Saturday BBQ

CHAPTER 7

Saturday arrives and Emily is accompanied by Dani in the car. They arrive at JJ's house where they can see the barbeque smoke coming out from the backyard.

Emily parks her car in the driveway and the two ladies get out of the car, walking to the door.

"Mmmm. I could smell the food from here," Dani said sniffing the air.

"Oh man, I cant wait to eat," she said, rubbing her hands.

Emily chuckles. She knocks on the door and they wait. Will opens the door and greets them with a smile.

"Why hello ladies. I'm glad you guys made it," he says.

"Come in. The rest are at the back," he says while gesturing to the guest to come in.

Emily and Dani greet Will with a hug and then go inside the house.

They get out through the back door and see Spencer and Garcia standing at the porch next to JJ, who is at the grill making sure the food won't burn.

Henry and Michael are in the back part of the yard playing.

The tech analyst notices Emily arriving with Dani. She waves at them and smiles.

"Hey, guys! We were waiting for you!" she said, receiving them with a hug. Spencer greets them with a smile as well as JJ.

"Hey, guys. Sorry to keep you all waiting," Emily said.

"It's alright," replied JJ.

"The food will be ready in a few minutes," she informed them. Daniela eyes the food on the grill and smiles, knowing that it will taste delicious.

"And plus, we always save the best for last," Garcia states.

"It wouldn't be fun without Daring Dani and our Badass Brunette," she says with a wink. Emily and Dani chuckle.

Emily, JJ, and Penelope were all having their conversation while Will, Spencer, and Dani were also talking.

"How is school, Dani?" Spencer asked.

"It's been going pretty well so far. My classes are pretty enjoyable." Dani replies.

"Any favorite subject?"

"Most definitely Guitar," Dani says with a smile.

"Ahhh, to have musical talent," said Will with a smile. "I'm pretty sure you already ahead of the rest of the class."

Daniela smiles.

"I'm not sure about that. There are four levels to that class starting from guitar 1 to advance guitar class. I was placed in level 2 so hopefully, by my junior year I will be at the advanced level."

"That sounds great. Hopefully, you give us the chance in hearing you rock some tunes," Will said while ruffling the girl's hair.

"Maybe one day," she replies.

"What do you think about math class?" Spencer asks with a brow raised. "I heard you are taking algebra 1."

"It's not my cup of tea," the girl admitted with a timid smile. "But I think I can handle it."

"Well, whenever you need help I'm up to it. Algebra is a breeze," he says with a smile. "And I might give you some answers." He says with a wink.

Dani's eyes open wide. "And I don't have to bribe you? That was easy," she said with a smirk.

"Bribing won't be necessary. I do it for fun," he told the teen.

"You will be passing that class with a breeze. I will make sure of that," he said with a wink.

"But umm... we need to keep this on the low," said Dani while lowering her voice.

"A certain someone cant know about this," she said while eying Emily who is a few feet behind Spencer. "She wants me to pass all by my own merit. That is fine and all but a little help won't hurt me."

Spencer glances behind him and sees Emily talking with the other two female agents.

"Agreed."

"She will kill us both if she finds out," Dani told him. "I'm too awesome to die so young."

"I prefer to die in a way that isn't so terrifying," Spencer added.

"I heard that," Emily called out from the back.

Both Spencer and Dani raise both hands in the air, caught red-handed while Emily walks towards them with JJ and Penelope behind.

"What are you two plotting exactly?"

She knows Daniela's slick actions combined with Reid's intelligence is a dangerous combination.

"Well look at that, someone has to attend the grill," Will said as he excused himself from the interrogation.

"Wait, Will don't leave!" Dani called out to the man.

"Coward," Spencer mumbled.

"So, are you guys going to tell me your whole scheme that will require me to end your mortal souls?" Emily asked while crossing her hands above her chest.

"What? We aren't planning anything. Right, Dani?" Spencer asked the girl with a nervous smile.

Daniela nods in response.

"We were... uhh talking," he said with the most innocent smile.

"About what exactly?" asked Emily while raising her brow at Dani.

"Things," the girl blatantly replied.

Emily cocked her head to the side. "Really?" She asked with a brow raised.

"Hey, I thought we were in a cookout not in an interrogation room," the girl defended herself.

