When Two Become One
Chapter Ten
A/N - Well I'm keeping to my promise already and getting two chapters up today alone! Hopefully I can keep it up but thank you for your continued support, it makes writing all the more enjoyable knowing that there are lovely people out there following my stories!
Thursday 4.57pm - Still 1 Day to go...
As the day progressed the shadows began to close in around the three agents in the woods, it was another few hours of walking and stopping periodically before Emily noticed a small strip of gravel amongst the trees, "ROAD!" she shouted, together the three women sprinted towards it and laughing in happiness and relief. They looked up and down the empty road, they were now left to decide which way do they go now. J.J. made the observation that they were quite high up and cities are usually built on lower ground so they should go downwards.
After walking only a short while Garcia's stomach soon made a growling noise, "don't blame me, I haven't eaten for almost a whole day! I need food"
J.J.'s eyes widened in shock, "food! The restaurant! Hotch was insistent that we had to be at that meal tonight, he organised it specially, we're meant to be there at seven"
"What time is it?" Emily asked.
She looked at her wrist hastily, "almost five"
Garcia bit her lip, "but D.C. is an hour away from Quantico, we'll never make it!"
Just then they spotted a small diner at the side of the road, they knew it was their only hope. They walked in to see an older woman behind the counter in the traditional 50s diner dress and an older man drinking a beer, besides that it was empty.
"How can we help you darlings?" the woman asked as she cleared used plates from the counter.
"How far is it to D.C.?" J.J. asked quickly.
"Couple of miles" the man stated, not looking up from his drink.
Penelope sighed, "any chance we could walk it?"
The man laughed gruffly, "it'd be nightfall by the time you got there" he glanced at them "especially in what your wearing"
Garcia thought she was about to cry, they were already in the worst situation and it was getting worse by the minute.
"Sandy could give you a lift in. SANDY!" the man cried,
A young woman in her twenties bobbed around the corner and smiled brightly, she was wearing jeans and a plain white t-shirt with her mousy brown hair tied up, although she was not making an effort she still looked better than any of the women.
"Dad, what's up?" she said cheerfully.
"These ladies need a ride into D.C. I thought because you were going to the store anyway you could give them a lift in the truck"
She looked at the three of them and smiled once more, they all smiled back with a lot less enthusiasm "sure no problem, hop in!"
The three women were being thrown around as the truck drove over holes in the road. It was old and slightly musty, but they were grateful for the ride.
"So what brought you out so far?" Sandy asked.
"Bachelorette party" Emily replied falling into J.J. as the truck swung around a corner "long story!"
Sandy nodded at their reflection in the rearview mirror "ah I see, I've had a few of those nights, whose the lucky lady?"
Garcia raised her hand "that would be me. Yes, as of tomorrow I will no longer be a free woman, but happily married" she smiled.
"Aw, that's so lovely, your friend's treating you before your big day, are you off home to start getting ready?"
"Yep" J.J. replied "well, our stuff as at a hotel in D.C. but then we're back to Quantico"
Sandy's eyes widened slightly as they began to drive into the urbanised area on the outskirts of the city "oh wow, I've never been up there, that's where the FBI base is isn't it?"
The women smiled at each other knowingly, trying to suppress a laugh, "yeah, it is" J.J. replied calmly.
Sandy shook her head "it must be fascinating to work there"
"How come you haven't joined?" Emily asked.
She frowned in response "what, the bureau? I don't have intelligence or the athleticism to be an agent, no helping my parents at the diner is what I'm used to, it's what I'm good at" she paused and smiled "maybe in another life"
There was silence for the last ten minutes of the journey before Sandy pulled up outside the hotel and the women departed from the truck.
"I hope you have a really good day tomorrow and enjoy every minute of it" she said genuinely.
Penelope smiled "I will, thank you for your generosity and kindness"
She shook her head "don't even mention it" J.J. and Garcia both began to walk towards the revolving glass doors which were the entrance of the hotel as Emily pulled a card out of her bag and handed it to Sandy.
"Make that life this one, don't just settle for what you know" she said before joining her friends and leaving Sandy dumbfounded.
"Right" J.J. cried as they got out of the elevator at the floor of their penthouse "ten minutes max and then we should be in the car and driving at full speed back home"
"You don't have to tell us twice" Emily called as she began to change into something more comfortable and throw all the belongings she brought with her into her suitcase. The other two followed suit and after saying goodbye to the beautiful, nearby immaculate penthouse that they did not get the chance to make full use of before checking out. Soon Emily was behind the wheel driving just above the speed limit with 90 minutes to go before they needed to be at the restaurant.
"We'll go back to my apartment" she said swerving traffic on the highway "we were supposed to get ready for this meal after work there anyway, so you're clothes are still hung up waiting"
J.J. sighed slightly in relief, although she was still majorly stressed, her feet's blisters had blisters, her brain was banging out of her skull and she was in dire need of paracetamol, it was one less thing to worry about. Despite all her worries and problems she was still determined that Garcia would have the best wedding ever and nothing would ruin that. Suddenly the realisation hit her, "oh my God Will!" and as fast as she could she switched her phone on and called her husband, nearly in tears she tried to explain what had happened before apologising to her son for not being there today.
"You ok Jayje?" Penelope asked from the backseat after she hung up the phone.
