Playing Games by JuliaBC
It was Kate's second time visiting JJ in the hospital; the first had been a harried visit the day after she'd given birth to little Michael. But Kate had made the mistake of taking Jamie and, for whatever reason, he'd taken issue to being there. The visit had been cut short after he just wouldn't stop crying.
This time, it was Chris's day off and Meg had a half-day. She'd considered taking Meg; she'd even asked her niece if she wanted to go and for a moment it looked like Meg would say yes.
"I don't know, though," she finally answered. "My cooking elective has us making a fall themed dessert. I was going to spend the afternoon looking for recipes and then getting Chris to take me shopping for the ingredients." She smiled then. "Next time, though. I'd love to meet JJ's baby."
So Kate walked alone into JJ's hospital room (there had been a few, very minor issues that had made JJ decide to stay in the hospital for a few days, with Penelope's urging.)
Michael was there, in the crib. JJ wasn't.
But a very tall, very intimidating brunette woman was, standing over Michael with a smile on her face.
Kate instantly knew who it was; she felt she would have known even if the news that Emily Prentiss had flown straight there the instant she heard that Michael was there hadn't reached her ears. She would have known even if she hadn't seen her picture.
The woman's presence, the fact that she was alone in a hospital room with JJ's baby, was enough to clue Kate in.
And suddenly she felt very shy. And Kate did not feel shy. She felt hesitant sometimes, especially in investigations, but shy?
Never. She had often been reprimanded for speaking too much during quiet times in school even.
"Emily Prentiss," she blurted and immediately regretted it, since it sounded like she was introducing herself as Emily.
Prentiss had noticed her before now, but only then did she turn around and smile at Kate. "And you have to be Kate Callahan. You fit all of the descriptions."
"How so?" Kate nervously laughed, brushing a hand over her denim jacket and mommy jeans. (Mommy jeans meaning that she still hadn't lost the amount of weight she'd thought she'd have at this point.)
"Short and sassy looking," Prentiss said and stuck her hand out. "Let's make it official. Emily."
"Kate," Kate said, sticking her hand out a second after. "Your previous replacement."
"I think that's an oxymoron," Prentiss laughed. "But I guess it's true."
She turned back to face the crib. "Isn't he beautiful?" She said quietly, reaching out to stroke the baby's cheek. "It's times like these that make me wish I'd chosen to have children."
"Well, it's not too late," Kate said before realizing that, yes, it could be too late.
"They said you were an optimist," Prentiss said. "Technically, maybe it isn't biologically. But emotionally...I think it might be."
"Where's JJ?" Kate said, changing the subject in a hurry.
"She took a shower and decided to go down to the cafeteria for lunch instead of getting room service. She's getting a little tired of her room, I guess."
"But the reports are all good, right?" Kate asked. "It was just a blood pressure problem?"
"Yeah," Prentiss said. "She's probably going to receive discharge papers later today and Penelope's coming to pick her up and we're going to make a night of it. Or," she corrected, "kind of a night. With a baby along, it won't be wild."
She smiled again, at just thinking of it.
Kate misjudged the date she'd chosen for coming to see JJ again. It was obvious that this was something that they didn't intend to invite her, or anyone else, on. And that was fine. That was totally fine. They were three close friends seeing each other again for the first time in awhile. Of course they didn't want the newbie (and technically someone who didn't even qualify anymore to be part of their group by grace of being in the BAU)tagging along.
And yet it stung, even as Kate fought the feeling down. Even though Prentiss hadn't even said the words.
"Kate," JJ's voice came from the doorway and Kate whipped around to see JJ standing, looking beautiful and radiant.
And how did I look that soon postpartum? Kate wondered before reaching forward to hug her friend. It was so good to see her.
"How are you feeling?" Kate asked. "Since, you know, last time I saw you."
"Better," JJ answered affirmatively. "And I had an amazing kale salad in the cafeteria, mainly amazing because it was so surprising to find something edible there. I see you two met?" She gestured towards Prentiss. "Em is one of my best friends, of course."
"Of course," Kate said. "We did meet. I hear you girls are getting wild tonight."
"Not that wild," JJ said, smiling an almost private smile as she looked at Prentiss. "But it will be good."
"Penelope is cooking a Mexican fiesta," Prentiss said. "And a mild version for our baby mama here, in case the spicy food disagrees with her or Michael."
The two friends then started chattering about older days, other times they'd had with Penelope's cooking involved. And Kate slowly found herself wishing she'd met these woman before now.
That night found Kate at home, nibbling a pumpkin brownie courtesy of Meg and trying to crack a particularly hard sudoku puzzle. She'd taken up the habit of doing sudoku when she was feeling particularly stressed in January, after she and Spencer had fought. It didn't make sense; normally she'd associate such a thing with negative feelings. But somehow, remembering how that resolved, maybe, had made doing sudoku a positive thing in her life.
It was something that took away feelings of loneliness and guilt and jealousy. It was just Kate and the numbers.