"And if we are in an interrogation room, I know my rights. My right to remain silent," she pointed out. Spencer nodded in agreement.

JJ and Penelope are in the background watching in amusement while Emily lets out a chuckle.

"You are lucky I cant foil your evil scheme."

"Why would you assume its evil?" asked Spencer.

"With you two? Daniela's mischievousness and your high IQ would be a very powerful mix," JJ told him.

"Too much power can cause trouble," she said with a grin.

Spencer and Dani look at each other and frown lightly.

"You don't have to worry about that. We would have already taken over the world if that is our intention," Daniela assured them.

"But... if Penelope would like to give a helping hand that could change. With a cyber tech, we would be unstoppable," she said with a smirk while looking at Garcia.

"Sounds tempting. We could be called the troubled trio!" Penelope said with excitement.

"Alright, that is enough evil plot scheming for today," the brunette budged in.

"Spencer, don't give bad ideas to the kid and Penelope please don't enhance it," said Emily with her arms crossed.

"Aww," Penelope pouted with a frown. "You are no fun."

"Auntie Emily! Dani! Dani!" They hear running heading towards their direction.

Henry and Michael are running towards them. Henry gives a hug to Emily while Dani bends down on one knee, receiving Michael's embrace.

"When did you guys arrive?" asked Henry.

"Just a few minutes ago," Emily replied, ruffling his hair.

"But how come we not see you come in?" Michael asked, looking confused.

"That's because we are ninjas," Dani responded with a wink.

"Wow. that's vewy cool," Michael said, eyes wide open.

The team smiles at Michael's amusement.

"Can we go play soccer, Dani?" Henry asked.

"Yes! Yes! Can we, can we?" pleaded Michael.

"Most definitely," said Dani, getting up.

"Race y'all to the yard." She starts running, Henry and Michael behind her trying to catch up.

Henry grabs the soccer ball and they start to play.

Emily and the team watch as the kids play. She enjoys watching Dani have fun with JJ's kids.

Henry and Michael loved hanging out and playing with Dani. They always looked at Dani as a cool kid who would teach them new soccer tricks.

They are like little cousins Dani never had.

Emily enjoys the thought of Dani finally having a normal life with a family who cares for her.

"How is everything going with Dani? Any more caseworker visits?" JJ asked, putting off Emily's train of thought.

"Yeah, we actually had one yesterday," Emily replied with a sigh.

"I imagine it didn't go so well," JJ said looking at Emily.

"Well, it did go well in the aspect of the whole check-in. It just bummed out Dani a little."

"How come?" Garcia asked worriedly.

"The caseworker asked Daniela if she wanted to reconnect with her father," Emily replied.

"Why would she ask that? As far as we know, Dani's biological father was never present in her life." Spencer said, frowning.

"Well, it's part of how the system works. One of their objectives is to reunify children with their parents."

"Her father?" asked JJ. "Isn't he in prison?"

"Yep," Emily confirmed.

"The caseworker knows that Dani would be better off without him but she wants to give Dani a chance to decide."

"What did she say?" Spencer asked her.

"She also agreed that it is better to leave things the way they are," Emily told the group.

"But she is conflicted by her decision. She wasn't expecting the question about her getting in touch with her father. I wasn't either. She just wonders whether she did the right thing."

"What do you think?" JJ asked the brunette. "Do you think Dani should get in touch with him?"

"No, I don't think she should," Emily said with a sigh.

"But that's the thing. I don't want her to feel pressured or anything about her decision. The caseworker is right, Daniela has a right to get to know her father even if he isn't the best person in the world," she pauses and looks at the field where Dani was playing with JJ's children.

"I just don't want her to get hurt."

"She is smart, Em. I'm sure that soon enough she will find out she made the right choice," JJ assured her.

"Just look at her," Penelope said while nodding her head towards the field.

"She is a happy, healthy, and sweet girl. I know she will be just fine as long as she is with you. I am pretty sure she knows too."

Emily glances at the girl.

She is happily celebrating a goal that Henry made, smiling and clapping while cheering on the boy.

Emily smiles, knowing that Penelope is right.

"Yeah. I think so too."

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An hour passed and the team was hanging around, relaxing on the porch. Dani and the kids were still playing soccer in the yard.

