The next morning Parker woke up gasping. She struggled to catch her breath as she stumbled out of bed. She knew she had woken up from another nightmare but couldn't remember what had happened in it. She looked at the clock and saw it was 8:23 and figured it was an okay time to go downstairs.
"Good-morning my lovely,how did you sleep?" Garcia asked as she pulled cereal boxes down from the shelves.
"Just fine,thanks," Parker mumbled,slipping into a chair.
"JJ and Emily are getting ready for our grand shopping outing but they will be down shortly. Are you ready for this?I will give fair warning,none of us take no for answer unless you have a super amazing reason."
Parker just gave a small smile as she walked over to the fridge to grab an apple but froze as she was opening the door, " ,is it alright if I take an apple?"
"Of course it is sweetie,you don't even have to ask. Mi casa es tu casa."
"What the heck is tu casa?" JJ questioned as she shoved a laughing Emily into the kitchen.
"Did you not take any spanish classes Jay? Tu casa is your house,mi casa is my house so together mi casa es tu casa means my house is your house," Emily said as she grabbed the orange juice off the kitchen counter.
"That makes sense. Good morning sweetie. Sleep alright?" JJ asked as she sat down at the table.
"Yes ma'am."
"Good,I hope you aren't tired because trust me,Garcia and Emily will shop until everything closes so be prepared."
Parker offered another tentative smile and bit into her apple.
"They're on the move,James. Follow them at a safe distance,we can't have them suspect anything," Molly ordered while watching the yellow VW bug pull out of the gated community.
"I know I know I know,"James replied as he pulled out casually,keeping a few cars between him and Garcia.
Parker laughed as Garcia threw another purple pillow into the cart,"you weren't kidding when you said you guys don't take no for answer."
"Would I joke about something like that 007?" Garcia said as she smiled at the laughing girl. It was the first time she had actually heard Parker laugh and it was the first time Parker had spoken without being spoken to first.
Parker followed Garcia as she finished picking out what pillows would match Parker's bedspread. Parker couldn't help but think that this was the first time she was really truly happy since...well forever.
"Alright,Emily just texted and said they found the perfect rug to match so we need to go find them,"Garcia said as she pushed the cart past a group of people. Parker started to follow but stopped when she saw a man standing by a bin full of stuffed animals. The guy was about 6'3 with sandy brown hair and blue eyes,he looked completely normal except for the fact that Parker had seen him four other times in two other stores. When he noticed her looking at him he gave a smile that sent chills down her back, "It's probably nothing,just a coincidence," Parker thought to herself as she quickly caught up to Garcia.
Nearly 8 hours later the girls packed everything into Garcia's car and headed home.
"I would say that was a very successful trip,wouldn't you guys?" Emily asked as she yawned.
"Most defiantly,except the more I think about it I really think we should have gone with red as an accent color rather then the blue,"Garcia said as she turned out of the parking lot.
"I think blue is more Parker then red is," JJ chimed in, "Did you like the blue or would you have preferred the red?"
Parker thought for about two seconds before answering, "Blue. I really really liked the blue."
"Then we made the right choice,"Emily said flipping down her visor.
"Hey you guys? Thanks,for you know everything. I really do appreciate everything you have done for me like taking me in,buying me all this stuff and just you know,being you,"Parker said shyly.
"Awww you don't need to thank us kiddo,you're part of this family and family does these things for each other,"Garcia answered.
JJ and Emily agreed with her. Parker really was their family and she fit in just perfect with them. Emily wished Parker would talk a little more and JJ wished that Parker wouldn't be so closed off physically but they were getting somewhere with her. The rest of the car ride was filled with laughs as they recalled the days events.
As they pulled up to the security gate,Parker looked back and saw a black car of some kind pull off to the side of the road. She looked a little closer and saw the man from the store,or at least she thought it was him. Beside him sat a lady with dark hair. She tried to look closer but Garcia had pulled through and the gate closed behind them.
When they got back to the house Hotch,Morgan and Reid came over to help them unload the car and carry everything upstairs. After everything was in place,they all realized they were starving.
"Chinese anyone?" Morgan asked as they settled down on the porch.
"Ooohh sounds delicious my chocolate god," Garcia said while handing out glasses of lemonade.
"Parker,that okay with you?"
"Sounds good to me."
"Perfect,I'll go order and have them deliver it. Unless someone wants to go pick it up,"Morgan said while standing up and heading inside.
At the exact same time the entire team shouted,"nahh", and started laughing. Morgan chuckled as he walked through the door to order the food.
After they finished eating Parker volunteered to help JJ with the dishes. As everyone else set up the board for a new ritual of Chinese Checkers every night,the two girls worked side by side.
"Hey JJ,can I ask you something?" Parker asked tentatively.
"Of course,what's going on?"
"Do you ever get the sense sometimes that someone is...well I don't know like watching you?"
"Like a gut feeling?"
"Exactly," Parker dried another dish as she waited for JJ's answer.
"Yeah,I get those. Why?"
"Just lately,I feel like there has been someone watching me. I'm probably being stupid but just there was this guy today,I saw him like four times which wouldn't be weird but it was the fact that he was everywhere and when we were at the security gate I could have sworn I saw him parked along side the curb."
"It's probably just stress,you know with the move and everything. Changes,big changes,can make you see stuff or think you are seeing stuff."