Chris had the late shift; Meg was still experimenting in the kitchen with frosting flavors for her brownies and she'd officially volunteered/asked if she could watch over Jamie as she did so. Meg definitely still liked extra company, and her new cousin seemed to provide that for her very well. Penny the Kitten had recently found a new hiding place to nap, and, though Meg had looked long and hard, she couldn't find her. She was turning into a bit of a standoffish kitten, but Meg didn't seem to mind. In Kate's view, it just made the times when the kitten did decide to spend time with Meg all the more precious to her niece.
Poe was curled up next to Kate, sleeping soundly.
A doorbell sounded and Kate got up. "Meg, I'll get it," she called.
Poe came bounding up with her, yipping delightful little barks as he did. The sleep he'd been enjoying so deeply washed away immediately at the promise of a visitor. And when they got closer, and he caught their scent, he really went mad.
"It must you, Spencer," Kate called as she opened it. "He only ever acts like this with you."
Spencer didn't answer; he was too busy being assaulted by doggy kisses and a very enthusiastic wagging tail. "I missed you too, Poe," he murmured, before scooping the puppy into his arms.
Kate watched with a smile. "You're back."
"I am," he said, and she could see that he looked tired. "Straight from the airport came I. The case was mostly wrapped up this morning; enough so that Hotch let Garcia off to do cooking for JJ and Emily's party."
"And you guys stayed just long enough to see Michael before you left for Georgia, right?" Kate asked.
"Yeah, we saw Michael," Spencer answered. "Then we went straight to the airport and into the storm, figurative, of course."
"Though North Carolina did just receive a hurricane," Kate responded.
Spencer nodded. "I think we missed that, at least," he answered, snuggling into Poe's soft brown neck. "How's Poe been?"
"Wonderful," Kate said. "He's been sneezing but I think it's been less each day. Plenty of exercise and food and water."
"Sounds like he's doing great then," Spencer answered.
Meg poked her head out of the kitchen. "Dr. Reid!" She exclaimed, smiling immediately. "Hold on a second. I just finished A Tale of Two Cities; let me get it."
She rushed up the stairs and Spencer smiled. "She's devouring the books I give her," he commented. "Come to think of it, Halloween is coming up and I have some Edgar Allan Poe I'd like her to read. He's so good, Kate. Have you read anything by him?"
"Just the beating heart one," Kate said and shuddered slightly. "Just, no."
"Come on, his stories are amazing," he said.
"And macabre!"
"Exactly," Spencer exclaimed, snuggling Poe even closer to him as Meg rushed down the stairs.
"It was good," she said. "Omigod, did I love Carton. I couldn't believe he did that at the end. Just amazing. But very long. It daunted me at first but then I got into it on a long car ride and just raced through it."
"Charles Dickens is like that," Spencer said, smiling as he accepted the book. "I should be going on. It's been a really long day."
"Hey, you want a pumpkin brownie to go with that?" Meg asked and Spencer hesitated.
"Yeah, I would like that," he finally answered and Meg grinned.
"Chocolate frosting or cinnamon?" She asked.
"One of each?" He asked and Meg raced to get them.
"So..." Kate said, unsure of how to broach the topic. "Hotch is interviewing for...what?"
"A consulting member," Spencer said. "Not a full one, I don't think. He's bringing in several candidates in a few days; one a forensic psychologist so that gives you some idea."
"Okay," Kate said. "That sounds like a good idea."
"It's really different when we're down by two profilers," he said. "It was hard enough with you gone and now JJ's gone for the time being and we just really need all hands on deck."
"Sorry about that," Kate began.
"No, you aren't and you shouldn't be," Spencer said. "Take this time."
Meg returned with the brownies in a bag and Spencer smiled at both of them before going to his car.
Kate turned to Meg. "Ready for a round of Pictionary?"
Meg looked surprised. "Sure. That's one we haven't played in a while so that would be nice."
"We don't play it because I suck at it," Kate joked. "I can't draw but you, darling Meg, are amazing and I know it's one of your favorites."
"It is," Meg agreed. "Thanks for that then."
"You're done with the brownies, right?" Kate asked.
"Done," Meg said. "I just need to put them away."
"I'll set up," Kate said, keeping her promise and going to the game cabinet. She paused there for a moment, and felt a sudden, overwhelming wave of gratitude, feeling ashamed of the feelings she'd felt earlier with JJ and Emily. Yes, they were good friends and just closer than Kate could ever be to them. But that was okay. Family was like that sometimes.
A/N: Yeah, yeah. This isn't the 11x01 tag but I'll get to that. My family just got some good news after some very (very) tense waiting so I didn't feel like writing a serious chapter. Not that this one didn't have serious moments.
Also: I've given up all efforts to have a coherent timeline. This is just current time now, except that it's before 11x01...it's too confusing. I'm sorry.
Also: I'd like to give you another chapter with Emily but my idea pot is running on empty regarding her. I'd love some suggestions and prompts. And yes, I'm willing to break canon for the sake of guest stars. Basically, as long as it could happen between episodes, I'll do it. Nothing too wild though.
Whoo hoo! This is officially my longest story!