The weather was nice with a warm breeze that was very pleasant. JJ and Will were telling the team about their plans for the holidays.

"Isn't it a bit too early to start planning on winter vacations?" asked Garcia.

"Like, I barely have planned out what I'm doing this weekend. I most definitely have nothing in mind for the holidays."

"You are right about that," said Will.

"But with the kids and our families in different states, it's better to plan now than to panic later."

"Well you guys have roughly one hundred and fifteen days to have everything ready before the break," Reid said.

"One hundred and sixteen if you include today."

"Trust me. We need all those days when it comes to visiting family or else there might be a clash between Pennsylvania and Louisiana." JJ says with a chuckle.

"I see that big families can be pretty chaotic," Emily says.

"It can be quite a hustle," JJ replied with a nod. "How about you? Have you talked to your mother?"

Emily lets out a sarcastic laugh.

"Ha. I think it is easier to get in contact with the president himself. No, haven't talked or seen her in years."

"Wow. Are you serious?" asked Garcia. Emily responded with a nod.

"So she has never met Dani?" asked Will. "Does your ma know about Dani?"

"I haven't told her personally," Emily answered.

"My mother, she can be a very... by the book person. She believes in withholding family traditions. She wouldn't approve the way I got Dani," the woman stated.

"It's not that I care about what she thinks. I just don't want Dani to feel uncomfortable because of her."

Emily knows who Elizabeth Prentiss is. She is a high diplomat with conservative family values.

She is a woman who values tradition though it comes at a cost. Elizabeth is married to her father though Emily knows that their relationship couldn't be more cold and distant.

Emily knows the only reason why her parents got together in the first place is due to both of them coming from very affluent backgrounds. The only thing that is keeping them together is their work reputation.

They both know that political members with long-lasting "successful" marriages are viewed as more respectful.

Elizabeth always wanted the same thing with her only daughter, Emily. She wanted her to meet and marry a successful man and have children of their own.

She noticed that time has passed by and with her daughter in her forties, that wasn't going to happen.

If Emily were to tell her mother that she took in a kid that she met on a case, Elizabeth wouldn't be so pleased.

Especially if she were to know about where the child came from. Emily could only imagine what her mother would think about Dani.

None of it would be good.

Garcia wanted to ask Emily more questions but her thoughts stopped when she heard running steps approaching them.

It was Dani, Henry, and Michael coming back from playing soccer.

"Mommy! Mommy! I lewnd how to be goalie today!" exclaimed Michael with excitement.

"That's great, honey," JJ replied with a smile. "Did you stop any goals?"

Michael nodded. "I stop all of them. Dani taught me a twick to do that."

"That's awesome," JJ said with a smile.

"I bet after all this running you all must be starving. Why don't you guys all sit down while we bring out the food."

"I agree. I am starving," Dani told the group.

"Okay. I also want to eat," Henry said.

"But when we are done eating, can you come to play with us, mommy?" he asked the blonde.

"Yes! Pwease, mommy. It will be so much fun," little Michael added. "We could pway in teams."

"Hmm... I'm not sure, buddy," JJ told her kids. "It's been a while since I've played. I'm not as good as I used to be."

"I'm pretty sure we both know that's a lie," Daniela told JJ.

"An ex-high school soccer captain who earned an athletic scholarship does not just lose the magic touch," she commented.

"Or is age finally catching up?" she asked with a smug.

JJ looked up at the girl with her mouth open in shock. She then smiles at her while tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Ohh. It is definitely not my age because I am not that old," she told Dani.

"Fine then. I will play with you guys. Afterward, I want a one versus one with you young lady," she said as she ruffled the teen's hair.

"I accept the challenge agent Jareau," Daniela told her, squinting her nose.

"You will learn from your elders how it's done, rookie."

"Careful now JJ. The kid will take your word and then you will have to face her in a competitive mode. She can be pretty scary when she is like that," Emily told the blonde while taking a sip of water.

"That is exactly the type of person I want to play with."

It was around six in the afternoon and the team parted ways back home. They all spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the food and weather.

The adults were all chatting on the porch with the exception of JJ. She was busy playing soccer with the kids.

She held her word and had a solo game against Daniela. It was an interesting game.

Daniela was right, JJ still had it in her. Though it has been years since she has kicked a soccer ball, she played as if she was still in her high school soccer team. It felt great.

