They were noticed before they got to the cabin and Aaron and Derek approached them, their hands on their guns. "Baby Girl, is everything all right?" he asked as he stopped in front of them.

"No, Sugar. We found her in the woods. Erin said she recognized the sweater. She's one of them." Their eyes locked and Morgan nodded, his posture changing, relaxing. "Would you help us inside? She's freezing." The men nodded and Derek easily picked the young girl up, carrying her into the cabin. He took her into the women's room and settled her onto the bed closest the door.

"Thank you, Agent Morgan," Erin softly said, not taking her eyes off the girl. "You'd better stick close to use while Penelope and I try to talk to her. Courtney was…violent when she returned to us." He nodded and Penelope saw the tight, wounded look that passed over his face. A sad smile flitted across her lips as she realized he was starting to see Erin as a person and that he felt for her.

"What should we do, Erin?" she asked just as softly, watching her friend smooth the tangle of hair back from the girl's face.

"Just follow my lead," she said, looking up at them. There were tears in her eyes, and Penelope nodded, moving closer to the bed. "Can you tell me your name, sweetheart?"

The girl glared at her, shaking her head. Penelope sat on the edge of the bed and went to cover her hand when the girl yanked it back quickly, striking Erin in the face. She winced and hissed in pain, and the girl looked up at her fearfully, as if she was afraid of punishment. "I, I'm sorry," she gasped out.

Those were the first words they'd heard from her mouth and both women nodded. "What happened to you? If you won't tell us your name, will you at least tell us your experience?"

The girl shrugged and turned on her side to face Erin. "You're Courtney's mother, aren't you? She always said you'd come to rescue us someday. They didn't like to hear that, so they hurt he to break her spirit. A rebellious spirit in a woman is an abomination unto the Lord." Her eyes fluttered closed and a few tears slipped down her face. "But you're here now. My name's Anna Grace. I want to go home."

Anna wrapped an arm around Erin's waist, snuggling close to the older woman. Within minutes, she was asleep and the others left the room, not wanting to disturb her further. Once in the kitchen, Morgan handed Penelope a mug of coffee and they sat around the table. "Well, we have our inside person now," he said off-handedly.

"Yes, we do, Sugar Bear. But how are we going to use her? She's scared, didn't you see that?" He nodded as Aaron reached out to squeeze her shoulder. "How should we proceed, Boss Man?"

"Very carefully. Agent Burns, we're going to need a day or two to work this into our profile and strategy. Can you have your people on standby until then?" The other agent nodded and Aaron sighed slightly in relief. "Good. The less unfamiliar faces here, the better for Anna Grace. We'll start with the cognitive interviews tomorrow. Penny, go in and check on them. We'll start supper."

She got up and went into their bedroom. Anna was no longer in the full bed; instead, she was curled up on the floor. Erin was sitting next to her, cradling her head on her lap and singing lowly. "What's up with that?" Penelope asked, looking at the girl.

"They don't sleep in beds. Only the men do. She thought it would make you happy if she was 'asleep' in bed. But once you left, she moved to the floor. It took the psychiatrist three weeks to get Courtney back in bed for the night. Would you grab me a pillow to put under her head?"

Penelope did so, but Anna woke up the moment Erin made a move to leave. "Where are you going?" she asked fearfully, clinging to the hem of Erin's sweater.

"I have to go to the bathroom. Penelope, my friend, will stay with you until I get back. Try to fall asleep again, okay?" Erin smiled kindly at the girl and she slowly nodded. "I'll be right back."

As Erin left the room, Anna watched Penelope from the corner of her eye. "What is it, Anna Grace?"

"I'm kind of cold. May I have a blanket?"

Penelope felt her heart melt for the girl and nodded. Standing up, she pulled the top blanket off their bed and covered the girl up. "Is that better?" she asked as she sat down next to her on the floor.

"Yes, thank you. I'm not tired, Miss Penelope. Will you tell me what's going to happen to me? I don't want to go back there, ever. They hurt you if you don't follow the rules."

"Is that what happened to Courtney?"

Anna looked away from Penelope, tears coursing down her cheeks. "Her husband didn't like her spirit, so he beat her. It was his right as a man to do so. Never hard enough to break her bones or blemish her permanently, though. We're also offerings to God, and He only accepts perfection." She gasped lightly, looking at someone behind Penelope, and threw off the blanket, curling up into a tight ball.

Penelope turned to see Aaron in the doorway. "I was just coming to let you know that supper's waiting. Or should I have JJ run something in for our guest?" He looked sad, and she wondered how much he had overheard.

"One second, my love." He nodded and left and she turned back to Anna. "Sweetie, do you want to eat with me and my friends in the kitchen or would you rather it be Erin and you in here?"

