down on the love seat, and he next to her.

"Do what?" she asked, sincerely confused.

"That. Just...put him to sleep. With that voice of yours. It's crazy."

She laughed, humbled. "It's just...I just like to sing. I like that it calms him. He's so sweet. I love kids."

"...Are you and Phillip going to have kids?"

"...I hope so. I'll be all alone otherwise. He'll be working. All the time. I always wanted a lot of kids. A big house. All I really had growing up was Charlie, and Victoria-my sister-came along later...when I was...er. I just, I want a big family because I have a lot of love to give. And...and this is truthfully pathetic, I think that if I give them all my love, I finally have some one to love me back. You know? I'm terrible. Say it. Say it or I'll feel bad."

"Melanie Wilkes you are not a terrible person. You are one of the best people I have ever met, do you know that? Hey, look at me." He took her face in his hands, and she stared at him, her blue eyes deep and full. "You are perfect because of you're imperfections. You got it?"
Melanie sighed. "That probably should've made me mad, I feel so much better," she wrapped her arms around his waist, and pressed her head to his chest,"I guess it's just you."
Reid blushed hard, and let her hug him. "Hey, Melly? Up north there's this convention and I was wondering if-"
Melanie's phone erupted with a piano piece and she sighed. After giving Reid a squeeze around the waist, she leaned back and answered her phone.
"Hey. Yeah, actually. Babysitting. A friend's son. Yeah. A guy from work. Yeah, a guy. Phil, Reid's only-. I don't care. I'm fine. Has anyone besides you tried that? I didn't-Phillip! I don't...why would you?...why would say that? You know what, it doesn't matter. I can't-Fine. I'll see tonight. Okay? Fine. Goodbye....I love you, too. Goodbye." she flipped the phone shut and threw her head into her hands.
"Everything okay?" Reid asked.
She turned to him, and her blue eyes were red around the edges. She pushed herself onto him, and screamed into his chest.
"Oh," he whispered, stroking her blonde
"He called me a whore." Reid couldn't speak. "After I said I was with you, he said I was always with you and that something was up and that I must be 'whoring around'. He sounded dead drunk anyway. Gosh, Spencer...I can't take it. It's only gonna get worse, isn't it? It just will. I can't believe this. I trust him, because I have to...but it's just gonna get worse..."
"You really can't get out of the marriage, can you?" he whispered.
"You know I would if I had a choice. Where else would I go? I was born to live this life of politics and government and guard. It only makes sense. I didn't behave the way I was supposed to and they got angry at me for it. They need me out of the family because I was a disgrace. They really hate me, Spencer. They hate me. I've never been loved, but this was just hate. And Phillip...he thinks he loves me...he always has...he doesn't understand. He's just a child, really. Spencer...I don't know what to do...say something..." she whispered, her warm breath on his neck.
"Er, like what?" he whispered.
"Anything. I'm just sick of thinking," she whispered, and Spencer felt her tears on his neck, felt it rolling down his shirt onto his chest.
"A poem?" he whispered.
"...Anything..." she breathed.
He sighed, and began:
"Love is like the wild rose-briar;
Friendship like the holly-tree.
The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms,
But which will bloom most constantly?

The wild rose-briar is sweet in spring,
Its summer blossoms scent the air;
Yet wait till winter comes again,
And who will call the wild-briar fair?

Then, scorn the silly rose-wreath now,
And deck thee with the holly's sheen,
That, when December blights thy brow,
He still may leave thy garland green."