Her opponent wasn't a bad player at all. In fact, the teen made JJ hustle.

Daniela has speed and agility on her side. Not to mention her accuracy when shooting a goal. The girl has skills that impressed the agent.

They ended the game with a tie. JJ requesting Dani for around two for another day in which the girl accepted.

She truly enjoyed playing with JJ. Moments like this are when Dani felt like her life was getting back together.

With everything that has happened to her, her witnessing the loss of two family members has taken a toll on her.

It was like with each loss she also lost a piece of herself.

A piece of her happiness, something she thought she would never feel again.

These small moments interacting with Emily and her team makes her feel normal. Makes her feel happy.

Makes her feel complete.

Emily was driving while Dani was texting her friends in the passenger seat. She was kind of tired from playing all afternoon.

Kids can really drain the battery out of someone, but she enjoyed spending time with JJ's kids.

"You really made JJ work a sweat out there," Emily told the teen as she was driving.

Dani lets out a small chuckle.

"She is good at playing. I see why she was a captain in her high school team," Dani answered.

"You are pretty good yourself. I don't know much about the sport but I can tell you have skills," Emily told the girl while keeping her eyes on the road.

"Wait, weren't you on a soccer team in your past foster home?"

Daniela internally cringed when hearing Emily mention her last placement but the girl kept her composure.

"Uhh... yeah I was. How did you know?"

"The time I went to go see you over there I remembered walking past a display cabinet. There were trophies, medals, and pictures of kids who lived there," Emily explained.

"I saw a few pictures of you playing soccer."

Dani placed her phone down and looked up at the road.

"Yeah... I played in two teams while staying there. It was a school team and a club."

"Two teams? Sounds like you had a busy schedule over there."

You have no idea, Daniela thought to herself.

"It... got busy from time to time. Soccer practice was always after school or during the summer. It would get... stressful from time to time."

"I'm pretty sure all that practice wasn't in vain. I think I saw two trophies and a few medals with your name," Emily points out.

"Yeah, I guess that's how much I had. Honestly, I don't remember," Dani told Emily.

"It was a while back."

"How come you stopped playing?" Emily asked her as she approached a red light.

"Was it because you moved in with me? You know I have absolutely no problem with you playing in a team," Emily told her, feeling almost guilty for being the potential reason why Daniela had to quit playing.

"Don't worry. It's not because I moved in with you," Daniela states.

"It just got overwhelming. I had to juggle with a tight schedule and that wasn't it."

"Did you only play in your last home?"

"No. Ever since I was under CPS care I would be placed in a small soccer club. They did it so I could have something to do in my free time," Dani replies.

"I played soccer with my friends back in my hometown. We would spend hours outside kicking the ball and learning new tricks from each other. But my real teacher was my brother, Lucas. He was the one who introduced me to the sport."

"I'm glad he did," Emily responded kindly.

"Me too. It was a way of him keeping me out of the streets and as a form of distraction," Dani said.

"I just play it as a hobby now."

She looks out the window and remembers how her brother tried his best from keeping Dani out of all the bad stuff.

He tried to take her outside anytime he could in order for Dani to not witness their mother drugging herself or witnessing her overdosing.

She thinks of how much of a hassle it had to be dragging around a seven-year-old with nowhere else to go except outside in order to prevent seeing the madness inside their house.

Her brother was her guardian angel who tried everything he could to protect her from evil.

Then he died leaving Dani out to face cruel reality.

Emily noticed how quiet Dani was and glanced at her, seeing Dani thinking with a rather sad expression.

She knew the reason Dani was like this is because of her talking about her brother.

"Hey, are you okay?" she asked while placing her hand on top of Dani.

Dani gets out of her cloud of thought.

"Oh, yeah. I'm just a little tired."

The profiler looks at Dani. She could tell that Dani wasn't saying the truth but Emily didn't want to push her into talking.

"Okay. If you need to talk about anything, I will always be here to listen," she said with an honest tone.

She squeezes Dani's hand lightly.

Dani responded with a nod. She knew the agent was being honest with her words.

She knew Emily cared about her and she appreciated it. But she always had trust issues when it comes to a person.

She has learned the hard way to never get too comfortable with someone because you never know their true intentions.

