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Chapter 18 –

07:17AM Saturday 19th November 2011

Hotch had jogged all through the hospital, only stopping once his hand was on the door and he could see that both of the women were alone. Quietly he entered the room but was caught unawares as Emily turned to look at him, he could see the evidence of shed tears on her cheeks as she smiled at him.

"Sorry Hotch it's a bit late for the cavalry."

Hotch frowned as he moved closer to Emily, keeping his voice low as he could see that Milly was asleep.

"The Colonel's been?"

"Yep and been dismissed, how did you know?"

Hotch looked around quickly before he picked up a chair from the corner of the room and brought it over, sitting down close to Emily.

"Your mother has some good sources."

"Yes she does, especially when it comes to keeping track of the Colonel."

"She would like a phone call."

Emily nodded as Hotch leaned closer and looked at Emily.

"How did it go?"

Emily turned and puffed out her cheeks, closing them for a second while Hotch reached across and took a hold of Emily's hand.

"It felt good, after all these years to stand up to him."

"I'm glad that you were able to do that, not just for yourself but for Milly too."

Hotch smiled as he looked at Emily and then at her sister before he let go of Emily's hand and stood up.

"I need to go and get a coffee, do you want one?"

Emily nodded her head and smiled as Hotch turned and walked out of the room, leaving Emily to ponder the conversation before she retrieved her cell.

"Emily?"

"Morning mother."

Emily kept her voice quiet so as to not disturb Milly.

"Are you ok? Your father?"

"It's ok, he's gone, your timing was a little off though mother."

"Oh I'm sorry darling, how are you both?"

"I'm good, Milly's healing slowly, and it's going to take her some time."

"I know Emily, don't rush anything though."

"I just want to bring her home mother, show her some love."

"And you will Emily but listen to the doctor's, is there anything that I can do?"

"Actually yes, have you still got the keys to my house?"

Emily smiled as she spoke and glad that her mother was more than willing to help.

08:30AM Saturday 19th November 2011

Hotch had his arms full as he walked back into the room.

"Sorry I was a bit longer but I thought that I'd get us some breakfast."

Hotch quickly unburdened himself, placing the brown paper bags on the end of the bed, it was only then that he noticed another pair of eyes looking at him, a smile crossed his face as he spoke.

"Hello Milly, don't worry there's plenty for you too."

Milly looked hard at the strange face before she turned to Emily who smiled reassuringly at her.

"He's my boss Milly."

"Oh, so you're Aaron."

Hotch raised an eyebrow as he looked at Emily who had a small wry smile on her face.

"What happened? Did you stop him?"

Milly's voice was full of apprehension as she spoke, quickly she sought out Emily's hand to cling onto.

"I complete forgot earlier, I was so caught up with the Colonel, I'm sorry Hotch."

Hotch shook his head as he walked over and passed a coffee to Emily as he sat down.

"Don't worry either of you, the case is over, just a pile of paperwork to complete."

Emily just nodded her head understanding what he meant and that she would find out fully what had gone on when Milly was not around but she had just one question.

"The team is all ok?"

"Yes, all sleeping."

Milly released her grip on Emily's hands as Hotch spoke, her mind slightly whirring with all that had happened that morning, she didn't want to sleep but she did want some peace and solitude, knowing that Emily wouldn't leave her the only option was to lie back and close her eyes.

11:27AM Saturday 19th November 2011

Milly felt something touching her arm, quickly she opened her eyes and was surprised to see the doctor standing over her.

"Hello Amelia, good to see you."

The doctor smiled at Milly as she looked around and saw that Emily wasn't in the room.

"It's ok Amelia, your sister is just outside, how are you feeling?"

The doctor had a file open in her hands, examining it closely as Milly thought for a moment.

"Ok I guess, still sore but the pain is bearable."

"Good that's what I wanted to hear, any withdrawal symptoms?"

Milly shook her head firmly before she looked at the door, she could see Emily speaking on her cell outside.

"I haven't been using anything for a while, just drinking and..."

"Hurting yourself?"

Milly nodded as the doctor sat down.

"Have you talked to your sister about this?"

"No."

"Well I want you too before I agree to release you ok?"

Milly nodded her head as the doctor smiled and patted her hand gently.

"From what I hear you're going back to nice stable environment so I don't see any problems in releasing you to go home soon."

Milly smiled as the doctor turned and walked out of the room, stopping briefly to talk to Emily before her sister returned to the room.

"Ok?"

Emily had a slight frown on her face as she sat back down, noticing the hesitation in Milly before the girl slowly nodded her head.

"The doctor said that you could probably leave in a day or two as long as we fix up some follow up appointments at home."

"That's good."

There wasn't much enthusiasm in Milly's voice, a fact immediately picked up by Emily, who reached up and stroked Milly's hair softly.

"You still want to come and live with me don't you Milly?"

"Yes of course I do Emily, I can't thank you enough for wanting to take me in but I'm afraid Emily, I'm broken."

The tears trickled down Milly's face and Emily reached down and took a hold of her sister's hands.

"We'll manage Milly, whatever you need I'm going to be there for you, to help you get well again."

"I stopped taking the drugs when I got to Dallas, but the drinking helped me to forget, but it wasn't enough. I hated myself and just wanted the pain to stop."

Emily swallowed hard but it wasn't enough to stop the tears from falling as Milly moved her gown and showed Emily the cuts and scars on her waist, just above her hip.

"Oh sweetie, don't worry everything is going to get better now."

Emily reached across and embraced her sister, tears flowing freely from both of them as they sought comfort in each other.