AN: This is the same story as chapter one but told from Emily's point of view. How is my Emily? Translation included at the bottom of the chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away."

-Philip K. Dick

November 2006

Being the new girl is always awkward but I'm just so happy to finally be at the BAU. I've waited for years. This last case was brutal; I just want to go back to my apartment and sleep for a week but JJ has invited me to girls' night with her and Penelope. I am undecided, should I go to girls' night or go home and sleep? The promise of pizza and beer seals the deal. That is when JJ tells me her kid sister will be joining us. This is news to me, I know JJ has a much younger sister, JJ was checking up on her with Garcia while we were away. I didn't know that they lived together. I should have paid more attention to their conversation.

It is funny that Reid was the one to pull me aside and not JJ or Garcia. "Don't touch her." Was the first thing he blurts out after he sat down next to me in the plane.

"Don't touch who?" I ask, confused.

"Catherine, JJ's little sister. Please don't touch her and don't get within arm's distance of her."

"Okay," I say cautiously, "Why?"

He fiddles with his shirt cuff, "She's got PTSD."

My mind is spinning, "She's just a kid isn't she?" I know I shouldn't ask my next question but I do anyway, "How did a kid get PTSD?"

"She looks like a kid, but she isn't. She's sixteen, Emily." I know he's hedging. But what is he hedging about. Maybe I should look up JJ's little sister. Would that be unethical? I should see what else Reid is willing to give me before I make my decision.

I raise an eyebrow, "Okay, so she's a teenager."

"She's in University, treat her like an adult." Now that is surprising. I want to cut Reid off to ask more questions but he continues, ignoring my questioning face. "She's had a few horrible things happen so never forget that she's just a scared kid when someone gets close to her."

I ask, wanting confirmation, "Are you sure you should be telling me this?"

"JJ can't right now, everyone else is too busy or…" he trails off awkwardly.

"Or they don't trust me." I finished his thought for him. "It's okay Reid, I know our bosses don't trust me yet."

Reid gives me a very harsh look, "I am well aware that you're going to look Catherine up as soon as this conversation is over. I just don't know how high your clearance goes. Ask someone on the team for clarification if you need it, but do not under any circumstances ask Catherine."

I raise my hands in defeat "Okay, I won't ask her about whatever is in that file. But can I ask you something?"

He looks weary, "Yes."

"Why do you care what happens to your colleague's little sister?" I am genuinely confused on this point.

"Because we are family," he says, and then he rises from the chair and moves back to his game of chess with Gideon.

This is definitely something I need to think about. Did Reid mean that he, JJ and Catherine are family, or did he mean the whole team is family?

I ride with JJ back to the office to hand in the paperwork from the case that we finished on the plane. I want to go home to change and shower but JJ seems to be in a hurry to get home. She sends me an apologetic look and says "You can shower at my place if you want."

"Thank you." I say. This is so awkward, I don't really know her or the rest of the team and yet, I'm going to JJ's apartment for a girls' night. My idea of a girls' night usually includes a bar or restaurant, or shoe shopping. Although, if we are going to include JJ's sixteen-year-old sister, I guess we can't go to a bar.

The first thought that enters my mind when I see Catherine is; my goodness, she looks like she's twelve. A mini JJ for sure, but she is so very tiny, not quite five feet tall and maybe 90 pounds wearing a snowsuit and soaking wet. I notice the way JJ opens her arms to Catherine but doesn't move towards her; she waits for Catherine to hug her.

I am reminded of Reid's words about not touching her if she doesn't initiate contact. I spent some time on the plane looking up her file after I finished my paperwork but nothing I managed to get from the redacted file would explain PTSD this severe. Abuse? Well JJ doesn't display the same signs and I sincerely doubt JJ is abusing her little sister when Reid was the one to warn me. Surely the team would have noticed something if they truly are as close as they claim to be.

I say hello when JJ introduces me but I don't extend my hand. I am nervous, it is going to be difficult to remember not to get too close when I don't know what she considers too close to be. An arm's length of course, but that is a rather ambiguous form of measurement.

Garcia bounces into the living room, she seems really exited to have me around, asking what kind of pizza I want. I don't really care about what kind of pizza I eat. We end up getting two different kinds of pizza, vegetarian and Hawaiian without the cheese. It sounds really gross but Catherine seems rather happy to have an entire pizza for herself. I shower quickly while we wait for the pizza. I have to admit that the cheese-less Hawaiian does smell good, but I'm not sure about eating ham and pineapple on pizza. Does having cheese-less pizza still make it pizza? JJ, Garcia and I have wine with our pizza because JJ is out of beer.

