Caution to the Wind

Chapter 28

Chapter Summary: Six months after the team's first encounter with Everett Lynch, the Lynch family is back, putting a team member's life in danger and throwing a wrench in Emily's plans to propose to Tara. Follows S15E1-S15E3.

Emily bought a ring. It was refined, elegant, understated, beautiful, and brilliant—just like Tara. She tucked it away in her dresser drawer, waiting for the perfect opportunity to give it to Tara. Tara didn't want a grand gesture, and Emily had never been one for grand gestures, anyway, but she still wanted to make sure she got the moment just right. She didn't want to steal anyone's thunder or have her proposal overshadowed by crisis or loss or a particularly tough case. She was waiting for a moment when the focus would be on her, and Tara, and their future together.

Right now the focus was on Matt and Kristy, who were preparing to welcome their fifth child into the world, and Emily decided she wouldn't propose until after Kristy's baby shower. Luke and Lisa hosted, even though Luke was skeptical about a shower for baby number five, but Lisa kept insisting it was a sprinkle, not a shower, and, as Penelope pointed out, "Any addition to the extended BAU family is a cause to gather and rejoice and get loot in the form of baby swag." Friends and family had all gathered to celebrate the ever-growing Simmons family, and everybody was having a great time, but Tara noticed that Spencer seemed distracted.

"Everything okay?" she asked him.

"It's about my mom," he replied, "She's in a full-time care facility, and she's really been struggling."

"I'm so sorry, Reid," she said.

"It's okay," he said, "You know, you prepare for the inevitable, but it's still difficult to accept when things actually change. Makes you wish you could go back in time and make sure you made the right choices."

"I know how much you love her," Tara said, "I'm here anytime you want to talk."

Spencer smiled. "Thanks, but I'd rather not bring down the mood at a party."

Tara gave him a pat on the arm and a sympathetic look before going off to take a plate of food to Emily, who was out on the patio talking to JJ.

"I haven't seen Dave and Krystall yet," JJ said, "It's not like him to be late."

"No, it's not," Emily replied, "Although I'm sure he'll have a good excuse."

"Do you want me to call him?" JJ asked.

"No, I'll call him," Emily said.

Emily wanted to make the call herself because she had a sinking feeling about where Rossi was and why he would miss Kristy's baby shower. His focus on the Everett Lynch case had become an obsession. He was getting tunnel vision, and he was testing the boundaries of the leeway Emily had given him.

"Hey, Emily, I'm running late," he said, "I should be on my way to you guys ASAP."

"You know it's not in our jurisdiction," she said.

"I called," he said, "Captain Paige said she'd be more than willing to—"

"Dave, I have been more than willing to give you a lot of latitude on the Everett Lynch case," Emily cut him off.

"I know you have."

"But over the past six months, you have taken it upon yourself to conduct a solo manhunt for the guy. It just can't continue."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you that—"

"You want to know what worries me the most?" she continued, "I think you didn't tell me because you weren't sure how to lie to me. Anyway, now really isn't the time to discuss this. We'll talk about this later."