Chapter 9

Emily sat quietly beside the bed, her eyes watching Stacey carefully as the young girl slept, Emily heart ached at the sight, she didn't want to leave Stacey when she was obviously vulnerable and they didn't know exactly what had happened to her. Emily let out a heavy sigh as her cell vibrated, Emily stood up and moved to the corner of the room and checked that Stacey was still asleep.

"Hey Garcia."

"Hi Emily, hang on I've got JJ and Tara here."

Emily listened as Garcia put her on speaker as two familiar voices quickly said hello to her.

"How is Stacey Emily?"

"She is sleeping at the moment, she was so scared when I got here it was horrible."

Emily kept her voice low but the sadness was evident in her tone.

"Has she said anything to you yet Emily?"

"No nothing yet Tara, she is still too frightened to trust me."

"That's like the other children Emily, they are not going to give us anything until they trust us and that isn't going to be a quick process."

"I am getting there with Stacey, but being in the hospital isn't helping."

"What are you thinking Emily?"

JJ's voice was quiet, she had an idea of what her friend was thinking but didn't know for certain.

"I was going to speak to the doctor and see what they say about her recovery, whether there is a possibility of me taking Stacey to a safe house."

"Emily?"

"Yes Garcia?"

"I'll come up and sit with Stacey, then you can speak to the doctor. I don't think we should leave her alone at the moment."

"Thanks Garcia, I really appreciate it, I agree I don't want to risk anyone else getting close to Stacey and potentially harming her. JJ do you think you can get some surveillance arranged on Maggie Autwal, if we can get some evidence that she is involved without using the statements from traumatised children all the better."

"Of course Emily, take care of yourself and Stacey."

Emily smiled as she finished the call and sat back down beside Stacey, as much as she wanted to go and speak to the doctor Emily knew that she needed to wait for Garcia.

Garcia smiled as she quietly opened the door, she could see that Stacey was still sleeping so she crept over and embraced Emily as Emily whispered into Garcia's ear.

"She cried herself to sleep Penelope, she was so scared she clung so tightly to me."

Garcia smiled as she rubbed Emily's back.

"She is starting to trust you Emily, that's good."

Emily smiled as Garcia moved and put her hands on Emily's shoulders.

"Tara and Luke are looking at safe houses for Stacey, it will only be the team that will know where she is, nobody else."

"Thanks."

"Now go and speak to the doctor I'll stay here with Stacey."

Emily smiled as she gave Garcia a quick hug before she quietly left the hospital room.

Tara and Luke walked around the kitchen, both of them ensuring that the food they had brought with them was stored away and that there was enough for at least a week.

"Luke, I am just going to take Emily and Stacey's clothes upstairs ready for them."

"No worries I will check that the security cameras and codes are all working."

Quietly the two of them made sure that the small house was secure and as comfortable as a safe house could be.

Emily smiled softly as she walked into the Stacey's room, sitting beside Garcia as her friend rubbed her arm.

"All ok?"

"Yes they have agreed to release Stacey into our protection, I know about her medication and nutrition needs, we just need to talk to Stacey once she's awake."

"I know it's not ideal Emily but she will feel safer away from here. Are you going to be ok on your own with Stacey?"

"Yes, she is beginning to trust me and I need your technical expertise in the office."

"Ok but I have an idea that might help."

Emily raised an eyebrow as she looked at Garcia, who had her phone out and she was typing a message as she spoke.

"Stacey likes to draw Emily and she is very good, if she isn't comfortable in talking then maybe she might be able to draw for us, I will get Luke to put a tablet and pen in the house and we can then link it to my systems."

Emily nodded in agreement as the two of them waited patiently for Stacey to wake up.

Stacey whimpered quietly as Emily's coat was pulled up closer to her face as a gasp left her mouth. Quickly Garcia reached over and put her hand on Stacey's arm as Stacey's eyes opened, blinking as she slowly focused on Garcia and then Emily.

"Sorry, sorry."

"Hey sweetheart it's ok, take your time and wake up, you're safe with Emily and I."

Garcia smiled as she patted Stacey's arm, allowing the girl a few minutes to adjust. A few minutes later Stacey sat up slightly and was playing with the buttons on Emily's coat as Emily leaned in closer as she spoke.

"Hey Stacey, is it ok if we have a little chat with you?"

Stacey lifted her head and looked at Emily.

"You want me to back to the foster home, it's ok I understand."

"No, no that is definitely not happening Stacey."

Emily spoke softly as she edged closer to the bed and watched as Garcia reached and took a hold of Stacey's hands.

"You know that I had a call to go into work earlier?"

Emily watched as Stacey slowly nodded at her question.

"We have been asked to help with the investigation of two dead social workers in the D.C district, there are some links to some missing children and images of children on the dark web."

Emily stopped and took a breath, watching as Stacey stared down at Emily's coat that was still draped over her lap but her hands were clasping Garcia's tightly. Garcia started to stroke Stacey's hands as she softly spoke.

"Sweetie we know a little bit of what happened to you and how scared you were about going back to that home, please trust us and let us look after you."

"What do you need from me?"

Emily sighed quietly as she moved to perch on the edge of the bed, gently she moved her hand underneath Stacey's chin and lifted it up so their eyes met.

"You and I are going to go somewhere safe, where nobody other than my team will know where we are, you can recover from your injuries but I would like to ask you some questions as well if that's ok?"

Stacey closed her eyes as Emily turned to look at Garcia who nodded her head and leaned in closer.

"Stacey, sweetheart, Emily will look after you and make sure you are safe."

Stacey slowly opened her eyes and looked at both women, struggling to hold back the tears as she spoke.

"Have other children been hurt?"

"Yes Stacey."

Stacey turned to look at Emily, tears trickling down her cheeks at Emily's response.

"Ok, I'll help."

Stacey's voice was a whisper as Emily wrapped her arms around the young girl and whispered into her ear.

"Your parents would be so proud of you. I promise you I am going to keep you safe."