Hello my friends!
I've got chapter 2 ready to go for you and I'm really hoping that you guys are going to enjoy it! I tried to put myself in Alex's shoes and I think this one would be really hard for her to deal with (as she is 14 and she does really want her mother to be there for her). I think her reaction is going to play a big part of the story and I hope that I wrote it okay!
The next chapter will probably take me a little longer to get done, but as always I will do my best!
Enjoy- J
Chapter 2
The team remained silent as they all watched Emily, who was clearly struggling with the fact that she had to leave and even worse, disappoint her daughter. JJ continued to hold the brunette's hand, offering her silent support as the rest of the team looked on, no one really knowing what to say to make their friend feel better. Everyone was so lost in thought and disappointment that they didn't even hear the sound of footsteps coming down the hallway, as the five teens came back into the room.
"Hey Emily do we have any ice cr….what's wrong?" She asked, stopping in her tracks as she noticed the morose looks on the team members' faces. "What happened?"
Emily looked up, suddenly feeling even guiltier, having no idea how to tell her daughter that she had to leave the next morning. The brunette opened her mouth, searching for words, but when none came, simply closed her mouth again, shaking her head.
"JJ?" Alex said, turning her attention to the blonde who was pinching the bridge of her nose, avoiding the gaze of the young brunette. "What's the matter? Can someone please answer me?"
"We got a case," Hotch finally answered, seeing that Emily and JJ were struggling. "We all have to leave in the morning. Strauss' orders," he explained, not wanting the teen to blame her mother.
"You're leaving?" Alex asked in disbelief, turning her attention back to Emily, who was biting her lip.
"I have to," Emily replied, sounding defeated, thankful that JJ was still holding her hand in support.
"But what about Thursday?" Alex asked, her voice worried and obviously upset. "How can you just…" she began, choking off when emotion filled her voice, obviously trying to keep from crying. Looking at her mother in disbelief, Alex hesitated before turning on her heel, heading for the stairs.
As soon as the teen turned to leave, Emily was out of her seat, releasing JJ's hand as she quickly moved to intercept her daughter on the stairs. "Alex," she called when she reached the bottom, causing Alex to stop halfway up. "Please don't walk away like that."
"I have to," Alex replied, taking a deep breath. "I'm not doing this in front of everyone," she said, turning around to face the older brunette, who was now standing one step below her. "How can you go now? You're going to miss…you won't be here for…"
"We don't know that," Emily interrupted. "We could be back in time. We've had cases that have taken less than 5 days before."
"Yeah and you've also had cases that have lasted longer," Alex replied, shaking her head. "I thought you said you would try to get out of leaving so you could be here for the play?"
"Honey I did," Emily said. "I promise I did, but this is out of Hotch's control. Strauss wants us all on the case. If I don't go I'll get fired," she explained, knowing that the Section Chief wouldn't hesitate to get rid of her if she disobeyed her orders.
"God forbid," Alex bit out.
"Alex you told me to keep this job," Emily tried to reason. "I told you I would leave it for you, but you insisted that you could handle this."
"Yeah well I didn't realize that meant I would always be coming in second place to your work," Alex replied harshly, making Emily flinch before once again turning on her heel to climb the rest of the stairs.
"Where are you going?" Emily asked, not yet finished discussing this issue with the teen.
"To pack a bag for Spencer's."
"Lex we aren't leaving until the morning," Emily said, following the younger brunette to the top of the stairs. "You don't need to leave tonight."
"Well I'd rather just go now," the teen said, shaking her head as she turned around to once again face her mother.
"Alex we need to talk about this," Emily replied, her voice softening in sadness, seeing Alex putting up the walls that the Prentiss women were so famous for. "Please, don't go like this. You know I don't want to leave right now."
"Emily just forget about it okay?" Alex said, shaking her head in frustration. "It's your job. I get it. It's more important."
"No Lex that's not true," Emily argued. "Nothing is more important than you."
"Obviously that's not true," Alex shouted, her frustration finally getting the best of her.
"Alex…"
"Emily, please!" The teen yelled. "Please," she repeated, her anger deflating as sadness filled her eyes. "I don't want to talk about this. I just want to be alone."
"Okay…" Emily sighed, seeing that the teen was struggling to hold back tears. "I'll give you some time, but come see me before you leave okay? Please?"
"Okay," Alex relented sadly before turning and heading towards her bedroom.
Emily took a moment, standing at the top of the stairs with her head hanging, feeling like she had royally screwed up this time and having no idea how to make it better. Taking a deep breath, the brunette turned around, making her way downstairs and towards the family room where every head turned her way, looking sad, having clearly heard most of the conversation on the stairs.
"Spencer, Alex is packing a bag," Emily said turning her attention towards the group of teenagers who were looking anxious. "You all should go make sure she's okay," she suggested, as all four immediately stood and headed for the stairs.
"Em?" JJ asked, getting up and making her way over to her girlfriend.
"I'm fine," Emily insisted, shaking her head, no one missing the sadness written all over the profiler's face.
