Once the jet is in the air, Emily opens her case file to start looking it over. Morgan grabs it out of her hand.
"Oh, hell no, Prentiss. You've got 5 curious people on this plane wanting to know what's the final word on your task force."
JJ hits a button on her laptop. "Make it 6. Garcia texted me to buzz her in when we were ready to interrogate you."
"I'M HERE! I'M HERE! I'M HERE!" Garcia hollers as she drops down into her chair. "Did I miss anything? Had to get a Monster."
"You haven't missed anything, Garcia," Hotch assures her as he and Rossi sit down on the couch.
"Good. Okay, Prentiss, you may speak now," the analyst allows.
Emily starts to laugh. "I missed this with you guys. I really, really did." She raises her hands. "So, what do you want to know?"
Reid sits forward. "I want to know about that bastard Cervantes."
Emily grins. "Why doesn't that surprise me? Needless to say, his credentials have been stripped and he is being questioned regarding letting Khali have free reign in the States. Turns out there are a few other questionable calls in his files, not least of which was his handling of the Myron Philippe case. Not only will he never work in a security field again there is talk there could actually be charges brought against him. If that's the case, he'll definitely do time in a Federal lock-up."
"Well, tell them if they need help interrogating him I'm available," Reid offers.
JJ just shakes her head in awe. "You really, really hate him, don't you, Spence?"
"Yes," Reid says, nodding vigorously. "He's hurt too many of us because he thought he was above the law. He's no better than the bastard we're going after in Portland."
JJ reaches across the table and squeezes his hand. "I agree."
"What's the official line going to be now that the reports are done and filed?" Hotch asks.
"Harlan will continue to be the media face for it. The official report is a task force made up of the FBI, CIA, Secret Service and Capital Police worked to stop a terrorist attack on the rail system. The attack on the day of the press conference will be handled as a secondary incident by members of the cell mad their main plot failed. The rushed nature of that attack is the reason it was unsuccessful."
Hotch nods. "Good story. How do you feel about that knowing how much work you put into it?"
"I hate that you all, Leroy and Ken won't get the recognition for what was done to stop that attack but for public peace of mind I'm okay with it," Emily admits. "The public needs to know we're working our asses off behind the scenes to stop these sorts of attacks but I don't think they need to know every detail. It would only cause fear and conspiracy theories." Hotch nods in agreement.
"Are you going to get any sort of recognition at all?" Rossi wants to know.
"Yes. We all are. At some sort of ceremony down the line we'll all get commendations and awards for what we did." She glances at the computer screen. "I put Garcia forward for special recognition for tracking down the false trails Brent had left implicating the whole task force."
"Oh, Emily, you didn't have to do that!" Garcia states, blushing.
"Too late. Done and approved. Had those false stories not been discovered Leroy, Ken, Noth and Wayans would have ended up in prison and the public would have been questioning if they could trust any of us. Expect a few more job offers, Pen. People in high places were more than impressed with your work."
"You cost me our analyst and I'll rethink you rejoining the team," Hotch threatens Emily with a grin.
Emily chuckles. "Sorry, Bossman."
"Any word on if members of this cell got away?" Morgan asks.
"From what we know so far, this entire cell was squashed. All members are either dead or in custody. Sadly, we know there are other cells out there and the people that would have known about those cells are the ones dead."
"If they ask you to help out again, would you go?" JJ asks nervously.
Emily takes her hand and gives it a kiss. She stares her wife in the eyes. "No, Jennifer, I wouldn't. Too many close calls this time. I might be too old to go undercover but I'm not too old to insist on being out there with my team. I couldn't send them out alone which means I can't be on that front line. I won't do that to you or our children."
JJ grabs Emily's head and pulls her into a deep kiss, ignoring the others around them.
"Awww! Too cute!" Garcia gushes.
JJ ends the kiss and stares into Emily's eyes. "Thank you."
"Emily, what's going to happen to Noth? I liked him," Reid notes.
Emily sighs and looks to the genius. "I do, too. He made a bad decision and it will haunt him the rest of his life. Career wise he's done at the CIA. But with his language skills my guess is he'll end up working for a government contractor and rake in the big bucks. He and I talked a couple of days ago. He really is sorry for what he did. He's young and believed Cervantes when he said it was for the safety of the nation to keep him in the loop. Add in career aspirations that Cervantes played on and Timothy really didn't stand a chance."
"You really hurt for him. That night in McLean I thought you were going to beat him senseless," Hotch points out.
