Ok, I know I suck but this past year has been absolute hell so please don't hate me too much. I hope some of you are still with me seeing as I will definitely be finishing this story. Enjoy the update and expect another soon.

Chapter 13

"Swann, it's Prentiss." Emily worked hard to suppress the shudder in her voice. "I need a favor."

"Emily," the voice on the other line seemed surprised. "This isn't really a good time."

"I don't care." Emily practically spat. "You owe me after Brussels. And Tokyo. And-"

"Yes, yes, I understand," the man sighed loudly. "What's happened?"

Leila could hear Emily's voice as she explained the situation to a friend from her past. She shut the door. Hearing it once was enough. Glancing around her bedroom, Leila felt her heart tug. The picture of her and JJ seemed to stare at her from the nightstand. Dragging her feet, Leila reached out slowly and picked it up. As she lowered her head, tears she didn't know she had shed fell onto the frame. She watched the droplet make its way in between the two smiling sisters and tightened her grip on it. As more tears fell both onto the frame and on the floor, Leila felt her hands begin to tremble at the force. Focusing on JJ's face and taking in the smile she wore as the sun was beginning to set behind them, Leila's anger seemed to boil over. She heard a crack and noticed that her hold on the frame had caused it to break. As she saw the glass break straight across JJ's face, Leila felt her knees give out beneath her. She ran her fingers across the picture, along the cracks she had formed, and felt a whole new onslaught of tears rise up from her throat. Clutching the frame to her chest as she cried, Leila vaguely heard the door behind her open. She felt a hand- presumably Emily's- being placed on her shoulder. The older woman knelt beside her and Leila forced herself to lean slightly against her. The act didn't comfort her. In fact, it made her anxious, but she knew that Emily had lost someone today too…and Emily wasn't like her. She wasn't as damaged.

"Leila," the smooth voice brought the girl out of her thoughts. She raised her head and allowed her wet eyes to meet the agent's. "We can't stay here." Emily took in her look of confusion and explained. "He'll be looking for you now. It isn't safe."

"Safe?" Leila muttered her first word in hours. She didn't understand. This was her home, why would she leave it? What would happen to Will and Henry?

"I promise, I'll explain everything on the way but we have to get to the BAU." Emily insisted. "Please, Leila. Trust me." The words stung Emily as soon as she said them but the girl didn't seem to notice. Instead Leila gave her a small nod and began to stand up. Emily watched as she removed the picture from the broken frame and began to pack. Leila had never been one for physical possessions and she filled a backpack with the essentials in minutes. Emily escorted the trembling girl downstairs where she seemed to pause. Leila took a moment to scan the room, seemingly trying to engrave it in her memory. She knew that there was a chance she would never see this home again. Emily gave her as long as she could before gently ushering her towards the door. The two closed it and Leila took a little longer than usual to lock it. She placed a hand against it and wiped several stray tears away as Emily opened the car door for her. She sat, clutching her backpack to her chest as Emily started the car. Leila buried her face in the bag, unable to watch as the house disappeared from sight. As Emily glanced over at the girl, she felt new tears build up in her eyes, blurring her vision slightly. She swiped at them furiously, angry at herself for being so helpless. They drove in silence and before long, they arrived at the BAU. Emily tried hard not to rush the girl but being out in the open for too long made her nervous. They knew Parilla would be coming for Leila soon. A part of Emily wanted him to come for her now- while she was with her. She relished the thought of putting a bullet in between his eyes once and for all. Pushing the thought aside, she wrapped her arms around Leila's frame and led the girl inside. As the elevator dinged, announcing their arrival, Emily heard the girl swallow hard and steel herself for the next few hours. Thankfully, the other agents had either been informed of the situation or were too busy to notice their arrival as they wordlessly offered the two polite smiles before returning to their work. No one stopped them. No one tried to talk to them. As they made their way past the glass doors, Emily noticed the rest of the team gathered in the conference room. As she moved to walk up the foyer stairs, she felt Leila stop. The girl's stare was focused solely on one thing- JJ's desk. Emily's gaze traveled up to the conference room where the team was waiting. She and Hotch made eye contact and he sprang up to help. Exiting the room, the Unit Chief made his way to the bullpen and to Leila.

