Chp. 14

After dropping Will off, Mark drove home and retrieved one of his sniper rifles. His father had cleared some land a decade ago and built a 1,000 yard rifle range on the back of his property near Little Creek, Virginia. Knowing that the dinner would include his parents, grandmother and the BAU team, Mark needed to focus on something else. Anything else so that his mind was clear and he didn't have to deal with the fact that he would be put on display like one of those venomous snakes at the zoo, scrutinized under glass. He knew it sounded petty and stupid, but that was the way he felt.

He finished setting up his target and walked back to the bench his rifle was sitting on. The weapon was an M24 SWS. Basically, it was an accurized version of the Remington 700. The weapon was chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum and held four rounds plus one in the chamber. Mark sat behind the rifle and slammed the bolt forward. Steadying himself and acquiring his target, Mark gently pressed the trigger until the rifle roared and slammed into his right shoulder. With blinding speed, he worked the bolt to eject the spent round and chamber a fresh one.

000

Emily ducked and reached for her Glock 19 with one hand and reached for Spencer with the other. She knew Dave was a duck hunter, but that didn't sound like a shotgun. It sounded more like a rifle and Emily's first thought was of a sniper and that was followed closely by her desire to protect Spencer. Spencer jumped at the gunshot and turned to Emily, his eyes wide with fear. "Emwy."

"It's ok, sweetie." She smiled and rubbed a hand down his back. Reluctantly, she holstered his Glock and pulled her cellphone to call Dave and make sure they weren't under attack. Rossi answered on the second ring.

"Hello?"

"Dave, are you shooting out back?"

"No, wh-" Rossi started to ask, then realization dawned on him. "Em, I'm sorry. I'll call Mark and tell him to pack it in. Did he scare Spencer?"

Emily noted that Dave said the last part in an angry tone and smiled that Spencer had won another of her team's hearts and protective instinct's. "A little, but please don't be hard on him."

"Ok, you win. Come on up and Carolyn will let you in."

"Thanks, Dave." Emily said, disconnecting the call. She held out a hand to Spencer, who was still sitting in his booster seat. "Ready?"

"You ti-think everyone will wi-like me?" Spencer asked his guardian timidly.

Emily noted that Spencer was trying very hard to speak properly and act like a big boy. While she appreciated his efforts to be accepted, she didn't want the little boy feel like he had to act differently, especially if he was scared or nervous. She stopped knelt in front of him, placing both hands on his shoulders. "Spencer, look at me." When she had his attention, Emily continued. "Nobody here will judge you, ok?"

He looked away and she gently reached over and turned his head so that he was facing her again. "But what if I embarrass you?" he asked, tears in his eyes at having his worries and fears exposed, even to someone he trusted.

Emily pulled him to her and rocked the little boy as he cried, offering him soothing words and promises and whatever small comforts she could. Spencer calmed quickly and Emily pulled away, smiling. "You good, kiddo?" she asked and he nodded.

"Ok, let's go." They walked to the front door and Emily rang the doorbell. Carolyn, who'd been watching discreetly from just inside, waited long enough so the pair wouldn't know they'd been watched then opened the door.

"Emily! Glad you could make it." She smiled and the two women hugged.

"Are you kidding? And miss Momma Rossi's cooking?"

Carolyn smiled. "I know what you mean. Who's your friend?"

"This is Spencer. Spencer, this is Carolyn. She's Dave's wife."

Spencer looked at her with apprehension, Carolyn noted. But he held out his hand politely and said, "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Rossi."

Carolyn was hardly one to stand on such formality, but she wasn't about to crush Spencer's confidence by correcting him. "It's nice to meet you too, Spencer." Carolyn gently shook his hand. "You want to know a secret, though?"

Both women smiled at the look of surprise on the boy's face. It had probably been a long time since an adult had taken Spencer into their confidence about anything. "What secret?"

Carolyn knelt and beckoned Spencer over. She knew closeness was a sensitive subject for victims of sexual abuse, but Carolyn felt she had to try and show Spencer that closeness between adults and children they cared about was a good thing. Both women's hearts leapt when Spencer closed the distance between Carolyn and himself. "Have you met Aaron, yet?" Spencer shook his head.

