Agent Hotchner Jr was standing her back against a pile of boxes. Her gun held ready to defend herself if she needed to. She looked around. She couldn't see her back up anywhere. She and Rossi had been sent to talk to witnesses who had come forward after they had been in Texas for over a week. This case was really puzzling them. So, when they had a witness come forward but was to scared to come into the station for fear of being seen. Hotch sent Rossi and Hotch Jr. to the witnesses location.
Had he known it was a set up Lorelai would not have been going but the rest of the team would have.
When they got there, and shots started going off towards them. Rossi grabbed Lorelai and pulled her behind a stack of boxes. They both shot back towards where the shots were coming from and during the fire fight the two of them got separated. They had both called for back up and back up was coming but what was minutes felt much longer to Lorelai. She heard someone coming from around the boxes and she pointed the gun as the person came from around the boxes. She pointed it to their head. She saw who it was and slowly lowered the gun.
It was Emily. Lorelai was confused. Emily brought her gun down as well and motioned for Lorelai to get back against the box. Lorelai did as she was instructed. Lorelai had no idea what Emily was doing there but now was not the time for questions.
The back up Lorelai and Rossi called for came quickly after that. When she knew that Lorelai was safe she whispered to her. "I was never here." before she took off in the opposite direction
They got their bad guys and Rossi, and Hotch Jr. came out of the building. Lorelai looked around and Emily was no where to be seen. She was very confused.
"You alright?" Rossi asked her leading her towards the waiting ambulance.
"Yeah. I'm fine." Lorelai said.
"You sure? You seem confused almost." Rossi said pointing to the stretching.
Lorelai sat and the paramedics checked her over.
"I just… I. don't know." Lorelai said she wanted to respect Emily request. Was she there undercover? Working on their case? And never told Hotch?
Hotch came over. "You okay?" he asked
Lorelai nodded.
"I think she might be in shock." Rossi said
"Her blood pressure is a little high. Considering the situation not surprising. Other than that, she seems fine." The paramedic. Given she is pregnant however might be beneficial to get a more thorough examination."
"I'm fine." Lorelai said.
"You sure? It doesn't hurt to get a better check." Hotch said
Lorelai nodded. "Honestly. I'm fine. Just need a few minutes."
Hotch nodded. "Okay."
Spencer came over and gave her a bottle of water. Which she drank some of without hesitation.
"Agent Hotchner. We saw a woman running out the back of the building. Couldn't catch her." An officer said describing what she looked like.
Lorelai took a breathe causing three sets of eyes to lock on her.
"Did you see someone that fits that description?" Hotch asked
"Um. No." Lorelai said her voice a pitch higher than normal.
Rossi, Reid, and Hotch exchanged glances.
"You sure?" Reid asked
"Yup. Didn't really see anyone that close up." Lorelai said again her voice at a higher pitch
Everyone got back to work. Once things were dying down Reid looked at Hotch Jr. "Want to ride back with me?"
"Sure." She said as they all headed to cars and back to the station.
"You know you have a second tell when your lying right?" Reid said
"I've been told yes." Lorelai said
"And we all know your lying about not seeing whomever that woman was." Reid said
Lorelai looked out the window and mouthed 'Fuck.'
"So. What's going on?" Reid asked
"Okay. Yes. I did see them. But you have to trust that there is a good reason to keep it to myself." Lorelai said.
"Lorelai if someone you know is in trouble maybe the team can help." Spencer said
"I don't know that they are in trouble…. I just know that they are a good person and I know they are on our side." Lorelai said
"So, someone law enforcement?" Spencer asked
"I think I'm going to stop talking now." Lorelai said
"That's a yes." Spencer said
"Agent Reid. We are dropping this." Hotch Jr. said
Spencer nodded. They pulled in at the police station and went inside. Reid went and told Hotch what Lorelai had told him.
"Thanks Agent Reid." Hotch said. He went to his youngest agent. "Agent Hotchner. A word." He said
Lorelai sighed and got up and went with him. "Reid tell you what I said?"
