Chapter 135
AN: I am so beyond excited for you to read this chapter. It starts an arch I'm so excited and happy about so, I really hope you like it.
Two days have passed since Penelope and Emily babysat the Simmons kids overnight. It a Thursday morning and as they don't have a new case Penelope and Emily are actually driving into work together at a reasonable time.
"So, I was thinking, if we don't get a case, how about date night," Penelope suggests.
"I'd love that," Emily responds.
"I'll make reservations," Penelope says, and just as she does Emily's phone rings. "Or maybe I won't," Penelope says, and Emily just gives her a look which says, 'sorry babe'.
"Prentiss," Emily answers, using the earpod she has in her ear rather than the car's system, and she pauses while the other person speaks. "Yes, I understand. No, you've made the right choice," Emily says, about a minute later. "What's the address?" Emily asks, and she pause again. "Okay, I'll contact the rest of my team and have them meet me there," Emily says. "Thank you, Detective," Emily says.
"What's going on?" Penelope asks her wife concerned as Emily does a U-turn.
"That was Arlington PD, they have a double homicide, a couple. Their kids found the bodies," Emily explains.
"Their kids?" Penelope asks horrified.
"Yeah," Emily says, pain in her voice. "We're closer to Arlington than Quantico so it makes sense to go straight there," Emily explains. "I'm sorry, I know…" Emily starts to say, knowing her wife's feelings about going to crime scenes.
"It's okay," Penelope assures her. "I'll call the rest of the team," Penelope says as Emily drives faster.
Not long after Emily got the phone call from the Arlington PD she and Penelope stop at a simple, two story, white house, with a blue door, in Arlington. They know right away that it is the right house as there are several Arlington PD police cars around.
"Pen, you sure you don't want to stay in the car?" Emily asks her wife, as Penelope said that she wants to come inside, which surprises her.
"I'm sure," Penelope says, and the look on her wife's face tells Emily that her wife isn't going to be talked out of this.
"Okay," Emily says and both she and Penelope get out of the car and head straight into the house. Walking through the front door they walk into a fairly open planned living, kitchen, and dining area.
As Penelope and Emily walk into the house the first thing they both notice is, to the left of the door, there are five kids huddled up together. The oldest, who is holding a baby who can't be more than six weeks old, is about nine years old, and has brown eyes, and dark-brown shoulder length hair with bangs. To the left of the oldest girl is another girl who is seven years old, also has brown eyes, and very long light brown hair. Next to the seven-year-old is four-year-old boy who has sandy blond hair and green eyes. Finally, next to the oldest girl, is another boy who also has sandy blond hair and green eyes, who is twenty-seven months old.
After exchanging looks Emily walks over to the police who are standing by the stairs while Penelope, walks over to the children.
"Hi, I'm Penelope," Penelope says, as she squats down in front of the kids, and as she does she can't help but notice that the oldest girl seems to be wearing clothes that are two sizes too small for her.
"I'm Maddie," The seven-year-old girl says. "This is Kenzie," Maddie says, referring to her older sister. "Noah," Maddie says, referring to the boy who is sitting next to her. "Connor and Casey," Maddie explains, pointing to the toddler and then the baby.
"Hi," Penelope says, looking between each of the children.
"Are you police too?" Kenzie asks, as the rest of the team arrive, but Penelope can't tell that as her back is to the door.
"I'm actually FBI," Penelope explains. "Do you know what that is?" Penelope asks.
"Yes," Kenzie confirms.
"My super team and I are going to find out what happened to your parents," Penelope explains.
"Are they really gone?" Maddie asks, and to Penelope's confusion she doesn't sound sad, there is only disbelief and something she can't quiet place in her voice.
"Yes," Kenzie says, and once again Penelope realizes that her voice is strangely even, as Emily walks over and squats down next to Penelope.
"Em, this is Kenzie, Maddie, Noah, Connor and Casey," Penelope explains, pointing to each of them as she introduces them. "This is Emily Prentiss, she leads that super team I was telling you about and she's also my wife so I know that finding out what happened to your parents is in the best hands possible," Penelope explains, and Emily is once more reminded of how great her wife is with kids.
"Hi," Emily says, smiling comforting at the kids. "Kenzie, do you have grandparents or maybe an aunt or uncle nearby?" Emily asks, knowing from the police that getting the kids talking has been rather difficult, and hoping that Kenzie might know the answer to the question.
"No," Kenzie says, shaking her head. "It's just us," Kenzie explains. "It's always just us," Kenzie explains.
"Okay," Emily says, with a nod. "Thank you, Sweetie,"
"Emily," JJ's voice says.
