Friday came causing much excitement for not only the BAU members, but for Emily as well. "What, full time mommy too exhausting?" JJ giggled, lightly nudging Emily as they got the girls dressed for team dinner.
Emily picked up Oakley from their bed and swirled her around as she giggled, "Ha-ha, babe. No, but this little one missed momma."
JJ picked up Lily then walked closer to Emily and Oakley, leaning closer to tickle her, "Did you miss me while I was at work, silly girl?"
"Yeah, you didn't pway with me all day," Oakley said, burying her head in Emily's neck.
"Oakley sweetie, you have mommy and Lily to play with, but guess what? I'm here now," JJ kissed Oakley, and they all headed down to the playroom.
"Oh, the guests are here!" JJ said, scooping up Lily and heading to the door. Emily met her wife at the door, Oakley now perched on her waist as JJ opened the door finding both Reid and Garcia.
"Hey Pen, Spence, how are you guys?" JJ asked as they walked into the foyer.
Oakley buried her head further into Emily's neck, trying to hide herself from them until she saw one of the faces was familiar.
Lily clapped and babbled, when she was overexcited any words she could confidently say went flying out the window because she tried to string them all together quickly. That being said, Lily's excited nature caused Oakley to turn and see Penelope. "Penny," Oakley said quietly.
"Hi my sweets, this is Spencer, he is one of your mommies best friends, can you say hello?" Garcia asked.
"Hewwo," she said, sizing up the man.
"Let's go play!" Penelope said. Oakley and Lily to both started squirming out of their mothers arms. The girls each took Pen's hands and went to the playroom.
JJ smiled, then turned back to Spencer. Emily pulled him into a hug, "Spence, it's so good to see you!" Spencer and Emily walked off, talking about something JJ wouldn't be interested in. She was just about to follow Pen when the doorbell rang.
Soon, everyone was there—the Prentiss's being the last to arrive. They hugged JJ and Emily then Gerald looked at Emily, "Emmy, where are my granddaughters?"
"They are playing with Garcia, let's go to the playroom," Elizabeth and Gerald followed Emily down the hall.
"Oakley, come here honey," Emily said poking her head in the playroom. Jack was in there playing with Harrison, while Garcia was reading a picture book to Oakley, Lily and Annie. She got up and ran into Emily's waiting arms. Emily lifted her up, letting her rest on her hip, "Oakley baby, these are my parents, Grandma Lizzie and grandpa Gerald."
"Hewwo, me Oakwee," the little girl waved as she wrapped her body impossibly close to Emily's body.
"Hello, aren't you darling?" Elizabeth tickled Oakley's neck, making her squeal with laughter. Oakley squirmed from Emily and grabbed Elizabeth's hand leading her into the playroom, telling them both about the story she was reading.
Emily left to go get a glass of wine, tonight is going to be a good night, a really good night she thought to herself. But as things normally go when you work for the BAU, plans take unexpected turns.
The party was going well, everyone was either talking, more like arguing in the living room, or watching the kids play in the playroom. The argument in the living room started over something JJ was unsure of. She laughed to herself in the hallway as Morgan, Emily and Reid continued a circular argument. JJ walked into the playroom, Hotch and Rossi had probably joined the kids to get away from the argument. How ironic that they joined the children for a moment of peace JJ thought to herself, laughing at the idea. She sat next to Penelope, who, unsurprisingly had Oakley in her lap.
Gerald and Elizabeth were telling Jack, Harrison and Annie a tale from their foreign travels, a story Hotch and Rossi seemed very interested in. Lily was curled up in Rossi's arms as she played with her dolls. Rossi was juggling a baby and three dolls, constantly leaning over to pick up the ones she dropped, causing JJ to laugh at the older man. He was incredible with her and you could see from his eyes drifting towards Oakley that he was itching to bond with her as well.
Melissa popped her head out of the kitchen and caught JJ in the hallway, "Oh JJ, can you help me bring the food out to the table?"
JJ smiled at the normally composed woman looking a little frazzled, "Sure," they walked into the kitchen, "Wow, Mel, this all looks incredible!"