"They won't hurt me?" It was such a loaded question, as Penelope thought about the things the team could ask the girl.

"Physically, no. I cannot promise you that one of them won't say or ask something that will bring up hurtful memories. Erin and I would be right by your side, though, if you choose to go out there." Anna nodded and stood up, holding out her hand to Penelope. "Thank you, Anna Grace."

She nodded and followed Penelope from the room, clutching her hand. Erin was in the hall, waiting for them, and Anna Grace let go of Penelope to hurriedly wrap an arm around her waist, clinging to her. "You will sit by me, right, Miss Erin?"

She nodded, pulling the girl closer. "It's just Erin, sweetheart."

"No. You're my elder and deserve respect. If my husband were to find out…" She bit her lip, starting to cry a little.

"Oh, Anna Grace, sweetie, he can't get you here. He'll never bother you again, I promise." Erin kissed the side of her head, heedless of JJ and Penelope watching them. Penelope was surprised by the tenderness she so easily showed this girl she barely knew, though she suspected Courtney was the reason for it. "Are you ready to go eat?"

"Yes, Erin." The quartet entered the kitchen and all conversation came to a stop as the team focused on Anna. She blushed a little under the scrutiny, huddling closer to Erin.

"Good evening, ladies. I just have to get everything on plates and then we'll be ready. Our choices are somewhat limited, so we're having water or coffee with our meal." Dave smiled at them and Penelope grinned back. Erin and Anna sat at the end of the table, so she decided to take the other side, ensconcing the girl between them. JJ sat across from them, and tried to smile gently.

"So, Will called to good news this afternoon, while you were out walking. Henry made it a whole day at preschool without any accidents. He might finally by potty trained."

"That's a relief, Jennifer. Courtney was so stubborn at that age and refused to be potty-trained. The only way I could get her to do her business in the right place was by making her change her own diaper. Nipped that in the bud right quick. I just pray this baby isn't as stubborn."

Penelope met JJ's gaze, knowing Erin had not told any of them that information before. "Erin, honey, who's the father of Courtney's baby?"

It was Anna, though, who answered. "Not her husband. He had issues with that, I guess. So the All Father came to her in the night and gave her a baby. Or at least, that was the hope. We never knew if she had been lucky enough to carry his child."

Once more, all eyes were on Anna and Erin as a hush fell over the room. "He's not the father?" Erin murmured, tears pooling in her eyes.

Anna shook her head. "Her husband wasn't too happy about sharing her with the All Father, but it was that or stone her for her barren state."

"And are you expecting, Anna Grace?" JJ asked kindly.

"Yes, or I assume I am. I haven't had to go to the Red Room in three months' time. I don't know what my parents will say when I get home, but I can't give up this baby. Is Courtney having a boy?"

Erin swiped at the tears rolling down her cheeks. "No, it's a girl. She's due at the end of February with a little girl."

Anna shuddered and focused on the food Aaron had set in front of her, eating so as to silence her words. Penelope wondered what happened to girl babies at this compound, but figured it was nothing good. Aaron sat across from her and she could feel his eyes boring into her. "What is it, honey?"

"I want to talk after supper. Would that be okay?" She looked over at Erin, who nodded, and she nodded at her lover. "Good. Anna Grace, how old is your husband?"

"Thirty five," she said softly, not looking up from her plate.

"And you are..?"

"Sixteen." She swallowed a sip of water. "I'll be seventeen in April."

"And how many girls are there like you?" Reid asked, his voice tender.

"About twenty or twenty five. There are only a few older women there. The rules are hard to live by. But God's rules should be hard to live by. Nothing easy is worth having."

"How long have you been at the compound?" Rossi asked, looking perplexed by her previous answer.

"Two years. Do you think my parents have stopped looking for me?"

"No one ever stops looking for their child, sweetheart," Erin said lowly, rubbing her back lightly. She nodded and seemed to close in on herself. "We can find them for you, Anna Grace. Penelope is good at things like that." They finished eating and Erin led the girl from the room.

Once they were gone, Aaron focused on her. "This adds a new wrinkle to things. The leader sounds more like a preferential child abuser than some religious lunatic. Two years there and he has Anna Grace terrified of going against 'God's rules' because of the punishment received. Take Erin and Anna Grace back to Quantico, Penelope. This is not going to end well for anyone still inside."

She shook her head. "Erin wants to see you bring this creep to justice, and now, so do I. We're staying, Aaron."

"Please do not argue with me on this one, Penny. I don't often make decisions based on my gut feeling, but this time, that instinct is telling me to send you three far away from this den of horrors."

