A Second Chance

Chuck Murry

Six months later...

A lot has happened in the past six months. JJ and Will officially adopted Sophia. She's been happily living with them for almost two years. Sophia started high school in September and is in all the advanced classes. She is one of the captains on math team and the Vice President of chess club. On top of her school work and extra curriculars she plays soccer, travel and for her school. Overall, she leads a very fulfilling life for a thirteen year old. She may be the youngest in the school but she just might be the smartest.

No one has spoken to Emily since she left for New York with Mark in May. JJ would call and text her occasionally but they never met up and Sophia has not communicated with her at all.

Christmas was coming up and Rossi was getting ready to throw his annual holiday gathering.

It was Christmas Eve and everyone was getting ready to head to Rossi's mansion. Sophia was in her room putting on some light makeup while JJ was getting the boys ready with help from Will. Sophia finished doing what she was doing and met up with JJ and the boys downstairs.
"Ready," the girl said with a smile.
"You look pretty," JJ said and smiled back as she put Henry's shoes on for him.
"I'd have to agree," Will said and kissed her head as he handed her Michael so he could put his coat on.

The dinner party was a success. Everyone has a great time. While the boys were playing with their new toys, thanks to Garcia, Sophia sat on the couch and couldn't help but let her mind wander to her mother. What was Emily up to? Was she spending Christmas alone? Would she ever come back to see her?
"Are you okay?" JJ asked and took Sophia out of her trance.
"Do you think Emily will ever come back or even talk to me again?" the kid wanted to know.
JJ's face softened.
"I hope so. I mean she's still your mom," the blonde answered back as she gave the girl a hug.

The party ended and all the guests went home satisfied. Christmas Day was also quite the celebration.

Soon enough, it's was New Years and then Sophia was back in school and the break was over.

On her first day back, Sophia sat on the benches in front of her school and waited for JJ to pick her up. She noticed a black SUV parked not too far from her and the windows were tinted. She didn't think much of it but when the same car appeared the next day at the library and then at the school again later that week, Sophia knew something was off. It was Friday of that week and Sophia stayed after. When she was walking out of he school, she noticed the black SUV and started to walk back into the building just in case, but a man called out to her.
"Excuse me," he called.
Sophia turned around.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Are you Sophia Prentiss?" the man asked.
Sophia looked him up and down. He was a middle aged male mid to late fortys. He had dark brown/greyish hair with the same color facial hair. His eyes were piercing blue with a hint of grey. He seemed harmless so Sophia decided it was okay to converse with him.
"I am. How did you know that was my real name?" she asked.
"I'm an old friend of your mother's," the guy said.
"I haven't seen Emily since last May," Sophia told him.
"I actually came to talk to you," the guy said.
"Why?" the girl asked.
"Because I think you're in danger and I want to help," the guy said.
Sophia took a step back.
"Okay, I don't know who put you up to this, but it's not funny. I think you should go. And whoever told you Emily was my mom needs to keep their mouth shut," she said and started to walk away.
"I know what happened to you. Emily left you in a park and then you got adopted by her old teammate JJ, and then you were reunited with Emily. If you just let me explain I can help you understand. I know why she gave you up," he said and took another step closer.
Sophia knew she wasn't thinking straight. She knew nothing of this man yet she felt like she knew him. Like she could trust him. There was just something about him that felt familiar to her.
"How can I trust you. You're a stranger that knows a lot about me but I know nothing about you. I don't even know your name," Sophia commented.
"Chuck Murry," the man said with a smile and held out his hand.

"Okay Chuck. Spill. Tell me everything there is to know about me and Emily and why I was abandoned at the park," Sophia said.
"Let's start at the beginning," Chuck suggested with a light laugh at how blunt and straightforward the girl was.
She was like her mother in so many ways and it made him smile.
"The beginning of what?" Sophia asked.
"The begging of you. Well start with how your parents met," Chuck said.
"You knew my dad?" Sophia asked.
"Oh yes. I knew him very well," Chuck replied.
"So about 15 years ago your mom went on an undercover secret mission to bring down a former IRA captain. His name was Ian Doyle," Chuck started with.
He clearly had the child's attention so he continued.
"Your mom went undercover as Lauren Reynolds and she tricked Ian into falling in love with her. He thought it was true love, but she was just getting close so she could eventually bring him down in the end," Chuck continued.
"Poor Ian. Didn't even see it coming," Sophia commented.
"Anyways, after taking Ian Doyle down, your mother found out she was pregnant with you," Chuck added.
"So Ian Doyle, a bad guy, is my dad?" Sophia questioned.
"Well, he wasn't necessarily a bad guy per say. He cared about his family. He had another son. His name was Declan and he's about four or five years older than you," Chuck said.
"So I have a brother?" Sophia wanted to know.
"Half brother," Chuck corrected her.
"Can I meet them?" Sophia asked.
"Meet who?" Chuck wanted to know.
"My dad and brother," the girl answered.
"Even though you know your dad is a bad guy, you still want to meet him?" Chuck asked.
"You said he cared about his family. I'm his family aren't I?" Sophia pointed out.
"That you are. I'm sure he'd like to meet you too," Chuck replied.
Suddenly Sophia remember something Chuck said.
"You said I was in danger. Why is that?"
"Some people that your father worked with turned on him. They're looking for ways to hurt him and what better way than to hurt his children," Chuck said.
"So Declan and I are in danger because of some men that Ian worked with? They're coming after me?" Sophia asked with a hint of fear in her voice.
"They can't hurt you if they can't find you," Chuck told her.
Right as he said that he saw out of the corner of his eye another black SUV starting to turn into the school.
"Listen, I have to go. Please take what I told you into consideration. I know you were a foster kid. You know how to run and hide. It could save your life," he said as he turned to go.
"No. Don't leave me. I don't know where to find Declan or my dad. JJ's here. You need to tell her what you told me," Sophia called out.
Chuck got into his car and as he drove past Sophia he said,
"Don't worry. Your father will find you."

As he sped away, JJ pulled up. Suddenly Sophia's phone started going off. She all of a sudden got a bunch of notifications which included five calls from JJ and five other calls from the BAU.
She looked down at her phone with confusion and then up at JJ as she rushed out of the car and threw her arms around the child.
"Oh my god Sophia. Why weren't you answering your phone?" JJ asked and she held the girl close.
"What's going on?" Sophia asked as JJ pulled back.
"I'll explain when we get to the BAU," JJ said as she got Sophia is the car.

The elevator dinged and Sophia and JJ made their way into the BAU. JJ bee- lined it to a private conference room where Reid, Garcia, Morgan, Rossi and Hotch were waiting.
Instantly Penelope got up to give her a hug.
"Okay. What's going on and what's with all the hugs?" Sophia demanded to know.
"Sit, I'll explain everything."
Everyone turned their head to the voice that said that last statement.
"Emily?" Sophia said in disbelief.