"What are your plans for tomorrow, babe?"
"What do you mean, Jen?" Emily asked, turning to face her wife while continuing to brush her teeth. The kids were already asleep for the night and the women were planning on watching a movie before heading to sleep themselves.
"The kids obviously didn't go to school on Friday, but they're going tomorrow. I know we're going to take two cars, do you think that's going to be enough?"
"Morgan and Rossi are meeting us here before we leave for school, one's going to drive ahead of you, and one will drive behind me. Between the four identical cars, I'm hoping we'll scare Christopher and Steve off. My parents are also loaning us eight details to stay at school all day, the ones the kids know."
"Forget I asked then," JJ said with a laugh. She should have known Emily would take care of everything, especially when the kids were involved. "I wish we knew why he wanted her back."
Emily gargled, spit, wiped her mouth then walked over to her wife and wrapped her arms around her, "I know, babe. Me too. The only thing that matters is getting him behind bars again though and keeping our family safe."
JJ leaned into Emily and hummed in agreement; she was still lost in thought though. Emily wasn't going to tell her wife about the unsettling feeling she's had in the pit of her stomach since spotting Christopher the first time because she didn't want to add additional stress to her. She did relay her fears to Rossi though so at least he could tell the team.
"Come on, pretty. Let's snuggle up and watch a movie," Emily said, leading JJ out of the bathroom and into their bedroom. The minute they were snuggled under the covers, JJ laid on Emily's chest feeling extra loved when the brunette rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head.
"What do you think?" JJ asked about the movie she had selected.
"Whatever you want, Jen."
JJ gave Emily a squeeze as a thank you seeing as they'd seen the movie numerous times—it was one of JJ's favorites though. Because she grew up with older brothers, she oftentimes found herself watching movies before she should. Of course they didn't let her watch anything rated R, but she watched movies with language she shouldn't really have heard yet.
This movie was a newer one however, her brothers also loved it which meant it became a favorite in their household too—at least for the mothers because their kids were too young. If anything, the mothers eared on the side of caution with everything involving their children. It was one thing if Lily and Oakley were already in bed but if they weren't, finding a movie to suit a 4-13 year old wasn't the easiest.
"Uncle Wossi, what you doin' at my house?" Lily asked, running and jumping into his arms the next morning.
"What am I doing at your house?" he teased, winking at the big kids who were smiling at him while eating their breakfast. "Well, I heard your mommy was making my favorite breakfast and I just had to come over."
"Yeah! Its umm, stawbrees boobrees, bwackbree pampapes with wip cweam and bacim!"
"I hope mommy made enough for me, what do you think?" Rossi asked the little energizer bug known as Lily.
"Mhm, she maked wots!" Lily nodded. "Right mommy?"
"Of course bug, but I can't give him any until you're both sitting down," Emily said in hopes of getting Lily to finish her breakfast.
She was going through a rough stage of putting up a fight each morning, pushing her plate away after only eating a few bites. Emily was worried about her little one and was planning on taking her to the pediatrician after Christopher was caught.
"Did you know mommy was making pancakes too?" Oliver asked Morgan.
"I didn't, I ran out of coffee at my house and knew she'd have extra for me," he lied.
"I wouldn't be so sure, Uncle Morgan. Momma's already had lots," Amelia chimed in.
He made a shocked face at her which caused the kids to laugh then turned to look at JJ who held her hands up in a surrendering motion. "There's still plenty, and even if there wasn't we could make more," JJ assured.
"I was just kidding, momma," Amelia said.
"I know silly girl," JJ said, making her way around the kitchen island and tickling her. "What's mommy going to do with your hair today?"
"Umm, braids."
"And you, little miss?" JJ asked Clarke.
"I like the buns I had two days ago; do you remember?"
"The half buns on the top with the rest of your hair curled?" JJ asked, and Clarke nodded. "Sounds perfect, honey. I'm going to go start the curling wand while you all finish eating."
"Maybe Uncle Morgan will help me with your hair this morning," Emily said, pushing a plate a pancakes in front of the man.
"What? No way," the big girls giggled.
"No way? I'll have you know I did my sister's hair almost every morning before school," he said with a mouthful of food.
