Stand In The Rain

Forty Seven

Kaida was thrilled to pieces to have time with JJ and Emily because she adored them both, but was also equally thrilled to be adding to her wardrobe, because if anything, Kaida Jareau was a budding fashionista.

As far as the birthday party went, it was for her classmate, Kendra Fujimoto. According to Kaida, Kendra was the first friend she'd made at school after her family's move to D.C., and they were even in the same class together at the local language center where they were schooled further in the ways of the Japanese language and culture. When they were together, Kaida and Kendra were inseparable, which led Kaida to finding out that her friend was just like her, and not only in to fashion, but arts and crafts, too. In a phrase, Kaida Jareau and Kendra Fujimoto were two peas in a pod.

That was why JJ, Emily, and Kaida found themselves in the mall's toy store as the last stop on their outing—it housed a large arts and crafts area. It was even Kaida's favorite spot in the large venue.

After she picked out a card for Kendra, she went straight over to the kit section of the arts and crafts area, and with her aunts' help, she picked out craft kits for making pillows and quilts, dolls, and friendship bracelets. Kaida was quite pleased by the haul and assured JJ and Emily that Kendra would be, too.

Just as they finished getting the packages gift-wrapped, Kaida turned away from the register and looked towards the entrance of the shop, feeling puzzled by a sight in front of her, just outside in the hall.    

"Kaida, what's wrong?" JJ asked when they caught up to her.

"Look!" she pointed ahead. "It's Kendra, but she's got a baby!"

JJ and Emily followed their niece's line of sight to see the little girl appearing utterly bewildered and trying to do the best that she could to hold on to a very wiggly baby girl in her arms. Kendra even had a backpack of some kind on her back.  

"Kaida," JJ addressed her niece. "I need you to think really hard about a question I'm going to ask you—does Kendra have any little siblings?"

"No; she has three big brothers, and they're all in middle school."

"Anything else?"

"I told her about you and Auntie Emmy, so she knows you're good!"

"Thank you, sweetie; that's a huge help!" JJ gave her a quick hug and then extracted her FBI badge from her purse where it was hanging on the back of Emily's chair. "You stay here with Auntie Emmy, okay? I'll be right back!"

For luck, the little girl blew her a kiss, and then very carefully because she still didn't know what was happening, and because she didn't want to spook either of the children, she approached Kendra.

"Who are you?" Kendra asked suspiciously as JJ drew near.

"My name is JJ," she explained, showing her her badge. "And I work for the FBI. Do you know what that is?"

Kendra nodded, still suspicious. "The super special police. Are you Kaida's JJ?"

"Yes, I am, and she's right over there." JJ pointed her out, and without missing a beat, the other girl waved to her friend. "Are you lost?"

Kendra shook her head and tightened her grip on her tiny companion. "There's a mean man in that store behind me, and he told all of the kids to get out. We were the only ones, but I don't even know her name!"