After helping Melissa, JJ made her way to the playroom, "Hey guys, dinner is ready." JJ watched the boys and Annie run past her to the dining room and managed to catch Oakley as she ran by, "You little miss need to go potty before dinner." JJ walked off with her to the bathroom, tickling her as the little girl squirmed in her arms. JJ and Oakley were the last to arrive to the dining room.
Emily had finished serving Oakley when JJ walked back in, smiling brightly at her wife and daughter, "Ready for some food?" Emily took Oakley and buckled her into the booster seat, moving her plate in front of her and sitting down to eat herself.
JJ was in the middle of listening to Rossi's story when she looked over to Emily who was too busy whispering to Oakley to please eat; before JJ could ask Emily what was going on, Oakley had a meltdown.
"I don't want it Em'ly!" Oakley swiped her hand across, knocking her plate off the table and her first 'big girl cup' that Emily soon regretted giving her. Emily jumped up as apple juice poured into her lap. If Emily was trying to solve whatever the issue was quietly, that tactic was now out the window.
"Ahh," Emily said, as the juice filled her lap. Oakley immediately started crying at her mother's small scream and her cries turned into a horrific squeal. Emily, still covered in juice stood up and in one fluid motion and unbuckled Oakley from hers, taking her upstairs. Everyone sat in silence as they heard Emily go up the stairs with the little girl, not knowing what to say. JJ snapped into action and began trying to wipe up all the juice.
"Jennifer, let me get that," JJ looked up as the warm hand of Elizabeth touched her shoulder.
"There's more towels in the kitchen if you need them," JJ muttered as she stood from her seat. She quickly made her way upstairs, peeking through Oakley's door she saw Emily pulling out some pajamas for her and heard the bath running.
"Honey, are you tired?" Emily asked, receiving a nod. "No more skipping naptime; I'm sorry baby, we should have taken one, huh?"
"Babe, let me get her in the tub while you go change," JJ said stepping into the room, stroking her wife's hair.
Emily stood up and left the room after kissing Oakley's forehead. JJ and Emily got Oakley into bed and were thankful for Rossi who had a sleeping Lily in his arms when they returned.
As they sat back down in the dining room, Morgan asked, "Everything okay?"
Emily looked into the worried eyes of her friend. "Yeah, no worries. Oakley didn't nap today and I think she was a little overwhelmed with meeting her family.
"We're a crazy bunch, I don't blame her. Lily was just a baby when we all met her and even she was taken back. I couldn't imagine meeting all of us when I was three," Morgan said, comforting both parents.
The rest of dinner went by without a hitch. Just as the night was winding down, Hotch's phone rang. He rolled his eyes, "Hotchner." He answered, "Yes sir," he held up his hand to stop everyone from saying their farewells, "We'll brief on the jet—yes, thank you, goodbye sir." He hung up and irritated eyes met the curious eyes of his team. "We have a case, it's emergent. Go home, get a bag, and meet at the airstrip. Garcia, you're traveling with us so pack a bag and any equipment you need." Garcia nodded. "Emily, I hate to do this but as you know, Hayley went away with her sister this weekend, could Jack stay here?"
"Not a problem Hotch we will have plenty of fun, right Jack?" She said before realizing Jack, Harrison and Annie already left the table to go play after they ate. "See, he's already having fun," she laughed.
"Thank you, Emily. Team, try to be less than an hour." He got a couple of nods as the team left to get what they needed. Hotch was the last to go, he needed to say goodbye to Jack. Pulling Jack into a hug he said, "I love you buddy. You're going to stay here with Auntie Emily until mommy gets back. Sound good?"
Jack hugged his dad back, "Yay! Go get the bad guy daddy."
JJ found Emily in the hallway upstairs closing Lily's door, "I hate that I have to leave already. Will you be okay?" Emily pulled JJ in for a hug, "We'll be okay. Don't worry about us babe, just focus on staying safe and catching whatever freak is out there. Call if you need anything, okay?" Emily felt JJ nod into her neck.
JJ pulled back and kissed Emily sweetly, "I love you."
