AU – JJ/Reid
Prompt: I'll make the first move (and I'll say I'm sorry)
Enjoy!
Work was the last place JJ wanted to be.
The FBI jet had touched down late the night before or earlier that morning depending on how she decided to look at it and yet here she was. Instead of sleeping off the physical and emotional stress the case in San Francisco; here she was in the office.
In the course of doing her job, JJ had been harshly reminded that she had been left by choice, not by death. JJ wasn't sure which would be worse, having someone ripped from you or having someone that decides you're no longer worth the effort.
Turning on the pot, JJ placed her hands, palm down, on the counter, closed her eyes and waited as the coffee brewed.
Her house was empty and the silence had been unbearable. The quiet didn't bother her so much here. It was only after a particularly long case that solitude could be found at work. The team had been told not to come in at all today, but JJ hadn't been able to stay in the house alone any longer.
Reid sighed as he left the confines of the elevator. His first day off in weeks and he ended up at work. Morgan was right; he needed to get a life.
Movement from inside the room stopped Reid in his tracks. She was standing in the break area on the other side of the bullpen. Through the glass double doors he stood in front of Reid took a moment to observe her without her knowledge.
Tension pinched her shoulder blades as her hands braced her upright. Not surprising after a case involving children, she had always been capable of more empathy than any other member of their team.
Despite the horrors they faced everyday on the job, nothing fazed her. Nothing could prevent her from doing her job to the best of her ability. Nothing was gruesome or disturbing enough to make her break.
And yet, as he pushed through the door, Reid thought something was off about her today. If he was completely honest, something had been off with her for a while now.
JJ looked over her shoulder to see who had decided to spend what little free time they'd been given at work. Looking down before he could catch her eye, JJ turned back to the coffee pot in front of her and felt the corners of her lips turn slightly upwards. It would be Reid.
Reid dropped his messenger bag onto his desk as he made his way over toward JJ who busied herself with filling a couple mugs with the steaming liquid and placing the sugar on the counter between where they stood next to each other.
Reid had to clear his throat before asking, "What are you doing here? It's your day off."
JJ turned away from her coffee and leaned against the counter. "It's yours too, Spence."
He nodded, mirroring her position, "I just thought you would be at home with Henry. And Will."
When she didn't answer right away, Reid shot her an inquisitive look.
"Henry is with Will."
JJ swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat and forced herself to say it out loud.
"At his place."
It was her turn to expect a response from the silence.
Her eyes shone with unshed tears and for the first time Reid saw just how broken and just how strong she really was.
"I'm sorry."