A/N: At first I didn't want to continue this story, but I kept coming back to it. Plus, I got a lot of reviews and I don't want to let you guys down. So, here I am with a brand new chapter. I am going to throw the entire timeline of the show around, so I will explain what my timeline is going to be like.
The story is at the beginning of season six. JJ is still media liaison. Beth and Hotch met a little before JJ and Hotch spent their night together and they started dating a little after that night. I would say Beth and Hotch have been together for a little over a month. I just moved some aspects from season seven earlier into my story. If you have any questions, you can always ask me!
Special thanks samcarter1980, sanjuanitag5, jenny crum, 1701bg, ejn10175, Jotchprossi18, bostglj and jekkah!
Thanks for reading.
Please review!
I don't own criminal minds.
Chapter 2: Endings
''I have given it thought.'' JJ's eyes drifted from Strauss towards Hotch. His expression was filled with sadness. She felt a pang of guilt, knowing she was the main cause for his pain. They had barely talked after the wedding and she felt responsible for his pain. It was already hard enough to not be with him, but losing her job at the BAU couldn't be happening. She couldn't think about not seeing him every day. So, there was only one thing she could say to Strauss. ''I am not interested.''
''Clearly! You turned down the job twice without consulting your Unit Chief.'' Strauss said angrily as she stared at JJ intensely.
Hotch saw JJ begging for his help. It was all in her eyes. ''Agent Jareau is under no obligation to discuss it with me.'' he said defensively.
Strauss turned her attention to Hotch. ''If the Pentagon calls one of your team members you should know about it.'' She once again looked at JJ. ''Why didn't you tell agent Hotchner that you turned down the position?''
''I never wanted it to get this far because…''
Strauss interrupted her before she could finish her sentence. ''….because you know it's a better job.''
''Because I don't want to leave this one.''
''You have been here for six years.''
''Nearly seven, Ma'am.'' JJ said to correct Strauss' mistake.
''Change is good. And from what I understand there's less travel with this position. You could stay home with your husband and son.''
''Excuse me!'' JJ said, forcing to keep herself in control. Strauss had no right to talk about her family like that, especially not in front of Hotch. She wanted her personal live to stay private.
''I understand the sacrifices.'' Strauss said.
JJ shook her head. ''I do what I love. It's made me a better person, a better mother,'' she stopped before she was going to say something impulsive. She needed to tell the truth, even if it meant that Hotch heard it. ''any sacrifices I have made have been for my family. I don't have a single regret.''
Hotch felt his heart break a little at JJ's admission. She didn't have any regrets. She didn't regret marrying Will and to him it meant that she never felt much for him. He was going to keep her at the BAU no matter what she was going to say. ''We're all in agreement that agent Jareau is a valuable part of this team. Ma'am, it's understandable why the executive branch is requesting a transfer. However, if agent Jareau respectfully declines the request there's no way you can make her go.'' he said as he looked at JJ intently.
''No, I can't.'' Strauss said disappointed while turning to Hotch. ''Have you looked at the video of the missing girl?''
''Everyone is watching it now.''
Strauss rose from her chair. ''You're expected in Maryland within the hour.'' Strauss left the room, leaving Hotch and JJ behind.
JJ was about to leave the room when Hotch stopped her. ''JJ?''
She turned around at the mentioning of her name. It was like he poured all of his feelings into it. Their eyes met and locked. A silence fell between them as they just kept staring at one another.
Hotch was confronted with all the reasons why he fell in love with JJ. She was beautiful. But his love for her had less to do with the way she looked than they way she was. It were all the little things about her. The way she would put a strand of hair behind her ear or the way her mouth pouted when she didn't understand something. He realized she must have noticed his expression when she adverted her eyes to the ground.
''Pentagon?'' he finally asked.
She looked up again. ''Sorry, I didn't tell you!'' she apologized.
''It's okay. It..it's just a big deal. Liaison for the Department of Defense, it's a major promotion.'' He took a few steps towards her. ''Are you sure you don't want this?''