"I love you too," Emily rested her forehead against JJ's for a moment before they walked back downstairs.
"Do you want us to stay, Emmy?" Gerald asked, rubbing a hand down Emily's back.
"No daddy, I'll be fine for the night. But if it makes you feel better, I'll call if I need you guys," Emily affirmed her parents before she walked them out. When everyone was gone, Emily finished cleaning up. Mel was a godsend, she took care of mostly everything, but she went into the playroom to straighten that room out.
JJ came down the stairs, her go bag in hand, "Babe, just go to bed. I brought Jack up to the guest room, he's sound asleep." JJ pulled Emily in for a hug and kiss, "I love you. Enjoy the weekend, call if you need anything." Emily hugged her harder, "I will, Jen. Thank you for doing that, I love you. Be safe."
Soon, JJ was gone and the house was quiet. She checked on Jack, bringing an extra monitor into his room just in case and kissed him goodnight. Then went into Lily's room, checking on her, and then went into Oakley's room. She brushed a stray strand of hair out of her face and noticed Oakley was a little warm.
She put the inside of her wrist to the girls exposed forehead to confirm her theory; Oakley had a low fever. I'll have to keep an eye on that, Emily thought as she kissed her goodnight once more and went into her bedroom. She grabbed a book, and decided to read for a while before sleep took over.
Once everyone arrived on the jet, Hotch let the pilots know they could leave, "I hope you guys packed warm." He suppressed a grin when he heard them all moan and groan.
"Why do I never get to travel on trips to Florida?" Garcia was already irritated.
"Because Florida already has up to date communication," he answered not looking up from his file.
"Where are we going, the north pole?" Morgan asked, sarcastically.
As soon as they stepped off the plane, their breath was taken away; a strong gust of icy wind blew its way to JJ's core, "Holy shit it's cold here."
"Oh my god," Garcia screamed as the cold gust hit her, "Hell has frozen over and I'm in it." She grabbed her stuff and rushed into the small terminal, JJ one step ahead of her.
Reid was close behind them stating all the facts he knew, "Wyoming is what most meteorologists call a 'wind vortex'. The topography of the state itself and the placement of it causes regular windstorms of up to 70mph. The whole state is basically a desert, so this state is empty and dry, which furthers the wind's effect and causes the wind-chill that makes it seem much colder. Also, since we are acclimated to a more humid environment you may experience dry and flaky skin and nose bleeds."
"Oh god this is awful," Garcia exclaimed, shivering from the mere idea of stepping back outside.
Everyone had gathered around by the start of Reid's speech, and Morgan gave him an incredulous look, "nose bleeds?"
Reid nodded, "The constant cold and dry exposure can cause the inside of your nose to dry out and crack. Same for exposed parts of skin, especially the hands and face."
Rossi shook his head, "Why the hell would anyone choose to live here?"
Before Reid had the chance to answer with facts about crime rates and cost of living versus average household income, one uniformed officer and a sheriff's deputy walked up to them.
"Are you guys with the FBI?" the female deputy asked.
Hotch gave her a firm nod and stuck his hand out to shake, "I'm SSA Aaron Hotchner, these are SSA's Rossi, Morgan, Jareau and Dr. Reid."
"I'm sheriff's deputy Clark, and this is officer Hamel of the Gillette Police Department." They all shook hands, "We haven't got a lot of unmarked vehicles, but we've managed to wrangle up two for you all to use, will that be enough?"
Hotch nodded, "We'll take what we can get. JJ, Reid, Garcia you'll come with me, the victims have been asked to come to the police station. Morgan and Rossi, take the other vehicle."
Emily stretched out after waking up looking at the clock and squinting for her eyes to adjust: 7:12. Perfect, just enough time to go make coffee before the kids wake up she thought to herself. She made her way downstairs and was happy to see Mel already working in the kitchen.
"Coffee is ready and breakfast will be done soon. I'm just finishing the French toast; why don't you get some coffee and food in you before getting the kids up?"
"You're a lifesaver, Mel!" Emily smiled warmly, sipping her coffee. "Where's Graiden and the kids?"
