Hi.
Sorry that I've not updated this fic in over two months, life kept getting in the way. The short version is the universe hates fun. As such, I have tried to spite the universe by making this chapter as much fun as possible. I may have failed, there's a lot of social interaction in this chapter which I found really hard to write, but it was also quite fun once I got into the rhythm of it.
I would also like to lodge a complaint with whoever decided to remove the 'u' from colour and favourite and probably a million other words in America. It makes writing hard cos I have to keep changing words, and I'm lazy and don't wanna…
Big thanks to Phoenix_Falls and w00t4ewan for betaing, correcting my mistakes, helping re-word weird sentences, for helping me figure out American geography/where the BAU actually is (I have learnt not to skim read wikipedia articles while super tired), and for helping with figuring out how to have text messages in a fic. And thank you to you, my readers who have been so patient and wonderful. I love you , here is Emily meeting (most of) the BAU team!
Emily had been nervous all day. She was supposed to be meeting Derek's team that evening and was somewhat worried as to how that would go. She already knew that their communications liaison Agent Jareau didn't like her, although she wasn't sure what she'd done to upset the agent. She was worried that communicating with them all would be difficult. Only Derek knew ASL, and she didn't want to monopolize his time for the evening, they were his friends, naturally he would want to have time with them without having to act as an interpreter for Emily.
As she headed to the bar she was supposed to be meeting Derek and his friends at, she decided to double check, and make sure that she should be showing up.
Emily {text}: Hey, just double checking that I'm meeting you tonight. I've just finished the last of my paperwork.
She immediately sent another message.
Emily {text}: I don't have to show up if it's gonna be too difficult. I don't want to impose or anything.
And a third follow up message.
Emily {text}: I also don't want to like, monopolize your time or anything. You shouldn't have to spend your night acting as an interpreter so I can meet your friends.
Emily then began to worry that she had sent too many messages, and was seeming to needy. This friendship thing was hard. There was a reason she tended towards not socializing, it was just so much easier to not have to worry about communicating with people.
Her phone buzzed with an incoming message.
Derek {text}: Emily, chill. It's fine, we'll figure it out. Everyone's excited to meet you. Although I do warn you, Garcia might want to interrogate you, she *might* think we're dating… :p
Emily rolled her eyes at the phone, from what she'd heard about Penelope Garcia, the 'interrogation' would probably be just plying her with drinks, and then gossiping about Derek. Feeling slightly calmer about the situation, she headed up the stairs to the bar. As she entered the bar she noticed Agent Jareau leaving, brow furrowed in concern, phone up to her ear. Emily hoped everything was okay, and that the BAU team weren't being called away on another case, she had been messaging Derek over the past couple of weeks and knew his team had been slammed with a couple of really tough cases recently, they deserved a break.
Making her way to the bar, Emily ordered a drink, deciding some liquid courage would help with the nerves of meeting new people. It took a while to catch the bartender's attention, and to get her order placed, but finally her drink was delivered. Then, drink in hand and practiced smile firmly affixed to her face, she went in search of Derek. The smile relaxed into something more genuine when Derek caught her eye and waved her over enthusiastically.
Looking at the group that had occupied one of the booths in the back corner, she tried to identify who was who, matching names and storied from Derek to faces. It wasn't overly difficult, the BAU team was fairly diverse, and Derek had described his team and their personalities well.
Penelope Garcia was easy to spot, the only woman on the team other than Agent Jareau. Dressed in a bright, floral dress with a pink cardigan over top, her clothes seemed to match her personality: bright, bubbly, and friendly. From conversations with Derek, Emily had learnt that the two of them had a solid friendship, full of playful teasing and flirting that may or may not have led to a sexual harassment seminar or two being forced on the unit.
Spencer Reid, Derek's 'boy wonder' was sitting with what looked like a glass of soda in front of him. He was engaged in conversation with Garcia, his mouth seeming to move a mile a minute, and his hand moving not much slower. He seemed alarmingly young to be working with the BAU, but from what Derek had said, he had more than earned his place on the team.
David Rossi, Emily knew the name even before Derek had mentioned him. He was famous both within the FBI and in the wider world, as a bestselling author as well as being one of the founders of the BAU. He was also listening to Reid, occasionally interjecting, but seemingly somewhat more focused on the whiskey in front of him.
The only people missing were Aaron Hotchner their team leader, and Agent Jareau who hadn't yet returned from the call Emily had seen her leaving the bar to take. Mentally shrugging – it was none of her business after all – she waved back at Derek and headed over to join him, deliberately squashing the butterflies in her stomach.
As she reached the booth, Derek kicked out a stool that had apparently been appropriated from a nearby, unoccupied table. Emily smiled at the group and sat. Just as she was about to introduce herself to everyone Penelope started talking.
