Chapter 2

Scarlett picked up her phone as she crossed her mother's kitchen and stepped out the back doors to the deck. She kept her voice light while she was within earshot of her sister and mother.

"Hey D, how'd everything go?" she asked. "You catch the bad guy?"

"Not really," Morgan responded. "He won't be kidnapping anyone else ever though..."

Scarlett listened to her brother's voice as he explained how the unsub had managed to kidnap a daughter of an ex-hit man for the mob who was under witness protection.

"Oh for fuck's sake," Scarlett her head. "What in the hell are the odds of that?"

"Tell me about it," Morgan chuckled. "Not the kidnapper's lucky day... the guy killed him. He got to his daughter before us... ah, Scarlett..."

"What?" she gripped the phone a little tighter. "What's wrong?"

"Reid was in there, when the guy shot the kid, executed him actually... he was trying to talk him out of it, since he was first on scene, but the guy didn't have it in him to walk away..."

"Oh, boy..." Scarlett breathed a deep sigh. "How's Spence taking it?"

"Quietly... too quiet, ya know? He's not talking about it, a bit in shock maybe..."

Scarlett understood. That would be Spencer's way of dealing with it in front of the team.

"When are you guys heading back?"

"Now... We're heading to the airport. Reid's in the other car, I'm here with Rossi..."

"Okay... alright. I have to meet with Noreen's teachers tomorrow... I'll catch the first flight home after that..."

"You'll do no such thing."

Scarlett jumped a little at her mother's voice came from behind her. She had been listening to Derek so intently she hadn't heard the doors open.

"What?" she asked looking between her mother and Norie.

"Is something wrong with Spence?" Norie asked, worry filling her eyes.

"No, no, baby everyone is fine, I'm talking to Uncle Morgan now..." she crossed the patio to pull Norie into her hug. Scarlett looked at her mom.

"Everyone is okay, heading back home as we speak... It's just that the unsub was killed, murdered, in front of Spencer. He's fine... Just..."

"That has to be difficult, mentally, unsub or not..." Fran finished for her.

"Yeah, especially since he was a little more than a kid..." Scarlett added.

"So that's all the more reason for you to head home. I can take care of the school paperwork for Norie," Fran told her. "Spencer needs you right now."

Scarlett looked from her mother to the girl. "Are you sure?" she asked. "I can wait one night..." she said but even as the words came out of her mouth, she felt a tug in her heart. Spencer needed her.

"According to the paperwork filed today, I can legally deal with anything concerning Noreen's care as much as you can, Katy. And I have more experience with the school system than you," she said with a slight smile.

Scarlett turned to Norie. "I can stay," she told her sister.

Norie shook her head. "No. I'm fine here. You need to go to Spencer. He doesn't have anyone there if he has nightmares... I've got Mama," she said taking Fran's hand.

Frannie's eyes filled with tears as Norie said that.

"Oh, now you've done it..." Scarlett felt the tears prick in her own eyes. She wiped at them furiously as she spoke into the phone.

"D, I'll book the next flight and try to be home tonight. I'll call Spence later with the details..."

"Okay, Katy-bird. Catch you later... And give that little one a kiss from me for making Mom so happy, alright?" Morgan responded.

"I will, Derek..." she told him and disconnected the call.

Scarlett pulled Norie into a bear hug and kissed her forehead. "That's from Uncle Derek..." she told the girl. Rocking her slightly in her arms she added another kiss to her hair.

"That's from me," she said softly. "I'm the luckiest girl in the world to have so much love in my life..."

"Me too," Norie looked up at Scarlett and hugged her tight. "I'll help you pack, but you have to promise you'll be back soon," she added.

"I promise, sweetie..."

Fran followed them into the bedroom they were sharing. She pulled Scarlett's bag from the closet as she listened to her daughter make phone calls to airlines. Norie sat on the edge of the bed petting Walter and watching her sister.

After some debate with a customer service rep over scheduling, Scarlett had managed to find a flight back home through a cancellation but it wasn't until tomorrow morning.

"Okay, right..." she huffed, looking at the clock. "That's fine..."

When she hung up the phone, she looked at her mother. "I could probably rent a car and get there faster..." she said angrily. "By the time I deal with all the crap with the airlines... and if I start now, traffic would be lighter..." she looked at the clock again. It was only noon. "I'd be home by midnight..."

Norie handed Scarlett her packed bag. "Then you should drive," she told her. "Spencer doesn't even have the kitties waiting for him at home," she frowned.

Scarlett kissed her sister's cheek lightly. "They are happier here with you baby. We will come back soon to visit, and vice versa," she promised, turning towards her mother.

"Can you give me a ride to the rental agency?" she asked, her decision made that quickly. Ever since she'd hung up with Derek, she felt a need to get home to Reid. Waiting to catch a plane seemed counterproductive.

Fran nodded. "Let's get you home, Katy..."

As they drove to the rental station, Scarlett nervously rattled off a list of things she'd wanted to talk to the school counselors about on Norie's behalf. She continued talking even as she reloaded her bags into the trunk of her rental car.

"Scarlett," Frannie stopped her for a moment. "I've got this handled here, sweetie. You don't need to worry about Norie or her school, I promise."

"I know," Scarlett blew out a breath. "I just wish I could be two places at once..." she took Noreen's hand in her own.

"I'm going to miss seeing your cheeky grin, little one," she told her as she kissed her. "I'll come back soon, I promise..."

"I'll miss you too, Scarlett," Norie wrapped her arms around her sister's waist. "I promise I'll do good in school... I'll make you proud..."

Scarlett kissed the little girl's hair, pulled back a little, giving her a smile. "You already do, Norie..."

She moved over to embrace her mother. "I'll call you when I'm home, Mama, I promise."

"You'd better," Fran hugged her tightly. "And drive safely, please..."

"I will," Scarlett let herself into the driver's seat to start her trip home. She looked back in the rear view mirror, watching the pair wave goodbye.

Steeling herself against the tears that threatened, she focused on the road that would take her back to Spencer.