Chapter 11 – Home Sweet Home

Carina wiped the dishes lying in the sink with the tea towel before she swept the floor and vacuumed both bedrooms. When that was done she sorted and arranged everything. Put a fresh pair of clothes on Emily's bed and had her lunch already prepared and ready to go. Emily was coming home after her two day hospital stay and she knew that when she got home all she would want was something good to eat, a hot shower, a change of clothes and nothing else to worry about. If she didn't want that then Carina sure as hell was going to make sure that she did.

She locked the door behind her, entered Emily's now-out-of-evidence car and reversed from the driveway. The sun shone beautifully and the weather was perfect. Not too hot, not too cold. After ten minutes of driving Carina pulled into the hospital car park, took a ticket and found herself a park. Then she walked up three flights of stairs and entered the hospitals first level. She walked around the reception desk toward the elevators, took the one that lead to the floor Emily was staying on and then finally arrived.

Opening the door with a knock Carina saw Emily sitting on the edge of the bed; her bottom lip was still healing but didn't look too bad. Her left cheek had a few white strips on it to help the healing process and there was bruising around her eyes but overall she still had a lot more colour and energy than she had before. "Ready to go?" Carina asked with a smile.

"I couldn't be more ready," Emily replied before she ushered Carina to take a seat next to her.

Carina looked around the room to see flowers sitting in various vases. "Who are those from?"

"That one over there," Emily pointed. "Is from Dave, he heard about what happened. That overly excessive and extremely colourful arrangement was from Garcia, the single rose was from Hotch and the appropriate size one was from Morgan."

"What's that one?"

"That one's JJ's" Emily replied. It was a simple arrangement with a card.

"What does the card say?"

"It says thank you," Emily sighed. "I don't exactly know what for."

"You saved her son, you saved them."

"I didn't do anything."

"That's why you left the phone behind isn't it?" Carina pondered. "If you didn't put it under the car, Hotch wouldn't have known that you were missing as quickly as he did."

"They would have," Emily sighed. "The real reason is because that's the phone that you brought me for my birthday and I didn't want it to get ruined." Carina smiled and placed an arm around Emily's shoulders before she rested her head there too. "You know that I think of you as a daughter right?"

"Of course," Carina smiled. "Just like I think of you as my mum, I mean not really my mum mom but you know."

"Yeah I know," Emily smiled. The Doctor then entered the room with his clipboard in hand and a smile on his dial. "Morning ladies. I just need Emily's autograph here and you will be on your way." Emily took the board and signed the dotted line quickly before handing it to the doctor. "A wheel chair will be here soon."

"That's not necessary," Emily and Carina both replied at the same time before they laughed.

"Okay then, take care of yourself."

"Don't worry she will," Carina smiled before she took hold of Emily's overnight bag and strapped it over her shoulder. Together they thanked the doctor, opened the door and walked toward the elevator.

Two weeks of resting and Emily couldn't wait to get back to work. She arrived with an eager Carina by her side before the doors opened and a welcoming party greeted them. A banner over the balcony saying 'welcome back' and a cake sitting on her desk that said the same thing made Emily smile. "You didn't have to do all this," Emily sighed, even though she was glad they did.

"Yes we did," Garcia replied before giving the agent a hug. "Besides you deserve it." Emily smiled as Garcia proceeded to cut the cake, Morgan licking his lips at the possibility of cream while Reid shot a smile across the room. Emily noticed that Hotch and JJ weren't down at the party. Taking a piece of cake into her hand though she saw Hotch emerge with a smile. "It's good to have you back." Emily acknowledged before she felt a nudge on her right hand side. She looked to Carina before she saw JJ walking down the stairs toward the small congregation. Handing the cake over to Carina she walked to meet her. "Hey," JJ greeted.

"Hi," Emily replied.

"Look Em."

"Don't worry about it," Emily smiled. "I noticed that you moved out."

"Yeah I went back home with Henry, thought you might need some space away from us." JJ explained. "Em I'm sorry."

"Don't apologise for something that you had no control over," Emily smiled. "It happened but it's in the past now."

"So are we good?" JJ asked carefully.

"Of course," Emily smiled.

After the party Emily and Carina walked into Hotch's office. "What can I do for you?" Hotch wondered. "I want to work for the BAU," Carina replied. "I will undergo any training that you need to get me ready for field work, I'll hit the books, and I'll do whatever I have to."

"Are you sure about this?" Hotch asked before Emily nodded her head. They had discussed it before. Now it seemed that she was more determined than ever. "I've never been surer about anything before. I know I was a victim but I rose above it and I want to help people. I want to catch killers, I want to work here."

"I'm sure that you are well aware of the risks of the job."

"Of course Hotch," Emily sighed. "I explained everything to her, she didn't even flinch. She's eighteen and has already enrolled in a Double Degree of Criminal Law and Psychology." Hotch looked between the two. He wondered if it would be a good thing. Having an eighteen year old studying to track and hunt killers. Then again, since Rossi was gone, it wouldn't hurt to have a new profiler on the team. Hotch held out his right hand over the table. "Welcome to the team, Agent Lloyd" Carina smiled and took Hotch's hand in hers tightly. This truly was a new beginning after all.

"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it."
Helen Keller

THE END

AN: I'd personally like to take the time at the end of this chapter to thank kp4377, MilliePrue-BellatrixLestrange, Coachkimm, news for parrots, Marijke S Bush, calzonaobessed, Sara, Glori, ShazFriend, ktaylor85, and StarDuquesneEMT for each of your reviews to this story :) however small or encouraging they were the suggestions, tips, tricks and comments were fantastic so thanks.

I would also like to tell you that this final chapter begins a new series of fic's based on cases similar to that seen in Date with the Devil only with better unsub's, more crime, drama and action and, of course, the best BAU profiling team the world has ever seen. Carina will also be taking over Rossi's position in the team as a probationary agent. I know it seems unlikely that an 18 year old would be part of a team but this is fan-fiction so I am just putting it down to creative license :)

I hope you enjoyed reading this fic as much as I did writing it. Til next time.

Chrissiemusa