Garcia spins around and sees the background run she had done on Amy Jareau had finished loading. She slaps the monitor's power button, refusing to turn back to JJ. She can feel the rage and disappointment radiating off the blond.
"Penelope…" JJ says warningly.
"I…I can't…I just…" Garcia says weakly before trailing off.
"Why the hell are you running my sister's information? Why the fuck would you do that? Are you going to use her in your support group as some sort of…of…sick warning about suicides? TELL ME!" she demands.
JJ is so angry she hadn't heard the door open.
"JAREAU! Calm down," Morgan orders.
She spins. "Don't TELL me to calm down! She's running my sister, Morgan! There's no fucking need for that! She…she fucking-!"
Morgan steps forward and takes her arms. "JJ! Iordered her to look up any information she could find on Amy."
JJ pulls away from him. "What the hell?!"
Morgan wipes a hand down his face. He closes the door. "The case Reid and Rossi left on? A guy walked into a police station in Pittsburgh and confessed to 37 murders. JJ…Jennifer…he claims he killed Amy."
JJ's vision tunnels until she can barely see his face. Blood is rushing through her head so fast she can't hear. She doesn't even register Morgan catching her as her legs give out.
"Garcia, call Emily."
Garcia just nods and spins around to grab her phone. "Em! Come! QUICK!"
Emily doesn't need to be told twice. She hurries as fast as her 25 weeks pregnant body can carry her. She bursts into Garcia's office to see JJ sitting in a chair, her head on her knees as Morgan tells her to just breathe.
"Jennifer? What the fuck?"
JJ slowly sits up, her face red and streaked with tears. "He…he said…he…" she starts to hyperventilate again.
Morgan rubs her head. "Easy, Jayje. I'll explain it."
JJ just nods. Morgan stands up and Emily takes his place, kneeling in front of her wife. Morgan explains what the team had been told that morning. Emily's eyes never stray from her wife, who pales as she hears the story once more. As it ends, JJ slowly looks up at her wife.
"Em…" she says weakly.
Emily pulls her close. "Oh, Jen, baby, I am so sorry. Honey, you know the man could be…be just a sick bastard doing this to fulfill some sick fantasy." JJ just nods. Emily looks up at Morgan. "I'm taking her home. Call us if—"
"NO!" JJ pulls away. "We should…we should go. We need to help them. They don't know her." She stands. "They won't know what to look for! They won't—"
"Jayje! Stop!" Morgan grabs her. "JJ, I am having them look at the other 36 cases first. Some of those have people convicted already. Some of the missing haven't been found dead or alive. And there was another suicide on the list. Garcia is pulling everything she can find on the allegedvictims. Rossi and Reid will interview him. And you know Reid is not going to let this guy hurt you or your family. Trust them, Jennifer. Trust them."
JJ stares into Morgan's eyes, her hand playing with her necklace. "I…I do. We can't tell my parents. We can't…I can't do this to them. I can't give them hope that she…she didn't…I just can't."
Morgan nods. "I know. Jayje, go home. Hug Henry. Talk to Rocky. Hold Emily."
JJ tries to argue but doesn't know how. She knew she'd get no more work done that day. She knew all she would do is think about Amy; about those last days; about the signs she missed…or did she?
"You'll…you'll call if…"
Morgan nods. "You know I will."
JJ just nods and lets Emily lead her away. They gather their things and head for home. Emily drives for the first time in several weeks. She holds JJ's hand but isn't sure JJ even knows. Haunted blue eyes stare out at the road but are really hundreds of miles…and a lifetime…away.
"Damn it, Jenny! MOM! Jenny tracked mud into my room AGAIN! The little brat won't stay out!"
"I'm NOT a BRAT!" JJ states petulantly.
Eight year old Jenny Jareau stands with her hands on her hips, glaring at her 13 year old sister. Amy glares back. Sandy Jareau sets down her red pen and walks out of the office she uses to grade papers.
"Girls! Enough! Jenny, did you go into Amy's room?"
JJ crosses her arms across her chest. "Maybe," she mutters.
Sandy raises an eyebrow. "Maybe? It's a yes or no question, Jennifer," she states warningly.
JJ sighs. "I just wanted to see her new boom box," she admits in a whisper.
Amy turns to her mother. "See! Tell the little snoop to stay out! I've got mud EVERYWHERE now!"
