Chapter 14 –
JJ quickly ran after Emily, catching up as Emily stood outside the police station.
"Is everything ok?"
Emily turned sharply, the voice surprising her.
"Oh yes, I just need to go and see Zoe. I think that she needs someone to talk to."
"Do you want me to come with you?"
Emily shook her head.
"No thanks, I told Zoe that she shouldn't go through with it on her own, I guess that she didn't know who else to ask."
"Ok well take the SUV and I'll let you know when we are going to leave."
Emily gratefully accepted the keys from JJ and smiled at her friend.
"Thanks, I shouldn't really be getting this involved but I just couldn't let her go through this alone.
"I understand Em, so does everybody else, now go."
Emily nodded as she climbed into the SUV and waved JJ goodbye.
Emily parked the SUV and walked into the coffee shop, it was just after 2pm so the lunch time rush had dissipated and there were only a couple of other people in the shop so it didn't take long for Emily to spot Zoe and she quickly moved to sit down opposite the teenager.
"Thanks for coming."
"It's ok, the case has finished."
"Yes I saw the news this morning."
Emily nodded as she reached across and took a hold of one of Zoe's hands.
"When's your appointment?"
"This afternoon."
"Have you talked to anyone?"
"Only the counsellor at the clinic."
Emily nodded as she took a breath, she couldn't help but draw comparisons between Zoe and her 15 year old self.
"Ok come on then, we'll do this together."
"Thank you Agent Prentiss."
"Zoe please it's Emily."
Emily smiled as she stood up and waited for Zoe.
"Ok then, thank you Emily."
"It's ok Zoe, there's no way I could let you go through this alone."
Emily placed her hand on the small of Zoe's back, slowly the two of them walked out of the coffee shop.
Emily had a hold of Zoe's hand as the teenager lay on the bed, she smiled gently as she softly brushed a stray tear away from Zoe's eye.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Good, now close your eyes Zoe I'm not going anywhere."
Emily kept a hold of Zoe's hand as she watched the teenager's eyes close.
Emily stopped the SUV outside the large suburban house, she glanced across to the passenger seat and gently shook Zoe's shoulder.
"We're here sweetie."
Zoe slowly opened her eyes and stretched out but then winced in discomfort.
"Do you want me to come in with you?"
Emily looked seriously at the girl, unsure about leaving her so soon afterwards.
"They'll just ask questions, I'll just slip in and go up to my room."
"Ok but remember what the doctor said?"
"Yes and Emily thank you so much."
Zoe suddenly leant forward and hugged Emily, surprising the older woman.
"You take care Zoe and you have my number if you need to talk right?"
Zoe nodded as she let go and picked up her bag.
"I'd better go."
"Take care Zoe."
"You too Emily."
Emily was about to pull away from Zoe's house when her cell began to ring, her mind trying desperately to compartmentalise everything, she didn't even look at the display before she answered.
"Agent Prentiss."
"It's JJ, how are things?"
"I've just dropped Zoe off at home and was about to head back to the hotel."
"And you?"
"I just want to get home JJ."
"Well that was what I was ringing about, the jet is going to leave in an hour."
Emily took a deep breath as she tried to stop her mind from spinning.
"Ok I'll go and pick my bag up and meet you there."
"See you soon Emily."
Emily put the phone back into her jeans pocket as she started the engine and headed back towards the hotel.
In a way Emily was glad that she was the first to arrive at teh jet. After passing her bag to be loaded Emily wearily climbed up the steps and headed to the back, making herself comfortable before she shut her eyes.
JJ smiled as she walked down the aisle, gesturing to the others to leave the brunette alone before she slid in the seat next to Emily.
"We're about to take off Em you need your belt on!"
Emily opened one of her eyes and looked at JJ.
"Ok ok!"
Emily quickly reached around and done her belt up before she rested her head against the back of the seat and stared up at the ceiling.
"How are you holding up?"
"Ok I guess, it was difficult but I'm glad I was able to help."
Emily shut her eyes as the engines got louder and the plane sped along the runway.
"Emily you need to realise that not everything can fit into those little boxes of yours, sometimes you need to let it out."
Emily sighed heavily as she opened her eyes, turning her head slightly so that she faced JJ.
"I'm getting that JJ."
"And I'm always here to listen."
"Thanks JJ."
"Don't worry you've listened to plenty of my problems! Shut your eyes Em you look like you need some sleep."
"I can't disagree there JJ."
Emily smiled as she shut her eyes once again, her mind slowly calming down as she gradually left all the memories down on the ground in Chicago and now as the jet soared through the sky it was time for a fresh start.
Finis.