JJ and Catherine curl up on the couch together, getting ready to watch the movies. I mirror Garcia by sitting down in one of the armchairs. We watch X-Men 1, 2, and 3. Catherine falls asleep sometime during the third movie and JJ shifts her position so that Catherine is less curled up and more stretched out on the couch.

After the movie is over, Garcia leaves the living room and goes to sleep on one of the beds down the hall. JJ offers me the pullout couch and I accept gladly. I am much too tired to consider driving home right now.

Catherine is making whimpering noises on the couch and moving around in her sleep. I hear JJ sigh and I can see her wrap her arms tightly around her sister before she tries to wake Catherine up. I wonder how exhausting it must be for JJ to live with Catherine and to constantly be aware of her actions. I wonder what it is like for Catherine to live in constant fear that someone will hurt her. I can see the terror in Catherine's face when she wakes up restrained, it is gone the next instant when she recognizes her sister. JJ sends Catherine to bed, telling her that she will be along shortly.

JJ gets sheets and blankets from the linen closet for the pullout and we make the bed together. She says good night to me but before she leaves, she asks me if I had a good time with them tonight.

I smile at her and respond in the affirmative. I really did have a nice time unwinding, watching TV and not having to think.

JJ turns to leave and abruptly turns back, "This was a good night for Catherine," she pauses, "I hope you can sleep through her nightmares if she has any." And with that she walks away.

I am stunned at the 'confession' if I can call it that. That piece of information is just another piece of the puzzle that is Catherine Jareau. I am so tired that even if Catherine has a nightmare, I doubt that I will be woken up.

I lay my head down on the pillow and the next thing I know, there is a rather loud THUMP. Startled, I tumble out of bed. Pain explodes in my head as I smack it on the end table. It is so surprising and painful that I start swearing in French. I can hear someone laughing and then someone asking me if I'm okay. "Emily, t'est correct?"

"Ma tête" I answer with a pained groan, holding my head in both hands.

"Veut-tu de la glace pour ta tête?" she asks me.

"Oui s'il te plaît." I look up at her curiously "I didn't know you spoke French."

"I learned it in school." She answers and I can hear her shifting her weight nervously. "I'll uh, I'll go get you some ice. It might take a few minutes, I uh dropped a glass." She leaves before I have a chance to say anything else to her.

I stagger through the living room, I probably look drunk, but I'm not even hung over. I sit down at the breakfast bar, holding my head in my hands. I should be grateful that I'm not bleeding; I hope I don't have a concussion. That would be really embarrassing. Catherine reappears with Tylenol and an icepack. By the time the Tylenol kicks in, Catherine has cleaned up the shattered glass and is eating a slice of cold pizza. She offers me a piece; it tastes surprisingly good.

When Catherine sits down next to me, I wonder if she considers me incapacitated and therefore less threatening or if she's just starting to trust me. We have a nice, safe conversation about school and books, no hard questions. I don't usually have a chance to speak French at work, so it is nice to have a proper conversation in French with a real person.

JJ entered the kitchen around nine; I was feeling much better, definitely no concussion, just a slight headache and a bruise. JJ is in mom mode when she sends Catherine back to her bedroom to get dressed. It's kind of funny.

JJ starts bustling around the kitchen, making breakfast. I ask her what she's making and she gives me this huge smile "Blueberry pancakes. I always make them for Catherine on Saturdays."

A routine. I wonder if it helps? How does it work when we, the team, are away over the weekend? I want to ask all those questions and more but I stop myself just in time.

Garcia sits down at the table next to me and when the pancakes are ready JJ goes off to find Catherine. There is no conversation while we eat; we are all too tired and hungry. I'm already thinking about taking a nap in my own bed when I get back to my apartment. Garcia whirls away after breakfast, leaving Catherine and I with the dishes while JJ tidies up the living room.

Catherine is washing the dishes and I'm drying them, I've forgotten about Reid's warning not to get close to her until I notice how tense she is. Her body language is screaming unease, I take a step back and two more to the left, and I'm out of arm's reach again. Catherine's body practically sags in relief when I move away. It hurts. I don't know her, but it still hurts to know that she thinks I would hurt her. She intrigues me.

I half turn towards her and says in a low voice "Je ne vous blesserai pas."

She fidgets uncomfortably "I know that you won't hurt me."

"But do you believe it?" I push.

She shrugs, "I don't know you."

"Would you like to?" I ask gently. "We did have a rather nice conversation earlier today."

Her blue eyes peek up at me through her bangs, "I think so."

