Chapter 24 – Bang, Bang she shot me down...

JJ's hand flew up to her arm as she felt the soaring heat rush against it, turning her head she closed her eyes as she caught a glance of the blood and her body immediately slumped down onto the floor.

"No! Aunt Jen are you ok?"

Kate opened her eyes as she felt someone bump into her on the floor and her heart instantly ached as she saw the blood seeping from JJ's arm.

"I'm fine Kate it's just a graze."

"Are you sure?"

Emily quickly holstered her recently fired weapon as she watched Morgan and Rossi running over to Ainsley and instantly bent down to check on her friend.

"Look it just caught my arm, what about...?"

JJ moved her hand, wincing slightly through the pain but she managed to keep her eyes open as Garcia reached across and placed her hand where JJ's had just been.

"I think it is over."

JJ closed her eyes once again as she took in what Emily had just said and the relief coursed through her body.

Emily kept her arm around Kate as she pushed the door open, she knew how tired and upset the girl was and she didn't want to let her go for a second.

"Do you want anything to eat?"

Kate shook her head as she held on tight to Emily's hand, the visions of what had happened in the courtroom had yet to leave her.

"She's going to be ok?"

Emily smiled as she stroked Kate's cheek, lifting her up onto the kitchen counter.

"Yes she is going to be fine, the bullet just grazed her arm and you and I both know that Garcia will keep a close eye on JJ tonight."

Kate nodded as she yawned and closed her eyes.

"Do you want me to read to you?"

Kate nodded as she opened her eyes and looked at Emily who wrapped her arms around Kate and picked her up.

"It's going to be ok Kate, it is all over now."

Kate buried her head into Emily's shoulder as she remembered the sight of Mr and Mrs Ainsley lying dead in the courtroom, a mixture of relief and repulsion flooded her body and her conflicting emotions were still playing havoc with her. Emily carried Kate up the stairs and into her bedroom before they curled up beside each other on the bed, the words of Ramona Quimby reverberating through the room.

Emily was sat in her office, across the hall from Kate's bedroom, where she could keep a close eye on the nine year old who was presently lying on the bed working on some math homework. The last twenty four hours had been pretty intense as Emily and Kate both tried to deal with the aftermath of the trial with neither knowing exactly how they should feel, the safety of each other's company was what they both craved but at the same time was causing them to run to their own personal space. Emily was trying to concentrate the laptop but luckily for her a knock at the door dragged her away from the mundane tasks she was trying to complete.

"I'll go Kate."

Emily looked in the bedroom and saw Kate nod in response but she knew that the girl would only be a few steps behind her. Emily smiled as she saw who was waiting outside and quickly opened the door.

"JJ!"

"Hi, I was getting bored sitting at home and well let's just say I needed a bit of fresh air."

JJ gave a wry smile as she walked in and saw Kate walking quickly towards her.

"Aunt Jen!"

"Hi sweetie, how are you both?"

Kate stopped in her tracks and looked and Emily, the exhaustion evident in both of their faces, before she looked back at JJ and focused on the bandage wrapped tightly around her arm.

"Oh Kate it's ok I'm fine."

JJ saw the worry etched on Kate's face as she walked towards the girl and quickly embraced her before she looked at Emily and saw her friend breath in relief.

"Thanks for coming to see us JJ, I think that we both needed to see that you were ok."

Even though Emily was Kate's adoptive mom JJ was incredibly close to the young girl. JJ was the one that had carried Kate out of the cabin and the one that had stayed with her at the hospital whilst she was examined. Emily was grateful for all of JJ's support and was happy that Kate had someone else she felt safe and comfortable with.

"It's going to be all good from now on, just you wait and see Kate!"

JJ pushed Kate away slightly as Emily walked around and stood behind Kate, her hands resting on the girl's shoulders before she bent down and whispered into her ear.

"We look forward from today Kate, we'll never forget the past but together we will make this work."

"Thanks mom, I love you."

"I love you too Kate."

Emily leant over and kissed Kate on the top of her head, hopeful that now the Ainsley's were gone it would mark a fresh start for the both of them.

Fin.

A/N – thanks to everyone who has alerted, reviewed and supported this story, special thanks to TML who encouraged me to repost this, it really has been great to write and almost (apart from 1!) post a chapter a day. I've now got Primigravida to finish (only a few more chapter to go) and then I am going to think about working on the sequel to Tempe Secrets so hope everyone has a great Christmas and a Happy New year.