A/N – Happy New Year to everyone! Also about time I said again...as ever Criminal Minds does not belong to me...

The Geeks Unite –

Emily was nearly through with her paperwork when her phone started to ring.

"Agent Prentiss."

"Hello ma'am, this is Christy."

"Oh hi Christy is everything ok?"

Emily had hired Christy to look after Kate roughly five weeks ago, she was 17 years old and went to the same school as Kate. This meant that they met up after school and Christy drove the two of them back to Emily's until she got back from work.

"I was just wondering when you were going to be home tonight?"

"I'll be leaving off shortly, why?"

"Something happened at school today with Kate, I don't know what but she went straight up to her room and won't let me in."

"Ok I'll leave now, don't worry Christy and thanks for letting me know."

Emily put her phone down and puffed out her cheeks.

"Everything ok Prentiss?"

Morgan had caught bits of the conversation and his concern was obvious.

"Uurrggh, something's up with Kate, she's shut herself in her room. Can you let Hotch know why I've gone and I'll finish up these files in the morning."

"No worries, but give me those files I'll finish them for you."

"Thanks Morgan."

Emily hastily and graciously passed the files over to Morgan, smiling anxiously as she did.

"Let me know if I can do anything Emily, because if anyone has upset my little girl..."

"Calm down Morgan it's probably nothing, I'll speak to you later. Thanks again."

Emily quickly drove home, her mind racking the recesses to think of a reason why Kate was upset but she could only draw a blank, shaking her head as she grabbed her bag from the car Emily jogged towards the elevator. It was less than two minutes later that Emily found herself fumbling for her keys before she opened the door and scanned the room for signs of life, she then saw Christy walking down the stairs towards her.

"Sorry Ms Prentiss, I've tried to talk to her but she's sitting with her back against the door so I can't get in."

"It's ok, thanks Christy. I'll give you a ring later and let you know what this is all about ok?"

"Thanks Ms Prentiss, I didn't know what else to do, I'm just worried about her."

Emily gave a concerned Christy a quick hug before she showed her out of the condo, only then did she walk slowly up the stairs and knocked on Kate's bedroom door.

"Kate, its mom, are you going to let me in?"

Emily heard her daughter moving behind the door and click it open. Emily walked in and saw her daughter's tear stained face and she quickly wrapped her in her arms, her heart breaking at how upset the young girl was.

"What happened munchkin?"

Kate pushed her mom away before she walked over to her school bag and passed her a plastic presentation folder. Emily looked at the title "Space – A Parent/Child Presentation". Emily shut her eyes and cursed, she had no idea about the project and sighed as she saw that Kate had managed to get a D grade without any parental help whatsoever.

"Oh I'm sorry, why didn't you tell me?"

"You were away when I was given the project so Grandma helped me. She was meant to come to school today to do the presentation with me but she never turned up."

Emily felt her anger rising, it was one thing that her mother had done this countless times to her when she was a child but it was another thing to do it her granddaughter.

"You should have rung me, I would have come over today and helped you. I'm sorry about Grandma, I'll speak to her later ok?"

Kate nodded and the tears slowly started to stop.

"The teacher said that I could do another project to improve my grade if I wanted."

"Well I think that's a good idea and how about I help you with this one?"

"Uh mom, please don't get upset but I was kind of wondering if I could ask Uncle Spence to help me? It's just that I wanted to make a model of the solar system and..."

Emily smiled as she raised her hand and watched Kate smile innocently as she stopped talking.

"I think that's a great idea Kate, it sounds like something Uncle Spence would enjoy doing! Now come on lets go downstairs and talk about what you are going to do with Spencer.

Emily led Kate out of her bedroom and sat her on the kitchen worktop, her mind busy on cheering up her daughter but also on planning the conversation she needed to have with her mother.

Morgan sat relaxing at his desk, the files finally finished for the day as he and Reid talked, or rather Morgan was advising Reid on his next night out before his eyes caught a glimpse of Emily walking back into the BAU bullpen.

"Hey Prentiss what are you doing back here, I thought you'd left here for the day? I even finished your paperwork!"

"It's lovely to see you again too Morgan! But it's not me who wanted to come back here."

Emily grinned as Kate peered around and slowly walked from behind Emily so that she stood beside her mom, holding her hand tightly.

"Hey Kate how are you?"

"Fine thanks Uncle Derek. Umm Uncle Spence can I ask you a question please?"

Kate let her fingers slip away from her mom's before she slowly walked round and sat on the edge of Reid's desk.

"I've got to do a science project this weekend to earn some extra credit and I was wondering if you could help me? I wanted to build a model of the solar system."

Emily smiled as she saw Reid's face light up as he started to talk to Kate about how they could make the model and how everything would have to be to scale.

"Ok I think your kid has just made his day!"

"Tell me about it Morgan, but think of the mess that I'm going to have to deal with!"

Emily and Morgan laughed at the thought of the chaos that would inevitable ensue with Kate and Reid left to their own devices but Emily knew that at least Kate was smiling again and that the BAU family would never let her or her daughter down.