"You're not supposed to talk with your mouth full, Uncle Morgan," Oliver reminded him causing Emily and Rossi to hide their laughter, he was so right.
"Thank you for reminding him, buddy. You're so right, it's not good manners to talk with your mouth full."
"Yup, that's why I told him mommy," Oliver beamed.
When the girls saw he was finished chewing they asked, "Did you really do their hair?"
"I sure did, my signature style was French braids."
"Can you do mine?" Oakley asked him.
"Sure, mini princess."
Once breakfast was finished and Derek had put Oakley's hair in French braids, Amelia looked them over and said he could do her hair today too. Amelia knew if they didn't turn out very good her mom could fix them because they had time.
"How did you learn how to do braids, Uncle Morgan?" Amelia asked.
"My mom taught me so I could help my sisters when she had to work, I'm sure your mom would teach you too."
"Yeah, I watch when she does Oakley and Lily's hair but it's so complicated. She knows how to do so many styles, maybe when I get a little older I'll learn how to do more than a ponytail," Amelia said.
"I'm sure you will princess," Morgan assured; he remembers how long it took him to learn too.
"Have you found anything?" JJ whispered to Rossi. The littles hair was already complete and while they put on their shoes, JJ and Rossi were putting the twins in their jackets.
"Reid and Hotch should already be parked on the main road and Garcia is monitoring the street cams," he said, just as softly.
JJ nodded, thankful for her family who would always go out of their way to protect them. They were so lucky. Between the security details and the team escorting them to school, there's no way the men would be able to get to Clarke. Not to mention once the bell rings at school, the doors lock, and you need to be buzzed in.
Emily was actually the one to suggest the added measure of security to Mark and he got right on it with the donation the Prentiss family made; Elizabeth and Gerald only wanted the best for their grandchildren, it was a small price to pay.
There was literally no way a stranger could get into the school. All parents need to list anyone they'd approve to pick up their children, whether that be mom, dad, a grandparent, aunt, uncle, nanny, etc. And if they weren't on the list, they wouldn't get buzzed in.
"Okay my babies, do you have your shoes on?" Emily asked. When she heard yes five times, she continued, "Do you have your backpacks?"
Once again Emily heard yes, although this time she only heard four. "Lily bug, momma has your backpack. Do you have your show and tell surprise?"
"Mhm, me bwinged a picktah of aww dem," Lily said, pointing to her siblings.
"Oh yeah, all your siblings?" Morgan asked with a smile.
"An mommy an momma, Umple Drk!" she said in her duh like tone.
"Oh, sorry tiny princess, I didn't know," he laughed, picking her up and tossing her in the air. "Can I see this picture you have?"
JJ unzipped Lily's backpack and pulled it out while everyone else started getting in the cars. They were splitting up in an odd combination however, the kids wouldn't think anything of it the way the mothers did. They used a made-up excuse of a broken third row and an overfilled trunk/third row to explain using two cars, something that the kids didn't question.
"Wow, look at how pretty you all look," Derek said at the picture.
"And handsome!" Oliver added.
"Yeah buddy, and handsome," he said. "Okay little miss, let's get you buckled in. We can't be late for school."
"How come you're not coming with us?" Oliver asked him. He was in a car with Oakley, Amelia, and Lily—Clarke was in the car with the twins and Emily, JJ was going to drive the other four.
"I've got to go to work, buddy."
Oliver looked disappointed for a few seconds, but it was okay, he understood. "Thanks for helping me get them in," JJ and Emily said at the same time, JJ to Morgan, Emily to Rossi.
"Anytime Jayje, I'll see you at the office," he said, keeping his cover.
"Always, bella. Talk soon," Rossi said, kissing Emily's cheek.
The mothers made eye contact with one another and then got into their respective cars. JJ pulled out of the garage first following Rossi, then Emily followed by Morgan. To anyone else this would look excessive, but they wanted to cover their bases. If Rossi spotted something first, he'd have Morgan check it out as they were on the phone with one another and vice versa.
"They're pulling out now," Reid said into his phone.
"I see them," Hotch assured. "Any sight of Hayes or Wilder?"
"None. Maybe he just wanted to see Clarke was being cared for," Reid suggested. Even though he didn't believe it, he was trying to think positively.
