Chapter Text
Chapter 1
And if you’re still breathing,
you’re the lucky ones,
’cause most of us are heaving
through corrupted lungs.
She pushed the door open and stepped through. Her eyes wandered over the marble floors, the sterile lighting casting a cold, almost harsh glow over the big entrance hall. Not sure what she had expected, her stomach twist into an even tighter knot. Agents in crisp suits and tactical gear moved with purpose all around her, their heads down, focused on their own worlds. They walked with a confidence unknown to her, knowing exactly where they were going, knowing exactly where they belonged in this world. They walked past her like she was invisible, their eyes flickering briefly over her torn Jeans and oversized, dirty hoodie not giving her a second thought. As if sixteen year olds walked into the FBI headquarter in Quantico Virginia every morning. She went over her hair, that was in a messy bun, as a last attempt to look more put together then she actually was. Stray strands fell loose, framing a face that held secrets too heavy for her years. Her hands trembled slightly as she smoothed down the front of her hoodie, a small comfort against the storm of nerves swirling inside her. She was on a mission, and after everything this felt like her last chance. Her final effort for anyone to listen.
She tightened her grip on the frayed strap of her backpack and stepped forward to the desk where a security guard loomed. He narrowed his eyes at the young girl standing in front of her. She nervously shifted from foot to foot under his piercing eyes, her heart thudding so loudly she was sure he could hear it echoing off the sterile walls. Clearing her throat, she forced her voice to steady, weaving determination into every syllable. “I need to speak to Agent Jareau,” she said, the words slipping out shakily but with a quiet resolve beneath them. “I… I have information about the case she’s working.” It was a well-practiced line, one she had whispered to herself on countless sleepless nights. It might not be much but it was all she had managed to come up with to get her through these doors.
The guard raised an eyebrow, his hands pausing mid-tap on the keyboard as he studied her with visible skepticism. Apparently teenagers didn’t wander into the FBI headquarters demanding to speak to an agent of the Bureau’s most elite unit. „And who exactly are you?“ he asked her, his voice dripping with condescension. His doubt was painted across his face in broad strokes. He was no poker player, she noted silently. „It doesn’t matter who I am.“ She replied, summoning courage from the deepest parts of herself. „I have important information for Agent Jareau.“ He let out a heavy sigh, annoyance etched into his features as he reached for the phone. She watched him dial, each second stretching into an eternity. „Yea, hi, here´s some kid who says she needs to speak to Jareau. Yea, BAU. Okay, thanks.“ He hung up the phone, redirecting his attention to the girl in front of him. „Somebody´s coming down to get you.“ Her breath hitched in her throat, the words sounding more like a threat than anything else. Taking deep breaths, she focused on steadying her breathing. This was what she wanted after all. This was why she had come here. She was getting closer to her goal but the fight wasn´t won yet. Not by far.
„This way kiddo.“ The voice cut through her spiraling thoughts. A young women had appeared seemingly out of nowhere, her badge flashing silver and cold under the harsh lobby lights as she nodded at security. Without another word, the women turned and she fell into step behind her, clutching her backpack straps like a lifeline. They moved down a wide hallway lined with frames but she kept her eyes down. She could feel agents gazes flicker over her as they passed, assessing, dismissing, uninterested. Each glance burned into her skin. Her shoes squeaked slightly with every step, echoing in the quiet corridor, reminding her she didn’t belong here.
