Chapter 2

BAU Private Jet

The team sat on the jet after they spent the last 5 days in Santa Monica working a case with the local police department. Sierra sat at a table looking out the window as JJ took a seat in front of her sending her a small smile as she set a coffee in front of Ssierra and herself. 

"Thank you," Sierra said with a smile accepting the mug of go go juice. "I talked to Will, and we are more than happy to have you over for Christmas," the blonde said as Sierra took a sip of coffee. She was a bit taken aback by the gesture, she couldn't remember the last time she actually celebrated Christmas. 

"Look we already have everything arranged," JJ added before Sierra could reply. "Come on Rhode's, she's not gonna take no for an answer," Prentiss said from the couch across from them. Sierra nodded, "Okay," she finally replied agreeing. "Can I ask you something?" JJ said looking to Sierra who nodded slowly as she took another sip of her coffee. 

"Rossi mentioned you spent half a decade overseas, but you didn't say anything to your family when you left... or came back," JJ said more than asked and Sierra knew she was wondering why. Not many people understood why Sierra didn't talk to her family. Especially her dad, the number of times she'd hear someone comment how 'he's still your dad, you only get one mom and dad' blah blah blah. 

Most of the time she'd hear those comments, they'd be from people who have good families and are capable of working through their issues. Or they are blinded by a title and accepted the fact they were a doormat to their family. "I'm sorry, I- It's okay..." Sierra said cutting her off. 

The dark haired agent let out a sigh noticing the team was looking at them wondering the same thing JJ was. "Honestly... my older brother left a few years before me because of our dad. So he did med school out of the country to get away. I'm a few years younger than my brother and after he left our dad was unbearable to deal with so I ran away at 17. Waited until I turned 18, joined the Army Rangers went through training, and shipped out for my first tour as soon as they'd let me," Sierra replied. 

The team was shocked for a moment, "You ran away when you were 17?" Derek said more than asked. "So you left because of your dad?" Prentiss asked causing Sierra to nod. "I'm really sorry," JJ said causing her to shrug. "Is what it is now," Sierra said knowing her colleagues had more questions but they didn't wanna bombard her with them. Thankfully the rest of the flight nobody continued the conversation on why her dad was the reason she left the country. She was glad they didn't pry. The flight landed in Virginia and the agents all filed off the jet and into federal SUVs, heading back to the office.

FBI Academy, BAU Office, Quantico Virginia

The team walked through the doors to the office and made their way over to their desks. "Why don't you all head home and get some sleep. Be back at 9 am and we'll finish the paperwork for this," Hotch told the team who thankfully agreed with how late it was. 

Sierra picked up her go bag and followed the team out to the elevator lobby. "Rhodes, here," Garcia said handing her a small piece of paper with a number written on it. "What's this?" Sierra asked confused along with Prentiss, Reid, Rossi, and Morgan who were also waiting for the elevator. "While you were flying back from California I did some searching and... That's your brother Connor's number." She said causing Sierra to freeze. 

"He's back in Chicago, he's been working as a trauma surgeon at Med for the last 9 months," Garcia added as Sierra nodded at the information she was given. "Umm, thanks Garcia. I'll see you in the morning," Sierra replied before she took the stairs down to the parking garage. The dark haired agent walked over and climbed into the cab of her Dodge Pickup truck. 

She took a shakey breath looking down at the phone number Garcia gave her. Connor's back home? she thought to herself. When did he get back? Sierra pulled out her phone and began dialing the number. The line started to ring and ring and the longer it rang the louder her heart started beating in her ears. 

The line stopped ringing for a moment, "Rhodes," her brother's familiar voice said through the line. Sierra froze unsure of what to say, "Hello? Is anyone there?" Connor asked again before he ended the call. With a shakey breath, she set her phone in the console, before she started the truck and drove to the motel she'd been living out of since she joined the academy. 

Days Inn Motel Quantico Virginia 

Sierra parked her truck in her usual spot before making her way inside the building to the 4th floor to her room. The agent pulled out her key card and unlocked the door stepping inside and letting the door swing shut behind her. 

Sierra locked the door while her mind wondered what she was even planning to say to Connor. She couldn't even recall the last time they spoke, all she knew was it had been years. With a sigh, Sierra set her badge and gun in the safe before she made her way into the bathroom to shower, and change. By the time Sierra crawled into bed it was close to almost 2 am. 

Sierra switched off all the lights and fell asleep within seconds, after what felt like minutes Sierra shot up in her bed looking around the room. The agent took a few deep breaths trying to remind herself she was home. She wasn't in Kandahar, or Afghanistan anymore. 

She turned the light on checking her phone, noticing it was 4:30 am, Sierra ran her hands through her damp hair before she pushed herself to get up and get changed to go to the gym.

FBI Academy Gym, Quantico Virginia

Sierra put her bag in a locker and made her way to the track, running a mile before she made her way to the weight room and started working on arms, shoulders, core, and legs. The agent was halfway through her core workout when her music stopped and her phone started ringing in her headphones. 

Sierra answered the call continuing her sit ups. "Agent Rhodes," Sierra said answering the phone. "Hey it's Morgan, we got a case," he said through the line causing her to pause looking at the time 6:45. "I'll be at the office in a couple of minutes," she said before she hung up the call. Sierra gathered her stuff and made her way to the locker room to brag her duffle bag before she left the gym and jogged across campus to the building the BAU was in. 

FBI Academy, BAU Office Quantico Virginia

Sierra took the stairs two at a time making it to the office in 4 minutes. The dark haired agent walked into the office heading straight to the round table room where JJ, Reid, Prentiss, and Morgan were sitting. "That was fast," Morgan said as Sierra walked in and took a seat next to Prentiss. 

"You look like you ran here," Prentiss said. "I did, I was at the gym. When Morgan called," she replied. "Did you go home last night?" Morgan asked her, "I went home got a couple of hours of sleep, and hit the gym," Sierra replied with a shrug as Rossi and Garcia walked in the room. "So... did you call him?" Garcia asked when she saw Sierra. 

The agent nodded, "I did," she said earning a surprised look from everyone. "And... How did it go?" Rossi asked curious. "Well... he answered the phone and I.... didn't know what to say so...I didn't say anything and he hung up," Sierra shrugged awkwardly. Silence filled the room for a minute. "How long has it been since you two last spoke?" Prentiss asked. "7...may 8 years now. Give or take, maybe I'll work up the nerve to say something someday," Sierra said unsure about why she was so hesitant to talk to Connor. She could spend 5 years living in a war zone but when it came to facing her older brother, she didn't know what to do. 

"Bodies of 2 unidentified boys were found near Wichita, Kansas a week apart. Both were caucasian and between the ages of 15 and 17," Garcia said starting to brief the team on the case the moment Hotch walked in. 

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Hey, I hope you enjoyed Chapter 2!

-Muskokagirl204