Chapter 17 -
Tara quickly wrapped her arms around Libby and effortlessly picked the young girl up as she turned and looked at Garcia.
"I'm going to take Libby back to the hotel, can you let the others know?"
"Of course, take care of her Tara."
Garcia reached up and wiped a tear from her eye before she gently kissed Libby on the cheek, rubbing Tara's arm softly as Tara carried Libby out of the apartment. Garcia took a breath and hitched the bag she was carrying up onto her shoulder before she walked into the office, watching as Rebecca made a note on her cell as Emily finished the call.
"Pen, is everything ok?"
JJ was the first to see the redness in her friend's eyes, watching carefully as Garcia dropped the heavy bag onto the floor before she walked over, picking up a spare chair as she sat down beside JJ.
"Tara has taken Libby back to the hotel."
Emily closed her eyes as Garcia looked at her friend and took a deep breath.
"Who were you on the phone to?"
"Neil and Charlotte's lawyer."
Rebecca quickly provided the answer and looked quizzically at Garcia who swallowed hard, composing herself as she spoke.
"Libby recognised the voice, he is one of the men who abused her."
Emily quickly snapped her head round to look at her friend, shock and horror adorning her face before she turned and looked at Rebecca and JJ, both had the same emotional look on their own faces.
"Are you sure, is she sure?"
Words stumbled out of Emily's mouth, instantly she regretted them as she looked at Garcia, failing to hold in the tears as they trickled down her face.
"Sorry, I'm so sorry Pen. Is she ok, Libby is she?"
Garcia reached and took a hold of Emily's hands and smiled softly at her friend.
"She's scared and frightened, but Tara is with her."
"I need to go to her, to Libby!"
Tears continued to trickle down Emily's face as she spoke before JJ stood up and walked over to where the box was on the floor, quickly picking it up.
"Come on, we'll all go."
Garcia nodded as she got up and put her arm around Emily's back, helping to support her friend as Rebecca grabbed the bag from Libby's room, all of them wanting to get back to support Libby as quickly as possible.
Tara sat on the bed, propping herself up with pillows as she lent against the headboard, holding Libby close to her, the tears had subsided but the emotional exhaustion had caught up with the young girl as she had fallen asleep resting against Tara. The sound of the door opening failed to waken Libby, Tara looked up anxiously but as she saw Rebecca and Emily enter she smiled and put a finger on her lips. Emily could feel the lump in her throat rise as she walked over and perched on the bed next to Tara.
"Thank you."
Tara reached with her spare hand and took a hold of Emily's hand, squeezing it affectionately.
"She hasn't said anymore to me Emily, she completely froze up."
Emily nodded her head as Rebecca quietly walked over and put her hand on Emily's back.
"I'll go and sit with Garcia and JJ, we will speak to the Director and let him know what's going on. You stay here Emily, Libby is going to need you when she wakes up."
Emily turned and looked at Rebecca who was smiling warmly at her as she carried on rubbing Emily's back softly.
"Thank you."
Emily could manage no more words as Rebecca nodded her head and walked out of the room.
"Hey Emily, look at me, it's ok. Libby is safe and we will do whatever we can to bring that man to justice."
Tara spoke softly as Emily nodded her head and reached to wipe the tears away from her eyes before she slowly lifted it up and nodded at Tara.
"Come on Emily, sit down next to Libby, you know she will want to see you the moment she wakes."
Tara smiled softly as Emily gently squeezed Tara's hand as she went to stand up.
"Thank you Tara."
Emily wandered around and sat down on the bed next to Libby, watching her niece carefully as she was curled up still sleeping against Tara.
Rebecca knocked on the door and waited patiently, managing a small smile as JJ opened the door and quietly they walked over to where Garcia was sitting on the bed, her laptop already open.
"How are they?"
JJ had a look of concern on her face as she spoke.
"Libby is sleeping, she hasn't said anything more, I said to Emily that we would update her in a bit."
JJ nodded as she looked over at Garcia who looked up at them.
