This story is a slightly altered universe. There are 3 things that are different.
1) JJ never cared what the team thought, she and Will became an item and he moved up to DC for her.
2) They never had kids
3) Everything else did happen
4) This takes place in the middle of S16/CME 1. The difference is there is no Voit or Bailey. (If that doesn't make sense to you, that is okay and also you should either buy the Season on DVD and watch it, or get yourself some heavy binge time with Paramount + to watch it, because it's FABULOUS!)
Here are the important parts you need to know for this story:
1) I am obsessed with the people who use various sexual kinks for healing purposes. I don't understand it at all and yet I am absolutely fascinated by it, because usually those people were abused by that same kink in the past.
2) I have MASSIVE amounts of respect for the writers and creators of this show, and I do not mean them any disrespect by writing this. If for some very odd reason one of them stumbles across this, know that I am just enjoying the world you created and I thank you for doing so.
3) I'm not good at writing, so my grammar and spelling are sometimes VERY off. I've edited this story a gazillion times so far, changed the plot at least 3 times and I am still finding mistakes. Please just roll with it as best you can.
4) This is still a work in progress and I have several key life events coming up. There will be delays in updating.
5) Thank you for reading and if you feel so inclinded to leave a review, please do so. I greatly hope you are all enjoying the story, even with delays.
Will, Victoria, Hazel and Mackenzie, were safely up in the BAU hotel rooms. The main goal was to just rest since no one had slept very well the night before. Mackenzie was glued to Victoria's chest and Hazel was watching the room carefully, trying to figure it all out. "Daddy," Hazel said softly.
"What's up Haze?" Will smiled at her.
"I tock whiff Kezzie," she said softly and Will nodded.
"Of course you can Hazel. You and Mackenzie can have any kind of conversation you'd like, and if you need help, you let us know," Will offered and Hazel nodded. Very softly Hazel asked for her boards and then pointed to Mackenzie. She wanted to talk to her, and she also knew that it would not be easy, with all the pins and needles sensations still in her mouth. She began to wonder if that would ever go away. She quickly pushed that thought out of her head and tried to speak.
"Kezzie?" Hazel asked softly and Mackenzie turned to look at her new friend. There were tear tracks on her cheeks and her eyes looked very tired. "No now? You sad?" Hazel asked with concern.
"Now is kay," she said sadly. "Mommy," she said working to make sure Victoria was with her.
"I am right here love, do you want extra cuddles?" Victoria pressed gently, knowing Mackenzie really wanted Wyatt, but she'd settle for who she could get. Mackenzie nodded and Victoria moved toward the bed. She sat down near Hazel and then pulled Mackenzie gently into her lap. "So, now I'm here, and you and Hazel can talk about whatever you like," she said.
"Ow," Mackenzie said rubbing her own cheek and Victoria simply kissed her forehead and pet her face.
"I'm sorry it hurts my love. If you want, you and Hazel can share the communication boards. You won't have to talk if you really don't want to, or if it hurts too much. We know sign, but Hazel hasn't learned that yet, so the boards will be your best option," Victoria explained.
Mackenzie nodded and then looked over at the boards Hazel had with her. She remembered the picture board and the layout and knew they could do a lot of talking that way, so she found the picture of the two heads talking tapped that and then tapped yes, looking at Hazel. Hazel nodded and the two of them had a very slow and deliberate conversation. "How long have you been here?"
"I'm with Mommy and Daddy for less than a year."
"They make you say that?"
"No. I say that. They safe."
"Did you have a Mommy and Daddy before?"
"Yeah, but they were bad people when I got sick."
"What kind of sick?"
"Cancer on my brain. The cancer is gone, but they didn't like all the work I caused I guess. Or the bills maybe? I don't know. They just stopped loving me and gave me away." This was the hardest part for Victoria to learn. Every time she learned it, it was like a knife to her heart. Mackenzie was a lovely girl and she would never understand why her parents essentially threw her away.
"To your Mommy and Daddy now?" Hazel questioned. She was trying to put the time line together on her own and couldn't quite make the connections.
"No. I was sick at eight, but I was very little then. The cancer had me stop growing. Then my parents didn't want me anymore. I did relatives and fosters, and then HE got me and now I'm here."
"I'm sorry if I'm making you sad." Hazel really was sorry. She'd lived a life of neglect and abuse and it still made her sad.
"I'm not sad now. Just miss Daddy."
"I miss Mama."
"Your Mama is keeping us safe. Is Miss Emily you auntie now?"
Hazel shrugged and looked at Will and he kissed the top of her head. "We have not discussed extended family dynamics," Will said smoothly. "I am very sure, that discussion will be had in the near future though," he assured them and with his smooth southern drawl, the girls both smiled and seemed to relax at his answer.
The two of them worked through a timeline of Mackenzie's story and then Hazel's. They shared a past of neglect and abuse and then a massive amount of trauma, before finally landing somewhere safe. During their pictured conversation it dawned on Hazel that she may never get her speech fully recovered and that made her sad. She wanted to ask the question without the parental figures knowing, so she looked hard at Mackenzie and then turned to Will. "Daddy," she said softly. "No wook," she told him and then rolled her eyes at herself before tapping on her boards. P-R-I-V-A-T-E. Hold me please.
"Okay, let's do this," he said and he shifted around on the bed, so he was flat on his stomach and she was leaning against his side. "I will even give you my hand to hold and when you're done you just squeeze my pinky finger very tightly," he told her and she nodded.
"Mommy," Mackenzie said.
"Me too huh?" Victoria smiled and Mackenzie nodded and tapped please. "Okay. Remember though, you are both here, with us and you are very safe," she reminded them.
Once Hazel was sure no one was looking, she tapped the boards carefully and Mackenzie watched. "We talk like toddlers still learning words." Mackenzie nodded her agreement. "You been away from him for a long time. Are you still hurt from him or do your mom and dad make you talk like that because you are little?" she asked honestly and Mackenzie looked at her face curiously for a moment.
