Chapter 146
AN: Sorry about there being no chapter yesterday. For a little while I will be updating every second day because I'm feeling pretty Depressed due to my lack of progress in getting a Grad Job so I'm having difficulties writing. Also, sorry about this being up later than usual.
Two weeks have passed since Penelope retuned from San Francisco and in that time not only has Casey started to laugh, but she can also roll over. It's early in the morning and Penelope and Emily are in the kitchen with Connor and Casey. While Emily is feeding Casey Penelope is getting breakfast ready.
"What's for breakfast?" Connor asks, and as they have seen how well he can talk now that he is opening up more neither Emily nor Penelope are surprised about how well spoken he is.
"Toast, and eggs," Penelope tells him, as Penelope checks her phone.
"Sounds yummy, doesn't it," Emily says to Connor.
"Yep," Connor confirms.
"Still nothing?" Emily asks her wife, knowing exactly who she was trying to get in contact with.
"Nope, it's been two weeks of radio silence," Penelope admits, and Emily feels extremely concerned for her wife as she can tell the effect that not talking to Stephen is having on her. "So, this morning I'll take the girls and you've got Connor, Casey and Noah?" Penelope asks her wife, clearly changing the subject. Even though the school and day-care/early learning centre is in the same place Penelope and Emily have come to realise that it takes longer to go to the day-care/early learning centre than taking the girls and so they have been splitting the school drop off to try and be as efficient as possible.
"Yeah, sounds good to me," Emily says, as Casey finishes her bottle. While Emily would very much like to keep talking to Penelope about her and Stephen she notices the time and knows that unless the girls and Noah get up soon they are all going to be late. "I'll get Kenz, Mads, and Noah," Emily says, walking over and putting Casey down before heading upstairs.
A while after Emily went to get the three older kids up Tara and Luke are walking along the catwalk, towards the roundtable room, at the BAU.
"I don't know, it's only been four months since our first date," Luke admits.
"You guys going steady or what?" Tara asks.
"We're trying not to put a label on anything," Luke reveals, to Tara's amusement.
"Mmm. See you've got the glow though," Tara teases. "It's all over you right now," Tara says.
"Men don't glow," Luke objects and Tara just gives him a look. "Lisa's got a draw at my place," Luke admits.
"Okay, so this is getting serious," Tara realises.
"She's got me thinking about next steps," Luke admits.
"Oh, all right," Tara says. "See, that's because your biological clock is ticking my friend," Tara teases.
"What about you? You and Stephen thinking about taking a bigger step?" Luke asks curious.
"We agreed we'd take things slow," Tara reveals, as while she wouldn't say that she and Stephen have commitment issues they do both have issues that make them hesitant about relationships.
"It's been almost a year," Luke points out, but before Tara can respond Emily walks up.
"You guys ready?" Emily asks.
"Yeah," Tara confirms.
"Hey, is Reid back from sabbatical?" Luke asks curious.
"Ah, no, but I just talked to him on the phone. he sends his love," Emily says, and once she does Luke heads into the roundtable room but Emily stops Tara, both of them knowing what they need to talk about. "Has Stephen mentioned anything about Pen? Given any indication as to whether he's going to talk to her about this Jesse thing?" Emily asks curious.
"He hasn't even mentioned her since the night he got home," Tara admits. "I know him well enough to know that pushing will get me nowhere," Tara admits as while she can tell that not talking to Penelope is hurting him she can also tell that he's not going to change his mind anytime soon.
"I hate this," Emily admits. "They're both just hurting themselves by not reaching out," Emily comments, sounding frustrated.
"I know. They're both too stubborn for their own good," Tara admits, as the two of them walk into the roundtable room.
"So where are we headed this time?" Matt asks as Emily walks over to Penelope at the front of the room while Tara sits down.
"We are back to the enchantment of New Mexico, which, the last time I was there, was a little less enchanting a lot more cuckoo bananas," Penelope comments. "Nevertheless, we persisted. This time we're going to Taos," Penelope comments.
"Yesterday, a thirty-eight-year-old physician named Stacy Uqalla was found dead in a clinic where she worked. She had a hole drilled into the left side of her head," Emily explains.
"Wait. There's more disgusting," Penelope reveals. "Last week, Steve Kante, forty-year-old high school teacher, was found dead in his home," Penelope explains.
"He was found by a co-worker when he didn't show up at work, and like Stacy, he also had a hole drilled through the left side of his head," Emily explains.
"Last year we had a case in Florida," JJ remembers. "The guy gave his victims chemical lobotomies. He used a drill as well," JJ remembers.
"But the placement here, side of the head, it's totally different," Luke says, looking at the picture.
