JJ sat in the passenger seat as Emily drove, head leaned against the window, but determined not to fall asleep. she still thought she could take care of herself and didn't need anyone to stay with her, but there was no chance of convincing Emily of it. She once again felt pain course through her whole body, they could still feel hands all over her body- something she was much too familiar with.

Ben sat in the backseat, tense and on alert. He didn't like being in such close proximity with two women, he of course knew JJ would never hurt him, and she trusted Emily, but he still wasn't quite comfortable. He still hadn't accepted he didn't have to go back, he was expecting at any moment for 2 men to come grab him and take him back, even if he was across the country.

Ben didn't know what life would be like with JJ, he didn't remember living anywhere but 'The Downstairs' the only other place he would go is to church, which was just of a few flights of stairs, and 'The Hut'. unlike some of the other children he didn't have any approved off campus activities. He didn't know what life was supposed to be like, what was he going to do for school, what would he spend his afternoons doing if he wasn't in 'Therapy'.

Emily wasn't sure what to think, she needed to help JJ and Ben get settled- which would probably be easier said then done. She still needed to talk to JJ just wasn't sure how to, to when to for that matter. Then there was the whole Luke situation, Emily knew JJ was closer to Luke then anyone, even Penelope or spencer, and JJ would need time to process that loss, her life would never be the same.

The drive from Quantico to JJs house wasn't a long one, she had Penelope look up the address so she wouldn't have to ask JJ. Despite knowing the team for a long time JJ had never invited any of them over to her house, but was more then willing to go over to someone else's house.

Emily pulled into the driveway, after a fully silent car ride, JJ house wasn't small but it definitely not Rossi's mansion. Emily was the first to get out of the car, JJ hadn't even realized the car had stopped until she heard Emily's door close. JJ got out of the car walking on shaky legs to open Ben's door. Ben was sitting hands folded in front of him eyes lowered.

"Ben. You can get out; I'll show you everything in the house. you're not going to get in trouble." JJ said quietly knowing just how the young boy felt.

Ben lifted his eyes turning to look at JJ, he was scared, everything was out of the ordinary, his whole life had changed in less then 4 days. Hesitantly he unbuckled and climbed out of the car, very slowly. Once he was out of the car, he just stood there he wouldn't do anything without instruction.

"You can follow me" JJ said and walked to the front door with Ben, Emily was busy unloading bags from the back, JJ would have helped her but she wanted to get Ben inside as soon as possible.

JJ led them onto the house, turning on as many lights as she could, neither her nor Ben wanted to be in the dark right now. Bad things happened in the dark.

"Ok, this is where we are gonna live. Emily's staying with us for a little while. Do you want to sit on the couch while I go help Emily?" JJ said to Ben, she gestured towards the couch in the living room hoping Ben would take the offer. Ben said nothing as she went to sit on the very edge of the couch, he had taken it more as a command then a question.

JJ walked back outside, into the night air, moving to the back of her car where Emily was unloading stuff.

"I can help with some of those" JJ said looking at not only her and Emily's go bag, but several large shopping bags, no doubt filled with the things Garcia had bought for Ben.

"No, it's fine I got it. Go back inside" Emily said nonchalantly

"I got it; I can help"

"Don't even worry about it, go sit help Ben, you need rest"

"Emily please"

Emily was taken aback by the desperation in JJs voice, she took her attention away from the bags she was trying to balance on top of each other to look at JJ. JJ eyes had filled with tears and her lip was quivering.

"Hey, it's okay, you can help. I just thought you would want to be in there with Ben." Emily said, she didn't know why JJ had started crying about that of all things, but it was better to just let her help then her crying.

"Thank you" JJ whispered and grabbed a few bags quickly walking into the house, to avoid Emily.

Emily managed to get the rest of the bags in one trip, walking into the house she scanned for where JJ sat the other bags, they were sitting next to the coffee table in the living room, where Ben was sitting on the couch while JJ was nowhere to be seen.

Emily sat down the bags trying her best not to look around the mystery that was JJ house just yet. She decided she would talk to ben for a minute before JJ returned from where ever she was.

Emily sat on another couch across from where ben was, so she didn't make him super nervous. "Hey ben, I know everything is a lot right now, but it will pass. I'm going to be staying here, between me and JJ nothing bad is going to happen to you. I know you might not trust me, and that's okay, but know I will never hurt you. JJ cares about you a lot and wants to do everything she can to make you comfortable."

If Emily was being totally honest, she wasn't sure what exactly to say to ben, but she needed to at least try to get him to trust her so she could help him. JJ couldn't heal if she was also trying to heal Ben.

Ben looked like he was listening, but still said nothing, though he looked like he wanted to.

"Ben, honey. Your allowed to speak" Emily heart broke at the fact she even had to tell him that.

"Really?" his voice was quiet when he spoke, and he sounded genuinely surprised t at what Emily had said.

"Of course, you never have to ask permission to speak. You can whenever you want to, about whatever you want."

Ben sat and processed this information, as JJ walked into the room. In reality she had heard the whole thing about Ben being able to talk, but chose to stay hidden until him and Emily had stopped talking. JJ looked the same as she did before, which threw out Emily's theory that JJ had left to change.

"Hey, where were you?" Emily asked, JJ could have just been going to the bathroom for all she knew, but it never hurt to ask.

"Oh, I was just changing I few bandages that had come off a little on the plane" JJ quickly made up a lie.