Her eyes widened when he asked her the question. ''Hotch! I belong here!'' she said simply before leaving his office.
She sighed deeply when the door to his office closed. She leaned back against the door and she closed her eyes. The pressure was getting to her. It was slowly breaking her down. All the pieces in her life were falling apart. Her friendship with Hotch was over. He made it clear when he kept ignoring her during cases or whenever she tried to talk to him. And now…now…she could lose her job. She had only been married to Will for three and he had been complaining about her job non-stop.
''JJ!'' Will called out.
Her eyes flashed open and she saw her husband standing in the middle of the large bullpen. ''Will, what…what are you doing here?''
He turned towards her. ''We need to talk.''
''Sure. Let's go into my office.'' JJ said as she descended the small flight of stairs. She walked towards him and gave him a paste kiss on the lips. Will's hand found hers and he led her towards her office. JJ felt slightly uncomfortable as she walked hand in hand through the building with Will. She wasn't supposed to feel like that. She knew it, but she couldn't help it.
Will sat down in a chair across her desk. ''The Pentagon called again.''
''Will!'' she warned.
He wasn't intimidated by her voice, so he went on, knowing how sensitive the subject was to JJ. ''The man on the phone said that you turned down the job. Why would you do that?'' he asked angrily.
Her face was becoming grim. She told him to stay out of it, but he kept interfering with her job whenever he got the chance to do it. ''Because I want to stay here.'' she said, sighing deeply. ''This is my home. My family is here, Will. I thought you understood that.''
''I do. But Henry and I should come first.''
At his comment, JJ made effort to hide her anger. ''That is not fair, Will. You know you and Henry come first in my life. You always have and always will.''
Will huffed. ''It doesn't look like it. You are gone most of the week and Henry asks about you every time. You need to be around more often. It is your duty as wife and mother.''
''Don't give me that! You know why I do this job. It is who I am.'' she explained. ''What do you want me to do?''
''Take the job, JJ!''
''Or what?'' she said, rising from her chair. ''You don't get to dictate my life, Will.''
''You're right, but we're married now. Our lives have changed and you have other priorities.''
''That's not true. You know how much I love Henry and you. You are my family. You guys have always been my first priority.''
''I have a hard time believing that. I honestly don't know what your priorities are anymore, JJ. You've been acting strange in past couple of months.'' he stated. ''All I am asking of you is to rethink the job offer. It will give you more time with us and it is time we need.''
''I don't know…'' JJ said, but she stopped when the door to her office opened.
''Oh, I am sorry,'' Hotch apologized when he saw Will. ''Hello!'' he greeted awkwardly.
JJ was walking towards the door to leave the office. The situation was becoming too much for her to handle and she needed to escape it. She walked out the door while Will ran after her.
Will caught up with her in the bullpen. ''JJ!''
JJ spun around. ''What?''
''I am sorry about what just happened.'' he apologized. ''I just want us to go back to normal.''
''You should be sorry.'' She said loudly, cutting him off before he could say anything else. ''This is my family too, Will. These are my friends.''
''I know they're your friends. It's the only thing I've heard about in years. Every free minute we have is spent with them.'' Will snapped.
''What's that supposed to mean?''
''I just told you. Is it too much if I want to spent more time with my own wife? Do you ever think about that?''
''You want to be alone with me?'' she demanded. ''Well, you never act like it. Every time we're alone you dig up something to fight about. We were alone this morning. We were just alone in my office. But all you want to do is fight!''
''No, I don't want that!'' he said. ''I just want things to be like they were.''
''What about how they were? Everything is the same, Will. Nothing has changed.'' she protested. She wanted the fights to stop. She hated her situation. She choose to marry Will, but all she got in exchange was anger from him.
''Yes, it has. You've changed.'' he disagreed.
JJ knew he was right. Yes, she changed. She fell for someone else. It was never supposed to happen, but it did. ''No, I didn't.''
''We had so much more time to talk to each other.''