"You know, there was a famous experiment in the sixties. A Dutch professor believed he could induce a permanent high by drilling a small hole in the skull," Rossi remembers.
"Yeah, trepanation," Tara remembers. "Human remains from as far back as the Neolithic period have shown evidence of such drilling. It was once thought of a way to release evil spirts from the body," Tara explains. "And even today, some people still see it as a possible avenue towards higher consciousness," Tara explains.
"Or they could just try mediation," Rossi suggests.
"You meditate, Rossi?" Matt asks surprised.
"Oh, yeah. Three times a week and twice on Sunday," Rossi jokes.
"Taos attracts an interesting wash of transplants and tourists, people trying to get back to nature or find a more spiritual existence," Emily explains.
"So, no shortage of people trying to buy crystals, then," Tara realises.
"This guy could be some twisted new-age mystic," Luke realises.
"Or just some Joe crazy spiralling out of control," Matt realises.
"Well, whatever the reason, two bodies in short succession. Feels like this guy's just getting started," JJ realises.
"Taos PD things so, and I agree," Emily says. "Wheels up in twenty," Emily says, and once she does everyone except she and Penelope head out of the room.
"Stay safe," Penelope says to her wife.
"I will," Emily says. "Are you going to be okay, Babe?" Emily ask concerned.
"I'll be fine, and I've got the kids handled," Penelope admits.
"I know you do, Pen," Emily says, knowing that. "That wasn't what I was asking," Emily admits, and Penelope smiles softly.
"I appreciate that, Amore, but I'm okay," Penelope assures her wife.
"Okay," Emily says, not completely sure she believes that. "Tell the kids I will video call tonight," Emily tells her wife. "I don't know what time exactly, but I will call," Emily promises.
"I'll tell them," Penelope assures her wife. "You should get going, I love you,"
"I love you," Emily responds, and the two of them kiss. Once Penelope and Emily break apart Emily collects her go bad from her office before heading towards the plane. As she goes Emily can't help but feel a little strange about leaving the kids behind for the first time.
Hours later Emily and Tara have talked to the families of the now two victims, and the two of them, along with Rossi and a local police officer are in the conference room of Talos PD.
"Luke and I couldn't find any forensic evidence at the crime scene, but we did talk to Ben's foreman. He said Ben was well liked and a hard worker," Rossi explains.
"Yeah, Ben's wife told us something similar," Tara admits. "She also said that Ben had a gambiling problem and owed twenty five thousand. She didn't know to whom," Tara explains.
"Stacy's husband said that the unsub was looking for something specific," Emily explains.
"Money? Is that what all this is about?" Rossi asks.
"Yeah, we're looking into local bookies and loan sharks," the Local Police Officer, Karen, says. "They're mostly small-timers around here, but we're running down the usual suspects," Karen explains, and as she does Emily's phone rings.
"Pen, you're on speaker. What did you find?" Emily asks her wife.
"Some shade of the snarky variety," Penelope admits. "Hashtag no judgement, but our first victim Steve Kante left behind a winding trail of oddly timed cash deposits," Penelope explains. "None of them the same amount. All of them are under ten thousand," Penelope explains.
"So he knows how to stay off the IRS' radar," Emily realises.
"Cash deposits of various amounts at irregular intervals," Rossi says, like he is pondering something. "Steve could have been a bookie on the side. Maybe even Ben's," Rossi suggests.
"I know bookies like to skim off the top. What if he did and got caught?" Tara suggests. "Maybe that's what got him killed," Tara says.
"What about Stacy?" Rossi asks.
"Stacy had some trouble with her student loans," Penelope explains. "When she got out of med school, she diligently tried to pay them down over the last ten years. Besides that, nothing stands out," Penelope explains.
"Maybe she saw something she shouldn't have and somebody's afraid she'll talk," Karen realises.
"It's certainly possible," Rossi says.
"Let's follow this money trail. See where it takes us. It could lead us to some kind of enforcer," Emily says. "Thanks Pen," Emily says.
"No problem, Amore," Penelope says, before hanging up.
Once Penelope hangs up with her wife she packs up her handbag, and her laptop bag, and heads out, knowing that she needs to get home to the kids, but also that she will have to continue working the case.
A while after Penelope left the BAU she has made dinner for the kids, which they have eaten, and made sure Kenzie and Maddie have done their homework. As there is still a little bit of time before bedtime Penelope is in the main living area with all the kids. While Kenzie is on her laptop having some fun time, Maddie is drawing, as Noah, Connor, and Casey are listening to Penelope read a story, though it seems that Connor is the most interested.
