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.

A/N: Violence towards a primary character is mentioned/discussed in this chapter. Please be forewarned if that is 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 y'all aren't into it…I'll wrap it up soon.

And remember…reviews and feedback keep me and my muse motivated…especially if they're positive!

***More drama and more secrets revealed***

I hope you enjoy this latest chapter…Now on with the show!

"Ideologies separate us. Dreams and anguish bring us together." ~ Eugene Ionesco

"It is those we live with and love and should know who elude us." ~ Norman Maclean

Chapter 62

I notice the beeping sound first…before I open my eyes. It takes me a moment to remember exactly where I am…and why. I'm at the hospital…in Emily's room.

The guys had shown back up right after I finished tending to all of the wounds on Emily's face and neck. I was just happy that she didn't wake up or seem to notice what I was doing. I was so worried that I was going to hurt her when I was cleaning them. But in the end, she slept right through all of it.

They dropped off everything I asked for and even brought an extra thermos of coffee for me…along with a travel mug to keep it warm.

I made sure to fold up the sketch and put it in my purse so no one else would see it, right after I finished looking at it. Especially since I'm not sure that Emily even wanted me to see it. I knew she probably wouldn't want anyone else on the team to see it…and definitely wouldn't want her kids to see it either.

Once her kids got back, we plugged her phone into the charger and I plugged mine in with the charger the guys brought from my house. I filled them in on some of what Dr. Hayes had told me…and a little bit of what I found out during my conversation with Emily later. Not everything…but some of it. I didn't want them to worry. But I wanted them to be prepared in case she woke up and was acting loopy again.

Chloe had a couple of the other nurses bring down some chairs that folded out into 'beds' if you can call them that…since she and Dr. Hayes knew that none of us had any intention of leaving Emily's side.

I waited until the kids got settled and grabbed my go-bag, using the bathroom in Emily's room to take a quick shower and change clothes as quickly as I could. I really didn't want to leave her side…but I desperately wanted to change out of the clothes I was wearing and I needed to take a shower and freshen up a little bit.

I returned in just over 20 minutes to find Emily still asleep. Chance was laying on one of the chairs, stretched out…with Summer wrapped up in his arms asleep. Apparently while I was in the bathroom, Chloe or one of the other nurses had brought down some blankets and pillows too. He had a blanket thrown over the two of them and a pillow behind his head…with Summer's head resting on his massive chest.

The other blanket and pillow were in my chair, which had been pulled up alongside Emily's bed. It was definitely more comfortable than the chair I had been sitting in. Plus, I was grateful for the blanket, since the hospital room felt a little bit cold to me. I wrapped it around my shoulders, before turning back around to look at Chance, noticing he was watching Emily's monitor's closely.

He placed a finger to his lips to indicate we needed to talk quietly, to prevent Emily and Summer from waking, but tilted his head towards Emily as if to ask how she was…really.

I just shrugged in reply. I didn't want to lie…and I honestly didn't know what to say. I hoped she was doing a little better. But I had no idea if the conversation we had earlier was due to her medications or because she felt like talking.

With that, he nodded in my direction, still watching Emily intently. He placed a soft kiss on the top of Summer's head…finally relaxing a little, before finally falling asleep a little while later.

I can't help but smile gently as I look at Chance and Summer sleeping in the chair…waiting intently for Emily to wake up.

I continue to smile thinking that Chance would definitely give Morgan a run for his money. Morgan loves to kick down doors when we show up at crime scenes…chasing after criminals…tackling them or just beating the crap out of them.

He loves being our team's big brother…our protector. I think that Chance probably plays a similar role in Emily's family…maybe minus kicking down the doors.

Though I'd love to see the Ambassador's face if he kicked down one of her doors. I almost laugh outwardly at that thought. "Hey grandma…just came by for a visit…since my hands were full, I honestly just wanted to 'tap on the door with my foot'…"

From what I've learned about Chance so far, just in the few statements he's made and the actions I've witnessed, he's a very handsome, intelligent, gentle soul.

But, he's also very protective of those he cares about…mainly his sister and his mom. Although, he seems to be somewhat fond of me…or at least I hope that's the case.

He's also built like a tank, and just by his sheer size can be imposing just being in someone's presence. Oddly though, he seems to either not notice or not care.

