Antonia sat on the end of the couch, watching as the little girl began to sign excitedly, her hands moving so quickly that it was almost hard for her to keep up. "Wait, wait." She said, signing for her to slow down, Antonia smiled as she reached over and touched Melody's cheek, smiling as she leaned into it. She turned to Aiden. "She's very happy that I can sign." She said, a small laugh escaping her lips as she looked up at his grin.
"I can see that." He said, glancing to the door. "She's really taken by you." He said, watching Melody's eyes flick from himself to Antonia as they spoke.
"We need to get her statement." She said, watching her brow furrow slightly. "It should probably be recorded. I don't want to miss anything, but I also don't want her to be scared."
"I think if you are the one asking the questions, she'll open up." He said, taking her hand as he crouched down toward Melody. "Ask her if she trusts you." He said softly.
"Do you trust me?" Antonia asked, watching as Melody nodded her head.
"I don't like the man with the gun." She communicated back to Antonia, who looked to Aiden.
"She doesn't like Ace." Antonia said, looking to Melody with a smile. "He's a good man." Antonia told her. "He doesn't always know what to do with children. He works for the FBI. He is like a fancy police officer."
"Who is he?" Melody asked, indicating Aiden, and watched as Antonia's grin became brighter.
"This is Aiden." She replied. "He also works for the FBI, with Ace, the man with the gun."
"Is he your boyfriend?" she asked, cuddling her bunny as she watched Antonia nod.
"He is, and you can trust him. I promise." Antonia replied. "Are you afraid?"
"Not here." Melody replied. "Please don't let the bad men come back." She replied, as tears came to her eyes and she let out a whimper, holding her bunny close to her.
"We won't let the bad man come back." Antonia replied, speaking aloud as she signed to Melody. She looked to Aiden, who gave her a supportive smile. "We promise."
"I'll see if Angela can set up something in her office." Aiden said, standing up. "I'll let them know what's going on. Cam may need to do an examination." Aiden said, leaning down to kiss Antonia's head, he reached his fist out to Melody slowly, watching as she looked at him curiously. Antonia signed to her what he was looking for, and she lifted her tiny fist to his, lightly bumping it with her own. "Good job." He signed to her, winking as he watched Antonia's surprised expression. "What? I had to learn some sign language. You are always bickering with Grace. I like to know what's going on." He teased, watching her shake her head, as he moved toward the door. "I love you." He signed to Antonia, who signed it back to him, shaking her head with a laugh as he disappeared out the door.
When the door closed, Antonia looked to Melody as she watched the door close and she looked back to Antonia. "I like him." Melody said with a smile.
"He's all mine." Antonia signed with a wink, as she watched the little girl giggle into her bunny as they waited for Aiden to return.
Aiden walked out into the lab and told Angela that they had solved the mystery of the little girl's name. He explained that they hadn't interviewed her yet, and requested that she make it possible to have her interview recorded. Angela agreed happily and went to her office to get everything ready for the interview. Aiden quickly called Harding and let him know what he did about Melody and informed him of their plan for the interview. Armed with a name, Harding continued his research into the mystery of the little girl. Aiden turned to walk back toward the office when he saw Grace stroll through the lab doors with a big grin, her arms full of bags. She had changed out of her uniform, and looked rested and relaxed, happy to see Aiden.
"Well if it isn't our favorite long-lost FBI agent." Grace said with a smile, approaching Aiden, she set the bags on the floor.
"I was gone for a week, and I can assure you, I was not lost." Aiden laughed, giving Grace a hug. "How are the wedding plans going?"
"The wedding is in a month, and I'm pretty sure that Goof isn't going to last that long." Grace laughed.
"Weddings are stressful." He nodded, watching the bright grin on Grace's face, and a curious eyebrow lift. "No." he shook his head. "Don't even go in the vicinity of there." He laughed nervously.
"Why not?" Grace asked.
"Because your sister and I have been dating for less than a year, and if I even thought of saying the word marriage in any other context than your marriage, she would murder me and ensure that every trace of my existence is erased, so don't even go there." Aiden said, shaking his head, though a bit humored. "What do you have there?" He asked, nodding toward the bags, hoping to change the subject.
"Some clothes for the little girl. Did you see her?" Grace asked. "I just feel so awful for her. Poor little thing."
"Melody." Aiden said, smiling at Grace's expression. "We cracked the code." He laughed, signing her name to Grace, he watched the look of realization cross her face.
"She's deaf?" She asked, watching Aiden nod. "That's insane." She laughed, though her face turned serious after a moment. "Did you ask her what happened? Did she see anything?"
"We're going to interview her in a little bit. I figure let her get a little more comfortable with Tex, and the lab first. She'll be more willing to give information if she doesn't feel threatened." He explained, watching Grace nod. "Why don't you go on in, let her get changed and I'll let you guys know when Angela is ready to go."
"Sounds good." Grace said, smiling as she lifted the bags back up. "She really missed you, Aiden."
"I missed her." He said sincerely, watching a flash of concern in Grace's eyes. "Don't worry. She'll be okay. You know how she goes into everything full bore. She knows she's not your mother, but it really doesn't stop her from trying. She was probably bored this weekend because she didn't have me to distract her."
"I guess." Grace shrugged, smiling a little.
"I'll take care of her." He promised. "You worry about your wedding, and I'll worry about your workaholic sister."
"It's a deal." Grace smiled, watching the sincerity in his eyes, she smiled. "It's good to have you back." She said, hurrying off to the office.
Antonia looked to the door as it opened, giving her sister a surprised expression when she saw the bags in her hands. "Did you buy out the store?" Antonia laughed.
"I had Ace's credit card, and no idea what to get. I may have gone overboard." She said, smiling at the little girl, she watched the wary expression on her face and set the bags down. "Hello, Melody." She signed, watching the girl smile as her jaw dropped and she said hello. Antonia smiled, knowing that Grace had spoken with Aiden on her way in.
"This is Grace, my sister." Antonia told her, watching her look between the two women. "She brought you gifts."
"Gifts?" Melody replied, her eyebrow lifted as Grace started going through the bags. "Grace is the police lady." Melody said, looking to Antonia, who confirmed. "The police man took my mommy." She said, watching her carefully. "She didn't come back."
"We can talk about your mommy if you want to. Grace is a good police officer." Antonia said with a smile. "She thinks you are special." She said, watching as Grace pulled out three different outfits from the bag, she grinned at her sister.
"Okay, let's get this fashion show started." Grace said to Antonia, who shook her head at her sister's excitement, and they proceeded to get Melody into some clean clothes.