Chapter XXXIX
JJ ran a hand through her hair as she righted the freshly made ponytail. Sharing a look with Emily, the women rose to refill their coffee cups as the team waited for Hotch to finish his phone call with Strauss.
"What do you think they'll do?" JJ asked quietly. Emily shrugged.
"She did break the law JJ." The brunette admitted.
"But she didn't-"
"I know." Emily added some much needed sugar into her steaming cup. "I know."
"What did she say when you told her about Hail?"
"She seemed more afraid of her family than him." Emily watched JJ's eyebrow rose. "I think she knows he can never hurt her again but she doesn't seem to trust her parents to do the same."
"What about her sister?" JJ crossed her arms as she waited for the pot to brew.
"What do you mean?"
"Did you tell her that Alexia is here too?"
"No actually, I don't think I did."
"I think we should try to leave the two alone for a little."
"Why?" Emily titled her head to the side.
"Well, I know that when I was upset the only person I wanted to see was my sister." JJ picked at her nails. "Even if I was mad at her, she always seemed to make it better when no one else could." Emily offered the blonde a sad smile and stroked her arm.
"Alright." She agreed and saw Aaron waving the two back towards the waiting room. "Let's see what the Dragon Lady said."
"Give us some good news Hotch." JJ grumbled as she sat next to the man. Hotch glanced warily around the room.
"We have to bring her in." Hotch sighed and took in the angered looks on everyone's faces. "Hail will be tried here but the crimes Ana committed were federal and Strauss wants her brought back to D.C as soon as possible."
"Does she know the details of the situation?" Emily asked, hoping to avoid getting Ana arrested. Hotch nodded solemnly.
"This isn't fair." JJ muttered and was met with nods around the room.
"I know but we still have to do our jobs."
"Sometimes our jobs suck." Morgan rose and seemed to be headed for the exit and some fresh air. Aaron approached Emily, acknowledging the defeated look on her face, and took her hands in his.
"They're right you know." Emily shook her head slowly. "This isn't right."
"Emily, she willingly broke the law." Hotch summed up. "Besides, a judge may rule in her favor."
"How am I supposed to tell her 'oh, sorry I got you kidnapped and shot but while I'm at it, I'm going to arrest you too'?" She felt Hotch tense as she finished.
"Emily, none of this was your fault." He took hold of her shoulders and squeezed slightly before giving her a little shake. "Do you hear me? There is nothing we could've done to prevent this."
"That doesn't stop me from feeling like this." She admitted, her voice low so that only he could hear what she had to say. She felt his hand on her chin, lifting it so that their gazes met. Hotch felt his heart break at the sadness that filled her dark eyes.
"We're going to fix this. I promise." His determination lifted Emily's spirit and a small smile made its way onto her lips.
"Thank you." She whispered as she placed her hands on his chest, feeling his heart beat accelerate once more. She leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on his lips before wrapping her arms around him. They both sighed as their nostrils filled with the others' scent and smiles couldn't help but expand on their faces. JJ, Rossi and Reid did their best to avoid staring at the couple but found it difficult to hide their own joyful expressions at their friends' happiness.
"Hi." A small voice snapped everyone out of their trance as their eyes searched for the source. Alexia Valerious stood at JJ's feet and looked up at the woman with big green eyes. JJ smiled as she knelt to face the girl.
"How was your nap Alexia?" She asked her in a sweet voice. The girl shrugged and lowered her gaze.
"M'sorry." She shuffled her feet on the floor and picked at the hem of her dress like before. JJ scooted closer to her.
"There's nothing to be sorry for." She told the girl who in an instant had her tiny arms wrapped around her neck in a tight hug. JJ rocked backwards slightly before placing her own arms around the small figure. She smiled at her teammates' expressions.
"Alexia, ce faci?" Sophie's voice called from behind the group as she entered the room. The little girl unwrapped herself from JJ but remained close to the blonde.
"I said sorry for sleeping on Jennifer." The little girl announced proudly.
"Good girl dragă." Her father smiled in approval before turning to Emily. "Were you with Ana?"
"Yes, I was." Emily extended her hand. "Emily Prentiss."
"Michel." The man shook her hand firmly. "How is she? When can we see her?"
"Mr. Valerious, I don't know if now is the best time." Emily said. "Ana is very tired and only manages to stay awake for less than a half hour at a time."
"Please, we need to see our daughter." Sophie leaned closer to her husband who wrapped a large arm around her shoulders. Emily felt increasingly bad for the family and had no idea how to tell them at Ana in fact, did not want to see them.
"Agent Prentiss and I were just discussing letting Alexia visit her first." JJ added and brought the attention back to her. The little girl in question looked delighted at the idea. "It'll be less stressful for Ana and Alexia clearly misses her sister."
"Please, tătic!" the little girl ran to her father and latched onto his leg. The man seemed powerless to resist her.
"Alright." He knelt down to Alexia's level and stroked her hair. "You tell her that we miss her so much and that we love her more than we can ever explain."
"And that we're sorry." Sophie added quickly. Alexia nodded, a look on concentration on the little girl's face, before taking Emily's hand and making her way towards her sister's room.
"Can Jennifer come too?" everyone heard the little voice ask. JJ, much like Michel, was incapable of denying her and quickly took the girl's other hand.
"Alexia, before we go in Emily and I have to tell you some things about your sister." JJ knelt down in front of Ana's door.
"She's going to be very tired." Emily explained. "But don't think that she doesn't want to see you, okay?" Alexia nodded. "You're going to see some wires and machines but don't let them scare you; they're helping Ana stay awake to talk to you, understand?"
"I understand." The little girl mused, clearly anxious to see her sister.