Emily nods. "That night in McLean I was going to beat him senseless. But people change and grow. I'm willing to believe he'll be a better man after that screw up. Now, had one of you all been hurt because of him it would be another story."
"Technically, you were hurt by him, kid. Doesn't that get to you?" Rossi pushes.
Emily shrugs. "For some reason no. Maybe…maybe because JTF-12 was full of people looking out for themselves I figured odds are I should have had at least one on my team with the same thoughts."
"How is Ken Farrelli doing? His shoulder okay?" Rossi brings up.
Emily nods. "He's doing good. Should just be in a sling for another 2 weeks. He's already fielding several offers and is even considering jumping to the CIA. He'll do well whatever he decides. And before you ask, Leroy Allen has applied for a transfer to the FBI. I sent an email to Jordan saying he would be a great asset for Counter Terrorism. I'm pretty sure it's basically a done deal but for the final paperwork."
"I wonder why neither one is staying in the Secret Service," Reid wonders.
Emily smiles. "They like the idea of continuing to fight the war on terrorism. And they know they are good at it so it seems right."
"And Wayans?" Morgan asks.
"He's where he has always wanted to be. He does a good job. Do I trust him completely? Hell no. But I trust that he does his best to put his team's safety and wellbeing ahead of his own personal agenda. That's rare for people in his position."
"Didn't you at one time say you'd knock the crap out of him if you ever saw him again?" JJ teases.
Emily grins and nods. "Yes. But, well, as I said people change. And he came through for me this time. So no need to beat him up. He still owes me dinner, though."
JJ nods. "Much better way to settle an old score."
"I think so." Emily looks around. "So, any other questions?"
"I have one! Ooo! Pick me next!" Garcia says.
Emily laughs. "Okay, crazy lady on the monitor is next."
"Crazy lad- -oh, you best watch it, Princess. What I want to know is were you planning to tell us about the special Presidential Medal of Valor you're getting or were you hoping we didn't know?"
"Son of a bitch…" Emily blushes. "Garcia! How the fuck did you know?"
"And why didn't we know?" JJ asks, miffed at her wife.
Emily sighs. "Because it's not right that I'm getting it. I'm still trying to get out of it. I was part of a team. If I get it all of you should get it."
"But it's about that last act," Garcia insists. "You know, shooting the bad guy, saving all the politicians, saving that little boy and his mother, keeping the first responders away from that last bastard. That was all you, Princess."
Emily shakes her head. "Nope, no way. Everything done was done as a team. Everyone was doing something to save lives. The only difference is cameras were pointed in my direction." She takes a deep breath. "The last task force I was on everyone was looking for glory, advancement, kudos. Not this time. This time it was truly a team working together 90% of the time. If one is hailed all should be hailed."
Hotch smiles. "Good luck trying to get the brass to see it that way."
Emily grins. "Yeah, so far it's fallen on deaf ears. But I'll be protesting it up until the awards ceremony."
"Well if no one has anymore questions, let me just say I'm damn proud of you, kid," Rossi states. "You are a heck of a leader and a hell of an agent. I was proud to work for you. I'd take orders from you any day."
"Here, here," Reid states, holding up his coffee in toast.
Emily chuckles. "Thanks. But I'm happy getting back to just being a little cog in the machine. My body is happy about it, too."
"So is your wife," JJ adds. "After all, what could possibly happen to you and your body on one of our cases?" she jokes.
"Uh, cliff jumping," Reid suggests.
"Getting hit in the head with a board," Morgan volunteers.
"Ooo, don't forget being beaten up by a cult leader," Garcia chimes in.
"And what about- -" Rossi starts.
"ENOUGH!" JJ says, laughing. "It was a sarcastic rhetorical question. No need to add to my gray hair tally."
Hotch stands. "So, we've got a long flight. How about we all relax a little? We'll brief an hour before we land."
"I'll keep working backgrounds and financials," Garcia says. "Should have something for you by the time you brief. Goddess of Quantico out!" The monitor goes dark.
Rossi and Hotch go back to their seats at the front of the plane. JJ lifts the arm rest between the seats, places her wife's arm over her shoulder and snuggles in for a nap before they get to Portland. Emily smiles contentedly and kisses JJ's temple.
"I love you, Jen."
"I love you, too, Em."
JJ soon slips off to sleep. Emily just revels in the chance to hold her wife in the calm before the storm of the coming case.