Do you want to play? - A Criminal Minds fanfic

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

It was during dinner that Sergio finally dared to come out from Emily and Morgan's bedroom, deciding that he was hungry. Emily had filled his bowls, one with chicken flavored cat food and one with finger-warm water while she was waiting for the pasta sauce to be done. She knew that her little creature couldn't go without food for too long. He didn't even whine when he got into the kitchen; he headed straight for the food bowl and started eating his food.

Emily and the girls were sitting by the kitchen table, everybody happily eating their own dinner. She was happy to see that Esther liked what she'd made and was even happier when she asked for a second helping.

During the meal they got to know Esther a whole lot better. It was clear she hadn't had an easy childhood, which made Emily determent to protect this little girl and give her the life she truly deserved.

"May I leave the table?" Esther asked, politely when she and Grace were done, the only one still eating was Emily.

"Of course you may." Emily said kindly. "Do you wanna go too, Gracie?"

"Yes, please," Grace smiled and the two girls pushed their chairs out.

Esther walked first, stepping past Sergio, when a loud hiss and a crash was heard.

All the hairs was standing on Sergio, just like earlier that day, and Esther's plate was on the floor, broken into five big pieces and a hundred small.

"I'm so sorry," she said, looking at Emily sadly.

"It's okay, Sweetie," Emily said and rose from her seat. "I'll take care of the plates, you can run away and play." Emily smiled to not show her frustration with the cat who was still showing his claws and growling angrily.

The girls hesitated for a few seconds before doing as Emily said.

Immediately when they were gone, the cat let down his guard and Emily turned angrily towards the pet.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Serge. You do not treat my daughter that way," Emily said, as if she was talking to a real person. The cat seemed to get what she was saying though as he looked at her with puppy eyes, purred and stroked herself against Emily's leg. "Oh no, mister, that will not work on me this time." Emily walked away from her cat and fetched a broom to sweep up the broken plate. When she looked again Sergio had already walked away, sensing that he would not be able to suck up to his mama.

Emily sighed even deeper, not understanding why Sergio was acting this way. That never happened. Not even when Grace was born, so it couldn't be because he was afraid she'd take his place.

When all the biggest pieces were in the trash can, she took out the vacuum cleaner to make sure that no one would hurt their feet. She was still angry with the cat when she was done and started cleaning of the table. What would happen if he never loosened up around her? She could never send any of them away, but she couldn't keep Sergio locked up in the bedroom until Esther went away for college either. Garcia was always an option. She loved the cat and he loved her. That way Emily could still see him. If it didn't get better after a month she would do that, even if it pained her a little just thinking of sending the feline away to live with her friend.

Emily was broken out of her thoughts, and cleaning, by the phone ringing. She wiped her hands and picked up.

"Hey, gorgeous, just wanted to check in on you. How is everything going? How is Esther?"

"It's going really well. She is wonderful and she's already adapting," Emily said with a smile. "Grace has already decided that she's her best friend."