Stand In The Rain

Twenty One

When JJ and Emily went back to the police station, they were intercepted by JJ's old friend, Captain Ryder, who invited them into her office for a quick chat. She was happy to see JJ, and quite thrilled to see that she was expecting. She was also happy to meet Emily, having heard about her from Sandy.

"Before you two go over to the conference room, though," she said as she crossed the small room to a smaller table, near the window. "Take these with you."

'These' turned out to be a sandwich platter, a drink carrying case full of seven bottles of water, and a small box of cookies; it was all catering from a local sandwich restaurant.

While Emily took the sandwiches and the cookies, JJ took the drinks and turned to Ryder, smiling. 

"Thank you."

Ryder returned the smile. "I figured you and your team would be hungry, right about now, what with coming all the way down here from D.C. on the spur of the moment, so I decided to order lunch for all of you when you were all finally back here."

Emily echoed her girlfriend's earlier sentiment. "Thank you. That is very kind."

JJ tacked on, "I usually take care of that kind of thing, but it must have slipped my mind; pregnancy brain and all."

"I'm a mama, too, as you well know," Ryder winked.  "But I won't tell anyone."

Thanking her and then following her directions about navigating through the station, JJ and Emily soon found themselves entering the conference room where the others were indeed all regathering, ready to start the update-sharing part of the case.

"We're back," JJ chirped. "And courtesy of Captain Ryder, we come bearing lunch!"   

Everybody was very happy about that because they were all quite hungry.

"Okay, Tinker Bell." Penelope said to JJ, a few minutes into lunch. "Only because I had  to, I did some research on Foxworth Hall. How come you've never told us that you come from prestigious family money?"

JJ rolled her eyes. "To avoid having this conversation, but you all might as well know that I'm an heiress to two different family fortunes."

"What about your brother? Is he an heir?"

"Uh-huh, and my sister was an heiress, too, but since she's dead, I inherited her shares. What?"

JJ had suddenly become aware of Penelope, Derek, Rossi, Spencer, Hotch, Rossi, and even Emily looking at her in surprise.

Amused,  Rossi broke the silence. "How many language quirks are you packing away, kiddo? First your surprise us on the jet by speaking French without realizing it, and now you've gone and tapped into your southern drawl."

JJ's ears turned red. "I did?"

Rossi nodded. "Yep, about halfway through the explanation about the money. You're still doing it."

"Sorry." JJ consciously made the switch back to her normal pattern of speech. "This always happens when I see my mom... or come back down here; I spent every summer of my childhood here, and I do mean every summer."

To save JJ from turning any redder, Derek turned to Emily. "What did you two find out at Foxworth Hall?"

"You mean besides the fact that JJ's mother and super protective big brother are there to look after the family?"