"Yup. But you need to tell me who she is." Hotch said
"With all due respect. No." Agent Hotch Jr. said
"Excuse me?" He said
"No Sir." Lorelai said.
Hotch crosses his arms and started to glare at the younger agent.
"You could tear into my ass, and I still wouldn't tell you so your signature glare will not work this time." Lorelai said
"Who the hell would you go this far to protect. Rebecca?" Aaron asked
"No. Its not Becca." Lorelai said
"Okay. I know its not Rachel because she's at home with Jack. I just video chatted them." Aaron said
"Not Rachel." Lorelai said
"What other woman do we know that could fit that description?" Aaron asked
"Who said its someone you know too?" Lorelai asked her voice high
"Your tell does." Aaron said
Lorelai sighed. "You trust me right?"
"Of course." Hotch said
"Than please trust I have good reason for keeping this a secret." Hotch Jr. said
Hotch sighed. "You promise me you will come to me when the time is right?"
"Yes sir." Hotch Jr. said
"Okay. You can go." He said
Lorelai went back to the group. She took out her phone and texted Emily. 'You were seen running from the building. They know I know who you are, but I haven't said anything. I do not know what is going on, but you need to figure out how to let Hotch know what's going on. If you are undercover on this case come talk to Hotch. Before I have to.'
Emily got the text and sighed. She texted back. 'Its not that easy. If you have to tell him than I get it, but I cant come in right now.'
'I can keep this a secret for now if you promise me you are safe.' Lorelai sent back
'I'm fine.' Emily sent back.
Lorelai put her phone away and went and sat with the rest of the team. Their case was coming to an end. They were doing paperwork. She texted Emily again 'Our case is coming to an end… Or is there something more that we should know? If your still on this case?' Lorelai asked
Emily sighed. 'You have barley scratched the surface…'
"Um." Lorelai said.
Everyone looked up.
"I have an informant. They say that we have barely scratched the surface of this case." Lorelai said
"This informant wouldn't be the woman who ran out the back of the building would it?" Rossi asked causing everyone to look up at Lorelai.
"What?" Morgan asked
Lorelai looked down at her paperwork.
"Agent Hotch Jr. Saw someone in the building when we were separated. Someone who she knows." Reid started.
"We got a description of someone who ran out the back to the building by one of the officers. She knows who it is but for whatever reason she is choosing not to tell us." Rossi said
"What was the description?" Lewis asked
Rossi said it.
"Is it someone we all know?" Morgan asked
"It is the feeling I get." Reid said
Hotch came into the room to hear the conversation. "And I am trusting that she is keeping the secret for a good reason and if it becomes necessary she will tell us."
Everyone knew that meant it was time to move on from that subject.
"But this woman has told me we have just scratched the surface of this case." Hotch Jr. Told their team lead.
"So, its someone in law enforcement." Morgan said
"Agent Morgan." Hotch said in a warning tone.
"Sorry dropping it." He said
"What can you find out from her?" Hotch asked
"That we just scratched the surface." Lorelai said
"See if you can get more." Hotch said
Lorelai nodded and got up and went to another room and called her.
"Look I will keep your secret but what can you tell me so we can help?" Lorelai asked when Emily answered.
"The case I am working. We are looking for a big bad… I'm undercover." Emily said
"Who is it?" Lorelai asked
Emily gave a name.
"Shit. He is connected to this?" Lorelai asked
"Yes. He is suspected to have countless teams below him to keep him safe guarded. I am to try and infiltrate and work my way up." Emily said
"That is a suicide mission." Lorelai said
"I know…" Emily said
"Why the hell did you agree to it than?!" Lorelai asked
"Because this guy needs to be brought down." Emily said
"I agree. But do you have any idea what it will do to… to the people who care about you." Lorelai said
"Not easy to keep things separate is it?" Emily said
"Fuck. I don't know how he does it." Lorelai said
"I heard he didn't the last case." Emily said
"He told you about that huh?" Lorelai said
"Yes." Emily said
"Well, that's not important right now. Where is your back up?" Lorelai asked
"There isn't any…. I was told not to do this… But this guy needs to be brought down." Emily said
"Shit. You are doing this against orders?!" Lorelai asked
"I'm doing it to protect the innocent." Emily said
"What about you?" Lorelai asked
"I will be fine. Death knows better than to come to me." Emily said
"You have twenty-four hours to come to the station and tell Hotch or I will." Lorelai said
"Seriously?" Emily asked
"Emily. You are more than this job. If you die and I didn't have your back I would never forgive myself and I don't think my father would forgive me either. Twenty-four hours." Lorelai said before she hung up and went back to the conference room.
