Based off of 4x23. If you haven't seen the episode, you might be a little confused.

AU in which Garcia gets a different job. In this storyline, Hotch hasn't left, Spencer never got imprisoned, and Morgan doesn't have a kid. Oh, and no Scratch.

Hope you enjoy.

OoOoOoO

She sat there in the silence, painted fingernails hovering over the keyboard. Her heel-clad foot bobbed nervously under the table.

For the first time in a while, she felt guilt stab at her chest as she worked.

"What am I doing?" Penelope muttered to herself, rubbing her temples exasperatedly. She closed the window without hesitation, disrupting her hacking. If Kevin found out she was hacking the system to sabotage his job interview, he would be furious.

But still…

The worry that he would leave her so easily almost hurt more than the guilt. She sighed and leaned back in her chair.

His words echoed in her ears. "I could if you applied with me. They need other people."

Was she actually considering this? Leaving the BAU? Leaving the place that had been her home for who-knows-how-many years?

As much as she loved her people, sometimes she wondered what life would be like if she wasn't in the FBI. Maybe it would mean getting longer than four hours of sleep a night, or not seeing grisly images on her screens.

But could she leave her family? The thought of not seeing Morgan was enough to make her feel as though she had been socked in the gut. And Reid? JJ? Emily? Even the thought of little Henry being alone made her sad.

But am I happy? The thought surprised her, more so because she found that she didn't have an answer. In reality, she did this job because of the people. She did it because she felt like she was helping her family. So, would they understand if she left, or would they be angry? What would they do without her?

Everything. She sighed, looking at her screens. If she left, right this moment, there would be another. There would be a technical analyst who could do almost as good a job as she could, maybe even better.

So why was she still there?

The phone ringing on her desk jerked her back to reality.

"Hey baby girl." It was Morgan. A small sliver of her hoped that he was making a social call, but she should have known he wouldn't. "I need you to run a plate for me, and fast."

OoOoOoO

Five years later

She was so warm.

JJ clenched her eyes shut tighter, blocking out the rays of sun that threatened to disturb her sleep. She burrowed tighter under the comforters.

She felt, rather than saw Will move closer and wrap his arm around her waist from behind. "Brace yourself." He muttered. Before she could ask what he meant, she heard it. Small taps on the hardwood floors. She groaned and ducked under the covers just as a small body flung itself on top of her.

"MOMMY!" The covers were pulled back, and a small face peered down at her, getting so close that she could feel his hair tickling her nose. She kept her eyes closed, feigning sleep. "Are you still seepin?" His voice dropped to a whisper.

Instead of responding, she sat up and knocked him playfully onto the bed. His words turned to giggles as she tickled him stomach. Will sat up as well and watched them with a smile.

"What do you want for breakfast, little man?" He asked once the little boy could talk.

"Pancakes!" Henry jumped up and began bouncing on the bed, still breathless.

"Why don't you go brush your teeth and daddy will start working on that?" Henry stopped bouncing at his mother's words and slid off the bed, eager for his special breakfast. Once he was gone, Will kissed his girl and slid out of bed, leaving her alone with her thoughts. She leaned over and grabbed her phone from the bedside table. Bracing herself, she turned the screen on, hoping to god there was nothing important waiting for her. She sighed with relief when the only thing that appeared was her lock screen and the time.

She threw her legs over the side of the bed and left the warmth of the sheets rather reluctantly. Once she had brushed her teeth, she threw on house pants and a cozy t-shirt and made her way downstairs.

Upon entering the kitchen, she found her boys sitting at the counter, making the batter for the pancakes.

A loud burst of early morning thunder surprised them all. JJ was about to say something when she noticed a stray toy laying in the yard. The dark clouds meant rain and she did not want to have to buy him another robot toy (considering he had left the last two to get ruined in the rain).

"Hey Henry! Go get your robot before he gets wet!" The little boy gasped and went running out of the kitchen and into the backyard.

"Did you sleep okay?" He asked her when they were alone. She came and stood next to him, watching him pour the batter into the skillet.

"Yeah, I guess." She shrugged. "You?"

"Yeah I guess." He replied and they chuckled. She wrapped her arms around his torso and they stood there, enjoying the silence for a moment. "This batch is almost ready. Can you go check on him?"

She nodded and left his side, heading towards the back of the house. It was just like Henry to get sidetracked playing with toys. He would go up to his room to get dressed and they'd find him an hour later, surrounded by Legos.

"Henry? Come on in!" The rain was starting to dot the back patio.

There was no one in the yard. "Henry?"

She felt panic begin to rise in her chest. She jogged around the side of the house, but there was nothing. No one was there. That stupid little robot was still sitting in the yard.

The rain was beginning to pour down, but she ran the length of the yard in full on panic mode.

"HENRY?"

"JJ!" Will had come out to see what was going on.

"HE'S GONE!" Her heart had gone cold. Tears welled up and spilled onto her cheeks, mixing with the rainwater. She practically collapsed in the yard, drenched and shaking. "Henry's gone."

OoOoOoO

She was…..tired. And rather confused.

Penelope had no idea why she had been dragged out. After sitting behind a computer screen for almost thirteen hours, she just wanted to curl up with a pizza and a movie.

"Can you at least pretend you're having fun?" Her partner hissed next to her. She sent a glare to the young blonde.

"Why did you drag me out here?" Penelope groaned quietly. "I'm exhausted."

"I am too!" The girl's look tuned to one of understanding. "Believe me, I wouldn't have brought you out tonight if I didn't have to. BUT there are several big wigs here. It would be nice if we could at least make nice with our bosses."

She had a point. Her site manager was currently talking to several very important people. On any normal night, she would go over and begin a conversation. Not tonight. She was tired.

A buzz from her pocket signaled a phone call. She pulled it out and frowned at the unknown number that flashed across the screen.

Getting up from the table, she hastily made her way out of the restaurant/bar and out onto the street.

"Hello?"

"Penelope?" She froze at the voice. She had given him this number years ago, but he never called it. He was the only person who knew how to get in touch with her.

"Reid?" She glanced around her, noting that several men were eyeing her suspiciously. She ducked around the building and into a back alley. "It's so good to hear your voice."

There was a beat of silence, of hesitation. "It's good to hear your voice, too." He sounded…sad? Relieved? She wasn't sure.

"What can I do you for, doc?" She smiled a bit in spite of herself.

"How fast can you get to D.C?" Reid asked hesitantly.

"That's a long flight, mon ami." She replied. "What's going on?"

"It's Henry."

He didn't need to say anymore. "I'll be there as soon as I can."

OoOoOoO