Hey, so I know this story has not been updated in a super long time and I am completely embarrassed about that. Kinda forgot that I hadn't finished it yet til I was on here a few days ago. So here is the final chapter. Ending it sooner than originally planned but I figured you all have waited long enough and that you deserved, what I hope to, a decent ending.

Reviews are welcome and thanks for sticking with this story! Enjoy

How is one to live a moral and compassionate existence when one finds darkness not only in one's culture but within oneself? There are simply no answers to some of the great pressing questions. You continue to live them out, making your life a worthy expression of leaning into the light. ~Barry Lopez, Arctic Dreams

Ring the bells that still can ring

Forget your perfect offering.

There is a crack in everything,

That's how the light gets in.

~Leonard Cohen


I could feel myself falling; slowly drifting into the deep darkness of sleep. But my body jolted awake before slumber could completely consume me.

Instincts kicking in, I grabbed my gun from the nightstand drawer and scanned the room. My heart pounded in my chest and blood rushed to my ears.

Stepping out of bed, the night air felt cold against my sweat covered skin. My eyes were alert, waiting and watching for….something.

A car horn honked and I jumped at the sound, cursing myself for being so paranoid. Lowering my gun I sat at the end of the bed, not realizing how weak my legs felt.

Running a shaky hand through my hair, I slowly rose to my feet. Setting the gun down, I picked up my cell. It was late; I knew I shouldn't call her. But I also knew she would be furious if she knew I was contemplating it.

I pressed speed dial and listened to in ring. On the third one I almost hung up, until her familiar voice sounded on the other side.

"Garcia, hey." My voiced sounded soft, nothing like my own; normally filled with confidence and conviction. "I'm sorry it's so late, I-

"Oh honey, what's wrong? Are you okay? You sound upset? Do you need me to come over?" Her voice flooded with concern and I could feel the tears already filling in my eyes.

"Would you?" Was all I could manage in fear my voice would crack.

"I'll be there in five."


The knock on my door didn't come soon enough. But I was surprised to see two worried faces looking at me when I opened the door.

Before I could get a word out, Garcia grasped me in a tight hug. "Don't hate me but I had too. I was so worried when you called, you sounded…well, not like you. And I just didn't know what else to do!"

I couldn't help but smile at Penelope. She cared so much; sometimes I felt like I didn't deserve all the love that she had to offer. And I also knew if she knew I thought that, she would kill me and somehow that made it worse.

"You should have heard here the whole way over here. She was freaking about that you'd be mad at her for getting me." JJ said as she stepped inside.

I smiled as she too gave me a warm hug. "Honestly, I'm just glad to not be alone right now."

"Now you two go sit, I'll get us some tea." Garcia said, already taking off her coat and setting her bag by the door.

"You guys are guests, I should be doing th-"

"Emily Prentiss, go sit down now. We are not guests either, we're family. Now go!"

I looked at JJ and gave me a knowing smile. "Alright, alright, I'm going." I walked into the living room with JJ. She took a seat in one of the overstuffed arm chairs but I was too restless to sit down.

Instead I walked over to the window and peered out at the dark sleeping city. "If only I was one of them." I said softly.

"What do you mean?"

I turned to look at JJ, for a brief moment having forgotten I was no longer alone. I turned back to the window, finding it easier to talk to darkness rather than look someone in the eye.

"One of them." I said again, "Tucked away under the covers in a warm bed, oblivious to the terrors and monsters of the world; to be naïve again.

Instead I know all too well what lurks in dark alleys, what preys of sleeping families. I know that nightmares can be all too real. I know because I've seen them, I've lived them-hell, I'm still in one."

"Don't talk like that." Garcia said, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"Why not, Penelope? It's true. I can't even feel safe in my own apartment, I get scared when I'm alone, the smallest bump in the night and I have my gun out, aimed and ready.

I can't live my life in fear; always looking over my shoulder; fearful of all the shadows lurking behind corners. That's not a life, that's hell."

My two friends looked at me in a slightly stunned silence. I couldn't blame them. My outburst was out of character, but then again, I wasn't the same Emily Prentiss they thought I was.

Garcia looked at JJ, apparently at a loss for words, and in any other situation I would have joked that that was the first time I'd ever seen her without something say.

"We all have our shadows, Emily. And we all have a past. I get it, what you went through no one should have ever had to endure. But you're a strong, powerful, kick-ass woman with a gun."

I couldn't help a smile pulling at the corners of my mouth at her words; she smiled too.

"Doyle is part of the past now, yeah it's recent past, but it's over. You're home, you're safe, and you're alive. I know you may not feel whole, or complete anymore but you are standing here before us and that's all that matters.

You have a family, right here. You have people who are willing to travel across the world, to go to any lengths, to help you. All you have to do is let us in and let us help. We all have to adjust; you were completely alone and the team mourned your death.

It's not going to disappear in a day, but life is not always going to be full of shadows around corners. "

"Shadows fade, Em. All you have to do is shine a light. And before you know it, their gone."

I looked at Garcia; tears were streaming from her face and she held the cup of tea in her hand, untouched.

The words fell from my lips before I could even fully realize what I was saying. "I-I can't do it alone."

I closed my eyes for a moment and whipped tears from my cheek that I hadn't even realized had been falling. Before I even had time to take a breath, warm arms embraced me in a tight hug and I fell into them blindly.

Wrapping my arms around her, I could feel JJ sob into my shoulder and she held on to me and whispered softly, "You are never alone."

It was in moment I realized that good always triumphed over evil. And no matter how powerful darkness becomes, even the smallest candle, in the darkest place, can give off a bright and shining light.


Though my soul may set in darkness,

It will rise in perfect light,

I have loved the stars too fondly

To be fearful of the night.

~Sarah Williams

People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within. ~Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Please review! Sorry it wasn't longer but I didn't want to babble on to much! Hope you liked the story, and again, my apologies for not updating this sooner.