A/N: Please note that other triggering content (self-harm and suicide will be discussed) throughout the story. Please be forewarned and take precautions if these are troubling for you.
A/N: Violence towards a primary character is briefly mentioned/discussed in this chapter. Please be forewarned if that is troubling for you.
I just wanted to thank everyone for the reviews. My muse and I both appreciate it.
This is still, as of now, planned to be a fairly long, multi-part story, but if y'all aren't into it…I'll wrap it up soon.
And remember…reviews and feedback keep me and my muse motivated…especially if they're positive!
***More drama and more secrets revealed***
I hope you enjoy this latest chapter…Now on with the show!
"In our time political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible." ~ George Orwell
"Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past." ~ George Orwell
Chapter 49
Dr. Hayes had mentioned that the tests she was going to be running on Emily might take a little while, so I decide that I should probably check in with the team to see if they've found out anything about those pictures while I have a little time.
I make my way back out of Emily's room and I'm somewhat caught off-guard to see Hotch waiting just outside of another hospital room on this side of the small waiting room our team had converged on when Emily had been brought in.
I momentarily panic, thinking something is wrong with Emily, or perhaps one of the other members of my team, but then realize that I was just with Emily and that Dr. Hayes or someone else would've told me if something were wrong. Still, I have to wonder why Hotch is obviously waiting for me…and why he seems to be almost guarding the other room.
I glance in the room just long enough to notice that not only are my team inside, but Chance, Summer, and the rest of Emily's family seem to be there as well.
"JJ…we need to talk."
"What's going on? Did something else happen?" I rush out…my panic starting to rise slightly hearing the fatherly-tone in his voice.
"We were able to find out most of the background on those pictures we found earlier. Those women…they were all connected, at least peripherally…to Emily. We were able to use this room as our temporary command post since none of us felt right about leaving Emily…or you right now."
"I was afraid they might be connected to Emily somehow…but how were you able to talk the hospital into using one of their rooms as a temporary base?" I start to ask.
I then remember Chance's vague threat to the nurse that threatened to make me leave…and realize that he or someone else in Emily's family probably 'helped' obtain the room.
"Never mind…I think I know." I mumble just loud enough for Hotch to hear.
I watch as he nods knowingly.
I lean in and whisper to Hotch "there's more to this than just some basic background on those pictures…isn't there?" I question…my anxiety starting to rise again after noticing that everyone was watching Hotch and I talking.
Hotch nods slightly, looking directly into my eyes. "Yes. During our conversation with Emily's family, along with Garcia's search of Emily's phone, we discovered some additional information. Her family was just starting to fill us in on part of it. We believe those are the final pieces we need to fully understand Lucas's motives, how he selected his victims, and how we will need to proceed going forward. Her family insisted you be present before they disclosed any personal information. Chance and Summer in particular were insistent on that decision. I assume they have their reasons for that."
"What did they tell you so far?" I ask…slightly nervous about what they may have told the team.
"We've really just begun the discussion. We've reviewed some preliminary details and they discussed some basic information about Chance and Summer's backgrounds. They didn't want to discuss too much more until you were able to be present for the discussion. Other than that, they, along with Tom and Isabella were able to confirm they knew the women from the photos either directly or indirectly and that all had direct or peripheral contact with Emily…though I'm not sure she would've have known all of them personally."
I watch as Hotch motions for me to follow him back to the room…which has been turned into a room much like what we work out of when we are on a case…with whiteboards, photos taped to a wall, and other case materials already set up.
There are also pseudo-beds, supplies, and other 'necessities' that a group might find on a long-term camping trip…or glamping trip…as Garcia would probably say. Apparently, my team had been staying here or in the waiting room while I had been in with Emily.
I glance around the room…somewhat shocked to see all of the supplies and at the realization that even after attempting to get everyone to leave…at least for a little while to get some rest or something to eat…they obviously stayed here.
Hotch leans in and whispers quietly "Do you really think any of us are going to leave you or Emily until we know for sure you're both going to be okay?"
I glance up to see a small smile and the gentle warmth shining in his eyes. It's a side to him he rarely shows…but it means the world to me that he cares so much for me and Emily…and the rest my team…my family. He's always trying to protect all of us…in his own quiet way.
I take another quick look around the room and notice that Reid had even started a geographic profile, marking the locations of the victims, at least where they were located when they died, and the photos listed the names, ages, dates of birth and death, along with listed causes of death under each.
There were letters next to each photo and dates or date ranges, which I assume the team would explain to me later. As the dates were close to the dates of death, I assume they had something to do with when Lucas met or had contact with them.
As I walk into the room, I'm surprised to see Chance and Summer immediately come to my side.
Summer pulls me into a hug and whispers "please just listen…and don't give up on my mom after you hear everything. She loves you too…please remember that."
