Chapter 10 -

The noise wasn't loud but both Tara and Rebecca were in a light sleep. Tara leant across and kissed Rebecca softly on the lips

"I'll go."

Tara quietly made her way out of the bedroom and towards the bathroom where the sobbing was coming from. Tara knew instantly who it was, even without any lights on.

"Libby."

Tara bent down and gently put her arm on Libby's shoulder as the young girl looked at her, a few tears trickling down her cheeks.

"Sorry I didn't want to wake Emily, she needs her sleep."

"So do you sweetie. Come on why don't you sleep with Rebecca and I, that way Emily can get some sleep and so can you?"

Tara smiled and helped Libby to stand up, putting her arm around Libby's shoulders as she quietly led her through to her bedroom. Rebecca was sitting up in the bed and had flicked the bedside light on, she smiled warmly at Libby as Tara brought her over to the bed.

"So Libby, come on you know that you are safe with us."

Libby nodded her head, she had a hold of the teddy bear that Tara had given her and as she looked over at Rebecca, she knew that hopefully she would be able to get some sleep without waking Emily. Rebecca patted the bed and Libby got in, she rested her head on Rebecca's shoulder as Tara curled up, protectively putting her arm around both Libby and Rebecca.

Emily woke up with a start, her injured arm throbbing but it wasn't that which had woken her, it was the emptiness in the bed next to her. It had only been three nights since Libby had turned up on her doorstep but Emily knew instantly that her niece wasn't beside her in the bed. Quickly Emily got up, she could hear voices downstairs, and a soft laugh that she recognised as Libby's. A sigh of relief left Emily's mouth as she walked down the stairs following the sound of the voices.

"Hi Emily, coffee?"

Tara smiled as Emily nodded her head and sat down next to Libby who was eating a plate of scrambled eggs and toast.

"Hey sweetheart, sleep ok?"

Libby smiled and nodded her head as Rebecca winked at the young girl.

"And did you sleep ok Emily?"

Tara raised an eyebrow as she spoke and placed a coffee in front of her friend.

"Actually yes I did thank you. So what time did Libby end up with you two?"

Emily leaned and playfully shoved her young niece, grinning at her before she bent down and kissed the top of Libby's head.

"Seriously thank you all, I did need the rest."

Emily smiled at her friends as Rebecca placed a plate of eggs in front of Emily before she and Tara sat down.

"It wasn't a problem Emily, the three of us got some sleep too didn't we Libby!"

Libby smiled back at Rebecca and nodded her head and carried on eating her breakfast.

Emily sat Libby on the couch in her office, putting some cartoons on the iPad before she sat beside her.

"Are you going to be ok in here on your own Libby? I can ask someone to sit in with if you want?"

"I'm ok Emily."

"Ok I will try not to be too long."

Emily kissed Libby on the the cheek before she walked towards the round table room, unsurprised to see Director Madison already sitting down.

"Hello Emily, you are looking a lot better today."

"Thank you sir."

"So Agent Rossi, you managed to identify the vehicle?"

"Yes and Technical Analyst Garcia has identified the three men that killed Charlotte and Neil Roberts, as well as attempting to kill Section Chief Prentiss."

Emily raised an eyebrow and watched as Garcia brought up three photos on the screen, the eyes and the bridge of their noses matched the descriptions that Libby had provided.

"Unfortunately they all have diplomatic immunity. Agents Alvaz, Green and Barnes went to apprehend them this morning, they had already left on a flight back to Minsk."

Emily sighed as Rebecca finished as she looked at Emily and mouthed a silent sorry.

"And Neil's financials? Sorry I need to know how far in he was and how much Charlotte knew."

Emily looked over at Garcia who nodded her head as she changed the display on the screen.

"We have linked his accounts with moving money associated with Michael Crossley and back and forth to Minsk. There is also an account in Charlotte's name in Minsk, it was opened by Ambassador Prentiss when Libby was born."