She knows Emily is different.

Emily has shown Dani nothing but care and affection. She has never given Dani a sign of her being untrustworthy.

It's just that she hasn't fully trusted someone for a long time.

"I know you play soccer as a hobby now but I want to let you know that you can always try out for the soccer team at school. I have no problem with you joining," said Emily.

"I feel that you can be a great asset to the team."

Dani looks up at Emily and nods.

"I will take it to consideration," she responds.

Dani receives a text from her friend's group chat. It's from Amelia. Dani reads the message.

Am: Hey, Guys! My parents left for this last-minute business trip. I have the house all to myself. U know what that means ;)

James: Ohhh. that sounds like a bet!

Emma: Last-minute parties are the best 1s!

Am: I'm sending the invite to the rest of our grade. Just pull up!

Emma: U going, Dani?

Dani looks up at her phone and looks at Emily who is on the wheel. Emily notices Dani who appears to have a question.

"Oh no. I know that face." Emily said.

"Amelia is throwing a last-minute party at her place," Dani said. "I was wondering if I can go?"

"Ummm. I'm not sure. Will there be any adults supervising?"

"Not that I know of," Dani replied. "But we don't do anything bad. All we do is hang out and dance."

Emily thinks about it for a moment. She glances at Dani and lets out a sigh. "Fine. You can go."

"Yes!" Dani says, pumping her fist in celebration. "Thank You."

Emily chuckles. "But, you have to be back at home by eleven."

Dani opens her mouth in order to start protesting but closes it. "Fine," she replies in defeat.

Emily gives her a smirk. "Want me to drop you off?"

"Yes, please."

Dani responds to the group chat.

Dani: Most definitely

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Emily drives to Amelia's house. It's in a relatively wealthy town with big houses.

Each house would have their yard nicely done with grass freshly cut and flowers planted nicely.

Dani admired how each house would have luxury cars in each driveway. Cars she would only see on tv.

Emily pulls up to Amelia's driveway. The house is a large brick house with three floors. It has a large driveway with nicely trimmed bushes.

Amelia opens the front door and waves at Emily and Dani. Dani hops off the car and waves at Amelia.

"So, you will be back by eleven?" Emily asked.

"Si, si. Lo prometo," Dani replied.

"Alright. Take care and have fun," Emily told Dani with a smile.

"Will do," Dani replied.

She closed the car door and walked up to the house entrance where Amelia was waiting for her.

She greets Amelia with a hug and they head inside. Emily watches as the girls enter the house and she leaves.

Dani enters inside Amelia's home and looks around. The music was on and teens were dancing.

"So, all of this was last minute?" She asked.

"Yup. Parents left and well, why not enjoy this lovely place?" Amelia replies with her arms open.

"I always have emergency party supplies for occasions like this."

Amelia and Dani walk inside the kitchen and see Emma and James sitting on the bar stools, talking. They both walk up to them.

"You're here!" Exclaimed Emma.

"Yup. Do you guys really think I would let your party without me?" Dani says with her brows raised.

The group chuckles.

"Nope. Especially when the whole freshmen class came. This is crazy, Amelia!" James says, pointing at the large crowd of people dancing in the living room. "When the hell did you have time to hire a DJ?"

"I have my contacts," Amelia replies with a wink.

"I think you broke the world record for the fastest person to throw a party," Emma said.

"I mean, you have music, food, drinks, and crazy lights here!"

"Talking about food and drinks," James says while standing up.

"Do you ladies want to join me in getting some snacks?"

"Why, yes. We will," Emma replies.

All of them stand up and walk to the snack table. It was filled with different kinds of chips and drinks.

The group of friends grab a plate and a cup and serve themselves. They head back to the bar and start eating.

Amelia goes to one of the kitchen cabinets and pulls out a beer bottle.

"Would any of you guys want one?" She asked. "No pressure."

"Nope. My parents would kill me," Emma says.

"No, thanks," James said. "I don't want to go to my weekend practice with a hangover."

How about you, Dan?" Amelia asked, pointing at the bottle.

"Not today, fam," Dani replies. "I don't feel like pissing off Emily tonight."

"Sounds good. More for me," Amelia says while opening the bottle.

She takes a sip and then raises the bottle.

"Cheers for an awesome night!"

"Cheers!"