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CHAPTER 2

Back then….. that's when Emily changed. That's when she became boxed within herself, scared of letting anyone in, for fear of losing them. She didn't think she could cope with a loss again. She was numb….numb for years. Part of her had died. It only ever got slightly better… she had to block it out…. That's how Emily dealt with everything…. shut it out.

Over the last few years since joining the BAU she filled her life with work, concentrating on helping others and catching the bad guys. If she didn't do that she didn't know what she would do. She lived in her own world, keeping those barriers up. She tried dating from time to time, but it never worked out…. She wouldn't let it.

There was one person in her life that caused her to struggle with herself though….. Derek Morgan. She loved him. She didn't know when she fell in love with him but she would never allow herself to show it. She trusted him completely, was closer to him than anyone in her life… although it still wasn't that close. She nearly told him about her past a number of times, but was afraid if she spoke of it, all the work she had done to cope with it would be undone and she would be a square one. She was happy for now just to have him there when she needed him, knowing that she could go to him anytime…. 'always'. She didn't know if he felt the same, but knew that he had a past that would also stop him from taking that step.

She was sat at her desk…. Paperwork day…. Urghhhh! Still it gave her chance to flirt with Morgan and tease Reid….. some of her favourite past times.

She got a phone call telling her there was someone on their way up to the office to see her. Who could it be? She checked her diary and there were no appointments scheduled for her.

She stood up to go meet whoever her visitor was and looked over to the glass doors. She saw HIM walking towards the doors. She suddenly felt like she was burning up. Her coffee cup fell out of her hands, smashing on the floor, causing everyone in the room to look at her. They continued to stare when she made no attempt to pick it up…. In fact she did nothing… just stood there.

Morgan noticed…. This was nothing like Emily… something was wrong. He jumped up and went over to her. He could see her chest rise and fall heavier than normal. She was staring at the man walking into the room. Morgan had never seen him before. Emily stumbled backwards like her legs were giving way on her. Morgan gently put his hand in the small of her back to steady her. As he did this she realised his presence and she turned and looked at him. Her eyes seemed to be pleading with him to help her… she looked scared but he had no idea why.

"Emily, what's wrong?" Morgan said, softly and quietly

She didn't respond, just turned her head slowly and looked back at the stranger who was now a few feet in front of her.

"Emily?" the stranger said

She said nothing

"Emily? So you're not pleased to see me?"

Morgan was worried. Whoever this man was obviously had a profound effect on Emily. She looked petrified. Morgan positioned himself between Emily and the man.

"Who are you?" Morgan said to the man

"I'm Emily's… I was Emily's fiancé

Morgan was more confused than ever. He turned and looked at Emily who looked like she couldn't breath. She then quickly turned and scurried out of the office.

"I don't know who you are or what you want, but stay here. Don't move. I'm going to see if she's OK" Morgan instructed the stranger.

The man did as he was told. Morgan rushed out into the corridor and just caught a glimpse off the back of Emily going into one of the side rooms. He followed her in… she was out of breath.

"Emily, talk to me…. Who the hell is he? He said he's your fiancé?"

Emily gave him that pleading look again… like she wanted him to save her… he just didn't know what from. All he wanted to do at that point was wrap her in his arms and get her the hell out of there. Unfortunately even after four years he hadn't plucked up the courage to show her the kind of affection he wanted to. He gave her a few seconds to catch her breath… his comforting hand rubbing her back seemed to work. Eventually she started to talk.

"It's true… he was my fiancé…. Ten years ago"

"What happened? What did he do?"

"Nothing… I mean, he was supposed to be dead… They were…."

She stopped mid sentence. It was like a light bulb had just gone off in her head,

"Oh my God!"

"What Emily? What's wrong?"

"I have to talk to him" She said desperately. She went to walk out of the room. Morgan stopped her by taking hold of her arm.

"You don't want to talk in front of everyone. Wait here, I'll go get him"

Emily just nodded at him, still looking petrified. She had literally just seen a ghost.

Morgan's head was spinning, but he knew that he would be there for Emily and make sure that whoever this jerk was, didn't hurt her.

Morgan walked into the office and caught the eye of the man…. He nodded towards him, indicating he wanted him to follow him.

They walked down the corridor and Morgan stopped outside of the room.

"I have no idea what you have done to her, but I will not let you out of my sight… do you understand?"