She studied her eyes and her body language and tired to figure out the question was being asked and what the correct answer even was. Sometimes it just felt very safe being Wyatt and Victoria's little girl. Sometimes her mouth was still sore. Sometimes, it was just nerve damage that presented itself or was exacerbated because she was tired. There were any number of reasons why Mackenzie spoke like a toddler sometimes, so she thought for a long moment and decided to be honest with Hazel. "3" she tapped and then waited. "1. I do have nerve damage. It's worse when I'm tired. 2. Sometimes it comes out that way. 3. No one makes me. In the beginning when I had really bad days, I used these boards. Sometimes I still have to."
"Your mom and dad now, love you and keep you safe?"
"YES!"
"Did they love you fast?"
"I don't know."
"W-I-L-L and J-J, love me?"
"I think they do. They treat you like my Mommy and Daddy treat me. They seem safe. Miss Emily is very nice too and she's the boss right?" Hazel nodded. "Your mom and dad now, their job is to protect people. So maybe they are protecting you. Maybe they love you extra. Maybe both. You all have to figure it out I think. I didn't say Mommy and Daddy right away."
"What did you call them."
"By their names, but with my mouth, it sounded funny."
"I can hear?" Hazel asked.
"Mommy," Mackenzie said softly. "I tock buh no looks," she said shifting a bit to see Victoria.
"I won't look Kenz, I promise," Victoria said, leaving her head down on her arm, so she couldn't see anything the girls were talking about. "Is Tuh an' It," she said and Victoria smiled. That one sentence made her understand very briefly what the girls were talking about, and knew it was in everyone's best interest to say nothing.
Hazel nodded and decided that during her little talk, Mackenzie made some good points. Dr. Lauren placed her with these people for safety and it worked out. She had seen Dr. Lauren too and the woman was very kind and gentle to her. JJ and Will were who she first saw when she woke up and they had been nothing but helpful and loving. She missed out on that from her childhood, and it seemed like the thing she really needed. As her mind began to wander and process things, she knew that she needed Will and JJ to keep her. She didn't want to do anything without them. Finally she tapped stop and then squeezed Will's finger as tightly as she could. "Daddy," she said and she was in full on tears.
"I'm right here Hazel," he said and he shifted around and she crawled into his lap, hung on and then after a moment begged for JJ.
"Mama," she said.
"It's going to be a while love. She and the team are downstairs working to catch the bad guy," Will told her gently.
Dave, Luke, Tara, and JJ sat around a small table waiting for Emily and Penelope to join them. Dave and Tara were looking on worriedly at JJ and after a few moments, she noticed. "Guys, I'm fine," she said.
"This team is injured more often than any of us would like to admit," Dave told her and she leaned forward a bit and took his hand.
"I promise you, I'm fine. I will follow directions and be on Hazel and Mackenzie duty," she assured him. "Once I find out what that means," she added, "but I promise you, I am fine."
Emily and Penelope joined them all moment later and Emily passed out tablets to the team. "You may all follow along," Penelope said kindly and she opened up her lap top and all their tablets seemed to come to life. "JJ, this is mostly for you," she added.
"This is the branch?" JJ asked, having remembered from earlier that morning what Dave had told her.
"That was four in the morning and you remember that?" Luke asked.
"I keep telling you all, I'm fine!" she quipped.
"I am very glad you are fine and I believe you and you are still on Hazel and Mackenzie duty. Before we get to any of that though, we all need to get up to speed on this," Emily informed them all. "Go on Penelope."
"So we start with a reminder of Hazel's short history. Her mother is Madeline Ripkin. According to hospital records she is now deceased by way of O.D. on heroine. Dad is no where to be found, and I don't think Hazel wants him to be found. He was more abusive than Mom, and the grandparents weren't the absolute best. We know she was emancipated at thirteen, was still neglected and now is on her own, until she was abducted and now she's in our care. Keep that information over here on the left in this little bubble. Now come over here on the right side of the bubble and we'll talk about Mackenzie. Abusive past, abducted, ran away, getting help and lives with the Lansings. This is where things get a little more interesting, because our bubbled are about to collide ever so slightly."
As Penelope spoke little bubbles popped up on the screen in the corners she said, with little fact inside them, and Luke smiled. He was marveling at how much she could put together so quickly, while still manning all the screens necessary to capture Matten earlier. He was also smiling because when she said the bubbles were about to collide slightly, they actually moved further apart and a street map popped up on the screen. He even let a little laugh escape his mouth, but quickly crushed it when Penelope glared at him. "I'm sorry, you said collide, they moved further away. Continue please," he said.
"We're still talking about Mackenzie. She lives here. On this street map there is a house behind them and this address houses William and Katherine Duncan. Katherine's maiden name is Ripkin. Mackenzie calls them Uncle Bill and Aunt Kat, because they are very good friends with the Lansings. After a great deal of digging very early today, it turns out that Katherine Ripkin and Madeline Ripkin are half sisters, which means."
"Mackenzie's Aunt Kat by friendship is really Hazel's Aunt Kat by blood," JJ said. "Have we told the girls yet?" JJ asked Emily.
"We haven't even told the Duncans we found this out and it is why we are having this team meeting. We need the right order to give this information," Emily said. "We definitely need to know more from Katherine, if not her husband as well. We need the girls to cooperate with us in identifying Matten and we all need to know where Hazel stands as far as who helps her along in her journey," Emily said.
"She's calling JJ and Will by parental terms. I don't see her transferring that type of trust to biological relatives any time soon. Her biological relatives didn't really seem to care about her. I can't see her taking a chance on them."
"And they are her biological relatives, so if they want to be in her life, I think that's important," JJ spoke up.
"What about divide and conquer?" Luke asked.
"How so?" Emily pressed kindly. The truth was her brain was running in four directions at once and she knew she needed the help of her team.
"Maybe Rossi and Garcia sit with the Duncans and explain to them what we've learned. Maybe have one of the Lansings with them, so they don't feel pressured. The rest of us are going to have to work very seriously, and yet somehow slowly with Hazel and Mackenzie to get them to agree to identify Matten."
"As much as I am not thrilled she's calling me Mama, I also don't want to force her upon someone else if they don't want her," JJ said protectively.
"No, we wouldn't. JJ, she has to stay with you and I know you aren't crazy about it but her calling you Mama, that is not a bad thing, please believe that," Tara said.
"It just seems wrong somehow."