"Right about now the kids are probably jumping into our bed to wake him up," she laughed. "Later we are headed to my parents' house, I haven't seen them in a few weeks and the kids are missing being spoiled by them."
Emily smiled, "We can't have that, can we?" They both laughed, "Are you going to be here for a little while, or are you heading back to save Graiden from the chaos?"
"Oh no, I'll be staying," Melissa winked, "At least until I get my baby fix."
She looked at Melissa while finishing her coffee, eyebrow raised, "Mel, you do realize Lily is 2 right?"
"Yes, but she's still a baby in my book. Annie is five, Harrison is seven now, I'll take two again any day."
Emily woke up Jack first knowing he would be okay going downstairs himself to get breakfast from Melissa, then she found Lily content in her crib, sitting up and playing with her stuffed animal and blanket, "Hi bug, do you want to go see Mel and Jack?"
She quickly ran Lily downstairs, smiling at Jack who was already diving into breakfast and handed her off then went back upstairs to get Oakley. I need a better system for mornings when Jen isn't here she thought to herself. When she walked into her room, she sat squatted down next to her bed, brushing back a strand of long hair. As she grazed Oakley's forehead, she noticed the little girl burning up. She had hoped the night before that the slight fever would resolve overnight, but it had only gotten worse.
Emily sighed and ran her hand along Oakley's back to gently wake her, "Oakley honey, wake up. Breakfast is ready, baby."
For the week Oakley had been with them she never had any issue waking up, but today she rolled further to her side and groaned, not even bothering to open her eyes. "Oakley, can you get up for me sweetie? Melissa made French toast," hoping the promise of sweets for breakfast could rouse the three-year-old."
Green eyes met deep brown, "Em'ly, don't feel good."
Emily's heart broke as the little girl whined, "What's wrong, honey?"
"My tummy hurts," she said. Emily immediately felt a tightening in her chest.
"How do it hurt, baby?" Emily remembered Fiona always asked that to gauge if she was going to be okay, or if it was urgent.
Oakley weakly pushed the blanket aside and pointed to her lower right side, "Right dare, hurt. Feels ouchy."
Emily knew she had to take her to the doctor. "Oh sweetie, let's try to get you something to eat and I'll make a doctor's appointment."
Oakley nodded but made no move to get up. Emily extended her arms to pick her up and stood up, the girl light in her arms. Oakley immediately wrapped her legs around Emily's waist, her arms around Emily's neck, and rested her head on Emily's shoulder. She knew Oakley must be really hurting because she always woke up full of energy and animated.
She sat down at the table, helping Lily finish eating and Oakley start. Soon enough, Mel had gone back to her family and Emily was left with three kids, one of which was sick. She was in for a long day.
"Did you smell anything odd?" JJ pressed.
"Soap, like the kind my dad uses. He works in the oil field and it's like heavy duty soap. I didn't think much of it because the side parking lot is by the auto and welding area, but I've never smelled it before."
JJ smiled, "Good, great job honey. Can you tell me what happened after that?" JJ knew the second she said 'honey' it was a mistake, but it completely slipped out. Look at what being a mother has done to you, Jareau. Fix yourself she said to herself.
"I felt a pinch in my neck and then I got tunnel vision like, the world faded to black."
"What happened when you woke up?" JJ asked softly.
Kaitlyn wiped another tear and looked down at her nails as she picked her cuticles, "I woke up on a concrete floor."
"How did you know it was concrete?"
"I tried to move but when I dragged my arm up, it cut into it. It felt like when I fell off my bike as a kid and scraped my knee on the sidewalk."
"Okay, and what happened after that?"
The young girl told her then JJ asked if she needed a break and when she shook her head, she continued. Kaitlyn described her horrific story only needing to stop once for water. JJ spoke after she finished, "You did so well, Kaitlyn. You are so brave. That's all we need from you today, are you okay to go home?"
"Yeah, my mom is picking me up." Kaitlyn pulled her arms tighter around herself as JJ and Reid left.
Once out of the room, Reid turned to JJ, "He's a classic power reassurance rapist. He told them to tell him they liked it and call him daddy." Both shivered at the gross fetish he had, "Her description of his smell could help us, let's make sure we ask the others about that too."