''And that's the problem? That I have a life outside of our family? What do you want me to do?'' she asked. ''Am I supposed to sit at home all day?''
''No!''
''Then what do you want?''
''I want you to take the job at the Pentagon!''
JJ could no long hold her anger anymore. It was spilling from her mouth before she could stop herself. ''Is that all? Do you want to humiliate me in front of my friends and co-workers as well?''
''I didn't do that!'' he encountered.
''Are you kidding me?'' she said, looking around. ''No? What is happening right now?''
''I just want you to be home more often. That is all I'm asking from you.''
''Yeah. But what you don't seem to understand is that you're asking me to give up an important part of my life!'' she said.
''You have more important things in your life!''
''I'm not in the mood for this, Will!'' she said, turning around. She froze when she saw that Hotch had been standing behind her. She noticed the compassion in his eyes and she felt like running miles away. Everyone in the bullpen got to see her and Will fight and the shame reached her face.
''Where are you going, JJ?'' Will asked as JJ was walking away.
She turned around with a raged expression. ''To Maryland. We have a case.''
She walked into her office. She stared out her office window, not angered by what just transpired, just saddened. She knew she had lost him. By him, she meant Hotch. It struck her that she never actually lost him because he was never with her in the first place. They had agreed that their night together would be forgotten. But how could she do that? How could she forget that night? How could she possibly forget him? She grabbed her go-bag, knowing there was no simple answer to that question. She was about to turn around when the sound of the door opening made her freeze. She knew the presence wasn't Will. She could feel the immediate calmness flow over her and she knew it could only be one person.
She didn't turn around. She could feel that his eyes were burning a hole in her back. ''Hotch?'' she asked in a whisper.
''It's me.'' he said softly. ''Are you okay?''
''I'm fine, thanks!'' she said, wiping away a tear. She finally turned around to face him and the worry was radiating from his brown eyes. ''I'm fine. I'm fine!'' she said, to convince herself as well, but she wasn't fine. She was far from it, but she knew she shouldn't break down in front of him. He would do anything to comfort her. She could already imagine his strong arms wrapped around her body. The comfort the illusion gave her, calmed her down a bit.
Hotch shook his head slightly to show his anger about the situation. ''Will shouldn't treat you like that, JJ. He isn't supposed to talk to you like that.''
''He did nothing wrong, Hotch.'' she said, her tone soft. ''He is right. I'm never home. I have a duty as a mother to be there for my own son. This job is who I am. But am I supposed to keep doing this job when it's eating away at me?''
''You're a FBI agent. A damn good one. Henry loves you, JJ. He'll understand why you do this job.''
''Sure, but I'm a mom first. Plus, I'm married now. I have more responsibilities.''
''Are you saying that you're thinking about leaving the BAU?''
''I'm saying that I might take the Pentagon's offer if they still want me.'' she said.
He ran a hand through his dark hair before looking at her. ''You just told me that you belong here. What changed?''
''My life for starters.'' she explain while Hotch tilted his head in disagreement. ''Things are different now, Hotch. I can't be everywhere at any time. It doesn't work that way.''
''Don't you think I know that?''
''I don't know what you think.'' she said defensively. ''One moment we're sleeping together and two weeks later you start to date Beth. And two months later you're asking me to give you a reason to not marry Will. I don't know what you want from me?''
''I wanted you to acknowledge that you at least felt something!''
''Like you did?'' she asked with astonishment. ''I never heard a word from you. What was I supposed to say? What do you want me to say now?''
''Don't bother. I'm done.'' he said, turning around to walk to the door. ''We're leaving in ten minutes.'' he ordered sternly.