"But it was her decision," Penelope offered. "I mean, I wasn't there, but I don't think you and Will introduced yourselves as Mama and Daddy. That was a choice she made all on her own."
"I know, it's just still not sitting with me," JJ said. "Okay," JJ sighed and collected herself for a moment before continuing. "So Dave and Penelope sit withe the Duncans, and then the rest of us?"
"I think we need to approach this carefully. We have to almost treat them like the little girls they present to the world," Tara offered.
"You have a plan?" Emily asked.
"I do."
"You take point, we will follow your lead," Emily said. "For now, let's pack up, pull the Duncans and the Lansings and head back to headquarters."
Dave hung back and made sure he looked put together, while Penelope gathered her little laptop and reset the little presentation, in case that needed to be shown. "This part is all you Sir, you go get them and bring them back."
"Nervous Penelope?" he asked with concern.
"Not at all Sir. Very curious!" she said emphatically. "I'd just slow us down by stopping and looking at everything! Did you see the show we were getting yesterday? Right before the one Miss was about to," Penelope said and Dave cut her off.
"Enough said. I saw it already," he said kindly. "I will return shortly," he promised her and then he went to the little lecture room where he knew Wyatt was, stood at the back and waited for him to finish. "So, as you can see, it is critical to go through all the steps. Having fun and reaching orgasm and playing is all well and good, but if you don't finish the process and follow up with aftercare you are setting yourselves up for all the negativity that follows a drop," he said. The audience clapped for him and then slowly filed out of the room and Wyatt made his way over to Dave. "Is Kenzie okay?" he asked with worry.
"Calm down please," Dave assured him. "Mackenzie is fine. She is still upstairs with Victoria, Will and Hazel. I've come to tell you we caught our prime suspect and now we need help from the young ladies. Agent Prentiss said she met Bill and Kat last night. I'm very sure they'd be helpful as well," he smiled.
"Yes Bill and I went to college together. They're like an Aunt and Uncle to Mackenzie," he said.
"Good have them come along, the more people we have to help reassure the girls, the better," Dave smiled and Wyatt agreed.
"Let me just make a quick call please," Wyatt said pulling out his phone and Dave nodded and gave him time. "Yes Kelly, this is Mr. Lansing. I'm in the aftercare lecture. Do you have anyone on site, who can come collect my things and bring them to my office please? Wonderful. Everything is in translucent green tubs, and there are only two of them. Thank you so much. Yes, that will be fine. You as well, goodbye," he said and then he hung up. "Courier service of sorts," he told Dave.
"Let's go get your friends and then Agent Garcia and I will go over things with you here, so you're aware of the game plan before we go upstairs and get the girls," Dave said. They gathered Bill and Katherine and then went back to Penelope, before all trekking back to the little command center table.
"So, Bill, Katherine, these are agents David Rossi and Penelope Garcia. They have been helping us and guiding us. Agents these are my very good friends Bill and Katherine Duncan," Wyatt said making introductions.
"It's lovely to meet both of you," Dave smiled. "You've met our team leader, Agent Prentiss last night I understand," Dave said.
"Kenz called her Miss Emmy?" Katherine asked.
"Yeah, Kenz calls her Miss Emmy, but she is Emily Prentiss. Tor yelled at me before, because now I'm calling her Miss Emily too," Wyatt said.
"She must be very intense," Bill offered politely.
"She's a vision," Penelope smiled.
"The reason Penelope and I have you here, separately, is to give you the details we have, and go over the small game plan we have laid out," Dave offered. "We'd like for the three of you to come upstairs with us, and then have everyone go back to our headquarters. We have the suspect in custody and we know that having the girls identify him will make it absolutely air tight," Rossi explained.
"I am confused, why are we being added in?" Katherine asked kindly.
"May I?" Penelope asked, figuring she should tread very carefully and when it came to being gentle and understanding, she was great at it. Dave nodded at her and she smiled at the other three people at the table. "I am Agent Penelope Grace Garcia, the technical analyst of the behavioral analysis unit of the FBI. That's my big official title. When you break all of that down to simple terms, I'm the spy with a computer and access to a lot of information," she smiled and everyone chuckled.
"We rely very heavily on Penelope and her skills," Dave said proudly and she blushed a little bit before continuing.
"So, when we first got this case, I had to figure out a lot of things to help us narrow our search. We only started with Hazel and through a lot of digging, I was able to find Mackenzie, which lead us to Wyatt and Victoria and now we've met the Duncans as well. What I did not expect was what I located when I went digging through Hazel's past to do my very best to find her the safest people I could to help further her healing process."
Wyatt very politely raised his hand and Penelope smiled and nodded at him. "Ms. Garcia, your team, the people who are caring for Hazel right now, I promise you, you are the best people for her. I also know that we'd be happy to help you learn that in any way possible. Kenzie really likes her and they share this horrific trauma, which has oddly helped them bond. I can't possibly imagine anyone better for helping Hazel than your whole team," he said.
"That is very kind of you, and please know that we are not going to just leave her. She has bonded very tightly to JJ and her husband, which while not a bad thing, does pose some challenges for our every day lives," Dave offered and he saw everyone visibly relax.
"If I may," Katherine said kindly, "you're telling us there is more to Hazel's story that somehow involves us, or at least Wyatt and Victoria and we're here for moral support," she said and Penelope nodded.
"That would be semi-correct. While digging through Hazel's past, we found out her mother's name is Madeline Conklin, and Madeline's maiden name was."
"Ripkin," Bill and Kat said at the same time.
"You found Maddie?" Wyatt asked in shock and Katherine gripped Bill's hand tighter.
"No Sir, I'm sorry," she said.
"Wyatt, she's dead, she's been dead for a long time, I am sure of it," Katherine said.
"Eight years to be specific," Penelope offered softly.
"Heroine or something else?"
"You are correct, she over dosed on heroine," Penelope said. "If you'd like to see her autopsy at any point, I will show that to you. I also know sometimes remembering someone how they used to be is better."
"I remember her as a very small baby, and then a toddler, and then she managed to become a very troubled teen who ran away, and apparently had a baby of her own," Katherine sighed. "Agent Garcia, my little sister got herself into trouble, frequently, and while I did my best to get her out, I realized she needed do to a lot of work on her own, which she apparently didn't do. I also will not take that beautiful young lady away from your team. I don't even know if it's safe that we meet her," Katherine said protectively.
