A/N: This has been such a fun experience for me. I usually write most of it after a new episode of CM season 15. The show is winding down and writing my own world of it helps alleviate the pit of dread in my stomach as the show get's closer to the end. R&R. CW/TW: mentions of rape at the end.
The party was going well, everyone was either talking, or more like arguing, in the living room, or watching the kids play in the playroom. The argument in the living room started over… something JJ was unsure of. She laughed to herself in the hallway as Morgan, Emily, and Reid continued a circular argument. JJ walked into the playroom. Hotch and Rossi had probably joined the kids to get away from the yelling. 'How ironic, that they joined the children for a moment of peace.' JJ thought to herself, laughing at the idea. She sat down next to Penelope, who, unsurprisingly, had Eloise in her lap. JJ saw Ellie yawn, dinner wasn't even served yet, but JJ knew the girl hadn't had a nap all day.
"Hey Ellie, are you getting tired?" JJ said stroking her hand through the girl's long hair. Ellie sat up in Garcia's lap, shaking her head. "Okay," JJ said skeptically before looking up to her friend, "Keep an eye on her please?" Edward and Elizabeth were telling Jack and Henry a tale from their foreign travels, a story Hotch and Rossi seemed very interested in too.
Just then Melissa popped her head out of the kitchen, she caught JJ in the hallway, "Oh! JJ, can you help me bring food out to the table, oh wait, we need to spread the table. Can you help with that first?"
JJ smiled at the normally composed woman looking a little frazzled. "Sure, let me grab the inserts for the table and I'll meet you in the dining room." JJ slipped past Melissa to get to the garage, she grabbed the inserts and a rag to wipe them off. JJ met Melissa in the dining room. Melissa found the latch under the table and released it, her and JJ each grabbed a side, pulling the table apart. JJ grabbed one insert, while Melissa grabbed the other. Once they laid them in the middle of the table, the each pushed their side back some, making sure the table and inserts got locked into place. "It's looking good Mel, let's get some more chairs and we can start setting out food. Not 10 minutes later, they had the dining room set up for everyone to eat.
JJ made her way to the playroom, "Okay guys, dinner is ready," JJ watched the boys run past her to the dining room, she managed to catch Eloise as she ran past, "You little miss, need to go potty before dinner." JJ walked off with her to the downstairs bathroom, tickling her as the girl squirmed in her arms. JJ and Ellie were the last ones to the dining room.
Emily had just finished serving Ellie when she JJ walked back in, Emily smiled brightly at her wife and the girl with her, "Ready for some food?" Emily asked excitedly. Emily took Ellie into her arms and buckled her into the booster seat, moving her plate in front of her and sitting down to eat herself.
JJ was in the middle of listening to Rossi's story when she looked over to Emily, who was too busy whispering sternly to Ellie to listen to Rossi's story. Before JJ could ask Emily about it, Ellie had a meltdown.
"I don't want it Em'ly!" Ellie swiped her hand across her part of the table, knocking her plate off, and her cup spilt all over the table. Emily jumped up as apple juice poured into her lap. If Emily was trying to solve whatever the issue was quietly that tactic was out the window now.
"Ellie! Be nice to my Emmy!" Henry yelled at the little girl.
Ellie starting crying at his raised voice immediately, soon cries turned into horrid screaming. Emily, still covered in juice, stood suddenly, in one fluid motion she was out of her chair, unbuckling Ellie from hers and carrying the girl up the stairs. Everyone sat in silence as they heard heaving footsteps creaking the floor above them, the screaming faded as the steps moved. They heard a door slam. JJ began trying to wipe up all the juice.
"Jennifer, let me get that." JJ looked up as the warm hand of Elizabeth touched her shoulder.
"There's more towels in the kitchen if you need them." JJ muttered as she stood from her seat. JJ make her way up the steps quickly. JJ peeked through Ellie's door; she saw Emily pulling some pajamas on the little girl. JJ could see her wife was upset but trying not to scare the girl. Emily sat silently as she put clothes on Ellie, her face devoid of emotion as she did so. JJ stepped into the room. "Let me get her in bed, you can go change." JJ spoke to Emily softly, stroking the older woman's hair.