"Doubtful. I have a feeling they are just getting started."
"Tell me again why we haven't just called the state police to have him picked up and taken back to jail? It would have been—"
"Reid, we've gone over this multiple times now. There's something at play here, I don't want to give Emily and JJ another reason to look over their shoulders," Hotch said, putting an end to the conversation.
The men waited for another twenty minutes and then drove to the office themselves for the day. It was a bust for them, they wouldn't know how things went for Rossi and Morgan until they got to the office though.
When Emily saw Morgan's car take a left before they got to Brookwood, she assumed he saw something that she either missed or didn't see. Emily wasn't worried about losing one of their cars though because when they pulled into the drop-off line, she spotted the details assigned to Clarke.
"Good luck on your math test today, sweet girl. I know you're going to do well," Emily said, turning back to look at Clarke.
"I hope so," she said nervously.
"Text me at lunch honey, I'm sure you'll feel much better after you take it. I know you're ready," she winked.
Clarke kissed the twins then leaned through the front two seats and smiled when Emily kissed the side of her head. "I love you baby."
"I love you too, mom."
Emily smiled when she saw Clarke accept the hand Oakley was holding out to her as the four children walked in together. Even when their friends came up to them, the siblings continued holding hands, Clarke holding Oakley's, and Amelia holding Oliver's. She couldn't wait to see what would happen next year when Lily joined them as well.
When Emily focused back on the line, she realized JJ must have watched the kids as well because she hadn't moved forward yet. Emily quickly nodded at the four details she could see then pulled away once JJ did.
The mothers stopped in the parking lot to say a quick goodbye as JJ was also going to work—she got into Emily's car so she could see the twins while they spoke. "Did you see anything on the way here?" JJ asked.
"Morgan took a left on Vandyke, but I didn't see anything. You'll have to let me know when you get to work if it was intentional."
"I mean, it would have to be right?" JJ assumed.
"Who knows babe. It's Morgan we're talking about here."
"True. Okay, I'll call you when I get to the office." JJ turned around in her seat and made her way into the backseat, leaving Emily with a fantastic view of her ass as the blonde kissed the twins. When she sat back down, Emily refocused feeling a pair of lips on hers. "I love you, Em."
"I love you, too. Drive safely. Say bye bye to mama, babies."
"Bye-bye mama," the twins said, waving their hands.
"I love you Brooks, I love you Brynley."
"Ow-oo!" they said. Emily smiled hearing the twins, they tried so hard, I love you was just so difficult for them.
"Sir, I've run my babies all night keeping eyes on Hayes and Wilder to see what they were up to. We all know I'm good, like really good," Garcia said, clearly waiting for the team to nod in response. "When I thought of security, at least the kind these guys did, I envisioned installing locks and making keys. Boy was I wrong, they have skills I never thought possible."
"Pen, spit it out," JJ said, her nerves getting worse and worse.
"They tried to get into your home system. Well, let me back up," Garcia paused, and JJ gasped.
"Wait a minute, Pen. I need to get Em on the line," she said. Once Emily was on the line, Garcia started again.
"I almost missed it at first because I didn't think to check the gate system—"
"Which one, Garcia?" Emily asked.
"With the guards, peaches. They tried to hack it, but they couldn't, just like they tried to hack your home system and mega failed. I can barely get into your home system and I'm the best, so it would be impossible for them to do it. But they were too close to the guard's system."
"I'll get my mother's people out here this morning," Emily assured.
"Emster, I can do it," Garcia said, not liking other hands touching systems she prefers to take care of.
"You need to be there, when they are behind bars you can make whatever adjustments you want," Emily promised.
"Fine, but just know I'm not happy about it."
"And I'm not happy with one of my daughter's lives being in danger, chose your battles…hold on Brynley, mommy will be right there," Emily said, her voice now much softer. "Pen, have you found anything else…oh my goodness, there's no reasons for all those tears, hold on baby girl. Jen, I've got to go babe. I'll call you in a bit, I love you."
"Never a dull moment in your home," Rossi said to JJ.
"Never ever," JJ agreed.
"I'm surprised Emily manages to run a multi-billion-dollar company with so many distractions, statistically in a—"
"Reid, we don't have time," Hotch said, cutting him off before he started spuing facts.