"Honey," Bill started. His beautiful wife was starting to spiral out of control, much like some of his pets, who got nervous at times and forgot to take a breath and figure out their surroundings. His job at that point was to ground them. As the person in charge he was supposed to make them feel comfortable, and he could tell his wife was feeling agitated and protective. For Katherine, that could be a volatile combination.
"One, I am not one of your pets. Two, I am not spiraling out of control. I am protectively telling the nice agent, that we will not be unfair to Hazel. I don't care that we are related. Ripping her away from the people she deems safe is not what she needs," she said strongly and Bill shut up. Katherine was not in a place to listen to reason, and both Dave and Penelope seemed to take her slight ranting in stride. "All she knows of the people who she is biologically connected to is abuse of some kind, and if it's more physical than verbal, I really don't want the details. Maddie was my sister and I love her and I miss her every day, and that doesn't change the fact that when she turned fourteen, she was no longer the sister I knew. She changed. She hurt herself and our family, and we had to figure out how to move on in a sense. We did all of that. Mom and Dad are now gone, so it's just you and me. I will be more than happy to get to know Hazel and help her along in any way possible, but I will not take her from the agents. That is just causing more pain and suffering and it's pointless," she said.
"You're more protective than you ever realized," Wyatt smiled at her.
"With all that said, we will respect your terms Mrs. Duncan. You also need to be aware that we are going to tell her who you are in relation to her, at some point. You are biological family and agent Jareau would like it if you had some type of relationship with your niece," Dave told her.
"That's fine. I want to build it slowly though. That poor girl has been through enough. It's time to let her have some calm and a sense of normalcy for a while before we disrupt her whole world again," Katherine said. "Now, how do we help the girls with identifying their tormentor."
The rest of the team went up to their rooms and quietly entered the room that Dave and Luke were sharing. The chances of the girls being in that room were slim. They quickly packed up Luke's and Dave's things and then moved into the next room to pack up in there. Just as they finished JJ moved to the doorway and smiled when she saw Will pacing very slowly with Hazel in his arms. He wasn't saying anything to her, he was just pacing back and forth and rubbing her back and she looked very limp against him. A flash of worry went through her, but it left the moment Will smiled at her and he turned so she could see Hazel was sleeping.
JJ moved a little bit closer, but stayed quiet. Her simple movements caught Mackenzie's attention and a soft gasp was heard when she realized who was there and why. She knew she couldn't bolt out of the bed and over to JJ, but she didn't want to wait. "Mommy," Mackenzie said and then she pointed toward the door with a happy smile on her face. "I see," she told her and then she very carefully got off the bed and with extreme caution began to stumble her way toward JJ.
"Hey Kenzie," JJ smiled and she knelt down so that she and Mackenzie were on the same level.
Finally, Mackenzie made it over and gave JJ a hug. Then she pulled back and looked at her seriously. "You got him?" Mackenzie asked slowly.
"We did apprehend someone, yes. It was a man in a wheel chair," JJ assured her. "Before I tell you more about that, why don't you tell me about your morning here," JJ pressed kindly.
"Um, we came here an Hay-za an I tock. Do I tell you?" she asked softly.
"If you and Hazel talked about someone being in danger or someone needing very serious help, then you should probably tell me. If it was anything other than that you don't have to share if y," JJ promised.
Mackenzie took a moment to think about what they'd talked about and realized it was all emotional and not physical, so she shook her head. "Um, I not say. We okay," she promised.
"I hear a lovely voice in this direction," Emily smiled, moving closer to the room.
"Miss Emmy!" Mackenzie cheered happily, but also softly knowing that Hazel was still sleeping.
"Hi Mackenzie. Did JJ tell you we got the person we think it is?"
"Yay team," Mackenzie managed.
"Thank you," Emily smiled and Tara was near by. "You remember my teammates Tara and Luke right?" Emily asked and Mackenzie nodded. "Well, they needs some help from you and Hazel."
"Hay-za s'eep," Mackenzie said with a slight pout.
"That's okay. We can get her help when she wakes up. Do you think you can help Tara and Luke now?" Emily pressed carefully, knowing Mackenzie might still be a little apprehensive to assist them. Based on her body language Tara could see that Mackenzie was on the fence about assisting and saw the internal struggle going on in the tiny frame of a person before her. The thing she had to help with was scary. Helping the professionals meant that nightmare part of her life would finally be over.
"Mommy too?" she asked, not quite ready to help without one of her main protectors available.
"Absolutely!" Tara assured her. "We have our little table cleared off in here, why don't you and your Mom join Luke and myself in here," Tara suggested and after one step, Mackenzie's body rebelled against her. Her legs buckled underneath her and JJ caught her before she fell.
"You good?" JJ smiled at her.
"Um, he'p," she said and Victoria heard her speech start to falter. The nerves were starting to creep in heavily and Victoria moved to the edge of the bed, prepared to help her baby the moment it was needed.
"I can help," Tara smiled. "The last time I helped Hazel, I carried her. Should I carry you or just hold your hand to help you walk?" Tara asked kindly and Mackenzie leaned against JJ's body and lifted both arms.
"Kenzie, verbalize please," Victoria said kindly.
"Carry," she said.
"Please," Victoria coached.
"Oh, sorry, p'ease," she said softly and Tara smiled.
"Of course, and then Mommy's coming too right?" Tara pressed and Mackenzie nodded.
"Mommy you too," she told her and Tara lifted Mackenzie and took her to the table. Victoria sat first and she placed Mackenzie in her lap and took a seat across from them.
"Luke is going to join us too and he's just going to take some notes so that we can be sure we are all on the same page. Sound good?" Tara smiled and Mackenzie nodded and gave a thumbs up.
In the other room, Will was able to place Hazel on the bed and then wrapped JJ in a hug, at which point Emily moved in close and spoke softly. "Tell him everything. I'm here to watch Hazel. Also, if you don't tell him everything, I will," she scolded.
"Kill joy." JJ admonished.
"Perks of being the team leader," Emily smirked.
"We did get him and Penelope says it's a facial recognition match of one hundred percent," JJ said.
