Hi y'all. Here's the next chapter! I hope you all enjoy it.
"Dani, can you set the table please?"
Dani instantly stopped reading her book and put it on the coffee table as she pushed herself up from the couch and walked into the kitchen. As soon as she entered the kitchen, she stopped dead in her tracks. JJ was a hurricane of a woman, moving from one thing to the other so quickly that she was more of a blur than a solid form. The counters were a mess, every burner on the stove had something on it, and the oven was full.
"Is everything okay?" Dani inquired, carefully maneuvering past JJ as to not cut off the blonde's path as she moved from the stove to the sink.
JJ looked up from the dish she was washing and gave Dani a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Yeah." She lied. "I'm just trying to get dinner ready."
Just as Dani began setting the dining room table for six people, Emily burst into the house with the desert that JJ had ordered balanced treacherously on her good arm. Dani immediately ran to her mother's rescue, taking the desert from her while Emily kicked the door closed.
"Thank you." Emily sighed gratefully. "Jen would've had a stroke if I dropped those."
"Why's she so stressed out?" Dani asked in a careful whisper. "It's just her parents."
Emily nodded and let out a slow breath as she kicked off her shoes.
"JJ and her mom have a complicated relationship."
Dani nodded in understanding, deciding not to push the matter any further. Emily probably wouldn't have told her anyway, and she really only wanted to know if it was coming from JJ. Without another word, Dani delivered the desert into the kitchen and went back to setting the table.
"Can I do anything, babe?" Emily offered, stopping JJ for a quick kiss.
"You can go rest." JJ responded surely. "The doctor said you need to rest as much as possible."
"I can help make dinner, Jay." Emily chuckled.
"Not with a gunshot wound, you can't." JJ countered.
Rolling her eyes dramatically, Emily slouched back into the living room and sat down on the couch. Dani watched her closely, noticing the way she adjusted her arm in her sling, wincing with every movement. Forcing herself out of her worry, Dani began shifting the plates on the table, making them all uniform. She busied herself with ridiculous, pointless tasks until the doorbell rang.
"Shit." JJ hissed from the kitchen.
"I've got it!" Dani called, jogging to the door.
As Dani passed through the kitchen, JJ shot her a thankful smile. Emily met Dani at the door and they both took a simultaneous deep breath before opening. As soon as Dani pulled the door open, a petite blonde woman burst into the foyer.
"Oh, Emily Darling!" The woman bellowed. "Look at you! You poor thing!"
"It's really nothing, Carolyn." Emily insisted as she allowed the older woman to give her a single-armed hug.
Carolyn pulled herself away from Emily and turned to Dani, who was standing awkwardly with her hand still on the handle of the open door. The corners of Carolyn's wide smile twitched downward ever-so-slightly, and Dani felt a pang of disappointment in her chest.
"Well…" Carolyn huffed. "You must be Dani."
With a nod, Dani offered her hand for Carolyn to shake. Carolyn looked down at Dani's outstretched hand for a second before bringing her gaze back up to Dani's eyes and tucking her hands into the pockets of her coat.
"It's very nice to meet you, young lady." She stated. "You are just a spitting image of your mother."
"Thank you, Ma'am." Dani smiled.
"Emily, get on over here."
In the midst of the show that Carolyn had put on, Dani hadn't even noticed JJ's father when he walked into the foyer. A brilliant smile spread across Emily's face as she hugged the man tightly.
"How're you feeling, my dear?" He inquired, pinning Emily with the softest 'don't you dare lie to me' look.
Dani recognized that look. It was pure JJ.
"I'm feeling alright, John." Emily assured him. "Getting better every day."
"You've got to be more careful now that you have this beautiful young woman in your life." John smiled, turning to Dani. "Are you a hugger, or would you prefer a handshake?"
Surprised by the question, Dani offered her hand just like she had to Carolyn. This time, her offer was accepted as John took her hand in both of his and squeezed it warmly.
"It's nice to meet you, sir."
"None of that 'sir' nonsense!" John insisted. "You're family, kid. Call me John."
"Yes, sir."
John just smiled and winked at Dani as he clapped his hand onto her shoulder.
"We'll work on it."
"Where on Earth is Jennifer?" Carolyn questioned, making sure her voice was loud enough to be heard in the rest of the house.
"I'm right here, Mom." JJ breathed as she came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel.
