Chapter XL
After Emily stormed off, JJ knew that she would have to be the one to stand watch at the door. As the sisters reunited and their muffled conversation penetrated through the thin door, the blonde couldn't help but sneak the occasional peek from the small window above the handle. Before long, tears brimmed and JJ had to close her eyes to keep them contained. She clearly remembered when she was Alexia's age and her sister, Rosaline, was around Ana's age. The conversation between the two ignited memories that JJ would rather not recall in such a public setting.
"JJ?" a voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She turned to see Hotch staring at her with wide eyes. "Are you-"
"Emily had to go to the bathroom." JJ furiously wiped at her eyes before turning to face her boss. "I'll go check on her." Before Hotch could reach for her, the blonde made her way down the narrow hallway and entered the bathroom at the corner. Locking the door behind her, JJ pressed her back against the wall and allowed a handful of silent tears cascade down her cheeks before forcing herself to reapply her make-up.
"Was that JJ?" Emily craned her neck as the flash a yellow zoomed past her.
"I don't know what happened." Hotch crossed his arms. "One second she was standing watch and the second I round the corner she disappears."
"She could probably hear them." Emily motioned towards the door, the occupants inside now quiet. Realization dawned on Hotch's expression and Emily placed a hand on his shoulder. "Nothing you would have said would have made a difference."
"You're right." He sighed and took the hand into his. "As usual." Emily chuckled.
"Get used to it." She flicked a strand of hair playfully and nearly squealed out loud as Aaron wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her forcefully against him.
"I can definitely do that." He breathed against her nose. Emily's heart skipped several beats but it didn't stop her from raising herself slightly and placing a firm kiss on the man's lips. The couple momentarily forgot that they were, in fact, in public and before long the kiss deepened- leaving the two out of breath and blushing when Dr. Figueroa cleared his throat for their attention.
"Sorry to," Figueroa's eyes narrowed as he sized Hotch up. "Interrupt."
"Of course you are." Emily heard Hotch mumble under his breath and had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. The two turned to face him, Hotch's hand still plastered to her waist, hers resting on the small of his back.
"Has something happened?" Emily ignored the blatant pissing match that was going on in front of her.
"Nothing bad, I assure you." The man turned his gaze to her and offered a small smile before handing over a stack of papers. "Ana Valerious' release forms. I assume one of your team will sign?"
"So soon?" Emily's mind went straight to the conversation Hotch had with Strauss- the one where their boss ordered them to bring the girl back as soon as she was physical able. She felt Hotch's hand tense at her waist.
"There's nothing more we can do for her here." Figueroa seemed confused as to why they weren't ecstatic. "All the healing that is left can be done at the comfort of her own home."
"Home." Emily lowered her gaze to the floor. "Right."
"Is there a-"
"No Doctor." Hotch moved forward and brought Emily's hand into his. "We'll deliver her papers and have her out of here by tonight."
"I'm sure she would like that." Figueroa's stare never left Emily, making the woman slightly uncomfortable.
"Thank you." Hotch's tone suggested anything but gratitude. The only thing keeping him polite was Emily's death grip on his hand as they watched the doctor sigh and turn on his heel. Emily raised her eyebrow the second he rounded the corner. "What?"
"Nothing." She smiled faintly before tugging him towards the door to Ana's room. She secretly loved how jealous Aaron could get and how adorable his scowl was- when it wasn't focused on her of course.
"Do you want to sign?" he offered the papers and clipboard to her and wordlessly, Emily took them and scribbled her signature at the bottom,
"Why don't you let me?" Aaron placed his hand over the one Emily had on the door.
"Oh," she remembered Ana's outburst towards her. "right." She stepped aside and let Aaron enter the quiet room but not before catching a glimpse of the sleeping sisters cuddled up against one another. She smiled despite the situation and closed the door.
"Ana." Aaron whispered, not wanting to wake Alexia as well. He sat on her side of the bed and debated placing a hand over the sleeping girl's. He didn't have to as he saw the teenager's eyes flutter and open, momentarily confused by her surroundings.
"Hm?" she tried to straighten herself before remembering the little girl on her chest and abandoning the idea.
"Are you alright?" Hotch noticed her sudden wince. "Would you like me to move her?"
"No." Ana said forcefully. "Don't." she wrapped her arm protectively over Alexia' sleeping form causing the girl to scoot closer and another flash of pain to shoot through the teenager.
"Ana, she's hurting you." Hotch stood slowly and waited for her to nod. Eventually, Ana agreed; the pain a little too much to bear and Hotch picked up the seven year old and adjusted her on his hip. He opened the door and Ana saw Emily take the sleeping child from him- neither disturbing her sleep. She closed her eyes and bit the inside of her lip to contain a sigh of relief as Hotch sat down beside her again.
"Is everything alright?" Ana took in the man's pained expression and mirrored one of her own.
"I have your release papers." The statement came out just as if he were telling her that her pet fish died.
"Emily signed them?" She raised an eyebrow in question but received no response from the tall figure in front of her. She immediately started taking out the IV in her hand and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Hotch knew there was no point in contesting and made room for her to stand but waited close enough to help her if need be. Ana stood on shaky legs and waited several seconds before turning back to him.
"There's something else, isn't there?" she asked without looking directly at him. Hotch nodded in silence and watched as Ana's expression darkened.
"Do you need any help?" he offered as she slowly shuffled towards the bathroom. Ana scoffed. "I can get JJ or-"
"I'm fine." She said quietly before easing the door closed. She pressed her back against the bathroom wall and debated whether or not she could actually change herself. Pursing her lips, she decided that she would have to. There was no way she was asking anyone for help with that. Some time passed before Ana managed to dress herself properly and when she opened the door she saw Hotch waiting in the same spot. "What happens now?"