"That's great!" Will beamed and then he put a few more things together for himself before looking at JJ and then carefully flicking his eyes toward Emily. "Capture is great, there's more though. Why is Prentiss hovering?"
"Because before we got him, he tased one of the undercover agents, who is now at the hospital and bashed my head against the floor. I have been looked at, and the medics cleared me, and now I'm on Hazel and Mackenzie duty until," she said pausing to look back at Emily to finish her statement.
"Until I say otherwise," Emily said and JJ poked her tongue out at her friend and boss. "You are not benched. I need you in the game. I just need you not to play as heavily as you're used to. Plus it will give you time to sort out what the two of you are doing moving forward. For right now, go sit over there, both of you, and I will watch Hazel sleep."
"That sounds ominous somehow," Will said.
"It isn't. Come on," JJ said and she lead Will over to the small little table and sat across from him so she could explain everything to him.
"Mackenzie you look very nervous, so I'm going to start by asking you very simple questions and no matter what you say, it's the right answer, are you ready?" Tara asked and she watched Mackenzie shrink back into Victoria, looking for more protection and Victoria kissed the top of her head. "Ready?" Tara pressed after a moment and Mackenzie nodded. "So here's my question. What is the worst thing I could tell you right now?"
"Takes me way," she said.
"Who would I take you away from?"
"Daddy an' Mommy," she sighed.
"Nope," Tara smiled, speaking kindly. "You are to live with Wyatt and Victoria Lansing for as long as you like, because they are your Daddy and Mommy and I know they love you very much. I will not take you away from them and the rest of my team would not do that either," Tara assured her. "Anything else that might be really awful?" Tara pressed gently.
"Da man you gots is no him," she pushed out slowly, sounding very much like a toddler in the moment and Tara smiled.
"Well, that is true, but I really do think we have him."
"You needs help?" Mackenzie asked.
"In identifying him, yes, we do. Penelope, me, David, Luke, Emily, and JJ. We could all use your help and Hazel's help too."
"Hay-za s'eep," Mackenzie said softly.
"You are correct, she's taking a little nap right now. That's okay. We will wait for her to wake up. I want to tell you how I need your help. We're going to go slowly, step by step, so you are fully aware of what's happening," Tara said. Mackenzie nodded and Tara paced herself slowly, explaining the entire process to Mackenzie, so she wasn't rattled by any of the steps. "We're going to make this a little bit like a game, so it sticks to your memory faster. I'd like for you to repeat after me," Tara said kindly and Mackenzie agreed. "Step one, go to headquarters with Miss Emily and her team," Tara said.
"Mommy!" Mackenzie said panicked and Tara realized her mistake immediately.
"Mackenzie," she said gently. "I'm sorry, I forgot a step, listen please," Tara coaxed and a set of panic stricken eye landed on her. Between her fearful eyes and her rigid body, Tara knew she messed up immediately and it was now going to be a little more complicated to get Mackenzie to cooperate. "Shhh, I'm sorry, let's try again. Whenever I say you are doing something, it's not just you. It's you and Mommy and Daddy. It is not solely Mackenzie," she explained and she saw the panic leave her eyes slightly.
"Mackenzie," Luke offered kindly. "Do you want me to go find Miss Emily and tell her Tara was scaring you? I'd happily do that for you," he said.
"No tubba," Mackenzie whimpered.
"No one is in trouble my love. I think Mister Luke and Miss Tara are a bit like brother and sister and they squabble some," Victoria offered with a smile and both Luke and Tara agreed.
"You tell me when you're ready Mackenzie," Tara said. "Whenever you are ready to hear the game plan I'll give it to you, and I will reiterate that if you go somewhere, Mommy and Daddy go too," she said.
"Okay, but how do we tell her, and them, and make it all smooth and are we transitioning her to them, or keeping her, even though I don't like that word. She's not a possession. She's a person. Please tell me there is a plan in place," Will said and JJ took his hands and spoke gently.
"Breathe," she said gently. "You're spinning out," she said kindly and he was about to protest, but she stopped him. "I've been doing that myself. This is a lot," she acknowledged.
"Let's start with this. They don't know about Hazel and she doesn't know about them. How do we tackle that?" he pressed calmly.
"To the best we can figure out and with all of Penelope's digging, that is correct," JJ told him. "Right now though, Dave and Penelope are fixing that and telling the Duncans all about her."
"Is there a plan to talk about it as a group or are we just telling the Duncans for now?" Will questioned.
"We are still working on that. Tara is talking to Mackenzie about having them visually identify Matten, back at headquarters," JJ offered.
"You want both of them, in a car, and then to 'face' their attacker? Mia, that is not going to go well at all," he said.
"I'm trusting the psychologist. Please trust her too," JJ told him and Will nodded his agreement.
"Oh I trust your entire team. You are all the best of the best and we have two young ladies, who have faced a great deal of trauma, most of which we've only read about, and that tends to make it somehow less intense for us. You and I both know, words on a page are very different than a real life experience," he said.
"I agree," JJ started, but before any more could be said Hazel let out an ear piercing scream, which seemed to intensify the moment her eyes popped open. JJ turned to look and then took a deep breath before going over to the bed. She was careful not to rush. Nothing was happening to Hazel, other than a nightmare, and so JJ was trying not to over react. It was a ridiculously fine line to walk.
"MAMA!" Hazel yelled when she saw her.
"Shhh, Hazel, you're okay. Come here please," she said gently as she sat on the edge of the bed and Hazel scrambled as best she could into JJ's arms and her little frame was shaking almost violently against her protector. "Shhh," JJ soothed her. "I'm right here sweetheart, you're okay," JJ assured her and she rubbed her back and swayed gently with her, in an effort to calm her.
"Mama!" Hazel pushed out and then she started to cry. It took a few minutes for Hazel to stop crying and then cuddled tight against JJ. "Mama," she whimpered.
"I'm right here sweetheart," JJ assured her, "and who's that there?" JJ pressed, gesturing toward Will and Hazel spoke softly.
"Da-ee," she said quietly.
"Yeah?" JJ grinned and Hazel snuggled closer. "Who else is with us?" JJ asked twisting a little bit and Hazel carefully turned to see Emily sitting on the bed, out of the way.