"You look so tired, Jennifer." Carolyn tutted as she hugged JJ. "Have you been sleeping?"
"Yes, Mom. I've been sleeping."
JJ turned to her father and her face lit up. Without any hesitation, JJ threw her arms around John's shoulders and hugged him tightly.
"Hi, Dad."
"It's so good to see you, Jenny."
Carolyn had walked out of the foyer and into the living room. As she examined the state of the house, she had pulled off her coat and draped it over her arm. As soon as Dani had walked into the space, Carolyn turned around and held her coat out for Dani to take.
"Do stash that in a closet somewhere, please Dear."
"Mom, you know where the coat closet is- "
"It's no problem." Dani smiled, cutting JJ off. "I'll go hang it up."
Dutifully, Dani took Carolyn's coat and shuffled back into the foyer towards the coat closet. She listened carefully to the conversation that had begun as she made sure that Carolyn's coat was hanging nicely, as to ensure that there wouldn't be any out of place creases at the end of the night. When Dani returned into the living room, JJ had already gone back into the kitchen to finish dinner while Emily went to get John and Carolyn something to drink. John had noticed Dani's copy of Crime and Punishment on the coffee table and had glanced at it with an impressed expression.
"I can't imagine Jenny is reading something so dark." He commented. "Is this yours or Emily's?"
Dani perched herself on the arm of the armchair adjacent to the couch and folded her hands in her lap.
"It's Emily's, but I'm borrowing it." Dani clarified.
"And you understand it?" Carolyn interjected, leaning back into the couch and pinning Dani with a doubtful gaze.
"Carolyn." John chastised. "Why on Earth would you ask a question like that?"
"What, John?" Carolyn defended. "It's a proven fact that foster children have lower reading and writing scores. Academics just aren't where they shine!"
Dani cleared her throat awkwardly and rubbed the back of her neck. Anger was burning in her chest so intensely that she was sure she was going to choke on it, but for JJ's sake, she pushed it down and swallowed her pride.
"I can understand it just fine, ma'am." She responded calmly.
"Dinner is ready, you three!" Emily announced as she barely managed to carry both of John and Carolyn's drinks without spilling.
Dani shot up from where she was sitting and all but ran into the dining room, grateful for the fact that she would now have a buffer between her and Carolyn.
"Dani, can you help me bring all of this out?" JJ called from the kitchen.
Without any hesitation, Dani diverted her path toward the table and circled back to the kitchen. When she walked in, JJ was attempting to balance several dishes in her arms. Laughing lightly, Dani took two of the four from her.
"It's dinner, JJ." She smiled. "Not Circ de Soleil."
JJ playfully stuck her tongue out at the young girl, earning yet another bout of bright laughter. When Dani's laughter died down, she cleared her throat, gathering the courage to speak.
"Hey, JJ?"
"Yes?"
"You did an amazing job with all of this." Dani told her with utmost sincerity. "And you don't look tired. You look great."
A warm, gentle smile spread across JJ's face.
"Let's go have dinner, love."
"So, Dani…" John began, wiping his face with his napkin. "Tell me about school. You're enjoying it, yes?"
"The girl goes to an expensive private school." Carolyn interjected with a scoff. "She'd better be enjoying it with all of the money Jennifer and Emily are spending."
"Mom- "
"I am enjoying it." Dani nodded, cutting JJ's protests off for what felt like the hundredth time that night. "My classes are going well."
"I understand you have an affinity for languages." John stated.
"I suppose I do."
"Jennifer never could seem to grasp Spanish in high school." Carolyn sighed. "That was always her sister's area."
Dani's eyes flickered to JJ's who had ducked her head. The sadness that flashed through JJ's eyes made Dani's blood boil. Her hands clenched into fists where they lay on the table, and she could feel Emily's steady gaze on her from across the table. Glancing to her mother, Dani obeyed the discreet 'leave it be' shake of her head that Emily gave her.
"It's not for everyone." Dani conceded, forcing a smile.
"How has work been going for you, Jennifer?" Carolyn inquired, obviously diverting the subject away from any focus on Dani. "You're not still parading around with that gun on your hip, are you?"
"She's not parading around, Carolyn." Emily interjected with an artificial smile. "Jen is actually the best shot on the team."
"Well I still don't see why she even needs a gun to begin with."
"I'm an FBI Agent, mom." JJ sighed. "The gun is part of the job."
