Chapter 12 – Called Away –

One Week Later -

The following Monday morning Emily dropped a reluctant Kate off at school, promising the young girl that if things got really bad then she could phone Emily and she would come and pick her up. It didn't take Emily long to then drive to work and walk into the BAU bullpen, stopping at her desk she dropped her bag on the floor and looked across at Morgan who had the tell-tale look on his face that it wasn't good news he was about to break to her.

"We've got a case, JJ and Hotch want us in the conference room in five minutes."

"Ok I'll just grab a coffee and meet you up there."

"Sorry."

Emily took her seat between Morgan and Reid, spilling her coffee slightly as she bent over to wipe it up quickly before she turned and smiled at JJ, signalling that she was ready to hear about the case.

"In the last two months five women have gone missing in Miami, all of their bodies were discovered yesterday in the swamps, badly decomposed."

Emily sat there taking notes, mentally and physically, whilst in the back of her mind was the phone call to her mother that she would have to make shortly.

"Ok wheels up in 20 minutes."

Hotch picked up his papers and left the room with Rossi and Reid quickly following suit.

"I've got a phone call to make, I'll meet you guys at the plane."

"Hey Prentiss are you ok?"

Morgan gently placed his hand on his friend's shoulder.

"I'm fine Morgan, I've just got to ring my mother and ask her to look after Kate for me."

Emily smiled as she stood up and walked out of the room, leaving Morgan, JJ and Garcia still sitting at the table.

"You two are going to promise me that you'll look after her?"

"Of course babygirl, you don't have to say anything."

"But Garcia you have to promise us that you'll look out for Kate, make sure that the Ambassador doesn't completely brainwash her whilst we're gone!"

JJ's last comment had the three friends laughing, which they all knew was a good thing as once they were engrossed in the case laughter would be the last thing on their minds.

The team had hit the ground running once they had reached Miami, JJ and Hotch went to the local police station as Reid and Morgan travelled to the morgue, leaving Emily and Rossi to drive deep into the swamp to where the bodies were discovered. Emily was driving, concentrating on the road until she suddenly realised the time.

"Dave do you mind if I make a call?"

"Of course not Emily, why are you even asking?"

"Well I want to ring Kate and ask her how school was and as I'm driving I was going to put it on speaker."

"Hey go for it, I'm sure that she'd like to say hi to her favourite uncle!"

"Oh so you're her favourite!"

Emily snorted with laughter as she dialled the number for her mother's house.

"Prentiss residence."

"Hello George, its Emily, is Kate there?"

"Of course ma'am, I'll just fetch her for you."

Emily waited patiently as she took a right turn.

"Hey mom how are you?"

Rossi suddenly sat upright as he heard the greeting, he knew that Kate was having a rough time settling in at school and her new home but he hadn't expected Kate to call Emily 'mom'.

"Fine sweetheart, how was school today, any better?"

"A little thanks, where are you?"

"Miami, I'm in the car with Dave at the moment if you want to say hi?"

"Hello Uncle Dave."

"Hello kiddo."

"Hey mom can I ask you a question?"

"Go on but make it quick we've nearly reached our destination."

"Well the Ambassador heard me calling you mom earlier and looked at me a bit strange, a bit upset. Mom what do I call her?"

Rossi couldn't help but chortle loudly as a few ideas popped into his head.

"Dave! Listen Kate that's something that you're going to have to speak to her about, maybe you should suggest Grandma to her?"

Rossi couldn't stop himself as his loud laughter filled the SUV.

"Rossi will you stop that!"

Emily turned and glared at Dave who put his hand over his mouth to smoother the sound slightly.

"Maybe I should call him Granddad Dave from now on?"

"Hey kid that is so not a good idea!"

"Nice one Kate! Now take care and I'll speak to you tomorrow."

"Bye mom."

Emily looked at Dave who had finally managed to stop laughing, she shot him a look that immediately told him that it was time to get down to business.

"Right then Rossi let's go and see what the gators are up to in our crime scene."