Chapter 13

Luke sat in the vehicle and looked at Tyler, the two of them were sat outside the foster home where Stacey had been abused. The layout fitted with what she had told them and apart from the two adults and a couple of children they had seen nothing of note in the last four hours.

"Do you think that we should call it?"

Tyler frowned as he watched the woman look out of the window towards them.

"Yeah, they know that Stacey is alive and are being extra cautious. I just wish we could move the kids."

"I think Rebecca is working on that, she's just trying to not alert anyone on our suspect list."

Tyler nodded at Luke's response, it was getting dark and they both knew that there wasn't much point in staying for much longer.

Tara read the message that Luke had just sent and looked at JJ, who had a tired look of resignation on her face.

"Luke and Tyler are heading back, but there is backup that is going to stay watching the house overnight."

"They know we are watching them."

"Yeah but we don't want to give them the opportunity to take advantage of us. Look JJ go home and see the boys, I'll catch up with the others and we'll meet up in the morning."

Tara smiled as she reached and put her arm around JJ who gently rested her head on Tara's shoulder.

"Ok, I am not going to turn that offer down. Michael's got a soccer game so it would be great to get to see him."

JJ smiled as she gave Tara a hug and stood up, grabbing her bag as she looked at her friend.

"Promise me that you'll ring me if you me at all."

"Always JJ , now scoot and go and give that gorgeous boy a hug from me."

Emily had managed to persuade Stacey to head upstairs so that they could both lie down and have a rest, but this time they had agreed to lay down together and Stacey had instinctively moved in close so that she was snuggled against Emily. Emily had fallen asleep once she had noticed that Stacey had also drifted off. Emily's eyes opened as she heard the slight whimper from Stacey, softly she reached and stroked the young girl's hair away from her eyes.

"Wake up Stacey, you're safe."

Emily could feel the tension in Stacey's body but she carried on gently comforting the girl as she opened her eyes and looked at Emily.

"There you go sweetie, it's ok."

Emily smiled as Stacey's fingers clung onto Emily as she tried to steady her breathing.

"That's it, good girl, I've got you."

JJ got into her car and quickly pulled away, pleased that she was going to be able to catch a bit of Michael's soccer game, it wasn't a long drive and in her haste JJ had thrown her bags into the trunk so she didn't hear her cell ringing as she concentrated on the road ahead of her.

Emily smiled as she sat down at the kitchen table, placing her arm around Stacey as she watched the young girl yawn before she swallowed her medication with a glass of water.

"Ok so how about I make us some hot dogs and fries for dinner tonight?"

Stacey lifted her head and smiled and nodded her head.

"That's sounds nice Emily, can I help at all?"

"It's ok Stacey, let me I don't mind, I live on my own so normally I am pretty bad at feeding myself so it is good for me too!"

Emily grinned and softly rubbed Stacey's shoulder as she stood up and started humming to herself as she moved around the kitchen.

Rebecca's footsteps were quick, her heels clicking loudly on the hard floor as she moved with purpose towards the bullpen, seeing her girlfriend would have normally brought a warm smile to her face, but there was too much worry in her mind for that to happen.

"Hi, I wasn't expecting to see you until later."

Tara smiled affectionately as Rebecca walked towards her but then she saw the look on Rebecca's face.

"Rebecca, what's wrong?"

"Where's JJ?"

Tara frowned as she looked at Rebecca.

"She's gone home, I think she was hoping to watch Michael's soccer game. Why, what's happened?"

Rebecca nodded her head towards Dave's office and the two of them quickly made their way up the stairs.

JJ smiled as she locked the car and walked over to the side of the field, not bothering to take anything other than herself and her car keys, wanting to wave at Michael as soon as she could. He quickly saw her and smiled and waved at her, before he carried on concentrating on the game and doing his best.

"Mrs Jareau."

"Oh hello Mrs Wilkie, how are you?"

"Good thank you, did you get my message earlier?"

JJ frowned as she looked at Michael's teacher.

"No sorry I have been busy and I came straight here, my cell is still in the car. Is everything ok?"

There was a slight look of confusion on JJ's face as she watched the other woman take a deep breath.

"There was a social worker in today, insisting that she needed to talk to Michael, we had no power to stop her but I did sit with him."

JJ's hand flew up to her mouth and she felt her heart rate increasing.

"Why, what? Who was she?"

The words tumbled out of JJ's mouth as Mrs Wilkie reached and put a comforting hand on JJ's arm.

"It's ok, there was nothing for Michael to say that would warrant why they needed to speak to him."

JJ reached up and ran her fingers through her hair.

"I think I might know why."

Mrs Wilkie nodded her head, knowing the occupation of Michael's mother.

"It was a Hayley Nichols. We have her details and photo at our reception."

"Thank you, thank you, I really appreciate that. How much longer in the game, I would like to take Michael home."

JJ reached up and wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Ten minutes."

"Ok, thank you."

JJ managed a smile as Mrs Wilkie rubbed her arm before she walked away, leaving JJ wondering what on earth was happening to her family.

Dave lifted his head up as Tara and Rebecca walked into his office and Rebecca closed the door behind her before she stayed standing, nervously intertwining her fingers.

"Is everything ok?"

Dave looked at Tara who shrugged her shoulders and looked at Rebecca.

"A social worker turned up at Michael's school today, apparently stating that there had been allegations about domestic abuse in the home."

"Shit!"

Dave slammed his hands on the table.

"It was a Hayley Nichols, she works in the same office as Maggie Autwal."

Rebecca looked despondent as Dave looked at the two women.

"Go to JJ's make sure she and the boys are ok, I'll get Garcia on the Nicols woman."

Tara nodded her head as she took a hold of Rebecca's hand, both of them wanted to get to JJ's house as soon as possible.