Disclaimer, schmisclaimer...we all know who owns what.

A/N: I have decided to do some stories with a character named Sheli Parker who would bounce around the various fics I write. So she is bound to pop up anywhere; in crossovers etc. Give the idea a chance and if anyone has a specific request, I will try to work with it. OK, dah-lings, happy reading and keep writing. xoxox

Familiar Places

Emily Prentiss was tired. This time beyond physical, she was mentally fatigued. The trip back to Quantico had been sombre. No one attempted to chit chat as they each remembered the details of the murdered adolescents. High school can be brutal but when the victim of bullying decided he has had enough and systematically killed his tormentors in such gruesome ways, it gives one pause. Thirteen years old and numb to the world. Gavin Peters will spend the rest of his natural life in prison. Emily wanted so much to shed a tear for the poor boy but she won't do it in front of her team mates.

He grew up on the wrong side of the tracks and endured years of harassment from the popular crowd all through Elementary school until the day he snapped. She had the experience of always being the new student in school but no one dared bully her because her family's political standing was always known and even the teachers were careful in how they dealt with her. But she had seen it happen over and over and she understood what is was like being the outsider. Elizabeth Prentiss had always been a force to be reckoned with and as much as she wasn't the mother Emily needed, her protection extended in various ways.

Not wanting to return to her empty apartment and refusing to share her fears and weaknesses with the team, she headed to the only place she didn't have to be anything but Emily. She still had a key and thankfully the locks hadn't been changed. Her last visit here ended badly; something she still blamed herself for. A few lamps were lit giving the house a warm and welcoming glow. Listening carefully, she heard no sound and decided to make her presence known to avoid coming up against the business end of a weapon.

"Shel?" called out Emily as she moved towards the stairs.

After a pause, Sheli appeared at the top of the stairs and said, "You are a sore sights for my eyes and just about the last person I expected to see in my house."

"I...listen Shel, I need,"

"It is OK Em, I am just surprised that's all. You know you are always welcome."

With a sigh of relief Emily watched Sheli descend the stairs and allowed herself to be led to the kitchen. She was ordered to sit while Sheli got food out of the fridge and microwaved it and presented it to a quiet Emily Prentiss. After dinner she went through the motions of a shower and rummaging through Sheli's stuff to find her favourite green nightie. Sitting up in bed against the headboard, they started talking.

"Tough case?" asked Sheli since she is always the one to strike up the conversation.

"Yea, this thirteen year old kid just flipped out and killed eight of his classmates over a six months period."

Sheli knew better than to interrupt since nothing she said would console the woman next to her, so she nodded her encouragement for Emily to continue. An hour later she learnt that Gavin thought up some very simple yet effective ways to dispose of his classmates; poisoning two; running two off the road; luring one to an alley for a stabbing and the final shooting of the three football stars at general assembly. He stood patiently in the middle of the chaos of screaming, escaping students waiting for the authorities to come get him. The FBI had just pulled in to the parking lot when the shots were fired. They were just a few minutes late to prevent the final act and that is what hit the team the hardest.

"Thank you for sharing Em, I know you don't like to talk about work."

"That is because my work is so damn dark and depressing."

"Hey, you catch the bad guys so that has to count for something."

"I am sorry for what happened the last time, I..."

"Em, that was a year ago, don't apologize."

"But I was wrong to vent on you like that."

"I didn't handle the situation that well either, so no worries."

"Yea, well, thanks for not kicking me out."

Sheli laughed and entwined their fingers. "You do have a key and I haven't changed the locks, so take that as your indefinite welcome. By the way, how did you know I was back?"

"You left?" inquired Emily.

"Only got back two days ago, was in Jersey doing some stuff."

"OK. Wow, I don't know what to say." Replied Emily.

"Why don't we get some sleep, we have all weekend to talk."

Emily had no clue what she felt as they cuddled and she fell asleep easily for the first time in months. Sheli stayed awake for a long time contemplating the woman lying in her arms. She realized a lot of things she was not sure she will ever share with Emily so as not to spook her again. If I were a religious woman, I would pray for divine guidance. Emily, Emily, Emily...you confuse the hell out of me.