On the plane, JJ leaned back in her seat. Her thoughts were driving her crazy. At first her phone had been buzzing non-stop. She knew it was Will but she didn't feel like talking to him. She needed to focus on the case. A nineteen year old girl was missing and they needed to find her no matter what. She ended up thinking about her life as she was staring off into the distance. Her life had changed fast. Nothing was the same. Her simple perfect life was replaced for a life filled with heartache. She knew a part of it was to blame on herself. She wanted Hotch to tell her to not marry Will. She knew she wouldn't have married Will if he had said something. His feeling and opinion always mattered to her. Well, they used to matter to her. In the past three weeks he had ignored her every chance he got. He undermined every decision she made and she was wondering if he was person she thought he was. Her eyes wandered around the plane. Everyone was doing something else. Emily and Reid were playing poker while Morgan sat next to Reid, listening to his music. She saw Hotch and Rossi on the other end of the plane. Hotch had his back towards her. She gazed at Rossi a couple of times but it looked like he was having an important conversation with Hotch. The moods were always different on the plane. She closed her eyes to concentrate on the case. She needed to stay focused no matter what.
Rossi looked at his friend with worry. There was something going on with Hotch. He could see it about his demeanor. ''What are you thinking about?''
''JJ,'' he replied, sighing deeply before continuing. ''The Pentagon offered her a job. She turned it down twice, but they keep asking her take the position. She told me she might take it before we left.''
''Because of Will?''
''I think so.''
''We can't lose her, Aaron. She means too much to all of us.''
''I know, but I can't stop her from taking the job. She didn't want it at first, but Will somehow convinced her that a job at the Pentagon would be better for her.''
''I'll talk to her. I'm pretty charming. I can convince any lady to do what I want them to do.'' Rossi joked.
Hotch almost choked on his water because he couldn't help but laugh. ''I guess your failed marriages are the right proof of that, huh?''
''That doesn't count.''
''Sure it does.''
They landed under a cloudy sky. They SUV's were waiting for them on the airstrip. The team quickly made their way towards the cars.
Rossi saw JJ walking towards another SUV. He wanted to talk to her about the job offer and he knew they needed some privacy for it. ''JJ, do you mind if we ride together?'' he asked.
JJ turned around. ''No, I don't mind.''
She climbed in the car as Rossi went behind the wheel. She knew something was going on. Rossi usually drove with Hotch. It was pretty rare for him to want to drive alone with her.
''You know about the Pentagon, don't you?'' she asked after figuring it out.
''Hotch informed me on the plane.'' he answered. ''Do you want to leave the BAU? Is that what you really want?''
''Of course he did.'' she folded her hands in her lap, facing the window. Outside the sky was still cloudy and it gave her the chills. ''I don't really have a choice, Rossi.''
''Because of Will?''
''Yes. I'm married now. I have other things to think about.''
''The JJ I know wouldn't let any man decide over her life. You should make this choice all on your own. I understand that you have a family, but you need to do what makes you happy. Think about yourself for one second.'' he said while turning left. ''You're to selfless, JJ. It's okay if you think about yourself every once in a while.''
''I just need to think about it, Rossi. It's not that easy. I don't want to lose Will.''
Rossi wanted to say exactly what he thought about Will, but he didn't. He thought Will was to demanding of JJ. He always managed to make her feel like she was worthless. ''You're better off without him if he leaves you because you want to stay with us. You deserve better, JJ. You're a federal agent.''
''Yeah, but I'm also a mom.''
''Just think about it. Be honest!'' he said, pulling up in front of the station.
Four hours passed by since the team arrived at the station. JJ had been staying with the parents of the missing girl while the team was handling the interrogations with the suspects. JJ looked out the office window and she saw that the entire team was joined together. She quickly left the office to rejoin the team. She took a spot next to Emily and she looked around the group, knowing they didn't have any new leads in the case. She could see it on their defeated faces.
JJ turned her gaze towards Hotch. ''Can I talk to you in private?'' she asked politely.
He looked surprised and he nodded before saying anything. ''Sure.''
JJ followed Hotch into an empty interrogation room and he held the door open for her. She took a seat at the table. She had already noticed the curiosity on his face.
Her legs were moving nervously as he was walking around the room, waiting for her to say something.
He stood still. ''What is it, JJ?''
