Thank you to everyone who is still sticking with this story.
"Mama, know Amma is?" Mae said as they walked back to Anna's apartment hand in hand.
Since she started working with the ATF, she had to move away from Maeve to Glendale. She tried to see the little girl as much as she could and still be part of her life, but it felt like she missed so much with her little girl. She and Callen worked out a schedule and tried to make sure the little girl knew she had a mommy and daddy who loved her and that they'd be there for her no matter what. It also helped that Maeve was the clue that kept her going especially now with the whole investigation into her shooting Sokolov.
"I know she's back in Washington." Anna said with a smile.
"Where that?" Mae asked with her head tilted.
"It's on the other side of the US. I'll show you on the map when we get home."
"Mama, where Zach?"
"He had a little accident so he's in the hospital where they can help him get better." Anna said with a sad smile.
"Has boo boo like Mae?" Maeve said holding up her finger with the band-aid on.
"His boo is a bit bigger than yours but yeah, he has a boo." Anna said with a smile as she kissed the little girl's finger.
Mae wrapped her arms around Anna's neck and whispered, "Love you, mama."
"I love you too little ducky. Always know I will be in your heart even if you don't see me."
Washington DC
"Can you try bending your leg again?" The physio asked Emma.
Emma-Grace looked at her leg and tried, but it wasn't moving as fast as she wanted. She was so over hospitals and being babysat 24/7. Andrew's morning and evening visits were the only thing keeping her sane.
The physio could see she was getting frustrated and that she was going to hurt herself. "Don't push it, Emma-Grace. It's going to take time for the muscles to heal probably."
"When will I be able to get discharged?" Emma asked, ignoring her.
"Doctor Cummings will check on you later to see how you're doing, but you'll need a couple more sessions with me before you're ready to be alone."
"How long? I need a timeline…" Emma said again.
"Emma-Grace, you have third-degree burns on your hand, you had a grade two concussion, lost a lot of blood and the muscles in your leg were cut up pretty badly. Your body needs to heal before you can leave the hospital, and you know it. I know this is hard for you but you need to trust the doctors to help you improve."
"I trust them but I'm so over hospital food." Emma said with a small smile.
"I get it, but I want to ensure you're 100% before sending you away." She smiled at the girl. "Okay, you head back to your room, slowly. And I don't have to worry about you running away since you have your guard dogs with you." She finished as she handed her the walker.
"I can't wait to get rid of them." Emma said as she got up from the chair.
Strolling towards the elevator, Emma had to laugh to herself. Usually, she would take the stairs but she wouldn't push it. She knew why the doctors and nurses were making sure she stayed in the hospital as long as they could keep her, and she was grateful for that. Before she got to the button, she saw one of her guard dogs pass her to get there first. If you didn't know what you were looking at, you would think she's a big celebrity or a significant person, but she knew the truth… they're making sure she doesn't run away or talk to someone about what happened in Afghanistan. Once they reached her room, Agent Kib took the walker and placed it next to the chair before returning to his position by the door. Agent Kerry was already outside her room making sure nobody but staff could come in. Sitting on the bed, Emma opened the book she'd been reading, and started on the next chapter. This was the only thing that kept her mind off Zach and the shit that's been happing and was waiting for her when she got out. She couldn't remember how long she had been reading, but the doctor's arrival in her room brought her out of her dream world.
"How are we today Emma-Grace?" The new face asked her and he wasn't alone.
"I'm good. Where's Doctor Cummings?" Emma asked with a fake smile.
"He's been called away with a family matter," he said while looking at her chart. "It looks like your hand is doing better. We'll have to do another graft in a month or two, but it's looking good. And your leg is healing up well, and I see the notes say you're holding balance and movement." He finished before looking up at her. "I feel like you're ready to head home."
"But the physiotherapist said she would like to keep me a bit longer since she's not comfortable leaving me alone yet." Emma-Grace started to say.
"That's what she said but you can do an outpatient program with her. Nothing is keeping you here and if we do the graft, you'll stay for two nights and then be discharged."
"But… but… what if I don't feel comfortable leaving yet? I'm a fall risk and that's in the notes too." Emma said as she raised her voice a bit more, looking at the man in the corner, her arms folded.
"I've read the notes, and you've been here a month already. You're well enough to go home and do an outpatient program," he said again, and she could see there was no way to change his mind. "I will get your paperwork ready for discharge tomorrow morning. How about that?"
"You're the doctor so who am I to argue." Emma said like a spoiled child. The doctor just smiled at her before he left the room looking back at the man in the dark suit.
"You know, I've heard a lot about you Emma-Grace but the doctor is right. You're healing and there's no need for you to stay here. Now if only I could find out how you got them to keep you here so long…" Agent Nickels started to stay.