"You must be Emily, it's nice to meet you! I would say I've heard great things about you, but alas, my Chocolate Adonis hasn't actually told us anything about you," she finished her sentence with a very pointed look at Derek before brightening again. "But that's okay, it gives us more to talk about. What's your star sign? Your favorite color? Pineapple on pizza yes or no?"
Emily sat for a moment, trying to process the barrage of questions sent her way, and slowly working through it in her head to make sure she actually had read Penelope's lips properly while also tamping down her irritation that Derek hadn't told them all she was deaf before she'd arrived. Turning to give Derek a pointed look of her own who has the good sense to look sheepish. She then turned back to Penelope and signed her reply, hoping that Derek would still translate for her.
"Well, I'm born in early October," Emily paused, frowning. "So, I'm pretty sure that makes me a Libra, I think. My favorite color is black, and I like pineapple on some pizza, but only if I know it's there. If there is surprise pineapple I'm out. It's nice to meet you too, and I really hope you'll help me hide Derek's body when I kill him for not telling you all I'm deaf." Emily's signs were clipped by the end, showing her frustration but she still smiled as Derek trailed off with a wounded "Hey…" when his brain caught up with the words.
Penelope grinned at Emily. "Of course I'll help. Even better, I can make any trace of him disappear from the internet or any other electronic source. No one will even realize he's missing," She shrugged. "Or, you know, I could just destroy his credit score, and hack his Facebook page."
Emily grinned back, she liked Penelope. The other two had been watching the conversation like it was a three-way tennis match, gazes bouncing between Emily, Penelope and Derek.
"Okay, yeah I'm sorry I didn't say anything. I sort of forgot?" Derek said, running a hand over his head then rubbing his neck. "Please don't kill me, and do not touch my Facebook page, I've only just fixed everything from last time, it took me ages to figure out how to change it from pirate to normal English," His hands flew as he signed as well as speaking.
'How do you 'forget'?" Emily asked, as at the same time Penelope held up a cellphone and waved it a bit.
"Too late Morgan, I'm already changing your religion to Jedi."
"Ooh, no change it to Sith, he's definitely not on the light side of the Force," Spencer interjected, leaning over to peer at the phone.
Derek looked on helplessly as the two fiddled with his phone.
David Rossi, who had seemingly been ignoring the groups antics turned to Emily, rolling his eyes as Derek leaned across the table and tried to grab his phone back.
"Hi, I'm David Rossi. It's nice to meet you. I'm sorry about the rest of these idiots," He gestured to the three other BAU members who seemed to be having a slap fight at the booth, before holding his hand out to Emily. Emily grasped his hand, noting as his eyebrows rose slightly at her sure grip, and mentally giving grudging thanks to her mother who insisted she learn to shake hands properly. "Regardless of anything else Emily," She would say. "A good first impression is imperative. It takes seven seconds for a person to form an opinion of you, and you'll never get a second chance at a first impression."
Emily smiled back at David, then glanced at the small scuffle at the other end of the table and gave a small shrug while laughing and shaking her head. It was nice, the group was welcoming and it felt good to be out with people. She didn't want to admit it, not even to herself, but Emily was lonely, moving to a new city was isolating enough without the added difficulty of a disability. But as nice as it was, the only person she could talk to, or more accurately, the person she was relying on to translate for her so she could talk to everyone else, had Spencer in a loose headlock and was still trying to get his phone back from Penelope.
Eventually, Derek accepted his punishment, and gave up trying to get his phone back, ordering another round of drinks for the table instead. The table settled into easy banter, talking about weekend plans and telling Emily about the sights around DC that she should definitely check out when she had time. Arron 'call me Hotch, everyone else does' Hotchner, the unit chief had shown up about ten minutes after Derek had given up trying to get his phone back, he seemed very serious and Emily was surprised at how easily he slipped into the easy back and forward between the group; his suit and demeanor giving the impression of distant professionalism belying his sense of humour that quickly became apparent. Agent Jareau had not returned to the group, but Penelope's phone has chimed and she had told the group that the missing member had gone home because Henry was sick. Emily was quietly relieved, she was having a nice night and didn't want to have to think about the beautiful woman who for some reason seemed to dislike her. She immediately felt guilty about feeling relieved, she didn't know who Henry was, but being sick was never fun.
After a couple of rounds of drinks, Hotch headed home to his son and the rest of the group decided to have an impromptu ASL lesson. Emily was amazed. Here was a group of people who regularly saw the worst of humanity, who finally had some time away from it, and they were spending their time learning to talk to her. She'd never had that before, not since Rome.
The lesson wasn't going very well. Penelope was too fast, she didn't finish one sign before moving on to the next. Spencer was too stiff. When she told him this, Derek and Penelope both cracked up laughing, ignoring Emily's glare, while Spencer just looked mildly frustrated.
"I will end you Derek Morgan," Emily threatened. "Don't tempt me." She wasn't threatening enough apparently, because as soon as she finished signing her threat at him he looked from her to Spencer and started laughing again.