Emily stood without a word and left the room. JJ got Eloise in bed and went back down to the party. Everyone was still quiet in the dining room. "Everything okay?" Morgan asked as she sat back down. Elizabeth must have found what she needed because the table was clean. JJ looked into the worried brown eyes of her friend.
"I don't know what's going on, but I'm sure Emily will fill me in when she gets back down here." JJ took a drink of her wine.
Within a couple of minutes, Emily made her way back down to the dining room, in a different pair of pants. She sat back at her seat and gulped down the rest of her wine. Everyone watched her in silence as she poured herself another full glass. After what seemed like the longest thirty seconds of their lives, Emily looked up at her friends and family. "She was overtired and didn't want to eat her spinach salad. Tantrums are to be expected with three-year-old's." Again, Emily's lack of emotion worried JJ, but now wasn't the time to ask about it.
No body was ready to speak, but Elizabeth had other ideas, "Ah, you've got a head strong little girl. Serves you right." The older woman continued eating as if that was a perfectly normal thing to say, she looked up into all the eyes boring into her, "What? You've met Emily, imagine her stubbornness multiplied by ten but in a very tiny, big-eyed package."
Emily was the first to laugh, surprising everyone. Soon everyone followed, laughter filled the room, JJ saw the warmth creep back into her wife's eyes. "Mom, is that what you call comforting?" Emily said after the laughter died down.
"No dear," Elizabeth returned a warm smile, "That's what I call vindication."
Another round of laughter filled the room. JJ looked up to her friends, "Let me tell you about what happened when I got home."
Emily remembered immediately, "Jennifer, don't you dare!"
"Oh, babe you knew this would come up." She returned her attention to her waiting friends, "So I came home, the ground floor was deserted. When I got up the stairs, I could hear Emily in Ellie's room. She was practically begging Ellie to put her shoes on. I popped my head in, just in time to see Eloise sat on her bed, Emily crouched in front of her. Ellie had her arms crossed on her chest, she looked Emily right in the eyes and said 'Why do I have to put shoes on? We're not going anywhere.' Emily said," JJ paused and turned to her wife. "Emmy dear, why don't you tell them?"
All eyes were on an embarrassed brunette, "I told her that it as polite to wear proper attire." She mumbled looking away from her parents.
JJ cracked up, "I told her she sounded like her mother. Oh my god she got so mad!" The rest of the team laughed at the story.
Edward tried his best to suppress his chuckle, but he failed. He burst into a laugh that filled the room. "You know I used to tell Lizzy the same thing. Did Emmy tell you to go away through gritted teeth? That was Elizabeth's warning shot."
JJ laughed harder, nodding her head, "She did!"
The rest of dinner went by without another hitch. Just as the night was winding down, Hotch's work phone rang. He rolled his eyes. "Hotchner." He answered his phone shortly. "Yes sir," he held up his hand to stop Rossi from saying his farewell's "We'll brief on the plane sir. Yes sir, goodbye." He hung up and irritated eyes met the curious eyes of his team. "We have a case. It's emergent. Go home, get a bag, and meet at the airport. Garcia, you're traveling with us, so pack a bag and any equipment you need." Garcia nodded. "Emily, I hate to do this, but can Jack stay here? I gave Jessica the weekend because I was supposed to be off."
"Not a problem sir, we will have plenty of fun, right boys?" She looked to where the boys were sitting on the couch, having a little boy conversation about God knows what.
"Thank you, team try to be less than an hour." He got a couple of nods as the team left to get what they need. Hotch was the last to go, he needed to say goodbye to Jack. He pulled Jack in for a hug. "I love you buddy. You'll stay with Emily this weekend. If I'm still gone when Jessica gets back, she'll get you, sound good?"
Jack hugged his dad back, "Sounds good daddy. Get the bad guy."
JJ found Emily in the hallway, "I hate that I have to leave so soon already. Will you be okay?" Emily pulled JJ in for a hug. "We'll be okay. Don't worry about us, just focus on staying safe and catching whatever freak is out there. Call if you need anything, okay?" Emily felt JJ nod into her neck.
