Criminal Minds

Meeting Marcella

Chapter 4

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"My what?" JJ repeated as she glared at Dave.

Hotch was stunned but he kept his mouth shut. Sometimes it was best not to interfere.

Dave glanced about the hallway, thankfull it was empty for once. "I'm sorry, JJ, I was out of line." He held his breath. "But you were acting a little out of sorts. It's not like you."

She continued to stare at him as if he had grown a couple of horns on his head and a tail behind him, "Dave Rossi, I'm not sure how to reply to your accusations..."

She was quickly cut off by the appearance of Section Chief Mateo Cruz who was surprised to see the trio.

He eyed their body languages and frowned, "Is there a problem?"

Hotch was thankful for the timely interruption of his appearance; he was afraid he might have to call for medical aid...for Dave Rossi! Some times, his mouth gets the better of his brain cells!

"Chief Cruz, we were wondering if we could have a moment of your time? A private moment?"

Cruz stared at him, then at JJ who nodded, before he replied, "Of course, Agent Hotchner, I do have an hour before I have a meeting with the Deputy Director..."

"Actually..." JJ cut him off and smiled, "We have a small matter to discuss with the Deputy Director as well, but we'd like to run this by you first."

Cruz frowned, "Why do I get the feeling that you guys are about to get me into trouble?" He showed them to his office as he sat down behind his desk. They chose to stand.

The three BAU agents exchanged looks and Hotch began, "Chief Cruz, do you remember a former member of my team Emily Prentiss?"

Cruz thought for a moment, "Isn't she from INTERPOL in London who came here to save Agent Jareau and I?"

"Yes." JJ nodded.

"What's going on?"

Hotch began to explain to him what had happen to her.

A few minutes later, he nodded, "I guess you're asking to return a favor, Agent Hotchner?"

"Yes." Hotch nodded firmly. "She's the mother of my daughter, Marcella."

Cruz was startled, "Is that so?" He smiled, "Congratulations, Agent Hotchner."

Hotch thanked him but waited anxiously.

Cruz thought for a moment, "What else do you have on this situation?"

"Right now, the team is sifting through INTERPOL's texts." JJ said quietly.

Cruz turned to her, "Did you say..." He shook his head, "I didn't hear you." He held his hand up when she opened her mouth. "No, I don't really want to know what methods you'd use to obtain those texts which you all know is illegal as hell." He gave a long breath out. "Oh my goodness. Please never mention this to the Deputy Director about your underhanded method." He shook his head as he stood up.

Hotch nodded, "I'm prepared to take complete responsibility, Chief Cruz..."

Cruz cut him off as he walked up to Hotch, "Oh yeah, you will, Hotchner!" He then took another breath and continued, this time in a more calmed manner, "However your girlfriend got you guys involved, you're in complete over your head. This is not even in our jurisdiction."

"But..." Rossi began, "After all she had done for us, it's the least we could do."

The Section Chief turned to face the older agent, "I'm well aware of that fact, Agent Rossi, while I'm very grateful for what she had done for Agent Jareau and I, there are certain procedures we had to follow."

Hotch could see Rossi trying his best to contain his temper; his knuckles were white as he clenched his fists but he held his tongue.

JJ, on the other hand, was shaking her head, "Cruz, this is bullshit."

Rossi and Hotch exchanged stunned looks; they'd never expected her insubordination!

"JJ!" Hotch uttered, "I think you should apol..."

Cruz shook his head as he raised his hand up, "It's okay, Agent Hotchner, Agent Jareau is being honest." He watched them and sighed. "Okay, I'll buy your story..."

"It's not a story!" JJ frowned at him. "Emily is in trouble and missing."

"Stand down, Jareau!" Cruz smiled, "What's gotten into you?"

She took a step back as she realized she was out of line. "I'm sorry, Chief."

"I told you her estrogen is out of whack." Rossi leaned over to Hotch. "I think she needs to get that check."

Hotch glanced at him, "You might have something there Dave, but now's not the time." He turned to Cruz, "So, you'll help us?"

The Section Chief nodded, "Yes, but I'll need what your unit can get from INTERPOL has so far. Where did your girlfriend and her boss wind up? Which by the way, sounds like they were being set up."

The three nodded, "Yes, that's what we've gathered." Hotch answered for them. "We think they're in Kabul."

Cruz's brows shot up, "Kabul? Oh...that's not good. Tensions in there are very hot at the moment. Extract is going to be pretty tricky."

"Mon dieu!" Rossi uttered under his breath.

Cruz glanced at his watch and nodded, "Well, let's get to the Ivory Tower."

…...

"Marcella, this is your brother Jack." Hotch smiled as he squatted to her level.

Yasmina signed and introduced brother and sister for the first time.

"I have a brother?" Marcella's eyes widen with wonder as she smiled, then she turned to Jack, "Hello, brother Jack, nice to meet you."

Yasmina interpreted.

Jack smiled, "Hello, Marcella, nice to meet you too."

Marcella signed, "How old are you?"

Jack, "I'm twelve, what about you?"

Marcella, "Two." She held two fingers. "Do you go to school?"

He nodded. "Yeah."

She looked sad, "I'm too small to go to school, Mina says."

Jack looked up at the Nanny who returned his smile and said, "She is still too young for school."

"But she can sign, she knows all the alphabets." Jack said.

Yasmina grinned, "That's true but she's just signing, to actually learn the letters and writing is another matter, and she won't learn them until she turns five."

Jack nodded as he continued to watch the nanny, "Can I learn how to sign?"

Yasmina smiled and nodded, "Of course, anyone can learn but you'll have to ask your father first."

Hotch grinned and nodded, "We'll have to talk about it, but I don't see any problem."

Elizabeth Prentiss walked into the room and Hotch introduced her to his son.

"Are you my grandmother?" Jack asked her.

Hotch and Elizabeth exchanged awkward looks, "I think that would be up to you, Elizabeth." Hotch grinned.

She thought about it but Marcella tugged on her skirt and signed, "You are my Grandmamma, Jack's my brother, so you are Jack's Grandmamma."

Elizabeth smiled at the little girl before she signed, "Marcella..."

Hotch spoke up, "Elizabeth...if you don't mind, it would be Jack's honor to be your Grandson, right buddy?" He turned to his son.

Jack nodded, "Yeah sure, I'm okay with that."

Elizabeth was touched, "Thank you, Aaron, and Jack."

Marcella laughed, "I have big family." She signed happily.

Yasmina nodded, "Yes you do, and they all love you."

"I wish mamma is here too."

Elizabeth looked instantly sad when she saw what Marcella signed, "I wish your mamma was here too, Marcella."

The little girl signed again, "Don't be sad, Grandmamma, mamma will be home soon. Can we eat now? I'm hungry."

Elizabeth chuckled, "Of course, my little hungry monkey!" She grinned as she picked the little girl up and said, "Shall we go into the restaurant, our princess is hungry."

Hotch chuckled, "Of course! I'm sure Jack is starving too." He ruffled his son's hair playfully.

"Dad!" Jack leaned away from him as he quickly hand combed his hair and walked next to Yasmina.

Hotch continued to smile; he recognized his son's early tell-tail preteen crush on the nanny, and he thought it was quite amusing.

…...

Halfway through their meal, Hotch received a phone call from Garcia; they had found the exact location of the whereabouts of Emily, Clyde, and one of their INTERPOL officers.

The only thing was, they were caught in the crossfire in the British Embassy in Kabul.

Three squads of enemy militants had surrounded the Embassy.

…...

End of Chapter 4