JJ in Wonderland – Chapter 1

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Jennifer 'JJ' Jareau was late; it was 6:47am but it would be another ten more minutes before she reached her office, no thanks to the latest tight-ass security system in the Pentagon.

Since the vicious attack in the building, DoD, DoJ and Homeland Security had raised their security bars up to ThreatCon Charlie.

Seriously? JJ grumbled as she emptied her pockets into a plastic bin and placed her purse on the conveyor belt and watched it slowly crept towards the X-Ray machine.

She began tapping her finger nail as she watched security took their sweet time examining the contents of her briefcase.

"Looks like someone's in a hurry." One of the uniformed guards grinned at her.

"As a matter of fact, Bernie," JJ replied. "I am. I have a meeting with the Director in less than 10 minutes." She consulted her watch for the fifth time. "Can't you let me through just this one time?" she smiled sweetly at him. "It's the same old stuff in there from yesterday, and it's still the same crap in there today. Please Bernie?"

He shook his head, "Sorry, Agent Jareau. No exceptions. Not even the Director gets special treatment." He informed her.

"Is that suppose to make me feel better?" she glared at him.

He shrugged, "No, but just thought I'd let you know everyone has to go through the line."

She sighed, "I'm sorry, Bernie. It's just that my son was being uncooperative this morning getting ready for day care."

"Ah!" Bernie grinned, his one gold tooth shining. "Young Master Henry. How is he besides being a typical three year old?" He teased her.

"He threw Cheerios all over the kitchen because I ran out of Fruit Loops, they're the same, just colored sugar cereals."

"You know all that sugar in the morning is not good for him."

"I know but it makes him happy and he's eating it with milk, so he's still getting all the nutrition." She pointed it out to him who was a five times grandfather.

Bernie reached over and pulled a small item from her blonde hair and gave it to her, "Might this be one of the tossed breakfast?"

JJ took it from him and began to smile, "Yeah, I guess I didn't get it all out of my hair, thanks Bernie."

He shook his head, "Figured I'd do it that way the Director won't look at you and wonder if it's a new accessory trend."

JJ chuckled, "I wished. Now that's a thought...edible hair accessories; if you get hungry, pluck it from your hair!"

Bernie laughed, "Then you'd start getting' them flies a buzzin'."

"Oh yeah, not very attractive looking..."

"Hey Jareau!" Some one behind the line yelled at her. "Get moving, will ya? This is not a social gathering, some people has to get to work...ON TIME!"

There were snickers in the line.

JJ rolled her eyes as she turned back to the yeller, "Hey, Martin!" She yelled back at him, the others began to laugh. "If you stop taking 30 minutes trying to fix that bald spot on the top of your head, maybe you'd gotten here ON TIME!"

Those in between them began to clap and cheer for her. Martin began to laugh.

JJ bowed to them.

"Here you go, Agent. You have less than five minutes now to make it if you stop chit-chatting." Bernice laughed as he held her briefcase.

"Oh! The time!" She grabbed the brief case and hurried on, "I'm late! I'm going to be late!"

Bernie watched after her as he shook his head, "If she had them long, furry ears on her head, she'd look like the White Rabbit in Alice."

"So, what makes you, Bernie? The Mad Hatter?" The next man smiled.

Bernie laughed, as he shook his head, "Nah, I'll like to think of myself as the Cheshire Cat, he's always so smart and I can keep up with all y'all sorry people. All right, you're clear, Agent Gadsen, have a good day. Next!" The man laughed as he picked up his things and walked to his office.

…...

As she arrived at her desk, she had time to dump her purse and briefcase before she rushed out again and walked briskly two doors down towards where the Director of Defense's office was.

When the secretary nodded her to continue on, "He's waiting for you, Agent Jareau, care for some coffee?" she asked her.

JJ shook her head, "No thanks, I've had five cups on the way here so I'm properly wired up."

They both chuckled as JJ knocked on the door, "I need ten cups in order to deal with him." She indicated the door.

"Come in!"

JJ turned the knob, feeling for a moment as if she was entering her high school principal's office.

Shaking her head, she walked into the office and pasting a smile she was about to greet the friendly man when she stopped upon seeing a familiar face and her face froze.

"Oh no, not you." She shook her head.

"And a good morning to you too, Jennifer." He greeted her warmly. Then he turned to the Director and said, "See, I told you Frank, she's not expecting me."

"Agent Jareau," The Director smiled at her, "Is this the way you should be greeting a highly decorated Marine soldier and a famous Crime author?"

She glanced from Dave Rossi to the Director and back to him, "Er, what's he doing here?" She placed her hands on her hips.

Dave Rossi stood up as he buttoned his jacket and stood before her, "I've come to er…take you back to the BAU."

"I'm not interested, you back-stabbing bastard!"

The Director stood up suddenly and frowned at her, "Agent Jareau! Watch your mouth!"

"It's okay, Frank," Dave shook his head, "We didn't part well the last time."

She glared at him, "That's right, remember what I said, Dave Rossi?"

He narrowed his gaze at her; god! She's still as beautiful as ever, probably more so now than before, Will LaMontagne, you're a dumb fool!

"Er, forgive me, I don't quite remember; it's been over six months since you left the Bureau. How about refreshing my memory, Jennifer?" He smiled.

She smiled but he saw belatedly as her smile did not reach her eyes; what the hell?

"With pleasure, Dave Rossi. I said, next time we meet again I'm going to teach you a lesson you won't forget!" She reared back and balling her fist, she swung forward and punched him hard in his face!

Dave fell backwards onto the chair he'd just vacated.

"Agent Jareau!" The Director exclaimed in disbelief.

"I'm sorry Director," She turned around and left the office.

"That's okay Frank, I deserved it, no harm done…it's just a scratch." He wiped blood off his cut lip. And looked at him and smiled, "Oh yeah, I remembered now. It happened when she left the BAU a couple of months ago."

The Director frowned at him, "What the hell did you do, Dave?"

He began to laugh, "I kissed her before she left."

End of Chapter 1