Chapter Two

Family Matters

JJ's knuckles had long ago turned white due to the death grip she had on her steering wheel. She was driving rather recklessly to the DC's nation airport, where she was going to meet up with her brother and fly out to Pennsylvania. JJ had thrown rational thinking out the window the moment she decided to go with her brother back home. Of course, she was using the term home loosely. She hadn't been back to East Allegheny since she was seventeen and a senior in high school. After she graduated she packed her bags and never looked back. She had kept in touch with her brothers for a while, but even though they talked on the phone, it was clear just how different JJ was than two of her three older brothers. Adam, who was older than JJ by four years, stopped talking to JJ shortly after he became a leader at the local church. In fact, besides the surprise visit to her office, the last thing Adam had said to JJ was that he would find a way to 'rid the devil's soul from her body'. Adam had always believed every lie their father had put into his head, he had taken every single one to heart and he was probably their father's pride and joy. Chris, on the other hand, being ten years older than JJ knew a little better than Adam. Chris, while he didn't believe in everything that his family did, was still an active member of the community's church. He knew that some of the things his father claimed were far from the truth, but he was too afraid to leave the community. Then there was Jackson, who was by far JJ's favorite brother. He was the only brother that JJ was still in contact with. Jackson was the only other person who seemed to get it. He knew that what their family and most of their community believed was a load of bull shit. Jackson, who was older than JJ by only a year, was the only person besides JJ herself to pack up and leave East Allegheny. He was where JJ got her courage to leave. Without Jackson's support and example, JJ was sure she'd still be living in East Allegheny as an active member of the church. It took guts to do what JJ did. To pack up and leave everything that you had ever known and everything that you had believed, but JJ did it. JJ did it and it was probably the best decision she had ever made. Finally being free from her family, JJ was able to think for herself for once. She figured out what her morals were and what she believed. That changed everything. She could no longer even be in the same room as her parents when they were 'preaching'. Her parents tried to stop her from separating herself from the family, but it was of no use. JJ had set her mind on getting out of the Jareau family, and she did. The only person who she still kept in contact with was Jackson, who understood her struggle and supported her through everything.

It is for that reason that JJ could not believe she was going back to East Allegheny. She wondered what Jackson would say if he was there. He'd probably tell her not to go. It was hard enough to escape there the first time, she wasn't sure how'd she do it a second. JJ pulled up into the airport's parking lot. She swiftly got out of her car and swung her go bag over her shoulder. She took a quick glance at her watch, learning it was fifteen minutes to five. She picked up her speed and practically ran through the front doors. She got by security quickly by using her badge, something she really wasn't supposed to do but at this point didn't care, and made her way down to terminal 32B, where her brother had said to meet. As she neared the terminal, she found her tall brunette brother sitting in one of the uncomfortable chairs. He rose as she approached, slightly out of breath.

"You're late. We almost missed this flight." He reprimanded her and JJ shrunk back due to old habit.

"I'm sorry. I had to take care of some personal business." JJ explained her voice small and her eyes casted towards the floor.

Adam did appear to care. "Whatever. Let's just go." He said and placed his hand on the small of her back to lead her to the boarding area.

As they took their seats JJ couldn't help but cast back to the last time she had been on an airplane with her brother. It had been the summer of fourth grade. JJ's parents couldn't come so it was just the five children flying together. At that point Charlotte had still been alive. Back then, everything was good. JJ was a happy child who loved her family so much and could never imagine them doing another wrong. JJ and Adam had been best friends, despite the four year gap in age. Adam had always looked out for JJ. But that was a long time ago. Adam was a different person then. So was JJ. They were all close actually. Chris, Charlotte, Adam Jackson, and Jennifer. When Chris left for college when JJ was eight it was hard. JJ had never not had all of her siblings around. But Chris lived so close that he was there almost every weekend. It wasn't until Charlotte's suicide that JJ truly experienced what it was like to not have a sibling there. She saw things that she didn't see before. She noticed things that she supposed Charlotte had too and that had been the reason for her suicide.

JJ settled in for the flight, closing her eyes briefly, taking a moment to calm her nerves. She opened her eyes and turned to Adam. "Is Jackson going to be there?" She asked nervously and Adam looked over at her coldly.

"Chris was sent to get him; I assume you remember how Chris is. However, I think that once he finds out you're going he'll come just to make sure you're alright." He informed her before turning his attention back to the window. JJ took comfort in this small fact. She'd at least have her someone she could lean on, someone who understood.

AN: I was going to add more on, but I figured I might as well post this then just make a new chapter. I'm sorry these chapters are taking so long to finish! I'm just really busy. Anyway, a little background for this story . . . It is set somewhere in season five, but Will and Henry do not exist (sorry Will and Henry fans.) JJ is also about twenty seven in this. I know that's young, but it works out with my plot line, so please just role with it. Thank you so much for all the awesome reviews! They really helped motivate me in writing this! So please, continue to be awesome and review!