A/N: Hello all! This is going to be a longish fic. It's a post-ep Lauren fic and post-ep With Friends Like These fic. So, if you haven't seen those two episodes you should probably not be reading this since it will contain spoilers.

This story was initially going to be two separate stories dealing with the aftermath of the episode Lauren. One was to be a JJ/Hotch fic, and one an Emily/Morgan. I've combined the two, because I think they'll fit together nicely. And with each chapter I'm going to try to focus on one person of the couples. Make sense? No, well read on hopefully it will.

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.

Chapter 1: JJ:

JJ sat uneasily in Hotch's little kitchen, a mug of hot coffee in between both her hands. She stared across the small table at the stoic man sitting there. Yes, she'd called him; she'd wanted to make sure he was all right, make sure his team was all right. But, he'd been the one to ask her over. And, of course, after everything that had happened she'd dropped dinner preparations—much to Will's displeasure—and rushed right over.

Now she'd been sitting there for the past ten minutes in almost complete silence.

"Hotch," she murmured, reaching across the table to touch his hand.

Startled, he looked up at her giving her a small grimace. "Sorry," he mumbled.

She returned his look with a small smile. "That's ok," she assured.

She had a feeling she knew exactly why she was there. It had only been two weeks since they'd laid Emily to rest. JJ knew what this was doing to her former team. She'd made a point of inviting Penelope and Spencer to dinner a few days ago. They were definitely still hurting.

And it killed JJ to know that she could easily make that pain go away. She felt horrible that she was holding back that release. But it wasn't for nothing; she was doing this for Emily's sake.

Saving one friend while hurting another… it sucked big time.

And she could guess that Hotch was feeling the exact same way.

"I just…" he started slowly, looking up into her eyes. "I just needed to be with someone who I didn't need to pretend with…"

JJ nodded. She reached over instinctively to give his hand a squeeze. They were already connected by what they knew; they could comfort each other by telling the other that what they had done was for the best. And maybe they'd believe each other's words. But just touching him seemed to make it really better.

"I understand," she told him, holding his gaze.

He broke the gaze first, looking down at their touching hands. She pulled back, blushing.

"How's… how's the team?" JJ stuttered out. "How're they dealing without her at work?"

Hotch shrugged his shoulders, a gesture she had never seen him do ever.

"I'm worried about them," he admitted. "We had our first case without her last week… a young schizophrenic man urged to kill by his hallucinations…"

Hotch trailed off. She knew the significance of the case. He was worried about Reid. Truthfully, she was too.

"You are watching out for him, aren't you?" she asked, suddenly needing to know he was keeping his promise to her.

"Yes, for all of them," Hotch answered briefly. "You know… Strauss added Seaver to the team permanently."

JJ's eyes widened, the younger woman seemed too… new, fresh, and somehow innocent despite her past. Did Strauss really believe that she was ready for this gruelling, unforgiving job?

"Yeah," he said incredulously. "She's graduated, at least..."

JJ was hesitant to ask but she did anyways, "Are you um… looking for someone to replace… Emily?"

It was his turn for his eyes to widen. "Yeah, the search is slow. Not many experienced, qualified profilers out there," he paused, giving her a wry smile. "Want the job?"

She returned his smile. "Not a profiler, remember?" she replied.

"Close enough," he returned. "Besides, I don't think we've ever gotten over losing you. You were too good."

JJ blushed prettily. "Thanks."

They paused in silence, each not knowing what else to say. But JJ felt a sense of calm blanket over her. Talking with Hotch had relieved a little bit of stress she felt over keeping Emily's secret. She couldn't even be open with Will; always having to have her guard up with the people around her.

Hotch was the only one she could be open with. And she knew Hotch felt the exact same with her.

She looked up holding his gaze once again; something passed between them in that one look, a sort of bonding. They were alone in this but at least they had each other.

Hotch reached across the table to cover her hand with his own. "Thanks for coming," he said sincerely.

She cast a brief glance at their hands, enjoying the feeling, and then back at him smiling warmly. "Anytime."

Well, let me know what you think of this first chapter. I'm really excited about this fic, but I know it's going to be a challenge to write. So any words of encouragement will be much appreciated.

The next chapter is also fairly short so I don't have any excuses for not getting it out to you by tomorrow. So, here's hoping!