"Wait, billion with a b?" Garcia asked.
"The last I read the company was worth 789 billion—"
This time Reid was cut off by Garica who made a high-pitched, "My goshhhh. Jajye, what's your bank account look like?"
"While I'd love to divulge our finances with you all," JJ said sarcastically, "can we please focus on getting these guys to protect Clarke?"
"I'll hack in later," Garcia whispered to Tara.
"Don't you dare, Pen," JJ scolded.
"How did she hear me?"
"I'm going to assume it has to do with all the children she has," Tara answered.
"Oh, that makes sense."
"Okay, besides hacking into the security gate and system have you found anything else Garcia?" Hotch asked.
"Stevie boy seems to be keeping up appearances at work, and it's clear that Mr. No Good isn't afraid to be seen out in public. He's gone to the grocery store, the liquor store, the hardware store, and a few other places but hasn't even tried to hide his face."
"Did they attempt to scrub the footage?" Tara asked.
"Nope."
"Do you have his receipts, mama?"
"Of course I do sugar."
"I want to know what he got at the hardware store, I have a feeling I'm not going to like it," JJ said, taking a deep breath before looking over her friend's shoulder.
Zip ties, 2 hammers, concrete, scaffolding, insulation, 2 shovels.
"There's no reason he'd need these things," Tara said.
While Reid mentioned each and every use for the items, JJ zoned out thinking about Clarke. She needed to talk to Emily, it didn't matter that she was home with the twins, they could talk over whatever was going on with the little munchkins. She didn't think twice when walking out of the room, and when Morgan asked if he should go after her, Hotch said to let her go.
"Hi honey, I was just about to call you back," Emily said when she answered the phone.
"Em…"
"Jen, what's wrong?" Emily quickly put the phone on speaker and made sure she hadn't missed a notification from one of the details or anyone else. When she realized she hadn't and JJ had yet to say anything, she continued, "Jennifer, what's going on?"
"I think we should bring the kids home," JJ said.
"Jen, tell me what's going on."
"I can't," JJ cried. She hadn't let her tears fall yet, but she was almost there. Just then the door opened and closed, and the blonde felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey kid, is that Emily on the phone?" Rossi asked and JJ nodded, handing him the phone.
"Rossi, what's going on? Jen hasn't been able to tell me anything. Should we be pulling the kids from school?" Emily questioned.
"Hayes made a substantial purchase at a hardware store. If you ask me, it seems as if he's looking to build something. And I can't make decisions about your children, bella."
"Build what? And I trust your judgement just as much, Dave."
He answered the first half in Italian because he knew Emily would understand and JJ wouldn't—he also knew that was why JJ left the round table room the first time. Then he answered the second half in English. "To be honest, kiddo, I believe the safest places for them to be are at school, home and dance."
"I agree," Emily said to Dave. She was able to see things in a way JJ couldn't based on the way their minds worked—she also knew with all the people watching out for Clarke, keeping their schedules as routine as possible would be best. "We need to get the bottom of what he wants, Dave."
"I know, Emily." Dave understood why Emily was so focused on finding his desires because if it wasn't just Clarke he was after, she wanted to have a heads up.
There was something Emily couldn't explain because it was just a feeling she had, however, most of the time she was right. And if she was right again, Christopher Hayes wasn't out of jail just to get Clarke, it was for something else. She had explained it to Rossi though and he had relayed it to the team, minus JJ so as not to stress her out even more.
"If you think it would be better for Jen to be home, let her know. I'll either back you up or be the one to shelter her emotion towards it," Emily said.
"Sounds good kid. Give those littles a kiss from me."
He hung up the phone and Emily took that as his answer regarding JJ. "Why don't you go home. We can handle things here," he said to the blonde.
"No, I should be here to help you all."
"Jennifer, we're good here. Go home, spend some alone time with the twins," he suggested.
JJ thought about it for a bit then nodded. She didn't know why this was getting to her so much. If she had asked Emily, she would say it was because all the other trauma they've been through didn't come with any warning. And it's true.
"Thanks Rossi. Call us if you find anything else."
And with that, she left for the day.