She told them who this was connected to. They all looked at her. "Wait isn't Interpol responsible for finding him?" Lewis asked "Since he is wanted for drug trafficking?"
"Um…." Lorelai said
Derek's eyes got big. "Is Prentiss your contact?"
Everyone looked at Derek than Hotch Jr.
"Um." Lorelai said
Hotch took her arm and led her to another room and closed the door.
"Look at me." He said
Lorelai looked up. "Agent Hotchner this is work not personal…" She said
"Well, I am asking as your father not your boss." He said
"Well than I wont answer because we are at work." Lorelai said
"Lorelai." He said
"Agent Hotchner. I have given my contact twenty-four hours to come in and talk to you or I will tell you."
Hotch took a breathe. "If Agent Prentiss is working on her own she might not have twenty-four hours." He said
Agent Hotch Jr. looked down.
"Look at me." He said
Lorelai looked up.
"I need you to tell me. Now. I will take the heat from her." Hotch said
Lorelai took a breathe. "Its Agent Prentiss." She said
The two of them left the office they were in and went back to the conference room.
"It is Agent Prentiss. She is undercover… Against her bosses orders. She is on her own." Agent Hotch Jr. said
"Call her and put it on speaker." Hotch said
Lorelai did as she was told.
"Lorelai come on they could be tracing your calls." Emily said
"Don't have to Agent Prentiss." Hotch said
"Oh… So much for twenty-four hours." Emily said
"You have one hour." Hotch said telling her where to meet him.
"Hotch. I don't need…" Emily started
"Prentiss. Don't make me come find you." Hotch said
Emily took a breathe. "Got it." She said
Hotch went to the meet location and waited. She showed up just in time. Hotch got out of the car and went over to Emily and grabbed her arm. He lead her behind the building. "Do you have a death wish Emily?" he asked her
"No." Emily said. "As I told your daughter. Death knows better than to come for me."
"You almost died once. When Doyle came after you." Aaron reminded her
"Almost. But didn't." She said
"Because the doctors worked their asses off to save you." Aaron growled.
"Okay. Your pissed. But as my boyfriend." Emily said
"Damn fucking right I am." He said
Emily nodded. "Okay. You can lecture me all you want I'm listening." She said
Aaron shook his head. "Do you realize you have all but lost your job with Interpol. I contacted your superior." He said
"I know." Prentiss said
"I'm sorry correct me if I'm wrong but you told me you loved your job." Aaron said
"I did. Till they stopped letting me do the job. I tried to make sure I had backup. I was told no." Prentiss said
"Because it's a dead mission. For you." Aaron said.
Prentiss sighed.
"This is over. You are to go back home." Hotch said
Prentiss shook her head. "No."
"Okay. I am telling you as your boyfriend now. Unless you want to deal with me, as well as your boss back home you will go home. Now" Aaron said
Emily shook her head. "No. I'm sorry. I need to do this."
"I don't understand why you think this is more important than your life." Aaron said
"Because this isn't just about me." Emily said
"Who is it about?" Aaron asked
"My daughter…" She said
Aaron looked down at her belly. "Are you?"
"No. Not our daughter. Mine…" She said
"Okay I need more." Aaron said
"Before I came to the FBI I had a baby. I knew to protect her I had to give her up. I found a family to adopt her. They were good people. There was a car accident about six months ago. They unfortunately passed away. I wasn't told anything. I had kept some contact with them. Occasionally they would send me photos. After four months of not hearing from them I got worried. I did some checking found out about the accident. And that my daughter was now in foster care. I just was planning to make sure she was in a good home. I pulled up a picture of the foster parents. The father is Paul Richards. Under an alias.. But I verified that it couldn't be a twin or something, but it is him. He has my daughter." Emily said
"When did you plan to tell me, you had a daughter?" Aaron asked
"I don't know." Emily said. "I'm sorry Aaron."