She met his gaze and she looked at him. ''I have decided to stay. I'm not going to take the job offer.''
A smile appeared on his face. He couldn't even begin to explain how happy he was to hear her say that. ''That's great. But the Pentagon has been in contact with higher-ups in the Bureau. There's a chance that I might not be able to prevent a transfer from happening, but I will do anything to keep you with us, JJ.''
''I know. Thank you, Hotch.'' she said confidently, rising from the chair. In the previous hours she thought about working with another team and she couldn't even imagine it. The BAU was like her second home and she wasn't willing to give it up without a fight. Will was going to have to deal with her decision. It was her life and she took charge of it.
''You don't need to thank me.'' he said affectionately. His heart pounded in his chest when his arm grazed hers. ''I would do anything for you.''
''I…I…I have to get back to the family.'' she said and she left the room before he could say anything to her. He knew she felt the tension. It was a physical one and an emotional one as well. The tension could be cut with a knife and he wondered if that was ever going to change.
Hotch made his way back to the team. Only Emily and Derek were left standing in the small bullpen. His eyes fell on JJ as she made her way back to the parents of the missing girl.
Derek saw Hotch staring at JJ. He heard about the job offer she had gotten and he thought it had everything to do with that. ''Hotch, we can't lose her!'' he stated simply.
''Strauss think we're all replaceable. I went over head to try and explain that we're not.'' Hotch explained.
''I hope she listens for once.'' Emily added.
''Yeah, me too.'' Hotch whispered softly. He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and the caller ID made his heart beat faster. ''Sorry, I have to take this.'' he said, leaving the bullpen and walking into a hallway.
''I told you agent Jareau's transfer is an executive decision.'' Strauss said intently.
''Ma'am, I'm asking you to not take it out on agent Jareau because I went over your head.''
''I know this is emotional for you…''
''It's not emotional.'' he lied, knowing it was. ''It's a bad decision. She's a vital member of our team.''
''I'm afraid it's a done deal.''
''Well, that's unacceptable.''
''What do you want me to do, Aaron? Lose my job so she can keep hers?''
''Than I have no say in this.''
''You don't get it. They're not asking you. They want her back in DC now.'' Strauss said at last and she hang up the phone afterwards.
The fear suddenly hit him. The realization that he might not see her every day was scaring him. He wasn't supposed to lose her like that. He wasn't supposed to feel that way about her. He was with Beth and he was happy around her, but JJ was so different. Her understanding and fierceness on the job left him in amazement. The depths of her heart were unstoppable. It was everything about her. Her little habits made him smile on his darkest days. His face lit up whenever he saw her. He had no idea how he hid his feelings for so long, but they were out now. They were inside of him. In every part of him. She already claimed a special place in his heart. But he couldn't believe that everything was turning out this way. It wasn't supposed to happen like that. JJ wasn't supposed to marry Will. She was supposed to be with him. They were supposed to have a lifetime of memories together. But his dreams were shattered. The love he wanted was completely shattered with no hope of ever repairing it.
The team was back at the BAU early in the evening. They found Kate Joyce alive. They were able to give one family a happy ending. For JJ it was enough. She had been fighting for this case and she believed in Kate when she was missing and she was right in the end. She was alive. She was going to be okay eventually.
JJ turned off the screen in the conference room. She saw Hotch's reflection immediately. She didn't take trouble to turn around to face him, knowing what he was going to tell her. ''When do I leave?'' she asked.
''The end of the week.'' Hotch replied.
JJ turned around to look at him in astonishment. ''What?'' she asked.
''They wanted you to start tomorrow.'' he said with all the disappointment he could possibly pour into one sentence.
''No. I…I…I can't. I need to train someone.''
''I 'm not replacing you.''
''No Hotch! You can't take this on yourself. Your hands are full!'' she said, shaking her head as Hotch walked closer towards her.
He stopped a few feet away from her. ''We'll figure it out. I am hoping I can get you back.''
