Chapter One

Alayah sighed as she looked out the plane window as it touched down in Chicago. She would be the last one off, she knew, so didn't have that unnecessary impatient vibe that people always got trying to get off the plane first. She never understood the simple stupidity that people sometimes – okay most of the time – had. Alayah huffed softly with a small smile. She was channeling her Holmes blood it seemed.

The lady next to her gave her a weird look, her eyes lingering on her left arm in a sling, her right leg in a brace, and bruising and scratches all over her face and visible skin. Alayah raised an eyebrow at the lady who flushed and turned her attention away.

Alayah knew that her cousins weren't going to be happy with her when they found out what happened to her on her last and final case with the BAU team for a while and not returning to England. But she knew she needed a different support system then what the two man child could give her... she shuddered to even think on what the two would do once they heard.

Finally, the plane began to empty, and Alayah rose to her feet, slightly unsteady. The flight attendant came over and helped steady her as Alayah shouldered her backpack then handed her crutch to her.

"Thank you," Alayah said as the other flight attendant stood at the exit with her suitcase. The flight attendants smiled at her kindly.

"No problem, happy to help!" the one holding her suitcase said.

"You can just put my suitcase on the ground." Though puzzled, the flight attendant did so and both flight attendants and the pilots were shocked when the case lit up green, moving slightly on its own. "Thank you again! Have a great day!" Alayah hobbled off, the suitcase following her every step automatically as it was a motorized suitcase that she had designed and programmed to follow the remote that it was connected to in her backpack. She had designed her carryon and her other two pieces of luggage to do this to make it easier for situations of her having the use of one arm.

Alayah ignored the looks shot towards her as she came out into the airport hobbling and suitcase following behind her.

She hobbled along until she got to baggage claim. She stood patiently waiting for her two large suitcases to come through.

Finally, she spotted one coming towards her and turned to the man standing next to her waiting for his own. "Excuse me? Sir, could you grab that suitcase for me?" The man looked at her and smiled, slightly startled at her appearance and her accent.

"Sure thing!" He easily grabbed it and placed it next to her gently before going back to looking for his items.

Her carryon case was still lit up green and as soon as the first large one was next to her on the ground it lit up blue as it turned on and waited for her to start moving.

She ignored the mutters coming from the other travelers as she had just spotted her last one.

"Sir, last one, if you would."

The man smiled again and repeated his actions, this suitcase lighting up red.

"Thank you, I appreciate it." Laya said with a small smile before turning and heading towards the exit the suitcases following to the amazement of those watching. Again, Laya just ignored it and came out by the taxi exit, going towards the first one and non-creep she saw.

"Hello, I need ride to the Viceroy Hotel, please." The cabbie's eyes widened at the name of the most expensive and luxurious hotel in Chicago.

"Yes, ma'am! I'll put your suitcases in the back." Although slightly dumbfounded at the suitcases following her, he didn't say anything and after placing her luggage in the back except for her backpack, helped her into the back of the cab and hopped into the driver's seat.

Then they were off through Chicago, the driver chattering about anything and everything that came to mind.

Alayah hmm'd appropriately to keep him going, knowing that he would continue simply because people love talking about themselves. After a time, they pulled up to the valet parking, the valets moving forward to open her door and to help her out, another getting her luggage out of the back and placing it on the luggage cart.

"Hello, miss, welcome to the Viceroy Hotel. Do you need assistance to the front desk?"

"I shall be fine, sir. Thank you." Alayah turned and handed the cabbie his fare along with a generous tip as well as gave the two valet's tips as well, knowing that it was expected.

Alayah let the valet pushing the luggage rack lead the way as she slowly followed behind.

Now, you might be confused on how a simple FBI agent could afford one of the most expensive hotels in the world? Simple. Not only was she an FBI agent, she also used her IQ of 189 and her engineering and computer skills to invent things. Her cousin Mycroft invested her earnings for her, and she had enough the knew she could retire at the age of 27 and live beyond comfortably for the rest of her life.

However, that wasn't in a Holmes' blood. She knew she would become bored quickly if she retired and would probably take a page out of Sherlock's book whenever he became bored – which would never be a good idea. None of the BAU knew just how loaded she was and liked keeping it that way. The last name she went under in the BAU was her birth name – Alayah Stone and her inventions/money under Alayah Holmes. Both were valid names and if anyone ever looked, it says in files for both names that the two were the same person.

"Hello, welcome to Viceroy Hotel. Do you have a reservation?" the receptionist asked with a polite but strained smile. Alayah felt her gaze sharpen immediately at the disdain that the woman was showing her.

"Yes, my name is Alayah Holmes. I believe I have your penthouse booked for the next month." By the almost gape in shock at her name, Alayah couldn't hide a smirk. So, they knew her name and that was coming. Good. Steadying herself on her good foot as she dug out her license and credit card, she knew she would be needing, she couldn't help but enjoy in the fact that she had shot the woman down with just a few words.

"Ah, yes, of course. One moment please, Miss Holmes."

The woman began to check her in with less color in her skin than before and Alayah enjoyed that.

"Alright, you're all checked in. Here are your two room keys and Thomas will bring you up there. The room key is also needed for the elevator to go all of the way to the penthouse suite."

"Yes, thank you. Come along, Master Thomas," Alayah said pleasantly as she headed towards the elevator slipping three of the four cards the receptionist had handed to her back into her pocket.

The bellhop – having taken over from the valet - and luggage cart followed dutifully, loading onto the elevator by themselves and Alayah pushed the keycard into the slot when told to do so and up they went.

"Are you really Alayah Holmes?" Thomas asked, awe in his voice.

"I am."

"Oh, I'm such a big fan! My daughter loves the nightlight projector that you made a few years ago and just can't go to sleep without it!"

"I'm happy to hear that."

Alayah on purpose yawned and immediately apologized but knew that the bellhop got the intent for he smiled and waved her apologies away as they got off the elevator and entered the hotel room that would be her 'home' for a month.

"Don't worry about it, I can tell that you've been through a lot. Have a good day." He unloaded the luggage cart and backed out, leaving her in the penthouse by herself.

She sighed softly going to go sit down on the couch in the room, propping her leg up as it had begun to ache terribly.

"Yes, a lot indeed." She gazed out the large windows and out into Chicago.

"Welcome home, Alayah, welcome home."