"Why didn't you come to me? Ask for help?" Aaron asked
"I would have had to admit I kept something pretty big from you." Emily said looking down.
"You did. And I'm not pleased you did. But right now, we need to get this guy." Aaron said
Emily nodded.
"Do your bosses know what's going on?" Aaron asked
"No." Emily said
Hotch nodded.
"Well Agent Prentiss I will inform the director. I will use the favors I have so he allows us to help you. When this is done. You and I will be having a long discussion." He said
Prentiss nodded. "Yes Sir."
The two went back to their cars and headed to the station. Hotch had already spoken to the chief who agreed to allow them to keep working out of there for the time being.
Hotch and Prentiss told the team who they were looking for and that there was an 8-year-old girl who was being fostered by their guy under an assumed name. They didn't give all the details as of yet. They were all sent off to follow leads. Hotch Jr. worked with Penny to get them more leads.
A picture of the little girl was brought up and Lorelai gasped. "Penny…. Tell me you see what I see."
Penny looked at the picture. "She would have told us if… Right?" Penny asked
"If you asked me that last week I would say yes but she is invested in this to the point of risking losing her job for a reason…." Lorelai said
"Who would the father be?" Penny asked
Lorelai figured out what year she would have been born in. "I don't know."
"Me neither." Penny said
Just than Prentiss and Hotch came back, and Prentiss joined her in the conference room.
"Emily!" Penny said
"Hey Penelope." Emily said into the phone
Lorelai turned the computer and showed her the picture. "She's yours isn't she?"
"Wow right to it." Penny said
Emily took a breathe. "How did you?"
"Look at her Emily. She is your spitting image. The father?" Lorelai asked
"Some guy I was involved with. He died not long after I found out I was pregnant. I had to give her up. I wasn't ready to be a parent."
"Em. I get it." Penny said
"I do to." Lorelai said "Penny. We will call you back." Lorelai said before ending the call.
"I am pissed that you came in saved my ass and than asked me to keep it a secret." Lorelai said
"I get it. I'm sorry. It wasn't fair." Emily said. "Are you okay? You and the baby?"
"I think they can sense my stress. They are pretty quiet right now." Lorelai said
"Can I get you some tea to help with the stress?" Emily asked
"No. I'm okay." Lorelai said
Hotch came in and put a cup on the table. "Its tea. Drink it." He said to the youngest agent
Emily chuckled
"Something funny Agent Prentiss?" Hotch asked
"Well, I just offered to get her some tea and she politely declined." Prentiss said
"Agent Hotchner Jr. I can see the stress in your face. Drink it." He knew that tea helped her destress.
"Yes Boss." Lorelai said taking a sip of it with a smirk.
"Prentiss we should go. New leads to follow." Hotch said. The two of them left and Lorelai called Penny back to continue to work together to get the team the information they need.
A little later the chief came into the room
"Agent Hotchner Jr. One of my officers were next door at the coffee place. They saw the man you are looking for. With the girl." He said
Lorelai looked up. "What?"
"Lorelai you cant." Penny said
Lorelai looked down at her belly before looking up.
"I will need back up." She said to the chief
"Lorelai. Don't. Please." Penny said.
Lorelai hung up the call.
"Your not supposed to be in the field are you?" The chief asked
"I've requested limited field work. But I do still do some field work." That was the truth but leaving out the fact that the field work she did was not usually something that could end up in a stand off.
"And if we don't go now we might never find this guy." She sent a text off to the whole team about what was going on and the chief got a few officers to go with them next door. Lorelai had a bullet proof vest on and her hand on her gun when she went in. She looked around and saw him sitting there.
Lorelai locked eyes with him and pointed to her vest. She didn't want to make a scene if she didn't need too. But he needed to know who she was.
