Chapter 9 – Home –

FOUR DAYS LATER

Emily walked into Kate's hospital room holding a small rucksack which she dropped on the end of the bed as she smiled at Kate who was dressed and sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Well are you ready?"

"I think so."

Kate smiled as she watched Emily sit down next to her and place her arm around her shoulders. It had been a long four days, but finally Kate was being released from the hospital and after strings were pulled by Hotch, Garcia and the Ambassador she was going home with Emily.

"I went and picked up some of your stuff, some clothes and a few books from..."

Emily stopped, she didn't to upset Kate on the day she was leaving the only city she had ever known and heading into the unknown with Emily.

"Where are they?"

"The Ainsley's?"

Kate nodded and watched Emily take a deep breath.

"Well Mr Ainsley was released from the hospital into prison custody yesterday and Mrs Ainsley is also in custody. Don't worry Kate you are going to be safe with me."

Kate stood up and started to walk towards the door, Emily quickly caught up with her and put her arm around Kate's waist as they headed out of the hospital.

Four hours later Emily opened the door to her condo, over one of her shoulders she had her bag and Kate's rucksack, and with her free hand she gently rested it on the small of the young girl's back as they walked inside.

"Wow this is nice!"

Kate's mouth dropped open as she saw the impeccably decorated and spacious living space, completely different to the foster homes she had bounced around in for the last year.

"Thanks. Here I'll give you the tour, how about we start with your room?"

Emily smiled as she saw Kate nod enthusiastically, Emily took a hold of her hand as they walked up the stairs, she wanted to start there as this was going to be a surprise to her as well. As Emily opened the door they suddenly both gasped in delight.

"Emily this is wonderful, how can I ..."

"Hey don't thank me, this is all the teams work. They did the decorating last weekend and I must say they have done a beautiful job!"

Emily and Kate wandered around the room, admiring the nice pale yellow walls with small white flowers dotted around two of the walls. The bed spread was white with big yellow sunflowers on it. There was also a white wooden desk, a set of white wooden drawers and a white wooden wardrobe. There was a lone photo in the room that had been placed on the desk, Kate walked over and picked it up, it was the last photo that had been taken of Kate with her parents. Kate sat down at the desk and held the photo, staring at it for what seemed like hours but it was only a couple of minutes before Emily came over.

"Do you want to put your stuff away? I thought tomorrow we could go and do some clothes shopping for you but for now just relax and get used to the surroundings. JJ and Garcia are coming by later for some pizza, if that's ok with you?"

"That's fine, I owe them a huge thank you for this!"

Emily laughed as she left Kate to unpack the few clothes that she possessed and relax in her new room, seeing the 9 year old smile and seem happy was a real uplift from the nightmare they had left behind in Pittsburgh.

It was just after 7pm when Emily heard the doorbell, she extracted herself from Kate, leaving the girl curled up on the sofa watching cartoons as she went over to door, instinctively she checked who was outside before she opened it wide smiling at JJ and Garcia.

"Hey guys it's great to see you! Thanks for bringing the pizza, someone is extremely pleased with her room, I really can't thank you enough."

Emily hugged both women as they walked through the hallway and into the living area. JJ dropped the pizzas on the table and then went to sit next to Kate with Garcia sitting the other side of the young girl.

"Thank you, both of you, the room it's gorgeous!"

Kate grabbed a hold of JJ first before turning and hugging Garcia.

"It's our pleasure Kate, just think of it as a thank you for looking out for Agent Prentiss, we all know what a pain in the..."

"Hey that's enough JJ!"

Emily put her hands over JJ's mouth to stop her from saying anything else.

"Are we going to eat and watch movies or what?"

Garcia picked Kate up and carried her over to Emily's dining table sitting her down on top of the table as she opened up each of the pizza boxes.

"Now eat Kate, we've got movies to watch!"

It had just gone 9.30pm, the credits were rolling for High School Musical and the four of them were huddled up on Emily's sofa. Emily was about to get up from the sofa and put another film on when Garcia tapped her on the shoulder and pointed over to Kate who had fallen fast asleep on JJ's lap.

"Oh!"

"Shall I take her up to bed?"

JJ whispered quietly so she didn't disturb the sleeping child.

"It's ok, I'll do it."

Emily walked over and gently picked Kate up and carried her up to her bedroom. Carefully Emily laid Kate down on the bed and pulled the duvet over her. She then gently kissed her on the forehead before Emily crept back downstairs to JJ and Garcia who were sitting quietly on the sofa.

"Everything ok Em, she go down ok?"

"She didn't even stir, the journey and excitement have probably caught up with her, but I don't think that it will last."

"Is she getting nightmares?"

Garcia frowned as she spoke, it broke her heart to think of what Kate had been through.

Emily nodded as she sat back down on the sofa sandwiching herself between her two friends.

"What about you?"

JJ knew that with all Emily had been through when she had been kidnapped that she too was probably suffering from the dreadful nightmares that they had all experienced at one time or another.

The silence was palatable as Emily found herself unable to look at the two women, without thinking Emily bent her head down and covered her face with her hands, her quiet sobs audible to Garcia and JJ as they instantly reached out and placed their arms around the exhausted and emotional brunette.

"Hey Emily, its ok we're here, you don't have to be strong all the time."

JJ whispered quietly into her friend's ear as she and Garcia sat holding Emily until she stopped crying.

Emily finally took a few deep breaths as she wiped the tears away, slowly bringing her head up as she turned to look at first Garcia and then JJ.

"Sorry about that, I'm just really tired and you've got to go to work tomorrow."

Emily smiled as she spoke unconvincingly.

"Are you going to be ok?"

Garcia stood up and looked down at the tear stained face of her friend.

"I'll be fine, please."

"You know where we are if you anything, at anytime Emily."

JJ reached out and placed her hand on Emily's head, stroking the brunette's hair before she reluctantly stood up.

"Thank you I know."

Emily showed JJ and Garcia out and made her way slowly up to her bedroom, she peeked in on Kate who was tossing and turning in her bed. Emily knew exactly what she was dreaming about and that soon she too would be experiencing the exact same nightmare.