Chapter 31 -

The loud scream quickly had Emily opening her eyes as she instinctively sat up and took a hold of Mary's hands, keeping her voice low and soft as she heard the sobs emanating from the teenager.

"It's ok Mary, you're safe, I am right here with you."

"Sorry, I'm so sorry Emily."

"Shh Mary, it's ok, I'm right here."

Emily stood up ans gently embraced Mary as she felt the tears hit her neck. Slowly Mary's tears stopped and Emily could feel Mary relaxing.

"Are you ok Mary?"

Emily had perched herself on the bed and was surprised to feel Mary's arms tightly wrapped around her, remembering how she had found Kate and Mary sleeping that morning Emily was relieved that Mary was starting to trust them. Without thinking Emily swung her legs and laud down next to Mary, helping Mary to lay on her side so that Emily could put her arms around the teenager.

"Thank you Emily."

Mary's voice was a whisper as Emily smiled and kissed Mary on the too of her head.

Emily didn't sleep soundly but she could hear Mary was and for that Emily was grateful. Emily then felt Mary shift, worried that another nightmare might be starting she gently squeezed Mary's hand and spoke softly in her ear.

"It's ok Mary, open your eyes for me, come on sweetheart, you're safe here with me."

Emily felt her hand being squeezed tightly for a second but then she saw Mary's eyes open, shifting her body Emily stayed laying on the bed but helped Mary to sit up next to her.

"Thanks for waking me Emily."

"Not a problem Mary. I also have some good news to share with you that I couldn't yesterday as you kept falling asleep."

"Yeah sorry, I didn't realise how tired I was."

"Well your body needs to recover and let me guess it has been a long time since you slept soundly on the streets?"

Mary nodded her head before she rested it against Emily's shoulder.

"So to help you sleep more soundly we've made arrangements for you to come home with us after you've been released from the hospital."

"Wow, really?"

"Yes sweetheart, we meant it and we managed to get it legally sorted too."

Emily smiled as she saw a goint of happiness cross Mary's face.

"Thank you Emily, I don't really know what to say."

Mary smiled as she reached across a took a hold of Emily's hands but then the door opened and Mary's doctor entered.

"Morning Mary, how are you feeling today?"

Emily quickly got off the bed and allowed the female doctor access to Mary.

"The pain is easing."

"Good, it's still going to be painful for a while yet unfortunately but I am pleased with the progress you are making. There are no signs of infection so I hopeful that we can release you today."

The doctor smiled and quickly tapped out some notes on her tablet before she walked out of the room.

"Well that's great news, don't you think Mary?"

Mary nodded her head and smiled at Emily, a thought pressing in her mind.

"Emily?"

"Yes sweetie."

"I don't suppose that when you found the man that he had a grey rucksack with him?"

Emily frowned slightly as she remembered that she hadn't even stayed that long, wanting to leave and get back to Kate as soon as possible.

"I don't know, I will check for you."

"Thanks."

"It had all your clothes in it didn't it?"

Emily's heart sunk aa she realised that Mary's worldly possessions would have been in the rucksack.

"I'll message Dave now and get him to check for you."

"Thanks."

Mary's voice broke slightly as Emily reached across and took a hold of Mary's hands.

"What else was in there sweetheart?"

Mary closed her eyes and swallowed hard, Emily thought back to when she had entered Kate's bedroom at the Ainsley's and the sparse belongings she had had but there was one item that Kate had held onto.

"Was it a photo of you and your dad?"

Mary kept her eyes closed and nodded her head.

"Ok Mary, I'm just going to pop outside and speak to Dave but I'll be right back ok?"

Emily gently squeezed Mary's hands before she walked outside.

"Morning my darling, how are you?"

"Up and down Dave, not so great at the moment."

Emily sighed as she sat down on a spare chair.

"What's the matter Emily? I can be there in fifteen minutes?"

"Mary had a rucksack Dave, it had everything in it, including a photo of her and her dad. Can you see if there is any sign of it in the evidence we recovered?"

Emily took a deep breath as she finished and heard Dave take in a deep breath.

"Oh gosh, we didn't think about any of this did we? I'll get on it straight away Emily."

"Thanks Dave, I have also got good news, Mary can come home later today."

"Well I had better get sorting everything out, our daughter is sorting out the spare room as we speak."

Emily smiled and shook her head.

"I take it she is making a lot of noise then Dave?"

Emily laughed softly at the thought of the mess Kate would be making and how the loud noise would be annoying Dave.

"Well all I can say is I'm glad I'm heading into the office. Stay in touch Emily and I'll come and see you both soon."

"Thanks Dave, love you."

"I love you too Emily."


Dave knocked gently on the door and it wasn't long before the friendly voice responded.

"Come on in!"

"Hi Penelope."

"Hello Dave, how are you? I thought you'd be with Emily?"

"Yeah well I'm sorry but I need your help again."

"Of course, come and take a pew."

Garcia smiled as Dave sat down and took a long breath.

"Mary's stuff is gone, I tried to track her rucksack down but it has disappeared. The clothes are not a problem but she had a photo of her and her dad."

"Say no more Dave, let's see what we can do!"

Garcia smiled as she started tapping away on her keyboard.


Emily was laying back on the bed beside Mary, with Mary's head resting against her shoulder as Emily had a movie playing on her tablet. Dave grinned widely as he opened the door, he had a plastic bag in his hand as he walked and sat down.

"How are you Mary?"

"Ok thank you Dave, thank you for letting me come and stay with you."

"It's our pleasure Mary."

"I take it you didn't find my rucksack?"

"I am so sorry sweetheart."

Dave had a sadness in his eyes and Emily knew that he would have tried everything to locate the bag.

"It's ok, thank you for looking."

Dave reached down and brought a frame out from the plastic bag and placed it on the bed.

"But I did ask Garcia to help and she managed to find a photo from an old social media account."

Emily quickly felt the tears start to hit her shoulder as Mary reached across and picked up the frame.

"Thank you Dave, so so much, this is."

Mary's tears flowed freely as she held onto the photo, Emily put her arm around Mary as she smiled warmly at Dave.

"Thank you Dave, this is wonderful."

"I also have some other news, Kate has your bedroom all ready and she's bringing some clothes in a but as I hear you are coming home with us."

Tears started to form again from Mary's eyes but Emily knew that this time they were coming from a point of happiness as she clung onto the photo tightly.

"Thank you Dave."

"My pleasure Mary."