The man smirked.
"Let her go and we can talk." Lorelai said calmly
"She's my daughter. Why would I let her go?" He asked
"She's your foster daughter. Probably doesn't know your real name. Or who you really are. Come on Paul. Don't give her any more trauma." Lorelai said
"What about that baby in your belly? Maybe I will come after them when they are born." He said with a smirk.
"Yeah. Don't threaten me or my child." Lorelai said. "That is just a nonstarter."
Meanwhile the police were getting everyone they could out of the coffee shop.
"What are you going to do?" He asked with a smirk.
"I have a gun. I can shoot you. But wont if you cooperate." She said
Meanwhile the rest of the team had shown up. They had sharp shooters on a building across the street getting ready to shoot him if they needed to.
"And at this point you have given my team time to get into place. You are surrounded. You are not getting out of here unless its in cuffs or a body bag. Your choice." Lorelai said.
"Oh, I have a way out." He said smirking at the little girl
"I'm guessing since you haven't drawn it, yet you have no gun with you." Lorelai said
The guy narrowed his eyes at her.
"Lillian. My name is Lorelai. I am FBI. Do you know what that means?" She asked the little girl who was watching her closely at this time.
Lillian nodded. "You work with the police. My birth mother is FBI."
"That's right. Emily. I know her. She is one of my friends. She is outside right now. Do you want to go see her?" Lorelai asked
Lillian nodded.
"Don't move a muscle. Brat." Paul said
Lillian looked up at him before looking back at Lorelai looking scared.
Lorelai moved in closer. "If you have a gun. I want to see it." Lorelai said. She was glad that Lily and Paul were sitting on opposite sides of the table. She stepped so she was between the two. Her gun now drawn and pointed at the man's head.
"Lillian. Go. Now." Lorelai said calmly.
Lillian got up and ran outside quickly. That moment Agent Hotch and Rossi came in guns drawn as well.
"Stand up." Lorelai said loudly to the man.
Paul stood up and put his hands on his head and turned around.
"On your knees." Lorelai said
He did so. "You wont have me in lock up for more than twenty-four hours and you will be very sorry you came after me. When that baby is born." Paul said with a smirk.
"Stop talking." Rossi said as he came and cuffed the man. "We have you on countless murders. The only question on your mind should be if you will be in jail for the rest of your life or getting lethal injection."
Hotch came over at he and Rossi lifted the guy off the ground and took him out to a waiting car reading him his rights. Once he was in the car. Hotch came over to Hotch Jr.
"I know. I know. I should have waited. I just knew we would never get this guy. I didn't know if you could get here in time." Lorelai said
Hotch took a breathe. "I have never seen or heard of any of our most wanted criminal come in so calmly."
"Really?" Lorelai said
"If you ever want a change I think crisis negotiations would be the best bet." Hotch said
"Is that really all you have to say?" Lorelai asked
"Is lecturing you going to change anything?" he asked
"Well no." Lorelai said
"Would you do it again regardless of consequences?" He asked
"I mean. Probably." Lorelai said
"You were alone. You weren't wrong by the looks of things they were about to leave. Had you not come. You took back up. You let the entire team know before you went what you were doing. You put on a vest. And you are the best of this team for talking people down so I'm not going to come down on you." Hotch said
"But. I." She shut up. She realized she was just digging a hole she didn't need to.
Emily came over to her. "She told me what you did to save her."
Lorelai shrugged. "Nothing you haven't done for me. Or would do for my child."
Emily hugged her before she went back to Lily.
Spencer came over. "You're okay right?
"Yes. Agent Reid." She said with a smile
"Lorelai." He said concern in his eyes.
Lorelai took a breathe. "Spence. I'm okay. We are okay." She said
Spencer nodded. "Okay."
"Are you going to come down on me?" Lorelai asked
Spencer chuckled "No. You were doing your job."
"Because I think you should hear it from me… He made threats, to the baby." Lorelai said
"He did what?!" Spencer said loudly
"Spence. Please. Calm down. Hotch and Rossi and several of the officers heard it. It will be used against him." Lorelai said
Rossi came over. "Everything okay?"