"You're the public relations woman." Carolyn argued. "You don't need a gun."
"Lead Communications Liaison." Dani corrected, not looking up from the food that she was pushing around her plate.
"What was that?" Carolyn responded, her voice heightening in pitch. "Speak up if you have something to say."
"Carolyn, what has gotten into you?" John questioned, looking at his wife in disgust.
"Daniella." Emily warned.
Dani ignored Emily's warning and dropped her fork down onto her plate, resulting in a loud clatter.
"JJ is the Lead Communications Liaison for the Behavioral Analysis Unit." Dani snipped, lifting her gaze to Carolyn and pinning her with a cold glare. "Not only does she do all of the work of a field agent, but she's also the link between every community they protect and law enforcement. Everything that gets released to the public goes through her. Every interview, every news article, every radio broadcast. JJ and her title deserve respect, especially from her mother of all people."
Everyone stared at Dani in awe. John was smiling brilliantly. Emily's lips were turned up into a careful smile, and JJ's eyes were so wide with shock that it was a miracle that they hadn't popped out. Carolyn looked like her head was going to explode as she glared at Dani fiercely.
"All night I have listened to you belittle JJ and the work she has done." Dani continued, keeping her voice dangerously calm. "I allowed you to insult me and say whatever you wanted about me, because frankly, I don't give a damn what you think of me. However, as soon as you take aim at either one of my moms, it's game over. You do not come into this home and disrespect them. Am I clear?"
"Dani, go to your room." JJ ordered; her eyes glued to the table.
Dani watched JJ carefully for a moment, attempting to read her expression. Not able to figure out what JJ was feeling, Dani pushed herself up from her chair and tossed her napkin onto the table before trudging up to her room. Once they heard Dani's bedroom door close, JJ lifted her gaze to her mother and set her jaw.
"What the hell was all that about?" JJ interrogated. "Why are you treating our daughter like she's some sort of degenerate?"
"You mean Emily's daughter." Carolyn corrected. "Dani is not your daughter, Jennifer."
"Carolyn!" John barked. "That is enough."
JJ took a deep, calming breath and took a few seconds to compose herself before speaking.
"Whether or not I am Dani's mother is up to her, and no one else." JJ stated.
"Jen…" Emily began, only to be silenced by the pleading glance that JJ sent her way.
"Until tonight, I wasn't sure how Dani felt about me." She admitted. "I was worried that I was nothing more than her mother's girlfriend, or at best a glorified stepmom. Even if that was the case, I can tell you that I would walk through fire for that girl. If I could take away every ounce of pain that she has ever felt and ever will feel, I would do it in a heartbeat. "
"Jennifer- "
"No, Mom. It is my turn to talk."
Carolyn clenched her jaw and leaned back in her chair, nodding her head curtly, allowing JJ to continue.
"Aside from my job, which brought me Emily, Dani is the best thing to ever happen to me. I didn't think it was possible to love someone so fully, so quickly. She is kind and smart, and funny, and she would do anything for the people that she loves. Dani is everything that anyone could ever want in a daughter. Does she have things to work through? Of course, she does. Does that mean that I love her any less? Absolutely not. I love her and her mother with every fiber of my being, and if you cannot respect that, then you have no business in our home."
Emily reached out and took JJ's trembling hand in her own. JJ turned her head to look at her girlfriend, finding her with tears silently rolling down her face and a warm smile gracing her lips.
"I love you so much." Emily declared, her voice barely above a whisper.
"That was beautiful, Jenny." John smiled.
All eyes fell on Carolyn, who had dropped her gaze back to her wine glass as she spun it slowly.
"I suppose I was a bit rash with my judgements of her." Carolyn conceded.
"You accused to girl of not being able to read and insinuated that she wasn't worth the cost of her schooling." John snipped. "You weren't just rash in judgment, Carolyn. You were malicious and insulting. I think you owe her an apology."
"I will not apologize to a teenager." Carolyn scoffed.
"Something tells me she wouldn't accept your apology anyway, Carolyn." Emily responded coldly.
With a pointed sigh, JJ stood from the table.
"I think dinner is over." She announced.
"I think you're right." John agreed, also standing up from the table.
"But we've hardly started." Carolyn argued.
JJ crossed her arms over her chest and pinned her mother with a steady gaze.
"Mom, I love you, but until you can accept Dani into this family, we have nothing to say to each other."
