Thank you, Kelley

Chapter 3

Kelley's POV:

We couldn't find Meghan anywhere on the hotel grounds and since she had just joined the team and no one had met her yet none of us had her number or her snapchat. Jill was notified of the situation and Sonnet got yelled at pretty harshly. I kinda felt bad because it wasn't Emily's intention. She was just trying to be funny.

Anyways at this point basically the whole team is out in a few rental cars searching the city for her. If what Sonnet said was true she isn't in a good mindset so the whole team is really worried. Because I have an apartment here in DC I am driving my own car around the city and I chose to go by myself. Sonnett wanted to come with me but Jill wouldn't let her. They also needed a few people to stay back in case she went back to the hotel.

As I drive around the hours begin to tick by. It had been about 1:00 pm when she took off and it was now getting close to 7:00. Every second that passed with no word of where she was or if she was safe I grew more and more worried. I don't know why I felt so protective of her. For god's sake I haven't even met her yet.

I desperately try to think about where I would go if I was scared and confused. I think back to the first time I was in DC by myself. I had gone on a run and somehow ended up on a path that parallels the Potomac River. After discovering it that one time it became one of my favorite places in the city. It was secluded enough to be peaceful but not so much so that you felt like you might get lost and never found again. I decided to give it a try and make my way to the river walk.

I arrive and start walking the path. The sun is starting to go down causing a golden reflection off of the river. My fear is starting to grow. What if we don't find her before dark. We are going to have to call the police soon and report her missing. She obviously isn't in a good mental state. It can't be safe for her to be out here alone like that.

As I come around a bend in the path I see a small figure curled in a ball leaning against a large tree. I slowly approach the figure hoping not to startle them. As I get closer I can see it's a teenage girl. Her dirty blonde hair is thrown up into a messy ponytail but many pieces of hair have escaped the hair tie. A few more steps forward and I can tell for sure it's her. I am both surprised and greatly relieved that I have found her. Before I get any closer I send a quick text to the team group chat.

I found her. I am going to talk to her and then bring her back to the hotel. Someone tell Jill please.

I slide my phone back into my pocket and step even closer to the young girl. She doesn't even acknowledge my presence. I can see tears streaming down her face and she shivers and rocks forward and back with each quick breath. I don't want to scare her.

"Meghan?"

No response. Wow, she is in a really bad way. I look and notice that she is running her hands up and down her thighs in a repetitive but forceful motion. I look closer and realize she is scratching her legs. No blood has been drawn yet but they are very red and raw. I had a friend in high school who used to have panic attacks. They never looked quite as bad as this but the best thing to calm her down was to hold her in a tight hug.

I kneel down in front of her.

"Meghan?" Still nothing

I figure I might as well try the hugging trick because I can't even get her attention.

"Hey Meghan shh..." I get close to her.

It's ok. You're safe. I'm gonna hug you ok... shh, it's ok," I sit on the ground next to her and pull her into a tight hug.

She thrashes and kicks trying to get out of my grasp. I can tell that she is absolutely terrified. I grab her hands trying desperately to get her to stop raking her nails through the skin on her thighs.

"Hey shh... it's ok. You are safe. I got you. No one is going to hurt you. Shhh... listen to my heartbeat. Slow your breathing down. It's ok. You're ok."

I quietly whisper into her ear. She is really strong and is still struggling under my arms but she has stopped a little. I continue talking to her as it seems to be helping.

"Shh, it's ok. Breathe nice and slow. In ... and out. That's it. You're ok. You're safe."

After several minutes she calms enough to just let me hold her but tears are still streaming down her face.

"Meghan?" She slowly turns and makes eye contact although only for a moment before averting her eyes to the ground.

"Hey, it's ok. Can you look at me... There you go. You're ok. Do you know who I am?"

Again she looks back at me and gives a small nod.

"Ok that's good. Do you remember where you are?"

I see panic start to rise in her eyes as they dart around the scenery in front of us.

"Hey it's ok. You have gone through a lot. We are by the river. Do you remember that you are in DC at least." she responds again with a small nod.

"Ok good. That's a start. Are you hurt?" She shakes her head.

"Good. I was really worried about you. The whole team was. Do you remember what happened?" At first, I can see her trying to rack her brain trying to remember the events from earlier in the day. Then suddenly I can see that she remembers and tears start to form again.

"Hey hey. No, it's ok. Don't cry."

Seeing her this upset breaks my heart. I have only known her for about half an hour at this point and yet I feel so protective over her. I don't want anything bad to happen to her. I wonder if this is what it feels like to care for your own child.

A few tears continue to fall from her eyes but her small frame has stopped shaking so at least that's a start.

"It's ok kiddo. You're safe. Emily didn't mean for you to be scared. She is so stupid sometimes. She was trying to play some stupid joke on you. She feels so bad."

Suddenly Meghan's demeanor changes. She seems upset but not in a scared or sad way. She seemed almost angry. There is a certain fire in her eyes that I hadn't noticed before. I can tell there's something she wants to say but can't seem to get it out of her mouth.

"Hey, it's ok. We don't have to talk now... I do think we should try to get you up and get you back to the hotel though. Jill was really worried about you. We all were. Do you think we can do that? Get back. My car is just a little ways back in the parking lot." Some of the tension in her shoulder drops when I say that we don't have to talk yet. She gives a small nod indicating we can go back to my car.

We start to get up but I keep my arm around her hoping to ease her anxious state.