"Leila?" his voice was soft, afraid of startling the girl. Instead, it seemed as if Leila had heard him coming. "Leila, I know this is hard to believe right now but everything is going to be ok." Her head began to turn towards him, the look on her face saying one thing: "how can anything ever be ok again?" Reluctantly, she walked past the man and opened the door to the conference room only to be met with a pair of arms around her neck as Garcia tackled her.

"Oh my poor baby," Garcia cried. "It's gonna be alright. We're going to fix this and everything's going to be alright." Leila nodded once against the woman, her arms remaining still at her sides. Getting the message, the analyst let her go and led her towards a chair. The rest of the team seemed aware of her aversion to physical contact and sat in silence. Hotch offered his seat to Emily who under normal circumstances would have shot him a deadly look. She sat, her face in her hands almost immediately.

"I know this isn't easy," Hotch began, "but we're going to need to discuss some things…as a family." He paused, taking in the indifferent look on Leila's face. "Will is picking up Henry from school and coming straight here. I'm hoping to have something to tell him when he arrives. Emily?"

"I cashed in a few favors with Agent Swann from the Marshals." Emily cleared her throat. "He's sending two of his best agents here from New York as we speak."

"You're sure we can trust them?" Morgan spoke up. "I'm not exactly keen on handing Leila over to some strangers."

"I've saved Swann's life more times than either one of us can count so considering the fact that seeing her go is the last thing I want to do, yes we can trust him." Emily averted her gaze as soon she heard just how hostile that sounded.

"I still don't like it." Morgan pouted. "She should be here, with us, where we know she'll be safe."

"We thought JJ would be safe with us too." Reid's small voice added. He raised his head slightly before continuing. "If we're hunting Parilla, we won't be able to afford splitting our attentions. Besides, the further she gets from here, the better."

"Reid's right." Rossi said. "I don't like the idea any more than you do, Morgan, but we have to think rationally. How are we going to protect Leila and catch Parilla at the same time?"

"This isn't up for debate." Hotch stated firmly. "The Marshals will take Leila into protective custody until we catch this man. I've already decided on where they'll be taking her and the details have been sent to Agents Rhodes and Cavill. When they arrive, the three of them will leave immediately. The rest of us will work this case night and day for as long as we need to until that man is behind bars."

"Or in a grave." Everyone heard but seemed to ignore Emily's addition.

"Leila," Hotch turned his gaze to the silent teen, "do you have any questions?" Leila's eyes danced from agent to agent as she tried to take everything in. She didn't want to leave. She didn't want to spend months in a secluded cabin while her family risked their lives for her. As she opened her mouth to say so, she stopped. There was no point. The look in all of their eyes was immutable. They would go to extremes to keep her safe- even if it meant never seeing her again.

"Leila, I promise we're going to find him." Emily saw the look of panic begin to form in the girl's eyes. "We know you don't want to go but this is the only way to ensure your safety. It won't be for long, I swear." They watched as the girl swallowed hard and nodded once. As soon as she did there was a knock on the door and Will entered carrying a sleepy looking Henry. Leila shot out of her seat and into his arms in seconds. The team could hear his gentle coos and her shaky sobs. They glanced at one another uncomfortably until it ended and Hotch explained the situation to Will. Leila remained glued to his side as JJ's husband fought a hard case to get her to stay. It didn't take long for him to understand that this was, in fact, the best course of action. Sighing in defeat, he pulled his sister-in-law close and offered her a tight smile.

"I know this looks bad, cher," he wiped the tears from her cheeks, "but it doesn't matter how you far you go. We'll still be family and we'll be waiting for you right where you left us."

"I'm scared." Leila admitted in a small voice. Will placed Henry on the ground and hugged her properly.