"Emily I'm really sorry about this," Hotch said, wishing there was more he could do for his friend.
"I know Hotch," Emily replied. "It's not your fault. Honestly I'm fine," she lied, suddenly feeling anything but fine.
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"Lex? You okay?" Spencer asked as she led Olivia, Zoey and Logan into their friend's bedroom.
"I'm fine," Alex replied quietly, wiping away the few tears that had managed to escape, as she turned her back to the group, busying herself with packing for Spencer's.
"You don't really seem fine," Logan said, worried by Alex's abnormally quiet demeanor.
"Well I am," Alex replied. "It is what it is. It's fine. Whatever."
"Lex it's only Saturday," Zoey pointed out. "They might still be back for Thursday."
"Yeah…maybe," the brunette shrugged, still keeping her back towards her friends.
"You know the whole team is pretty upset," Olivia added. "They all feel really bad."
At this Alex wasn't sure what to say. She knew that the team didn't want to leave her, especially this week, but she couldn't help but feel betrayed.
"Look I appreciate you guys coming up here but I just really want to be alone for a little while okay?" Alex finally said, turning around, but keeping her eyes downcast. "Spence I'll meet you at your house in a little bit."
"Sure," Spencer agreed with a nod, understanding that Alex didn't want to fall apart in front of anyone else. "I'll see you later," she said before heading towards the door.
"See you Lex," Zoey said, giving the taller brunette a hug before following Spencer.
"I'll call you tomorrow," Olivia said while also giving her friend a hug.
Alex watched as the three girls left the room, all looking back uncertainly as Logan lingered in the room, wanting a moment alone with Alex. Feeling slightly embarrassed that Logan had been around to witness her little outburst with her mother, Alex had a difficult time meeting the blonde's boys gaze; her eyes so firmly rooted to the floor, that she didn't even notice that Logan was now standing directly in front of her.
"You going to be okay?" He asked softly, placing a finger under Alex's chin, forcing her to look him in the eyes. Not sure she could answer, Alex simply nodded, her eyes shiny with tears. "Call me tomorrow okay?"
"Okay," Alex replied quietly, allowing herself a small smile as the blonde boy leant forward to place a soft kiss on her cheek, before walking out into the hallway where Alex's three friends were still waiting.
Now alone, the teen allowed a few more tears to falls, both upset and frustrated by the whole situation. While Alex knew that Emily didn't want to leave, and was likely just as upset as she was by the whole thing, the teen couldn't help but feel angry at the unfairness of it all. Normally levelheaded and rather mature for her age, the teen just couldn't find a way to understand this one. It just didn't seem fair. Alex, who hardly ever asked for anything, just wanted this one thing; just wanted her mothers and the rest of her family to be there for her Thursday night. Angry, Alex threw open her dresser drawer and began throwing clothes on top of her bag, desperate to get her things together and get out of the house.
Busy throwing things across the room into her bag on her bed, the teen didn't hear anyone coming up the stairs and approach her room until the sound of a throat clearing pulled her from her semi-tantrum. Expecting Morgan, Alex was surprised when she looked up to find Hotch standing at her door.
"Oh, hi," Alex greeted quietly, her cheeks burning in embarrassment.
"May I come in?" Hotch asked, looking slightly uncomfortable.
"Uh…sure," Alex replied, quickly stuffing her clothes into her bag hastily, as her mother's boss stepped into her bedroom.
"Alex I'm really sorry about all of this," Hotch said, taking a seat in the teen's desk chair while Alex sat cross-legged on her bed. "I know you're upset, but I hope you know that this isn't Emily's fault. She doesn't want to go any more than you want her to go."
"I know," Alex replied quietly. "But that doesn't really make this any easier," she admitted with a shrug.
"You know, every time I get a case; every time I get called away from my family, it tears me up," Hotch explained. "It kills me because I know that I'm letting Haley down. I know that I'm missing out on Jack growing and I hate it," he continued. "I hate it but I do it because I know I'm making the world a safer place for Jack; for all the other kids, but I still dread the day that Jack grows up and asks me not to leave. I dread the day that he's old enough to notice that I'm not around. The day he gets angry at me for missing out. I feel for Emily because I know she has it much harder than I do right now, because she can see how disappointed you are and it's killing her."
At this Hotch paused, trying to gauge the teen's reaction, but unable to get a read on her. "Emily is good at what she does," he eventually continued. "She's a damn fine Agent, and I know that she does this job to make the world a safer place, just like the rest of us. But this job has become harder for her since you came into her life," he explained. "She struggles every time we board the jet. She thinks she hides it, but I can see it in her eyes; she feels guilty each and every time she has to leave you behind, but she does it for you Alex. I hope you know that."
At this Alex nodded, wiping away a stray tear in frustration. "It's just not fair. I want…I need her here this time," she admitted sadly.
"I know," Hotch nodded. "I'm not going to tell you not to be mad Alex, I understand really I do, but I just want you to keep all this in mind okay? And I just want you to know that the whole team is going to do everything we can to get back here for Thursday. We all want to be here for you."
