A/N: Please note that other triggering content (self-harm and suicide will be discussed) throughout the story. Please be forewarned and take precautions if these are troubling for you.
I just wanted to thank everyone for the reviews. My muse and I both appreciate it. This is still, as of now, planned to be a fairly long, multi-part story, but if you all aren't into it…I'll wrap it up before too long.
And remember…reviews and feedback keep me and my muse motivated…especially if they're positive!
***This chapter is a continuation of the second "part" of the story***More drama and more secrets revealed***
I hope you enjoy this latest chapter…Now on with the show!
"Make a habit of two things: to help; or at least to do no harm." ~ Hippocrates
"Most things in life come as a surprise." ~ Lykke Li
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Chapter 28
"I'll let you know more as soon as I can, but I really need to get back to Agent Prentiss right now…excuse me."
"Thank you" I nod in response as the doctor turns away from me and Morgan and walks back through the emergency room doors.
Morgan puts his arm around me and guides me back to the small waiting room and sits beside me...his arm still tightly wrapped around me. "She's strong JJ…she'll be okay."
I nod again…but I can't seem to find the words to respond to him. I know he's trying to put on a brave face for me…but I'm sure he's just as worried as I am. I'm still trying to process what the doctor had told me and Morgan when I hear Garcia and Summer arrive.
"What's going on…how's Em?" I hear Garcia say.
I look up to see Garcia and Summer watching both of us carefully. Summer watching my expression in particular. I try to respond but nothing comes out, so Morgan speaks up instead. "They're prepping her for surgery right now…"
Before Morgan has a chance to explain more…Summer speaks up "Surgery! What for?"
Morgan glances over to me as if to find out if answering her is okay and I nod…it's all I'm apparently able to do right now.
He finally looks back up at Garcia and Summer and attempts to relay what the doctor had informed us just moments before. "She has a couple of broken ribs…one of them punctured her lung. They need to take her to the O.R. to repair that."
"Why do I feel like there's more you're not telling me…or us…I guess?" Summer states as she glances over to Garcia.
Morgan calmly replies… "She does have a couple of other injuries…but the doctor said her punctured lung was the one she was most concerned with for right now…and that she would come back after the surgery was over to give us an update."
He left out the rest of what the doctor had mentioned for now…about her possible head injury…her broken wrist…and most troubling for both Morgan and me…her still nearly catatonic state.
"JJ…why haven't you said anything? I know there's more going on than what he said." Summer continued as she glanced between Morgan and me.
I look up at Summer and see determination in her eyes…she wants to know the truth. I've seen that look from Emily before. I instinctively know she won't let this go…so I try again to find some inner strength…at least for her. "Sorry…I'm just worried…that's all. Besides…none of us are that fond of hospitals…especially your…well…Emily."
I realize I was about to say 'your mom' but then realize that I'm the only person that knows about Summer being Emily's daughter…and I'm not sure if I should be the one to disclose that particular secret.
I watch as Garcia and Morgan shoot a look of confusion between one another and then back at me before Summer speaks up. "You figured out who I am…but you didn't tell them yet…did you?" Summer glances at me before looking between Morgan and Garcia.
"Yeah…I know…but no…I didn't tell anyone else. I didn't think it was my place. There had to be a good reason why Emily never told us. I don't know what the reason was…but I trust her…and that's good enough for me." I finish still looking at Summer as I see her nod.
I can't help but notice the confusion on Morgan and Garcia's face growing though. I know Summer can see it too.
Finally…Morgan can't take it anymore…his frustration getting the better of him and he asks "It's Summer, right?"
Summer nods but doesn't say anything.
Morgan continues on…"Will you explain to us what's going on? How is it that you know Emily? It's obvious JJ knows."
He glances in my direction…frustration mixed with a little anger crossing his face. He's probably remembering a few weeks back…when I found out before the others that Emily was alive and didn't tell the rest of the team. "We're all her family…we just want to help."
Garcia nods in agreement and adds "Morgan's right sweetie…we're all worried about her. I can tell you really care about her. You said that you knew all of us already…we just want to know how you know all of us…and how you know Em."
I watch as Summer glances between the three of us before asking a question that none of us were expecting. "Lucas is dead, right?"
Morgan can't help but be surprised by the question, but answers simply "Yes."
"Was he working alone? Did he have any help?…with any of what happened?" Summer replies…again surprising us with her question.
Based on what I overheard…Lucas was her dad…and they hadn't met until all of this happened, so I guess she would have no reason to feel bad about him being dead, but still. She seems almost too nervous and cautious about him. She didn't mention being injured…and she seems okay. I'm sure Garcia had the paramedics take a look at her already…but I may try to get her alone and ask her…just in case.
I guess if she was hurt…that might explain why she's so nervous…otherwise I'm not sure. And I wonder why she would think he had help. Did Emily tell her something or is she just being extra careful given what's already happened? Maybe something else happened to her or Emily before I got there.
