This chapter is super, duper long. I apologize! But I couldn't really find a good place to cut it off, so I just made it one huge chapter. Which is why it took me a few days to update again, as I had been doing one a day, but then I ran out of completed chapters, and, yeah :p haha. But nevertheless, here it is, chapter 7! :)

& blah blah blah don't own anything it's not mine yadda yadda yadda :)

Thank you to all the lovely reviewers, favoriters, and story alerters :)

Kaila Fisher

I walked to the elevator, on my way back to my room. Emily got in behind me and instinctively put her arms around my shoulders as we rode up a floor. Again I wondered if Emily had any kids, since she was so motherly.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure you can," Emily replied.

"Do you have any kids?"

Emily didn't say anything for a moment. "No, I don't." She said.

"Oh I was just wondering. You would be a good Mom."

"You think so?" She questioned.

"Yeah, I've just noticed today how Mom-like you are." Emily smiled, but didn't respond.

Then there was an awkward silence, as the elevator opened and we stepped out.

It really hurt to walk, and I tried to hide it. But it didn't work. Emily guided me into my room very carefully, and eased me back into my bed.

"Emily, I'm not gonna break! It just hurts a little still."

"I just don't want it to get any worse," she said.

"Well thanks," I said, looking at my arm, which had stopped bleeding. "They're not gonna put the IV in here again are they? Because that'd hurt."

"They'll put it in your hand, probably. Or just go on the other side. I cannot believe you pulled out your IV!" She told me.

Before I could respond, the night time nurse came in the room, along with the doctor, Dr. Coble.

"Well," he said looking at me. "Looks like we got ourselves an attempted runaway, huh?"

"I wasn't trying to run away..." I said dryly. "I just needed out of this room."

"Well, I know this place isn't any fun, but you can't go ripping IVs out. You're lucky you didn't do any more damage. Your arm will be fine, it'll be a little sore and will bruise. It'll need a bandage too. I'll have the nurse take a look at your stitches, be sure you didn't pull any of them out. But other than that, I think you'll be fine. Also, you'll need to put your hospital gown back on." He said.

"Okay." I replied.

"Anything else we should know?" Emily questioned him.

"Well, we'll probably release her on Monday. I want to keep her a couple more days, just because those stitches still need to heal, and even the smallest movement could rip them right out. Her concussion had me worried at first, but her memory seems to be fine. She got really lucky, I'd say." He said, telling the nurse with him what to do, and leaving.

The nurse handed me my hospital gown from before. "You need to put this back on, then I'll check those stitches." She said, helping me off the bed. I walked myself to the bathroom, still ignoring the ever present pain in my stomach from all the moving around I'd done. I carefully changed my clothes, and got back into bed. The nurse checked the stitches, and said that luckily, none of them had been pulled out, but they were really close, so I had to be even more careful about the way I moved. I sighed.

"Can't you just give me some pills and get me out of here?" I asked, not really sure why I said it, since I wasn't looking forward to leaving at all.

The nurse and Emily laughed. "I need to get you started on a new IV, and get a bandage on your arm, then I'll leave you alone for awhile." She said, putting something on my arm, that made it sting. I wasn't expecting it, so I pulled back and flinched.

"Sorry, I should have warned you! I need to clean it." The nurse said.

I said nothing while she finished cleaning and bandaging my arm. Then came the part I was worried about, the new IV needle. I'd been out cold the first time it'd been placed, and now I was terrified. I hate needles. I always have. Even at fifteen, I couldn't even get a flu shot, a simple procedure, without my mother coming back with me, and now I was about to get an IV, all alone.

"You okay?" Emily asked me, apparently noticing the look on my face.

"Uh yeah I'm fine." I lied.

"Alright, Kaila. You're all bandaged. Now, I'm gonna have to insert this IV into your hand, because your other arm is injured, and I can't get the needle in, and we all know what just happened with this arm, so now it will go in your hand. It won't hurt any more or any less, but it might feel a little funny after. Okay?" She asked me.

"Can it wait?" I asked. "I don't feel good."

"We need to get you back on those fluids, and back on some pain killers." She replied.

I gripped the side of the bed with my hand on the opposite side of which would be getting the needle. "Wait a minute," Emily said. "I know what this is. Kaila, are you afraid of needles?" I don't know how Emily knew. I guess profiling and mind reading are the same thing. I nodded in response to her question.

"Terrified." I confirmed. "M-my Mom always came back with me. I g-guess it's worse now since I'm all alone." My voice quavering and shaking. Pull yourself together, Kaila. It's just a stupid needle. You've been through worse. I told myself. It didn't help.

Emily pried my hand of the death grip I had on the side of my bed, and held my hand. "Look at me," she said. I did. "I'm the same way," she told me. "Stuff like this gives me the creeps! I mean, with my job, people expect me to be fearless, but anyone who's ever seen me in a doctor's office would tell you differently!" She said. "It's a common fear, actually. So don't even worry. I know I'm not your Mom, but I'm right here with you, okay?" I nodded, holding my breath.

