Chapter 18 -

The gentle knock at the door quickly caused Libby to tighten her grip around Emily but then the voice, calm and quiet helped to alleviate some of the instant panic Libby had felt.

"Hey it's me, I've got JJ and Garcia with me, are we ok to come in?"

Tara smiled at the sound of her girlfriend's voice before she stood up and looked across at Emily and Libby as Libby slowly nodded her head as she loosened her grip on her Aunt slightly.

"Yeah come on in guys."

Tara walked over towards the door, holding it open as the others entered, once closer Tara locked the door, hoping that Libby would notice and the action would help her feel safe and secure.

JJ walked over to the bed and smiled at Libby who managed a small smile back as JJ sat down next to the young girl.

"Hi Libby."

"Hi Jen."

"Are you ok if Penelope and I sit with you while Emily has a chat with Rebecca and Tara?"

JJ smiled as she spoke but quickly saw the concerned look on Libby's face, she reached over and put a gentle hand on Libby's arm.

"It's ok sweetheart, they'll still be in the room, we can just sit on the bed and watch something on my tablet?"

Emily looked over at JJ and smiled her appreciation as she felt Libby slowly nodded her head and kissed Libby softly on the top of her head.

"I'll just be over the other side of the room Libby, I'm not going anywhere I promise."

Libby nodded her head as JJ and Garcia sat either side of the young girl, Libby snuggled up close to JJ, resting her head on JJ's shoulder as JJ whispered softly into her ear.

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

Emily managed a small smile as she walked over to the small table in the room where Rebecca and Tara had already sat down.

"Hey."

"Here Emily, have a drink."

Tara smiled as she passed a glass of whiskey over, Rebecca and Tara already had a glass as they kept their voices low so that Libby wouldn't be overwhelmed by their conversation.

"Thanks."

Emily gratefully took a sip of the warm liquid as she looked over at Rebecca.

"You look how I feel Rebecca."

Emily managed a wry smile as Tara laughed softly and leaned in to kiss her girlfriend on the lips.

"To be fair sweetie Emily isn't wrong!"

"Yeah well I think I went around ten rounds with Director Madison, but I think I won on points!"

Rebecca smiled as she looked at Emily who quickly put her glass down and moved closer to Rebecca and embraced her warmly.

"Thank you, I can only imagine how difficult that conversation was."

"Yeah well you know Ray, but deep down he knows that he needs to do the right thing."

Emily let Rebecca go and nodded at the last comment.

"So what happens next?"

"We've already got the descriptions and statements from Libby and the other three girls. We have an arrest warrant and I am meeting with the local field office tomorrow morning."

Emily nodded her head as she turned around and looked at Libby who was cuddled up close to JJ while Garcia was reading a story to her.

"How about Rebecca and I go and grab us all some food and we can eat in here tonight?"

Emily turned back and looked at Tara, a relaxed look crossed her face as she nodded.

"That would be lovely, thank you both, for everything."

Tara stood up and patted Emily on the shoulder as quietly she and Rebecca left the room.

Emily kept a hold of Libby's hand as they walked the short distance to their room. They all had managed to eat after Tara and Rebecca had brought Chinese food up to the room. But now Emily could see how tired Libby was and wanted to spend some time reassuring Libby that she was safe. As the door closed Emily made sure to lock it securely as Libby still had a hold of her hand. Leaning down Emily gently embraced her niece.

"You ok Libs?"

Libby gently nodded her head as her arms wrapped around Emily's waist.

"Come in then let's get changed for bed"

Emily smiled as she slowly led Libby over and picked out a pair of pyjamas for her niece and nodded towards the bathroom.

"It's ok Libby, go and get changed, I'm right here."

Libby slowly nodded her head and went through to the bathroom. Once Libby had gone Emily let out a heavy sigh, concerned at how the day's events had affected Libby, that she had reverted to the quiet, reserved, scared young girl that Emily had found on her doorstep.

Libby suddenly sat up, the quick motion had Emily open her eyes, even though she hadn't been asleep.

"Libby, look at me, open your eyes and look at me."

Emily's voice was quiet and she was trying to keep calm, her arms quickly moving to hold Libby as the young girl fell into the embrace.

"Shh, it's ok Libby, you're safe, you're here in my arms."

Emily whispered into Libby's ear as her niece rested her head against Emily's chest.

"Sorry, I'm so sorry Emily."

"Shh Libs, you have nothing to apologise for. You're safe, I'm not going to let you go. Come on, open your eyes for me."

Emily kept a hold of Libby, cradling her in her arms until Libby fell back to sleep in Emily's arms. Emily rested her head against the headboard and closed her eyes, the guilt she felt, not only for bringing Libby to New York, but believing she was also the reason why Libby's vivid nightmares had returned.

Nobody had slept well, JJ yawned as her cell vibrated, Garcia was in the shower so quickly she sat up and answered the call.

"Rossi?"

"Hey, how are you all doing?"

The heavy sigh was audible as JJ struggled to find the right words.

"So did you to meet Luke, Tyler and I for breakfast?"

Confusion quickly crossed JJ's face.

"Umm."

"The Director phoned me last night so we decided that you all might need some help and support. We traveled up early this morning, we booked out the three rooms opposite you guys."

JJ smiled as she stood up.

"Where exactly are you?"

A knock softly sounded on the door, JJ laughed quietly as she moved over and opened the door.

"Oh my gosh, I can't believe the three of you came up!"

JJ quickly hugged her colleagues and gestured for them to go into the room. As the door closed Garcia wandered out of the bathroom, a quick look of confusion on her face before she smiled warmly at the three men.

"Wow, it is so wonderful to see you three! Does anyone else know that you are here?"

Dave shook his head and watched as Garcia grabbed her cell and quickly moved her fingers.

"Well they do now!"

"So you were saying Dave, breakfast?"

JJ smiled as the five of them discussed breakfast options.

Emily carefully reached for her cell as she heard it vibrate on the bedside table. Libby was still sleeping and using her Aunt as a pillow, her hand clenching Emily's T-shirt tightly. Once she had her cell and glasses Emily used her free hand to read the message. A smile crossed her face as she digested Garcia's message, before typing one back herself.

That's great news, say hi to them for me please. Libby is still asleep so we will meet up with you later

Emily sent the message and knew that JJ and Garcia would understand, she wanted Libby to get some more sleep and that the large team presence, although great, might be slightly overwhelming after Libby's disturbed nights sleep.

Tara knocked softly on JJ's door and smiled as she saw the male members of the team.

"Hey guys, thanks for coming up, Rebecca will be here in a minute she is just making a call."

"I spoke to the Director last night, I know that Rebecca has everything sorted but I for one want to be there when we arrest that piece of garbage."

Dave snarled as he finished speaking and Tara nodded in agreement. Having had Libby cry herself to sleep in her arms through sheer panic and fear had lead to her own disturbed nights sleep, that only Rebecca's touch had helped soothe Tara.

"I think you and I are on the same page Dave. I was going to speak to Emily at breakfast, where is she?"

Tara frowned as she looked around the room as JJ spoke quietly.

"She said that she would catch up with us later, Libby is still asleep. I am guessing that it was a tough night for the two of them."

Everyone nodded and the quiet mood returned as they headed out of the room to find some breakfast and finalise how they were going to arrest McNab.