"Is Emmy," she said, almost sadly.
"Miss Hazel, you are brilliant," Emily praised and then moved in closer and Hazel gasped. "I'm sorry Hazel, I didn't mean to scare you," Emily promised and she backed up, being sure to give Hazel space. "What if we do this. What if you and Will and JJ get you settled. If you need to wake up a little more, or re-wrap your ribs, or take medicine, whatever it is, and then we'll go next door and see Victoria and Mackenzie."
Hazel nodded, but didn't say anything more. She simply held tight to her protector and that was JJ. Once she was calmer, she pushed back and looked a JJ. "Mama?" Hazel asked softly. "I nee ow," she told her.
"You need something painful or you have something painful?" JJ asked her.
"Have," Hazel said and with that simple correction, Hazel burst into tears, not ready to listen or follow the rules that JJ had for her. She felt completely overwhelmed and wasn't ready for anything.
"Hazel, you're okay sweetheart. Sit here, just take a few breaths. When you're calm, we'll get you situated better," JJ promised her.
In the other room Mackenzie heard her friend and gasped at the scream. "Hay-za," she said sadly.
"That was Hazel, should we go see her?" Tara asked. Mackenzie and Hazel were adults, even though they looked like very small children, so Tara walked the very delicate line of treating them as adults, and when it was necessary children who just needed love and affection.
"Mommy," Mackenzie asked.
"If Miss Tara and Mister Luke say it's okay baby, then it's okay. They know her better than we do," Victoria assured her and Mackenzie got a panicked look at on her face. "Kenz, talk to me, it's okay baby," Victoria said and Mackenzie had tears well up in he eyes. She was very stressed and the only comfort she had in the moment was Victoria. The only one she wanted was Wyatt. She wanted to see Hazel for herself, but she was so scared that she would just cause more havoc and chaos.
"Mommy," she said simply and she turned into Victoria and cried.
"Kenz," Victoria started and Tara spoke up.
"It's okay Victoria. We are throwing a lot at them. Let her be with you and calm down, Hazel will do the same. We will pack up, and then we can proceed with our plans. No matter how calm they are, I know that I'm going to ask them to do something very stressful, so let her take in the comfort now," Tara said.
All the rooms were packed up and ready to go, which was when Dave used his key to let himself, Penelope, Wyatt, Bill and Katherine, into his room, which then connected to the other two. There was soft chatter coming from the room the ladies shared and so the five went in to see what was going on. JJ and Victoria were holding two very distressed young ladies on their laps as they watched an episode of Hollywood Squares. "Man, what a throwback," Bill said softly when he saw it and Mackenzie turned to see who was there.
"Daddy!" she gasped and then she scurried off the bed and ran toward Wyatt. Her legs were sometimes weak after she'd been resting and relaxing, but she was so tense that it was mind over matter and she ran to her Daddy as fast as she could. He scooped her up the second she connected with him and hugged her close. She wrapped herself tightly around him and whimpered softly.
"Mr. Lansing, why don't you and Mackenzie sit here with us," JJ offered and then looked at Dave, hoping he caught her silent message.
Once they were both seated, the girls couldn't care less about what was going on around them, because their main protector was holding them. Dave silently guided the Duncans and Victoria with him toward the third connecting room and Penelope followed behind. "Mr. and Mrs. Duncan, please meet the rest of our team. Agents Prentiss, Alvez, and Lewis, along with officer LaMontagne Junior, who is married to Agent Jareau," he said gesturing toward everyone.
"It's lovely to meet you all and thank you for helping such an intense case," Bill said.
"Is everyone up to speed?" Emily asked Dave pointedly.
"No Ma'am," Katherine offered and then took Victoria's hand. "This will not make sense, just go with it please," she said and Victoria quirked an eyebrow at her. "I will be Aunt Kat for as long as Kenzie wants me to be. I am also biological Aunt Kat to Hazel, and she doesn't know yet," Katherine said.
"Talk about information overload," Victoria said.
"I'm sorry, I know."
"Everyone take a breath. The girls in the other room, don't need to know anything yet. It's information that is helpful for us, but we need to do things slowly," Luke said kindly.
"Officer," Katherine started.
"Will is fine," he assured her.
"She calls you Daddy, I'm not interrupting that. I'm okay being Aunt Kat. Whatever trust she has built up with you, I will not shatter that. It'll make me just as bad as Maddie and I am not my sister," she said strongly.
"You are definitely not your sister, no matter how much you worry about that," Victoria said kindly.
"Everyone have a seat, we have a game plan we need to make sure we understand before we ask two very traumatized young ladies to participate in," Emily said and everyone took a seat while a plan was laid out.
An hour passed before the girls were calmer and still clinging to their deemed best protector. "You have to lead it Prentiss, you're the boss and they both know it. When Miss Emily gives and order, they are much more likely to follow," Tara told her softly and Emily sighed.
"Do our guests remember their assignments?" she asked them and the three nodded.
"I will be sure that my husband follows the plan," Victoria offered.
"Luke, Will, please accompany Victoria next door. Let's get this started," Emily said.
Both men and Victoria walked into the other room and JJ smiled at them. "Fancy escort," she told Victoria and Victoria agreed.
"Luke stood back against the doorway, and Will and Victoria knelt by the bed on the side that was closest to the young lady in their care.
"Hi Mommy," Mackenzie smiled.
"Hi baby, did you have a good rest with Daddy?" she asked and Mackenzie nodded.
"Me too," Hazel said softly and reached one arm out toward Will.
"I'm glad you had a good rest my dear. Can I ask you both a question?" he pressed gently and Mackenzie took Victoria's hand, but then turned her head so she could see Will and she was sure that he had her full attention.
"Breathe lovely, it's just talking. Nothing will ever be done without an explanation, I promise," Wyatt said, kissing the top of her head.
"I ready Mister Will," Mackenzie offered.
"So do we remember that JJ and her team caught a bad guy?" he asked and they both nodded. "Very good, and do we remember that the team needs help from the two of you to make sure that we have the right guy so this never happens again?" he asked and again they both nodded yes. "So then I'm going to ask the two of you to come with us all, into the car, so we can drive to JJ's job and offer the rest of her team your help," Will said, preparing for panic.