They reached the elevator. She hesitated for a second before stepping in after the women. The doors slid shut with a metallic sigh, enclosing her in the fluorescent lights flickering above her. She rocked back and forth, trying to quiet the pulse roaring in her ears. Elevators had been her enemy for a while now, which wasn’t surprising considering, but today… here… with what she was about to do, the walls felt even closer. As the elevator doors finally slid open again, a tall man with broad shoulders stood waiting just beyond them. His dark eyes flickered over her cautiously before softening just a fraction. „Hey,“ he said gently. „I’m Luke. Why don´t we go sit down until Agent Jareau gets here?“ he suggested. Her chest tightened. She shifted her weight, her shows scraping against the floor, her eyes darting down the hallways, mapping escape routes she wouldn’t take. Slowly nodding, Luke led the way and she followed him. Her shoulders tensing under his towering frame beside her. He led her into a small room, the door closing with a quiet click behind them. He gestured to one of the couches, for her to take a seat. She perched at the very edge, legs bouncing. She watched Luke take seat on the other couch, his ease only making her more tense. When his eyes met hers she looked away quickly, her gaze skimming the room instead. Landing on the shelves, filled with board games, she recognized some but hadn’t played in years. Her gazed drifted upward, locking onto the black camera in the ceiling corner. It blinked with a tiny red light. Watching. Recording. The hairs on her arms rose under her hoodie and for a second she wondered if Agent Jareau was somewhere looking at her through a screen, analyzing her every move. That was what they do at the BAU after all, she knew that much. “Can you tell me what this is about?” Lukes voices pulling her back. She shook her head quickly. “No.” she whispered, not sure why. Technically, any agent should do. Any of them could listen to her but somehow it felt like it had to be her. Agent Jareau. Luke leaned back on the couch but his eyes rested on her, studying her quietly. She shifted under his gaze, her shoulders curling inward, until a soft knock at the door cut through the heavy silence. Her eyes shifting upwards, her breath catching in her throat. This was is it.
A blonde women stepped in, her badge clipped neatly to her belt, her eyes flying over her settling on Luke as she closed the door behind her. She moved with calm precision, crossing the room in a few unhurried steps before taking a seat beside Luke. Her movements held a subtle grace, like she carried a weight she had learned to balance. “Hi, I´m Jennifer Jareau, you can call me Jennifer” She said softly, her voice was warm, but edged with caution. For a moment, she couldn’t find her voice, just staring at the agent in front of her. Jennifer Jareau looked so… normal. Not like the agents on TV with stone faces and cold eyes, their jaws clenched with silent judgement. She looked… tired, a faint shadow under her eyes like sleep was something she rarely granted herself. But her gaze was sharp nonetheless, focused entirely on her as if no one else in the world existed. “I´m Ava.”
“Hi Ava.” She smiled at her, the expression softening the sharp line of face a fraction. “So, they told me you have information about a case?” her voice was gentle, almost careful. Ava kept staring at her again, the Agent had a friendly smile on her face but there was something behind her eyes she couldn’t quite pin point. She finally shook her head, her messy bun wobbling slightly with the movement. “No, I don´t.” she said quietly, her voice trembling despite how hard she was trying to keep it steady. Jennifer’s smile faltered only slightly, her poker face a hundred times better than that of the security guard. She could see Lukes eyes darting between her and the agent next to him, unsure of what he was to make of the situation, that wasn’t part of their daily routine. Ava could feel the tension sharpen in the room with every tik of the big clock over the door. But the Agent didn´t bombard her with the million questions that run behind her well controlled face. She didn’t get angry, accusing her of wasting her time with some childish nonsense. She just waited, eyes locked on Ava´s face, watching her with eyes that seemed to see everything. The tears Ava wouldn’t let fall. The fear crawling beneath her skin. The desperation she was trying to bury.
“Then why are you here?” Jennifer asked gently, leaning in ever so slightly. Ava swallowed hard, her throat burning with words she hadn’t spoken out loud in months, words she hoped to never have to say again. But this was it, the moment she had been trying to make a reality. She had a plan, this is where she wanted to get, now she was here, now she had to talk. “I saw your name in the newspaper.” She forced out. Jennifers head tilting, confusion darkening her eyes for a fraction of a second. “I need you to help me find my dad.” The words fell into the room like heavy stones into a still a lake, sending ripples through the air between them.
Jennifer blinked, momentarily taken aback by the girls words. “You´re dad?” she repeated, her voice cautious but calm. She studied Ava for a moment, taking in the hunched shoulders beneath a hoodie at least three sizes too big for a small frame, the torn Jeans with dried dirt around their holes, the way her hair probably hadn’t been brushed in days. But the young girls eyes were sharp and observant but held fear at the same time.
“Ava,” she began, choosing her words with care, “that’s… something the local police would normally handle. Why come here?” her voice curious, not dismissive, gentle in a way. “I’ve been to the police,” Ava said quickly, her eyes darting between the two Agents, before settling onto Jennifer again, searching for something, maybe patience, maybe hope. “I´ve been to different stations all over the city,” she continued, words now falling from her lips in a rush, desperate to lay them out before they lost their patience. She knew it all to well. “But nobody’s even willing to listen to me. Well… not anymore. There was a detective... he tried." Jennifer tilted her head slightly. “If he was helping you, why do you need me?”. Ava´s gaze dropped to her hands. Her fingers picked at the skin along her thumb. Her voice cracked when she spoke again, a whisper, so quiet JJ had to lean in to hear. “Because he´s dead. He… he used to check in on me every week but when he just stopped I went to his station after a few weeks and they told me he had died. Since then nothing has happened.”