"I don't know what you're talking about. They kept me here so I could heal up and make sure I was 100% before they sent me off to prison." Emma said with a smirk.
"The hotel is far from a prison."
"Call it what you want. It's still a place where I will be held against my free will."
Agent Nickels saw someone walking towards the room and turned towards her again. "Enjoy your evening, Agent Callen. I'll be here at 10 a.m. to take you to your hotel, and then you can start getting ready for the hearing," he said before leaving the room.
"Who was that, Em?" Andrew asked as he placed the takeaway containers in front of her.
"The prison warden." Emma said as she placed her book on the side table.
"They're discharging you?" He asked as he unpacked the sushi and their drinks.
"Tomorrow 10 am… we knew this day was coming."
"Okay, give me time to make sure I have all your favourite snacks ready before you head to prison." He giggled.
"Would you mind packing me a rope too so I could hang myself?" Emma said before she took the miso soup from him.
"Emma-Grace!"
"What? Just getting a head start because that's what they will do to me when my hearing starts."
"You don't know that. They're going to see you did want you were sent there to do." He said as he lifted her chin, "Look, I know you can't tell me what happened, but you need to stand strong. You've overcome so much already. You need to overcome this last hurdle."
"Have you heard from Callen?" She said but could see Agent Kib lifting an eyebrow.
"Maeve's starting school this week. Looks like she's like her big sister in the brain department." He smiled, "How did Callen end up with two genius daughters?"
"I'm still trying to figure that out myself." Emma said with a small smile.
The rest of the evening went by with them just lying in her bed watching a movie. Around nine the nurse came in to give Emma her nighttime meds and that was Andrew's cue that it was time for him to get out of there.
"I'll be here at 9 am to see you off, okay?" He said as he pulled on his jacket.
"Sounds good. Say hi to Brian for me and tell him I'll see him soon."
"Will do and don't worry, we're all here for you." He said before he kissed her on the head, "Love you Em."
"Love you too, Andy." Emma said before she took her meds.
After he left, Emma got herself ready for bed. She could only be alone in the small bathroom in her room. She looked her body over in the mirror, and she could now officially say she had more scars than was okay for a woman to have. She brushed her teeth and washed her face before heading towards the bed. Switching off the lights, she turned towards the window and let the tears she'd held all day fall.
"Did you get the package?" Callen asked over the phone while packing Maeve for the next day.
"I picked it up yesterday. I added it to the bag, but they might look through it before she's allowed to get it," Andrew said.
"I wish all this was over and she would come home." Callen said as he added Mae's lunch bag to the fridge.
"We know, but she needs to get the hearing over first, and then you and Maeve can have her back," Brian said.
"How's she holding up?" Callen asked and the boys knew he wasn't asking about her health but her mental state.
"She's struggling but she's strong and will get over it with the help of her family and friends." Andrew said again. "I'll let you go. You sound tired."
"It's been a long day and worrying about her, isn't helping me sleep at night." Callen said as he turned off all the lights and made his way towards his bedroom. He wished he could be there with Emma but knew the boys would take good care of her and that once she got home, she would need him to be her rock while she worked through everything.
"I'll text you once I get back home. Stay strong and talk to you soon, Callen." Andrew said before he hung up.
Walking into the bathroom, Callen got himself ready for bed and prayed he could sleep tonight.
"I got you a few things to keep you busy while you wait for them to call you to testify." Andrew said as he handed her the bag. Like he thought, they made sure to check the bags before he was able to bring them into the room.
"Thank you so much." Emma said as she added her toiletry bag to her hospital bag.
"My mom got you some yarn and printed you some patterns you can work on, and she got you some new needles, too," he said with a smile.
"Your mom is a God-sent," Emma said as she looked at him like a lost puppy. I think that's that."
"Look at me," Andrew said, lifting her head. "You are so strong and loved, and you WILL survive this."
"I wish I could believe you but I don't know if I'm strong enough to get over this." Emma said that before he felt a tear on his hand.
"I believe in you. Brian believes in you. Hailey and Billy believe in you. Callen and Maeve believe in you, and most of all, the team believes in you," he said as he hugged her.
A clearing of a throat pulled them apart. " Are you ready to go, Agent Callen?" Agent Nickels asked.
"As ready as a person could be before they head to prison." Emma said as she wiped her face.
Andrew just giggled behind her. "Okay, let me know when you are freed from prison, and then we can fatten you up again with mama's home cooking. I love you, so do what they ask and get this over with."
"I love you too. Tell your mom I'm looking forward to her yummy cornbread," Emma said before she took the walker Agent Kib handed her and followed the men out of the room.
"I feel so bad for her." The nurse said as she saw the girl get into the elevator.
