AN: Character Death. Please review:
Its a beautiful building; white walls seem to shoot up from the ground as they stretch high in the air to meet the perfectly alabaster white ceiling. The chapel smells of fresh flowers but with a tiny hint of fresh air flowing through the area.
It's a brand new building, a brand new church.
Sort of.
The church has a long, positive history in the community, and had recently relocated to a new building. A larger building. A building that can support a larger congregation than its predecessor.
A building that can hold hundreds of people.
But on days like this, not even the massive chapal is equipped for everyone in attendance. It comes down to standing room only- hours before the service even started.
And you sit there, in the front row, your hands shaking as they work their way around the necklace caught between them.
You have a death grip on the necklace, afraid to let it drop. Afraid to let it go. It means everything to you right now, and you cling to it as if your life depends on it. And in a way, it does. Right now- a tangible connection to your daughter is the only thing keeping you remotely sane.
Your daughter. Your baby daughter is gone. Gone forever because of a psychopath. A man so bent on his intentions that he took everything that was not his to take.
He took your daughter. He took a colleague, a friend, a sister. He took your sense of safety, of religion, of faith and hope, of justice.
And of everything he took from you, he took the most from her.
He took her life.
Without a second thought of what it would do. He took her life and shattered the ones of those who loved her.
And with that thought, you start shaking again. Shaking and rocking as you try to halt the watershed of tears that begin to fall down your cheeks. You cannot help it. Life is not fair.
And when you feel a set of strong arms wrap around you, you do not even turn to look at the face. You simply fall into his arms and sob.
Sob for everything.
Because life isnt fair. Because you have lost so much, you often wonder what else God can take away from you.
And you hear the man shuffle a bit and he speaks. Strong, but kind. "Ma'am." He begins and waits for you to lift your head. "There is someone I want you to meet."
Confused, you wipe a tear from your eye and stand with him. He guides you to the back of the church and into a small room. His strong hands never leaving your back.
Inside the room. You freeze. Because right in front of you, sits a young family.
A man, woman and two young children. A toddler, and an infant.
And you know exactly who they are.
"Mr and Mrs. Reyes?" Agent Hotchner steps from behind you and the family stands up.
"Agent Hotchner." Mr. Reyes holds out his hand and makes contact with you.
"Sandy." Agent Hotchner lowers his voice and you feel the tears again. "This is the family your daughter saved."
Your heart sinks to your stomach as Mr. Reyes rushes forward and wraps his arms around you.
And everyone starts crying.
"Ma'am." Mr. Reyes begins with a heavy accent. "Agent Jareau gave her life for my family. I cannot thank you… we cannot thank you enough for that. Because, had she not stepped in front of that man, he would have killed my baby daughter.." He hiccups. "Without her, I wouldn't have my family.."
And you suddenly smile.
You smile because your daughter, your JJ, is gone. But she will live on forever in the lives of the family she saved. She will always live on in your heart, she will always be there. And for that, for the four people standing in front of you, you realize God is not angry at you. HE was just ready for his angel to come home.