JJ exchanged a brief glance wit Luke before focusing back on Ava, her blue eyes soft but probing. “Where´s your mom?” she asked gently. “Dead.” Ava´s reply came out flat, distant, almost mechanical. Her gaze fell to her hands as she pulled her sleeves over them, fumbling with the hem. A habit JJ knew all too well. “I’m sorry Ava.” JJ whispered, letting the words linger between them like a fragile bridge she was trying to build. She paused a moment, choosing her next question with care. “So… you live with your dad then?” Ava shook her head. “Not exactly.” JJ waited, watching the girl playing with her sleeve, noticing the way Ava wouldn’t look at her anymore. After a moment of silence, Ava let out a shaky breath. She knew she would have to tell, if she ever got so far as to actually speak to the agent. The sentences were engrained in her brain, she had practiced them plenty, so that she could deliver them without feeling any of it. But now it was different, the emotions she tried to suppress were right there. Knowing she had to get it out if she wanted Jennifers help she finally whispered barely audible, “We… we were all kidnapped.” Her words were forced out, stripped of life as if she had said them too many times and they had lost all meaning. “They killed my mom after a while” Her voice wavered but she forced herself to go on. “I managed to escape. Since then… I’ve been in and out of the system. That detective… he was the only one who cared. The only one who believed me.” JJs heart twisted painfully in her chest as she watched the girl fight to keep herself from breaking. “What was his name, Ava?” Ava hesitated, her eyes glistening as she finally looked up again. “Will. Will Lamontagne.”
For a moment JJ forgot how to breathe as the world seemed to tilt sideways around her. Will’s name hung in the air, echoing through her chest. Her reaction didn’t go unnoticed by Ava and dots started to connect for her. “You’re her… you’re JJ.” She stuttered. Will had talked about his family, just briefly but she never forgot anything. It was a blessing and a curse. “I´m sorry. I didn´t know he was your… I just… I´ll leave.” Before JJ could react, Ava shot up from the couch, panic radiating off her in trembling waves. Her hands fumbled to grab her backpack as her chest heaved with frantic breaths. She bolted, the door banging against the wall as she rushed through.
“JJ” Luke’s voice cut through the silence softly glancing at his friend with concern as she sat frozen, tears welling in her eyes. The loud slam of the door snapped her back to reality. She pushed up from her seat, her legs unsteady she rushed after Ava, catching her just before she was about to step into an elevator. “Ava,” she called, her voice stronger than she felt. The girl froze just before stepping into the open elevator. Slowly she turned around, biting her lip, her shoulders pulled up like she was bracing for a blow. “Ava,” she repeated softer now, her eyes locking onto the girl’s wide, fearful ones. “I’ll help you find him. I Promise.”
For a moment, neither of them moved, the humming fluorescent light above them flickered softly, something most people wouldn’t even notice. Ava’s eyes flickered with something almost unrecognizable on her hardened face: hope. Small and fragile.
“You… you will?” she asked, her voice breaking with disbelief. Had she really done it? Had she gotten into the FBI Headquarters and found someone willing to listen, to help? And not just anyone. Wills wife. Was it a coincidence. Or was it fate?
JJ nodded, exhaling softly as she placed a gentle hand on Ava’s shoulder. Her touch was light, grounding rather than startling. A kind of touch Ava barely remembered. “Yes,” her voice steady but thing with something unspoken. “But I need you to help me okay? I need to know more.” Her eyes searched Ava’s face, waiting patiently for a response. Ava hesitated. Her fingers twitched as her mind warred between fear and hope. Yes, this was what she wanted but maybe she hadn’t thought it quite through. What would she have to share? What truths would she have to dig up after she buried them so carefully.
But if she wanted to find her father she didn’t have much of a choice, so finally she gave a small nod. JJ exhaled shakily and forced a small, reassuring smile, relief flickering across. “Okay. Let’s go back and sit down, alright? We’ll figure this out together.”