After that, Melly sighed into the silence. "I love that poem. I always loved Emily Bronte. She was never one for happy endings."
"You don't like happy endings?" he asked.
"They're not real," she replied.
"Nature's first green is gold
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay."
"Robert Frost was always one to not be content with his lot, then right about the misery of those whom were selfish, who their lot unfortunate."
"I love Robert Frost," Melly sniffed at Reid.
     He laughed at her for a moment, and felt another tear roll down from her to him.
"You're my best friend, Spencer."
"You're my best friend, Melly," he whispered. They always said that to one another when the silence began to drag, and he saw how it lifted Melly's spirits.
"Sometimes...please don't think me naive, though that is what I am...sometimes, it think that your the only person in the world that would care if I died. Maybe you wouldn't even care...but I would miss you. I'd cry...ever day...Spencer, before, I had to wake up in the mornings. I never had a reason besides there was nothing else to do. After a while...I realized I wasn't living for anything. Life was just...pointless. Regardless, I woke up, faced the cruelties of the world, and lived. I think you're my only reason to wake up, Spencer. Yours is the only face that makes me smile."
   After the speech, he felt her face get hot, a sign of her blushing. Spencer too blushed at the thought he had for a moment, then collected himself.
"Now you think me a stupid school girl," she muttered.
"No," he whispered. "I used to live like that, but I really do have friends, at the BAU. Though, I don't think anyone has understood me the way you do. Ever. I really mean that, Melly."
"...Even-"
"Even him," Reid whispered. They both knew who they were talking about.
   Reid found himself automatically aware at how close Melanie's body was to his own, pressed up against him, and the heat of her body made him blush. He automatically stiffened when he noticed his hands had been slipped onto her waist, and she was practically sitting on his lap. He also noticed Melanie's breathing was getting harder, and soon she began to sob. She moved her legs in a more comfortable position for her-around his waist. Reid held her gingerly for a moment then rougher, pressing her to him. The sobs were quieter that way, whether they were muffled, or he was just more comforting was beyond him.
"S-S-SPENCER!" she sputtered into his jacket, still sobbing. "I'M S-S-S-SORRY!" she tried to stop, but it came out harder. He told her to cry for as long as she needed to. When she was finally calm, she layed for a moment on Reid's shoulder.
   She sniffled, then pulled back slowly, to see her companions face. "Thank you," she whispered too him.
 She leaned down to kiss his cheek, her warm lips lingering just a moment to long. She pulled back, and Reid found he couldn't look away from her eyes. His hands were still on his waist, and before he could think, he tried to pull her closer. She didn't need to be told twice and she slowly leaned in. She closed her eyes first, and Spencer took note that Melanie really wore a lot of eye make-up. Not more than the average woman-maybe less-but she honestly didn't need to wear any. Reid sighed when their lips were just inches when they were interrupted by an
"Are you two gonna kiss? Ew!" Melanie snapped back, and fell on the floor, her skirt twisted in a most unlady-like way.
"Henry! What-why are you out of bed?!" Melanie whispered, crawling over to him.
"I heard you laughing."
"I wasn't-oh." Henry had mistaken the sobs for laughter.
"Were you two gonna kiss?" he asked again.
"No." Melanie told him.
"Are you waiting till your married?"
"No, Henry, I-"
"Are you getting married?"
Melly sighed. "No, Henry, your Uncle Spencer and I are not going to get married."
"So you won't have kids and I won't have a baby cousin?"
"...No, Henry. I'm sorry. But one day, Uncle Spencer will find a real nice girl, and get settled down, and have lots of kids that you can play with, right Spence?"
Reid looked at his feet. "Maybe," he whispered in an unlikely tone.
"See?" Melly smiled weakly at him, and Reid felt a little odd.
"We're home!" JJ yelled from the kitchen, her heels clicking till she reached the living room.
"What's going on here?" she said, picking up her son, gesturing to his pj's.
"I was napping, but I heard laughing and I came in and Uncle Spencer and Aunt Melly were kissing on the couch!"
"Don't tell stories," JJ said to him, looking at the two babysitters.
"Okay, they didn't kiss. Yet!" he said, laughing all the way to his room as Will chased him.
   Melanie looked at her feet, and Spencer did likewise.
"I don't know what happened, okay? And won't ask. But if something did happen, I can't control what comes out of my child's mouth. You need to be careful...Go home to your fiance, Melanie."
"Yeah...thank you, JJ," Melanie whispered, hugging her friend. JJ smiled weakly at her. The two sitters left together, in Reid's old blue car.
   They got to the BAU, where Melanie had left her car parked after work.
"MELANIE!" Melanie's head darted to her fiance, who stumbled across the lot.
"You're drunk," she whispered. Emily Prentiss, Garcia, Morgan, Rossi, and Hotchner all came out of the BAU at this time. Her face reddened.
"You listen to me and you listen to me good. You're not to hang around with this...this...nerd! Ever! Okay? I am your husband and you will listen to me!" Melly and Phillip weren't married yet, but when he got dead drunk he tended to forget that.
"Let me take you home," she whispered,"you'll feel better in the morning."
"Those are your friends, right?" he asked.
"...Yes..."
Phillip whispered in Melanie's ear.
"No," she whispered, shocked.
"Do it, or the weddings off, and you'll be stuck alone. Then who will love you?" he cocked an eyebrow.
"...You don't mean that," she cried softly.
"What is it you always say? A drunk man's words are a sober man's thoughts? Do it, Melanie."
   Melanie slowly turned to face Spencer. Her tears were streaming down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry," she mouthed. Prentiss and Hotchner both saw that, but the rest of the team neglected to.
"HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT!" Melanie bellowed through the tears at Reid. "I HATE YOU! JUST-JUST LEAVE ME ALONE YOU...YOU..." Phillip hit her. "You loser! Your condescending and egotistic and masochistic and all you ever think about is yourself. Last night was horrible!" she sobbed. "And I hate you! I never liked you! Even as frieennddd..." she moaned softly as the tears flowed. "I hope I never have to see you again because you are the worst thing I've ever met. You're the worst thing that's ever happened to me. I could never love a man like you....ever..." she whispered the words. Spencer knew she didn't mean them, but for some reason, they hurt. These were his fears, that these words would be spoken from her lips. The horrible is that she created them, Phillip had given her no script. "I hate you...I hate you..." she whispered. Phillip put her behind the drivers wheel of his truck, and when he closed the door, she stared at her hands, as if they had blood on them.
"I've hope you've learned to leave her alone, by now, idiot,"Phillip spat. He came to the car, sitting in the seat next to Melly. He said something to her, unintelligible through the glass. She just stared at her hands. He repeated it. Again, she gave no reply. Melanie looked from her hands to Spencer, her eyes wild and scared. She fought for the window crank and screamed out before Phillip could grab her,"I DIDN'T MEAN IT! I'M SORRY-"
"SHUT UP!" Phillip smacked her and cranked the window up. He pressed the gas and Melanie was forced to drive off. She was sobbing uncontrollably and it was a wonder she could see.

