What is going on over there: Season 1, 2 and 3

Connection

A/N: Warning: Description of child abuse.

When they got home, Emily and JJ turned to Riley.

"Hey, we're just going to talk in our room, we'll be right back, okay?"

Riley nodded. As she sat down on the couch to watch TV.

JJ and Emily went to their room and closed the door, before turning to each other.

"So, what did Garcia say?" JJ asked.

"Well, she did a search, but found no living relatives, she will have to go into foster care, Jen." Emily said sadly.

"Not if we can help it." JJ said quietly.

Emily raised her eyebrows at her in surprise.

"Uhm, you're not suggesting what I think you're suggesting, are you?" Emily asked.

"Oh come on, Em. We can do it. I feel like we have a connection to this girl. I can't watch her go into foster care, can you?" JJ asked.

"Okay we can go to child services tomorrow and see what they say, okay?" Emily asked.

JJ smiled a little and nodded.

Emily smiled seeing that her girlfriend was satisfied with her answer.

"Well, I guess it's time to find out what happened to her." Emily sighed.

JJ nodded sadly.

"Let's go."

JJ sat on the coffee table in front of Riley, while Emily sat on the other end of the couch.

Riley moved her gaze from the TV to her lap, biting and sucking on her bottom lip.

"Riley, we need to talk." JJ said, turning off the TV.

Riley just nodded.

"I know you don't want to talk about it, but I promise it'll make you feel better. You're keeping everything in, and that's not healthy." JJ explained.

Riley just nodded, again.

Riley nodded and cleared her throat.

"Uhm, the day I met you. You asked about how I got that bruise.I forgot to make dinner. I didn't mean to, but I just-I just-"

"Hey, it's okay. I understand, I forget things all the time and Em does too."

Riley looked at Emily and Emily nodded.

"I forgot and he hit me for it."

"I did forget, so I guess I deserved it, but there were times when I didn't deserve it." Riley said sadly.

"Riley, Riley look at me." JJ ordered gently and didn't continue until the girl was looking at her.

"Listen to me, you did not deserve this. Nobody deserves to be hurt, no matter what. I forget things all the time, doesn't mean I deserve to be hurt, and you didn't either, do you understand?"

Riley nodded, but looked a bit unsure.

"What about the other times?" JJ asked carefully.

"I-uh-sometime's he'd hit me if I bumped into him or if I didn't do something right, he always had an excuse." Riley said sadly as a tear slipped down her cheek.

JJ sighed and grabbed the girl's hand and rubbed gentle circles on them with her thumbs.

It was now or never and they needed to know the answer to this one question.

"Riley, this is a hard question, but I need you to answer honestly, okay?" JJ asked very gently, her voice just above a whisper.

Riley nodded, but looked very nervous.

"Did your dad or anyone else ever touch you inappropriately?"