Part 4
The speakers crackled as the Captain made his plane-wide announcement. "Ladies and Gentlemen we appreciate your patience in this manner and we apologize for the inconvenience. We know that you are trying to get to your destinations for the holidays however the weather seems to have other plans for us all. Welcome back to Washington D.C."
"Is your Mom going to be mad?" Penelope asked. Around them the other weary passengers stood and began the shuffle of finding their bags. The whine of the engines decreased to silence as the exit door popped open.
Derek sank into his seat and pulled out his phone. "Nah, she'll be disappointed. No use in getting mad at the weather."
"Too bad we couldn't have left yesterday," Penelope grumbled.
Derek smirked as he hit the dial button on his phone then held it to his ear. "Nothing we can do about it now. I wonder if Reid got through. Hi, Mom."
Penelope half listened to Derek's conversation as the other passengers slowly de-boarded the plane. She and Morgan always waited for the plane to clear before making their own departure. As the last of the passengers trickled out the hatch Morgan ended his phone call. They got up, grabbed their bags, said goodbye to the plane crew and strolled up the ramp.
"Welcome home!"
Spencer stood at the top of the ramp, satchel over his shoulder and suitcase at his feet.
"How long have you been waiting Pretty Boy?" Derek asked.
"Eighteen minutes and thirty seven seconds," he answered with his usual accuracy.
"Are we going to be able to drive home?" Penelope asked slightly panicked.
"The news station said the roads are still somewhat clear though the snow is piling up on the edges and caution should be taken," Reid answered without pause.
Morgan slung his arm over Penelope's shoulders. "You know I will get you home safe and sound Baby Girl."
"I'm more worried about JJ and Will," Penelope replied.
"As long as they stay on the main freeway they should be okay," Reid responded.
"See? They'll be okay. Both Will and JJ are cautious drivers," Derek said assuring her. "Now let's go home."
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Aaron laid on his side snuggled into the warmth of Beth's back his arm wrapped around her waist. In the distance he could swear he heard a bell ringing. He listened for a moment and when he didn't hear anything else he allowed himself to drift back to sleep. The sudden slamming of a door against the wall and the pounding of feet racing down the hallway jerked him wide awake.
"Daddy! Daddy!" Jack yelled and he ran past the bedroom. "Santa's here!"
In a split second Aaron realized he had heard the doorbell ringing. "Jack! Wait!" he yelled as he tumbled out of the bed grabbing his gun from the side table and racing out of the room. He hoped Jack had heard and heeded his words.
Jack stood at the top of the stairs bouncing excitedly. "It's Santa, Daddy. He rang the doorbell."
"Santa doesn't ring the doorbell Jack," Aaron stated someone calmly. Behind him Beth peered out the bedroom door.
"Jack, why don't you come wait with me while Daddy sees who is at the door," Beth suggested.
"Thanks a good idea," Aaron nodded as he stepped next to his son. "Go wait with Beth."
Jack lowered his head and his lip stuck out a bit. "What if it is Santa?"
"Then I will call for you," Aaron replied. The house phone began to ring. "Go on. I promise."
"Okay Daddy," Jack finally agreed. Aaron waited until the boy entered the room and the door was closed. He began his descent of the stairs as the phone stopped ringing and the recorder came on.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
JJ startled awake and dazedly looked around the interior of the car. Will and Henry were asleep in the passenger seat. She looked at the dashboard clock: it was 2:30. The last car she had seen had been just after 1:00, it had slowed and for a moment she thought they would stop. She tried to get out and wave them down but they drove off as she opened the door.
The windows were now all covered with snow. She straightened in the seat and reached for the ignition as a tap-tap sounded on the side window. A small circle had been cleared and a pair of eyes peered through the glass.
"Will," JJ exclaimed as she reached over and shook her husband. "There's someone outside!"
"I'm awake. Open the door."
JJ grabbed the handle and pushed the door open. The flash of blue and red lights lit up the interior.
"State police," a deep voice announced. "Is anyone hurt? We have EMS on the way."
"We're okay," JJ responded. "Just a little cold."
"What were you doing up here?" the officer asked as he helped her out of the car.
"Trying to avoid the accident on the highway," she explained as she pulled her Federal ID from her pocket. "Special Agent Jennifer Jareau. Thank you for checking on us."
The officer shone his flashlight on her ID for a moment. "You're welcome, Agent Jareau. We got a call from a concerned citizen who said they saw a wrecked vehicle but weren't sure about people inside."
Will and Henry came around the back of the car as an ambulance and fire truck pulled up.
"You folks go with the ambulance just for precaution," the officer suggested firmly. "We'll get a tow truck up here to get your car to a mechanic."
"Sounds good," Will stated before JJ could say anything.
"We should grab Henry's bag," JJ said. "Is that okay?"
The officer nodded and assisted her in retrieving the bag. The officer led them to the ambulance. JJ stared out the rear window as the ambulance pulled away. The snow was still falling and was piled deep around the car.
End part 4