"There was a shooting in a park in DC about an hour ago," Hotch told them as the BAU members assembled at their conference room round table. Rossi and Morgan exchanged a look. Garcia, Jareau and Lewis took their seats; Reid's remained unoccupied.
"Where's Spence?" JJ asked, taking her cellphone out of her pocket.
Hotch put his hand out and touched hers, indicating that she not use it.
"Obviously, you haven't been contacted. I'm sorry, JJ. First, the boys are okay, they're down at the precinct and I'm gonna send you there to get them in just a minute—"
A gasp elicited from Agent Jareau's mouth and she moved to stand abruptly. "Oh my God, my boys!"
"Again, they're okay, Will is there." Hotch assured her, patting her shoulder and holding her in place in her seat. Another realisation occurred to her.
"Spence!"
"That's why we are getting involved. According to the preliminary report I have here," he waved a paper file around, "Reid was the only one shot. He ensured everyone else hit the ground and shielded baby Michael with his own body, JJ. He's still in surgery at the moment, and right now, that's all the information I have on Reid. I've already muzzled the press about this, the witnesses are gathered at the police station to give their statements and will be briefed to keep it quiet as well."
The unit members reacted angrily. JJ gathered her things together, "I have to get to my boys." Hotch nodded sympathetically.
"Of course you do," he agreed. "I'll keep you updated." As she rose to leave, her cellphone went off.
"Will!" she listened for a moment and replied, "I'm on my way." She clicked the phone shut and turned to Hotch, "Please let me know when you hear anything about Spence."
Garcia watched as JJ left the room and tapped a few keys on her laptop.
"Who shoots up a park with kids playing?" Morgan exclaimed, angrily slamming his fist on the table.
"Was Reid the target?" Rossi wanted to know.
"That's part of what we're going to determine," Hotch began. "Lewis, I want you and Morgan to go to the crime scene. Dave, the police department. Find out what they know. Garcia?"
"Yes, boss?"
"Can you work from the hospital?"
She nodded affirmatively, and immediately rose to pack up what she'd need and head over to the hospital.
"The instant I hear anything about Boy Genius, I will let you know, My Liege."
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JJ burst through the front door of the police station, intent on finding her family members and ran headlong into the very man she'd come looking for.
"Will!" she wrapped her arms around her husband and took comfort in his powerful hug. They spoke in low undertones for a moment before Will disengaged the hug and led her to the office where her two sons awaited her. He opened the door very quietly so as not to disturb the proceedings therein.
Henry sat with his back to the door, playing a board game with three young girls. Two women sat in chairs nearby, speaking with what JJ understood were investigating officers. Michael was asleep, rocking gently in the arms of the older of the two women.
"My wife, Jennifer-JJ," Will introduced, "And this is Linda O'Connor, her daughters Vikki and Nikki. And Melissa Martin, and her daughter Anna. Melissa's the one who gave initial first aid to Spencer."
"MOMMY!" Henry realised JJ had arrived and rushed into his waiting mother's arms, interrupting her returning handshakes and greetings with the other women.
"Henry," she said gently, gathering him up in a big hug. The two squeezed each other for a long time, JJ repeatedly whispered "I love you so much" before Henry finally disentangled from her arms to ask,
"How's Uncle Spence?"
"Oh, honey, I just don't know yet. Go play, I'll let you know as soon as we hear, I promise."
She and Will rejoined the adults; JJ took Michael from Linda and snuggled her baby close. They all listened as Linda related what she remembered, which wasn't much at all, mostly just about how Dr. Reid had warned everyone and how Melissa had taken charge of first aid for him after the shots had been fired. A few minutes later, Linda and her daughters were dismissed and allowed to leave.
A policewoman entered the room with a tray of cold drinks for the children and coffee for the adults. Melissa had already given her statement and was just collecting herself.
"So you are JJ?" Melissa asked, struggling to hold back tears.
"Yes, I am. Oh dear," she answered, growing concerned over the younger woman's burgeoning distress. "You've been through a lot today." She gave Melissa a comforting pat on the arm.
"He said you were going to kill him," Melissa began.
"Never!" JJ replied. "Why'd he say that?"
A small smile formed on Melissa's face as she recalled the conversation. "He was giving the kids cookies, he thought you'd never let him take them out again."
"Oh that's too funny. Henry would never allow that. He loves his Uncle Spence. But you're right. I am gonna hafta take those cookies out of the diaper bag next time the boys are going out with Uncle Spence."
Melissa started to cry. She wiped at her eyes quickly, not wanting to upset Anna who, fortunately, was still engrossed in her game with Henry.
"I'm sorry. I'm just invested now, you know. I want to go back to the hospital and see how he's doing," Melissa sniffled.
JJ nodded sympathetically. "He's gonna be okay." She said, willing it to be true.
She brought Michael's face up to her own and gave the sleeping baby a kiss on the forehead. Her brow furrowed as she thought, and she turned to Will, handing him their younger son.
"Will. Can you take the boys home for me? I—I really need to get to the hospital and see how Spence is."
He took the baby from her and nodded understandingly. Spencer Reid was his wife's best friend in the world and he knew how important it was for her to be there for him. Now that she knew her sons were safe, Reid would be her priority.
"Melissa?" JJ prompted gently. Melissa lifted her eyes to meet JJ's.
"Do you think Anna would be willing to go home with Will and Henry and Michael? They could have a camp out in the living room. Will's really good with kids too," JJ offered. "I'm going to go to the hospital, I thought maybe you'd like to come with me."