"From what we can tell…he was working alone. Why? Did he mention having help? Did you see anyone else when you were there?" Morgan asks.
"No. I never heard him talk to anyone…or about anyone else. I never saw anyone else while I was there either. I just wanted to make sure." Summer quietly replies.
Morgan glances between Garcia and me and then back to Summer before cautiously asking "Summer…can I ask you a couple of questions?"
Summer nods.
"How long were you with Lucas…before Emily got there?"
"Uhhh…I'm not sure…I think a few hours. It's all kind of a blur. Why?" Summer nervously replies.
Morgan evades a direct answer and continues on with one of his own "Just trying to put a timeline together…where did Lucas find you? Do you remember what you were doing? What time and place you were at when he found you?"
"Yeah…but he's dead now, right? So…why does it matter?" Summer questions.
"Just putting the pieces together…maybe we can figure out how long you were there. So where were you when he found you?" Morgan cautiously continues.
"Uhhh…I was getting into my car…I had just left the library…it was closing up so I was going to head back home to finish up the rest of my homework and he snuck up behind me and put something over my mouth and nose and everything went dark…next thing I remember was waking up in that building."
"Did he threaten you or hurt you at all?" Morgan quietly asked.
"No…" Summer glanced away from Morgan…"he just…he kept me tied up. He had my phone and kept making calls but whoever he was calling wasn't answering. Then he would just walk around talking to himself. I couldn't talk because I had tape over my mouth and he didn't say anything to me either. I couldn't really focus too much because I had a really bad headache…but other than that…I was fine. I tried to get away…but whatever he had me tied up with was too tight…so I was stuck there. It wasn't until I heard him talking on the phone that I realized he was using me as bait to get Emily there…I tried to warn her…to stop her from coming…but she wouldn't listen." Summer stopped her explanation…on the verge of tears.
Garcia stepped in…lightly rubbing Summer's arm…"Shhhh…sweetie…it's okay…you couldn't have stopped Em. When she's determined to help someone…no one is going to stop her. And Morgan…I had the paramedics check her out before we came over…they said she's okay."
Summer flinched slightly at Garcia's touch…but nodded and said "thanks…and I know I couldn't stop her…but I knew she was walking into a trap too. I didn't want her to get hurt because of me…because I wasn't being careful enough. She had warned me to be careful…and I just didn't listen…and now…"
Morgan, still confused about the connection between Summer, Emily, and Lucas, asks "Summer…you still haven't told us how it is that you know Emily…and why Lucas would target you to get to Emily?"
"I guess it'd make more sense if you knew who I was…and Lucas was one of the main reasons you don't know who I am…well…him and Ian."
"I'm confused sweetie…what do they have to do with Emily not telling us about you? Or what happened earlier?" Garcia steps in before Morgan can ask any more questions…confusion lacing her voice.
"She knew how dangerous they both were…I never really understood it until the last year or so. First what happened with Ian…and now with what happened…with Lucas. She was trying to protect me from both of them. None of you knew about me because she thought it was safer for everyone that way. I had a hard time understanding that until recently…but now I do. With Ian dead…and all of his contacts dead or no longer a threat…the only person we had to worry about was Lucas. We thought he was in prison…until we found out a little while ago that he was released. That's when she warned me that I needed to start being really careful…and I just didn't listen. It's also why I asked if he had any help. If he did…we might both still be in danger. I didn't want to say anything unless I knew for sure…and I knew JJ wouldn't say anything."
Summer finished by glancing over at me and saying "and thank you for trusting her….but just so you know…she trusts you too…more than you know."
"Ok…so…Emily thought that you would be in danger if we knew who you were…because of Ian and Lucas, right?" Morgan quietly asked.
"Basically, yeah." Summer nodded.
"But now they're both dead…so can you tell us who you are now, right? Please?" Garcia prompted.
"I hope I'm doing the right thing…and I know she's trusts you guys…so if anything goes wrong…you'll help protect her, right?" Summer tentatively asks.
"Absolutely! " Morgan states without hesitation.
"Well…I guess the first thing you should know was that Lucas was my father…though I just met him today…or last night I guess."
Garcia gasped…though she tried hard not to and Morgan was noticeably shocked…though he hid it much better than Garcia.
"And Emily…"Morgan prompted.
"She's my mom." Summer quietly stated.
"She's yo…your….your mom?" Garcia stuttered…"and that horrible man that did all of this…he was your father?"
"Yep. He didn't know I even existed until recently…she had hoped he would never find out. When he found out she was pregnant with me…he beat her up real bad and threw her down a flight of stairs. He was trying to kill both of us. She let him think I died and then she disappeared. She never told anyone about me…other than our family…so that way I'd be safe from him. That's why you didn't know about me. I'm not sure how he found out the truth…but…I guess that's not important now."
