AN: A huge apology for not updating this story for so long. I had a lot of chaos in my personal life for a while. Things have settled down(I hope).

This chapter is shorter than I generally post but I wanted to get an update posted. I have about 60% of chapter 23 written so I hope to post that next week as well as parts of chapter 24 and 25. I have outlined the rest of the story and anticipate about 8-15 more chapters.

Thanks to everyone for comments, follows, favorites and PMs. I appreciate your support.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

CHAPTER 22

As Hotch worked at his desk later that morning, he tried not to worry about how Emily and Dave's discussion proceeded after he left the house so they could talk privately. While he had been there, the discussion had gone about as well as he suspected it was going to go.

Their reactions had been what he expected after talking to Dave the night before. Dave was nervous. Emily was shocked. Both had been insecure.

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his door. At his reply of 'come in', the door opened revealing a tentative Garcia on the other side. She slowly walked into his office holding her ever present tablet as she closely watched him. She closed the door behind her and nervously walked up in front of his desk.

"Ah, sir" Garcia said as she fidgeted as she stood in front of him.

Hotch looked at her curiously, wondering what had happened. Generally Garcia only had this reaction when she knew, based on something she had been caught doing, that he was going to be getting an angry visit from one of the higher ups about her lack of professionalism.

Rubbing his forehead, Hotch really hoped that wasn't the issue today. He didn't want to deal with Donaldson or even Strauss right now. He took a deep breath to calm himself before saying, "what do you need Penelope?"

Garcia looked up at him then back down before saying, "Um, did Emily come in with you this morning? She wasn't in her office and her team said they hadn't seen her yet."

Hotch's head shot up as he closely observed her nervous demeanor. Thinking back to the previous evening, he remembered that she was going to continue searching for birth certificates connected to Emma Taylor.

Crap.

He had planned to call Garcia this morning and have her hold off on anymore searches since it was no longer needed. However in the rush to get everyone ready this morning and take the kids to Will and JJ's so he could get back to the house before Dave, it had slipped his mind. Shaking his head he answered, "no, she'll be in later today."

Garcia nodded as she said quickly, "Oh, OK," before turning and starting to walk towards the door.

As she placed her hand on the handle, she could hear him state matter of fact, "you were successful in your searches."

Garcia turned and saw Hotch standing up though still behind his desk. After briefly making eye contact with him, she quietly said, "yes, sir" though did not move away from the door.

Hotch took a deep breath before he said, "please keep what you found to yourself for now…"

Garcia interrupted nervously, "...ah, well, sir…." as she continued to glance between him and out the window at the rest of the in the bullpen.

Hotch looked down at the desk in front of him before quietly saying as he looked back up, "who else knows Penelope?"

Garcia looked at him and winced before saying in a rambling way, "well, Reid. He, of course, was with me when I was doing the search since he is lead on the investigation. Then Derek had stopped by and was there when the the result popped up on my screen…"she paused and started fidgeting with her hands.

"...is that it Garcia?" Hotch asked.

Garcia paused before slowly shaking her head while looking down at the floor as she answered, "no. JJ came in a few minutes later to drop off my coffee. It was her turn to pick up coffees today. She heard us talking before seeing the result on the screen."

Hotch sat back down in his chair and pinched the bridge of his nose before he looked over at her and asked, "so what you're saying is that all of you know?"

Garcia carefully nodded her head as she said, "yes", before stopping with a thoughtful look. Then she started to ramble again, "well no. Blake doesn't know. Or at least she didn't when I came in here. Is it true, sir?"

"Garcia, have a seat." Hotch said as he walked towards the door to call the rest of the team up to his office.

As he waited for all of them to assemble in his office, Hotch thought about what exactly he was going to say or should say.

This wasn't his story to tell. It should be up to Dave and Emily to decide what they wanted to share.

However with the team now knowing that Dave was listed as Emily's biological father on her original birth certificate, Hotch wanted to calm the team so that Dave and Emily weren't ambushed as soon as they walked into the office later today.

He looked up after hearing his office door close to see the anxious faces of his team looking him.

####

Dave looked up as the elevator doors opened on the 6th floor having been distracted on the ride up.

When they had arrived at the FBI building, it had been less than 10 minutes until Emily's meeting started so Dave had dropped her off at the main entrance before parking his car.

Their parting had been more awkward than their usual interactions though less so than early that morning. And he hated the awkwardness with her.

He had no illusions that the revelations weren't going to fundamentally change their relationship. Whether the change would be positive or negative remained to be seen until he and Emily could talk further.

Dave walked towards to glass doors before stopping. He had only heard a small part of Reid's summation the previous night because he had left in total shock when Mildred Taylor name was mentioned.

Now that he was past the initial shock that had enveloped him the previous evening, he wanted to take a closer look at the evidence that the team had been combing through for answers. All of it.

He needed to know what had happened to his daughter. He had looked unsuccessfully for her for years. Had he ever been close? Had he given up too soon? He needed answers.

The agreement with Strauss was they were only supposed to work on the evidence outside of work hours but today, Dave couldn't wait until then.

Looking into the bullpen, he noticed that the team was meeting in Hotch's office which struck him was strange. Usually when the team met, they would use the conference room.

He shook his head deciding not to think too much about the meeting. Hotch said he would send a message if he needed Dave to come in and there were no messages. Turning away from the doors, Dave decided to talk to Hotch later.

After entering the workroom and closing the door, Dave walked over to where Reid had the documents set up the previous evening and began looking closely at the board. Taking the adoption lawyer's intake document down along with Emily's adoption papers, Dave sat down at the table to read through them.

After 45 minutes, Dave looked up from the documents frustrated. He couldn't tell how Reid was able to connect Emily's adoption with the intake form MIldred Taylor had completed.

It was clear from the documents that this agency was where his daughter had ended up. His anger had increased as he read through that form. The things Mildred said. The money that had changed hands. All of the lost years from his child.

Unfortunately as time went on that anger was preventing him from processing all of the paperwork in front of him which was further frustrating him.

Putting down the documents down the table, Dave stood up and started pacing around the room. It wasn't long before a magnetic click that indicated that someone was attempting to enter the room. Dave looked over at the door just it was opening to reveal Hotch with a surprised look on his face as soon as he saw Dave already in the room. As he moved into the room, Dave could see Reid behind him talking to a blast from the past who was just as shocked to see him.

AN: In chapter 23 the identity of the blast from the past is revealed and the team finds out more about the case. Emily has a request for Dave.