I do not own Criminal Minds.
I have set this somewhere in my imaginary 14th season to come. Everything that has happened in the show so far has happened in this and I assume everyone that reads this will know what that is and who these characters are and what they do. Not entirely sure where I'm going after this chapter.
End goal: Jemily (could be a while though)
Extra Fries
The Six FBI agents shuffled in around the restaurant table, chatting and laughing as they did so.
"This place looks nice" Emily said optimistically as she slung her coat over the back of her chair. "Not too pretentious anyway"
"Indeed" Rossi replied as he went to sit down next to Emily but at the last minute scooted over to the next again chair. "Will it be a match for La Cassa de Rossi though?"
Everyone audibly groaned at that as they settled down into their seats. "Just saying" Rossi said apologetically as he held his hands in the air.
"So…Dave?" Emily looked at Rossi and then to the empty chair beside her. "Do I smell?"
"Only of sugar and spice and all things nice, my dear Emily" He knew she would have noticed his quick seat change. "But I'm sure JJ would like somewhere to sit when she arrives"
"Oh….yeah" Was all the Unit Chief could answer.
"So…guys….JJ said she would be with us as soon as she can. She wanted to follow up something with the last victims family" Matt announced to the team.
"She really connected with that last couple huh?" Alvez said, more of a statement than a question.
"Yup…that she did. That's JJ" Rossi replied matter of factly.
Rossi had signalled the waitress over and ordered 6 beers. They all began to converse among themselves…going for the laugh rather than the deep and meaningful. Tara and Reid were the only ones discussing work…or at least work related academic papers on interviewing techniques.
It had been a tough case. And at nearly a month in the Arizona summer heat, it was a gruelling case for them all. The 5 victims by a disturbed and particularly vicious unsub with a brutal MO and a preference for young Latino boys will stay with them for a while. On their desks, in their meetings; and nightmares.
This was just what the doctor ordered…or at least what Unit Chief Emily Prentiss had ordered. A meal and some drinks while they waited on the jet to be prepped and cleared for their flight home. The more of the case left in Arizona the better for everyone. This was the last effort to shake some of it off before they boarded.
"Garcia picked well. This menu is immense" Tara said though a wide grin as she looked through the classy hardback menu. "She will not be best pleased she's missing out on this" Everyone nodded heads in agreement. Seemingly acknowledging the lack of down time and get togethers between them all the last few years. It had affected Garcia the most.
"Oh…she's pissed alright" Alvez laughed and shook his head as he spoke. "All sorts of verbal I got via texts and she wants us to meet up when we land…you know….at midnight" He exhaled loudly and slouched in his chair.
"Hell no!" Tara and Emily said in unison "Straight to bed for this one" Emily added pointing at herself. "I could sleep for a year right now"
At that comment, a melancholic quiet filled the table as they all began to read over their menus again. They all knew not one of them would be having any peaceful sleep for a while yet.
The quiet didn't last for long as the cheery waitress arrived at the table to take their order. "Good day folks…y'all ready for eats" She almost sang at them as she bounced on the balls of her feet. It made them all smile again as they looked around at each other, as if they just remembered where they were and who they were with.
"I'm ready" Spencer said brightly as he sat more upright in his chair "May I have the chargrilled chicken burger with fries please"
"Sure can kid" The waitress flipped her pad and started to write.
"I will have the carbonara please" Rossi smirked at the team as they all rolled their eyes and inwardly hoped it would be better than his or they would never here the end of it. "And garlic bread"
The waitress nodded and wrote then looked to Matt.
"I would like the hot smoked salmon and broccoli pasta salad I think" he said as he closed his menu.
She turned to Alvez next. Emily smiled as she saw the twinkle in her eye noting she served all her handsome colleagues first.
"For me…the biggest steak you have with the works please…medium rare" Alvez was rubbing his hands with glee.
"Ok dokey, darling. You hungry?" The waitress winked at him.
"Always" he replied with a wink back.
"Sheesh" Tara shook her head with a small smile "Can I please have the sea bass with seasonal veg and baby potatoes" The waitress wrote that down without even looking at her "What we gonna order for JJ?" Tara added.
Everyone looked to Emily. Even the waitress was now looking at her.
"What?...huh?" Emily said looking up as she felt waiting eyes on her "I don't even know what I want yet" She exclaimed.