Giving up on the impromptu lesson, Emily stared into her drink hoping it would provide answers, or at least, an idea of how to murder Derek without leaving evidence to implicate her. She didn't find it, but she did find herself smiling despite herself, enjoying the camaraderie and the atmosphere.
She left the bar that night with Derek, Penelope and Spencer as Facebook friends, as well as Penelope's number and an order to text her so they can organize a girl's night. Derek had finally rescued his phone from Penelope's grasp and was grumbling about fixing the settings, and getting a better password.
The Monday after Emily met most of the BAU at the bar she was back to work, relieved that the hangover had only lasted Saturday morning, leaving the rest of the weekend for unpacking, and Netflix binges wrapped up in blankets with Sergio. Although Sergio, being a cat, quickly grew bored of cuddles and continued exploring his new territory.
She had been messaging both Derek and Penelope over the weekend, Derek was still complaining that he couldn't get Facebook to work how it was supposed to, he would let Emily know this with a frankly excessive amount of capital letters and emojis. Emily responded to every one of those messages in perfect English, using the correct grammar and making sure there were no spelling mistakes, she wasn't sure who's messaging habits were annoying who more with those conversations, but it was fun.
The messages she'd been exchanging with Penelope were a lot more normal. They had talked about the new season of Doctor Who, and Emily had been inundated with book recommendations and links to cat videos. In response she had started sending videos back of Sergio attacking her boxes and packaging.
She was in line at the coffee shop near the Academy, like she was almost every morning before work when the man in front of her starting hitting on her. She tried to ignore him by pulling her phone out and making it very clear she didn't want him talking to her, but it didn't seem to deter him.
She flicked a quick message to Penelope.
Emily {text}: Ugh, some guy is hitting on me. Whyyy? I just want my coffee :(
Her phone buzzed immediately with the reply.
Penelope {text}: Lol is he hot?
Emily glared at her phone, and then at the guy who finally seemed to get the message that she wasn't interested.
Emily {text}: I dunno, maybe? If you're into that I guess. But you know, the whole harassing people when they just want their coffee is a huge turn off for me. Also the fact that he's a guy ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Emily shoved her phone in her pocket, finally at the front of the queue. The usual cashier was on register, they looked like they needed to be in bed asleep instead of behind a counter serving customers, but Emily supposed when you needed money a job was a job.
"Hey Em, the usual today?" Stevie asked. "I've just had like 4 shots of coffee mixed with a red bull, I can't recommend it for its taste, but I can recommend it if you ever need to pull an all-nighter and still be awake the next day" they were grinning but they made sure to speak clearly enough that Emily could understand them. They had a sticker on their nametag with 'they/them' printed on it. It had clearly been printed on a label maker, but Stevie noticed Emily look at it and bounced slightly. "We all have them, I think Dave did it last night. It's really cool!"
Emily nodded and smiled back, handing over enough for her coffee and a sizeable tip, before pointing at the sticker and giving a thumbs-up.
Checking her phone as she waited for her coffee, Emily had three new messages from Penelope.
Penelope {text}: Lol well I can introduce you to non hit-on-you-when-you-just-want-coffee guys if you want
Penelope {text}: wait…
Penelope {text}: OH SHIT. Soz, I can introduce you to non hit-on-you-when-you-just-want-coffee *girls* if you want?
She typed a quick reply, while keeping an eye out for her coffee.
Emily {text}: Haha, thanks. If you find any send them my way :p It's pretty hard finding people to date.
Penelope {text}: Well, at least I don't have to worry about you stealing my Chocolate God of Thunder XD
Emily's coffee was ready and Stevie waved her over for it, wishing her a good day at work. Emily nodded at them, and gave a small wave as she left, taking a long sip of her coffee. Sweet caffeine, she thought as it warmed her from the inside. She felt her phone buzz again.
Penelope {text}: Have you tried Tinder? I've heard stories of people finding their soulmates on it. Although, I've also heard stories of people getting real creepers who can't take no for an answer too so ymmv
Emily snorted.
Emily {text}: I have, but I guess new city and all that. And I would hope if I have my preference set to women only the number of jackasses should be greatly reduced.
Penelope {text}: Ah, one hopes. But don't underestimate the desperateness of a man who just *has* to get what he wants, no matter if the other person is interested or not. Although, if it happens let me know and I'll destroy them 3
Shaking her head Emily headed to her office, and if she downloaded Tinder while she walked? Well, no one else need ever to know.
Thanks for reading!
This is the longest chapter I've done so far, but hopefully it was still good and you enjoyed the team interactions.
I know Tinder is mostly a hook-up app, but, at least where I live, it's pretty much the only way to meet queer people cos they don't use other dating sites and we don't really have and gay bars (well there's one but it's pretty much guys only), so suspend your disbelief, I'm just goin with what I know.
Feedback is greatly appreciated! I can't guarantee when the next chapter will be up because the universe still hates fun, but feel free to scream at me about stuff on my tumblr – I have the same username!