Hey so this is only my second CM story, so please be nice. It's only a three shot and I have all the chapters written. Takes place after "Laruen" so if you haven't seen it, or don't know what happens, then don't read it. Not really any ships, just friendship. Kind of self-explanatory so read and enjoy! Reviews are lovely! Thanks

~ Walking Far From Home ~

But if the while I think on thee, dear friend,

All losses are restored and sorrows end.

~William Shakespeare

The tall brunette closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. An aroma of coffee and old streets filled her senses. She loved Paris; the bright lights, the smiling faces, the breath taking sights.

She opened her eyes again and looked out from her balcony window. The smile that had been delicately balanced on her lips faded slowly. Wrapping her arms around her chest, careful to watch the still painful area on her body, she walked back inside, closed and locked the glass doors behind her.

Had she been her for any other reason, she would have loved it. She would have enjoyed every day spent wandering the crowded streets, but she longed for home. To be once again surrounded by her make-shift family. To feel their warm embrace, hear their words of encouragement and comfort.

A tear escaped from her eye and slowly rolled down her cheek. It was too painful to think about, yet that was all she did. Day after day, she thought of them.

They had all been through so much together, faced so many horrible sights. It bonded them in a way that was unlike any other. They all shared an unspoken understanding.

She walked into the bedroom and looked in the floor length mirror. Since the incident with Ian Doyle, her body had taken a bad beating, even beyond the one he had given her.

Her eyes had dark circles under them, even more prominent than usual. Her complexion closely resembled a corpse and no matter how much blush and red lipstick she applied, she still looked paler than a ghost.

The wound in her stomach where she had been staked was healing, but it was still tender. If she moved just the right way, pain would course through her body at an excruciating rate.

Taking a step closer to the mirror, she slowly unbuttoned her blouse and looked at the slowly healed scar. It still burned to the touch. To her, it was worse than any physical wound could be.

It was a reminder of a nightmare that she longed to forget, but sadly this scar would last a lifetime. There was no trying to cover it up, no trying to prevent the smell of burning flesh and flood into her memory every time she looked at it.

But that was sadly not the worst of it. The nightmares are what kept her awake at night. She was afraid to close her eyes, in fear she would be met with his face, inches from her, the feeling of his breathe on her cheek.

She inhaled quickly and buttoned up her blouse again, deciding it was best not to dwell on the things she had no control over. Picking up her cell phone, she contemplated on calling JJ.

It had almost been a week since they had talked and she really needed to hear a friendly voice. She had been in France for almost three weeks and hadn't found anyone that she was comfortable enough to talk with.

Not that she could even say much. She still wasn't even fully clear on what her story was, sure she had read over the fifty page file JJ had given to her that explained her new background, but somehow she couldn't make it stick.

Only the day before she had almost introduced herself as Emily Prentiss, but luckily before the words could escape from her mouth she had caught herself. No, now she was known as Sophie Parker, an aspiring novelist from California.

Sitting on the edge of the bed she dialed JJ's number. As the line rang she found herself on the verge of tears, for what reason she did not know. Maybe it was lack of sleep, or just the emotion weight that had been seated on her shoulders for a long time.

"Hello?"

The voice on the other end sounded rushed, like her mind was somewhere else. Emily thought for a moment about that to say, then decided on nothing and quickly hung up.

As soon as she did the tears slipped from behind her closed lids and flooded down her cheeks. She couldn't do this anymore. She could not live knowing that her family was out there, thinking she was buried six feet under.

The pain and grief they must have gone through. And JJ, poor innocent JJ couldn't say a word. She couldn't tell the team that Emily was still out there, alive.

In that split second she knew what she had to do. No longer could she spend her days thinking of them, wondering what they were doing or where they were. No longer would she spend her sleepless nights, afraid to close her eyes.

She was going home.

If you're alone, I'll be your shadow. If you want to cry, I'll be your shoulder. If you want a hug, I'll be your pillow. If you need to be happy, I'll be your smile. But anytime you need a friend, I'll just be me. ~Author Unknown

Please review! Next chapter will be up soon