𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞, 𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘀

𝟎𝟎𝟐

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭
ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ
𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘺
𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗲'𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐞 and Derek watch as Noah thrashes around in bed. Penelope holds the teen's arms to keep her steady while Derek tries to wake her up. Noah is breathing heavily and mumbling under her breath.

"Noah, please," Penelope pleads.

"C'mon, kid," Derek adds as he shakes her shoulder slightly.

Suddenly, Noah sits up with a sharp inhale. Penelope puts a hand on her back and Derek sits beside her. The teen tries to steady her breathing as she comes back to reality from her nightmare.

"Noah," Penelope says softly, but the teen stands up before she can say anything more. "Noah, please—"

"Let her go," Derek tells her as Noah closes the bathroom door behind her. "She won't talk about it. She just needs time."

𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨
𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘂

"Ambassador," Section Chief Erin Strauss greets the woman as she holds her hand out. "I'm very sorry for your loss, ma'am."

The grieving mother shows an expression of defeat. A thousand things are going through her mind, most of them being all the things she did wrong. It's been hard trying to come to terms with her daughter's death. It's been even harder trying to find the right words for her granddaughter.

"Thank you," Elizabeth replies as she shakes her hand before sitting down in front of Erin's desk. "I have to say, I don't know much about what happened, so what exactly am I here to talk about?"

"As you know, Agent Prentiss' daughter needs a legal guardian," Erin begins. "It's our responsibility to ensure she goes into a safe home. You are her only blood relative that she knows."

"I'm not necessarily at the age to become a parent again," Elizabeth says softly. "I don't think I would be the best choice for her."

"You're her only choice."

"For a blood relative, yes," Elizabeth corrects her. "But, there is a support system in her life that not even blood could put me above. It would be in Noah's best interest to stay within that support."

"If you're referring to her mother's team, those are professional relationships—"

"If you don't mind me saying, Chief Strauss, we're the only ones in the room. We don't have to speak by the law. We both know what happens when a team of agents risks their lives in the field alongside each other. You are asking me my opinion and my choice and I told you that I believe it is in Noah's best interest to stay within the support system of her mother's friends."

"And if none of them agree to take her?" Erin asks.

"Although I think that'd be an impossible outcome, I will then be more than happy to take her into my care."

"This is your final statement?" Erin questions.

"Yes," Elizabeth nods and smiles at the woman. "Anything else?"

A few moments later, Erin is stepping off the elevator and onto the sixth floor. She steps into Aaron's office, walking past the somber agents at their desks in the bullpen. She knocks on the door before entering, watching as he stands to greet her.

Erin hesitates before speaking, knowing that her next words will force her to admit that she was wrong. "Ambassador Prentiss won't take Noah into her custody."