"So you think I'm crazy."
"No,I didn't say that,I just think you are tired and your body is messing with your head," JJ looked at Parker out of the corner of her eye and saw she was listening,though somewhat defensive but she figured it was safe to continue with what else she wanted to say, "I know you haven't been sleeping all the well. Reid mentioned you were outside till pretty early Friday and Morgan said you guys were talking last night after we all went to bed."
"I didn't realize my every move was being reported."
"They were just worried about you..." JJ trailed off as Parker's body became rigid.
"They don't need to worry about me,in fact none of you do. I'm a big girl,I can take care of myself."
"Oh you can,can you?If that's the case,how did you end up here?If you can take care of yourself,you wouldn't be here now,would you?" JJ realized what she said as soon as the words were out of her mouth, "Parker,I'm sorry I didn't mean..." But Parker had taken off to her room before JJ could finish.
Reid pushed himself against the wall as Parker came tearing around the corner,heading straight for her room. He watched as she ran up the stairs without saying anything to him.
He had a feeling something had happened with JJ and knew the answers would be with her so he headed to the kitchen.
"Jay?Everything okay? I saw Parker run out of here looking upset...hey don't cry JJ,what happened?" Reid moved slowly as JJ sunk into a chair,her face buried in her hands.
"I'm such an idiot,all she asked was an innocent question and somehow the conversation turned and basically I made her feel like she was a burden and that she can't take care of herself. I just meant she shouldn't have had to take care of herself and I just oh Reid,I really screwed up." JJ said as she looked up.
"Oh JJ,it's going to be alright. Parker will understand that you didn't mean that and we can fix this. You just need to go explain what you meant,she'll forgive you, I know it." Reid tried his best to console JJ but knew this was more of a job for Garcia or Emily. Lucky for him Emily was coming in the kitchen at that moment.
"Uh Reid,why is JJ crying and where is Parker?" Emily asked looking around.
Reid gave her the short version of what happened and let Emily handle JJ while he went and searched out Parker.
He walked up the stairs and knocked on the door to her room. Hearing no reply he cracked it open and saw Parker sitting on the window seat looking out into the backyard.
"I'm not crazy,you know. I really did see someone and I can take care of myself,I've been doing it since I was 5," Parker said as she pulled her knees closer to her chest.
"I know you're not crazy and so does JJ. She's trying,Parker. This is new for her as well. She needs to figure out this parenting thing on the fly,just like you need to figure out how to be a kid again,"Reid walked over and sat opposite of Parker.
She looked over and he could see she was trying not to cry, "When my principal told me that she knew,I was scared but also I felt relief because finally,finally someone cared. I don't really know what I was expecting but it wasn't this. I mean,I knew JJ was in the BAU because I did a little research but what I didn't expect was for her to already have a family. I thought she was like me, but instead I get here and it's like,I don't know."
"But,you're a part of that family now. You are one of us. Whether or not you believe it,it's true."
"That's what you keep saying and earlier today,I felt like that. I felt like I belonged but then what just happened,reminded me that no matter how hard I try I won't ever truly belong,"Parker wiped her eyes, "Do you know what my favorite word is? It's 'ohana', it means family in Hawaiian and do you know what family means?"
Reid shook his head and so Parker continued, "Ohana means family and family means no one gets left behind. I got that off the movie 'Lilo and Stitch' and I realized how true it is. When you're family you are always there for each other,no one gets forgotten," Parker stood up and sat down on her bed.
Reid stayed quiet a moment and then sat next to Parker,wrapping his arms around her, "We will always be there for you,no matter what. If you go missing we will search from Heaven to Hell looking for you. And,we most definitely won't ever forget about you. I promise you."
"You shouldn't make promises you can't keep,"Parker said as she relaxed and just let Reid hug her.
"I know,but I plan on keeping that one should I ever need to," Reid replied as he smiled down at her after releasing her, "feeling better now?"
"Yeah,a little," Parker said as she curled up in her bed.
"You look tired,maybe you should try and get some sleep."
"I will."
Reid stood up and turned away but paused when Parker grabbed his hand. He turned back to her and looked down and saw fear in her eyes, "Parker?"
" ,wi-will you stay with me?Just for a little while,please?"
"Of course I will. You're having nightmares,aren't you?"
Parker shook her head looking somewhat ashamed, "A couple of times,how did you know?"
"You look exhausted and seem reluctant to sleep. I had them to, I know how hard it is. It's easier if you talk about them though," Reid said trying to get her to open up a little more.
"I can't really remember them,I just wake up and they seemed so real..." Parker trailed off.
"Well,if you remember them ever just know I'm right next door. You can call me anytime,and by anytime I literally mean anytime okay?"
Parker nodded her head and tried to say thank you but felt sleep take over before she could utter another word. Reid saw she was sleeping and crept out of her room. When he got to her door he turned back at her to check to see that she was still sleeping,and then proceeded to close the door and go back downstairs.
"Did you hear that,James? She's attached and the way was talking,they are just as attached to her. We go in tomorrow night," Molly turned towards James who was watching a sleeping Parker on screen.
"You were right again,Molls. Bugging the house with small cameras and listening devices was a great idea,"James walked up to Molly and kissed her on the lips, "Brilliant my dear,simply brilliant."
Molly smiled at James, "he is just to easy to play," she thought to herself as she allowed him to pull her up.