JJ exhaled deeply. She saw the pain and regret in his eyes. She knew he did everything he possibly could to keep her at the BAU. Every bone in her body was telling her to yell and scream out in frustration but as always she was able to keep herself in control in front of someone else. She knew Hotch wasn't just anybody. He meant the world to her.
Hotch broke the gaze and he looked down. ''Strauss wanted you to fill this out.'' he said while he handed the paper to JJ.
''Exit interview?'' she said, looking down at the document in her hands. ''Are you kidding me?''
''She's big on procedure. Just be honest.'' he paused. ''I was hoping I could do something about this. And I'm sorry I couldn't.''
She could see every ounce of sincerity in his eyes. ''I know.'' she said, looking into the bullpen. ''How am I supposed to tell that I am leaving when I don't want to go?''
''The brass is really, really good at taking power away. Makes them feel like they're in charge.''
''That sounds like a profile.''
''You're going to be much better off than any of us, you know that.''
JJ nodded in disagreement.
The tears were stinging in his eyes. ''I'll miss you.'' he said, shaking her hand. Her hand was warm and extremely soft. The warmth made his heart pound. He was suddenly conscious of how long it had been since he touched her. The feeling was overwhelming and he pulled away when he felt himself respond. He turned around and walked back towards his office. He slammed the door shut once he was in his office.
JJ was still standing in utter silence. She didn't want to leave. There was just no other option. Her life at the BAU was coming to an end. She couldn't even think about not seeing the team every single day. She was going to miss them, but there was one particular person she was going to miss the most. Maybe it was for the best. Maybe she could get over her feelings for Hotch when she didn't see him anymore.
She sat down in a chair at the round table to fill out the exit interview, knowing what was coming next. She had to explain why she was leaving. She knew the team wasn't going t be happy. She also knew Will was going to be the only happy one. He probably wanted to go out for dinner to celebrate her transfer. JJ wrote nothing but the truth in her exit interview, knowing Hotch was probably going to read it. She wanted to give him something. Her goodbye to him wasn't the way she wanted it to be, but she couldn't expect more from him.
I'm thankful for my years spent with this family, for everything we shared, every chance we had to grow. I'll take the best of them with me and lead by their example wherever I go. A friend told me to be honest with you, so here it goes. This isn't what I want, but I'll take the high road. Maybe it's because I look at everything as a lesson, or because I don't want to walk around angry, or maybe it's because I finally understand. There are things we don't want to happen but have to accept, things we don't want to know but have to learn, and people we can't live without but have to let go.
JJ sighed contently when she was done. She rose from the chair and she made her way out of the conference room. She saw the team hanging around the desks. They all turned to her when she was only a few feet away. Their faces were filled with disappointment and sadness. JJ didn't know if she was going to live through it without any kind of tears.
They talked. It was emotional, but she able to say goodbye without crying. She left to go see Garcia after she had given everyone a final hug. Her heart was breaking. The only family she had left was the one she had to leave. It didn't seem fair.
She finally spilled tears while she was talking to Garcia. She couldn't keep them away. It was too much at once. Leaving behind a family and someone she loved more than anything. She just couldn't admit it to him. She pulled out of the hug with Garcia. She left her office with the exit interview in her hands.
She walked through the endless hallways. She was silently saying goodbye to all the memories the building held. She had experienced sadness and happiness. It was a chapter of her life that she was never going to forget. She wouldn't even want to try that. It wasn't an option.
She entered the parking garage after dropping off her exit interview in Strauss' office. She put her briefcase and purse in the backseat of her car. She shut the door with all the anger she was feeling. She quickly climbed in. She tried to start the car but it wasn't starting. She put the keys in the ignition once more, but car was still not starting. She couldn't take any more setbacks. She wanted to go home and sleep for hours. The exhaustion had completely taken over her body. So, she slowly stepped from the car to check what could possibly be wrong.
''Come on. Please. Damn it!'' she yelled out.
Hotch heard the familiar voice yelling. He walked around his car towards JJ. Her frustration was apparent in her body language.