I laugh, "I guess that's better than a straight up no."

Jen comes back from tidying up the living room, "What are you two talking about?"

"Nothing Jen." Catherine answers without turning around.

"Sure." JJ says. I know that tone of voice; it is the kind of voice that belongs to parents. It's weird to think of JJ as a parent to this tiny teenage girl.

JJ goes over to the fridge, grocery list in hand. "Kitty Cat, do you want to come grocery shopping with me?"

Catherine answers, "No Jen, I think I'm going to watch some TV, maybe work on my paper."

"Okay," JJ answers breezily.

JJ puts a hand on Catherine's shoulder and she flinches just a little bit. Catherine looks down at the tiled floor and mumbles, "Sorry."

JJ takes her hand back slowly. "No need to apologize Kitty Cat. It's an ingrained, instinctual reaction. I should have made more noise or simply asked you to turn around."

Catherine smiles, "Jen you're babbling, you're starting to sound like Spence."

While JJ is laughing, I move quietly away from the sisters. Their dynamic is interesting but I feel like I am intruding on a private moment. I don't get very far.

"Okay I'm going out to buy groceries then go to the office for a little while, and you're staying here." JJ said and turned to me, "What are you going to do today Emily?"

I smile at JJ, "Oh, I was just going to veg and watch some TV."

JJ shoots me a considering look, then she looks pointedly at Catherine and back at me with a raised eyebrow. I think I know what's coming but I'm not sure.

"Would you mind staying with Catherine for a little while?" she asks. There it is, that trust thing again.

Catherine protests, but she doesn't once look at me, "Jen, I'm sixteen and in University. I don't need a babysitter."

I answer half a heartbeat after Catherine, "Sure, I don't mind." I smiles at Catherine and amend my answer, "I'll stay if Catherine doesn't mind."

JJ is looking at Catherine expectantly. She grumbles a bit before answering "Fine, she can stay."

I can feel the love in the room. I start backing away into the living room to give Catherine and JJ a semblance of privacy. I block out what they are saying to each other and instead pack and repack my go bag.

After JJ leaves, Catherine reenters the living room and an awkward silence sets in. I am out of my element; I don't know what to do with a sixteen-year-old girl. Give me an unsub or a perp or a victim and I know what to do. But I can't treat Catherine as a victim and she isn't a colleague either. Tired of the silence I try to start a conversation, "So… what do you want to do today?"

Catherine appears to take a deep breath before blurting out, "I was going to watch Buffy, do you want to watch with me? You don't have to, you could watch something else or we could watch something else. Or you could read or-"

The babbling is kind of cute but I cut her off before she can continue, "Sure. Which season are you watching right now?"

She actually smiles at me, "Season two."

"How far along are you?" I ask, trying to remember what happened in season two.

"Passion, Angelus just killed Ms. Calendar."

I nod, "Ouch, I remember that episode."

Catherine moves over to the DVD player and starts setting everything up. When she is finished, she turns around to look for me. She's looking at the armchair where I sat last night to watch X-Men.

"Catherine" I start and she tenses slightly, "I noticed that you didn't touch anyone except JJ last night and you were uncomfortable when she touched you first this morning." I prod as gently as possible. I really need some answers.

Her gaze is glued to the floor.

"Catherine?" I say again, trying to get her attention. "Look at me please?" I want so much to reach out and lift her chin, but I don't want to spook her.

Catherine crosses her arms across her chest; she raises her head but avoids looking at me. "I don't like being touched."

Finally a real answer, I smirk, "I noticed that." I tilt my head and looks at Catherine, considering my next words very carefully, "Can I sit on the same couch as you while we watch TV?"

She fidgets but appears to consider my question, "I don't mind as long as you stay on your side."

I nod at her and we sit down on opposite ends of the couch. It isn't anything huge, but it is progress. I try a slightly different tactic thinking that I might get better results, "What did JJ tell you about me?"

She still won't look at me but she answers my question. "The team is family, and you're part of the team. So you're going to be family as well."

I smile at her, "Okay, that's not the answer I was looking for, but it is good to know."

"I know." she answers.

"Then why did you tell me?" I ask, confused.

Catherine's piercing blue eyes look directly into mine, "Because you need to know. Jen's team is family. Aaron and Jason are our parents and Penelope, Derek and Spencer are our siblings. The team is everything. You don't mess with family. If you're going to be part of the team, then you're going to be family as well."

Okay, that certainly answers my earlier question about the team being family. It is a strange and oddly fitting idea. "Seriously, what do you know about me?" I try again.