"You're being childish, Jennifer."
"No, I'm being a good mother." JJ corrected. "A mother who supports her daughter."
A light knock at her bedroom door pulled Dani's attention away from the ceiling fan as she watched it spin. Exhaling slowly, Dani pushed herself into a sitting position against her headboard and hugged a pillow to her chest, resting her chin on top of it.
"Come in." She called.
The door opened slowly, and JJ was the first to enter the room, holding the very desert that Emily had nearly dropped in the foyer and three forks. Emily was right behind her, and they both crawled onto Dani's bed, sitting against the headboard on either side of her.
"Did someone order a chocolate ganache cake?" JJ inquired, wiggling her eyebrows mischievously.
"I thought you were mad at me?" Dani questioned, hesitantly taking the fork that JJ handed her.
"You did nothing wrong." JJ insisted, making sure that Dani knew that she meant it. "My mother was rude and judgmental, and you had every right to stand up for yourself."
Without even bothering to cut the cake, Emily dug her fork into the middle. Dani followed suit, and so did JJ. As soon as they all took a bite, they let out a simultaneous satisfied groan.
"That is sinful." JJ chuckled, going in for another bite.
"Did you mean what you said?" Dani blurted, directing her attention to JJ with a timid gaze. "To Carolyn… about me?"
JJ carefully swallowed the bite of cake that she had in her mouth, and the corners of her mouth twitched up into a smile.
"You heard all of that?"
Dani ducked her head and nodded shamefully.
"I wanted to make sure that you were okay, so I listened at the top of the stairs. Once you stopped talking, I came back in here."
JJ eyed Dani carefully, nudging her lightly with her elbow, causing Dani to look up at her.
"I meant every single word."
The very same day that Emily had been cleared to go back to work, the team had been requested for a case in Texas. Dani had already been on edge from the second that she found out Emily was going back to work so soon, so it was no surprise that she had objections when Emily called her to tell her that they would be flying to Texas. The guilt that both Emily and JJ felt every time they got on the jet to work a case hadn't gotten any easier over the past few months. If anything, it had gotten worse as the three of them had grown closer as a family.
Emily sat in the middle of the unairconditioned, Dallas PD conference room that the team had commandeered, attempting to fix the decades-old metal desk fan that sat in the middle of the conference room. As JJ, Rossi, Morgan, and Reid were all reading over case files around the table, Emily muttered and cursed to herself in several languages as she repeatedly banged on the metal grating of the fan.
"I don't think that's going to help, Prentiss." Derek chuckled, shaking his head.
"You want to fix it then?" Emily snapped, throwing a dagger-sharp glare his way.
Before anyone could react to Emily's show of frustration, the shrill ringing of Derek's cell phone filled the air. Not taking his eyes off of Emily, he pulled his phone from the clip on his belt and answered it.
"Hey, Babygirl." He greeted. "You're on speaker."
"Oh, wonderful." Garcia responded. "I was digging through the third victim's credit card history, and I found something interesting. All four of our victims made regular purchases at music store in downtown Dallas."
"Dante Mills was a drummer." JJ stated, looking down at the file she was holding.
"Craig Wallace played guitar." Reid added, holding up his own file.
"Both Shawn Ferguson and Trevor Norris played several instruments." Rossi continued.
"The name of the store is Zercher Intrumentals." Penelope announced. "I emailed all of you the address."
"Thanks, Babygirl." Derek called into the phone.
"Hey, Garcia?" JJ quickly interjected, leaning forward onto the table. "Is Dani there with you?"
"Oh, sweet JJ." Penelope sighed. "That girl was all kinds of squirrely tonight. Nate came and picked her up about an hour ago. They went for ice cream, and before you ask, he was not driving the motorcycle."
"What do you mean all kinds of squirrely?" Emily questioned.
"This case is a hard one for her, I think. With it being your first one back."
"It's normal for her to be nervous." Rossi affirmed. "It'll pass."
Emily and JJ both nodded in hesitant agreement.
"I'd call her when you get the chance, Mama Bears." Penelope suggested. "I think she'd feel better if she heard from you."
"Will do, Pen." Emily confirmed. "Thank you."
"Anything for my gorgeous lady crime fighters. Now go catch a bad guy so you can come home."
I hope you all liked this chapter. Up next is a little look into Nate's life, and then some other stuff that I'm excited to write. Thank you for reading!