Chapter 29
Over twelve hours after JJ had sat by Leila's bed, the two were still fast asleep, breathing deeply and holding onto each other's hands.
"Should we wake them?" Reid asked quietly from under the doorway as the men of the BAU huddled together.
"I didn't even know JJ could physically be still for this long." Morgan half joked.
"She's still covered in ash." Rossi observed. "Maybe we should wake her."
"It's not like she's going to actually leave even if we do." Reid added, the others murmuring their agreement.
"We could just wait." Morgan suggested. "I mean, it's not like we have anything else to do."
"Well if you're going to wait, don't do it standing over them like a bunch of buzzards." Emily's voice had all four men spinning on their heels. The sight that greeted them was nothing short of unforgettable.
"It's a kettle of buzzards, actually." Reid made sure to inform everyone, receiving several narrowed gazes. "What? She said 'bunch."
"Thanks, Reid." Emily grinned widely as her friends surrounded her. Their attention, however, was not on her. Instead, it was focused on the pink bundle nuzzled against Emily's chest.
"She's so small." Morgan pointed out, his voice lowering in volume as he approached. Reaching out a finger, he stroked the baby's cheek. She responded by immediately opening her mouth and cracking her eyelids. "And a biter, apparently."
"It's called the rooting reflex, Morgan." Reid tried to explain. "It's one of the five basic instincts babies are born with. She thinks she's about to be fed." Looks of amusement passed around the BAU as Morgan slowly understood what the baby had confused his finger for. Retracting the digit, Morgan cleared his throat as the others chuckled at his expense.
"I think I'll leave that part to you." He told Emily. The new mother breathed out a laugh.
"How kind of you."
"She's beautiful, Emily." Hotch finally spoke, his use of her first name as well as the teary look in his eyes caused the woman to smile.
"Just like her mother." Rossi pressed a kiss to Emily's temple as he hugged her briefly. The men ignored the sniffle as Emily quickly wiped at her eyes.
"Thanks guys." She said quietly.
"Where's Knox?" Morgan looked around, expecting to see the detective.
"He's finishing up some of the paperwork and heading to the hotel to pack my things." Emily explained.
"Already got him cleaning up for you, huh?" Morgan flung his wrist forward dramatically in a whipping motion. Emily simply rolled her eyes.
"Once these two are ready, I don't see a reason to stay here any longer." Hotch concluded. "I'm sure they're more than eager to get back home." No one mentioned how the strained situation might make JJ and Leila's living situation uncomfortable. Emily was the first to enter the room, standing over the two women as she watched them sleep. Her eyes lingered on Leila who she hadn't seen in seven months. The girl had lost a drastic amount of weight, seemingly disappearing underneath the bland hospital sheets. Her skin was pale, almost sickly, and Emily could already see new lines on her face that had formed from the stress. It was hard to believe that this girl was only twenty years old. Emily subconsciously pressed her daughter closer, feeling the baby murmur against her breast. The others had filed in around her, standing awkwardly. Rossi pulled out the largest chair and motioned for Emily to sit in it. As she did, the group of six heard a soft knock on the door. They turned to see Agent Cavil, freshly washed but equally as disheveled as when they had last seen her. Her eyes were sunken as though the last twenty-four hours had passed her without rest. The BAU would be surprised if she had even had a glass of water since their return. It was clear that the events of the past two days were weighing heavy on the Marshal's mind.
"Agent Prentiss." She cleared her throat. "Congratulations." The sentiment, although meant well, was conveyed with little to no legitimate joy. Emily chose to look past it.
"Thank you." She said with a smile. "And thank you for…helping my team."
"Helping." Cavil repeated, her eyes dancing around the room. "Right." The BAU saw her swallow hard as she searched for the proper words. "I read the report you all signed."
"You mean we all signed." Hotch corrected her. The woman almost visibly flinched, wrapping her arms around herself at the reminder.
"Why are you protecting me?" The question was directed at anyone who was willing to answer. "I thought…I thought I was doing the right thing but now I just…I just don't know."
"You see those two over there?" Rossi motioned to JJ and Leila, still sleeping soundly. Cavil nodded slowly. "They're our family. You made sure that that man, if you can even call him that, will never hurt them again. You protected us. We're simply returning the favor."
"That's not why I did it." Amy's voice was low, showing the shame behind it.
"We know why you did it, Amy." Morgan added. "But it doesn't make you a bad person."
"Doesn't it?" the woman frowned. "Doesn't it make me exactly like them?"
"We study the absolute worse of humanity." Hotch said. "And do you want to know what the worst ones have in common? They don't give a damn. You clearly do. That is a huge, bolded line that separates you from them, Agent Cavil."
"Just Amy now." The woman shrugged. "I can't live the life I had before without…without Adam. I handed in my resignation this morning."
"If that's what you think is best." Rossi supported the decision, knowing from personal experience just how south a situation like this could turn.