JJ piped up. "I'd listen to him, PG. Nothing good is going to come of this and you need to focus on finding Anna's parents. I know it would give you guys satisfaction, seeing the monster brought down, but if he were to somehow hurt you…"

Penelope felt her shoulders slump a little. "All right, I'll talk to her about it. I'm not making any promises, since it is her decision, too, but I'll try. I suppose." Standing, she left the room and made her way back to the bedroom. Anna was sitting at the foot of the bed, watching Erin cry. "Erin, what's wrong?"

"Jared just called. Courtney delivered the baby stillborn this afternoon. This is a blessing, right?" Her question was so bitter and Penelope shook her head, sitting next to her on the bed. Erin seemed to deflate against her, curling up into a ball as she wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Aaron wants us to go home while they finish up the case. He has a really hinky feeling about how it all will end. And Courtney needs you now more than ever." Penelope gently rocked back and forth, soothing the woman. She knew tears were the last resort for her, as she was accustomed to doing something about the situation.

"But I want to be there when Aaron takes him down. He raped my daughter!"

"I know you do, hun, but they're not giving us much choice here. We go back at first light." It was a small white lie, but Penelope felt it necessary. A minute passed, but finally Erin nodded against her shoulder. "All right, let's get dressed for bed. Anna Grace, you can borrow one of my pajama sets." They got up and rummaged through their bags, pulling out various nightgowns.

Anna took hers to the bathroom and Erin shrugged, stripping off her sweater and bra before tugging the flannel nightgown over her head. Penelope followed suit, hurriedly changing before pulling back the covers and climbing in. She was shocked when Erin cuddled up next to her, wrapping an arm around her waist. "I just need to pretend tonight."

"Pretend what?"

"That you're my Courtney. Jared said she cried when she held her daughter. She hasn't cried since she escaped this place. Could I have had it wrong all along? Did her boyfriend save her from this?" The arm tightened and Penelope gently turned to face Erin. As Anna slipped back in the room and made her bed on the floor, Penelope cupped Erin's face, wiping away the tears.

"You had no way of knowing what was going on here. Courtney's catatonic and I can only tell so much from satellite pictures. You did your best to protect her, Erin. And when we get home, you're going to be there to pick up the pieces." Erin nodded through her tears and leaned forward, kissing Penelope's cheek softly.

"I'm going to take Anna Grace to my house when we land. Bring your laptop and come with us. Please?"

Penelope smiled at the older woman. "How could I turn down so sweet a request? Though Jessica might want to drop Jack off, if that's okay. She has her own life, after all."

"Certainly. I mean, he's like your son now, since you've been with Aaron all this time. I am glad he's moved on, you know. It was so tragic, losing Haley that way. I have one last favor for him that I can call in." Penelope nodded and let her arm fall around Erin's waist, pulling her closer.

"Erin, have I told you how wonderfully sweet you are?"

"I've never heard that description of me from a coworker before. But thank you. You've been so kind that it's been easy enough to let my guard down around you." Erin smiled at her and then closed her eyes. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep and Penelope looked over her shoulder to see Anna Grace watching them.

"You can join us on the bed, if you'd like," she said softly. "There's still room for you." The girl nodded hesitantly and got in, curling up at the foot of the bed. Penelope knew it was the most she would feel comfortable with and sighed slightly. The quiet of the place kept her up long after Anna had fallen asleep, and so she saw JJ enter the room. "Hey you."

"I thought you all were asleep," she squeaked out, jumping a little.

"There's not enough noise for me. Listen, if at all possible, bring the leader in alive. Don't let him escape justice by pulling a suicide by cop. There are too many lives he's ruined for that to happen." JJ nodded as she changed and Penelope smiled a little.

"So, you're friends with Strauss now?"

"Yeah. She's really sweet, underneath it all. Do you think Emily will mind? I don't want there to be an issue when she comes back to us."

JJ looked at her oddly. "Emily can't come back. She's dead."

"Hotch told me. I understand, you know. Just tell her all the good things about Erin, so she understands."

The other woman nodded as she got into bed. "See you in the morning, PG," she said before quickly falling asleep.

Penelope felt the arm around her waist tighten and she looked into Erin's blue eyes. "Thank you."

"For what?" she asked, puzzled by the softly said words.

"For trying to make me look good. I suppose I could try to be nicer at work, since you're making everyone believe I have a heart. Wouldn't want to live a lie, after all."

"Heaven forbid," Penelope replied with a smile. "I think I'm going to like having you as a friend, Erin Strauss. You kind of kick ass. Now get back to sleep, we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

She nodded and they both closed their eyes, giving in to that sweet siren's call.