As she reads to the kids Penelope's tablet, which is near Kenzie, starts to ring.
"Kenz, can you pass that here. It probably Emily," Penelope explains, making her book and closing it, before Kenzie hands over the tablet. Once she gets the tablet Penelope opens it and sees that it is Emily. "It's Em," Penelope says, as both Kenzie and Maddie move over so that she is sitting next to her. "Hey Amore," Penelope greats.
"Hey, I only have five minutes, but I wanted to see you all, talk to you all before you went to bed," Emily explains.
"Hi Emily," Connor says.
"Hey Bud," Emily says to him. "Hi Noah, Hi Casey, Hi Mads, Hi Kenz," Emily says to each of the children.
"Hi Emily," Noah, Maddie, and Kenzie say.
"How were your days? Tell me everything?" Emily asks, and the kids start to explain what their various days were like.
A few hours after Emily video called her family the team have given their profile and Penelope is working in her home office; while having the baby monitor next to her so she can hear if something happens with Casey. As it's so late Penelope is trying a new type of coffee that she has made for herself. While she drinks her coffee Penelope finds something that her wife needs to know so using her home desktop set up Penelope calls Emily who is with Matt.
"Go ahead, Pen," Emily says to her wife.
"Mmm. So I've been reading message boards after message board, and let me tell you.. hot take… don't read the comments," Penelope says, and because she is speaking so fast Emily and Matt exchange looks. "Also, I've discovered something called nitro cold brew. I think the military developed it to keep soldiers up for weeks at a time…." Penelope explains, causing the concern of both Matt and Emily to rise. "Feeling great. Also I have a lead," Penelope explains.
"Okay, let's hear it," Emily says, feeling rather concerned about her wife.
"Ha, ha. Pun intended," Penelope says amused. "S, the nexus of the local hum heroes is a game named Terry Rossett," Penelope explains. "He's a social worker slash counsellor, and I called him, and he's on his way to you right now," Penelope explains.
"Thanks Pen," Emily says.
"And Penelope, maybe lay off that cold brew," Matt suggest.
"Cool story, brah, never," Penelope says.
"Pen; maybe think about it Babe," Emily suggests, as she isn't sure this is going to end well.
"I love you, but no, bye," Penelope says, before hanging up.
"Penelope on Nitro coffee. That's going to be interesting," Matt comments.
"Tell me about it," Emily says, not even hiding her concern.
After a night of no sleep Penelope has fed Casey, gotten Connor and Noah up and dressed, and is in the process of making breakfast. She is almost finished cooking when Kenzie and Maddie, both of whom are dressed apart from shoes, walk in.
"Hi, hi, morning, morning," Penelope says, and because she is speaking so fast Kenzie and Maddie exchange looks.
"Is everything okay?" Maddie asks, feeling nervous, but she is trying to hide that.
"Yep," Penelope says. "I've just had a lot of coffee, it was really good," Penelope explains. "But for you I have orange juice, French toast, eggs, and fruit, plus there is also some yogurt if you want that," Penelope says, putting plates in front of Kenzie, Maddie, Noah and Connor.
"This is plenty, thanks Penelope," Kenzie says.
"It smells good," Connor says.
"I hope It tastes like that too, eat up," Penelope says, and the kids do just that.
A while after she gave the kids breakfast Penelope has taken them to school, and is in her office working when she finds something and so she calls JJ who is with Tara and Matt.
"I cross-referenced local people who claim to hear the um with the four victims. I got five guys who are match, but they all have super solid alibis," Penelope explains.
"So, we know for a fact that our unsub is male. And we've speculated that he most likely hears the hum, but only two percent of the population can hear it," JJ says. "So, what if his connection to all of this was, I don't know, one step removed," JJ suggests.
"Maybe somebody close to him hears it," Tara suggests. "A parent, a girlfriend, a wife," Tara suggests.
"Whoever it is, they may be the reason he stayed in Taos," Matt suggests.
"Okay, Garcia, use those same parameters but check for a women this time," JJ instructs.
"Mama's systems are upgraded and purring," Penelope says.
"What if this is a madness shared by two?" Tara asks.
"Folie a deux," JJ says. "We've seen it before in criminal partnerships where two or more people share the same delusion or belief system," JJ says.
"Yeah, but we know this guy's working alone," Matt says.
"Delusional disorders are complex," Tara says, knowing that. "Usually when two or more people share a belief system, it's because their lived experience has brought them to the same conclusion. But I have read about cases where a belief was induced, where the beliefs of one person penetrate the other and consume them," Tara explains.
"Like passing on a virus," JJ realises.
"So, you're saying maybe the unsub couldn't hear this a year ago, but he can hear it now?" Matt asks.
