Chapter 20 –
JJ's hand flew up to her mouth as the tears streamed down her face, completely unable to speak as she just nodded her head.
"I haven't had a chance to get a ring yet, I just needed to ask you, I realised how deeply I cared for you when you were gone."
"I know, all I could think about while I was in that basement, the only thing that kept me going were thoughts of you and Henry."
Dave smiled as JJ leant in against his body once again.
"I'm tired, will you hold me while I sleep?"
"Of course cara, anything."
"Hold me tight Dave, never let me go."
Emily shuffled on the hard plastic chair, her back was beginning to ache as she tried to make herself as comfortable as possible, although she knew that all of the people who had hurt Sophie were now dead or under arrest Emily was reluctant to sleep. Carefully she took her boots off before she gently placed her feet up at the end of the bed, crossing her arms Emily was pleased that Sophie was still asleep and undisturbed by nightmares.
"Nice to see you are getting comfortable!"
Emily jumped slightly as she turned to see Morgan standing in the doorway, a wide grin on his face.
"Hey to you too Derek, what are you doing here in the middle of the night?"
Emily whispered as Morgan entered the room bringing another chair with him.
"I thought that you could do with some company and this..."
Morgan held out a cup of coffee and smiled as he saw Emily's eyes light up.
"You are a superstar Derek Morgan, thank you!"
Emily eagerly accepted the drink and held it warmly in her hands before she turned back to Morgan, slight look of concern on her face.
"So what really brings you in here in the early hours of the morning Derek?"
"I couldn't sleep and thought that it was pointless laying there staring at the ceiling, I may as well come and keep you company."
"It was bad then?"
Morgan nodded, knowing that Emily was talking about the deaths of Troy Sharpe and Adam Richards.
"This is good coffee."
Emily smiled as she quickly changed the subject, knowing that Morgan didn't want to talk about the case right then and to be honest, neither did she.
"Only the best for you Princess."
The smile was back on Morgan's face as he reached down and picked up his own coffee. Emily's smile returned but then she heard shuffling from the bed and quickly looked at Sophie, the monitors were not beeping but the girl's eyes were open, fear clearly evident in them. Emily quickly swung her feet off of the bed and leant forward closer to Sophie.
"Hey Sophie, its Emily."
Sophie looked at Emily, tears present in her eyes as she started to gasp for breath.
"Shh Sophie, calm down, it's ok you're safe now."
Sophie reached up and grabbed Emily's hand tight and then stared hard at Morgan.
"Who's that?"
"It's ok Sophie, that's Agent Morgan."
Emily spoke quietly as Morgan went to stand up to leave but Emily reached across and put a hand on his leg to stop him. Sophie concentrated hard on Morgan as he relaxed back into his seat and gave her a faint smile, it was then that Morgan remembered that at no time had he actually met Sophie before.
"Where's JJ?"
"She's back at the hotel resting, don't worry Sophie she's fine."
Sophie nodded as Morgan gently moved forward and looked at Emily who nodded her head.
"It's really over now Sophie, we've stopped everyone. It's only going to get better now."
The tears dripped down Sophie's face as Morgan spoke, he wanted to reach over and comfort her but he knew that it was too soon for that and reluctantly let Emily reach up and wipe the tears away.
"Thank you, I know how much pain and hurt I've caused you and JJ."
"Don't Sophie, none of this is your fault, we don't blame you at all."
Morgan's voice rose unexpectedly, he hadn't been present before when JJ and Emily had tried to interview, how she had shut down and had tried to take the blame for murders that she did not commit.
"What happened? I mean I know what happened, I got shot but?"
Sophie's eyes drew over to the monitors and then Emily who smiled warmly at her and Sophie felt a strange easiness come over her.
"The bullet hit you in the back, you lost a lot of blood, we nearly lost you a couple of times, the surgeon had to remove one of your kidneys but things are looking good now."
Sophie slowly nodded as she absorbed the news.
"I nearly died?"
"Yeah but I know how stubborn you are and you certainly proved it to the doctors!"
Emily grinned as she tried to make light of Sophie's condition but then she saw Sophie frown again.
"What's the matter Sophie?"
Sophie closed her eyes and tried to pull her hand away from Emily but the brunette refused to let go. Emily turned to Morgan but he just shrugged his shoulders.
"Sophie don't do this to yourself, come on speak to us, we can't help you otherwise."
Emily's voice sounded desperate, the tiredness was catching up with her and she wanted to help Sophie but the girl was still throwing up walls.
"What's going to happen to me? I mean after, my mom is..."
Emily heard Morgan puff out his cheeks as she closed her own eyes momentarily.
"I guess I'll end up in a children's home, at least it will better than where I was before, but I would like to see Agent Jareau before you all go."
Sophie swallowed hard as she finished, her body tired and the emotions of the conversation catching up with her, she tried to keep her eyes open but before Emily had a chance to reply she had fallen back asleep.
"Oh man what are we going to do Emily? Can't you speak to her? Wake her up?"
"I can't Derek, it's the drugs, we're lucky she stayed awake as long as she did, JJ needs to be the one to talk to Sophie."
Emily sighed as she finally let go of Sophie's hands, she knew that the girl's body badly needed rest in order to heal.
JJ opened her eyes and a smile immediately crossed her face, her body curled up against the warmth of Dave and his arms were still wrapped tightly around her.
"Feeling better cara?"
"Immensely, I didn't dream our conversation last night did I?"
"No cara you certainly didn't, no regrets?"
Dave smiled as he bent his head down and peppered JJ's neck with light kisses.
"Oh no, none at all especially if you continue with that!"
JJ intertwined her fingers with Dave's and closed her eyes, she couldn't believe the change in her mood in such a short time and that one man was completely responsible for it but then the memory of what had brought her to Sewickley came bursting back and she took a deep breath.
"Cara?"
"Sorry Dave I just thought about Sophie."
"That's ok, do you want to go and see her?"
JJ nodded her head as she turned around and looked Dave deep in his eyes.
"I haven't had a chance to speak to her since, you know and..."
"I understand cara I do, plus I need to thank her myself."
Dave smiled as he leant in again, unable to let JJ out of his grasp, kissing her passionately on the lips.
JJ had a hold of Dave's hand as they walked along the hospital corridor, she felt like a giddy school girl but the feeling soon faded as they neared Sophie's room. She felt Dave's fingers tighten slightly as they stopped outside Sophie's room but she smiled as she saw Sophie sleeping peacefully with Morgan and Emily sitting protectively in the room.
"You ok cara?"
"Uh huh well I'd be better if she was awake."
"I know cara but give it time, it's early in the morning."
Dave smiled as he bent over and kissed JJ on the cheek before Morgan stepped out of the room with a broad smile across his face.
"Well JJ you are certainly looking better!"
"Thanks Derek, how is she?"
"Resting, Sophie woke in the night and panicked a bit but Emily managed to calm her down, she's starting to wonder about the future and she wants to speak to you JJ."
JJ nodded as she looked at Dave who gave her a supportive nod of his own head before she let go of his hand and walked into the room, words spinning around her head as she waited for Sophie to wake up.