"Doesn't mean you don't know what JJ would want." Rossi whispered almost to himself.
"What was that Dave?" Emily whipped her head around so fast Rossi jolted a little away from her. She wasn't sure what he said but she knew she wouldn't like it. "Why am I stuck ordering for her?"
"C'mon Emily…were all starving here…you know her best. Just pick something…anything" Rossi tried to placate Emily…still leaning slightly away.
"Fiiine" The brunette agent looked at the menu. "I'll have the Mac'n'Cheese…there's no mustard in the recipe is there?" She asked looking up at the waitress.
"No. Ma'am"
"Good…I'll have extra fries with it please" She closed the menu "And for MIA JJ" She bit her bottom lip and thought for a second. "The quarterpounder with jack….oh…and cheddar, toast the bottom of the bun only please, sweetcorn relish instead of tomato, extra pickle on the side, no fries, the side salad with definitely NO olives…and could you swap out the ranch for the blue cheese dressing….and a side of onion rings. Battered not breaded." She looked up at the waitress who was still writing furiously "And go ahead and just throw one of those onion rings on the burger too"
"I'll do my best for ya honey" The waitress was laughing as she collected the menus and left.
Emily felt everyones eyes on her again. "So…what are you expecting from this carbonara, Rossi?" 'Expertly done' Emily thought to herself as she heard the man to her left take a deep breath in before he launched into his Italian food tirade. The team started laughing and grumbling at both Emily and Rossi.
"Thanks for that Emily. We could be here for days now" Reids voice raised a little in mock anger while pretending to slam his fist on the table.
Tara leaned in to her unit boss and friend and lowered her voice. "Just no idea what to order JJ then. None. At. All." She could swear she saw the brunette blush.
Tara knew JJ and Emily were extremely close. The past year or so she had begun to wonder how close they actually were…or wanted to be.
The back and forth chatter was light as they drank their beer and waited on the food. Reid and Rossi got it from the team about their lack of experience with the ladies and over experience with the ladies respectively. Alvez took it on the chin when Reid suggested he loves his dog more than he will any woman. Matt gloated about his happy marriage to his gorgeous wife. All in jest of course and all with love. Tara and Emily waxed lyrical about the new herbal tea range in the break room at Quantico.
"Oh" Emily jumped a little as her phone vibrated in her pocket. "It's Garcia guys…obviously I'll have to take this. Sorry"
"Just put her on speaker." Alvez suggested.
"Hey Pen…you're on speaker…be nice" Emily spoke to the air as she put the phone as near to the middle of the table as she could without making any grand effort. They all said hello.
"Awwwww….hey you lovely bunch of people….having fun without me?"
"Not as much fun as we would with you here" Tara spoke.
"Top answer Lady Lewis" They could actually here Garcia smile.
"We're just waiting on our food with a beer" Matt raised his glass to the phone.
"Pfffft….have one…or six for me. Where is my JJ? I don't hear her there."
"She is on her way as we speak" Rossi leaned over to the phone as he spoke "She's good"
"Are we all meeting at mine when you land? I have tequila!" Garcia said hopefully.
Emily shut her eyes tight, leaned back in her chair and began. "Well…here's the thing Pen…"
There was a good bit of pleading and debating and faux crying and begging…on each end of the phone, before it was decided they would all meet at the bar on Sunday night 7pm sharp. No excuses. Even from JJ who wasn't there to fight her case.
"Gotta go Garcia…food is coming" Tara had spied a line of staff laden with plates headed their way.
"Ok my beloved heroes…see you Sunday for me time. PG out"
"Bye Pen" Emily said as she picked her phone up. Her goodbyes echoed from around the table.
Everyones food is placed and Rossi orders 6 more beers and two bottles of Rioja for good measure.
"Actually…..better make that 7 beers please" JJ nods to the waitress as she approaches the table.
"Ah….perfect timing" Emily broke into an enormous smile as JJ took the vacant seat beside her.
"Hey….sorry I'm a bit late…was just talking to Lucy and Diego….then I had to call the boys to say goodnight" The blonde agent said wearily.
"You're here now….so lets tuck in" Rossi enthused as he picked up his cutlery.
…..
I know it's a bit slow. Just figuring it out as I go.
Thanks for reading.