Things had seemed to enter a détente between Alex and herself, though Erin still felt like she wanted to reach out and ask her about her day every time that she had to pass through the bullpen for something. Still, she had tried to hold on to the advice of her friends and husband as they navigated this emotionally fraught time, knowing that it would probably be for the best in the long run. And then, David had informed her that he was taking a trip down to Mexico to try and hunt down the unsubs that had escaped their custody. She knew that it was the right thing to do, but she also wished that it wasn't happening at this time, since she needed his strength to rely on as she tried to not think about interrupting Alex's peace in order to make the amends that she selfishly wanted her to accept.

It took Helen loudly clearing her throat to get her attention, and her head snapped up to look at her assistant, seeing the stricken look on her face. "Is everything all right?"

"Elise's school is on line one, and they said that they needed to urgently speak with you. The secretary wouldn't say what it was about, since I'm not related to her, I'm sorry."

"It's okay. Just, stay here while I answer?" Helen nodded as she quickly made her way over to Erin's desk, taking a seat in a chair as Erin picked up her phone and pressed the flashing light. "This is Erin Strauss-Rossi. What's happened to Elise?"

"I'm so glad that we were able to get ahold of you so quickly. There was an incident on the playground after lunch, and Elise took a tumble from the monkey bars. We think that she broke her arm, and would like to know if you want us to send her to hospital in an ambulance, or if you'd like to pick her up and take her yourself?"

Erin felt her heart sink into the pit of her stomach, and was certain that her face had drained of all color as she tried to comprehend what she had just been told. "Is, is she in a lot of pain?"

"I think so, since she's wincing a lot, but she's a brave little trooper, and has barely cried at all."

"She's taken a lot of falls off her pony, so that doesn't surprise me. I, I think that I'll come down and bring her in myself, if you don't mind. I can be there in twenty minutes. Please, tell Elise that I'm on my way?"

"Of course, Erin."

She disconnected the call and then looked up at Helen. "Elise has most likely broken her arm while at school, and I need to get to her side. Would you please call Jessica and let her know that I need her to pick Catherine up from daycare here after she picks Jack up from school? I don't know how long everything will take, and I don't want Cathy to get scared when she doesn't see me."

"I can do that, yes. Drive safely, Erin."

Nodding, Erin woodenly got to her feet, grabbing her purse out of her desk and made her way out to the stairwell. It was so easy to stumble down the stairs until she was out in the parking lot and making her way over to her car. The drive passed by in a blur, and somehow she was at the school in ten minutes, when it should have taken closer to twenty, and she was glad that no cop had pulled her over. Shaking her head, she fairly ran into the building, a part of her brain telling her that she had to keep her cool so as not to scare Elise. It was easy to find the main office, and then she was letting out a long breath as she looked at the secretary.

"You made wonderful time, Erin."

"My guardian angel gave my car wings. Where's my baby?"

The woman got to her feet and gestured for Erin to follow her. They went down a short hall in the block of offices, and then she could hear her daughter whimpering a little. "It's gotten a little worse since we ended our call."

"Then it's a good thing I made great time," she murmured as the door opened to reveal the nurse and Elise. "Darling!"

"Mommy! Amanda pushed me off the monkey bars, and I think I hurt my arm. Will this mean I can't ride on Saturday?"

"I don't know yet, Leelee. The doctors will know more. Let's head to the hospital, okay?" Elise nodded as she slipped off the chair, her face crumpling in pain as she jostled her arms. Erin felt her own wince of pain, and she had to take a deep breath as she led her little girl out to the waiting car. Again, it was a blur of a drive to the hospital, and she was grateful that there was valet parking at the emergency room, which allowed her to head right inside with Elise.

They had just signed in with registration when she heard a familiar voice call out, "Gumdrop!"

Turning her head, she saw Penelope hurry up to her side and hug her softly. "What are you doing here?" she murmured as they headed over to the chairs in the waiting room.

"You shouldn't be alone, and when Helen told me what happened, I knew that I had to come down here. Kevin can handle the calls from my teams for a few hours, and you need me. Here, let me fill that out for you, so that you can hold Elise while we wait."

She nodded gratefully as she sank down into a chair and carefully helped her daughter into her lap. Elise burrowed in close, holding on to her bad arm as Erin carefully rocked her back and forth, telling Penelope what answers to fill in the blanks when she had questions. "I don't know what I did to deserve friends like you and Jessie and Helen," she murmured before kissing Elise's head. "And I can't even call David, because I don't know if he's in a place that has reception right now? I need to hear his voice."

"Hotch is actually hunting him down while we take care of our little princess. He said not to worry about a thing, he'll take care of what he can on his end."

She sighed and nodded. It was so good to have friends to rely on, especially at a time like this, when she didn't know how badly Elise was injured. "I'll have to thank him when I get back in the office,'" she murmured before resting her cheek against Elise's hair. "I'm so glad that the team isn't out on a case this week, I think that it would be so much more difficult with them gone."

"I think so, too." Penelope reached out and rubbed her back softly. "So, kiddo, how are you feeling?"

"My arm hurts, Miss Penny. And I really want to go ride my pony on Saturday, and I hate Amanda for pushing me down, because it's her fault that I'm hurt."

Penelope looked up at Erin, and she shook her head, almost knowing what the other woman was thinking. "I will deal with her once we make certain your arm is all right. I promise that she won't bother you anymore, and if she does, we'll see about moving her to a different class, since you love Miss Stratton so much. All right?"

"All right, Mommy." Erin let out a long breath as she rocked Elise a little more, wondering how much longer they would have to wait until her daughter was seen.