The next morning the BAU team has spread out on the plane, each trying to get some extra sleep before they get to Alaska. Reid has stretched out on the couch. Emily has her feet up on the seat in front of her, her head against the window. JJ is cuddled into Emily, her feet out in front of her. Morgan has stretched out on the floor, his Ipod playing. Rossi and Hotch have dozed off in their seats at the front of the plane.
The only person awake is Penelope Garcia. She doesn't travel often and when she does she makes the most of her time on the luxury jet. She is working on her blog when an email pops up from Sandy Jareau. The technical analyst reads it and smiles. She shoots back an affirmative and closes out her blog, her new mission more appealing to her.
She eases out of her seat and over to Emily and JJ. She picks up their phones off the table and darts back to her seat. Scrolling through their pictures she sees both women have over a hundred shots, mostly of Henry.
"Oh, you guys are so sweet," she whispers.
Hooking their phones up to her laptop she downloads them all and then returns the phones to there previous place, their owners none the wiser. Garcia scans through the photos, putting them in a particular order, adding captions and clip art where it fits. The final frame in this PowerPoint presentation is one that she had taken herself last weekend at the park. Emily lays on her back, flying Henry up in her arms over her head. JJ lays beside the brunette, staring up at her son. All three are laughing and oblivious to anyone out of their immediate area. Garcia adds one last caption: "Hope your flight is as good as mine was, Mommies!"
She smiles and saves the file. She emails it out to JJ, Emily and Sandy. She is still patting herself on the back a few minutes later when arms wrap around her from behind. She looks up and sees JJ, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"You rock, Garcia."
Garcia grins proudly, "Back atcha, Jayje."
JJ goes back and cuddles up to Emily again. But instead of going asleep she grabs her phone and plays the presentation one more time. Garcia just smiles and gets back to her blog.
Several hours later Emily is glad she is not the only one unhappy about the next leg of the trip.
"I'm telling you, Aaron, there is no way that plane will hold two people and luggage," Rossi states emphatically.
"Actually, Rossi, studies have shown that—"
"Reid, unless you can tell me that plane is 100% safe, never had an accident, and never even had a flat tire, you'd best shut up."
Reid quickly scans the information in his head. He clamps his mouth shut, pivots and walks away. Rossi rubs his face.
"I think I feel worse now."
Hotch laughs. "Dave, things will be fine. Look, if I'm wrong I'll buy the beer tonight."
Rossi narrows his eyes at his friend. "If you're wrong, I won't be around to enjoy it."
"True. But the first toast will be to your memory."
Rossi starts muttering in Italian as Hotch walks away chuckling. Soon a string of 6 planes is making their way to the Denali National Park ranger station, where the BAU will be set up for the duration of the case. Arrangements had been made at 2 different B&B's near the park entrance to house the team. SUV's will be waiting for them. In under an hour, the team is disembarking the airplanes. Rossi storms over to Hotch.
"I just found out we could have driven here from Anchorage!" he shouts.
"True," Hotch concedes. "But it would have taken 4 and 1/2 hours and if this unsub sticks to his schedule another woman will be disappearing tomorrow. We can drive back when this is over, Dave. I stand by my decision."
The part of Rossi that is still terrified wants to argue the point further. But the rational, profiler side that wants to save lives knows he needs to shut up. Cussing softly in Italian, he goes to grab his bag and head to the waiting SUV.
Across the way, JJ is looking a little green. Emily wraps an arm around her shoulders. "Am I allowed to say I told you so?"
"No," JJ grunts.
The blond, being the smallest member of the team, had been in the smallest plane with her bag and most of the electronics they brought with them. All had watched as winds that had shaken their planes a little had made JJ's plane bounce around like a basketball. Usually not one for motion sickness, this ride had been too much for JJ. She had managed not to throw-up…barely. But it was going to be a while before she felt better. Emily gives her a kiss on the forehead.
"Come on, sweetheart. Let's get you somewhere you can lay down."
JJ just nods and allows Emily to lead her away from the blasted contraptions that had brought them to this wilderness paradise.