"Yeah I'm fine, Will was just glad to know we were safe, Henry's great I'll explain it to him properly afterwards. Are you not going to call Morgan?"
Garcia shook her head "we said we wouldn't contact each other unless it was an emergency and seeing as we are no longer in a state of emergency then there is no need to worry him" she paused and then glanced at the time "you are sure we'll make it?" she asked dubiously.
"If I have to go twice the speed limit and drive over ground that should never be driven over and tell the cops when we're stopped it's FBI business then I will do so, nothing else will ruin today or tomorrow!" Emily cried.
Morgan sat beside Reid as the train pulled away from the station two stops before they were due to get off, he was bouncing his leg anxiously and he couldn't sit still, he needed to get to that restaurant in the hope that his Baby Girl would be there waiting for him.
"Calm down Morgan" Hotch ordered from opposite him.
He looked up slightly before shifting in his seat again "I'll calm down when I know they're safe" he grunted.
Rossi stood up "I need to stretch my legs, maybe grab a drink, coming Hotch?"
He gave another glance at Morgan before nodding and following his friend to the next carriage.
As they left Morgan looked out of the window and thought about how distracted he'd been, in all the commotion he hadn't given a thought about tomorrow. His wedding day. He wasn't mentally prepared, they'd been together such a small amount of time it seemed surreal, but that didn't matter to him, he just wanted her to be officially his.
Reid looked up at him "hey are you ok? I know you're obviously worried about Garcia but I mean about the wedding and everything, I really hope we didn't ruin your bachelor party"
"Reid I loved the party, sure it didn't go to plan but what's life without a bit of spontaneity? As for Garcia, I have been in love with that girl for eight years" he smiled to himself "I just want to spend the rest of my life with her"
His friend frowned slightly "Morgan, why did it take you two so long to get together? It was obvious since that first time you called her Baby Girl that the chemistry was there, and if I noticed it anyone can!"
He sighed and turned to face the young genius "you know what I was like when I was younger Reid, I was a player, I thought I was all that and I loved it" he paused and took a deep breath "but when I saw her lying in that hospital bed, everything changes. The thought of her not being in my life..." he closed his eyes "that night when I took her home I said something I'd never said to another girl before, I said 'you know I love you right?' and I genuinely meant it, I knew I'd always felt it. And when she said 'I love you too' I just wanted to hold her then and there but I knew she was too fragile and just needed my friendship and protection." he paused again and frowned in anger "by the time she was strong enough, Kevin Lynch had already wormed his way in. Yeah I've been with others but none of them meant anything the way she does, no where near. If I hadn't been injured in Alaska and if that storm hadn't trapped us in I don't know if we ever would've happened, I thought she was delicate again, with Prentiss leaving, being back to the place where she'd seen a man being murdered and just before she left she told me she was not going to get back with Lynch, he's not what she wants anymore. But I guess the storm was fate, it was that push we both needed, she is a much stronger woman than she was four years ago and she finally had the confidence to accept her own feelings, and I had the confidence to admit mine."
Just as he finished his phone rang, he saw the caller's name and groaned slightly, "Morgan" he answered.
"Agent Morgan!" cried the voice of Kevin Lynch "I just thought I'd let you know that Agent Jareau's phone has just turned on"
Morgan sat up straight and turned his full attention to the man he loathed "where is she?"
"Erm... They are on the Interstate 395 from D.C. to Quantico"
Morgan gave a huge sigh of relief and relaxed for the first time in hours and even said "thanks Lynch" before hanging up. Reid looked at him with anticipation waiting for answers "they're ok, J.J.'s phone just turned on so Lynch tracked it and they're on their way back!"
"That's great! But why are they only coming back now?" he asked.
Morgan shrugged, he was just glad they were safe "we'll find soon enough"
Just then he announcement called out that Quantico Station was the next stop, Reid smiled and nodded at him understandingly, glad that Morgan felt he could confide in him. He knew it wasn't easy for him to talk about his personal life, which was evident by the events from his past that he had locked away from everyone for many years, but he told him. The jock and the junior genius, the friendship that was never meant to happen but like Morgan and Garcia's relationship, it developed and strengthened over time and now, it was now near to unbreakable.
"Time to go" Hotch said walking through the door to the connecting carriage holding a newly purchased bottle of water.
Morgan and Reid followed him to the door and waited until the train stopped and the doors opened to allow them to exit.
"Please tell me that the car is here" Morgan cried scanning the car park which was now in semi-darkness.
"The keys were in my pocket" said Rossi pulling them out as if to prove his point.
"There it is" Reid called walking towards the car that was parked horizontally across the spaces at the very back which was always empty.
As they entered Hotch looked at his watch "ten minutes"
"I need to get changed" Morgan stated.
"There's no time" he replied as Rossi began to drive away.
"Hotch, I have been wearing these clothes since last night!" he cried in disbelief, he was not vain but he took self hygiene serious, he wasn't very comfortable with walking into a restaurant and sitting down to a meal still smelling of alcohol from the previous night.
"I'm sorry Morgan, you can go to the store across from the restaurant quickly and get some deodorant but apart from that we haven't got time for anything else"
He slumped back in his seat defeated, he wanted to know what was so damned special about this dinner anyway.