A/N: I hope this is okay. TRIGGER WARNING for non-explicit reference to domestic spousal and child abuse.
I know I updated this literally yesterday but enjoy the speedy update. Warning: this means you're going to have to wait a little longer (probably) for the next chapter. Sorry, not sorry cuz I'm impatient and lazy. -boots
Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds. As you can see, it would be a crap-fest if I did.
…
The hotel was nicer than the Bureau usually allowed, but that was expected given the Ambassador's pull. Thankfully, the mostly open lay-out allowed for easier security. It seemed to the team that maybe the Ambassador wasn't going to be a pain in the ass during the ordeal, unlike most other high-status individuals they had worked with before.
"There are only four beds, so we should probably divide up now." JJ pointed out.
Hotch glanced at Emily who stood awkwardly between Morgan and Penelope. "Miss. Prentiss, would you like to pick out your bed first?"
The rest of the team glanced confusedly at the sudden formality but understood when they saw the youngster relax slightly. Emily wasn't used to being referred to so informally by her bodyguards.
"Thank you, Agent Hotch." She smiled politely and pointed at the bed by the window, in the corner of the room. "May I stay there?"
"Of course, Miss Prentiss. Now as soon as everything has been secured and we're all settled in, you can help JJ order everyone some food and then while we wait we can look at getting you some things for your stay."
Emily nodded. "That would be fine, Agent Hotch." With that she ran to the bed, and in the first childlike thing she had done for the entire ordeal, she jumped quite gloriously onto the bed, plopping onto her face.
JJ grinned and shouted "dibbs" as she gave a running jump onto the double bed next to Emily's. Rossi rolled his eyes and gave Hotch a look.
Hotch sighed. "Morgan, you okay with taking the couch?"
Morgan nodded, before shouting "cowabunga" and jumping on the spot right next to JJ, physics bouncing her off the bed.
Hotch continued as JJ quietly pummeled Derek with her pillow. "Garcia, you can share with JJ. Reid, you can share with me. Rossi, you're on your own."
"Amen." The older man mumbled.
"Okay, Morgan come with me. We'll do a perimeter sweep. Reid, JJ, and Rossi scan the inside of the hotel for anything suspicious or anything that could lead to a breech. Garcia could you stay with Emily and set up whatever gear you think is necessary."
Emily stared at the ceiling, emitting the occasional "uh-huh" into Garcia's one-way conversation. The hotel room was very open, kind of like the team. No privacy whatsoever. Which was reasonable given they were trying to protect her. But it was still odd and uncomfortable, and Ms. Garcia kept touching her. Even though she had seen their badges, something still felt off. Maybe she should try calling Mother. No; JJ said not to. She said Mother was busy. But did Mother specifically tell that to JJ or was JJ assuming that Mother wouldn't want to talk to her? Garcia touched her arm again. She scowled but the older woman didn't noticed.
Emily sat up in the bed. "I think I'll look around." She pronounced.
"Okay, little M&M. Don't go too far, though."
Emily smirked as the analyst's eyes stayed glued on her screen. She walked over to the bathroom, loudly sighing and then loudly- but respectfully- closing the bathroom door. She paused for a few moments and then peeked out; Garcia was still sitting on the bed, back to the door, tippy tapping ferociously on the keyboard. She quietly and quickly slipped out of the hotel room, softly closing the door behind her.
Emily the Spy had successfully completed the first half of her mission. She sighed. This was so much more fun when there was someone else to play with. But like Dad said: the more the players, the more the risk. She smirked; Emily the Spook had no desire to fail her mission. She was the greatest agent alive.
"Hey, don't hate the player, pretty boy- hate the game."
The enemies voices were getting closer, moving in from the right. This was a precarious situation. Plan A has been dropped. Time for plan B. Emily ran down the left side of the hall, turning the corner just in time. "Tuna-nuna-nuna-na-na tuna-nuna-nuna tuna-nuna-naaa." Emily sang under her breath, flying down the halls and ducking into a janitor's closet at the sound of voices.