"With the amount of rage he's shown, I'd bet anything that he hears it now," JJ says.
"I've got three women who could be a match," Penelope says. "First one lives out of state. Second died three years ago in a car accident. Third has posted a lot of hum hearer message boards and chat rooms," Penelope says. "She abruptly stopped posting about a year ago," Penelope reveals. "Hey, hey, her last post was exactly a year before the first murder. No sign of her since," Penelope explains.
"Her disappearance could be his stressor," Tara theorises.
"Okay, who is she?" JJ asks.
"Uh, Sarah Sands, a local sculptor, moved to Taos three years ago to be an artist in residence at the art collective there," Penelope explains.
"Was Sarah married?" JJ asks.
"Yeah. To a Caleb Sands," Penelope answers. "HE works at a solar panel company. Sending his photo now," Penelope says, and as she looks at the picture she realises something. "Whoa!"
"They're a match. Caleb's our unsub. We need an APB out on him immediately," Matt realises.
"Here's his work and home address," Penelope says as she sends them.
"Thanks Garcia," JJ says, before hanging up.
Hours later Tara has successfully talked down the unsub and the team are on the jet home while Penelope is home with the kids. While Matt, Luke, JJ, Rossi and Emily are together Tara is off sitting by herself.
"I mean, can you imagine being driven mad by a single sound?" Matt asks.
"The sound of a fork scraping against metal makes my skin crawl," Matt admits.
"Will sings in the shower. Nineties alt-rock. Oh, my god. It would drive anyone crazy," JJ comments.
"The way Rossi swirls his whiskey, ice cubes clinking against the side of the glass," Emily says, and Rossi gives her a look. "I know, the finer things in life," Emily says, putting on a voice.
"Have I ever told you about the time I was having drinks with the king of Sweden?" Rossi asks.
"What? Ok, wait. The last time you told that story, wasn't it the, uh the mayor of Stockholm?" JJ asks.
"Yeah, you lost twenty grand that night," Emily says, and as she does Luke walks over to Tara and sits down across from her.
"Folie a deux. You really connected with him," Luke says.
"yeah, thanks," Tara says.
"How'd you come up with that?" Luke asks curious.
"Experience," Tara says, and she sighs. "Uh, before I was with Stephen, before I was engaged to Douglas, I was married once," Tara says. "My husband and I were both in grad school, and we… we really struggled," Tara admits. "I was teaching, he was writing his thesis, and working nights, and.. . he started taking uppers to stay awake," Tara explains. "And I just watched him turn into somebody that I didn't recognize," Tara admits. "But the whole time, he was convinced he had it all under control, and I believed him," Tara explains. "And we thought that we could handle his addiction. That was our delusion, our folie a deux. By the time we got help, we just couldn't get back what we'd lost. You know? The future we had once seen for ourselves was gone," Tara explains.
"I'm sorry. that must have been a tough thing to go though," Luke tells her, feeling bad for the person who has become an annoying big sister to him.
"Yeah. Well, it's not something I bring up at dinner parties," Tara admits.
"But it is something you should tell Stephen, especially if that is part of the reason why you're taking your relationship slow," Luke advises.
"I'll think about it," Tara responds.
"You know, I didn't even know you were married," Luke admits.
"What you don't know about me could fill a book, my friend," Tara says before taking a drink.
A little while after she talked about awful sounds with Rossi, JJ, Matt and Luke Emily is arriving home, and as she walks into the main living area she sees Penelope on the couch reading to all the kids who are clearly waiting up for her, even though it is past Noah and Connor's bedtime, well past Casey and almost Maddie and Kenzie's.
"Emily!" Kenzie says happily as she and her siblings who can walk run over to Emily and hug her.
"Hi everyone," Emily says, hugging each of them as kissing their heads. "What are you all doing up?" Emily asks, glancing over to Penelope.
"We wanted to wake up for you," Maddie explains.
"I figured it wouldn't hurt one night," Penelope says, from where she is on the couch, as while she would love to hug Emily too she is letting the kids do so first. "But Connor and Noah, you did agree to go to bed once Emily got home," Penelope says.
"Not so fast, I have something for all of you, sit down, sit down," Emily says. "I was going to wait until morning, but I think now is a good time," Emily says as all the kids sit on the couch, and she searches her go-bag until she finds what she was looking for. When Penelope realises what Emily has pulled out of her bag she can't help but smile as she realises what her wife is done. "I'm going to go away for work a lot, it's unavoidable," Emily says as she hands each of the four older kids a postcard with Taos on it, and still has one which is clearly for Casey. "But I got you all these, and I will get you postcards from every city I go to so you know that no matter where I go, no matter how far away I am, you're always on my mind," Emily explains to her kids.