"Hey JJ" Ben spoke unsure. "Do you think I could get some food, if not its fine, I can wait till morning"

JJ was surprised ben had come right out and asked, asking for food was a big no-no in 'The downstairs'

"Oh of course, you can eat whenever you want, even if it's the middle of the night. No food is off limits" JJ hadn't eaten much of anything in the past 4 days, and honestly she didn't want to, but if it made Ben happy, she would do it. JJ did her best to shove any emotion she had ever felt down, at least until she was alone.

"Why don't we order in" Emily suggested.

"Yeah, the food in the fridge had probably gone bad anyway, I'll have to get groceries tomorrow." JJ sat down on a chair pulling her phone out of her back pocket to place an order. "What kind of food would you like Ben."

Ben sat shocked, he was proud of himself that he asked JJ for what he needed, all the agents had been telling him to ask for what he needed since they found him. He was shocked that JJ said yes, he had been taught he couldn't eat more then what was given to him, especially after the sun went down. What shocked him even more was when JJ asked what he wanted. He had never gotten a say in anything, or even get to have an opinion. He realized after a few moment he hadn't actually responded to JJ.

"Um, could I maybe just have a burger. Please" that was the only thing he could think of, its what he would always eat when he snuck out to 'The Hut'

JJ quickly ordered the food, knowing her and Emily's order already. "Why don't we look through these bags until the food get here" JJ said and slid off the chair Emily doing the same.

"You too Ben. It's your stuff anyway" Emily said and after hesitating for a moment he joined the two agents on the floor.

JJ had been trying to avoid looking at Ben for too long, afraid of what she might find. But what she had noticed was Ben was still in the mandated navy-blue sweatpants and hoodie to sleep in, and the plain black sneakers. The bags should have some clothes for him to change into.

JJ was right. After opening and unpacking all the bags there was no doubt ben would have something to change into. There were now several piles of stuff on the floor. The biggest pile was of course was the clothes, there was everything he might need for every occasion, including shoes and all in his size- not only that but they were all the best brands- JJ had a feeling Rossi might have something to do with that.

In other piles there was anything else he might need: Blankets- lots of them, toiletries, some stationary supplies, even a few Lego sets- I mean what else could a 11-year-old boy need. Of course, there were a few other things including something JJ hadn't even thought about yet, a phone.

Ben would need a phone, especially when JJ and Emily both went back to work. When Emily pulled it out of one of the bags, she set it aside without saying anything, she set it where JJ could see it, but Ben couldn't, she wanted JJ approval first.

JJ picked of the phone box, examining it, still where Ben couldn't see it. She would set it up in the morning, she had no doubt Ben knew how to use the phone, even if they didn't have then in 'The Downstairs' there was definitely access to them at 'The Hut' Ben might have even had his own there.

Ben didn't talk much while they were opening everything, sometimes he would gasp or examine something slowly, but he always stopped himself. Though he didn't show it Ben had mixed feelings about getting all the stuff, on one hand he was grateful he would wear something that wasn't navy-blue, on the other getting all the things made him feel like they might want something out of him. Even if it wasn't logical.

Right as the finished sorting everything into plies the doorbell rang, causing both JJ and Ben to flinch and tense up, Emily noticed this and remembered how bad things really were. She stood up from her spot on the floor to get the door, luckily it was just the delivery man with their food. JJ had already paid so she just had to take the food.

She walked back into the room where Ben and JJ were, both still looking slightly frightened. "It was just our food." Emily reassured.

JJ relaxed some and took the food from Emily's hand. She pulled out hers and Emily's food and drinks, and set them in front of either person. Then she pulled out a burger, fries, and a sprite setting them in front of him, he didn't touch the food.

"I know you said a burger, but I got you fries to, figured you'd be hungry" JJ said "And once again you don't need permission to eat, you can eat whatever whenever"

At this Ben picked up a couple fries eating them slowly. JJ noticed for the first time how skinny Ben was, she bet if he took his shirt off, she would be able to see his ribs, she was going to have to fix that. After a few more fries Ben started eating at a more normal pace, only then did Emily or JJ turn their attention to their own food.

JJ was starving, but even just the thought of eating seemed to gross her out, but she tried to choke down as much of her sandwich as she could.

Emily watched them both as they ate, both looked like they were forcing themselves to eat, something Emily would have to figure out. But not tonight, tonight she just needed for Ben and JJ to get some rest, and she really needed to get JJ to at least feel her feelings, it was like nothing had changed.

It was already past midnight and as soon as everyone was done eating, she would try to get them both to bed. There were undoubtably be nightmares, most likely from both JJ and Ben, that was if either of them would go to sleep.

A little while later with some encouragement for Ben all three of them had finished their full meals.

"It's already late, why don't we get you settled into you room Ben" JJ said, beating Emily you it.

……………………….

A/N: wow I actually have notes this time crazy. Firstly thank you to everyone who's been reading, I honestly wasn't expecting anyone to read it but when j see people follow my story it lets me know someone's actually coming back to read it. That kinda made it sound like the fic is ending, it's not.

Now I get reviews for most chapters I post and I'm so grateful, that's really what gives me the most motivation so that you anyone who reviews

Also the next chapter will focus more on how the things actually affected JJ and Ben, trauma wise.

Stay hydrated folks

You know what's coming

Reviews are appreciated but not required;)