AN: So I'm still alive and recovering slowly. Thank you to everyone who replied and PM'd me. I'll be updating as soon as possible, hopefully this weekend if I can keep the brain fog at bay. Until then, please accept my peace offering of this half chapter. I'll finish it and post the rest soon.

AN2: If anyone wants to hear what ACJ was up to in England with Ambassador Prentiss please let me know.

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds. Catherine Jareau is mine, along with all the other characters you do not recognize.

Chapter 18: Catherine Jareau

"I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge.

that myth is more potent than history.

That dreams are more powerful than facts.

That hope always triumphs over experience.

That laughter is the only cure for grief.

And I believe that love is stronger than death."

- Robert Fulghum

Friday July 29, 2011

6:00 pm

Jenny knocks and enters my bedroom. Without saying a word she sits down on my bed with me. "Why isn't your suitcase packed Catherine?" She asks me, confusion evident on her face. "We're supposed to leave in a few hours. Henry and I are packed and our bags are waiting in the trunk. You haven't even started packing yet. This isn't like you. What's wrong Kittycat?"

I sigh. I've told my sister several times already that I'm not going with her but she just hasn't been listening. Maybe my answer will sink in this time: "I'm not going to Valencia with you and Henry Jenny."

She frowns and tucks a loose strand of hair behind her left ear, "What do you mean you're not coming with us? Jessie's birthday is on Monday and I took Monday and Tuesday off so we could visit her and see Aunt Charlotte and Tanya is home from university."

I cross my arms, "I'm not going Jenny. Emily is coming home on Monday. I'm going to be waiting for her at her condo."

Jenny winces.

I frown at her, "It will be 147 days that Emily has been gone on Monday."Jenny sighs, "I thought you had given up on that nonsense Catherine. Emily is dead, there is no where for her to come back from."

I glare at my sister, "I don't care what you say Jennifer. Jessie may be dead but Emily is not. Emily is coming back home and I'm not wasting anymore time waiting to see her."

Jenny bites her lip and looks indecisive.

"I'll light the candles for Jessie here and you can tell me the story over the phone or you could tell me tonight or when get back," I whisper, trying to make what I've said seem less harsh.

"Okay," she whispers finally and somewhat brokenly."I'm sorry Jenny," I whisper back, "But I have to do this. I didn't mean to imply that Jessie was less important than Emily. I need her to come back. You understand don't you Jenny?"

My sister holds her arms open and I lean into her. "I would rather you come home with Henry and I Kittycat and not waste your day waiting for something that isn't going to happen but you're an adult now, so it's your prerogative if you to make stupid decisions. I just don't want you to get hurt."I roll my eyes, "I'm not going to get hurt Jenny. Emily is going to come home and then everything will be okay and go back to normal."

Jenny hugs me tightly before releasing me, "I love you Kittycat. Don't forget to say goodbye to Henry before we leave, he's really going to miss you. So will Aunt Charlotte and Tanya."

I snort, "Way to lay on the guilt Jen. I know that Tanya doesn't miss me at all and honestly Jen, Henry misses me when I go to the bathroom. A couple hundred miles isn't going to change much about that."

Jenny laughs quietly as she moves across my room, "Come eat, dinner is ready."

I get up off my bed, "Why didn't you say that in the first place? I haven't eaten since breakfast."

"Catherine!" she exclaims in shock.

I shrug, "What? I was reading and working on my thesis." I scoot past Jenny and take off running.

Jenny rolls her eyes and chases me down the hall, "I'm going to get you!" she shouts.

I race down the stairs and scoop up Henry from his playpen on my way to the dining room, "Come on Henry we need to hide, your mommy wants to eat us for dinner!"

His blue eyes open wide and his jaw drops.

When Jenny catches up to us in the kitchen Henry shouts, "No mommy! No eat!" Holding his little arms out, palms up in front of himself, "We peoples not food!"

Jenny raises an eyebrow and looks at me.

I grin at her.

She nods and plays along, "I'm so hungry! You smell good, I think you're just what I should eat for dinner.

Henry laughs, "No mommy, peoples don't taste good!"

I offer to trade Henry for safe passage for myself to the diningroom. Jen agrees and I and pass a wriggling Henry to Jenny who blows a raspberry on his tummy and pretends to start eating him.

"No!" Shrieks a squirming Henry, "I'm melting!"

Jenny and I burst out laughing.

3 days.

''On my knees and out of luck, I look up''

- Mumford & Sons

AN3: Thank you for reading, please review :)