"Me too but she's a strong woman. She's been through a lot and yet she's still here." Andrew said before he left the room.
"Okay, let's see. We have your backpack, lunch bag and all the stuff you need to bring for the class. Are we missing anything?" Callen asked the little girl sitting on the floor looking at her Emma doll. "Mae, what's wrong?" he asked as he bent down.
"Miss Amma." Maeve said with tears in her eyes.
"I miss her too, and I know you wanted her here when you started school, but she will be back before you know it," Callen said as he wiped a tear from her face before bringing her up for a hug. He rocked the little a bit before the doorbell rang. "Who could that be, I wonder?" Getting up with the little girl still in his arms, he went to open the door.
"What took you so long to open the door?" Sam said before he stepped inside the house followed by Kensi and Deeks.
"Someone needed a daddy hug." Callen said as the little girl reached for Kensi.
"Ah, we all need daddy hugs once in a while." Sam said with a smile to the little girl.
"You ready for the big day, Mae?" Deeks asked the little girl with her head on Kensi's shoulder.
"Miss Amma." She said again.
"I know you do, baby. We miss her too, and she's going to be home soon," Kensi said in a mothering tone.
"Okay ducky, we have to go. We don't want to be late on your first day." Callen said as he grabbed her stuff.
"You want me to help you with your shoes?" Deeks said with a smile.
"Please." Mae said as Kensi put her down so she could get her shoes by the door.
"She's going to be okay, G." Sam said as he slapped him on the back, "They both will."
"I know, but it still hurts that I can't be with Emma now that she needs me more than ever."
"Maeve needs you too. For now, focus on her, and then we'll focus on Emma when she gets back," Sam said as the little girl giggled.
"So, Nana sent me something, and I thought that we could start a little tradition with Maeve," Kensi said before she handed Callen the wooden board that said, 'My first day of…'
"This is perfect." Callen said with a lump in his throat.
"Let's just add the 'preschool' on there, and then we'll be ready to take some pictures to send everyone," Kensi said with a smile.
"Okay, ducky. Are you ready for pictures?" Callen asked as he helped her put her backpack on her back. He laughed at how the bag was almost bigger than the girl.
"Stand by the door Mae." Kensi said as she snapped away on her phone. "Now with daddy. And then we'll do one with all of us."
After all the pictures were taken, Callen grabbed the bags while Sam carried the little girl to the car.
"You're going to make so many new friends and you're going to learn so many new things." Sam said with a smile.
"Okay, bubs. We'll see you after school and have so much fun." Deeks said as he waved.
"Love you Mae Mae." Kensi said before she blew her a kiss.
"Love you too." Mae said as she blew her kiss back.
"Okay, I'll be in as soon as she's settled." Callen said as he got into the car.
"5 bucks says he's going to come in with teary eyes." Deeks said and Sam just shook his head.
"Have you heard from your mom today?" Sam asked Kensi as they walked into OPS.
"Zach's awake and talking a little but he's still confused about everything." Kensi said as she placed her bag next to her desk.
"Awake and talking is a good start, Kensi."
"They're going to see if they can start the skin grafts on his chest and see if they use fish skin to help with the burns on his arms."
"Hey, that's cheating." Deeks smiled, "He's already better than me at surfing and if they do the fish skin thing, he'll be part fish."
"Really Deeks?" Sam asked with a sarcastic smile.
"Facts." Deeks said as he took a sip of his coffee.
"Anyway, the swelling in his brain is down, and the bones in his legs are healing. It's going to be a hard and long recovery, but they're optimistic," Kensi said with a sad smile.
"Optimism is the best thing you can have at a time like this." Hetty said from behind them. "Mr. Callen not joining us today?" she asked as she pointed at his empty desk.
"He's dropping Maeve off at school." Sam said.
"Is it that time already." Hetty said before she walked towards her office. "Eric has a case for you upstairs.
"Mae, could you go and wash your hands please." Anna said from the kitchen.
"Okay!" Mae yelled as she ran towards the bathroom.
Anna finished pulling out the salmon when she heard the fridge open. "Mae, remember what we talked about?"
"No milk till dinner done." Mae answered looking down at the floor.
"That's a good girl." Anna said as she placed the food on the counter and bent down to the little girl, "Mama wants you to eat some food before you fill your tummy with milk." She finished as she tickled the little girl, who was giggling on the floor. Picking her up, she placed her on her chair and brought her plate over. Sitting next to her, Mae started to tell her about her day at school and what she learned. Anna had to smile as the girl talked, and it broke her heart knowing she might not hear more about her day if they locked her up for killing Sokolov, but she wasn't going to think about it now. She was going to make every day with her little girl count and she was going to make sure Maeve knew that she loved her more than anything in this world.