JJ's grapefruit spoon fell to the floor, clattering as she grabbed her phone and took the call. "Emily - do you have him? Is he okay?" The concern and panic in her voice evident.

Will swallowed a sigh. Another family breakfast interrupted by the BAU. He felt selfish as the thought crossed his mind. He leaned down to pick up her spoon and took their plates from the breakfast nook to the kitchen. With Henry at school and Michael still sleeping, he had thought they'd have a few moments together. He'd looked forward to it.

He cared about them all, he did. They were his friends too, and he knew them to be exemplary people. He knew too, that part of the bargain he had struck in order to marry the woman he loved was that these people would be present, and would be important, always. He had long ago made his peace with that.

But why was it always him who took her away? Whether physically or emotionally or both, JJ's attention was laser-focused whenever Spencer Reid was involved. Will's intellect and experience as a cop wouldn't allow him to minimize what was going on with Reid's predicament right now. He knew it was bad. He would help any way that he could. But it was his wife's reaction that rankled... that dug into his gut like a trowel. He felt himself girding against the familiar dread of her pulling away, until "Spence" was okay, until he was out of whatever danger was pressing, this time.

Sometimes he flashed on the suspicion that Spencer did it on purpose. Created these situations so JJ would be compelled to set aside everything else and shift her attention to him. But as soon as the thought occurred, he dismissed it, every time. The stakes were always too dire for there to be any ulterior motive, and he knew in his heart that Reid was a very good person, and completely unadept at subterfuge.

Despite all that, Will also knew that the man they were all working to save... had always been and still was... deeply in love with his wife.

"Emily... did you GET him?" JJ repeated, pacing.

"Yes, this is a crappy line so I hope you're hearing me but we got him and he's coming home to the BAU, briefly. We'll be there in 20, JJ. Will you be- can I tell him you'll be...?"

"Copy that, coming now, right now" she said.

She hung up the phone and spun around, nearly bumping into her husband. "Sorry to cut it short." She nodded to the breakfast table.

"Yeah cher, I heard."

"Will..."

"I know."

"You're okay?"

"I'm fine, JJ. You'd better get goin'." He leaned in as she moved to peck him on the cheek.

"I'll check in when I can."

With that, she grabbed her bag and was out the door in seconds, as Will cast a doleful eye to her departing back.

JJ paced back and forth in the bullpen waiting for the rest of the team to show up with Reid. She was vaguely aware that Penelope was speaking to her but the only thing that kept tumbling around her mind was "He's going to be okay, I know he is. He's got to be okay..."

She moved to the 6th floor elevator doors as she heard them open, and her heart dropped into her stomach as she took him in. His disheveled appearance was unsettling, but she understood that. It was the handcuffs she knew he wore hiding beneath the FBI jacket that pierced her heart like a knife.

"Hi," he softly said as she approached, arms open.

He'd cleaned up as best he could on the plane, but was concerned about how he smelled after his ordeal. JJ didn't care. All she could think about was at that moment, he was safe in her arms. She reluctantly released him, and caught his gaze with hers.

"I'm so glad you're here, alive, reasonably okay..." she said, a half smile put on to set him at ease.

"...in big trouble..." he countered, his half smile matching hers.

Her blue eyes flashed, holding his and he sunk into them. In Mexico he hadn't let himself think he'd see them again, this soon, if ever. He noticed her pinched look, her worry for him still etched into her features, aging her prematurely.

"Spence, you're home now, and we're going to fix this, all of us. You are not alone, okay? No more secrets. None." Her voice managed a semblance of stern.

"Deal," he whispered, nodding, really hearing her.

Emily leaned in and said, "I've got some paperwork to pick up. Can you get him something to drink?"

JJ nodded and stood back as everyone else came forward to show Reid their love. She reached in and took him by the elbow.

"Come on, you. We haven't got much time."

She pulled him into the break room and sat him down at one of the small, round tables. He watched as she moved to the counter and went through the motions of making them tea.

"Don't you ever do anything like this ever again." She said, her back to him.

He wasn't sure he'd heard her right. "I'm sorry, what?"

She turned around and faced him, crossing her arms.

"Don't you ever... do anything like this ever again." She repeated.

He looked at her, understanding.

"I won't. I'm sorry."

He watched as she came to him, her face losing composure as she pulled off the jacket covering his handcuffs. He lifted his arms as she pushed them up, and brought them back down around her as she climbed onto his lap.

She was crying but did not show it as her arms encircled his slender frame, she curled her legs up as her face pushed into his neck. He felt her tears against his throat, then let his own fall. He tightened his arms around her when he felt her shake, and she sighed, as if she'd been holding her breath all this time.

Emily walked into the break room and stopped, seeing them holding each other, silently saying their goodbyes. They both needed this. She turned and stepped out just as the guard rounded the corner to check on Reid. She put a hand up to stop him.

"Five minutes," she said, splaying her fingers.

"Ma'am with all due respect, I have orders."

She looked him dead in the eye.

"Five minutes."