"We have to take you back." The man responded plainly. He bent over and picked up her duffel bag before opening the door for her.
"Are they still here?" Ana stared at the door like it was made of rotten fruit.
"Yes." Hotch could see the back of Mr. Valerious as the couple waited for their daughter to emerge.
"I can't." she shook her head adamantly. Hotch lowered the bag back onto the floor and approached her. His features softened as he realized just how scared she was. He couldn't image Jack looking like that at the thought of him.
"I can tell them to leave. I can force them out and take you on the jet without them knowing." He sighed lightly before continuing. "But you know you shouldn't do that. You need to speak to them and they need to see you. Do it for Alexia."
"Ok." Ana's weak reply was enough for Hotch to place a hand on her shoulder and lead her towards the opened door. Ana turned slowly and heard a faint gasp come from her mother's lips just behind the team. The BAU parted and allowed both parents to run forward but just before either one of them could wrap their arms around her, Ana shrunk back and partially hid herself behind Hotch. She knew how she must look; like a toddler who was afraid of punishment. She raised her head slowly and took in her mother's tears and exhausted eyes and her father's new wrinkles and defeated look. God, how they had changed.
"Ana." Her mother reached out and slowly placed her hand on the girl's cheek. Ana felt the warmth spread but couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. "Ai crescut atât de mult copilul meu." Ana closed her eyes, never realizing just how much she missed the sound of her mother's voice.
"We've…"her father cleared his throat. "We've missed you so much copilul meu." He stepped forward tentatively and when she didn't recoil, he wrapped his large arms around her smaller frame. Ana felt her mother add her own to the mix and blinked away several tears that landed on her father's shirt. All three were crying, all in silence and all for the same reason; they wanted nothing more than to forget what had happened the night Ana left but they knew that nothing could be more impossible. No one missed the fact that Ana's hands had remained still at her sides until they heard tiny footsteps and a very awake Alexia sped into the group. Only then did Ana reciprocate the family embrace.
"Mr. and Mrs. Valerious," Hotch's voice sounded as the family released one another. Alexia remained plastered to her sister's hip, confused as to why the man before them looked so sad. "We have to go now."
"Wha-what do you mean?" Sophie stuttered and took Ana's hand in hers, ignoring the slight flinch from her daughter.
"We have to take Ana to Washington D.C with us." Hotch's expression conveyed sympathy but the ones around knew he would do nothing against his supervisor's wishes. "I'm sorry."
"You can't just-"
"Yes, we can." He stopped the larger man. "We have to."
"She has not done anything!" Sophie cried, her grip on both daughters tightening by the second.
"Yes I have." Ana's small voice announced, drawing her parent's attention. They waited in silence. "They're right."
"What do you mean dragă?" Her mother's voice was shaky, more tears threatening to fall as she finished her question.
"I've done…thing I shouldn't have." Ana explained vaguely. "They're just doing their jobs."
"Then we'll come with you." Her father demanded suddenly.
"No." Ana replied with the same ferocity. "I…I don't want you there."
"Why not?" Sophie asked as she took both of Ana's hands. "Please Ana. Please, you have to forgive us."
"I…I can't." the girl shook her head, hyperaware of Alexia's tear ridden face at her side. "I can't forgive you."
"Wha-why?" her mother's broken voice broke her heart but the sound of her father's statement drowned the woman out.
"We are your parents!" he cried. "We need to make sure you are alright and not being mistreated by these people!"
"You stopped being my parents the minute you all but forced me out!" Ana shouted at the man, her temper on par with his. "And these people are the only reason I'm even alive."
"Ana," Michel rubbed his temple. "We are coming with you and that is end of it."
"Actually," Emily stepped in front of Ana slightly. "Since Ana is underage and is currently under FBI custody, we cannot allow you to come with us."
"This is now a federal case, making it illegal to discuss with an outside party." Hotch continued.
"And since Ana has technically been a ward of the state for the past three years, you have no legal right to her." Emily finished.
"You cannot just take her away!" Michel screamed making Alexia flinch and tighten her hold on Ana's shirt.
"We are not taking her away." Hotch explained. "Our superiors simply want to discuss the events that led us here and need her perspective."
"This is unjust!" Sophie cried, latching onto her husband. "She is our daughter and we do not even know what has happened to her!"
"Whether or not Ana choses to tell you the details of the case after it is closed it none of our concern." Hotch told them. "But for now, she is legally bound to the federal government and under FBI custody."
"Ana, please." Sophie reached for her. She wrapped her arms around her daughter's neck and cried. "Please, tell them you want us. Tell them!"
"Mamă, eu nu pot." The words felt foreign on Ana's lips and she was surprised she had managed to remember the language she had been taught since birth.
"I'm sorry Ana." She mumbled. "One day, will you forgive me?"
"I don't know." Ana lowered her gaze and shook her head as her mother released her. She knelt to the ground and acknowledged her still-crying sister. "Alexia."
"Please don't go." The little girl sobbed without looking up. "Please don't leave me."
"I never left you." Ana took the girl's chin and raised her gaze until jade met jade. "I will see you again prințesă. I promise." Ana almost fell backwards as Alexia hugged her fiercely. Her heart shattered at the sound of her sister's cries and she hated herself for making them possible.
"I love you." Her little voice announced and Ana smiled against her neck.
"I love you too." She said confidently for the first time in years. Her stitches protested as she was released and began to stand but Ana couldn't really feel them. She was too busy watching Alexia run into her mother's arms and continue to cry. She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Emily, her face expressing every emotion Ana refused to show. Without one look back, Emily placed her arm around Ana's shoulders and led her back down the hallway towards the exit.