"Grayson McNab, 48 years old, runs his own firm with two other partners. Looking at their website they have a small client base but here look at his photo."
Garcia flipped the laptop around and watched as her two friends looked at the photo. Silently Garcia brought up a photo from the descriptions Libby and the other girls had provided.
"Shit!"
JJ ran her fingers through her hair as she looked at Rebecca.
"Is this really closed, we can't not do anything!"
Rebecca took a deep breath as she looked at JJ.
"The Director closed it because we thought we had done everything we could, but I can't let this slide. Let me make a few phone calls."
JJ nodded in appreciation as she sat down next to Garcia and rested her head on her friend's shoulder as Rebecca sat on the other bed and phoned Director Madison.
Tara had her eyes closed but she wasn't sleeping, her arms still tightly had a hold of Libby and as she felt the young girl's head shift slightly Tara opened her eyes, quickly looking across at Emily. Emily quickly shifted on the bed and placed a hand on Libby's arm but it was too late as a pained yelp left Libby's mouth.
"No, please no, please don't hurt me!"
Tara carefully manoeuvred Libby to the middle of the bed so that she was sat in between herself and Emily, watching as Emily reached and put the palm of her hand on Libby's cheek as she whispered softly into the young girl's ear.
"Libby sweetheart, wake up for me, it's not real, please open your eyes."
Libby's eyes opened, red from the tears that were already flowing down her cheeks.
"That's it sweetie, it's ok Libby."
Libby looked across at Emily and then Tara, her heart still racing as she tried to figure out where she was.
"You're in the hotel Libby, it's ok you're with me and Tara."
Libby slowly nodded her head before she reached over and wrapped her arms around Emily, crying onto her shoulder.
"It's ok Libby, I'm so sorry I had no idea."
Emily reached over and gently rubbed Libby's back as she spoke, holding her niece tight, only imagining the pain and worry flowing through her young mind. Emily looked across at Tara who smiled back at her as Tara reached across and put a hand on Libby's head as she lent across and whispered softly into Libby's ear.
"You're safe Libby, you are with Emily and me, we are going to keep you safe."
Libby slowly pulled her head up and looked Emily in the eyes, the sadness in them causing a tear to escape from Emily's own eyes before Libby turned and looked at Tara. Emily could feel Libby's heart rate beginning to return to normal, she reached up and wiped the tears from Libby's cheeks and smiled softly at her niece.
"Libby…"
"That voice Emily, sorry it just…"
"I know sweetie, I'm so sorry, we had no idea."
Libby looked at Emily and nodded her head, before she looked down at the floor.
"I'm scared Emily."
"I know sweetie but I am going to protect you."
"Will I have to see him?"
Emily felt her heart pang as she looked over at Tara who turned to face Libby.
"Libby, sweetheart, Emily and I are going to stay with you for the time being. You're safe with us."
"Libby, I can't guarantee that you will never have to see him, I want to bring him to justice, make him pay for the hurt he has caused you, but you and your safety will always be my main priority."
Libby slowly nodded her head before she hugged Emily once again, seeking comfort and reassurance from her Aunt.
Rebecca closed her eyes and sighed heavily, turning around she stood with her back to the window and looked at JJ and Garcia. Quickly Garcia patted the space on the bed next to her and as Rebecca sat down Garcia put her arm around Rebecca, rubbing her back softly.
"That sounded like hard work?"
JJ frowned as she looked at Rebecca, they had heard Rebecca's arguments for themselves and the frustration she had vocalised.
"Yeah, apparently the publicity might not be agreeable, that the FBI closed the case too early and that we have a wider problem on our hands."
JJ raised an eyebrow as she looked at Rebecca who took a breath before she continued.
"But don't worry, deep down the Director knows that we can't not do anything. We have the go ahead to arrest."
Garcia wrapped her arms around Rebecca and hugged her tightly.
"Well done! Now shall we go and check on Libby and Emily?"
Rebecca smiled as Garcia let her go and she nodded her head before she smiled warmly at Garcia.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea Penelope."