"Merci?" Spencer asked, coming into the apartment. All he could hear was music. This was normal; Merci didn't seem to like to fall asleep in silence. "Are you awake?"

The girl came out of her room. "You're home early."

"Do you want to go to dinner with the team?"

"Do I have to?" she asked.

He was pleasantly surprised that she whined. Usually, she just ignored him. "I don't know when we'll get called out again, and you haven't seen them in a few weeks. And Garcia has something for you."

"Fine, I'll go."

"I'll have the lemon chicken and a Mountain Dew," Merci said with a soft smile. "Thanks."

"Okay!" Garcia said after a brief silence. "Present time!"

Merci took the small bag. "Thank you?"

"Well, open it," Morgan said.

She gingerly pulled a small black box from the bag and slowly opened it. "Wow." It was a necklace, a rusty antique key hanging off a piece of thin brown leather. "Is there some significance behind the key?"

"There was case before Rossi returned and Prentiss joined where the unsub said the 'youngest holds the key'. You're younger then Reid."

"So, I'm a honorary member of the team now? Or is this some lame attempt at me making less moody? Because I'm pretty sure Henry is about thirteen years younger than me."

The team shared a brief glance. "I told you she was going to act like I did at her age," Prentiss sighed.

"I'm just as good as you are at predicting human behavior. It comes from years of sitting on the edge of the room and just watching. What else do you want to try?"

"And you want to be an MD?"

"No, I've switched my major to Anthropology."

Spencer looked at his sister in shock. "When were you going to tell me this?"

"It's not any of your business, brother dearest," she snorted. "I'm taking an introduction course down at the CC and then I'm going to utilize my scholarship to Georgetown. Can I be excused? I need to use the restroom."

"Sure…" Spencer said slowly.

"Thanks." As soon as he started to speak, she got up and ran toward the ladies' room.

"What am I doing wrong?" Spencer said, more to himself then the others.

Morgan clapped him on the shoulder. "It's a start, kid. You got her out of the house."

Merci stared at her pale reflection in the mirror. She had already started shaking and could feel hot tears in her eyes. Someone knocked (it was a one-person bathroom). "Just a minute!" she called, hoping her tears weren't obvious.

"MJ, it's Prentiss. May I come in?"

Merci unlocked the door and slowly opened it. "I can't do this anymore, Emily," she sobbed, stepping back. "The nightmares won't stop."

Prentiss quickly shut the door behind them and hugged the tall girl. "It's okay. Let it out."

"I want to forget," she whimpered, circling her wrist with her hand. "But I can't. It's impossible. Spencer does even act like he's been through what's happened to him."

"Reid is 13 years older than you, MJ." She pulled back from the girl. "Why are you holding onto your wrist?"

Merci visibly increased pressure, although no worry showed in her tone or face. "No reason."

"Alright, MJ," Prentiss said, keeping her tone even. "I'll give you a few minutes."

As soon as Prentiss left the room, Merci wrapped some paper towel around her wrist and covered it with her jacket sleeve.