After a rather involved conversation with Garcia, Emma hobbled out of the bedroom and faced the people sitting in the living room.
"Okay, guys," she began. "We are going to make dinner for everyone. Penelope is sending over some recipes for us to use. Spencer, get on the phone and see who we can expect to join us. Mr. Reid, start inventorying the kitchen and see what utensils and food we already have. Alex and I are going to make up a shopping list. Then, someone is going to have to go grocery shopping."
She looked at the police officers who were interestedly watching the proceedings from the kitchen table. "And quit smirking!" she instructed them.
"Sorry, ma'am," one of them apologized. "But, you sound just like my wife." He nodded towards Reid. "You two are married, aren't you?"
"It's involved," Reid told him.
"Isn't it always?" the other officer commented. "My ex and I - It just seemed to get more involved by the minute."
Both officers stood up and stretched. "It's about time we made our rounds again," the first officer explained. "Count us in for dinner. If it's anything like breakfast, I don't intend to miss it."
"That is, if we're invited," his partner added.
"I'll put you both on the list," Reid assured them. "Along with whoever is working surveillance outside. You can take turns and rotate in."
It was getting dark out when Reid, his father, and the two LVPD officers gathered in the living room of the safe house. Emma and Blake were busy in the kitchen, setting out plates and silverware, and removing pans of food from the oven. A laptop computer had been set up on the coffee table and Garcia was smiling at everyone from the screen.
Rossi knocked and then came through the door. "Alright - Here I am with the Italian bread," he announced. "As you requested, I had the bakery slice it. You said something about avoiding sharp objects?" He handed the loaf to Blake.
"Thanks!" Blake told him as she opened the bread's wrapper and placed the loaf on the table. "You will be happy to know that we did manage to resolve that particular issue and everyone pitched in to help make dinner."
Rossi sniffed the air appreciatively. "Smells good! Italian?" he smirked knowingly.
"Lasagna - Both meat and vegetarian," Emma told him. "With apologies to your Italian ancestors, Dave. Garcia got some recipes for me, but we still had to take some shortcuts - Like using store bought pasta sauces."
The door to the apartment opened again, heralding the arrival of Hotch, Morgan, and JJ.
"Something smells good!" Morgan declared as he came through the door. He looked over at the computer screen. "Baby girl, don't tell me you had something to do with this!"
"I'm just here checking on my recipes," Garcia told him. "Plus, I have to make sure my favorite SSAs are being fed properly. And, I needed to check on my new BFF."
"Penelope, Thanks So Much!" Emma moved to stand in front of the computer where Garcia could see her. "Everything turned out great!" She paused to look around the room. "Okay, everyone's here - Grab a plate and help yourselves!"
Hotch walked over to where Emma was standing. "What would you like?" he asked her.
"Excuse me?" Emma wasn't sure she had heard right.
"I have no doubt you have been standing on that leg for hours," Hotch told her. "Go, sit down, and prop it up. I'll bring you some food and something to drink. Besides, we need to talk."
"That sounds ominous," Emma commented.
"It's not really," Hotch reassured her. "Just something you need to know about. Now, what would you like to eat?"
Emma smiled at him. "Everything's good," she said. "But, I will settle for a small helping of the vegetable lasagna and some salad, please."
"Okay," Hotch assured her. "Now, on the couch and put that leg up!"
As Emma made her way to the couch, JJ spoke up. "I understand this was a group effort," she said.
"It certainly was," Blake told her. "I will have you know that Mr. Derick Morgan handled the shopping."
"And, I only had to make two additional trips to the store to pick up things I had missed," Morgan admitted.
"Plus, our two hosts from the LVPD made and tossed the salads, while Reid made the lasagna noodles," Blake continued.
"I will have you know I made them al dente - Just like Rossi showed us!" Reid announced proudly.
"I had to remind him!" Garcia spoke up from the computer screen.
"Then, Emma and I made the lasagna fillings and layered them in the pans," Blake concluded. "In addition, I will have you know that Mr. Reid is responsible for that lovely chocolate odor currently wafting through the apartment."
"Before you get any ideas, it was a box mix," Mr. Reid announced shyly.
"You applied the heat. That's the important part," Blake assured him.
Hotch smiled at his team as he held up a glass of iced tea. "Well, everyone - Here's to a job well done!" he announced.
"Hear - Hear!" JJ seconded him.
"And, on that note, I will leave you my lovelies," Garcia announced. "My dinner may not be as good as yours, but I am sure I will enjoy it. See everyone in the morning." She signed off and the computer screen went blank.