Slowly, Ava turned away from the elevator, letting JJ guide her back into the same room. Luke was still there, his gaze lifting to meet theirs as they entered. He looked at home, the way he leaned back into the couch, his strong arms folded over his chest. Watching. Guarding. Ava on the other side, sat on the edge, ready to change her mind and flee at any moment. JJ turned towards her, elbows resting on her tight as she leaned closer. “I know this is scary,” JJ began softly, her voice more steady again. “But you´re safe here.” Ava´s eyes flicked to the camera on the ceiling, then to Luke, lingering with unease, before returning to JJ. “Can he… can he not be here?” she whispered. She didn´t want to offend him, he seemed nice enough. JJ glanced up at Luke who gave a quick nod, before quietly stepping out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Once they were alone, JJ reach out, her hand resting lightly over Ava’s clenched fists. “You’re safe,” she repeated softly. Her voice a soft tether in the storm raging withing Ava. “I promise.” Ava stared at her, her eyes glassy, knowing what she was about to share - but for the first time in years, she felt like maybe, just maybe, she could believe someone promising her safety, that maybe it wasn’t just another lie. “I… I don’t know where to start,” she whispered. “That’s okay,” JJ reassured her. She leaned a little closer, keeping her voice warm and calm. “Let’s start simple. What´s your father’s name?” Ava swallowed hard. She hadn’t said or heard his name out loud in so long. “Daniel Price.” JJ gave her a small nod. “Okay, and… you were.. taken… with him and your mom at the same time?” Ava just nodded. “Can you tell me what happened that day?" JJ asked. Ava´s gate fell to her lap, her fists clenching tighter, her nails digging into her skin. “We… were driving home… it was dark… and…” her voice broke off as her breath quickened. “I can’t … I can’t…” She stuttered, the words bursting out between ragged breaths. Pulling her hands out beneath JJs, she rubbed her face vigorously.
“Hey, hey, it´s okay.” JJ´s voice even gentler now, threatened with a compassion Ava wasn’t sure was honest or well-practiced. “You don’t have to do this all at once.” She placed a hand on Ava’s knee, hoping to ground her and Ava´s breath slowed down again. “Let’s take a break, okay?” ger thumb brushing lightly over her knee. “I’ll get you something to drink, maybe some food.” Ava nodded wordlessly, still burring her face behind her hands. Her emotions were hers alone, not meant for anybody else’s eyes. She heard JJ quietly retreating from the room, closing the door behind her.
JJ let out a quiet sigh, as the door clicked shut behind her. Running a hand through her hair, trying to gather herself, when Emily approached her. Coffee in one hand, eyes flicking through the window behind her. Allowing her to hash a quick look at a young girl. “Is that the girl Luke mentioned earlier? That had some case information for you?” Emily asked, keeping her voice low. JJ nodded, glancing back into the room at Ava who had scooted back on the couch, her legs tugged to her chest, holding them closely with her arms. “Yeah. That’s her. Ava. She’s … I think she’s been through hell, Em.” Emily studied her for a moment, hearing hard stories from victims was a part of the job no one enjoyed but something about this one seemed to be getting to her friend.
“You okay?” JJ let out a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding. “She… She’s in the system. Will was investigating her case. I didn’t know but apparently he kept checking in on her. He was the only one believing her” Emily squeezed her arm lightly, nodding in understanding. “That sounds like him, going beyond.” She offered JJ a small smile. JJ nodded staring into the distance. “ I think I shouldn’t keep pushing her right now but I think we need to get CPS in here.” Emily’s brow furrowed slightly. “You think she’s in danger where she is?” JJ hesitated, her eyes flickering back toward the room. “She didn’t say anything but… look at her. I… I don’t think she has anywhere to go back to.” Emily’s eyes softening with understanding. She looked at Ava for a long moment, reading the silent desperation in the way her fingers dug into her sleeves, the way she rocked back and forth so subtly it was almost invisible.
“I’ll make the call.” She said before she continued walking to her office. JJ watched her go, then turned back to the window, her heart twisting as she watched Ava bury her face deeper into her knees. This girl’s case had fallen through the cracks. Why? Maybe her story seemed too unbelievably cruel for the ordinary cop. But not for Will, and not for her.
