Do you want to play? - A Criminal Minds fanfic

Chapter 12

Strauss took them off the case, though no one was surprised by it. None of them would be able to think straight after losing their friend, or best friend to many. They still couldn't understand why this had happened. How this happened.

No matter how much they wanted to figure out who the Unsub was; to delve into the life of anyone who might have been targeted. Just looking at the crime-scene they were quick to decide that Emily needed extra police protection and surprisingly enough she hadn't argued about it. Even though both Derek and Emily were two highly trained FBI agent this Unsub had still managed to get into their house more than once.

Emily dropped her bag just inside the door, the kids and Morgan walking in behind her. The couple was surprised by their youngest daughter. Esther, they knew was good at not showing her feelings, just like Emily's always been. Grace however had been abnormally quiet and emotionless. She had always been very fond of Garcia, sometimes rather spending time with her than with her parents. Garcia was her cool aunt so the fact that she wouldn't shed a tear was strange. Emily couldn't help to wonder if the little girl had witnessed something and that's why she didn't talk or cry, the fear taking control of her body.

Emily made a note to ask her as soon as they were alone and Grace wouldn't feel pressured into talking.

She watched as Grace silently went to sit on the couch, staring blankly ahead to the shut off TV. Emily smiled at her daughter as she turned the TV on to PBS kids and sat down next to her daughter. Esther went straight up to her room, probably to paint, and Morgan watched Emily and Grace from the kitchen. He also knew something was wrong. Never had his daughter acted this way, not once.

"Gracie?" Emily tried to approach the youngest member of their family. "Sweetie?"

Grace didn't look at her mother. Instead she stared on the TV where Word Girl was just beginning. She wasn't sure if she was actually watching, but the way her eyes glazed over and the blank stare told Emily she wasn't.

"Please talk to me, sweetie," Emily tried again, but she got nothing.

Carefully, she pulled Grace into her lap and hugged her tightly. She placed a soft kiss on the top of her hair.

"It's okay, you don't have to talk. Just know that you're safe here, okay?" Emily whispered and she could have sworn she felt Grace shake her head.

No. Emily tightened her hold of her daughter. She didn't feel safe. Whatever she saw made her feel unsafe and scared in her own house

Emily exhaled a shaky breath and looked into the kitchen where Morgan was watching her with a questioning expression. Slowly, Emily put the girl back and gave her her favorite doll which she immediately clutched tightly to her body.

"What did she say?" Morgan asked as soon as Emily entered the kitchen.

Emily sat down on a chair and put her head in her hands. "She doesn't feel safe here." Emily looked up at her husband. "She saw Garcia getting killed and now she's too afraid to talk. I'm sure of it."

"Then we have to try to get her to talk. You already made progress with her now," Morgan said and put his arms around Emily. He placed a kiss on her lips and wiped away a single tear with his thumb.

"I think we should go somewhere. I know we shouldn't run, but I don't want her to get sick."

"Hey," he said and tilted her head towards him. "She won't get sick. She's strong, just like her mother. She just needs a little help."

"I hope to God you are right," Emily sighed and glanced into the living room where Grace was still holding her doll in a tight grip.

Morgan had to be right. Seeing Grace like this was heartbreaking.