"All done!" The nurse said. I let my breath out, confused. "When did you-" I stopped mid-sentence, realizing it had been done while Emily was talking to me. I turned to her. "Thank you." I said, amazed. Not even my own mother could keep me that calm around a needle. I didn't understand it, but I was grateful to Emily.

"No problem," she smiled. The nurse left, leaving Emily and I alone.

Breaking the silence, she said "We need to talk about what happened." I shrugged.

"I just got tired of being in here." I replied.

"I know it's more than that." She said seriously.

I looked down at my hands, "it's really nothing Emily. Its just a lot to deal with."

"I know it is. I wish I knew how to help more. But hey, you get to leave on Monday!" She said, trying to lighten the mood. Although that realization just made it all worse. I faked a smile.

"Yeah, I guess I do." I said.

"Oh! I almost forgot!" Emily said, turning around and going to the chair where she'd dropped her bags after learning about my disappearance. "The food! It's probably not good now... I don't know. I can go get something else."

"Emily," I managed a laugh. "It's okay, it's late. We can wait til breakfast." I said, noticing the lateness of the day.

"This is probably cold and gross by now anyways." Emily said, tossing it in the trash.

"I'm sorry." I told her.

"No, it's not your fault! I shouldn't have left after just coming back."

"It's okay, I don't expect you to sit here with me all day every day." I smiled at her.

She returned the smile, but got serious again, pulling up a chair and sitting beside my bed. "I hate to bring this up to you now, but it's something we're gonna have to talk about eventually."

"What?" I asked, completely clueless about what was going on.

"It's been a few days since everything happened, but there's got to be some kind of funeral arrangements made... you know..." she said. I honestly hadn't even thought about a funeral. Not til now.

"Um I- I don't think I can go." I said, what was I talking about? She's my mother. I have to go to her funeral. What kind of daughter was I?

"That's what we need to discuss. Since you are her only living family, and a minor, you can't really plan a funeral, so the church you and your mom attend are taking care of everything. The pastor's been in touch with Maggie, and he says he wanted to wait for your release before the services take place. But it's completely up to you, if you want to go or not. No one is going to force you." She told me. I said nothing for what felt like hours, just staring off into space.

"Will you come with me?" I asked, so quietly I hardly even heard myself.

"If you want me there, I'll be there." She promised. Wait. What was I thinking? She had a job, and a life to get back to. She couldn't wait around and deal with me. She wasn't my mother, she wasn't even going to be my foster mother. She was an FBI Agent.

"Wait. I'm sorry. That's rude of me. You have a job. You're in the FBI. Don't you have to go back to work? I mean, don't you have all kinds of crazy rules to follow? I'm not getting you in trouble, am I?"

"It's alright, I've taken some time off. Don't worry, I can attend her funeral with you, if you really want me to." She assured me.

"What day?"

"The pastor said he was shooting for Tuesday, if you were out by then."

"Oh." I replied. "I still have to go with Eric and Shanna right?" I asked.

"I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise." Emily said. "I'm still trying though."

I didn't say anything, partly because I didn't know what to say, and partly because I didn't want my response to sound too sad.

"Well," Emily said. "It's been quite the eventful evening, huh?"

"Yeah,"

"You must be tired."

"I'm not really a big fan of sleep." I said.

"I know, but I'll be right here, okay? Remember what I said? I'm not leaving again."

"You can't stay here til Monday, that's like two whole days."

"I packed a bag of clothes so I wouldn't have to go back to my hotel. There's a shower in your bathroom, and this chair is actually much more comfortable than you'd believe."

"Now that, I doubt. But you don't have to do this."

"I know that," Emily replied. "I just want to."

"If you're sure." I said, realizing just how tired I actually was.

Emily and I talked for a few more minutes, though I can't tell you about what. I was so tired, I fell asleep halfway through a sentence.

The remainder of the weekend wasn't as eventful as Friday evening. Emily stayed with me, despite the look Maggie gave her Saturday morning when she came to check on me, and to tell me that Monday morning I'd walk out of here with the Lamberts. They'd all three come with her, just like Maggie told Emily they would. They were planning to stay all day, but I managed to talk them out of it.

Surprisingly, the nightmares managed to slow down. They hadn't stopped, but I didn't have one every time I fell asleep. It was nice, the feeling of maybe coping with what all happened. Emily helped make my stay at the hospital a little more fun, always making jokes and finding ways to make it all funny. I really was happy she'd decided to stay, but I knew it'd make it harder for me to leave Monday. I'd see her Tuesday at the funeral... but after that? Who knew. I may never see her again. I kept praying something would happen an maybe the Lamberts would decide not to take me, or that Emily would finally win an argument with Maggie. But it never happened. Monday morning rolled around all too quickly...