"Emily! Where are you? We've got lunch." The enemy was trying to bait her back into their lair.
Her stomach growled.
"We've got Chinese food!"
Emily rolled her eyes. She had had Chinese food before, when some important Chinese businessman and his wife had dinner at Dad's fancy condo in Singapore. Emily hated it. She had had a tonsillectomy two days before and Mother had warned Dad that she wouldn't be able to take the sharp tastes and solid foods that were on the menu, but he had put his foot down and made her eat every bite that he put on her plate. She spent the entire night in pain, and the entire following day in the ER. It could've been worse, had Mother not snuck ibuprofen onto her plate through the kitchen staff. But Emily couldn't stand the cuisine ever since.
"Come on, Princess! We also got chocolate caaaake!"
Chocolate cake. Emily's stomach let out a groan. Chocolate was for special occasions only. But they didn't know that. And it wasn't like Mother would randomly warn them not to give her chocolate; that was Dorothy's job.
"I don't think Prentiss is here, pretty boy. Are you sure the doorman didn't see her leave?" There was some mumbling and Emily pressed her ear against the crack, straining to hear.
This time Dr. Reid spoke. "It's alright, Morgan. We'll find her after lunch. I can't wait to eat all of that chocolate cake. I mean, it's not like she'll really want it. Emily's probably not that hungry anyway."
Emily's innards growled viciously. No way they were going to leave her here. Alone. What sort of bodyguards were they? No, this was just a trick. Emily- the Spy, the Spook, the greatest agent alive- wasn't going to fall for some plain bribery. She was a Prentiss and a Reginald Claymoore. These agents would never dare leave her behind.
Heavy steps began to stomp away from her. Clomp. Clomp. A pause. Hope? Another clomp. Emily scrambled to her feet and wretched open the door.
"Don't leave me!" She ran after them, terror gripping her so hard that her feet tripped over each other and she face-planted onto the stiff carpet.
"Emily!" Rough, but kind hands pulled her to her feet, wiping at the traitorous tears that were drenching her face. It was Dave, Reid and Morgan behind him, worry painted over their faces. "Are you okay?"
Emily nodded. A lump clogging her throat.
"What happened?"
Emily glanced at Reid and Morgan. She looked at her feet.
Rossi looked back at his two colleagues. "Emily, would you come back to the room with me? Eat something?"
Emily nodded, a grim look of acceptance on her face.
Rossi glared at the two adults as they passed them. "A little birdie told me you were fond of chocolate, so I thought, why not have some while you stay with us?"
Emily nervously smiled back at him. He was so nice. If Mother found out he gave her chocolate, he'd be in so much trouble.
"Do you have a favorite chocolate?"
"Milk chocolate- Hershey's."
"I prefer dark chocolate. So dark you can barely take it."
Emily made a face. Rossi chuckled, knowing how that would change once she grew into the agent he knew. Adult Emily adored dark chocolate.
Rossi opened the door for her, beckoning her in, but she stopped before she entered. "Is everything alright, dear?"
A sigh. "You should know, I'm not really allowed chocolate outside of a special occasion."
"Well getting out of the hospital should count, right?"
"Count as what?"
"A special occasion, of course."
Emily grinned. "Of course."
Despite her new-found friendship with Rossi, Emily seemed uncomfortable around the team. When food was served, she went and sat in the spot between her bed and the window, staring out the glass while picking at her plate. The team, unused to a quiet and morose Emily, sat gathered around the coffee table planning how to approach the isolated girl.
"She's probably homesick." JJ suggested.
"But she doesn't really have one stable home, I mean how can she be homesick for something nonexistent." Morgan said, waving a fork of lo mien in the air.
Rossi frowned at that. "Just because she doesn't have a traditional definition of home, Derek, doesn't mean she doesn't have one. She's outside of her routine, with no one her age around. It's has to be upsetting for a little kid."