JJ didn't see Hotch standing behind her. She jumped slightly when she heard his voice. ''Everything okay?'' he asked.
''No. Nothing is okay.'' she replied angrily.
Hotch wanted to walk closer, but he stopped when JJ held her hand up. ''What are you looking at?'' she said, opening the door to the car. She stepped back into the car to try and start it again but it didn't work.
Hotch stayed silent because he didn't want to make her angrier. He watched as she grabbed her things from the car. She was walking back towards the elevators when he finally stopped her. ''Where are you going?''
''Upstairs!''
''I'll give you a ride home.''
''I can get home by myself.''
''JJ, why are you putting your anger out on me?'' he asked curiously. ''Why are you mad?''
''Why am I mad?'' she said hoarsely. ''I just found out that I have to transfer. I have to leave behind the people that are my family. I have to leave the job I love and the people I love! You just don't seem to care!'' she accused.
''Who says I don't care?''
''Maybe you should look in the mirror. I think you might figure it out then.''
''Are you asking me to tell you how I feel?''
''Yes! Just like I did at my wedding.'' she said as an example. ''All I wanted was to know what you felt, Hotch. I needed some kind of reassurance before I was going to leave Will at the altar. But you didn't even try.''
''I did try, but I couldn't. I can't.'' he said, taking a break. ''Just accept a drive home!''
''Fine!'' she said and she was already on her way to his car.
The drive was filled with silence and an unspoken tension. JJ had her head against the window as she closed her eyes. She started to think about all the times she spent with Hotch. She knew the memories were all she was going to have. It was all she had left.
Hotch stopped the car once he pulled up in front of the small suburban home. ''JJ!'' he said to get her attention. ''You're home!'' he said softly.
Their gazes locked and a shiver went through her body. ''Thanks!''
''I'll miss you.'' he said again. ''I mean it!''
''I'll miss you too!'' she nodded, beginning to cry. ''I didn't want to cry but I can't help it.''
''It's okay.''
''I never met anyone like you.'' she confessed.
Hotch's eyes widened. ''Then why are you saying goodbye?''
''Because I have a family. I can't break that, Hotch.'' she cried out. She quickly stepped from the car to get away.
Hotch stepped from the car as well and he caught up with JJ before she was too far away. He pulled her back to the car. He pushed her against the car on the side of the street, so Will had no possibility of seeing anything.
He cupped her face with both of his hands. He wiped away the tears that were falling down her face. His heart was telling him to kiss her like there was no tomorrow but he couldn't do it.
''I understand your reason, JJ. I'll always understand.'' he explained. ''I lost Haley and it tore me apart. I don't ever want you to feel like that. You deserve better.''
''Thank you for showing me what I could have!'' she said, knowing that the kind of love she had with Hotch was the thing you dreamed about.
''Always!''
JJ stepped away from him. She made her way towards the house. She turned around one more time to look at him. She saw him whisper something but she couldn't make it out because of the darkness.
''I love you!'' he whispered as she was walking towards the front door.
JJ quickly walked inside. She put her bags down in the hallway and she made her way into the living room.
Henry was storming towards her. ''Momma! Momma!'' he squealed and he flew into her arms.
JJ held her son tightly to her chest. ''Hi, buddy!'' she said affectionately. She saw Will leaning against a wall and she gave him a smile before putting Henry back down on the ground.
Will walked closer to her and he kissed her passionately but JJ pulled away before he could deepen the kiss. ''How was your day? I didn't expect you to be home so soon.''
''I'm starting at the Pentagon next week. You got your wish, Will!'' she said angrily but she kept her voice down because Henry was around. Henry was suddenly holding her hand. She picked him up again because it was time for him to go to bed. ''I'm putting Henry down and I'll go to sleep afterwards.'' she announced.
''JJ!''
''Don't!'' she warned.
JJ went into the bedroom after she read a story to Henry. She changed into something comfortable and she climbed under the blankets on the bed. She broke down once she laid down in the bed. The anger and sadness were surfacing and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