"I know. So am I." he stroked her hair softly. "But you know she'd want you to be safe, right? That's all she ever wanted." Leila pressed herself harder into the man and nodded.

"I didn't tell her I loved her." she mumbled against his chest. "When she left this morning. I didn't say it back."

"Oh, Leila." Will shook his head. "She knew you loved her. Never doubt that. Ok?" Leila nodded once more.

"The Marshals are here." Hotch's voice made the teen tense up against Will. Releasing him, Leila knelt down and motioned for Henry to give her a hug. When he did, she released a shaky breath as she placed a kiss on the top of his head.

"I love you, ok?" she whispered to him. "I love you so much and I am so sorry this happened." Henry's little arms squeezed her as hard as they could.

"You going on vacation?" he asked innocently. Leila pulled back and tried to smile as she nodded.

"I'll be back real soon, ok?" He nodded.

"I love you too." he beamed at her, unable to understand what was happening. Leila was already being ushered out the door and towards who she assumed to be Agents Cavill and Rhodes when Will scooped his son up and held him close. Looking back, she saw Hotch close the door to the conference room leaving only the two men and Henry in it. The blinds were shut and she couldn't help it as the curiosity set in. She didn't have the debate what the men were discussing before Emily spoke.

"Leila, these are Agents Rhodes and Cavill." she introduced the man and woman in front of her. "They're going to be taking care of you until we can resolve this."

"It's nice to meet you Leila." the woman smiled, extending a hand. "I'm Amy." Leila shied away. "This is my partner, Adam Rhodes." The man offered her a genuine smile.

"I can take that for you." He motioned to the backpack on her shoulder. Leila took a moment but eventually handed it over. "We have a car ready to go just outside." Leila looked up at Emily. The woman moved closer to her protectively as the four entered the elevator.

"Don't be afraid, Leila." she whispered. "You're going to be just fine." As the door opened and Leila caught sight of the white sedan that was waiting for her, she spoke.

"I don't want to go." her voice was small as she took a step back into the older brunette. "Emily, please."

"I know but it's the only way to keep you safe." Emily insisted as she took in the terrified expression on the girl's face. "They're going to make sure no one hurts you."

"But you're my family. I can't just leave!" Leila cried. Emily took hold of her shoulders and looked right in her eyes.

"You're coming back, Leila." she pressed. "This isn't permanent. It's just until-"

"But I didn't even get to see her!" the blue eyes almost identical to her friend's filled with tears. "I didn't get to say goodbye!" Emily shut her eyes briefly, unsure of what to say to get the girl to understand. Her own heart was still breaking at the loss of her best friend and now she had to force Leila away when it was the last thing she wanted to do.

"Please Leila," she practically begged. "None of us want this but it's the only way we-"

"What if he finds you?" Leila cried. "You or Henry or Will or Garcia? What if he takes one of you away from me and I don't get to say goodbye again?!"

"Nothing is going to happen to us." Emily said sternly. "Nothing. We are going to find this man and we need to know that you are safe in order to do it. I know that this isn't what you want- trust me, I know- but you have to understand that it's the only way we finish this once and for all."

"You're-" Leila took in the enraged look in Emily's eyes. "Are you going to kill him?" The question caught Emily off guard. Seeing as the Marshals were most certainly within earshot and they were still in an FBI complex, the agent sighed.

"Leila, please just go with them." Emily said softly. "One way or another, this is going to end and it's going to end soon." The knowing look she gave the girl answered her question and Leila seemed satisfied. Wordlessly she reached out and hugged the agent.

"This time," Emily heard Leila whisper in her ear, "make sure he's dead." Emily nodded against the girl and kissed her cheek. As the two separated, Emily watched as Agent Rhodes opened the door for Leila and his partner. When the three were situated, Rhodes put the car in 'drive' and the last Emily saw of Leila was the blank stare the girl shot at her as they drove off towards an unknown destination.