Armed with a bottle of water and a wrapped sandwich JJ returned to Ava. Pushing the door open, the room greeted her with the same heavy stillness she’d left. Ava hadn’t moved an inch. She sat curled up, knees tucked tight to her chest, hoodie sleeves pulled over her hands. Her eyes were distant, glazed, staring at nothing and everything all at once.
“Hey,” JJ said softly, her voice like a warm blanket in the cold quiet. She placed the water and sandwich on the small table between them, careful not to startle her. “I thought you might be hungry.” For a moment there was no response, no sign the young girl had even heard her. Then Ava glanced at the items placed in front of her, as if they were foreign offerings she didn’t quite understand. Her fingers crept out from her sleeves, trembling as she reached for the water bottle. Turning the bottle in her hand a few times, Ava inspected the bottle carefully before she took the cap off and sipped carefully. The sandwich stayed untouched on the table, not getting second look from Ava. She just held the bottle close, as if it was keeping her from drowning. JJ watched her quietly, her chest tightening with a hollow ache.
She leaned forward a little. “Ava, where have you been staying?” she asked, careful not to let the urgency slip into her voice. Ava shrugged, she rested her chin on her knees, keeping her eyes anywhere but on JJ. “Around.” She mumbled. The word small and brittle. “Around where?” JJ pressed, keeping her voice gentle. Ava’s shoulders rose and fell in a tired motion. “Just… places,” Ava said, her voice fading. “Doesn’t matter.”
JJ’s heart ached at the words. “It matters Ava, you need to be safe.” She took a breath before continuing, feeling the heaviness of her next words. “Have you been sleeping outside?”
There was no answer but JJ noticed how her shoulders tensed further and her grip around the water bottle tightened. JJ let out a small sigh, keeping her voice soft. “Listen, I want to help you. But I need to know you’re safe tonight.”
Ava’s eyes flicked up, filled with confusion. “Why do you care?” she asked, her voice edging between exhaustion and anger. Wasn’t she just another person? Just another case? “Because you deserve to be somewhere safe.” JJ replied, her words firm. Ava bit her lip. “I’m safest on my own.” Her voice carried no defiance, only a tired certainty. Like someone who had long accepted a reality no child should ever know.
JJ’s chest tightened at those words. I’m safest on my own. They echoed through her. How had a child gotten there? “I know it can feel that way,” JJ said softly. “You’ve taken care of yourself for a long time, haven’t you?” Ava didn’t answer. She didn’t nor or shrug or even blink, she just stared at the wall. A familiar tingling hum rose beneath her skin, the one that always came when she felt trapped. “If you want me to help you find your dad… then you need to let me make sure you’re not on the streets by yourself. That’s my condition.” JJ swallowed. She was tough but something about this girl made it harder for her. She saw a flicker of resistance in Ava’s eyes, a silent battle raging behind them. JJ felt her own heart squeeze painfully. She was trained to stay detached to a certain degree, to remain objective but something about this girl chipped at her walls with every second. After what felt like an eternity, Ava’s eyes met hers “Fine.” Ava said. She didn’t sound happy about it, more like she was surrendering to something she knew she couldn’t fight. But it was a start, at least tonight she would be safe.
A knock against the window startled JJ. Emily was gesturing for her to step out. Beside her a women JJ didn’t recognize. She gave Ava a small, apologetic smile as she slipped out of the room again.
Ava looked at the three of them talk through the window, she knew the women was CPS, she could spot them a mile away by now. She couldn’t hear what was said but she knew she was the topic of conversation. She squeezed her eyes shut. There was no way they would let her walk out of here on her own, she knew that. Her plan had been so clear: get inside, find Agent Jareau, convince her to help her. That was it. She hadn’t let her mind wander beyond that point. She hadn’t thought about what came next, hadn’t expect someone to care where she would go after. She should have though. Will had. He had sent her places, group homes, shelters, foster homes. Each place worse than the last. So she had run. Each time until Will had realized she always would run.
But this wasn’t Will.
This was his wife.
And as she sat there, feeling Jennifers kindness pressing against the walls she had built, she gave in. She would, she would do what Jennifer wanted in exchange for her help because it was all she had.
Just close your eyes, the sun is going down
You’ll be alright, no one can hurt you now
Come morning light, you and I’ll be safe and sound