Chapter 11 -
It was nearly midnight by the time Rebecca walked through the door, she was unsurprised to see Tara curled up on the couch with a blanket over her legs and the TV on quietly. Rebecca smiled as she walked over, bending down to kiss Tara softly on the lips before she curled up next to her girlfriend and rested her head on Tara's shoulder.
"Are you ok?"
Rebecca nodded her head and took a deep intake of breath, wrapping her arm around Tara's stomach.
"It took some time but we are ready for the morning now. How have things been here?"
Tara put her hand on top of Rebecca's and stroked it softly with her thumb.
"I made burgers for us, sorry I knew you were going to be late, but it was lovely to see Libby smile and react like a kid should do."
"It's ok you'll just have to make me my favourite meal another time!"
Rebecca laughed softly as she snuggled closer to Tara.
"Come on let's go up and get some sleep, it's going to be a long day tomorrow."
Tara lent over as she finished speaking and kissed Rebecca softly on the lips.
"Ok and we had better be quiet, we don't want to wake Emily or Libby."
Tara nodded in agreement as the two of them crept up the stairs and into their bedroom.
Tara had always been an early riser, the first one up, and her routine of humming to herself while putting the coffee on and getting breakfast ready was hard to shake. Even though Tara knew that Rebecca needed to get in early she wanted to give her girlfriend as much of a lie in as possible.
"Well aren't you a picture of a domestic goddess!"
"Huh!"
Tara was caught by surprise as she turned around and saw Emily standing and grinning at her.
"Oh hi Emily. Yeah well what can I say, being in the kitchen relaxes me. Coffee?"
Tara smiled as instinctively she poured two mugs of coffee and sat down at the table with Emily.
"How's Libby, did you both sleep ok?"
"She's asleep at the moment, we both woke a few times but considering everything..."
Tara nodded her head as she smiled warmly at her friend, remembering that neither herself or Rebecca had been woken in the night by the sounds of any nightmares, but they had both been exhausted.
"What time did Rebecca get home?"
"Just before midnight."
Tara sighed as Emily reached across and placed her hand on top of Tara's.
"You know I can't thank you and Rebecca enough, I don't think I could have coped without your support and kindness, the way that you both make Libby feel safe and loved."
A tear escaped Emily's eye as Tara smiled affectionately at her.
"Hey not a problem Emily, you know that."
"Morning!"
Rebecca smiled as she walked in, rubbing Tara's back softly before grabbing a coffee and sitting down at the table.
"I hear you had a late night."
Emily took her hands away from Tara and cradled her mug as she looked at Rebecca.
"Everything is in place for this morning. Dave, JJ, Luke and Tyler are heading up to New York to Crossley's penthouse as we speak."
Emily nodded her head and looked at Tara.
"You're not going?"
"I wanted to stay here, to be around for you and Libby, as well as the other girls."
Emily nodded her head, she too wanted to head in and check that the other girls were ok, but she also had Libby to consider.
"Right so we can all head in together then, I'm going to grab a shower do you want me to check on Libby?"
Emily smiled and nodded her head at Tara's question, pleased that at least Libby had the whole team to care and support her.
Dave took great pleasure in showing the warrant to the security guards outside Michael Crossley's penthouse apartment.
"We haven't got any keys."
"That's ok, Tyler do you want to do the honours?"
Tyler nodded as he took out a pen knife from his pocket, making short work of unlocking the door, grinning widely as he pushed it open and gestured for Dave to enter.
"Mr Crossley this is the FBI, we have a federal arrest warrant with your name on it."
Dave spoke loudly as he wandered into the large penthouse apartment, he motioned for everyone to start looking around as the silence was evident to all.
"Rossi!"
JJ shouted as she suddenly froze, closing her eyes momentarily as she looked at the desk in the large home office.
"Crap."
JJ heard the sigh in Dave's voice as they looked at the body slumped on the table, a pool of blood had seeped from the head and onto the desk as JJ spotted the gun in his right hand.
"Ok nobody enters until CSIs get here. I need to make a call."
JJ nodded her head before she turned away from the body, that she could see was Michael Crossley, knowing that Dave would now be breaking the news to Rebecca.
Dave kicked the door frame as he left the apartment, his frustration boiling over but he didn't want anyone to hear the call that he was about to make. Quickly he moved down to one of the SUVs, sitting inside he called Rebecca.
"Dave?"
"Hi Rebecca, not good news I'm afraid."
"He isn't there?"
"No I need a team of CSIs here. We have a body."
Dave sighed as he heard the intake of breath from Rebecca.
"Crossley?"
"Yeah, suicide by the looks of it but I don't want to contaminate the scene so until the CSIs are here nobody is going in."
"Ok, I'll make some calls, I'll need to update the Director and Attorney General too."
"We'll stay and preserve the scene, are you going to update Emily?"
Dave's voice trailed off as he finished, unsurprised when Rebecca didn't answer straight away.
"Yes that's fine, leave it with me. I'll give you a call as soon as I have some news."
Dave sat in the SUV for a couple of minutes, allowing the slight feeling of defeat to pass before he went back to check in with the rest of the team.
Emily was sat in the round table room, concentration evident on her face as she heard a soft laugh from across the table.
"Come on Emily, make your move before Libby and I fall asleep waiting!"
"Ok Tara stop rushing me!"
Emily smiled at Libby as she moved her knight.
"Check."
Libby frowned as she looked at the board before she leant and whispered into Tara's ear, Tara raised an eyebrow at Emily and nodded her head. Libby moved her left hand as she picked up and moved her queen.
"Check mate."
Libby grinned as she spoke, watching Emily shake her head but there was also a wide smile adorning her face.
"Well done Libs."
Emily stood up as she moved around the table and gave Libby a hug, kissing her softly on the top of her head. It was then that Emily caught sight of Rebecca walking towards the room.
"Hey Tara are you ok if I pop out for a minute?"
"Of course Emily."
Tara had also caught sight of her girlfriend and knew that whatever news Rebecca had to share they needed to shield Libby as much as possible. Tara moved closer and put her arm around Libby who leaned in and rested her head against Tara.
Emily smiled as she quietly walked towards her office, gesturing for Rebecca to follow her, waiting until they were in the office with the door closed before Emily spoke.
"Rebecca?"
"Sit down Emily."
Rebecca had sat down on the couch as slowly Emily joined her and looked at her friend, the queasiness growing in her stomach.
"Crossley killed himself. He was dead by the time the team got there. I'm so sorry Emily. I thought that we had managed to keep things under wraps but obviously someone tipped him off."
Emily sighed as she reached across and took a hold of Rebecca's hands.
"It's not your fault Rebecca, please don't blame yourself."
"Thanks. I have updated the Director and the Attorney General. We are waiting on the CSIs to preserve any evidence."
Emily nodded her head, even though Crossley was dead there could be a chance to bring some closure to the rest of the abusers.
"I have got some good news though."
Emily raised an eyebrow as Rebecca took a breath.
"The Attorney General and I have arranged for the three girls to be relocated to D.C. We are placing them together in a foster home that has been cleared by the Director himself."
"Wow, that is great news Rebecca, thank you."
"It also means that Tara can continue to work with them and help them move on from their trauma."
Emily closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she reached over and warmly embraced Rebecca, grateful that the girls could finally have a happier childhood.