"I'll be right back," Emily assures the kids, before getting up and heading over to the team.
"What will happen to us?" Maddie asks. "Ï don't want to stay here," Maddie says, as she puts an arm around Noah, who is just hugging an old teddy bear.
"Okay, I'm going to go talk to my team, and the police and see what I can do about that," Penelope says, with a comforting smile, and she walks over to the team.
"How are the kids?" Matt asks, as soon as Penelope is close enough.
"I'm not sure," Penelope admits. "Where are Social Services? They don't want to be here any longer, and I know I'm not a profile, but I don't think it's good for them to be," Penelope explains, looking between the members of her team.
"You're right there, Kiddo," Rossi says to his daughter.
"I talked to Arlington PD, Social Services are backed up, they don't have anyone to get the kids until this afternoon," Luke explains.
"They can't stay here that long!" Penelope exclaims, and she gets an idea. "Matt you drove, right?" Penelope asks, and Matt nods. "So, you have the car seats, do you still have the capsule in your trunk that Kristy's annoyed you still have, because you keep forgetting to donate it?" Penelope asks.
"Yeah," Matt confirms. "And I have a portable bassinet too; something else I was meant to donate," He explains, and once he does Penelope turns to Emily.
"If Social Services can't get here to this afternoon then I want to take the kids to Quantico," Penelope explains. "Staying in the house where their parents were killed is cruel," Penelope says, pain in her voice, and Emily can tell that Penelope is empathizing with the kids, feeling for them.
"It is," Emily confirm. As she knows they will have to talk to the kids eventually she also hopes that a new location will help with the odd behavior the kids are exhibiting. "I'll call social services. Matt…" Emily starts to say.
"I'll go install the capsule," Matt says, giving Penelope the keys, before heading outside, and Penelope heads back over to the kids.
"So, I talked to my team, and if it's okay I'd like to take you back to where I work, to Quantico. Is that okay?" Penelope asks, looking between the two oldest kids, as she is pretty confident that the younger three might not understand.
"Yes, please," Maddie says.
"I need my bag," Kenzie says. "It has toys, and Casey's things. I can't go without it," Kenzie explains, there being an urgency to her voice.
"Okay, where is it?" Penelope asks.
"In my room," Kenzie explains, and once she does Penelope looks over to where the team are. "Tara," Penelope calls, and Tara walks over.
"Kenzie, this is Tara," Penelope introduces. "Can you tell her exactly where your bag is, and what it looks like, and she'll go up and get it for you," Penelope explains, as she doesn't think it would be a good idea for Kenzie to go upstairs.
"It's a purple backpack," Kenzie explains. "On the desk in my room, the first room once you get upstairs," Kenzie explains.
"Okay, I'll go get it for you," Tara says, before walking away, as she does Emily walks back over, given Penelope a nod as she does which tells her that Emily got permission from social services.
"Did Pen explain what's going to happen?" Emily asks, looking between the children and both Kenzie and Maddie nods. "Before you go with Penelope, I need to ask one thing," Emily admits. "Are any of you hurt?" Emily asks, as she knows that Arlington PD couldn't get a straight answer.
"Arm hurt!" Noah says, showing his arm to reveal an adult size handprint bruise, causing Emily and Penelope to exchange looks.
"That wasn't from last night," Kenzie tells Emily. "Noah was hurt a couple of days ago," Kenzie explains. "We're all okay, Emily," Kenzie tells her, and it is clear that she doesn't want to talk about how her brother was hurt.
"Okay, if you're sure," Emily says, knowing that they will have to push for more details once they have built more trust, as Tara walks over.
"Miss Kenzie, I believe this is yours," Tara says, offering the bag to Kenzie, but because Kenzie is holding Casey, she isn't able to.
"How about I hold this for you, and then I'll put it right next to you in the car," Penelope explains to Kenzie, as she takes the bag from Tara. "Would that be okay?" Penelope asks.
"I guess," Kenzie says, though she sounds uncertain, as Matt walks back into the house.
"Speaking of cars, are you all ready to go?" Emily asks, looking between the children.
"Yes," Maddie says, standing up, and Emily gentle picks up Noah, while Penelope does the same for Noah.
"Kenzie, are you okay carrying Casey?" Penelope asks.
"Yes," Kenzie says, and Penelope, Emily, and the kids head outside.
"What was with the bag?" Luke asks Tara as they head outside.
"It had everything, to look after a baby," Tara explains. "Diapers, a can of formular, bottles, wipes, and even toys, not just for Casey, but older children too," Tara explains, and both she and Luke know that there is something off about that.
Over the next few minutes Penelope and Emily get all the kids into Matt's car; Kenzie at her own insistence being the last one buckled in.
