Chapter 2
Sitting at her desk, her face buried in her hands, JJ thought about the past more than 1 ½ years David Rossi had been her co-worker. They got along well, even though they weren't exactly close. Sometimes she felt a little bit jealous when she saw him with Emily Prentiss. It was obvious that the two were close, that Emily confided in him. Deep in her heart she knew that they were just friends, but it didn't stop her heart from aching when she heard him call her "'Emily" every once in a while, when she was actually "Prentiss" to everyone else.
In the beginning she thought it was just a simple crush that she had for the older profiler, something that would vanish with time. But it didn't. She even hurled herself into a relationship with Will LaMontagne, the cop from New Orleans, to forget and get over her feelings for David Rossi, but it turned out that she couldn't, even after having baby Henry. The more she got to know Rossi, and the more she was able to look beyond his "I'm-David-Rossi-world-famous-bestselling-author-and-FBI-legend-arrogance-attitude", the deeper grew her feelings for him. She was amazed by how fast he had adapted to being in a team, how much he cared for every single one of them, including her.
A few weeks ago she and Will had ended their relationship, and Rossi, just as every other team member, was there for her. It was the little things that meant so much to her, him bringing her coffee, taking her out for lunch, asking how she felt, how Henry was. Of course, there was nothing that would indicate that he felt more for her than friendship, and JJ knew better than to let any of her feelings for him slip. She'd rather be his co-worker forever than be rejected by him. She knew now that her feelings for Rossi were one of the reasons that she and Will couldn't make it. Will knew it too. No matter how much JJ tried to ignore her attraction to her colleague, no matter how often she tried to make herself believe that Will was the love of her life, there had always been something standing between them. In the end their split was pretty much amicable. Will went back to Louisiana, leaving her and her six-month-old son alone.
JJ startled from her current position as her cell phone rang again. It was Hotch.
"Please let him have some good news," she pleaded silently before taking the call.
"Hello, Hotch, please tell me something good."
"JJ, we don't know much, yet. But according to an injured guard that they released, the two shot men were other jailers. That's pretty much all I can tell you right now, we still don't know what exactly is going on in there right now. The guard couldn't tell us anything about Rossi other than that he is still in there." JJ let out a breath of relief. At least now she knew that there was hope.
"The police don't want us to take over the negotiation, so all we can do at the moment is wait." Hotch continued.
"Thanks, Hotch."
"No problem, I'll call you again as soon as we have news."
Once her boss had hung up again, JJ went out into the bullpen to make herself some strong coffee. She had a feeling that it was going to be a long night.
Outside her office she met Morgan and Reid, who came back from their lecture. She quickly informed them about what had happened, and realized while speaking that Garcia also didn't have a clue about the recent events. Morgan and Reid didn't hesitate and went out to support Hotch and Prentiss.
After filling them in she took her coffee, poured another one for Garcia and went on to see her. She knocked lightly on her office door and entered, when she heard Garcia's cheery voice calling her in.
"Hey, Jayje. Do we have... What happened? Have you been crying?" Garcia grabbed JJ's shoulders and pushed her down into the chair next to hers.
Clearing her throat, JJ told her haltingly about the situation.
"There, well, there has been a, a hostage situation in the prison Rossi went to this morning for this custodial interview. It's all over the news. Hotch and Prentiss are down there supporting the local police and Morgan and Reid are on their way, too."
"Oh my God," Garcia gasped. "What about Rossi? Is he okay?"
JJ shrugged, looking down on the floor, before she answered. "They don't know yet. At first there had been rumors that he was shot, but the victims obviously turned out to be two prison guards. That's all I know. Hotch will call us as soon as there are any news."
Garcia reached over to turn on the local news channel, but JJ stopped her.
"Please don't turn that on. I can't watch those pictures knowing that Dave is in there," she cried out. As soon as the words were out, she realized what she had actually implied with them. She never called Rossi by his first name, well, she does in her mind, but never when she talks about him. He was always Rossi, to everyone on the team, except Hotch. She had never let anything slip before that would indicate she had deeper feelings for Rossi. Not even to Garcia, the woman she considered to be her best friend. Of course Garcia jumped right onto it.
"Is there anything you would like to tell me about you and Mr. Legendary Profiler?"
JJ tried to play it down, knowing that Garcia wouldn't stop questioning until she gave her a satisfying answer.
"Why would you ask that? I'm concerned, that's all. There's nothing going on between him and me."
"Uhu, right. And I'm Mother Teresa. Try again."
"Really, Penelope, it's nothing."
"Newsflash, JJ, coming into my office, tear-stained, and calling him by his first name is never nothing."
JJ sighed deeply, faltering, before she admitted: "Well, I might feel a little bit more for him than just friendship, but he doesn't know. And I'd prefer if it stays that way."
"Oh Jayje. For how long have you had those feelings?"
"Honestly? Ever since we met in Hotch's office. Maybe even before, considering that he was one of the reasons I joined the Bureau in the first place."
Garcia laid an arm around JJ's shoulder and rubbed her back soothingly.
"I'm guessing Rossi was the reason you and Will broke up?"
"Yes, no, I don't know. He was surely one of the reasons, but there was more, I guess. I don't know." They started talking about Will and Rossi, and JJ told her everything she had come to realize earlier in her office.
Before they knew it, a couple of hours had passed.
It was almost half past six when Hotch called again with an update.
"JJ, there are two leaders of the revolt. They have eight guards, two social workers and Rossi as hostages, and they released two more wounded guards and three visitors earlier. We still don't know much about Dave's condition. One of the guards said that he was knocked down on the head and has a laceration, but that's all we know." JJ grabbed Garcia's hand and squeezed it as tears began to form in her eyes again.
"Maybe you and Garcia should go home and get some rest. This could take all night, and we are still not sure about their specific demands. I promise, I'll call you with updates as soon as things are moving."
"But, Hotch,..."
"Do I need to make it an order, JJ?"
"No, it's alright."
"I'll call you."
As soon as Hotch had disconnected the call, Garcia stood up.
"Let's go, JJ. You can stay with we, if you want to, or I could come over to your place," she offered her friend.
"Thanks, Pen. But I guess, I'd rather be alone right now. And besides, don't you have some families to council tonight?"
"Yes, but I could cancel it. I'm sure they'd understand."
"You don't have to. I really have to catch up some of the work that's been laying on my desk all day."
"JJ, you heard Hotch, go home."
They walked towards the elevators together and stopped there.
"I will. I'll just grab some of the files and then I'm out, too."
"I'll wait for you."
"It's not necessary, Pen. You'll be late." Seeing the doubting look on her friend's face, she added: "I'll go home, I promise."
"Okay, Jayje, if you're sure." Garcia hugged her friend and then got into the elevator.
"At least try to get some sleep, will you? You look horrible," she told JJ before the doors closed.
"I will. I'll call you when I hear something."