Morgan sighed. Rossi was right, but what could they do to make their little team member feel better. He blinked. "What if we take her to the park? I mean it's not like there'll be a lot of adults there, outside of the parents. And each parent's guard will be up anyway in case of strangers. We've got the doc's photo so if he tries to get close we can protect her. I mean she can't stay cooped up in her forever."
JJ nodded. "I agree with Morgan, I mean she's a little kid. She needs to interact with kids her own age."
Hotch shook his head. "There's too much risk in taking her out in the open. Strauss and the Ambassador would never okay that." He glanced at the regressed version of his girlfriend. "But, I could maybe bring Jack over to play with her tomorrow. He is only a couple months younger than her right now."
"That would be awesome, Hotch." JJ said. "I'll get the cake, if everyone's finished." She gathered everyone's trash before walking over to Emily, eyes on the girl's full plate. "Emily."
"Yes, JJ."
"You haven't eaten."
Silence. Dark eyes stared at her, body braced for her next move.
JJ picked up the plate. "Is it the food? Do you want something else?"
Emily remained silent. What was she supposed to say? What was the right answer?
"Here. Eat this at the least. I don't want you to eat just sugar for dinner." She handed her one of Henry's sandwiches that she kept in her purse.
Emily popped open the sandwich shaped Tupperware. It was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. She gaped. "Thank you, JJ." She said instinctively, her focus entirely on the sandwich. She sniffed the bread. It smelt magnificent. "It's just like on TV." She said, delightedly looking up at the blonde. She bit into it. "Wow! It tastes amazing!" She made a face. "Kind of sticky though!"
JJ laughed at that. "Yeah, that's the peanut butter."
"Mother says we are what we eat." She took another bite, chewing thoroughly before she spoke. "I wouldn't mind being an PB&J!"
"Me either, pumpkin." JJ leaned back against the bed, content to watch the young girl happily consume her first PB&J sandwich. Behind them, the team was pretending not to eavesdrop while keeping their ears cocked and ready.
Emily had finished most of the sandwich when she paused and set it back in the Wonder Bread box. She brushed her hands on the outsides of her thighs, teeth nipping her lips as swallowed her last bite. "JJ?"
JJ straightened, the seriousness in the child's voice catching her off guard. "Yes?"
"I would like to speak with my mother now."
"Emily-"
"Please."
"She's busy right now, but I'm sure if I ask her assistant he'll be able to tell me when." She stalled.
"She's not busy." The girl looked close to tears. "Mother said I could talk to her whenever I wanted. She wouldn't lie. She promised."
JJ's heart broke at the sight of Emily sniffling and fighting back tears. She was just a scared little girl who wanted her mother. JJ looked back at the team. Hotch hadn't explicitly said not to contact the Ambassador again. And if Emily just happened to be next to her and insisted on taking the phone… JJ sighed.
"JJ?"
The young mother smiled at the little Prentiss and pulled out her phone. Tapping on the right number, she handed it to her miniature bestfriend. "Here."
Emily eagerly took the phone, fumbling as she pressed it to her ear.
First ring. Second ring. Third ring. Fourth ring. Fifth ri-
"This is the Ambassador's office."
Emily paused. When did Mother get a new secretary? "This is Emily Prentiss. The Ambassador's daughter. I'd like to speak with her."
"Please hold, Miss Prentiss."
Emily smiled as Mother's favorite Chopin piece floated through the phone. "He's her favorite composer." She told JJ. "She says his pieces soothe instead of reviling the dead."
"Reviving, dear." The voice on the phone corrected. The Ambassador sounded resigned, as if she had been expecting Emily to bypass everyone and call her.
"Mãe! [Mom]" Emily shouted excitedly. "See, JJ, I told you she would pick up."
"Bragging is unbecoming-"
"'-for a lady.' I know, Mãe. And I'm sorry, but I really wanted to talk to you."
The Ambassador was quiet for a moment. "Because I said you could call whenever you wanted." She said, remembering her promise from years decades ago. The older woman pressed her eyes shut, bending over in her seat to press her forehead to the edge of her desk. "How are you doing, filhinha [little daughter]?"