Shocked by her statement, and more nervous than I had been before about what I'm about to hear, I just hug her back.
I pull back slightly so she can see me when I quietly reply to her "I'm never gonna to give up on her…no matter what. I promised her that before…and I can promise you both that now." I finish as I look at her before glancing over at Chance.
I see relief briefly cross his face as well. Now I really am worried.
What is it that I'm about to hear? What could possibly be so shocking from Emily's past that would make her kids…kids that I just found out about…think that I would leave her now?
Chance takes my hand and leads me over to a small table where the rest of Emily's family is sitting. I recognize Tom from a few weeks ago. He was there when that whole mess with Ian finally ended. I also recognize Emily's mother, and though I had only met her back on that case a few years ago…she made quite an impression. I assume that the older gentleman is Emily's father and the other woman standing between him and Tom is his wife, Isabella, and all of that is confirmed when Chance formally introduces me to all of them.
Turns out that Emily's father, Alexander, or as he has requested to be called, Alex, wasn't a diplomat after all…I had just assumed he was based on the limited information I had heard. For an older gentleman, he's quite handsome. Between him and Emily's mother, it's no wonder Emily turned out to be so incredibly beautiful. And Isabella, who appears to be quite a bit younger than Alex, is quite stunning as well. If I had to guess…I'd say she's probably closer to Emily's age than her fathers, but that could just be really good plastic surgery too. You never know when it comes to wealthy people. I mean anymore, with the right plastic surgeon, you could be 70 or 80 and look like your 40.
I shake my head to clear my rambling thoughts as I hear the Ambassador speak to me as she extends her hand "Agent Jareau…I'd say it's nice to see you again…but under the circumstances…" she trails off.
"JJ. And I agree…circumstances as they are." I clarify…mostly out of habit I realize.
"I'm sorry?" the Ambassador's reply comes out as more of a question than a statement as she slightly shakes her head.
"I'm sorry Ambassador…I meant…given the circumstances…It's nice to see you again as well…and just call me JJ…instead of Agent Jareau." I further explain.
"Okay…JJ it is. With that being said you should call me Elizabeth then." She replies.
Ok…wasn't expecting that.
"Ambass…" I start…but see her shakes her head so I change to the requested "Elizabeth?" and see her nod.
"Agent Hotchner said you were waiting on me so you could discuss some things. May I ask why?"
"My grandchildren have made it abundantly clear to us" she states…glancing between Alex, Isabella, and Tom…"how important you are to Emily and that anything having to do with her past or anything that could potentially impact her in any way going forward, should involve you." She readily states while glancing between Chance and Summer before looking back to me.
I notice that Chance and Summer have taken a seat on either side of me and Chance briefly touches my back in a comforting gesture while Summer takes my hand under the table and gently squeezes it. It's as if they are trying to reinforce my status with the Emily's parents, and they both take notice of her kid's support.
"Ambass…sorry…Elizabeth...Emily means more to me than I can possibly explain. I guess I'm just surprised that you felt you needed to wait until I was here to share whatever information it was considering it was about all of this." I finish…waving my free hand around to the various pictures taped to the wall.
"After talking with Agents Hotchner and Rossi, as well as some background information that your technical analyst Ms. Garcia and Tom were able to determine…we've come to realize that all of those women…well they have a connection to Emily…or to other members of our family. Because of that…and the potential impact that has on her future interactions with all of you…and with you in particular…given what my grandchildren have told me…I ensured them I would wait to discuss this matter only when you could be present."
"Okay…so what is it that you need to tell me? How is it that Emily is connected to all of the women in these photos?" I tentatively ask.
"Not to sound too political with my response…but it is very complicated. They all had the unfortunate luck of being targeted by Lucas because of some direct or indirect contact with Emily. It would probably be easier to understand if I started at the very beginning…where I believe this entire thing started. If you'll indulge me for a little while…I think you'll have a much better understanding of how this began and how all of these women are connected." Elizabeth explains.
I just nod in response.
"Well…to begin, I should state the obvious. I was not the best mother. We…" Elizabeth motions towards Alex "were not great parents in general. Ours was an arranged marriage, and Emily was an unfortunate victim of our animosity towards one another. Emily was caught in a situation that no child should ever be subject to. I see that now. I think we all do." Elizabeth looks to Alex and Isabella and they both nod in agreement.
"We decided early on in our marriage that we would simply pretend to be happily married in the presence of others…primarily due to my career…but our private lives would be our own. We attempted to keep this a secret from Emily as well, thinking she wouldn't be negatively impacted by our decision…but we weren't very successful. Neither of us were really there for her. I was too focused on my career to think of anything or anyone else. Meanwhile, Alex was too angry with me because of my devotion to my career over Emily, to even pretend to care unless we were at a social gathering. The rest of the time he told Emily he was away on business trips. In reality…he was living across town with Isabella. The three of us knew that we wouldn't be able to keep up the charade for long…but we hoped that we could all find the right moment to tell Emily. That right moment never came. The wrong one did instead." Elizabeth sadly states.