"We shouldn't be too long before we're back with you," Emily says to Penelope once the door to the back is closed. "See if you can get anyone to open up, even just a little, something strange happened," Emily admits, feeling concerned about what the kids could have been through.
"I'll try, but I'm not going to push them," Penelope admits, as they head towards the front of the car. "Okay if I set them up in your office?" Penelope asks, as there are more comfortable places for the kids to sit in Emily's office.
"Yeah, fine with me," Emily says. "I'll see you later," Emily says, and once she does Penelope gets in the car and Emily takes several steps back so Penelope can drive off a few seconds later. After watching her wife drive away Emily heads back inside so that she can figure out the truth of what happened in the house as she is determined to do so.
About fifty minutes after she left the Bennett house Penelope has arrived at Quantico, and because she doesn't have any help it is slightly harder to get all the kids out, but she notices that Kenzie naturally helps, without being asked to do so.
"Okay, when we go inside it's really important that you all stay close," Penelope, who has a carry bag with the portable bassinet inside over her shoulder, says holding the capsule with Casey inside in one hand while closing the door with the other. "Kenzie, Maddie, do you think you can keep hold of your brothers hand?" Penelope asks, looking between the two oldest.
"Yes," Maddie says, as Kenzie nods.
"Noah, Connor, it's really important you hold onto your sister's hands," Penelope says, to the little boys.
"I can do that," Noah says, and Connor nods.
"Good," Penelope says, with a smile, looking down at Casey who smiles back at her, unknown to Penelope that is the first time Casey smiled. "Let's go," Penelope says, and they head into the building.
While Penelope is helping the kids into the building at Quantico the rest of the team are still at the house.
"Okay, what are we seeing?" Emily asks, looking between the other members of the team, all of them standing in the master bedroom where the bodies were.
"This room shows no signs of kids," Matt notes.
"I found Casey's birth certificate, she's only six weeks old and her basinet and all her belongs are in the room I assume she shares with Kenzie and Maddie," JJ notes. "That surprised me," She admits.
"Kenzie clearly has experience helping her siblings, she knew exactly what to do to help them into the car," Emily admits. "And Noah has a bruise on his arm, I couldn't get a close look, but I'd bet it's an adult handprint bruise," Emily says, having a sinking suspicion about what has happened in the house. "What have the bodies told us so far?" Emily asks.
"Well the unsub walked straight pass both the kids' bedroom to head here, and it was violent," Reid explains. "Each body has five stab wounds, all centralized in the heart area," Reid explains.
"Which means rage, and they were the targets," Rossi says.
At Quantico Penelope, who has her laptop, is in Emily's office with the kids. While she is sitting at the desk, she has the portable bassinet set up, with Casey inside, next to her. While Casey is next to Penelope Kenzie, Maddie, Connor and Noah are on the couch, all sitting close together. After hitting search on some searches, she is doing Penelope checks to make sure Casey is okay, before walking over to the older kids.
"How would you all feel about some snacks? The snack machine here is pretty good if I do say so myself," Penelope admits. "What do you think?" Penelope asks, looking between the kids, and both Maddie and Kenzie kind of shrug in response. "How about you, Noah? Are you hungry? Are you Connor?" Penelope asks.
"Chips!" Connor says.
"Chips, okay," Penelope says, knowing she will also get some fruit out of the fridge. "Kenzie, is there any food you or any of your siblings can't have? Or don't like?" Penelope asks, as she has come to realize that Kenzie knows everything about her siblings.
"You care about that?" Kenzie asks surprised, and that simple response hurts Penelope.
"I do," Penelope confirms.
"Noah doesn't like bananas. We eat everything else," Kenzie explains.
"Okay, will you be okay for a few minutes while I go and grab the food?" Penelope asks.
"Yes," Kenzie says. "Casey's bottle will need water soon," Kenzie tells Penelope, as she gave her sister a bottle just before she found the bodies.
"I can prepare that," Penelope says, and once she does Kenzie opens her bag and pulls out a bottle which she gives to Penelope.
"Could I have some milk?" Maddie asks, sounding nervous about the question.
"Sure," Penelope assures her. "I will be right back, if you need anything, I will be just on the other side of the big room we walked through, okay?" Penelope asks.
"Okay," Maddie says, as Kenzie nods, and Penelope heads out of Emily's office, leaving the door open so Anderson, who is nearby, can hear if something happens.
About ninety minutes after Penelope went to get the kids food, they have all eaten the food she got, drunk the milk and water, and Casey has had a bottle, and is now sleeping. As Penelope works on her computer while the older kids play Penelope notices the rest of the team arrive back.