"I'll go in and let her know you're coming." Emily smiled at the wide grin on the girl's face before slowly entering the room. She approached the bed and saw Ana twitching in her sleep. The girl moaned and frowned as she gripped the bed sheets tightly between her fingers and Emily at once realized the signs of a vicious nightmare. She called her name and placed a hand on Ana's. The girl shot up, her eyes wide and her breathing short and rapid. "It's alright, Ana. It's okay."
"What?" Ana asked curtly as she righted herself amongst the covers. Emily leaned back and crossed her arms defensively.
"Someone's here to see you." She announced as she uncrossed her legs and started to stand.
"Emily, no!" Ana struggled to get out. "I don't want to see them!"
"It's not your parents." Emily remained unfazed by her outburst. "It's your sister."
"What?" Ana breathed out almost inaudibly.
"Your little sister wants to see you." Emily raised an eyebrow. "Is that alright with you?"
"Alexia…she's here?" Ana shook her head in confusion. "They actually brought her?"
"Of course they brought her, why wouldn't they?" Emily waited for a response that did not come. "Do you want to see her or not?"
"I shouldn't." Ana lowered her gaze in a manner similar to the way Alexia did.
"What are you talking about? She's dying to see you." Emily started getting aggravated.
"You think I don't want to see her too?" Ana raised her voice slightly.
"From the way you're acting, I don't think you want to see anyone!" Emily threw up her hands in exasperation.
"Maybe you're the one I don't want to see!" Ana shouted back, her last breath hitching as her stitches protested.
"Fine." Emily raised her chin. "But I'm letting her in." With that she stormed to the door, opened it and ushered the little girl in without a word. Ana could hear her heels clicking as she rapidly made her away from her. I shouldn't have said that! God, why do I always mess shit up?!
"A-Ana?" a small voice came from her right and Ana immediately turned to meet it, wiping away some tears that had managed to escape.
"I'm right here." She cleared her throat and took in the sight of her now 7 year old sister. Oh my God. "Look how big you've-" Before she could complete the sentence, she felt little arms snake their way around her neck and pull her downwards forcefully. Ana winced slightly but ignored the pain as she hugged her baby sister for the first time in three years.
"I missed you so much." Alexia cried into her neck and Ana could do nothing to hold back her own tears.
"I missed you too prințesă." Ana stroked her sister's hair as her little shoulders shook with the force of her tears.
"M'so sorry." Immediately, Ana pulled back and took her face into her hands.
"No, this was not your fault. None of this was your fault. Do you understand me?" Ana wiped away any tear that dare stain her sister's face and watched as Alexia nodded before burrowing herself back into her neck. Ana used all her strength to pull her sister on to the bed and properly wrap her arms around her. The sound of Alexia's sobs only made Ana hate herself even more. I'm the cause of all this pain. If it wasn't for me, none of this would have happened.
"You okay?" Alexia asked suddenly between sobs.
"Of course I'm okay." Ana scoffed and continued to stroke her sister's beautifully braided hair. "Your hair got so long."
"So did yours." Alexia played with a handful of Ana's hair. "Ana?"
"Yes?"
"Where have you been?" Alexia's innocent question caused her sister's heart to skip a beat. Ana knew she couldn't tell her the full story now but in a few years, when Alexia was old enough to understand exactly what had happened, Ana knew she had a right to know.
"New York." She answered.
"Where the big buildings are?" Alexia looked up in amusement and Ana couldn't help but snicker.
"Yes, where the big buildings are."
"Did you like it?"
"For a while." Ana shrugged.
"Why didn't you leave after you stopped liking it?"
"I'll explain to you when you're older."
"But you said that three years ago!" Alexia pouted. "I'm older now."
"Not for this, you aren't." Ana playfully jabbed her sister's side and the little girl squealed. Good to know some things never change.
"Will you take me to the buildings sometime?" Alexia asked when she had stopped laughing.
"I'll take you anywhere you want." Ana promised. Being away from the girl for such a long time only enhanced the undying love she had for her and the thought of leaving her again left Ana in physical pain.
"I want to go home." Alexia admitted and Ana sighed.
"Momma and Daddy will take you home soon." Had the girl already grown bored of her?
"No, not that home. The other one." Ana sighed again.
"Lexi, you know that's not possible." She remembered the countless times they had had this exact conversation.
"Why not?"
"You know why."
"But that was a long time ago."
"Then how do you even remember if it was so long ago?"
"I remember."
"You were three."
"I remember!" Alexia protested and Ana backed down.
"Alright, you remember. But we still can't go back." As Alexia opened her mouth to protest, Ana covered it with her hand. "Can we talk about this another time?"
"Ok." Alexia frowned. "Oh, momma and daddy wanted me to tell you that they miss you. And that they love you. And that they're sorry."
"They told you that?" Ana leaned back to get a better look at her sister's face. Alexia nodded furiously and Ana frowned in return. "You don't believe them."
"I don't know." Ana admitted.
"It's true."
"Oh really?" Alexia began nodding again. "How do you know?"
"Momma cries a lot." Alexia lowered her head and started to pick at the sheets. "And daddy doesn't stay home that much."
"I'm really sorry Lexi." Ana began an apology that would last for the rest of their lives. "I never wanted that."
"I know. You just didn't want to be sad anymore." The little girl shrugged it off nonchalantly.
"Yea, that's right." Ana hugged her sister tightly and yawned. "I don't want you to be sad either." Alexia looked up and noticed that Ana's eyes had begun to close.
"I'm not." She promised. "Not anymore." And with that the sisters fell asleep in each other's arms.
Always wanted a baby sister, sigh.