Return to Mt Horizon

20

Penelope's pov
"Garcia, can I ask you something?" Spencer said, pulling me away from Derek. I nodded and we walked away from the group. "Spencer, you did mess up." I stated before he could say anything. "Do you remember the case you first brought up Dilaudid?" Spencer shook his head. "It was September 28, 2011, the day before you caught the unsub. I know because JJ called me in tears that night. She was crying to me about how she messed up with you."

"I didn't know she did that." He sat on log and I stood next to him. "Reid, remember I love you when I tell you, it is an asshole move bringing it up to guilt trip her. You can't pull the drug card when you want to make her feel bad. Don't be an asshole." I put an arm on his shoulder and sat next to him. "That girl loves you and would die for you. Don't push her away."

Spencer nodded and followed me back to the group. Rossi and Hotch were with Sophie and Peter cooking and I joined them. "Did you talk some sense into the kid?" Rossi asked. Hotch let out a small laugh and I stared at him. "As a matter of fact, yes. I told him to not be an asshole." We continued the conversation as Dave finished the burgers. I helped set up the topping station and watched as Emily slowly woke JJ up.

Emily's pov
"It's time to eat. Might wanna wake up sleeping beauty." Daisy said as she walked past me. I nodded and looked at the sleeping blonde on my shoulder. I brushed a piece of hair from her face and kissed her forehead. Her nose twitched and she started waking up. "Tie to eat. Do you want to get up or make Derek get us burgers?" I asked. She laughed and nodded. "I'll take a plain cheeseburger."

After Derek, reluctantly, brought us our food, she finally sat up off of me. "Have you thought about telling your sister? Meeting your nephew?" It had been on my mind all day. "That would mean my mother would find out and that is not my favorite thing. Last time I saw her, he got arrested." She went back to eating her burger and tried to change the subject.

"Maybe that's for the best. You didn't see how she talked about you. It was like-" I started, but she cut me off. "I find it funny that you are talking to me about mothers." I shut up and looked at her. "I was just trying to help." JJ started to wipe off her hands and stand up. "That's your problem. Sometimes you just try too hard."

I couldn't say another word before she walked away. I put my plate down and followed her. She didn't get far, only a few yards away from the group. I found her hugging her knees on the ground next to a tree. "Hey." She looked up and was crying. I sat next to her and pulled her into me. "It slipped out. I didn't mean it." She sighed. "All the crap with Spence has made this day hell. I've actually been planning on stopping by her house before we go home."

"I'll go with you." She looked at me and I kissed her nose. When she laughed, I smiled, I liked her laugh. We went back to join the group before we all cleaned up and left. JJ decided to visit her mom tonight so I called ahead. We got on the road and got to the house in a little less than 2 hours. She told me to stay in the car so I watched her walk to the front door.

JJ's pov
I could feel Emily staring at me when I knocked on the door. My mom had moved since I was a kid so at least it wasn't my old house. Instinctively I reached for my gun and badge, I wanted to make sure I was gonna be okay. When the door opened, I stopped breathing. For the first time in 15 years, I was looking at my mother, I felt like I was gonna pass out.

She looked back at me and could barely say a word. "Hi mom." It was all I could say. She led me inside and sat me on the couch. "How are you here?" She whispered. I pulled my legs into my chest and thought back to the story Penelope taught me. I told my mother everything she needed to know, being as vague as possible. She barely nodded along.

"You've been someone else's daughter for 12 years?" I scoffed. "Don't act like I'm your daughter. I have never been your daughter. Not since you figured out what he was doing." I leaned back against the couch as she started to talk to me. "Don't start with that again." She said, rolling her eyes. "How can you say that?" I whispered.

The need to cry was overwhelming, but I was not going to cry in front of her. "Shelby, you can't blame everyone else for your problems. Sooner or later, you have to admit when you do wrong." I felt dizzy, like I was about to pass out. "I love you, but it isn't your parent's fault for you ending up here." I shook my head. I needed Emily in here.

"You people were never my parents. Sophie and Peter are better parents to me than you have ever been. And even the mother I had for the past 12 years was better than you." I stood up and made my way through the house to the front door. "You're leaving again. Of course, you are." I tuned her out and got outside.

I was still dizzy so Emily ran and helped hold me up. "Get me out." I whispered as my mother ran out after me. "Shelby Merrick, get back inside. We aren't done here." Emily put me in the passenger seat and put a hand on my cheek. "You did amazing." My mother kept yelling and Emily went to get in the driver's seat. "Get away from my daughter." My mother yelled.

Emily held up a finger and pointed towards her. "She is an FBI agent and if you get closer, I swear I will have you arrested." She got in the car and backed out, ignoring my mother yelling at me. When we got on the road, she grabbed my hand and held it the rest of the ride. We didn't say anything, I didn't feel like it.

When the car pulled up, I got out and went to the cabin, skipping dinner and missing the team and Cliffhangers. I crawled into bed and covered my head with the blanket when the door shut. "Hey kid."