Light in the Dark
-ONE SHOT Sequel to Lost in the Dark; Michael has been tried and found guilty of serial molestation. There were more girls before Janie and Kimberlee. This is after the trials-
"Look at the two of them." Prentiss noted, nodding towards Janie and Kimberlee. Kimberlee was comforting a crying Janie, who just had to rehash her two years of trauma in front of a jury. It had been eight long months since Michael was caught. Janie finally stopped crying and hugged her big sister. Kimberlee smiled and they walked back over to the agents.
"You did good today, kid." Derek said patting Kimberlee's shoulder. She looked up at him and muttered a thank you. She took Janie's hand in hers and they walked down the steps of the court house to a hot dog stand on the side walk. Emily stepped up to Morgan's side and crossed her arms across her chest. "You think she'll ever move on from this?" He asked her with a hint of self-doubt in his voice.
"I think, seeing Michael behind bars will bring her some peace, but the fact that she'll never see her mom again will stick with her." Prentiss answered. Derek sighed. Emily patted his shoulder, knowing he still felt a twinge of guilt for not being there for his nieces, but he was here now.
JJ, Hotch, Rossi, Spencer, and Garcia walked out of the court house and approached Prentiss and Derek on the steps. They looked down on Kimberlee and Janie sitting on the steps eating their hotdogs. Kimberlee would be heading off to college in a year. She was a junior in high school and already looking to go to so many colleges. She'd been so excited for the past few months, but the ones she was looking at were not ones in Virginia. Derek wasn't sure what would happen to Janie. She depended on her big sister to watch out for her, especially now more than ever. He didn't want Kimberlee to not go to college, but it was a tough choice to stay with her sister or have a promising future.
A sudden cell phone ring shocked the silence of the team. Hotch flipped open his phone and listened to the voice on the other end.
"Morgan, they want you and the girls back in the judges' quarters." Hotch said as he shut his phone. A confused scowl crossed over his face.
"What for?" Morgan questioned him.
"They found your sister's last will and testament." Hotch said carefully. Derek's eyes widened in shock. The rest of the team mirrored his expression. Garcia took initiative and got the girls and brought them to the rest of the group.
"We'll do that tomorrow. They've done enough for today." Morgan concluded. He took Janie's hand and walked his nieces back to his car to go home. Hotch nodded as he understood and opened his phone to call the judge back.
-That Night at Derek's Apartment-
Janie was in bed already, exhausted from a long day at the court house. Kimberlee was up, unable to sleep, and staring blankly at the television in front of her. Morgan slid a slice of leftover pizza towards her. Kimberlee looked down and a tiny smile swiped across her face. Morgan felt his heart lift a little bit. He'd only seen her smile a few times in the last few months and it was always at the small things. He watched as Kimberlee took small bites out of her slice as she stared into the light of the TV.
For a moment she actually seemed content. He knew from experience that she'd never be the same, but he wished that she would at least talk about it. She closed herself off from everyone, even Janie. Around her little sister, Kimberlee would just plaster on a phony smile to make her sister happy, but Derek saw right through it. He knew she was trying to reach out, but she just didn't know how. All her life, she'd been taught to stay strong and put on a brave face in the mist of fear. And right now, she was terrified of her own thoughts.
Suddenly, the TV switched off and Kimberlee was off to bed. Derek took the pizza box and threw it out. Kimberlee muttered a goodnight and headed towards her and Janie's room.
"Wait a sec, Baby Girl…" Derek said aloud. Kimberlee stopped mid stride and turned around to face him, but before he could finish she began to speak.
"I'm fine…it's okay." She said as politely as she could. She threw on one of those smiles and went to bed. Morgan sighed and let his head drop into his hands. He tried to relax, but his body stayed stiff. He got up from the couch and sluggishly dragged himself to his own bedroom to go to sleep.
-At Work the Next Morning-
Morgan gulped down his morning coffee and grabbed his brief case. Kimberlee straightened his tie and Janie wrapped his eggo waffle in a paper towel. Morgan thanked her quickly and reminded Kimberlee that she needed to be at the court house that afternoon. She nodded and patted down his tie. Janie grinned up at him and put a smiley face sticker on his tie. Kimberlee shook her head with a smile and went to the kitchen to make breakfast.
"Tell Miss Penelope, that I say hello." Janie whispered into Derek's ear. She was trying to sound professional. Derek smiled and reached for the doorknob. "Oh and that I owe her a lollipop." Morgan smiled again and promised he would tell her. He walked out the door and headed to the BAU.
"Alright, Janie, what do you want for breakfast?" Kimberlee asked staring into the refrigerator.
"I want an eggo!" Janie chimed loudly. She giggled and reached for the snoopy shaped waffles. "I gave these to Uncle Derek too!"
"I'm sure Derek will be happy to eat those at work. If you pass me the box I'll put one in the toaster for you." Kimberlee answered with a small smile. "Get the syrup from the fridge if you want some." Janie jumped up from her chair and toppled over to the fridge and got out the syrup. She poured a little into a small cup to dip her waffle into.
"Kimi, why do you call Uncle Derek by his first name? Isn't he your uncle too?" Janie asked as Kimberlee took the waffle out of the toaster.
"It's complicated. Here's your waffle." She responded softly, but sternly. Janie let that go and put a bit of butter on her eggo.
"Do you miss mommy?" Janie questioned her big sister between bites.
"You've got to hurry up, little one, you've got camp." Kimberlee said avoiding the question. This wasn't the first time Janie's asked her that same question. Janie gobbled up her waffle and got her camp back pack from her bedroom. Kimberlee helped her slide on a light jacket. She grabbed the keys and she and Janie walked outside the apartment. She locked the door and walked after Janie down the hall.
-At the BAU-
"Is that Snoopy?" JJ asked Morgan as he walked in with half a waffle hanging out of his mouth. He nodded with a sigh and sat down between Prentiss and Hotch. He finally took the waffle out and caught his breath.
"Janie has a serious thing for that cartoon." He admitted between breaths.
"I see she also has a thing for stickers." Hotch noted with a small hint of a smile. Morgan looked down at his tie and instantly remembered Janie's smiley face sticker. He smiled and looked back up to see the rest of the team hiding laughs. Morgan bit his bottom lip and pressed JJ to start the briefing. She shrugged with a pleasant smirk and started the briefing.
As the briefing came to a close, Hotch held Morgan back to talk.
"Are you still planning to go to the courthouse today?" Hotch asked him.
"I talked to Kimberlee about it. We agreed to meet at the courthouse." Morgan answered.
"Then it's a good thing this case is in town. The police aren't ready for us yet, so we'll meet back here in two hours." Hotch finished. Morgan nodded and headed out the door to meet Kimberlee at the courthouse.