After assignments were given out the next morning, Emily, Will, JJ, and Primrose found themselves on the way out to the hospital in Silver Spring. Where June McCann was.
And they were going to tell her—while she recovered from major surgery—that her offspring was dead. Rubbing salt in the wound was the fact that June had advanced Alzheimer's Disease.
Because why not?
But at least Emily had already been in contact with June's caregivers from the hospital and the care home. They were understanding. Cooperative. Made aware of the bigger picture. They even agreed to meet with her and her people first.
Hopefully this visit wouldn't entail too much drama.
As if.
Both LaMontagnes and Primrose flanked Emily like a silent guard as they entered main lobby.
It didn't take long to spot two important-looking women standing in the center of the area. Both looked important. One wore a power-suit. The other, a nice dress, pearls, heels, and a lab coat.
They soon spotted two women in particular, standing together in the lobby. Both looked important. One wore a power-suit. The other wore a nice dress, heels, and a lab coat.
But Emily knew who they were. Director Norrington and Doctor Weaving.
"Hello." Emily greeted them. "Norrington and Weaving, I presume?"
The woman in the power-suit stepped forward first. "Yes. I'm Director Norrington. I run June McCann's care home. Are you Supervisory Special Agent Emily Prentiss?"
"Yes, m'am." Emily shook her hand.
The other woman copied this move. "I'm June McCann's primary doctor, Kate Weaving. You brought company?"
Emily then indicated each person with her. "With me are my partner, SSA Jennifer Jareau, and Sergeants William LaMontagne and Primrose King. They've been assigned to us from MPD for this case."
Norrington surveyed Emily's trio. "I take it that SSA Prentiss availed all of you as to the situation here and its nature?"
"Correct, m'am." JJ confirmed. "Speaking with June is paramount. We wouldn't be here if it wasn't a priority. The death of your patient's grown son is directly related to our investigation."
"How terrifically grim."
Doctor Weaving chimed in, "June's memory has more holes in it than usual today. Her surgery aggravated her illness. Please remember."
Emily promised they would.
One elevator ride and a hallway walk later found them in the senior care ward.
It put Emily in mind of the hospitals she'd seen in France as a child. Why she had even been in those establishments was a long story.
"Here we are." Doctor Weaving said. "Room 602."
Emily saw that the door was open. The occupant of the bed wasn't paying attention because she was looking out of the window. But this was her. The lost, mysterious June McCann.
Found.
"Is there anything else we should know before going in?" JJ inquired of Doctor Weaving.
The physician sighed. "June is aware of why she's here, but her mind has been up and down all morning so far. Take it easy with her. Please."
Emily found herself once more found herself promising on the behalf of the group that things would run smoothly.
Pleased, the doctor and the director left everyone to their own devices.
Emily took the first step towards June's room. JJ was beside her, just like always. Will and Primrose hung back. Both were happy to watch.
"June?" Emily knocked on the doorframe.
She turned at the name of her sound being said. Just for a fleeting second, all of them saw a brief second of the woman she had been. During the Louisiana years. But now that they were seeing her in person… it was clear that she had no resemblance to Will or Virginia. Thank God for small favors.
The older woman gave Emily a look of curiosity. "Hello. Have we met before?"
"No. I'm Emily." she pointed herself and then to her partner. "This is JJ. We work together at the FBI."
June arched her eyebrows. "Do you two know the J. Edgar Hoover?"
JJ kept a straight face as she realized the conversation might be a tad hard. "No, m'am. What is the last thing you remember?"
"The doctors told me I needed an operation. Did that happen yet?"
JJ gave June a kind smile. "It did happen. The only thing you have to do is work on getting better."
"Okay." June said cheerfully. "I can do that."
Emily extracted something from a file folder she had been carrying. "May I show you something?"
June sat up straighter. "Alright."
"Do you know who this is?" Emily was holding out a picture of Chase McCann.
"This my son!" June chirped. "Chase! Is he here?"
"No, m'am." Emily and JJ sat when June pointed to the chairs beside her bed. "Why are you here?"
JJ took helm of the conversation. "I am so sorry to have to tell you this, but Chase has died."
June's face fell. "What? H—"
But her mood changed on the turn of a dime again, going from sad to confused but surprised in a heartbeat.
She had seen Will.