He also has that same air of confidence that Emily always seems to have. I wonder…is that a family trait or something she taught him when he was younger?

I tried to stay awake as long as I could, but I hadn't really slept since everything had happened. Even with all of the years at the BAU…the late nights and early mornings working, even I run out of steam eventually. Plus, after eating the food Garcia insisted I have, taking a warm, relaxing shower, and the warm blanket wrapped around me…I found myself growing more and more tired.

I sent a quick text to Will…asking him to tell Henry I loved him and that I would call him tomorrow. I would've called, but it was late and I knew he'd already be asleep. Plus…I didn't want to risk waking everyone else.

I sat there holding Emily's hand…for probably another hour…watching her sleep and glancing periodically at her kids wondering how things had changed so dramatically in such a short time.

It was just a few days before that we'd been on that case in California…Emily was relatively healthy…though she'd still been acting strange and avoiding me.

I'd finally worked up the courage to talk to her and though the conversation had been difficult…it had gone better than I'd hoped. I had finally been able to prove to her that night that I wouldn't run away from her, and by the next morning, things were looking up. I thought we were finally in a good enough place that we could start a new relationship…or I guess restart it.

I knew we had some major issues to deal with…her self-injury and less than stellar eating habits at the top of the list…plus all of the secrets that she said she still needed to share with me. Not to mention all of the secrets I'm still keeping from her and everyone else. But we were at least going to try and start on somewhat solid footing. Then everything went to Hell with one damn phone call.

Now…I'm looking over at the woman I love more than life itself. She's bruised, badly beaten, and bent, but not broken like she thinks…and I'm wondering how in the world I'm going to help her.

I'm also looking over at two of her kids that I didn't even know existed just a few days ago. I can still see in my mind the picture Garcia showed me on her phone…of her youngest two kids…two more I didn't know existed…and Declan, or rather Matthew, and how protective she was of him. Knowing she is officially his 'mom' as well.

I can also remember the times she spent with Henry…and how Henry just adores her. He always wanted more brothers or sisters. I just assumed they would be half-siblings from Will. I never thought I'd have any kind of opportunity to provide that to him. Looking over at Emily now…I realize I may have been wrong.

I know we'll find a way to make all of this work…but first I have to find a way to help Emily. I know that I'm not the only person that needs her…her kids and Henry do too. So does her entire family…which is apparently much larger than I ever realized. Not to mention the team…which rely on her skills, expertise, humor, and everything that makes her…well…Emily.

Her comment about being useless earlier keeps racing through my mind…along with everything that happened to her. Not just what Lucas did…or even Ian…but everything that has happened to her during her life that made her who she is right now. I wish I would've known about all of it so that I could've helped her through it. But I will find a way to help her now. I have to.

With all of those thoughts still racing in my mind…and getting more tired by the second…I realize that I'm having more and more trouble focusing my thoughts or coming up with any ideas on what to do.

After a while…exhaustion finally wins out and I sit my head down on the side of her bed…resting my head on her hip…still holding her hand. I had intended to just close my eyes for a minute. That had been several hours ago. My neck and back are now stiff and sore…and my arms have lost a little feeling in them due to the strange angle that I slept in. But compared to what Emily is going through…I'll live with it.

I just hope she slept peacefully through the night. That she wasn't plagued with nightmares and didn't experience any pain.

Looking around now…I notice that it's still dark…and both kids are still asleep. I reach for my phone to check the time and see that it's just before 6:00am. Emily is still asleep…though I'm not sure if she slept all night or if she woke up and went back to sleep.

The sleep I did manage to get helped a little…though I still didn't manage to come up with any ideas on what I need to do yet. I guess it'll all depend on how Emily reacts when she wakes up.

I know Dr. Hayes normally checks on her around 6:00 in the morning…so she should be showing up any minute. She had mentioned something about changing her cast first thing this morning…so she may do that once Emily wakes up.

In all honesty though…I'm more curious about how she's going to act, or rather react, to me and Dr. Hayes, once she does wake up. Is she going to act okay…or will she be distant? Will she remember the conversation from last night…or will she have forgotten the whole thing?

I hear a soft knock on the door. With that…I see Emily begin to stir.

Guess I'm about to find out what Emily is going to do and how she's going to react.