"I'll be right back," Penelope says, checking to make sure Casey is okay, before heading out of the office and meeting Emily by JJ's desk.
"How are the kids?" Emily asks.
"Quiet," Penelope admits. "And Em, they seemed shocked when I said they could eat anything they wanted, and Maddie seemed almost scared to ask for milk," Penelope admits, and it is painful for her to do that, and it's just as painful for Emily to hear.
"Pen, I know you don't want to push them, but we need to talk to the kids," Emily admits, wishing they didn't as those kids have been through so much. "Social Services is struggling to find a placement for five siblings, and chances are they will have to be split up, and because of that they agreed to let the kids stay here until the case is over as long as they don't leave the building," Emily explains. "So there may be no time crunch, but we need still need to know what happened, need to know why they were targeted; they're the only ones who can help with that," Emily explains to her wife.
"I know…. I just don't want them to be hurt, or in pain," Penelope admits.
"I know, Babe," Emily says. "I don't want that either," Emily admits. "That why, if you're willing, I thought you and I could talk to them, with Tara observing," Emily explains, knowing that this is beyond Penelope's usual job description, but considering she has spent the most time with the kids they are likely going to be most comfortable around her.
"I can try, but are you sure that's a good idea?" Penelope asks.
"It's the best way I can think for us to get what we need while causing the least amount of harm," Emily explains.
"Three people, don't you think that will overwhelm them?" Penelope asks concerned.
"Not if it's only you and Me doing the talking," Emily explains. "I think it's really important that we have Tara observe," Emily admits, feeling that way due to Tara's training.
"Okay," Penelope says.
"I'll get Tara and meet you back in my office," Emily says, Penelope nods, and the two of them go in different directions.
A few minutes later Tara is sitting on the corner of Emily's desk, in position to observe, while Penelope and Emily have pulled chairs over and are sitting in front of the kids.
"These questions we need to ask are really important, and we need you to answer them the best you can," Emily explains. "Do you think you can do that?" Emily asks, looking mainly at Kenzie and Maddie, but also Noah, while Connor is sitting on the ground playing with blocks which must have been in Kenzie's bag as she knows she didn't have them in her office.
"Yes," Kenzie says, as Maddie nods.
"It's also super important that if you need to stop for little while you tell us, there is no rush we can take all the time you need," Penelope explains.
"Okay," Maddie says, and Kenzie nods.
"I want to start with this morning, what happened when you woke up?" Emily explains. "Do you remember what time you woke up?" Emily asks, looking between Kenzie and Maddie, as she figures they would be up first.
"About five thirty," Kenzie says. "I got up, and got dressed, and got Casey's bottle ready," Kenzie says.
"Kenzie woke me up, when she always wakes me up on a school day, and she woke up Noah and Connor too," Maddie explains. "We went down to the kitchen after we got ready," Maddie says.
"That's really good, Kenzie, Maddie, what happened next?" Penelope asks.
"I realized it was getting later, and I knew they'd be angry if they slept too late," Kenzie says, and all three of the adults notice the specific wording. "I went to wake them, and I found… I found…." Kenzie starts to say, it is clearly difficult for her to do so, and so Emily leans forward and takes her hand.
"It's okay, Kenzie, you're doing really well, Sweetheart," Emily assures her. "I know it's really scary, and really painful, but I need to know what you did when you found them," Emily explains. "Do you think you can do that for me?" Emily asks, and as she does Maddie moves closer to her sister, clearly wanting to give her comfort.
"I just stood there, I didn't know what to do," Kenzie admits. "I heard Noah laugh from downstairs, so I walked over to the bed, and picked up the phone on the bedside table," Kenzie explains. "I called 911, and went back downstairs," Kenzie explains. "I didn't want Maddie, Noah or Connor to come and find me and see what had happened," Kenzie explains.
"That's really good, Kenzie, that helps a lot," Penelope tells her, reaching over and putting a comforting hand on her leg, and as she does Casey start to cry.
"I've got her," Emily says, and she gets up and walks over to where Casey is. getting to Casey Emily carefully picks her up. "It's okay, Sweetheart, I've got you," Emily says, as she starts to bonce Casey as she holds her close, and as she does Casey smiles at her, a smile which is only her second smile ever. "Oh, there you are, that's better isn't it?" Emily says, and she continues to bounce Casey until she is sure the little girl is comforted. As Emily comforts Casey Tara can't help but notice the way Kenzie watches the interaction, she seems to be experiencing some kind of combination of shock and amazement. Once Emily is sure that Casey has stopped crying, and is comforted Emily walks back over to the older kids, and sits down, though she is still holding Casey.
