A/N – thanks to everyone who reviewed the last couple of chapters they were emotionally tough to write so it was really great to get such positive feedback, the story is going to end on Chapter 24 and as I have promised a few people it will be a happy one!

Chapter 22 – Aftermath -

Tuesday Night –

Emily glanced over at the television, the news was on but the sound was muted, she examined the small clock in the bottom corner and saw that it was 11:36pm. Emily and JJ were sitting at the small table in the hotel room which was strewn with half full Chinese boxes on top of it. There were no lights on in the room apart from the light emanating from the television and finally the room had gone quiet as Garcia had managed to calm Kate down and get her to sleep and had followed suit, everyone was emotionally exhausted but Emily couldn't bring herself to go to sleep.

JJ looked up from the file she was reading and saw Emily looking over at Garcia and Kate who had finally drifted off to sleep. JJ herself was struggling to keep her eyes open but she knew that she had to keep awake for Emily.

"At least Kate's gone to sleep."

Emily turned and looked at JJ and gave her a faint smile.

"Are you ok Em?"

Emily looked at JJ for a few seconds before she finally managed to answer.

"I'm sorry I didn't say anything to you and the team. I just didn't want to admit anything had happened, I tried to forget it, to be strong for Kate but..."

"It's ok Em, you don't have to explain it to me. You and Kate went through hell in that cabin, I always had my suspicions that you weren't telling us everything but I knew that you would tell me when you were ready. I just need you to promise me something."

Emily looked confused at JJ, had she been that transparent but then she realised how much JJ had helped her and how much time they had spent together.

"What?"

"That you went and got yourself tested?"

JJ had dealt with enough rape victims to know how important it was to get yourself tested even if you didn't want to report the attack itself and she prayed that Emily had seen sense.

"Don't worry JJ everything came back clear. I didn't want it on my record or anything so I went to a clinic here in Pittsburgh while I was waiting for Kate to be released from the hospital."

"I'm sorry Em, I had to ask. I just wish that I could have been there for you, to help you through it, and if you ever need to talk you know I'm here right?"

"I know JJ and thanks for everything."

"Hey you and Kate are like family to me, I'd do anything for either or you. Are you ready for bed yet?"

"I'm absolutely shattered JJ but..."

Emily paused for a moment as she looked down and tried to compose herself.

"...I'm too scared to go to sleep."

JJ stood up and walked the short distance around to Emily and crouched down in front of her, taking a hold of the older woman's hands as the tears started to trickle down both of their cheeks.

"Emily its ok, I'm here, Garcia is here, we're not going to let anything happen to you or Kate, trust me."

Emily nodded as she smiled and stood up, walking to the bathroom in order to clean herself up and get ready for bed, when she returned JJ had grabbed a spare pillow and had her legs resting on the chair opposite to where she sat, falling sound asleep in her makeshift bed. Emily smiled at the sight before she went and reluctantly lay down on her bed.

Kate blinked open her eyes and lay still for a couple of seconds until she remembered where she was. The television was still on with the sound muted, Kate squinted her eyes and saw that it had just past 3am. Kate breathed in deeply as she wondered what had woken her as for once it was not her own nightmare, but then she heard someone else letting out a faint cry. Kate quickly but carefully got off the bed so as to not disturb Garcia, it was then that she saw JJ asleep on the chairs. Kate grabbed a blanket off the bottom of her bed and gently placed it over the sleeping woman before she made her way over to Emily who was deep in the midst of her own nightmare. Having experienced this herself and seen how her mom suffered from them Kate knew exactly how to calm her mom down without completely waking her up. Kate climbed onto the bed and pulled the covers over the both of them before she put one of her arms around her mom's waist and with her other hand she reached up and gently stroked her forehead and hair. Slowly the crying subsided and Kate could tell that her mom had fallen back into a peaceful sleep, feeling safe alongside her mother it wasn't long before she too managed to fall back to sleep.

JJ was the first to wake in the morning, mainly due to the unnatural and uncomfortable position she had fallen asleep in, it was then that she noticed the large blanket draped over her and frowned as she wondered where it had come from but then she saw Kate had moved beds during the night and smiled to herself. She stood up and stretched her aching body before she scrawled a note explaining that she had gone to get some breakfast and would be back soon.

As JJ walked back into the room, her arms laden with coffee, bagels and muffins, she saw that everyone else was awake and sitting up watching the news, unfortunately the trial was all that the news anchors wanted to talk about.

"Well I've got three coffees and a fruit smoothie for you Kate."

"Thanks Aunt Jen."

Kate got up off the bed and walked over to the table where JJ had placed the food and drink, quickly the young girl sat on the chair next to the older woman who stroked her head fondly.

"How long will I have to stay here Aunt Jen?"

"I don't know sweetheart, you'll have to talk to your mom about that."

"Talk to me about what?"

Emily had appeared behind Kate, the smell of coffee impossible to resist.

"How long do we have to stay here?"

"I don't know munchkin, I'll talk to Mr Silkman today and see what he says."

"Please mom, I just want to go home!"

Kate's voice broke as she threw her arms around Emily and sobbed quietly.

"I know Kate, so do I."

Emily put her phone back down on the table and a smile crept across her face as she looked at Kate who was looking anxiously at her.

"Mr Silkman said that it is fine for us to go home but he'd like us back when they announce the verdict as we may be needed again."

"So I can pack my bags?"

"Yes Kate you can!"

"Thanks mom!"

Kate ran over to her mom and embraced her tightly, relieved that she could go back to the place she now called home.