"I haven't read your file, if that's what you're asking." She hedges.

I lie, "I haven't read your file either."

She narrows her eyes at me, "I don't have a file."

I laugh, "It was a joke. I'm sorry if I offended you."

She levels a glare at me, "Emily Elizabeth Prentiss. You are an only child. Your mum is Ambassador Prentiss, currently unassigned. I have no idea who your dad is. You've wanted to work at the BAU for a long time. You worked with the CIA or another agency before you joined the FBI. You attended Georgetown and Yale. You lived in several different countries growing up including Egypt, France and Italy. Oh and you like Kurt Vonnegut. Shall I continue?" she smirks.

I am stunned, that was more than what is in my personnel file. "No, that's okay. I think you've got the main points. Where did you get your information?"

She raises one eyebrow "Where do you think?"

I sigh and then I smile when I figure it out, "Garcia must be a very good teacher."

Catherine doesn't say anything to confirm or deny what I said.

"Honesty is a good policy. Shall I tell you what I know about you?"

She nods, looking away.

I smile at her sadly, "Alice Catherine Jareau."

She flinches slightly at the name and I consider backing down for half a second before plowing on. We need to get this over with. "Alice, of noble kin, Catherine, pure and Jareau, probably French, having something to do with a container for water or oils."

She snorts and answers back, "Emily, to strive or excel or rival, Elizabeth, consecrated to God and Prentiss, Scholar."

"Touché," I say because she is good. "You are the youngest child of Roger and Sandy Jareau. You lived in Valencia, Virginia until the death of your parents, and then you moved in here with JJ. You graduated high school early, a semester earlier than expected. You now attend university and are majoring in English and Linguistics. How am I doing so far?" I challenge her and she glares right back. "I'll continue then," I say "You don't like to be touched. You are obviously somewhat afraid of me. You don't like cars and you have PTSD. When you were seven you and your best friend-"

She cuts me off "Don't say her name."

This is the first bit of real anger, of fire in her eyes, so I offer her a get out of jail free card, "Shall I stop?"

Catherine glances at me for a second before looking away tears threatening to fall. Her "please" sounds strangled,

"I'm sorry Catherine." I apologize, and reach out a hand towards her, she moves away as quickly as possible. I feel that stabbing pain again.
"No inter-team profiling." she mumbles.

I am genuinely confused "You're considered part of the team? I thought you were part of the team's family-"

"Why don't you ask Derek?" she glares at me.

I raise my hands in defeat, "Catherine I believe you. This is just a little weird for me. I have never been part of a team like this before. You're part of the team, but you don't go out on cases and you don't have any clearance as far as I can tell. I'm sorry Catherine."

She smiles at me, just a little one, but a smile nonetheless, "At least you're getting my name right."

"How can I make it up to you?" I ask.

"Watch Buffy with me, all seven seasons. And all five seasons of Angel."

I laugh; I can do that quite easily.

She continues, "Do not ever call me Alice and don't touch me unless I touch you first. You'll get the same ground rules as the rest of the team. Jen will probably fill you in. I'm not sure why she didn't before you came over."

I cock my head in her direction, "I'm pretty sure you mean, before I was allowed to come within twenty feet of you."

"Yes, but that is besides the point," she answers quietly.

I frown, "Reid tried to tell me something but we were all so tired and stressed out that I didn't listen properly. I am sorry."

"You seem to be apologizing a lot, but you really should listen to Spence or Jen or anyone from the team." She smiles at me and I think I'm actually being forgiven.

"Okay, I guess we'll have to start back at season 1," I say.

"Yup," She says with a huge smile.

I fall asleep during the second episode of the first season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I have been watching Catherine instead of the show; I know all the lines anyway. Catherine looks so very happy while she's watching TV; she looks like a normal kid. The last thought that passes through my mind before I fall asleep again is: she's not broken, just a little damaged. Which is good, because damage can be healed.

Buffy: Does it ever get easy?

Giles: You mean life?

Buffy: Yeah. Does it get easy?

Giles: What do you want me to say?

Buffy: Lie to me.

Giles: Yes, it's terribly simple. The good guys

are always stalwart and true, the bad guys are

easily distinguished by their pointy horns or

black hats, and, uh, we always defeat them

and save the day. No one ever dies, and

everybody lives happily ever after.

Buffy: Liar.

- Season 2, Lie to Me, Buffy the Vampire Slayer

French:

Catherine: Emily are you all right?

Emily: My head.

Catherine: Do you want ice for your head?

Emily: Yes please.

Emily: I will not hurt you.