AN: Sequel to Meeting Emily. It would help to read that, and or the other stories in my series first. :)

AN2: This story takes place right after Minimal Loss in season four where Emily Prentiss took a beating from Benjamin Cyrus to protect Spencer Reid. It is told from Catherine's point of view. Translation is included at the bottom of the page. Rating is T for references to violence and a few swear words.

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead.

Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow.

Just walk beside me and be my friend.

- Albert Camus

October 10, 2008

Looking at my key ring always makes me smile; it reminds me that I have a family. Logically, I should only have a few keys. After all, I am only 18. I should have a house or dorm room key and maybe a car key. Instead, I have eleven keys: A key for Jen's car, one for the house I'm sharing with Jen and Will, one for my best friend's dorm, one for Derek's house, two for Penelope's, two for Emily's and two for Spencer and an 'emergency only' key for Aaron's house. The only person I don't have a key for is David Rossi, he's the 'newest' member of the BAU team. He's not really new, he came out of retirement to rejoin the team. I don't know him very well and I doubt I'll be getting a key to Mr. Rossi's house anytime soon.

The team got back from a case in Colorado a few days ago in which Emily was hurt pretty badly. Tonight the team left on another case, only this time, they took Penelope with them and left Emily behind. She has a concussion and a few fractured ribs as well as a bunch of bruises. I was originally planning on staying in the University dorms with my best friend Clara but Jen wouldn't hear of it, and I know better than to argue with my very pregnant sister.

Since Penelope is going out on the case with the rest of the team and since Emily is grounded I get to stay with her. Emily also knows not to argue with Jen. I'm not sure how happy Emily is at the moment. I know that she hates being stuck at home, but Aaron told her that since she can't even walk in a straight line, there is no way she is going to be participating in the case. I haven't looked at the case file from Colorado. I mean, I could, even if I'm not supposed to, but I don't know if Emily even needs my help. If she doesn't no harm, no foul. If she does, then I will.

Jen drops me off at Emily's condo building and I let myself in through the front door. I take the elevator up to the sixth floor and knock on her door. I could use my key but I know she's home and it's polite to knock.

Emily opens the door and leans against the frame. "Bonsoir Chérie." She says with a tired smile. The bruises on her face are starting to turn yellow, they must have been a spectacular shade of purple a few days ago.

"Bonsoir Emily." I answer back with a happy smile.

She steps backward a little off-balance, must be the concussion, and lets me enter.

"What? No please come in Catherine, nice to see you Catherine. It's been two weeks since we've seen each other Emily." I tease gently.

She's grinning at me now, exhaustion temporarily forgotten: "I can't invite you in, what if you were a vampire?"

I burst out laughing. "Have you been watching Buffy without me?"

She blushes slightly.

My mouth drops open, "You have haven't you?" I stick my tongue out at her, "I'm crushed Em, really crushed."

I enter the condo and look expectantly at Emily, she points in the direction of her guestroom. I drop off my suitcase and leave my coat on the bed. We walk slowly down the hallway towards the kitchen.

"Anything in particular you want to eat Em?" I ask.

"I thought I was going to cook." She says confusion colouring her voice.

I roll my eyes, "Yeah right, like the team would let me let you anywhere near a stove or an oven."

She actually pouts.

"Come on Em, your balance is off; I bet your reaction time is off as well. You can hold a conversation but you could seriously injure yourself if I let you cook. Oh, and Jen would kill you and then me." I point out.

"You had to play the JJ card didn't you?" She complains.

"Yup." I grin at her.

She growls, "Damn it, fine. Cook something, there should be frozen stuff in the freezer, I'm going to find some wine."

"Em-" I start.

She cuts me off, "Fine, no alcohol either, I bet Reid put you up to that one."

"I-" I try again.

"No, don't answer. I'm going to take a bath. Call me when dinner is ready." She staggers off before I can say anything.

I can hear the water running while I search the fridge. Damn, what does she eat? The only thing in the fridge is bottled water. Let's try the freezer. Yay! Food! Okay, what do we have here; frozen chicken nuggets, frozen fish, frozen veggies and bingo, a frozen lasagna. I preheat the oven while I collect a few things from the pantry, and a pot for some veggies.

