Sorry it took me this long to put this up. Life happened.
This chapter is a recap. It's getting its own space because it's just so long. You'll thank me later.
Point of reference: this happens about six months after Emily joined the BAU, but before the Jones episode. I wrote this before I could take Will seriously. Things have changed since then, but writing Jemily is yet very fun.
Stand In The Rain is about JJ's escape from an abusive relationship. Her biggest reason for escape is because she's pregnant, and the baby's father didn't take well to the news at all. He even initiated a fight that led to JJ breaking one wrist. Emily comes to JJ's rescue just after his departure. By sheer happenstance, Emily is pregnant with an IVF baby.
The case that the team gets directly after this incident takes them to New York, where they encounter a friendly face. JJ is even kidnapped by her abuser and put through the paces when his own plan goes badly astray. He is dead by the end of the case. JJ and Emily grow closer even closer after this. Emily even helps JJ learn all over again about positive touch and just being loved. The abuser had insinuated various ideas that helped JJ become greatly disillusioned with her own self-worth. Emily's parents have also been loving on JJ in the way that parents do.
JJ's arm has healed perfectly from her injury. This is good because their next case takes them back to New York and things are shot to hell. The team becomes caught in a child and weapons trafficking case. Emily is even kidnapped in broad daylight. Derek takes a bullet trying to protect her and is rushed to the hospital. At the unsubs' stronghold, Emily is forced to take care of the trafficked children who are already there. The unsubs hurt her when she isn't doing that. A lot.
By the end of the ordeal, Emily's most significant injuries are a bruised bone and a twisted ankle. Per doctor's orders, she's even confined to a wheelchair until her leg is completely healed. She's also very jumpy when people get too close to her because the traffickers did a number on her. JJ is now the one having to help her learn about positive touch. They're also staying at Emily's parents house for a few days because they've been so exhausted.
During the second case in New York, JJ and Emily befriend the Fitzgerald family. One of their younger number, a girl named Polly is amongst the kidnapped children Emily spends time with. One of her brothers-in-law is even found to be partially responsible for the whole mess. He is arrested by the end of the case. JJ and Emily also meet two more of the family, twins Charlotte and Quinlan. Both of them end up moving to D.C. because they know Haley and were hired by the Hotchners to be Jack's nannies.
Part of JJ's family has moved to town. In this case, it's her big brother Archer, his wife Cho, and their daughter Kaida. They've only been around for a little while. Cho even happens to be very pregnant with twin boys. She's due any day.
The present case where the story starts is a small bit of a doozy.
It began with the BAU's day off going awry.
Archer calls JJ to ask her if she and Emily will take care of Kaida for the day, since she's off school. He and Cho don't want to leave the house because of how precariously close she is to going into labor. They bring Kaida shopping. According to Archer, she needs a new outfit and to get a birthday present for her best friend, whose party she is attending in two days' time. JJ agrees. As does Emily.
Jack also happens to be at the mall this time, with Charlotte and Quinlan. The trio is just there to have some fun.
Everything is fine until two fights break out on the other side of the mall. There's even a stampede of extremely frightened people running away. JJ, Emily, and Kaida are pulled from the path by Charlotte and Quinlan, who were passing by with Jack. They all take refuge in a nearby toy shop. A small number of people are already there.
Kaida spots her school friend, Kendra (whose party she was shopping for), just across the main walk—in front of the bookstore. And she's holding a baby. The little one is a baby girl by the name of Zooey. JJ actually met her and took care of her during a case that's mentioned at the very beginning of this story. Now she's in D.C. with her parents. They're presumed to be trapped in the bookstore, where the main source of the events are happening. Kendra's parents are confirmed as also being trapped. The question to all this is, why? I'll rehash that part in another chapter.
[Some noteworthy points: JJ's mom and Cho's parents are in town and sticking close to our heroes. They want to be nearby when the new grandchildren are born. Emily's parents are hanging around because they're also invested in the new arrivals. As for Cho, she starts having contractions, but doesn't want to leave the house because she's keeping tabs on what's happening at the mall. Haley is also there because she's friends with Cho and was already hanging out with her. She's pregnant in this story, and works as a nurse. Penelope is also pregnant. She's even engaged to Derek. Also, JJ and Emily have made friends with one of the toy store occupants—a teenage girl by the name of Sunday]
The rest of the BAU team have been made aware of the problem by now. All of them are working together with Strauss to formulate a plan of rescue and figure to why the disturbance has happened in the first place. (I'll explain when we get there) Everyone is camped out in a mobile command center just inside in the police and SWAT blockade. At the moment, Rossi and Spencer have left to talk to the head of the security operations just inside the mall. They have an idea.
If you've made it this far, then congrats!
But if you have problems with what's happening… well, that's going to be awkward. I started this story five years ago. Can't change it now. I was also a beginner at wristing Criminal Minds fics. Please don't waste my time or yours with complaints. And no, I can't make the recap shorter.
On with the story now!