Sandy looks at Jenny, who is indeed a muddy mess. "Jenny, bath. Now. Amy, when she's clean she'll clean your carpets."
"NO!" JJ shouts.
"Young lady, you will clean them until they are spotless or you can forget about your soccer game on Saturday." She raises a finger as JJ goes to speak. "And say anything other than 'yes, ma'am' and you'll be off the team for good. Do you understand?"
JJ bites her lip. Amy can't help but grin, hoping the little runt will smart off again.
"Yes, ma'am," JJ mumbles and heads for the bathroom.
Sandy turns to Amy. "Amy, she wants to be just like you. She thinks the world of you. I know it's annoying but she'll grow out of it someday. And, someday, you may even like her."
"Hmph. Doubt it. She's an annoying little tomboy. She's always tracking mud everywhere."
"Yes, she's a tomboy. Maybe you forget you used to love to get muddy, too. She'll grow out of it, Amy. Just be patient."
Amy stomps back into her room. "Whatever."
From the bathroom, JJ had listened. She didn't mean to make Amy mad. Her sister just had a really cool new radio. It had two cassette decks on it and could be taken anywhere if it had batteries in it! JJ had just wanted to look at it since Amy guards it like it's made of gold.
"She's just selfish," JJ mumbles to herself as she starts to get ready for a bath.
"JENNIFER!"
JJ jumps. She stares into Emily's concerned eyes. She looks around and realizes they are in their driveway.
"We're home?"
Emily squeezes her wife's hand. "You've got me worried, Jen. Yes, we're home. Where were you?"
JJ looks out the window. "I was…in a memory." She smiles. "I was so good at pissing Amy off. Usually without even trying. But I loved her, Em. Even when she was getting me in trouble."
Emily smiles. "I'm pretty sure that's how siblings work."
JJ slowly turns and looks at her wife. "Do…do you ever wish you had a sibling?"
Emily shrugs. "Not so much anymore. When I was a kid, feeling so alone, I wished for a brother or sister, someone around my age who would be a constant among all the change."
"I know there were times Amy, Mark and I all wished we were only children," JJ says wistfully.
Emily grins. "The grass is always greener, right?"
"I guess." She sighs. "Do you know how many times I've asked what I missed? What I could have done to save her?"
"Jen, you were 11," she says compassionately. "And even if you had been older, you would not have known what to look for until after you finished the courses that got you into the FBI Academy. Your head knows that. Make sure it tells your heart."
"Maybe."
JJ gets out of the car, her heart still not quite believing what her head is saying. Emily just sighs and follows her wife into the house. Francesca steps out of the play room frowning, then she smiles.
"Oh! It's you! I was worried about who—Jennifer, what is wrong?" she asks with concern.
Tears start down JJ's face again. She can't speak over the lump blocking her throat. Then the perfect balm for her heart is heard.
"MOMMY!"
Henry comes out of the playroom and runs right for his Mommy. She kneels down and scoops him into a big hug. She can't help but smile as he gives her a big kiss on the cheek. Emily steps up behind her wife, her hand caressing JJ's head. Francesca looks at Emily.
"Perché è lei che grida?" she asks with concern.*
"Dico subito," Emily promises.** She kneels down and gives Henry a kiss on the head. "Hi, Champ. How about you go with Francesca to get some lunch while I take Mommy upstairs, okay?"
Henry nods then throws himself at Emily for a big hug. She gladly accepts it then sets him down.
"Go on, son," she encourages.
Francesca calls him and they head into the kitchen, Alaska at their heels. JJ just watches him go.
"He…he looks like her. Sometimes…sometimes he even has these expressions that just make me see her," JJ whispers.
Emily runs her hand up and down JJ's arm. "I bet. He looks so much like you and you favored her a great deal."
"I swear, Em, if…if we have to hurt Mom and Dad for nothing I'll kill that bastard myself."
Emily nods. "I know, sweetheart. I know."
JJ turns to her. "I…I need a little time alone. Do you mind?"
Emily smiles and shakes her head. "Of course not. You know how to find me."
They share a kiss and then JJ heads upstairs. Emily watches her go and then heads into the kitchen to have lunch with Henry and Francesca.
Translations thanks to Babylon Translator:
*Why is she crying?
**Tell you soon.