They spent the rest of the morning interviewing traumatized young women, and it wasn't easy for either of them, especially JJ who had two daughters of her own.
Emily sat in the playroom watching Jack play with Lily, while holding a crying Oakley. Eating seemed to make it worse and Emily's heart broke seeing her hurt so much. She pulled her phone out and called Sophia, after a couple rings she heard an answer, "This is Sophia."
"Hi Sophia, this is Emily Prentiss."
"Oh, Mrs. Prentiss, is everything alright?"
"Um, no. Oakley seems very sick, I suspect an appendix issue but I'm no doctor. I wanted to know what to do when I set her up an appointment."
Sophia sighed, sounding slightly relieved Oakley had someone looking out for her, "You can set up an appointment with any doctor, just make sure they take Medicaid, any copays can be reimbursed in the mail."
"I'm not worried about the copays, I'll pay full price for any medical care, I just wanted to make sure. I'm sorry to call you on a Saturday."
"It's not a problem, the work never really stops. You're an incredible mother, call if you have any more questions."
"Will do, thank you." After hanging up, she decided to call the doctor next. Once the appointment was made, she had another issue to sort out. She couldn't take Lily and Jack to the doctor with her and Melissa was with her parents today—then she thought about her own parents. They may bore the kids to death with stories, but they would keep them safe and alive.
The phone barely rang once before it was picked up, "Emmy, is everything alright?"
"Yes mother, for the most part. But I do need some help."
"Anything." Emily always knew her father was warmer than her mom, but since their retirement, it's like she was itching for something to do all the time.
"Oakley is pretty sick, and I have an appointment for her in an hour. Do you think you and daddy can come over and watch Lily and Jack for a bit?"
"Oh dear, is she alright?"
"I'm sure she will be."
"We'll head your way now."
Emily forgot how close her parents lived now and as she sat on the couch holding Oakley, she heard the door open. Reaching for the gun she wasn't wearing, she started to panic until she heard her mother make herself known.
They both walked into the playroom, "Oh you look pitiful Oakley," Elizabeth smoothed Oakley's hair and kissed her forehead before doing the same with Emily. "Why don't you go get dressed dear and I'll sit here with Oakley. Seems like someone will be staying in her jammies today."
Elizabeth took Oakley and Emily stood up and walked over to her father who was still standing in the doorway, "Where is my mother and what has she done with her?" Emily laughed and so did Gerald.
"Your mother has gotten soft in her old age," he paused making sure she didn't hear him, "But you never heard me call her old, got it?" They both laughed again and Emily nodded. "Now, I need to go see my granddaughter and Jack, they seem to be having a ball without me."
After Emily was ready, she sent a quick text to JJ.
Oakley is sick, taking her to the doctors now. I'll keep you updated.
What's wrong? I can be on the first plane out.
Babe, you are in the middle of nowhere, I got this. Love you.
Okay, call if it's serious. I love you too.
Emily smiled at her fierceness and protectiveness. And as she made her way back downstairs, she saw a sleeping Oakley in her mother's arms. She kissed Lily and Jack goodbye, then took Oakley to the car. She made it to the doctors without incident but in the waiting room, all hell broke loose.
Oakley was working herself up, despite Emily's best efforts to keep her calm; she started to cry, loudly and Emily received looks from everyone in the waiting room. Most sympathetic or even concerned, but one older woman sitting next to her seemed to be getting more upset than the crying toddler in Emily's arms.
"Excuse me, could you make her stop?" The woman asked, her tone one of contempt.
Immediately anger bubbled within Emily, she had woken a raging mama bear. "My daughter is sick! She's three, in pain, and scared. Don't you dare try and make her or me feel badly about it. Why do you think we came here in the first place? It's not for a family day out, that's for sure. If you have a problem with it, then leave. But I'm not going to tell her she can't feel what she's feeling because it makes you uncomfortable."
The woman looked shocked at Emily's fierceness and opened her mouth but closed it each time not able to respond. Instead, she stood and moved to a different seat. The nurse came out before Emily could stew on her rage, "Oakley?"