Carolyn smiled. "That's ok. But, anyway, his little boy Jack calls me Aunt Carolyn and you can too, if you want?"

Spencer considered what Carolyn had said for a long time and both women patiently waited. Finally, Spencer looked at Carolyn and gave her a tiny smile. "Ok, Aunt Carolyn."

Carolyn smiled, but made no move to touch Spencer. She would let him make the next move. "Thank you, Spencer. Mama Rossi's in the kitchen, if you two want to join us."

"Thanks, Carolyn. Maybe I can steal a couple recipes." Emily said, mouthing 'thank you' over Spencer's head for Carolyn's efforts to make Spencer feel at ease.

Carolyn just gave the profiler a knowing smile and said, "Good luck, Emily. I've been trying since Dave and I gave married and she's pretty tight fisted."

000

Mark staked out one corner of the living room, sipped his drink and watched. So far, the only people to show were Prentiss, Spencer, Morgan, Hotch and his girlfriend and son. Emily was the first to make her way over to him. "I wanted to thank you for what you and Will did at the police station in Vegas."

Mark shrugged. "It wasn't much."

"Thank you, just the same."

The LaMontage's, Gideon and Garcia arrived shortly after and Garcia and JJ wasted no time in meeting Spencer. Emily could tell Garcia was excited, but was holding it in because she didn't want to scare Spencer. "Em, who's your friend?" Garcia asked, even though she already knew.

"Pen, JJ, This is Spencer." Emily said, then turned to Spencer, "Spence, these are my very good friend's Penelope Garcia and JJ LaMontage. Pen's our technical analyst. That means she helps us find the bad guys and JJ tells reporters what to say about cases. She's a media liaison." Emily knew she was probably talking down to Spencer, but she was doing the best she could and hoped that he understood that.

"Hi, Spencer. Would it be ok if I gave you a hug?" Garcia asked. Suppressing her gentle, bubbly nature was difficult but Garcia didn't want to hurt Spencer any more than he'd already been hurt. Spencer realized Emily wouldn't have introduced him to these women if she didn't trust them, so he nodded and reached out for Garcia. As the BAU's resident computer genius hugged him, Spencer smiled. He pulled away and looked at Penelope. "You give good hugs, Auntie Pen."

Before the three women could gush over what Spencer had said, Carolyn walked in and announced the meal was ready.

000

"So, Mark, Aaron mentioned on the ride over that you were a Navy Seal before you joined the Marshals. That most have been exciting." Beth said.

Mark shrugged. "Some days it was, so days it wasn't."

"Mr. Mark?" a small voice asked.

Mark ignored it and continued his conversation with Gideon until he felt something hit his leg under the table. He turned to his Nonna was sitting next to Spencer across the table from him and glared at the old woman. "Did you need something Nonna?"

Isabella glared right back. He grandson might have killed people, but she wasn't intimidated by him. "You answer the bambino when he speak you, boy!"

Rather than be frightened by Nonna's, as Spencer had been directed to call her, harsh tone, the boy laughed at Mark getting put in his place. Mark turned and looked at Spencer and tried his best to look unthreatening. "What's up, kiddo?"

"Thank you for keeping me and Emily safe."

Mark was surprised. This was the last thing he expected to hear from Spencer, but he recovered quickly. "You're welcome, Spencer."

The women at the table smiled at this and Mark rolled his eyes. Fortunately, his phone rang and he stepped out to take the call. The group continued various conversations and Mark returned several minutes later. He stood behind Will's chair and leaned in, whispering something in his colleague's ear.

Isabella looked at her grandson and knew something was wrong. "You have to go?"

"Yeah. Sorry Nonna; it's work stuff."

"Be safe." Isabella and Carolyn said almost simultaneously. Will and Mark said goodbye to their families and friends, then left in Mark's mustang.

"So what's up?" Will asked as they headed for D.C.

Mark sighed, but never took his eyes off the road. After several minutes, Will repeated his question. "William Reid escaped custody during a medical transport."

000