Hola! Hope everyone's enjoying school- just kidding. Here's another chapter to keep you up and running :P

Chapter XXXVIII

Alexia Valrious had an extremely tight grip. Her little fingers wound deeply into JJ's hair, passing the girl off to her mother was a task not easily accomplished. Instead of getting the haircut of the century, JJ held onto the girl as she slept under the keen eye of Mrs. Sophie Valerious who looked like she needed a hug of her own. Readjusting little Alexia on her hip, JJ turned to the woman and took in her pained expression. She couldn't image not seeing Henry for three years and then finding him in a hospital. The thought alone made her heart drop to her stomach.

"Can I get you anything?" She whispered causing Sophie to nearly jump out of her skin. The woman shook her hands vigorously.

"No, no thank you." Her accent was strong and JJ found herself actually wondering if she could carry out a full conversation with the woman.

"How old is she?" JJ glanced at her arms at the sleeping child and smiled. Sophie returned it warmly.

"Almost eight. Her birthday is in February." JJ nodded her understanding. "Do you have children?"

"Yes, a son. He's almost five." Sophie nodded.

"Is it…difficult," she seemed to have trouble finding the right words. "Being away for so long?"

"Yes, very." JJ admitted. "But it also makes the time I do get to spend with him all that more special."

"Ah, yes." Sophie smiled, her dark eyes lightening up for the first time.

"Mrs. Valerious-"

"Sophie, please."

"Sophie," JJ corrected herself. "I wanted to ask you something. When I asked Alexia about why Ana left, she went into a panic; screaming, crying, the works. What happened to cause such a drastic reaction?"

"It is a family matter." Sophie stated plainly, averting her gaze. JJ sighed.

"I know and I'm sorry that I have to ask but we do have a case to complete. It would be easier to do so with all the facts in place." JJ explained calmly.

"We made mistake, okay?" Sophie frowned as she stood. "It is no one's business but our own what happened to make Ana leave us."

"Sophie, I promise you; this information will only be-"

"I said no!" Alexia shifted in JJ's arms and mumbled incoherently. Sophie immediately strode over to the her, whispered something in their language in the girl's ear, and took her from JJ's arms before making a b-line for the doors. JJ, relieved at having rid the weight but still confused at the family's situation, could do nothing but watch them go.

Emily managed to sit cross-legged on one of the seats provided. She played a mundane game on her cell phone as she waited for Macken-no, Ana, to reawaken. Hotch had filled her in on the commotion outside. She was surprised at how quickly her family had arrived but was even more shocked to hear that Ana was only seventeen years old. She could definitely pass for twenty-one if she tried. Just as Emily began recalling all the times she herself had tried to pass for 21 at her age, she felt a slight tug at the bedding beneath her fingertips.

"A-Ana?" Emily whispered gently as she tested the name on her lips. She took hold of her twitching hand and watched her struggle to open her eyes once more. When she finally did, Emily could see a lot more life in them than before. She smiled brightly at the thought.

"Hi." Ana's voice came out raspy and she cleared her throat before Emily placed a small ice cube in her hand.

"Hi." Emily responded and waited for her to finish swallowing. "How are you feeling?"

"Like," Ana shifted uncomfortably. "I got shot." Emily chuckled at the response, remembering that those were JJ's exact words as well.

"Well I wonder why that is." Emily frowned in mock confusion causing a thin smile to appear on Ana's lips.

"How's Agent Jareau?" She asked as she recalled what had happened in the past few hours…or days.

"Better." Emily nodded.

"Between the three of us do you think we could even cross a street without ending up here?" Ana rolled her eyes as Emily laughed wholeheartedly.

"I'm not willing to find out." Ana nodded in agreement. "How are you feeling?"

"Alright, I guess." She shrugged and regretted it instantly. "As alright as one can be." She corrected.

"Doctor Figueroa said the surgery went well." Emily assured her. "You should be out of here within the next two weeks."

"Two weeks?" Ana chuckled to herself. "Yea, I don't think so."

"Ana, you have to stay until you're-"

"Could you stay in here for more than a day without losing your mind?" The girl raised an eyebrow in Emily's direction and the older woman could form no response. She saw a flash of something pass over Ana's eyes and frowned.

"What is it?" Emily asked as she leaned closer. Ana's eyes were downcast, her expression placid as something unpleasant crossed her mind.

"What…what's going to happen to me?" she asked without looking, reminding Emily of a lost puppy.

"What do you mean?" Emily's voice softened although she knew exactly what the girl was referring to.

"Don't you have to…arrest me or something?" her emerald orbs finally found Emily's and the agent saw a fear in them that did not fit the girl's normal expression.

"I don't know." Emily admitted. She did, in fact, have no idea what protocol demanded in a situation like this one. Perhaps she could have Aaron find out before Ana left the hospital. "There is something I should tell you though."

"He's alive, isn't he?" Ana looked straight ahead as she asked and Emily nodded in silence. "Where?"

"Two floors up. Don't worry, he'll never get near you again." Emily promised but didn't seem to convince her at all. "That actually wasn't what I wanted to tell you."

"What else?" Ana seemed to slump backwards, already exhausted from being awake for more than 10 minutes. She closed her weary eyes and pressed a hand to her abdomen, feeling the raised skin where her stitches most likely made permanent residence now.

"Your family is here." Emily said cautiously and watched as Ana's eyes shot open and her head whipped sideways to face her.

"My what?" she asked, a look of horror spread on her face. Emily attempted to soothe the girl before her heart rate sped up too much for comfort.

"It's alright, they're really worried about you." She remembered Ana telling her that she had run away and apparently, with good reason. "They want to see you."

"No, no, you can't let them." Ana shrunk into her blankets further, hiding herself almost completely.

"Ana, they're your family and they missed you-"

"I said no!" her voice was firm and seemed to sap her of any energy she had. Ana dropped her head unceremoniously to the side and stared out the window to her left.

"Ok," Emily said softly. "Rest now. We can talk about it later."

"There's no talking about it Emily." Ana turned her body as much as she could, facing away from the door and Emily. "Tell them to leave. Tell them I don't want them here. Tell them I died for all I care, just do not let them in this room." Emily was shocked to hear someone so adamant about avoiding their family and quite frankly, the thought scared her.

"I'll be outside." She informed the girl as she stood to leave, her legs stretching in protest. "Just…sleep on it." Emily stroked her hair to the side and after receiving no response, turned and left the room. She was faced with an equally confused looking JJ; both women seemingly thinking the same thing as they made their way to the rest of the team to discuss exactly what they should do to help a family who appeared beyond broken.

Kind of a filler chapter for now. I think I'm going to write the beginning of a trail for those you that want it but skip the formalities and just let you know the results after all the drama has passed. Does that sound ok with everyone?