Assigned Pair: JJ/Rossi

Prompt: Dark Shadows

It was very early in the morning, when the team walked through the doors at the BAU. They had come straight from the airstrip to FBI headquarters and they carried with them the weight of the world. Normally the group, though tired, would be chatting about their plans for the weekend. However, today, the group was unnaturally quiet and shell shocked as they stumbled into the office like they were in another world. Each one of the team purposely avoided glancing at her desk as though that would change what had happened.

JJ was the first to look at Emily's desk. It brought tears to her eyes and for the first time she was grateful that she no longer worked at the BAU. After she finished all the paperwork today, JJ would walk out of the building and she wouldn't have to see the empty desk or see who would be hired as her replacement. She'd be going back to the Pentagon on Monday. For the rest of today, though, JJ would feel so empty about the loss of such a vibrant member of the team. Was this how the team felt when JJ left? Did they feel as though a part of their body was missing? Because for her, JJ felt that a piece of her heart was gone.

Looking around the BAU, it had never felt so solemn. For JJ, it certainly felt strange and yet still comfortable being in the BAU again. She had settled into her new office however she missed being at the BAU which, for her, would always seem like home. Looking at the faces of her broken friends, JJ quickly fell back into the role of mother hen needing to make sure that everyone was okay.

JJ quietly encouraged everyone to go home. Ashley left almost immediately. She didn't feel right being there witnessing their grief. She quickly said her goodbyes and left squeezing Dave's hand before she walked out the door. The rest of the team lingered around the floor. They had filled out some of the paperwork on the plane and the rest could be done at a later time. Even Section Chief Strauss had ordered the team to be on stand down for at least two weeks. They needed the time to deal with their loss.

JJ mentioned it again that it might be a good idea to go home. While everyone nodded in agreement, no one seemed to move away from the group. JJ looked to Hotch for support.

In typical Hotch fashion, he showed no outward emotion on his face, although those who knew the real Hotch knew that he too was at his breaking point. "I know that we had all prayed that this would have ended differently but we have to remember that Emily did this because she was trying to protect all of us. She did it because she loved us and that is what we all have to hold on to. We need to remember her the way she was before today. It's what Emily would have wanted." No one spoke when Hotch finished. They all knew he was right but the pain was still raw. Hotch tried to assure the team that while the pain they felt seemed to be unbearable at that moment, they would get through it together just as they had before.

Morgan put his arm around Garcia as she broke the silence with a stifled sob. "Morgan, take her home. JJ is right, everybody. Go home and get some rest. I don't want anyone in the office until Monday. JJ will let us know what the arrangements are once she speaks to the ambassador. And guys...I am proud of all of you. You did everything you could to bring Doyle down and find Emily. I know that none of us will stop until we make him pay for taking her away from us. For tonight, though, let's try to remember the good times we had with our friend. Go home everybody; that's an order."

Guiding Garcia towards her office, Morgan watched as Reid stood staring at the picture of the team on his desk. "Come on Pretty Boy, you're coming home with us." Morgan said over his shoulders to Reid. He didn't argue. He followed behind them like a lost puppy.

Hotch had already headed towards his office to drop off the paperwork. Normally he would stay behind and finish up the reports but JJ knew that all he wanted to do was go home, pick up his son and hold him. He needed the reminder that life was precious and everyday with his child was a gift.

That left David Rossi and she was the most worried about him. She turned her eyes towards the stairs where he was slowly ascending to his office. After JJ had delivered the news about Emily at the hospital, she saw the anguish that washed over his face. The single tear that flowed down his cheek was the extent of the grief he showed before he put his wall up again.

He didn't notice that she had been keeping a special eye on him since they left Boston but he never once let his emotions take over again. She knew that the emotions she saw at the hospital were going to be the only ones he would show the outside world. His years at the BAU had taught him how to hide his true feelings. Somehow, JJ had to figure out a way that she could change that for both Aaron and Dave.

Today, however, she realized that Dave was the one who needed her the most. She could almost see the heaviness of his heart weighing on his shoulders as he shuffled up the stairs towards his office, his head hanging low. Just before he shut the door, she called out to him, the dark shadows evident on his face. He looked up at her sadly and waved her away. Then he shut himself in his office and JJ knew he didn't want anyone to see just how broken SSA David Rossi really was.