~~CM~~
Emily and Spencer spent the rest of the morning pulling up maps of Tallahassee and the surrounding areas on the FBI computers.
"This is so slow. It might be easier to drive down there and chart the maps ourshelves."
Processing what Emily had said to him, Spencer looked up in surprise. "But..."
"I was being facetious, Spence." Emily teased him as she checked her phone.
Blushing, the new agent grabbed more maps off the printer and taped them to the wall.
Emily called out locations and he flagged them on the map. They had completed the geographic profile by the time the team had landed in Florida.
"I emailed the geo-profile to Hotch. Let's get some lunch and then hit the firing range."
Spencer grabbed his messenger bag and followed Emily to the elevators.
He watched as she checked her phone in the elevator, in the parking garage, and every stoplight between the academy and the restaurant.
"Um, Emily. Are you okay?" He asked as he held the door open for her.
She walked into the restaurant and smiled at the server, "Two, please."
Once they were seated, Emily shared her concerns over JJ's first day of school. "I expected a panicked call or 'I'm ok' text by now. Not knowing how she is doing is making me crazy."
Spencer nodded sympathetically, "I'm sure she would have contacted you if things were bad."
They chatted about work over their lunch and Emily was surprised to learn this was his third department as a new agent.
"I have the autonomy to choose my unit once I pass the firearm qualification. I spent four months domestic threat and two months in white collar. I feel that my skills fit well in BAU and I have enjoyed this assignment the most. I will be asking to join the unit formally once I qualify."
Emily recalled her path to the BAU; it was nothing like this. "How did you manage that, Spencer?"
Spencer grinned, "I was recruited when I was 16 by Jason Gideon. There was a fierce competition between the NSA, CIA, and FBI. Once I was done with my second PHD, I started the academy. The physical qualification was hard but I managed to pass it after the third try. It's the firearm one that is holding me back."
She couldn't help but smile at the young man in front of her. He looked so much younger than his twenty two years. "I'll get you through it."
~~CM~~
When Emily left the firing range, she wondered if she was over her head. Spencer's marksmanship had decreased under her supervision.
She drove to JJ's school to find the line of cars around the block, despite arriving 15 minutes prior to the dismissal bell. Frustrated, Emily debated flashing her badge to clear the parents out of her way.
She texted JJ, 'Waiting for you in long line of cars in front of school. Hope today went well'
Twenty minutes later, Emily had pulled forward four car lengths. Hers nails were bitten down and she had clicked through every single radio station three different times.
'Day seriously sucked. C U in 5. Have to check in office.'
Another 15 minutes went by before Emily was near the front of the line. She spotted JJ as she walked out of the front doors. The teen made her way to the car and Emily maneuvered out of the school parking lot a quickly as possible.
"Well?"
JJ leaned back in her seat and pulled her legs up, wrapping her arms around them, "I HATE the math teacher, lunch is disgusting, chemistry was a nightmare, and I think half the students are on drugs and the other half are brain dead."
"Oh boy," muttered Emily.
JJ continued, "And is the classes do NOT prepare you for the homework. The computer lab was a joke. Did you know Computer Fundamentals is just another way to say "typing class?"
The rants and complaints continued the entire drive home. Emily pushed open the front door and headed straight for the kitchen. She began making sandwiches as JJ paced around, talking with her hands.
Emily handed her a turkey sandwich and physically guided JJ to the table. "Sit down."
The seasoned FBI agent slowly backed away, and headed to the fridge. She poured a glass of milk and handed it to JJ.
"They made me stand in front of the class and introduce myself. FOR. EACH. CLASS!"
When the doorbell rang, Emily was pleased to have a reason to flee. JJ's social worker, Julianna, was at the door. Emily wasn't sure if she was happy or terrified to see her.
"Come in, but be warned, JJ just finished her first day of school."
Julianna followed Emily to the kitchen to find JJ still talking.
"Do you even know what gym class they put me in? Dance! Contemporary Dance. I DON'T dance, Emily!"
Emily poured two glasses of water and handed one to Julianna inviting her to sit.
"JJ, look, Julianna is here."
The teenager was not phased by the appearance of her social worker. She huffed and continued complaining about her chemistry class in between sips of milk.
When JJ finished her tirade, Julianna reviewed her checklist with them followed by inspecting the house and JJ's bedroom.
"You two are all set," said Julianna.
Emily walked her out, asking, "Is that it?"
"Yes, the home environment is fine. JJ is adjusting well. She enrolled in school and quite comfortable with you. You don't usually seen teens talking openly so soon."
Exhaling, Emily felt a rush as the nervous tension left her body.
~~CM~~
Coming back inside, Emily found JJ at the table with piles of books, folders and papers.
"Can I help you get organized?"
"Nah, I have to look through everything and put in my planner." JJ replied.
"Did anything good happen today?"
JJ pulled up her legs again and sat cross legged in the kitchen chair. "I met this crazy girl who is pretty nice. And the Brit Lit teacher is cool."
"Fill me in on crazy girl."
The teen scribbled in her planner as she told Emily all about Penelope Garcia, "She's a junior and she's so out there. Her clothes are straight from the 80s; bold and bright. She's in five of my classes and a super computer nerd. While I typed, she updated three different Tumblr blogs, ordered boots from London, a necklace from Etsy, and read a fanfiction story."
"Wow!"
"Um, yeah and she talked the entire time she was doing that. I know her whole life story."
They continued chatting as JJ finished laying out her homework and decided on a light dinner after soccer practice. Emily pulled together a pasta salad as JJ tackled her hardest assignment.
"I'll read after practice. I can't do math when I am tired."
Around 10:30, Emily's phone buzzed from her nightstand.
'Are you up?'
She called Aaron and they chatted about case, Spencer's marksmanship, and JJ's school.
"She'll adjust. Maybe they can change her gym class. Did she like the soccer team?"
Smiling, Emily snuggled deeper under her blankets, "Yes, she is going to request a different gym class tomorrow. The soccer team is very serious. I thought that being a club team it would be more fun but they have an hour and a half practices twice a week plus games. She seemed to enjoy it, though. The girls on the team were wonderful, very serious about the game."
"At this age, the girls wouldn't be on the team unless they were dedicated. I'll bet every one of them is trying to get on the competitive team for next season."
They talked a little longer before Emily yawned, "This parenting thing is hard work."
"Good night, Em!" Aaron said, laughing.
~~CM~~
A/N:
I love the idea of younger Spencer, and teenager JJ and Penelope. It's been fun trying to write them with their younger personalities.
Come say Hi on Tumblr: GoodGodHenry