"Car Mama?" Hazel asked simply.
"Daddy," Mackenzie said, with slight panic in her voice but she stared straight at him as she said it.
"Shhh," he said kindly, petting the side of her face. "Let's listen please," he requested. "Hazel my friend, will you listen too please?" Wyatt asked and she glued herself to JJ, but gave Wyatt her full attention, because his tone of voice made it sound important. "Thank you," he smiled at Hazel and then slowly looked back and forth between them as he spoke. "Let's lay out some ground rules," he offered. "Do you want to tell Hazel what that means?" he asked Mackenzie and she shifted to inform her friend.
"Is a base line," she told her and then worked her jaw a little bit. She'd said too many things grown up and the pins and needles were starting to get to her.
"That's right. It's a base line. We're going to establish what must be done and how it will be done and I promise you both that you will not be left alone during the process. That is the most important part I need you to remember," he said and they both nodded at him and he looked at his wife, since she'd been sitting in the room, getting the plan for the rest of the day.
"First step is we have to pack, and while you two were resting, that has been done. Miss JJ and her team are all packed up, our room is all packed up, and Aunt Kat and Uncle Bill's room is all packed up.
"Aunt Kat?" Hazel asked, going on slight alert, because that was a new person, she hadn't met.
"Mine," Mackenzie offered.
"Aunt Kat and Uncle Bill are very good friends of mine," Wyatt said. "Bill is like a brother to me," he offered.
"Hazel, it's the same way JJ and her team are a family. Luke, Dave, Penelope, Tara, and Emily. The six of them make a little family too," Will said and Hazel turned to look at Luke with questions written all over her face.
"Lou?" she asked softly.
"It's true Hazel," he assured her. "I have two dogs, and when Dave sees them he's Uncle Dave. It's how he introduced himself," Luke smiled.
Hazel thought for a moment and then looked at JJ. "Mama?" she asked.
"Yes, my love. If that is how you are comfortable, then yes," JJ assured her, still not ready to call herself that yet. She didn't want to rush anything, or get deeply attached to something that maybe wasn't permanent.
"I say Unca?"
"Only if you want to. None of us will make you," JJ promised her.
"I say Auntie Em now?" Mackenzie asked Wyatt curiously.
"No my love, she is still Miss Emily to you. The entire team is Miss or Mister," he told her kindly and she nodded, satisfied with that explanation.
"So, now that we are all packed," Victoria continued. "We do need to head to Miss JJ's work. Do you two think you're ready for that?"
"Awe go?" Mackenzie asked softly, signing as she talked.
"Yes my love, we're all going, even Aunt Kat and Uncle Bill. Miss Emily assigned everyone a ride or ride partner," Victoria said and the young lady in front of her nodded.
The small caravan drove the short distance to headquarters and all the way over Bill kept thinking of questions. "Mr. Duncan, no matter what you ask, it's okay. It's good that you're this protective," Tara assured him. He'd been trying to ask a question the entire drive and every time he was about to ask it, he'd change his mind and go back to thinking.
"I just don't want to do anything wrong, or say anything to make it worse. I don't know if you are aware but Mackenzie does not do well in car rides and we're about to slow down," he said noting how everyone was hitting their breaks in front of them.
"Well, it's a good thing, there's not an immediate time limit on interrogation and confirmation, because our assistants are about to have a panic attack," Dave sighed, seeing all the break lights.
"How bad does it get?" Penelope asked, knowing that Dave was absolutely right. None of them had been in the car with Hazel last time either, so they didn't understand exactly how intense it could get.
"Based on when we drove over last time, Lewis said Hazel was gasping for breath and shaking," Emily supplied. "I imagine Mackenzie is going to be similar."
"Daddy, out!" Mackenzie cried from her seat in the back and she started to struggle and kick a bit. Everything felt too tight and it was getting tighter by the second.
"Kenzie, you are safe in the car with Mommy and Daddy and Mr. Luke. I promise you are safe," he said and she started to panic a little more. "Are you okay with bodily fluids?" Wyatt asked Luke kindly and Luke made a face.
"I'd prefer it, if they stayed inside said body. Why?"
"I don't know about Hazel, but when Kenz gets this worked up, she will vomit. I figured you should be prepared," Wyatt told him.
"I appreciate the heads up," Luke said.
"DADDY!" Mackenzie screamed and Victoria took a deep breath. A scream that strong meant Mackenzie was absolutely oblivious to everything going on around her.
"Mama," Hazel whimpered as the car came to a stop. "No s'op," she pleaded.
"I am so sorry Hazel. It's just traffic. I can't control the traffic sweetheart. As soon as we get past this little patch of construction, we'll drive faster," JJ promised her.
"Mama, p'ease," she pleaded.
"I am so sorry my love," JJ told her honestly and reached over to hold her hand. Hazel took it, squeezed it as tightly as she could and then burst into tears; completely distraught over being stuck in a car as all the awful memories came flooding back to her.
"Mama!" Hazel cried.
It was an hour or so before traffic finally let up and they were able to make it back to headquarters. Luke was the first one out of his car and went over to Emily immediately. "Boss," he said. "It's bad, really bad, she's absolutely hysterical," he told her.
"Check on Hazel please," she said and then looked at Dave.
"I see wheels turning," he told her and she made a face at him. Luke came back and sighed. "It isn't any better in that car," Dave said for him and Luke nodded.
"They both got sick," Luke said.
"Well Lewis is in charge of this, so we're going to let her lead this," Emily sighed and she watched JJ get out of the car, turn around and then pull Hazel out carefully. Hazel clung to JJ with her entire being and Luke noticed her tiny frame was shaking.
"Hazel, take a breath please," JJ encouraged softly, being exceedingly gentle with her. She tried to set her down on the ground, but the second she did, Hazel screamed and dug her fingers hard into JJ's body, putting little wrinkles in her shirt with her fingernails. "Hey, okay, okay, shhh," JJ told her gently and she kept her close and settled her on her waist, with her legs gently resting on JJ's hips, and her head on her shoulder, taking the most jagged breaths her body would allow her.