"Oh, my stars." June gasped. "Billy? Is that you?"
Will had had a feeling that this would happen. June had thought him to be William Senior. Being the son of that man was coming back to haunt him again.
But Will remained mature. Why burst this old woman's bubble?
"Hi, J—"
But Will didn't get to finish. The moment he was within June's reach, she had taken him by the hand.
"Billy." she said in a town of awe. "How are you here? I thought you were gone."
Will cast a look at the others. All of them shrugged.
So he just rolled with it and gave his attention back to June. "I thought I'd come back for a visit."
June's eyes remained fixed on Will. "Really? Even with Junior around?"
"Really. Don't worry about him." Will did everything he could not to break. "How could I not come see you?"
June turned bashful. "You're so sweet. Are we still going to take Junior to Mexico?"
"Yes." Will decided. "The moment you're all better."
"But what about Amaya? I just can't remember if she cut out of town… My mind… It isn't what it used to be, you know…"
June's memory was now the very definition of 'up and down.' And Mexico?
"Amaya left a little while ago." Will said smoothly. "It's all okay."
"Good. We don't need her to ruin our plans."
June's words came out in an agitated huff. It looked like even to this day, she still didn't like Amaya.
Then she remembered that JJ and Emily were watching.
Something in her mind grew misaligned. "Good morning. What are your names? I'm June McCann."
This woman was having a really bad day.
"Please excuse me, everybody." came a new voice.
They turned to see a nurse in the doorway. She had a tray in her hands bearing what appeared to be medicinal pills, and a cup of water with a straw. A job had to be done.
"Doctor Weaving did tell me that Missus McCann would be having visitors. However, I'm afraid it's time for pain pills now." she explained "They're the sleep-inducing type."
Emily and JJ stood at once. Reading the room was very easy in this instance.
Will spoke to June one last time. "I have to go now."
She gave a sad sigh. "Mexico isn't off the table, is it?"
"Not in the least." Will pointed to the photograph of Chase that June hadn't let go of. "Would you like to keep that?"
"Yes, please." June said hopefully. "I never see Chase around anymore."
Will felt a great swell of pity for June. "Then consider the photograph yours."
June beamed. "Thank you, Bill. See you next time."
Will waved to her as he headed back towards the door. "Farewell, June. Think happy thoughts."
JJ, Emily, and Primrose each gave June their own good-byes before following Will out into the hallway.
Things were quiet.
"Babe, are you going to be okay?" JJ asked her husband. "That was a lot."
Will gave a shrug. "I don't know. Part of me did expect something like that to happen."
Primrose took a step closer to her partner. "Now that it has…?"
"I just wish my old man was alive. And I really want to see my mom and my sister soon." Will said honestly. "But... June mentioned Mexico. What's that about?"
He cast a look at Emily.
"Do you know if my sister has mentioned that country before?"
"I know that Virginia has never been."
The other three just stared. Emily's answer had come somewhat swiftly.
"What?" she protested. "Virginia has a humungous wall map with pushpins in it. Each marks a place that she's been to, or wishes that she could visit. Mexico is in the second set."
"Copy that." laughed Will. "Has Amaya been to Mexico?"
"I honestly don't know." Emily admitted.
Primrose cut across the conversation. "Zip it. Our friends are on the move."
Everyone sobered up.
Weaving and Norrington were indeed approaching from where they'd been sitting together at the other end of the hall.
"Were you able to tell June what you needed to?" Director Norrington asked.
"No," Emily replied. "But I don't think she totally processed it. Her mind tanked right in front of us."
JJ nodded. "We don't want to exacerbate June's delicate state further because we want her to heal. My colleagues and I won't be back unless it's absolutely necessary."
"That is appreciated." Norrington said seriously.
Weaving nodded in agreement with her own colleague. "Yes. Do you have a card with your information on it? Just in case anything arises? I already have your partner's details."
"Oh. Of course." JJ handed the doctor one of her contact cards from her inside jacket pocket. "You can reach me at these numbers."
Doctor Weaving thanked JJ and pocketed the card. "Is there anything else that we can help you with?"
JJ shook her head. "No. That was it. It was wonderful to meet you two. Thanks for your help."
Weaving and Norrington both shook their visitors' hands before wishing them good luck on the rest of their investigation.
But it was already feeling as though the trip to Silver Spring had been for nothing.