Chapter 7

Emily wandered confidently towards Stacey's hospital room the next morning, the small light rucksack slung over her shoulder, without opening it Emily knew that there was hardly anything inside.

"Hi Stacey."

Emily smiled as she stood in the doorway, watching as Stacey closed the sketchbook and put down her pencil as managed a small smile towards Emily.

"Morning Emily."

"How are you feeling this morning then Stacey?"

Emily closed the door as she walked over and sat down on the chair next to Stacey's bed before she gently placed the small rucksack on the bed.

"Not too bad, thank you for bringing my bag."

Emily smiled as Stacey started to try and open her bag but with her left arm in plaster and restricting her hand movement she was struggling. Emily reached and put her hand on top of Stacey's and spoke quietly.

"Let me help you sweetheart."

Stacey nodded her head as she moved her hands away from the bag and let Emily open it up.

"Would you like to be on your own?"

Emily reached and put her hand on Stacey's shoulder but the young girl shook her head.

"It's ok, I only really wanted this."

Stacey brought out a notebook and started to flick through it and Emily could see the tears trickling down her cheeks. Without thinking Emily moved her closer to the bed and reached up to softly wipe the tears away.

"Sweetheart, you can say no if you want but how about I take your clothes home and wash them for you."

Stacey brought her gaze up and looked Emily in the eye.

"You, you would do that for me?"

"Of course Stacey, you helped me and my team, I would like to help you too."

Stacey dropped her gaze once again, but Emily smiled, the eye contact was the longest that Stacey had managed. Carefully Stacey opened up the sketchbook and pulled out a page before she passed it over to Emily, their eyes meeting momentarily as Stacey quietly spoke.

"I did this for you."

Emily looked at the drawing, an instant smile on her face as she saw the detailed picture of a flower in front of her, she recognised it as an image from her blouse when she had pulled Stacey away from the bomb and Emily quickly realised that there was a definite trust slowly building between them.

"Oh wow Stacey this is wonderful, thank you so much."

"You have done so much for me Emily, you and Penelope have been amazing."

Stacey's voice was quiet as she quickly glanced at Emily but then pulled her glance away.

"Stacey, sweetheart, you don't realise what you did, you saved the lives of four people when you made that phone call. Not many people would have done what you did."

Stacey shrugged her shoulders and looked down at the bed where she still had a hold of Emily's jacket, her fingers played with the buttons as Emily heard a heavy sigh leave the girl's mouth.

"My mom and dad always helped others less fortunate, even if they didn't have much themselves. They took me when they helped at food banks and shelters, I guess not doing the right thing was never a thought that crossed my mind."

"They sound like wonderful parents."

"They were."

Stacey smiled and opened her notebook, picking up a photo of her with her parents as she showed it to Emily. Emily smiled back as she put her hands on top of Stacey's.

"They would be immensely proud of you, how brave you have been, how despite everything you were true to how they brought you up."

"Thanks for being here Emily, it helps and I know that you don't have to be here."

Emily smiled as Stacey brought her gaze up and their eyes met.

"Hey it's ok Stacey, you helped me and my team and I promised you that you wouldn't see that social worker again unless I was with you and I keep my promises."

Stacey nodded as she bowed her head once again and her fingers wrapped around Emily's.

"I still have nightmares."

"From the house?"

Stacey just nodded her head as Emily caressed the girl's hand with her thumbs.

"Do you want to tell me about it?"

Emily spoke softly as she watched Stacey carefully as the girl blinked and a few tears trickled down her cheeks.

"I can't, not yet."

"That's fine sweetheart, just know that I am here whenever you are ready, ok?"

Stacey nodded her but then Emily's cell buzzed and she quickly pulled it from her pocket and read the message.

"Sorry I've got to go into work Stacey, but I'll come and see you later ok?"

Stacey looked and smiled as Emily stood up before she bent down and kissed Stacey softly on the top of her head before she whispered into the girl's ear.

"Stay strong and rest sweetie, I'll see you later."

Emily walked into the bullpen, she had left Stacey's rucksack in the trunk of her car but she had the drawing in her hand as she walked into the round table room and saw everyone waiting for her. Placing the drawing in front of her on the table as she down next to JJ who quickly raised an eyebrow and smiled impressively at Emily:

"That's beautiful Emily."

"Thanks, and a big thank you to all of you for holding down the fort for Garcia and I the last few days."

"How is Stacey doing Emily?"

Emily turned and looked at JJ as she answered.

"Better, but she is still not fully trusting us, but I suppose that isn't a surprise. Anyway what delights do we have today?"

Garcia cleared her throat and clicked a key on her laptop.

"Well I am wondering if this will have any links with Stacey and the foster home she was at. Anyway two social workers have been recently found dead and the task force for online child abuse has asked for our help. They believe that the dead social workers were involved in arranging the abuse of some children and they could also do with extra support to interview some of the children and provide some profiles."

Emily felt JJ stiffen next to her as Garcia brought up photos of boys and girls who had been abused, without thinking Emily reached under the table and took a hold of JJ's hand and squeezed it reassuringly before she spoke.

"Ok so JJ and Dave can you go and look at the scenes where the social workers were found and see what you can find out. Luke and Tyler can you go to the ME and see if there are any similarities in the cases, Garcia can you hook up with the task force and see if you can identify any of the victims. Tara can you interview the children that the task force have identified."

Everyone nodded but Emily gestured for Garcia to stay behind, the two of them waited until they were alone before Emily spoke.

"Can you check and see if there are any images of Stacey online please?"

"Of course, how was she this morning?"

"Good actually, she told me that she had nightmares about what happened to her in the home but she wouldn't elaborate."

"She will Emily, she's a good kid who just needs to know that we aren't going to hurt her."

Emily smiled as Garcia hugged her before Emily picked up the drawing and headed into her office.

Emily sat down at her desk and started to read through the information that Garcia had already collated, at first glance it looked like the D.C social services were involved in the exploitation of children that they were meant to be safeguarding. The very thought sent a shiver down Emily's spine but then a message popped up on her screen from Garcia and the anxiety rose in Emily's stomach as she headed out of her office to find out what Garcia had found.