JJ rubbed her back and Will locked the car and went to his wife. As soon as he laid eyes on her he grinned and she made a face at him. "How's your head?" Will asked.
"I'm fine," she assured him.
"Okay, so let's go join the team," he said and stood next to her, placing a protective hand on the base of her spine and she smiled at him.
"Babe, I'm okay, I promise you," she assured her.
"Yes, you are, and this is all new," he said calmly, nodding at Hazel, knowing full well she was not paying any attention. "So every chance I have, I'm going to remind you I've got your back! Always."
They joined the rest of the team and everyone sort of raised an eyebrow at them. JJ shook her head and spoke with authority. "What's the game plan?" JJ questioned.
"Lewis is in charge, we are waiting on her," Emily said and JJ nodded. Several minutes later Tara lead her team and their guests into headquarters being sure to get all the guests a visitor's badge.
She lead them all to the family room and spoke softly to Emily. "I think they need a little bit more time to calm themselves. I want to keep them in here, let their parents tend to them a little bit more, and then bring them to an empty room. I am confident we can move this along, if they see how a line up works from both sides of the room," she said. "I also think, the Duncans need to give their story to us, before they meet with Hazel. If we find out all the little intricacies, we can tell them what is and isn't 'appropriate' for Hazel right now. She is an adult, but a very clearly traumatized one, so I think we should make the story bullet points of information, she can handle," Tara explained.
"Alvez," Emily said kindly calling him over. "Will you and Rossi take the Duncans to the round room please?"
"Find out how Katherine became a sister in the first place. Garcia says it's by half, so we need to know how that occurred," Tara told him.
"Should Garcia be with us?" he asked, thinking it would be good to have her there with her tech back up.
"No, I need her to finish filling out some paperwork with me," Emily sighed.
"Will do," Luke said and he and Dave kindly approached Katherine and Bill. "Mr. and Mrs. Duncan, would you please join us across the hall?" Luke asked and they both readily agreed, willing to help in any way possible. "Agent Lewis has asked us to bring you both in here to just talk. As you can see, the young ladies that we need help from are a bit worked up right now, so we're giving them time to calm down. We also know that it is in the best interest for all involved to know what's going on, which includes Hazel learning you are her biological family," Luke offered.
"I will supply any information you need and help you fill in whatever holes I can. I'm also going to make it very clear that I am not seeking custody or guardianship or whatever it might be called of Hazel. I am not the one she wants. I've heard her call Jennifer and Will, Mama and Daddy, and I will not be another monster who destroys that for her. She needs to feel safe and they give that to her," Katherine said protectively.
"Do you think you and your husband wouldn't?" Dave asked kindly. "You have all the protective mannerisms of every woman on my team, as well as Mrs. Lansing," he said.
"I just don't want to do more harm than good," Katherine said, softening greatly.
"Why don't we just start with the story we need. We know that you are only half sisters with Hazel's biological mother. Can you tell us that story?" Luke asked kindly and Katherine nodded, taking Bill's hand. She needed his support to do this.
"It was one of those things that starts like a very strange fairy tale. It was a cold winter like night and the doorbell rang just as we sat down to dinner, which was not normal. When my mother opened it, no one was there. It was just a box, with a baby, and a note. I don't remember details of the note. I assumed it boiled down to, I was at the clinic, she's legally yours, I don't want her," Katherine said. "There are days I wish I remembered more, and there are days where I'm glad I remember nothing," she said.
Dave really wanted to do a cognitive with her, but in the moment, it didn't seem necessary, so he proceeded cautiously. "For right now Mrs. Duncan, whatever you do remember is fine. If you'd like to remember more, or perhaps we need you to remember more, we can handle that at a later date," he offered and with that, she continued.
"I remember my parents fighting for a few hours, and I was just about to turn ten, so I just took this tiny baby out of the room, so she didn't have to hear them fighting. I got her a bottle, and I held her, and assured her that my parents did love each other, they were just very passionate people and very confused as to how she had showed up. My father loved my mother very much, and he never once stepped outside the marriage. Neither did my mother, but here was this baby, and so my mom was hurt because she didn't understand, and concerned for a baby, that she might have to love, just because it was the right thing to do."
"This is why she adopts and fosters so many animals, neither my wife, nor my mother in law, are fond of creatures not being wanted."
"I do not believe a being should feel unwanted or unloved. I am very much like my mother in that regard. I also know I am not good at loving every creature respectfully, so I take care of the cats and the dogs and I leave all of the other creatures to other people. I know a reptile guy, and a bug guy, and a lady who works with bees. I stay in my lane. Cats and dogs."
"If I may, is that why you and Bill didn't have children?" Luke pressed gently.
"No. We did try. It didn't work out for us. I am okay with that. We have fur babies instead and that is just as acceptable to me," she answered honestly.
"Back to Maddie, my love," Bill said kindly.
"Oh yes, so they fought for a while and long story short, Maddie really is his biological daughter. When he was in college, he went to a sperm bank, made a donation, got paid, and then just forgot about it. Apparently someone used his sperm, tracked him down, and gave him back his child. It was a story of an unwanted baby, and maybe that lived in her DNA and we couldn't change it, but we tried. My parents were mom and dad, I was big sister, and that was that. No halves and no steps were ever mentioned. However, hormones play a big factor in growing up and Maddie turned into a very different person. She's still my baby sister, and I still love her, and I couldn't save her, no matter how hard I tried," she said honestly. "She ran away when she was about fourteen and managed to survive obviously. We've never stopped looking for her, or hoping, but life goes on and you have to kind of move along and things get pushed to the back burner. In our case, Maddie was that back burner topic."
"Are your parents still around?" Dave asked.
"No, they've both passed, and from what agent Garcia tells me, now maybe they are reunited with Maddie somewhere, and she's being loved and cared for all over again," Katherine said getting a little bit teary eyed.
"You're doing great my love," Bill encouraged her.
"You are and you did," Dave assured her.
"I just want to make it extra clear that we are not seeking guardianship, or custody, or any proprietary right over Hazel," Katherine repeated.
We understand and we will respect that. We also want to make sure you know that you are allowed visitation. She is your living relative," Luke said. "Before we get to any of that though, our next step is getting agent Lewis to give us a game plan to get these girls to help us identify their attacker."