Emily dropped her head, her fears about her family were true, but she had Libby safe now and she needed to give Libby and herself some closure by stopping the others who had hurt her.

"The other three girls that we identified in New York, Miss Wilson and I have agreed that they need to come here in protective custody. If they can give us statements implicating and identifying Michael Crosey we will areat him."

Director Madison stood up as he finished, nodding at everyone before he walked out of the round table room, quickly exiting the bullpen.

Emily waited a moment before she turned and looked at Dave.

"When can Luke and Tyler bring the girls here?"

"They are travelling down now on the jet, they should be here shortly."

Emily nodded her head as Tara turned and looked at Emily.

"JJ and I are all set up to do the interviews, we've got a wing at the academy secured so that we can keep them safe."

"Thank you, do you need me to talk to any of them?"

Emily wanted to help, for herself and for Libby.

"Only if that's what you want Emily, what about Libby?"

JJ frowned as she looked at her friend, she understood the need to help and the inner conflict Emily was facing.

"I can stay with her, if that would help?"

Garcia closed her laptop and looked at Emily, who nodded her head.

"Thank you Garcia, I really appreciate it."

Emily, Tara, JJ and Dave were all waiting patiently. The girls had arrived but they all agreed to let them reat and become comfortable with their surroundings before anyone spoke to then. It had been agreed that Dave and Rebecca would watch the three interviews and help coordinate search warrants as necessary. Luckily the three girls had been comfortable with Luke, Tyler and Nick so it meant that the three interviews could happen simultaneously.

Emily had sat Libby down after talking with the team, explaining that she would be gone for a while but it was all being done to protect her and to stop the men who had hurt her. Libby had been quiet but understood and knew thay she had to be brave for her Aunt, and the fact that Garcia was going to stay and keep her company had helped put Libby at ease.

Emily had taken the nine year old, Aimee Henstone, Tyler had joined her but he had stayed quiet as Emily gently lead the questioning. Without the gaze of social services and the reassurance that it was safe to talk Aimee had opened up. Slowly but steadily describing the abuse she had suffered, with no parents and her social workers complicit Aimee had become accustomed to the pain she had suffered.

Eventually, after letting Aimee have a break for some hot chocolate, Emily resumed, trying to see if Aimee could describe any of the men who had abused her. Emily held Aimee in her arms once she had finished, her heart aching as she felt Aimee's tears hit her neck.

Rebecca closed her eyes and ran her fingers through her hair as she looked at the photos provided by all three girls before she turned towards Dave as he solemnly nodded his head.

"Do you want me to join you?"

"No it's ok, stay here and make sure the girls and the team are all ok. As soon as I get the go ahead we can formulate a plan."

Dave nodded his head as he watched Rebecca get up, he got out his cell to call for some pizza to be delivered and for some more agents to come over and help supervise the young girls. The team needed a break but he needed to balance that with the safety and wellbeing of the children. It was going to take time for Rebecca to get the necessary paperwork in place and he wanted his team to go home and get some rest before the next steps.

Emily and Tara walked quietly up the stairs and into Emily's office, Garcia was sat at Emily's desk working while Libby was curled up asleep in the couch. Emily stopped by the couch and checked on her niece before she went over and sat down with Tara and Garcia.

"How has she been?"

"Quiet, I managed to get her to eat some lunch but she hasn't spoken to me much."

Emily nodded her head before she smiled at her friend.

"Thank you Penelope, has Dave filled you in?"

Garcia nodded her head as she looked at Libby once again.

"It's ok Penelope, Emily and Libby are coming back to mine again tonight."

"Look after them Tara, they both like to pretend that they are strong and can cope with everything but sometimes they forget that we are here to help them."

Garcia smiled as she stood up and hugged Emily.

"Make sure you both rest up and look after that cute little girl for me!"

"Always Pen."

Tara smiled as she watched the interaction between the two friends. She had no idea what time Rebecca would get home but she wanted to get Emily and Libby back to some more comfortable surroundings and to ensure that they were looked after and safe.