"Thank you," Kenzie says, sounding amazed.
"It's so pretty Mom," Noah says, looking at Emily to the complete shock of everyone else. "Isn't it Mama?" Noah asks, showing the postcard to Penelope.
"Uh, yeah, Bud, it is," Penelope says, sounding shocked, and looking at Emily who seems to be just as shocked.
"Okay, Casey, Connor, Noah, time for bed," Emily says, getting over her shock to focus on what she needs to.
"Yep, let's go," Penelope says, and she, Emily, Connor, Noah and Penelope holding Casey head upstairs.
A few minutes later Penelope has put Casey to bed, and Emily has helped Noah and Connor brush their teeth. Having told Connor that they'd be with him in a couple of minutes Penelope and Emily are in Noah's room.
"You comfortable Bud?" Emily asks.
"Yes Mom," Noah says, and Emily isn't sure if she is going to get used to hearing that, but she loves it.
"You got your teddy?" Penelope asks.
"Yes Mama," Noah answers.
"Okay, if you need anything you know where we are," Emily says. "We love you," Emily says, kissing his head.
"We love you," Penelope says, kissing his head too.
"Love you too," Noah responds, and once he does Emily double checks to make sure he is tucked in properly and then both Penelope and Emily head out of the room, turning off the light as they go, and head straight to Connor's room.
"You ready for bed, Bud?" Emily asks as they walk into his room and find Connor in his bed.
"Yes," Connor answers, and as he does Penelope recognizes the look on his face which says he is trying to figure something out.
"Do you want to ask something?" Penelope asks as both she and Emily sit down on Connor's bed.
"Noah called you Mom and Mama," Connor says, looking between Penelope and Emily.
"Yeah, he did," Penelope confirms.
"Can I?" Connor asks.
"Is that something you'd like to do?" Emily asks, as she checks to make sure he is tucked in properly.
"Yes," Connor answers.
"Then of course you can," Penelope says, causing Connor to smile.
"Good night Mom and Mama, I love you," Connor says, looking between them.
"We love you too," Emily says, kissing Connor's head and once she does she moves out of the way.
"We love you," Penelope says, kissing his head too, and as they are sure Connor is okay both Penelope and Emily head out of Connor's room, turning the light off and closing the door as they go.
"Mom and Mama, that's new," Emily comments, once they are outside the boys rooms.
"Yeah, but it's incredible," Penelope admits.
"It really is," Emily admits. "We should talk to the girls, they might not be as eager as their brothers," Emily says.
"I know," Penelope admits. "It's their choice," Penelope says.
"Yeah, it is," Emily confirms, as Penelope walks closer to her.
"I didn't get to say it earlier, welcome home," Penelope says, before kissing her.
"I'm glad to be home," Emily respond.
"Postcards?" Penelope asks her wife.
"I know how much it meant to you, I wanted to give our kids that," Emily says as the two of them head downstairs.
Once downstairs Penelope and Emily head straight back to the main living area where Kenzie and Maddie are on the couch. Seeing them Emily and Penelope walk over and sit down either side of them.
"You want to talk to us about what Noah said," Kenzie realises.
"We do," Emily confirms. "Connor has also decided that he wants to call us Mom and Mama," Emily explains.
"But if that's not something either of you want to do then that's okay," Penelope explains.
"Pen and I love you, and your siblings. We consider you to be our daughters, and we plan to adopt you as soon as we are able, if that's okay with you," Emily admits. "But if you don't want to call us Mom we understand; and we want you to know it's okay," Emily assures them.
"if you want to call us Mom now, that's great, but if you're not ready yet, or if you're never ready, that's great too. The choice is yours," Penelope explains.
"Can we think about it?" Maddie asks, after looking at her sister.
"Of course," Emily says, and she hugs Maddie, while Penelope hugs Kenzie.
While Penelope and Emily are with their kids Tara and Stephen are having take away at Tara's apartment.
"Sounds like a complicated case," Stephen notes as Tara told him a little about the case they just worked.
"It really was," Tara admits. "It made me think about a lot of things," Tara admits.
"Anything you want to share?" Stephen asks curious.
"I was married once," Tara reveals. "And… that whole situation affected me, in ways I'm only just comprehending," Tara admits.
"I get that," Stephen says, as he does.
"I know you do," Tara says, as she reaches out and takes Stephen's hand. "So, I don't want to go by the clocks that anyone else think is right. I want to go by ours, by what feels right for us," Tara tells her boyfriend.
"I want that too," Stephen says, and the two of them kiss.