"At the time, we were living in Rome and I had been informed that my posting there was coming to an end. I had been informed that I had a couple of potential postings and that if I 'played my cards right', I could have the posting I most desired. That meant networking with some individuals that I didn't particularly care for, but nonetheless needed to work with for political purposes. One of those people happened to be Lucas's mother." Elizabeth states solemnly.
I gasp softly at this new information…and as I glance around the room…the rest of my team looks somewhat surprised as well.
"I knew that Lucas had a bit of a crush on Emily, simply based on my observations during a few prior social gatherings we'd had over the previous few months. His mother had suggested that the two of them would make a cute couple and though I realized that Emily had no interest in Lucas whatsoever…I didn't discourage her 'suggestion' because I thought it more politically beneficial than detrimental to Emily, considering it would only require a minimal amount of time and effort on her part. Given her utter lack of interest, I didn't see the harm. I thought a gentle push from me to get Emily to spend a little time with Lucas would be fine…at least maybe a dance or two at a couple of functions…in order to secure the political leverage I needed for my next posting." Elizabeth explained.
Before I could filter my response…my anger got the better of me on hearing what she considered harmless to the young woman I would later fall so hard for…Emily.
"You 'pimped out' your own daughter for political leverage" I said using air quotes around the two most damning words…before muttering…"unbelievable".
"No…it wasn't like that…well…not really. It's just that Emily didn't have many friends at the time and I thought expanding her social circle would be good for her. It's not like I was setting up an escort for her or something like that. Besides, at the time...she was spending a lot of time with two young men that I thought were becoming a bad influence on her. They both came from good families…but she was beginning to act out more. I realize now that what I attributed as a bad influence on their part was simply Emily growing up and finding her way in a dysfunctional home. I blamed them for what Alex and I were actually causing. I just…well we…just thought that if we expanded her circle of friends more…she would spend less time with them and they'd have less of an influence on her. We had no idea what that one decision would lead to." Elizabeth sadly states.
"You're talking about Matthew and John, right?" I question.
I remember them from the case we had a while back. I know we weren't talking to each other a lot back then…but that's right before Lucas showed back up again. Based on what I heard and remember, she was close with both of them.
"Yes. I remember you had a case that involved both of them recently. Lucas showed back up again at the same time…or at least made his presence known to Emily then. From what we know now…based on these photos and what Ms. Garcia and Tom discovered…he'd apparently been keeping an eye on Emily for years. But I'm getting off track. I'll resume this part later. For now…I have a few more things to discuss regarding the previous topic." Elizabeth concedes.
Shocked at the thought that Lucas had been stalking Emily for years…I simply nod for Elizabeth to continue. I can't seem to find any other words right now anyway.
"So returning to what I'd been discussing…I'd been working on securing a posting in one specific location, but since I wasn't assured that I would be assigned there, and was told there were two other possible locations, I decided to hire a language tutor to assist Emily with learning the languages required for all three locations. Alex and I thought it best to hire someone close to her age and also someone that was female as well…since all of her other friends at the time were male. She had started to get a bit of a reputation around certain social circles due to her choice of companions and we wanted to stave that off as quickly as possible. Having someone close to her age that was female would help to eliminate those negative rumors…or at least that was our hope."
"That's when you hired Lauren…isn't it?" Chance interjected.
"Lauren?" I ask…confused about who he was talking about.
"Yes. We hired a young woman that was a few years older that Emily…her name was Lauren Reynolds." Elizabeth replied.
"That's the name that…" I trailed off as I looked over at my team…noticing that they all had the same look of shock on their faces as I probably did…some of them hiding it better than others.
"Yes…the name she used while she was undercover." Elizabeth continues.
"But why? I don't understand. Why would she use someone else's name? Especially someone she knew? Wasn't she concerned that she would put the real Lauren in danger?" I ask…trying to figure out what was going on.
"She didn't believe she had any reason for concern, JJ. She thought Lauren had died several years prior to when she began using her name. Emily knew that an identity of a real person was better to use in a case like Ian's than someone that was simply created out of thin air." Tom explained.
"What do you mean thought? And what does that have to do with what's going on now?" I ask…confused about why Elizabeth is telling me this story…and about Tom's explanation.
"We thought she died because of something we were told years ago, which we now realize was a lie. She did, in fact, die. Just not when we thought she did, or how."
I start to interrupt…hoping to clarify what she meant…but she continues on.
"Lauren's photo was one of ones on the wall there…one of the people Lucas claimed to have killed." Elizabeth points to a photo on the wall.