"Kaila, honey, it's time to get up." I heard Emily say, as she gently shook me awake.

"Five more minutes," I mumbled. I hate mornings... especially this morning.

"You said that fifteen minutes ago! Come on, up, up, up!" I glanced at the clock.

"Emily, I'm being released this afternoon. Why am I awake now?" I asked. It was almost 9am. I was actually sleeping more, and having nightmares less. Whatever reason Emily had woken me up for had better have been a good one!

"Maggie called me, she said something about how you don't have anything packed, and that you should go back to your house to get whatever you may want to take with you because-" she stopped.

"Because what?"

"I'm sorry. This is too much to spring on you so early in the morning. But everything is getting cleared out since no one no longer resides there... so Maggie said for you to get anything and everything you want to take with you."

"Someone else is going to live in my house? They're just going to clean up and make out like nothing happened at that house? Are you kidding me?" I asked, my voice rising.

"Shh, I know. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."

"You had to tell me eventually. Are you taking me to get my stuff?"

"If you want. Maggie sad she would come get you, and she also said Eric and Shanna offered." My choice was obvious. "Can you take me? But I want to go in alone."

"Are you sure you're up for that?" Emily asked me.

"Yes. I'm sure." I wasn't sure how I would handle being back at my house, which was exactly why Emily could not come with me.

"Alright, whenever you're ready we'll go, okay? You are finally able to get up and take a shower! So I assume you'll want to do that before we go?"

"Yes!" I said, nearly jumping out of bed.

"Wait, wait a minute," Emily said, sitting me back down. "First, you will eat!" She handed me a plate of food from one of the local diners near the hospital."I didn't know what you liked, so I kinda got a little of everything." Se said smiling.

"When do you sleep?" I asked, only half joking, as I started eating, realizing just how hungry I was.

"I'm used to running on minimal sleep." she shrugged.

We continued on with random conversation, then when I was done eating what I could of the massive plate of food I'd been given, I decided to go take a shower.

"I also went out and got you some clothes this morning. I know they're not much but they're just to wear out of here until we go get your clothes." She said, handing me a pair of light gray sweatpants, and a blue t-shirt.

"Thank you," I said, practically sprinting towards the bathroom. I'd never been so excited to take a shower in all my life.

Once I was ready, Emily had the idea to go ahead and have me discharged.

"But they're coming to get me here this afternoon." I reminded her, unwillingly.

"Well there's no sense in you waiting around here all day, when you're good to go. I'll call Eric and see if he will allow me to take you to their house this afternoon instead of them coming to get you." She said, pulling her phone from her pocket. "What's his number?"

I told her Amelia's home number, which I knew by heart. I couldn't hear Eric's half of the conversation, but based on Emily's responses, he seemed to agree to Emily dropping me off. When she hung up, she said, "He said that was okay." I smiled.

Emily proceeded to get me discharged, and then finally, I walked outside for the first time in almost a week. Luckily the weather was perfect. It wasn't hot, but it wasn't cold either.

"It's so pretty out!" I said, walking ahead of Emily, even though I had no idea where her car was.

"It really is, you have nice weather here." she replied.

We got to her car, which technically wasn't hers. It belonged to the Bureau. It was a huge black Suburban. I got in the front as Emily got in the driver's seat and started the SUV. I gave her directions to my house, and she pulled into the driveway. I stared at it a long time before moving.

"Are you sure you want to go in alone?" Emily asked, startling me a little, causing me to jump. I had to take a deep breath before I could answer.

"Yes. I'm sure." I said, undoing my seat belt, opening the door, and getting out. I walked up to my house, found the spare key, opened the door, and walked inside. It felt so different. Not like my house at all. I walked around every single room, absolutely nothing had been changed or moved. My mother's body had been taken already, but the door to her room was closed. I decided I would wait to go in there until last.

The covers were still turned down and messy from where I jumped up after hearing my mom scream. My iPod was still sitting on my pillow, my magazine was still on the ground from where I threw it.

I got my suit case out of my closet, and began packing. I packed almost my entire room, it took me one large suitcase, one smaller suitcase, an over night bag, and a tote bag to fit it all. All my clothes, my movies, my scrapbooks, everything. The only thing I didn't get except for the furniture, was my computer. It was a really big, really old desktop that ran slower than Christmas. But it had memories... it had so many pictures I wish I could get, some videos of my mom and I.

I sat down in the chair, and turned the computer on. I went through everything, all the pictures, the videos. I don't know how long I sat there just staring at each picture, burning it into my mind; how many times I re-watched each video, especially the ones of me and my mom, as if I could burn them into my brain, so I could press play and watch them at any time. I missed my mom, so incredibly much. I'd known all along she was dead. She'd never come back, but now it was really, truly setting in. I was alone, and I would be for quite some time.