Dinner is about fifteen minutes away from being ready when Emily comes back from her bath looking better. She leans against the doorframe, "Remind me why are you staying here with me again and not in your home?"

Make that looking better but still annoyed, "Maybe because you need help and Penny has gone with the team and there is no way Jen would let me stay home alone."

She glares at me, "I don't need a nurse, try again."

I fidget uncomfortably, "I can't stay home alone with Will without Jen. It would be awkward."

"So you tried it before?" She prods for more information.

Nope, not annoyed, she's pushy, "Yeah, we tried it about a month after he moved in. I couldn't do it."

She sighs, "Catherine, that was months ago."

I scuff my slipper on the hardwood, "I don't trust him Emily."

"You don't trust Will? Or you don't trust him around Jen? Or you don't trust him around you? What is it?" she prompts.

"None of the above." This is getting uncomfortable.

"Don't lie." She spits out.

Now I'm pissed off. "I'm not some unsub for you to profile Emily. I haven't done anything wrong and I don't want to talk about it."

"You obviously have something to say and I know you haven't told JJ or she wouldn't be under the impression that everything is fine between you two." She growls.

I growl back, "Fine! I know he loves my sister and I'm pretty sure she loves him too but it freaks me out to be within ten feet of him."

"Now was that so hard?" she mocks.

I glare daggers at her.

"Thank you for being honest Catherine." She says without malice.

"You're not welcome." It's childish and petulant and I don't care. "Dinner will be ready in ten minutes. Please go away Emily."

She's not happy with my answer but she leaves the kitchen.

Emily enters the dining room exactly ten minutes later and we eat in the lasagna and vegetables in silence. When I bring out the dessert I had made at home Emily tries to strike up a conversation. "Are those red velvet cupcakes?" Her eyes light up, and there is a small smile on her face.

I nod once, "Yes."

She tilts her head, "They're my favorite."

"I know." I answer simply.

"I'm sorry Catherine." She apologizes.

I look at her seriously, "I can't say it's okay because it isn't Emily, but I accept your apology."

She looks sad.

"Cupcake?" I offer her the Tupperware.

"You made twelve cupcakes?" she asks.

"No" I smile, "I made twenty-four."

She cocks her head in confusion.

"The other twelve were in my suitcase. Now they're in the fridge."

She grins at me. "How long will they last?"

"Before they go stale or do you want an estimate on how long it will take us to eat them?" I question with a smile.

We watch the Buffy season six after a late dinner. It's nice to just sit down and relax.

Emily falls asleep before we can start a third episode. I don't want to wake her but she's likely to injure her ribs further if she continues sleeping hunched over.

"Emily," I call her name again, "Emily wake up."

She doesn't move and I don't want to shake her incase I injure her further.

I try again, "Emily," I place my hand on her arm "wake up. We're out of red velvet cupcakes."

"What?" she mumbles, "no more cupcakes? But I want cupcakes."

I laugh, "Go to bed."

Emily groans when she gets up from the couch but she stumbles down the hall to her bedroom by herself and shuts the door.

I go to the guest room and start unpacking my bag. I turn my iPod on and hit shuffle, Snow Patrol's Run starts playing. It's perfect, exactly what I need to hear right now. I climb under the blankets and curl up into a ball, trying to meditate; I'm not very good at it.

I wait quietly until almost midnight before getting out of bed and pulling my candles out of my bag. I set the three candles down on the small table that I've set under the window, then I light them; two red candles and one white. I whisper, "Good night mama, good night daddy, good night Jessie, I love you. Good night Jenny, I miss you, please come home safely." I want to leave the candles burning in the window all night but I know I can't; it's not safe. I blow out the candles and pack them away, and then I climb back under the covers and drift off to sleep.

Things are not always what they seem;

the first appearance deceives many;

the intelligence of a few people perceives

what has been carefully hidden.

- Plato, Phaedrus

French:

Emily:
Bonsoir Cherie: Hello, good evening darling

Catherine:
Bonsoir: Hello, good evening