"I came to say goodbye." Cavil took a step forward. Just as she opened her mouth, a soft voice drew their attention.
"What are you all doing here?" JJ yawned, rubbing the sleepiness out of her eyes as she did. Blinking fast, she took in the room before her. "Amy."
"Agent Jareau." Cavil nodded. "I'm glad you're both alright."
"Thanks to you." JJ responded. "I never really got the chance to thank you for-"
"Please, don't." Cavil insisted. "I don't think what I did deserves praise." JJ stood, letting go of Leila's hand. The girl shifted in her sleep almost immediately.
"You saved my sister." JJ stated plainly. "And you made sure that he won't hurt her, or anyone else, ever again. Nothing else matters to me." The former blonde could see the younger woman swallow hard. She couldn't imagine the toll this was taking on her and JJ was, admittedly, thankful that it didn't have to be her. JJ saw a single tear escape as Cavil bit her lip. No one noticed that Leila had already awakened.
"Are you leaving, Amy?" she asked innocently, turning everyone's attention to her. The woman in question took JJ's seat and offered the girl a thin smile.
"Yes." She said, taking the girl's hand in hers. "But I'll see you again. Promise."
"Thank you for everything you've done for me. I know I wasn't exactly the easiest to be around." Leila was already crying. "And…and Adam…he didn't deserve that." Amy averted her gaze briefly as she tried to compose herself.
"What happened…what happened to Adam was not your fault." Amy pressed. "Don't you ever forget that, ok?" Leila simply nodded, reaching out and pulling the woman into a tight hug. Amy fought hard to keep from breaking down in front of everyone as her charge cried into her shirt.
"Don't forget, you promised." Leila reminded her just as soon as she'd let go. Amy nodded.
"I won't." Placing a gentle kiss to the girl's head, Amy stood. She paused at the door, her back to the BAU family, and they could see her deciding whether to turn back or not. Her shoulders shook slightly as she lowered her head and left hurriedly without a second glance. Several moments of silence passed before anyone spoke.
"Holy shit," Leila's exclamation caused everyone to turn to her, surprised, "is that a baby?" Everyone burst into laughter, shattering the uneasiness between them in an instant. "You know you can't just take those, right Em?"
"Well in that case, I guess I should return her before someone notices." Emily sat on the edge of Leila's bed, giving the girl an unobstructed view of the newborn.
"'Her'?" Leila's smile grew exponentially as Emily nodded. "What's her name?"
"Well, I've been giving it a lot of thought recently since, as you'll remember," she motioned to the men in the room, "I practically knew she was a girl. I decided that I want to name her after someone who is equal parts strong and compassionate, kind and intelligent, and, of course, badass."
"You're not allowed to name your daughter 'Hermione Granger'." Reid made a joke that actually had most people in the room laughing. Rossi wasn't exactly sure who Hermione Granger was.
"Very funny." Emily grinned. "So, JJ, would you like to hold your namesake?" The woman in question froze, a look of bewilderment slowly etching itself on her face.
"I'm sorry, what?" she stuttered. Emily rolled her eyes playfully.
"I just called you intelligent. Don't make me look bad." She motioned her friend over and JJ, with some prompting and nudging from Leila, eventually made her way in front of her.
"I don't know what to say." JJ breathed. "You-you really think all that about me?" Tears had once again formed in the younger woman's eyes.
"How could I not?" Emily slowly placed her daughter into JJ's arms. "JJ, I decided to name her after you the moment you, quite literally, took a bullet for me. You didn't just save me. You saved her and you didn't even know her yet. There's no one else I'd want my daughter to look up to more."
"Emily." JJ finally looked up from the infant. Tears were freely flowing down her face, and now Emily's as well, as she reached out and carefully hugged her best friend. Leila and- although they would never admit it- all four of the men also had to swipe a few away. Eventually, when JJ finally relinquished her, baby Jennifer was passed around to meet her new aunt and uncles. By then, Chris had returned with news that all of the arrangements for their flight home had been made. Leila looked at her family, granted missing four very important members, and couldn't believe her luck. After everything, she had never imagined a scenario where this ending was possible. She looked at her sister, smile wide and the sun bright on her face, and felt a whole new wave of happiness overwhelm her. It was difficult to be upset at her family for making the decision they had when she saw them like this. Leila resolved to push past her feelings of betrayal and focus on what was important. She had been given not only a second chance, but a second family that loved and cherished and fought for her in ways most people couldn't even dream. No amount of anger could ever make her push them away. As she heard Emily make a comment about a 'committee of buzzards' and, apparently, correct Reid, Leila couldn't help her first genuine laugh in almost a year.
I am super excited as well as sad to say that there will be one more chapter (an epilogue) after this one. Thank you so much for sticking with me for all these years and taking this adventure by my side. I sincerely appreciate each and every person who even glances at my stories! Hope you all have a great weekend.