"Of course, I have no intention of hurting her"

Morgan opened the door finding Emily pacing the room. She turned and looked at the man. Morgan stood in the doorway waiting for some indication from Emily that she wanted him to leave…. It didn't come, so he just stood there.

"Emily, I know this must be a shock. I'm so sorry for what happened, but there was nothing I could do. I wish I could explain everything, but you know I can't"

"What about Katie?" she said desperately

Who was Katie? Adding to the questions Morgan had

The man looked towards the floor and took a deep breath…. "She's alive"

"What?"

"She's alive Emily. She was… she was taken by a family. She's OK. She would have been well looked after"

"Where is she?"

"I don't know"

"You're lying! You have to know"

"Emily I can't…. "

"I can't take this all in!" Emily stormed out of the room.

"I think it's time you left" Morgan ordered the man…. "but before you leave… who is Katie?"

"She's our daughter"… the man looked ashamed.

Morgan stared at him in disbelief. He had so many questions, but knew he should save these for Emily.

The man handed Morgan a card… "Please give this to Emily…. When she's ready, tell her to call me"

Morgan took the card but didn't answer him. He escorted him out of the building to make sure he left. He then went to find Emily. As he did, he looked down at the card. It was a CIA card. The name on it…. 'SHAUN BRANDON'.

He eventually found Emily at her desk. She was frantically packing her bag getting ready to leave.

"Emily, I don't know what's going on, but if you think you're driving in this state, you can think again"

"Morgan, I have to get out of here" she said desperately.

"That's fine, I'll drive you wherever you want to go"

He expected a mouth full of abuse and a refusal from Emily, but it never came. She just said 'OK' and Morgan followed her out of the building.

The car journey was silent. He didn't know where she wanted to go and she never asked to be taken anywhere so he took her to a café they went to many times after a case.

He sat down opposite her, handing her a coffee. She was just staring at the table. He took both of her hands in his… they were icy cold.

"He told me Katie was your daughter Emily…. Please talk to me… may be I can help"

Without resistance she told him the story. For the first part she fought back the tears making her story telling laboured and difficult for Morgan to watch. After that she let the tears fall, continuing with the story… Morgan didn't even know if she realised she was crying. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

After she finished talking, Morgan sat quietly for a minute or so…. So many questions

"So what did the authorities tell you happened to them?"

"All they would tell was that they had been taken by a criminal gang….. presumed dead"

"Presumed?"

"Well they said they had evidence….. although they'd never tell me what it was. They even had funerals for them….. funerals with no bodies"

"I don't get it…. How come none of this is on your personnel file?"

"They said they'd wipe it…. National security…. They just didn't want anyone asking difficult questions or delving where they shouldn't….. Believe me, growing up in a world of politics, you get used to this"

"you're going to have to speak to him again if you want answers"

"I know, I just don't know how. I buried this such a long time ago and have always been scared if I dug it up again, it would break me"

"Emily, you're strong…. One of the strongest people I know. You'll be OK and if you let me, I'll be with you every step of the way"

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the card Brandon gave him.

"Here… he gave this to me…. Call him"….. that was the last thing Morgan wanted her to do… he just wanted this man to disappear and for Emily to stop hurting but knew there was no way she'd stop at this.

Emily took the card and after a few deep breaths she called him. She told him to come to the café.

The conversation didn't go well. He kept saying he couldn't tell her anything and that he was sorry. She didn't know how to feel…. Shouldn't she be happy he was OK and be pleased to see him? But she wasn't. He was definitely a different man and she resented him for allowing her to think her own daughter was dead. He could have found someway of letting her know.

"Just go if you're not going to tell me anything" Emily said curtly. She got up and walked to the rest room.

Brandon got up to leave…. As he did Morgan grabbed his arm….. "tell me something…. Just give me a clue…. It won't come back to you…. One clue as to where Katie is. Do it for Emily if you ever cared about her" Morgan said with venom.

Brandon stared at Morgan. He could tell this man cared for Emily….. may be even loved her. He knew how that felt and resented the man in front of him.

"Da Corte….. Torrioni Da Corte…. Just be careful". That's all Brandon said. Then he walked out.

Morgan decided not to tell Emily about the name Brandon had given him just yet. She had enough to cope with today without giving her false hope. He took her to her apartment and forced her to let him make her some food, although he couldn't force her to eat it. Eventually she fell asleep on the sofa. He got a blanket, covered her up and then went to sleep himself on the chair next to him. He kept that promise to himself to be there every step of the way.