"To find out what happened we need to get an idea about what kind of people your parents were, that will help us figure out who hurt them," Emily explains. "That means we have to ask some more questions, is that okay?" Emily asks.
"I guess," Kenzie says, even though she looks like she really doesn't want to.
"Was there anyone your parents didn't get along with? Was there someone they had a fight with? Or someone that they used to spend time with and don't anymore?" Emily asks, trying to be gentle in the way she asks.
"They don't spend time with other people," Kenzie explains.
"And they only fight with each other, and us," Maddie explains, causing Penelope and Emily to exchange looks as they both know what they have to ask.
"Noah, Sweetheart, did one of your parents hurt your arm?" Penelope asks, in a gentle tone of voice, leaving forward.
"She did, after he was mean," Noah explains.
"Oh, I'm so sorry Honey," Penelope says, giving Noah a hug.
"Had that happened before?" Emily asks, as Penelope and Noah break apart.
"Sometimes," Maddie says.
"I try to keep Maddie, Noah, Connor and Casey safe, I really do," Kenzie says.
"I'm sure you do Honey," Emily assures her.
"I should have tried harder," Kenzie says, looking down at the ground, as guilt is clear in her voice.
"Oh Sweetheart," Penelope says, her heart breaking for the little girl.
"It's not your fault," Emily assures her. "I never want you to think it is, okay?" Emily says, reaching out and putting her hand on Kenzie's leg, who looks up at her. "Kenzie, I want to say it, what happened to you and your siblings wasn't your fault," Emily tells her.
"What happened wasn't my fault," Kenzie repeats, and Emily nods.
"Did you ever tell anyone what was happening, maybe a teacher?" Penelope asks, in a gentle tone of voice.
"I was scared," Maddie admits.
"I wanted to, I should have," Kenzie says. "But she said that if I did, I would never see Maddie, Noah, Connor and Casey again," Kenzie explains. "I couldn't let that happen; I look after them!" Kenzie exclaims.
"You always have," Maddie assures her sister, as Connor, almost like he understands what is going on, moves from where he is on the floor to his sister, and hugs her.
"You're all doing, really really well," Emily assures them.
"You should be super proud, you're really helping," Penelope says.
"I just have a couple more questions, is that okay?" Emily asks, looking between the kids, and both Maddie and Kenzie nods.
"Do you remember what time you went to bed last night?" Emily asks.
"Um, I went to bed around, nine. Maddie, Noah, and Connor went to bed a little earlier," Kenzie explains. "I don't remember when," Kenzie admits.
"Did you wake up at all during the night?" Penelope asks.
"To feed Casey," Kenzie says, with a nod.
"Do you remember what time that was?" Emily asks.
"Um, midnight, and then again at about three I think," Kenzie answers, sounding uncertain.
"That's really good, Kenzie, it really helps," Penelope tells her.
"Kenzie, do you remember hearing something when you woke up? Or maybe seeing something strange while you were making Casey's bottle?" Emily asks.
"No," Kenzie says, shaking her head, but then she realizes something.
"What is it, Sweetheart?" Penelope asks, noticing the look on her face.
"The second time I woke up, I heard footsteps when I got back into bed," Kenzie explains. "I didn't want them to realize I was awake, so I quickly closed my eyes, and I fell asleep," Kenzie explains.
"Okay, that's good Kenzie," Emily tells her. "I want you to try something for me. Do you think you can do that?" Emily asks, and Kenzie nods. "Close your eyes, sweetheart, lean back against the couch," Emily instructs, and Kenzie does that. "It's this morning, you've just given Casey her bottle. You're back in bed," Emily says. "What do you hear?" Emily asks.
"Footsteps," Kenzie answers.
"And what do they sound like? Are they heavy, or light? Quiet or loud?" Emily asks.
"Heavy, but quiet, like they are trying to be quiet," Kenzie answers. "They stop,"
"They stop?" Penelope asks.
"I think they're going to come into my room, but then they start again," Kenzie explains, opening her eyes.
"That's really good, Kenzie," Penelope says.
"You've really helped," Emily tells her, and Kenzie feels a little proud. "Tara and I are going to go talk to our team, but Penelope's going to stay with you," Emily explains.
"Will you come back?" Kenzie asks.
"Of course," Emily says, as she gentle passes Casey over to Penelope, who seems to be just as comfortable with Penelope as she is was with Emily, before getting up and heading out of the room, with Tara. As she heads towards the roundtable room Emily looks back into her office and sees that Penelope has moved onto the couch, with all five kids, and Maddie is offering her a book which she clearly wants her to read to them.