"Okay," Alex nodded, unable to form a complete sentence as she tried to keep her emotions at bay.
Knowing he wasn't going to get much else out of the young girl right now, Hotch rose from his seat, stopping briefly in front of the teen to place a comforting hand on her shoulder, before heading for the door. "See you soon Alex," he said before walking out the door.
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When Hotch returned downstairs he pulled Emily aside, letting her know that he had spoken to Alex, but that she was still pretty upset.
"Just give her some time," Hotch advised. "I know that's easier said than done, but I think she just needs some time to be mad," he said. "I actually think she's more angry with the situation than she is at you; she just needs someone to put the blame on."
"Thanks, Hotch," Emily said, still sounding pretty upset.
"We're going to get you back on time Emily," Hotch then assured her. "You know this team. We're all going to be working our hardest to make sure that you don't miss that play."
"I know," Emily replied with a smile.
With that Hotch returned to the living room, asking Rossi if he was ready to go, and telling the rest of the team that he would see them the next morning on the jet. Knowing that Emily was still upset, and knowing they no longer had a free Sunday, the rest of the team decided not to linger.
"We'll see you tomorrow Princess," Morgan said as he, Reid and Garcia stood to leave about 20 minutes after Hotch and Rossi. "See you Blondie. Make sure you two give Little Princess a hug for us."
"We'll try," Emily replied sadly.
"Stay strong Emster," Garcia said, giving her friend a hug. "It'll be okay."
"Thanks Garcia," Emily replied, grateful for the embrace. Holding onto her friend for just a little longer, Emily eventually let go before turning towards Reid. "See you tomorrow Reid."
"9am," Reid said, giving Emily and JJ a wave before following Morgan and Garcia out the front door.
Emily and JJ watched their friends leave, standing in the doorway for a short time, until it became too cold. Taking Emily's hand, JJ lead the brunette inside, shutting the door behind them and walking hand-in-hand back towards the family room where they both flopped down on the couch.
"I'm sorry Em," JJ said, rubbing her thumb against the back of Emily's hand.
"It's not your fault," Emily replied.
"I know that," JJ said. "But I know how important Thursday is to you. And I know you hate disappointing Lex like this," she continued. "I just hate seeing you so upset."
"I know that there's still a chance we'll be back in time for Thursday but it just scares me," Emily confessed. "I know what's it's like to have parents who are constantly disappointing you; parents who are never around, and I never wanted that for Alex, but that's exactly what I'm doing to her."
"Em you're nothing like your parents," JJ said, using a finger to turn the brunette's head to ensure that she was really hearing her. "You may work a lot but you are involved in Alex's life. When you're here you're fully invested in Lex and you're always there for her," the blonde continued. "Your parents were different. They were too busy to know what was going on with you and I know you would never let that happen with you and Alex. I would never let that happen. I know you feel like you're letting her down Em, but you need to give yourself a break."
"I just hate her being angry with me," the brunette replied sadly.
"I know," JJ said, putting an arm around Emily's shoulder and kissing her temple. "But she'll forgive you, because we are going to get back in time."
"And what if we don't?"
"Then we'll deal with that together," JJ replied. "She'll be upset, but she'll forgive that too because she loves you Em. And she knows you love her too."
Sighing, Emily placed her head on JJ's shoulder, comforted by the feeling of the blonde's hand combing through her hair. While the brunette still felt crappy, she knew that JJ had a point, and she felt confident that her team could work whatever this new case was, and get home in time to be there for Alex.
"I'm going to Spencer's now," Alex announced from behind the couch; neither woman hearing her come down the stairs.
"You sure you don't want to stay?" JJ said, as she and Emily both turned in their seats in order to face the teen. "It's our first night here."
"I'd rather just go," Alex said, shaking her head; neither woman missing the fact that the teen refused to meet their eyes.
"Okay," Emily replied as she and JJ both stood from the couch and made their way around to the other side of the couch. "You're going to come feed Sergio right?"
"Yeah," the teen replied softly, picking at loose string on her jacket sleeve.
"Okay, well we'll call you," Emily said. "And Lex we're going to try and get back. You know that right."
"I know," Alex practically whispered, sniffing as a single tear fell down her cheek.
Hating seeing the teen so upset, JJ pulled Alex into a hug, kissing the top of her head and holding her tight. "Don't give up hope kid," JJ whispered. "We'll get back in time okay?" She said, feeling the teen nodding against her shoulder. "I love you."
"Love you too," Alex replied as JJ released her.
Still upset, Alex turned to Emily with her head down, the older brunette still able to see the teen's glassy eyes.
"I'm so sorry," Emily said as she pulled Alex into a tight hug.
"I know," Alex replied quietly. "It's just…I'm just…"
"I know," Emily sighed, kissing Alex's cheek. "I love you."
"Love you too," Alex replied before pulling away and grabbing her bag off the floor so she could head for the door. Pausing with her hand on the doorknob, the teen turned back towards the two older women, looking like she wanted to say something else, before shaking her head. "Be safe," she said before opening the door and walking out.
