A/N – Well I was going to delete this story but then I found a scrap of paper that had some notes about where it was going to go and after a year of personal hell I thought that it would do me some good to get back to writing and I felt I owed the readers to try and finish this story...

Chapter 16 –

JJ curled up on the sofa, the TV was on with the sound turned down low as she watched some non-descript programme but it wasn't the programme she was watching she was just using it to help her stay awake as the clock slowly ticked around. The noise from the bedroom had quietened down and JJ knew that the emotional exhaustion had overcome everyone as she changed the channel once again, unaware that the bedroom door had opened, jumping slightly as she heard footsteps approaching.

"Kate?"

JJ spoke quietly as she the frail figure walking over until Kate sat down next to JJ on the sofa, quickly JJ wrapped her arms around the young woman.

"I couldn't sleep and I didn't want to disturb Emily and Dave."

JJ immediately frowned at Kate's use of Emily and Dave's names, for as long as she could remember Emily had been Kate's mom and Kate had referred to Dave as her dad for the last few years but as Kate buried her head into JJ's shoulder JJ knew that she had to look after Kate and the emotional trauma that had tipped her over the edge.

"It's ok sweetie I've got you."

A heavy sigh left JJ's body as she held onto Kate, the bond that the two of them had was especially close and images of her carrying Kate out of the cabin all those years ago flooded JJ's mind.

"JJ?"

"Uh huh."

Kate lifted her head up and away from the crook of JJ's neck but she kept her head rested on JJ's shoulder, their voices quiet so that their conversation remained private and wouldn't disturb Emily and Dave.

"Thank you for coming to tell me, I don't think that I could have coped if someone else had told me."

"I'm sorry that you had to hear at all Kate."

Kate lifted her head and looked at JJ, who offered her a small smile before Kate nodded her head and brought her head back down to rest on JJ's shoulder once again, the room falling silent as JJ turned her attention back to the tv, her arm around Kate as slowly Kate fell back into an uneasy sleep.

Emily woke with a start, her hand instantly covering her eyes but as her body woke up she realised that it hadn't been a dream, her daughter's world had been shattered. Quickly Emily sat up, ignoring the pain in her back that had been due to the uncomfortable bed, scanning around the room she saw that Dave was fast asleep, snoring loudly, but then the panic rose in her body as she saw the space in the middle of the bed where Kate had been was now empty. Instantly Emily swung her legs off the bed and jogged out of the bedroom, seeing JJ's blonde hair poking above the sofa Emily thought about calling out but stopped herself and as she walked around Emily breathed a sigh of relief.

"Kate!"

Emily's voice was a whisper as she sunk to the floor in front of Kate who was fast asleep in JJ's arms, JJ smiled at her friend.

"Sorry."

"It's ok, I'm just glad that she's safe, I was worried when she wasn't in the bedroom."

"She couldn't sleep and didn't want to disturb you or Dave."

Emily nodded her head, feeling slightly guilty that her daughter had gone to JJ for comfort rather than herself but then she shook her head.

"Coffee?"

"Please, thanks Emily."

Emily turned her back as she waited for the kettle to boil, resting her elbows on the worktop in the small kitchen she had her head rested in her hands as she battled to keep the tears at bay. The guilt Emily felt was immense, once again she had put Kate's life in danger and she didn't know what she could do to make it better. The click of the kettle brought Emily's mind back to the here and now, rubbing her eyes gently with her fingers as she regained her focus, Emily then ran her fingers through her hair before she finally made two cups of coffee.

"She blames me."

The words came out as a whisper as Emily placed the hot cups onto the floor before Emily sat down next to them, her legs crossed her eyes red as she looked at her friend.

"Emily..."

"I blame myself Jen, just when she was starting to be happy..."

Emily's voice trailed off as she closed her eyes while JJ bit her lip, still supporting Kate who was sleeping she felt powerless to offer her friend any help.

"She's angry Em."

Emily nodded her head as she swallowed hard and opened her eyes before she reached across and passed a coffee to JJ who nodded in appreciation, the silence drifting over the room as the two women drank their coffee, their eyes naturally watching protectively over Kate as she slept.

Kate felt cornered, there was nowhere for her to run, instinctively a high pitched scream left her mouth.

"Kate!"

Emily and JJ spoke together as Kate sat upright on the sofa, jerking away from JJ as tears streamed down her face and beads of sweat ran down her forehead. The visions from the nightmare were still playing fresh in Kate's mind as she plunged her head into her hands.

"Kate, sweetheart."

Emily's voice was soft and quiet as JJ glanced over to the bedroom door but fortunately Kate's scream hadn't woken Dave and she edged away from the sofa as Emily moved closer to Kate.

"Sorry just a nightmare."

Kate took a deep breath as she wiped her eyes, standing up she made a purposeful move away from Emily, JJ took a deep breath as she watched the interaction, and she could feel her heart racing as Emily stood in front of Kate.

"Kate..."

"Emily."

Kate's response was full of emotion as she stared hard at Emily who ignored the fact that Kate had refused to call her mom.

"I know that you are angry Kate."

Kate swung her head away from Emily but Emily stood firm and placed her hands on her daughter's shoulders, trying to remain as calm as possible as she spoke.

"I can take it Kate, you need to let it out, please tell me what you are feeling."

Slowly Kate turned her head back to face Emily, already the tears were streaming down her face.

"Is it too much to ask for a bit of normality, a bit of happiness in my life? Obviously I'm never going to have a normal life. I wish that I had died in that cabin!"