"Wow…and she's told you about all of us…that's how you knew who we were?" Garcia replied.
"Yeah…she talks about you guys all the time…and shows me pictures of all of you…especially you." Summer glanced up quickly at me before she continued. "She wanted me to know who you all were. She hated lying and keeping things from you…but she thought it was the only way she could keep us safe."
"Us?" Morgan asked.
"What?" Summer replied.
"You said 'keep us safe'…what did you mean…us?" Morgan prompted.
Just as Summer was going to respond…Morgan reached into his pocket and took out his phone. "Sorry…I need to take this real quick. I'll be right back." He glanced between the three of us.
"Garcia…could you get me a coffee? Summer…do you want anything to drink?" I ask…hoping for a minute alone with Summer before Morgan comes back.
"Uhhh…yeah…coffee is fine for me too…thanks."
I watch as Garcia takes the not so subtle hint and says "I'll be right back…come and get me if you hear anything though…okay?"
"Yeah…of course." I quickly reply.
"What's going on, JJ? Why did you want to get rid of them? Is there more going on with mom than what you guys said before?" Summer quickly spit out.
"We'll know more about Em once the doctor finishes in surgery…but you're right…I did want to talk to you alone for a minute." I quietly reply.
"Ok…what about?"
"A couple of things actually…the first one is that I need you to tell me if you were telling Morgan everything before…"
"What do you mean?"
"You said he grabbed you when you were getting into your car and that the next thing you remember was waking up in the building…and that nothing else happened…"
"Yeah…" Summer glanced away from me as she answered.
I gently took her hands in mine as I asked "Sweetie…you can talk to me…did Lucas say anything to you that you didn't want them to hear…or did he hurt you…at all?"
I look up to see very familiar walls going up behind dark grey eyes…just like Emily does when she doesn't want to talk…so I try to stop her from doing that before she's unreachable…just like her mom.
"Sweetie…please don't shut me out…your mom does the same thing…you said you know she trusts me…and I hope you know that you can too. I want to help you."
"Why?"
"Why? Well…I can tell how much you and your mom love each other…and she can't be here to help…so I'm hoping that I can help you instead for now. And because I love your mom more than I ever thought possible and I know that she would want me to help you right now too. Besides…I really do care how you are and what happened to you…and do I want to help you."
"Mom was right about you…"
"What do you mean sweetie?"
"She told me once that you were different from anyone that she had ever met before…that you had this amazing ability to make everyone around you feel safe…feel better…just by being around them. That it had something to do with something inside you…some inner warmth or light or something like that. She said that she knew she could trust you right away…and she never trusts anyone. At first I thought she was full of it…that she just had some weird crush or something…but that wasn't it…because I can kinda see it now too."
"Thank you Summer…for saying that. I'm glad to know she felt that way…and I feel the same way about your mom. She always made me feel safe…made me feel better…just by being near her. She was different from anyone I had ever met before too…and I knew I could trust her from the first day we met…and I had never felt that way about anyone either."
"I guess that means that the two of you are supposed to be together then." Summer glances up…a soft smile playing across her face before she looks away.
"Yeah…I think so too…but I also want to help you too…so please let me in…tell me if something else happened."
"Can we just talk about it later…please?" Summer quietly asks.
"As long as we talk about it…keeping whatever it is bottled up inside will just make it worse. And as long as you promise me that you don't need to have a doctor take a look at you right now. Your mom would never forgive me if you were hurt and I didn't get you help when you needed it."
"It's nothing like that…I'm okay…the paramedics already checked me out. Besides…I don't want to leave until they give us an update on mom."
"Then I guess…for now…we can wait to talk about whatever it is that's bothering you. But I do want to help…and whatever it is…you can talk to me about it. I just want to be there for you…and your mom."
"Thanks…was that what you wanted to talk to me about…or was there something else?" Summer quietly asked.
"There was one other thing I wanted to talk to you about…before everyone else gets here."
"Okay…what is it?"
"Well…when I was waiting to try and find a way in to help your mom…I overheard your mom and Lucas talking…and heard about some of their background and more about Em's past. When you told Morgan that your mom was trying to protect you and keep you safe…you said 'us'…you weren't just talking about you and your mom…were you?"
"What do you mean?" Summer glances up at me…but quickly looks away.
"I overheard a lot about your mom's past...I knew she was keeping a lot of secrets from me. We had just talked about that before everything happened. She said she didn't know where to start explaining everything to me that she had kept from me for so long…but that she was going to try and figure out a way. Lucas ended up spilling some of those secrets before you mom could. One of them was about you…but you weren't the only one I found out about today Summer…I heard Lucas talking about Chance too."
I watched as the expression on Summer's face changed…from calm to shock in a matter of a few seconds.
Why is it I have the same feeling as right before the Humvee I was riding in was hit a while back…like the calm right before a storm?