JJ pulled back and kissed Emily sweetly. "I love you."
"I love you too." Emily rested her forehead against JJ's for a moment as they shared a sweet moment.
Their moment was cut short when Emily's parents stepped into the hall. "Do you want us to stay, Emmy?" Edward asked, rubbing a hand down Emily's back.
"No dad, I'll be fine for the night. It'll be just like the normal sleepover nights. But, if it makes you feel better, I'll call if I need you guys." Emily affirmed her parents before she walked them out. When everyone was gone, Emily began trying to pick up. The last bit of the night had given her a headache.
JJ came down the stairs, her go bag in hand. "Honey just go to bed. The boys are up playing in Henry's room. You can put them to bed, I'm sure they are as beat as you." JJ pulled Emily in for a hug and kiss. "I love you. Enjoy the weekend. Call if you need anything." Emily just hugged her harder.
Soon, JJ was gone. The house was quiet and empty as she finished picking up. The only noise that could be heard was the soft talking of the boys up in Henry's room. When Emily got finished, she trudged up the stairs, peaking her head into the boy's room.
"Hey guys, time for bed. Jack, your dad brought a bag by. It's in your room." Of the five upstairs bedrooms, three were ready for kids if they needed it. Emily was grateful she didn't have to put Jack in the guest room. Jack got up to leave, "I'll be in to say goodnight in a bit, think you can wait up for me?" Emily winked at the boy before he could leave the room. She got Henry in pajamas and tucked into bed, reading him a story before kissing him goodnight. She repeated the process with Jack. She made her way to her room but stopped in Ellie's room before she let herself sleep. She brushed a stray strand of hair out of her face and noticed Ellie was a little warm. She put the inside of her wrist to the girls exposed forehead to confirm her theory. Ellie had a low fever. Emily would keep and eye on her.
In her room, Emily stripped and pulled on a t-shirt and some fleece leggings, she moaned when she could finally crawl into bed for the night. Sleep took her fast, usually she would roll around when Jennifer was gone, but her day was long, and her body was exhausted.
Once everyone arrived at the jet, Hotch let the pilots know they could leave. "I hope you guys packed warm." He deadpanned his team. He suppressed a grin when he heard them all moan and groan.
"Why do I never get to travel on trips to Florida?!" Garcia was already irritated.
"Because Florida already has up to date communication." He answered not looking up from his file.
"Where are we going, the North Pole?" Morgan asked sarcastically.
Hotch looked up and sighed, "We're going to Wyoming. We need Garcia because that whole state is like a dead zone for communications. There's been a series of brutal rapes in Gillette, Wyoming. The state does not have the resources to take care of this and have asked for urgent assistance."
Reid interrupted, "According to the national census figure, Wyoming is the least populated state in the country with an estimated 544,270 residents spread over more than 97,000 square miles. Statistically speaking it is highly unlikely for a major serial crime. How are we sure it's not just a crime surge being perpetuated into a serial by local law enforcement?"
"Well just take a look at all the victims," Morgan spoke up, pointing to his file. "All the women are blond, between the ages of 18 and 24. That definitely a point towards a serial."
"That's not all," Hotch spoke again, "There is a very distinct MO; Each woman is left unconscious and naked in a church, different churches, so the religious aspect probably isn't as important to him. Each woman reported that the guy wore a mask, one of those white, faceless masks. They each reported that he told them to call him 'daddy'."
"Fucking perv," JJ muttered under her breath.
"Agreed, also another sign to serial is that he left DNA on all the victims. Preliminary results show it's the same DNA, but they need the state lab to confirm it. Thankfully, Gillette has a regional airport we've been cleared to fly into. Local law enforcement will provide some cars. Let's try to get some rest before we land." Hotch told them with finality.
JJ groaned and stretched out the best she could, she was tired, and she knew this would be a tough case. Soon sleep took her, and the rest of team. With the rest of the world asleep, one rural town in Wyoming was being terrorized. This had to end.