"Why...? Reid?" Prentiss asked,as a few tears slide down his cheeks.
"We were together again today. He thinks we're together."
"...Are you?"
Reid gave Prentiss a plaintive look, and got back into his car and drove off without a word.
********************************************
The next morning at the BAU, Melanie stalked in. Her feet dragged, and her eyes were red and puffy, something her make-up couldn't hide. Straightening her purple cardigan, she sighed.
"Emily!" she wailed, leaping toward her friend. "Where's Reid? Please tell me! I have to find him!"
"...In your office. With your fiance."
"Oh, God..."
"He's sober now, and apologizing repeatedly. He's the most convincing gentleman sober, and I think he's sincere. But drunk..."
"Please don't remind me...he was just jealous."
"Reid told me he thought you two were together."
"Yeah."
"Does he have any reason to think that?"
"I am loyal to my fiance as you saw by yesterday's act. I will be his wife in due time and if I don't trust and obey what he says, what kind of relationship will ours be?"
"...An unhappy one, if you obey."
"Emily...that's not something I'd appreciate you saying," and Melanie left to her office. She entered without knocking, as it was her office, and both boys were waiting for her.
"I hope you apologized," she whispered in Phillip's direction.
"Yes," replied he.
"I too owe you an apology, Spencer. My fiance-who is my only master-asked something of me. I have to obey everything he says. I knew you knew I didn't mean it, but it hurt oh so much to say it!" she lost all her business like attitude. "I was so worried I was hurting you! That's the last thing I want, Spencer! Ever! To hurt you...it kills me..."
"I have to get to work. I have a meeting with father today," said Phillip Dufour.
"Alright," said Melanie, embracing half-hearted, as he kissed her cheek.
"Have a good...time until I see you again."
"You too," she whispered.
   The door closed and she waited until Phillip had gotten a good distance away,and she closed the blinds and locked the door.
"Spencer!" she cried. She held him-or rather he, her-and she sobbed into his chest."Say you know I didn't mean it! It killed me! Please, please, forgive me, Spence. I can't look up again until you do! Please..." she whispered. She was on her knees now, bending over, her hands prayer hands. "Please..."
   Spencer too got on his knees, and he cried with her. "My heart broke..."
"I never meant to break it...I'm so sorry..." she whispered.
"I forgive you. I never blamed you...ever...I just wished I could protect you..."

The held each other on the floor, and Emily called Melanie to alert them to come to the conference room. They came in side by side, got briefed, then sat by each other on the plane, Melanie staring out the window, looking at the clouds while others slept, and Reid read philosophy aloud to her. She smiled and frowned and let every emotion show on her face.

Spencer Reid finally found a true friend. Melanie Wilkes finally found someone she could trust. They are both vulnerable. Who is safe?