"I figured it was only fair to let him know what Paul said. What he threatened." Lorelai said
"Reid. It will be handled." He looked between the two of them landing on Lorelai "You're okay?"
"Yes. Promise." Lorelai told him
"Okay. Well, we are all heading back to the station." Rossi said
They all went back.
Everyone sat in the conference room. And looked at Prentiss. Her daughter was with an officer in another room.
"Okay. Yes. She is my daughter.." Emily continued telling them the whole story.
Everyone nodded.
Everyone did paperwork. Emily took a call and came back in the room and nodded to Hotch.
Hotch came out.
"That was my boss on the phone. I'm to head back and clear out my desk…" She said
"Got fired." Aaron said
"Yeah." Emily said
"I figured that was coming." Hotch said
"I'm not thrilled. But it is what it is. I did what I did. I wouldn't change that." She said
Hotch nodded. "What's going on with your daughter?" He asked
"I've spoken to a lawyer. Well, a law student." She said with a smile.
Aaron chuckled. "And?"
"I have been granted temporary custody; her firm is representing me to get full custody back." Emily said
"Wow." He said "You have anything keeping you in London?" He asked
"Well no." Emily said
"Come back to DC. I will see what I can do to get you back on the team. We are down a member with JJ being gone. By the time she comes back Lorelai will be on Mat leave so we will need the people." He said
Emily nodded.
"I don't know. I mean yes to coming back to DC. And I would love to be on the team again. But I don't know. I'm just wondering if I should take some time off to get her settled." Emily said
"That's okay too." Aaron said
"Well, I guess its time to head out." Emily said
"Go. Get your daughter. Go home." He said
Emily nodded and went and took her daughter and left.
A few hours later it was time to head home. They all got on the Jet.
Lorelai sat in the back in her usual spot. Rossi took the seat across from her which was unusual.
She looked at him and smiled. "What's up?"
"You have come along way from who you were when you first joined the FBI. There is no denying that. But from the very beginning you have always had a way with words. From your first undercover case. And yes I think you have improved there too but always know what to say how?" He asked
Lorelai shrugged. "Honestly. No idea. It just comes to me when I'm in those situations."
"Be careful or the crisis negotiation team will poach you." He said with a smirk
"Would have to come with a pretty big raise and lots of pros for me to leave this team." Lorelai said
"Even if it meant you wouldn't have to travel as much once the baby is here?" Rossi asked
"I'm taking my year off after that I will be back to work. With the BAU. I don't want a change." Lorelai said
Rossi smiled and nodded. "Good."
He got up and let Spencer take his seat back. Everyone else had already gotten seated.
"You sure you're okay?" Spencer asked
"Yes. Spenc. I'm fine. Promise." She said
Spencer nodded.
"What's got you so agitated pretty boy?" Derek asked
"That man threatened my fiancé and unborn child." Spencer said
"Yes. He did. And its being handled." Derek said
"And if someone threated Penny and your child?" Spencer said
"Okay. Yes I would be angry. But you will tell me to let the team handle it so take your own advice." Derek said
Spencer sighed. "You're right." He got up and went and got himself coffee and Lorelai some water.
"Oh, so I get water when you get coffee?" Lorelai said with a smirk.
"Yes. Because you have had your limit for the day." Spencer said
"Oh really?" Lorelai said eyebrow raised. "And you get to tell me that?"
"Stand down." Derek muttered under his breathe. Lorelai glared at Derek
Tara smirked. The young agent sure knew how to hold her own.
"I'm sorry. Would you like some coffee instead?" Spencer asked
"No. But I'll take a tea." Lorelai said
Spencer went and got her some.
Lorelai went back to glaring at Derek.
Derek had never been the recipient of her glare before. "Sorry." He said
Spencer came back with her tea. "I'm sorry. You're right its your body."
"Thank you." Lorelai said. She picked up the tea in her hands and sipped it.
The rest of the flight was pretty quiet. They landed and all went home.