Emily stood and carried her daughter to the exam room. After the doctor came in and examined her abdomen, he told Emily it seemed to be appendicitis and was having a portable ultrasound brought in so they could get a picture of how bad it was. While they waited, Emily held Oakley again, who leaned back to look at her mother, "Em'ly, why the lady out dare so mean?"
Emily softened her eyes at the girl, "Some people don't have compassion for others, sweetie."
"Thank you for tect'in me."
"I'll always protect you, Oakie-bear. Always," Emily rubbed Oakley's back as she leaned into her again.
After learning from the doctor her appendix was swollen but not yet on a critical level, it was said to Emily she needed to take Oakley to the emergency room. There they would either do a course of IV antibiotics and fluids or surgery depending on what the doctor there said. The doctor gave her a sympathetic look and said he would call ahead.
Emily looked like a dear in headlights, "Shit, I have to call Jennifer. Oh god, and my parents!"
Emily picked up her phone to call her parents who wished them the best and said they'd stay with the kids as long as need be, but now she had to call JJ who was definitely going to freak out.
"Hey baby, I don't have a lot of time, what's up?"
Emily gave JJ a rundown of all what was going on, "That's it, I'm taking the jet and coming home right now."
"No Jennifer, you don't need to do that. I can handle this, my parents are with Lily and Jack, I've got this."
Emily heard JJ sigh, "Emily, our child is sick, really sick, and may need surgery. I've just finished all the victim interviews, I am coming home."
"Jen stop! You are working on a serial rapist, and there will be more. You can't leave. Maybe if there was another female on the team they could help, but there isn't. They need your expertise. Stay and do your job, then maybe you can take a few days and help our baby recuperate. I love you, now go get this bastard so you can come home."
JJ knew her wife was right, she had to stay for the case, but she wasn't happy about it, "Okay, I hope we can finish up soon. I love you, keep me updated."
After JJ hung up, irritation started to bubble underneath her and she stormed into the conference room where Hotch was. He looked at her and questioned, "Everything okay?"
"No, it's not! You need to hire another female profiler," JJ huffed out without further explanation.
"Why now? The team has been working well so far."
"Now because Oakley has appendicitis and I can't go home to help her and Emily because I'm the only female profiler we have. Emily talked me into staying and you are so lucky she did because if she had asked me to come home, I would have left this freakin' boys club to walk on eggshells through the rest of the case. Now, are you going to hire another female profiler?"
"I'll get right on it when we get back. You're right, we can't let ourselves be put in this position again." JJ nodded to him, "Oh and JJ?" she brought her eyes back up to meet his, "I'm sorry Oakley is sick, but please remember I'm your commanding officer, so maybe not call my unit a 'freakin' boys club'." He finished with a wink, letting JJ know he was only half serious.
"Yes sir."
Emily carried Oakley into the hospital and when she gave her name, the nurse took her right back. After getting her wrapped in blankets and vitals checked, the nurse tried to get Emily out of her daze. "Mrs. Prentiss? We're going to get her set up with fluids, that way whatever course the doctor feels is best it's already prepped."
Emily nodded and snuggled in closer to Oakley who was half laying on the bed, half laying in Emily's arms. "Oakley honey, the nurses need to give you some medicine under your skin, it will be a little like a shot, okay?"
"Mommy I scared, no shot." Oakley began to cry and Emily's heart broke, but also filled with joy because she had called her mommy. She wrapped the little girl into her arms a little tighter and said, "It's okay baby, mommy's right here. I've got you, just look at me. Do you want me to tell you a story?" After a slight nod and Emily tilting her chin up so green bore into brown, she preoccupied Oakley with a story about the two princesses who met and fell in love. Oakley was almost asleep by the time the story was over, "Love you mommy," was the last thing she said as she settled into Emily's side.
"I love you too, Oakie-bear," Emily kissed her head, and prayed her little girl didn't need surgery.
The doctor entered the room with a serious face, "Mrs. Prentiss, I'm here to go over the best option for your daughter."