Disclaimer: Not mine

A/N WOW, I haven't been expected so much feedback, I was so shocked in the morning. As a reward, new chapter for you.

However weird Hotch's order might sound, Penelope followed it without hesitation. She loved JJ and she knew it was something big, otherwise Hotch wouldn't bother to ask her.

Garcia was surprised to find JJ's door closed, it used to be open most of the time. She knocked and waited.

"Come in" sounded quiet voice after a while. Penelope entered curiously.

JJ was seated at her table, using it as some kind of barricade saving her from the world. The stacks of files were even bigger then usually and the one file JJ was actually reading, she held high to cover most of the face.

"Morning, sweetheart" Garcia was all fluffy on the outside while in real her thoughts were going in full speed. What the hell had happened to her friend and why she was trying so hard to keep her face straight?

"Hello, Penelope, how was your weekend?" JJ knew Garcia had big plans for her and Kevin and she hoped she could be impatient to spill it all up.

"Cut the crap, what happened to you?" Penelope could be really quiet scary, if she had chosen to. And right now she didn't take the bait.

"Pen, not you too, please" JJ was exhausted, putting the happy face all around, she just needed friend.

"Oh, Jayje..." and Pen went to hug her friend, JJ would have gladly give in to the hug, if the pain wouldn't take over her body. She yelped unwillingly and pulled back.

"Sorry" she whispered "it's some bruising from the safety-belt".

Luckily the awkward moment was interrupted by Hotch. He knocked but entered without invitation.

"I have just got off the phone, The Boston PD have issued the Amber alert. Our assistance is required. The details are being sent to your computer as we speak. Meeting in ten." He blurted out without single breath and left the room again immediately.

Garcia needed no more clues. She left immediately as well and went to her cave, she knew what she was required to look for. Missing kids always deserved special attention.

All JJ managed to do in ten minutes was to print out photos and read few basic information. Exactly on time she was ready in the briefing room. She did her best to ignore curious looks from coworkers that hadn't met her earlier.

"Mike Granger, five, abducted from the mall exactly 45 minutes ago. The local PD has his photos circulating between possible witnesses, the mall is shut. They are waiting for our consult."

Hotch stood up "We will read up on the details on the flight, wheels up in twenty" his orders were usually short and all team was halfway out of the room when he turned to JJ.

"Make a call to a PR office, get someone to cover for you" he ordered.

JJ reacted immediately "Doctors have cleared me for work" she argued.

"They might, but you are in no shape to be put in front of cameras. It's child abduction and people need assurances" when she still hesitated, Hotch pushed it further "Are you going to make a call or should I?"

JJ knew when she lost and got her cell out. She decided not to argue, she could be very well put on sick leave and she preferred to be able to come to work, get through the files on her table.

In exactly 11 minutes JJ knocked on Hotch's office door.

"Hotch, this is Martha Stevens" she pointed to the woman in her fifties that came with her. She was smaller that JJ and was starting to gain some weight but was dressed smartly and looked actually very sharp. Martha shook hands with Hotch.

"Martha is kind of legend with dealing with media, she taught me pretty much everything I know. She is retiring this month and her replacement is already fully trained. Martha is looking forward to her last big case" JJ explained. Martha smiled friendly, but Hotch noticed her eyes that were piercing him as she was trying to figure him out.

"I couldn't put it better" the sentiment towards JJ was honest "I still have my ready bag so I can leave immediately with you" she promised and checked her watch. "Five minutes it is?" she checked to be sure.

"Exactly" Hotch confirmed. He was glad that JJ didn't produce any young trainee. He wanted to thanks her for that when he realized she was gone. As he reached for his bag and locked the office he noticed her office door were shut tight.

JJ left Hotch's office unnoticed. She knew his call was right, but she couldn't help feeling hurt. She made sure to close the office door behind her, she didn't need anyone to see her tears, even by accident.

.oOo.

The day was slow for JJ. She barely left the office and in the evening she realized she made noticeable progress with her files. At least it made the dark mood go away. She didn't dare to call anyone from the team to check how the case was going, but she knew exactly which channel to turn on.

Martha was doing great work. With Amber alert issued the media coverage was huge, but she still managed to keep her distance. JJ watched her with admiration so it took her while till she realized what Martha was trying to communicate to the public. Mike Granger's body had been found eight hours after abduction. The team caught the UnSub, but they were too late.

JJ turned the TV off immediately and left the office. She needed to get home to her kid.

.oOo.

Hotch was the last one to leave the plane. It was almost midnight when he drove off the airstrip. The day couldn't have gone worse. Only after they had arrived to the Boston he realized how big mistake he had made, leaving JJ behind. Martha was a professional and did her work more then well, but without JJ something was missing. She was the most human person on the team and she was the one to make a connection with the family. But it wasn't the only thing missing today. It was her, her smile, her optimism, her empathy.

Hotch was lost in his thoughts, not only about JJ and how he had screw up, but about the case as well. Loosing human life was always difficult, but it was almost unbearable when it came to kids.

It was after midnight when he stopped the car. It took him few seconds to realize where he was. It was completely different part of town, he was in front JJ's house.

He knew he should have drive off, but only one look convinced him, that the lights were still on in the living room. He imagined JJ and Will all cozy together and suddenly felt the urge to interrupt them. He was surprised by the intensity of the feeling and almost curiously gave up to it.

Next: Unexpected visitor