The team watched as Emily relaxed, leaning against the wall and smiling like any other little girl. She began to chatter and laugh as she told her mother about the hospital and the nurse and the doctor and the PB&J she had just eaten and the hotel room and how she had played spies. She was so excited that she had fumbled and accidently pressed the speaker phone icon.
"I thought her and the Ambassador didn't get along?" JJ queried, having left Emily's nook to give her some privacy.
"Same." Morgan shrugged. "At least, the Ambassador's being nice and all with her now."
"Their relationship was probably a lot different when she was little."
Reid frowned. "I didn't know Emily was Portuguese."
This turned the heads of the team.
"Emily isn't Portuguese, pretty boy."
"Well, she's speaking Portuguese with her mother right now. And with a very convincing fluency. Although Prentiss is an English name, I wonder how that came about?"
Hotch fought away a smile. He had been the only one who knew this little tidbit about Prentiss. She had confessed after he caught her singing in Portuguese, because she knew that he knew her mother had never been stationed there.
"Mãe, eu tenho uma pergunta. [Mom, I have a question]" The team watched as Emily turned slightly away from them, clutching the phone with both hands.
"What is it, Emily?"
"Did Dad poison me?"
Silence. Elizabeth Prentiss straightened in her chair, gripping the arm rests with white knuckles. "No."
"Okay."
"Why do you… ask?"
"I just thought he did because he was so mad at me for telling the judge that I wanted to stay with you." She said matter-of-factly.
Penelope sniffled. Morgan turned away, anger and tears excusing him to the small kitchenette. The rest of the team just sat, frozen in their seats.
The Ambassador's breathing, rough and uneven, could be heard through the phone. "I… I'm so sorry, sweetheart."
Emily stared at the phone, confused and shocked to her mother apologizing to her.
"I should've been a better mother to you. I wasn't there for you. minha filhinha [my little daughter]." Elizabeth swallowed. The regrets and the grief that she had carried over the years were breaking out of their boxes. "I'm sorry I haven't been around much lately. I want you to know that none of this is your fault. Your Dad is going through some things, but that… that doesn't excuse his behavior towards…," she sobbed, "towards either of us. You deserve better, Emily. And I'm sorry that I've been distant. This emergency can wait. I'm coming over." This was the second chance she had wished for.
Emily, hearing her mother cry, had begun to cry too. "Mãe what's wrong? Why are you crying? Why are you saying all this? I don't understand!" JJ and Garcia ran over, comforting the young girl. JJ wiped the girl's tears and Penelope folded her into her arms.
"Let it out, Gumdrop. It's okay. It's okay. Your momma's on her way."
"Everything's okay, Emily." The Ambassador apologized. "I just wanted you to know that I'm sorry. I'll have my assistant book a flight right now.'
Emily laughed weakly through her tears. "Don't be silly, you don't need a flight, you're in Washington."
JJ swallowed. She glanced at Hotch.
Fortunately, the Ambassador was a better fibber than them. "Washington State. Not DC."
"Oh." Emily hiccupped. "Mãe, I… I'm not mad at you."
Elizabeth sighed. "I know you aren't." At least not at this age; no, the anger came a few years later.
"And you don't have to be sorry. It's okay."
"No, Emily. It isn't okay. I let you down, my pretty girl. And for that I am so…" The Ambassador's voice shook. "I am so, so sorry. He was a monster, your father. And I never should have let him hurt you."
Emily still seemed rattled by the sudden emotional outburst by her usually stoic mother, so JJ took hold of the phone. After ending the call, she turned to the little girl. "Are you okay?"
Emily seemed to think for a moment before sighing. "I think I would like some chocolate cake now."
Garcia grinned. "Ditto, gumdrop."
Heyyyyy. Congrats to those who got the 'tuna-nuna-nuna-na-na tuna-nuna-nuna tuna-nuna-naaa' reference. To those who didn't, it's from that scene in Castle when Beckett tells him to stay in the car and he scoots into the driver's seat and starts pretending to be a cop with a theme song. Haha I love that show.
