A/N: This chapter is set in 6x24. I hope you all like this chapter!

Special thanks to samcarter1980 and jekkah!

Thanks for reading.

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I don't own criminal minds.

Chapter 6: Better together

Rossi was pacing nervously through the office. His meeting with Strauss had been planned for weeks and he couldn't wait anymore. This was important to him. It could be important to the team and especially to JJ. When he told her there might be a way for her to come back to the BAU, he wasn't joking. The team had been functioning good enough to solve cases, but it wasn't the same without JJ and Emily. The horror they had faced in the past couple of months was astonishing. First Emily died and then JJ was attacked in her own home. Not to mention the case in Jacksonville that was extremely personal to Morgan. All in all it hadn't been easy and the team could use some good in their lives, instead of all the bad.

''Agent Rossi.'' the assistant called out. Rossi turned around to face her. ''She's ready for you.''

''Thank you, Chloe.'' he said before entering Strauss' office.

Rossi took a seat across from Strauss. The expression on her face told him she wasn't in the mood for a discussion, but Rossi knew he could turn her mood around. He had known Strauss for years and he definitely had some dirt on her, which he could put to good use for his plan to work out.

''What do you want, Dave?'' Strauss asked sternly.

''Well, it's actually really simple.'' he answered. ''You know Agent Jareau never wanted to leave the BAU, but she was forced to take a transfer. Three weeks ago she was shot and stabbed in her own home.'' he tried to explain.

Strauss interrupted him. ''I know what happened to Agent Jareau, Dave. I really don't understand this.''

''Three days ago JJ was released from the hospital. She was supposed to be released two weeks ago, but complications presented itself and the doctors insisted on keeping her for observation.'' he went on.

''Could you get to the point!'' Strauss ordered.

''I visited her every single day and it comes down to the fact that JJ would do anything to come back to the BAU.''

Strauss sighed deeply in irritation. ''The moment she comes back, the executive branch will be on my back and she'll be forced to transfer again. There's no possible way for her to come back to the BAU.''

''That's where you're wrong, Erin.'' he began. ''She can take the classes to become a profiler. She has analyzed hundreds of cases over the years and it'll be easy for her to take those classes.''

She rose from her chair and made her way towards her cabinet. She turned around. ''She could come back as a profiler. I agree on that.'' she said, knowing that JJ was a valuable part of the BAU once and her return would definitely be good for her own name. ''I'm just not the person to decide about this matter. I'm leaving for a couple of weeks and Agent Hotchner will be filling in for me while I'm gone.''

''What?''

''The bureau is facing a lot of changes, Dave. Your unit is no exception. In the next few weeks people will be asked if they want to stay with the unit or not. You have my vote on getting Agent Jareau back here. I just don't know what the team will look like once she does.''

''What happened, Erin?''

''The director had some concerns regarding my work. I asked Agent Hotchner to supervise several departments for me. I haven't been working on full capacity, which is why I can't decide on Agent Jareau's return.''

Rossi felt defeated. He had no idea what Hotch would say. He knew he hadn't seen JJ in two and half weeks. JJ made it clear to him that she didn't want him around. ''I'll talk to Aaron.'' he stated. ''Good luck with everything, Erin.'' he said.

He walked out of the office in anger. He wished Hotch would've told him about the changes. The team could possibly change forever. That was an important event and he felt like Hotch should've told him. He walked down the hallways in disbelief until he stopped in front of the bullpen doors. He heard Hotch coming up from behind him. He was on the phone and he passed by Dave and only held up his hand for a second. Rossi decided to ignore his behavior and he went straight to his office. But his peace wasn't for long when Hotch came into his office to tell him about a meeting in the conference room.

As the day passed by the team knew about the changes within the bureau, but their concerns were put to the side when a human trafficking case came up and took over their day. Once again the worst humanity had to show was thrown in front of them. Every single member of the team was on edge during the case. An undercover cop went missing and several lives were at stake. In the end Morgan was in danger during a fight but Rossi saved him. Their roles were later reversed when Morgan had Rossi's back. In a long time everyone had reached their limit. After a final meeting, Hotch let everyone go home. Hotch knew the changes could have severe consequences. The team wasn't functioning as it was supposed to. But there was no way to fix any of it. He could only stick around to see what was going to happen.

Rossi made his way down the catwalk after the meeting in the conference room. He opened the door to his office and the blonde, sitting in the chair startled him. He knew JJ would inform him about her decision, but he didn't expect her to be there so late.

''You said we needed to talk, but at 2 am?'' he asked as he sat down on the edge of his desk.

She nodded her head slightly before answering. ''I saw the lights were on.''

A smile appeared on his face, knowing JJ had to have watched the offices like a hawk. ''And you couldn't sleep. Which tells me you've given some thought to what we discussed.''

''I haven't stopped thinking about it.'' she announced.

''So?''

The question lingered in the air. ''I'm coming back.'' she finally said.

Rossi met JJ halfway and he hugged her tightly. ''You're holding me a little too tight, Dave. My injuries haven't healed yet.''

''I'm sorry, kiddo.'' he apologized, letting her go. ''There's just one person who needs to approve all of this.''

''I thought you already talked to Strauss.''

''I did, but…'' he stopped when the door opened abruptly.

''Dave, I was wondering if you…'' Hotch said, but he stopped when he noticed JJ standing in the middle of the office. His mouth dropped open in surprise. ''JJ?''

''Hi.'' she greeted back with hesitation. Her heart started racing. It was as if the temperature in the room instantly went up. She clenched her hands together.

''He's the one, JJ.'' Rossi suddenly stated.

JJ's eyes grew bigger at his comment. Knowing that Hotch had to approve her transfer didn't make the situation any easier. He didn't even know about it yet. She made it clear to Rossi that she wanted to wait with that. She felt like it was none of his business. He had no right to meddle in her life. ''You're kidding me.''

''No, I'm not.'' Rossi replied. ''I think you two need to talk.'' He slowly made his way from his office to leave them alone. ''I'll be right outside.'' he said to JJ before leaving.

''How are you?'' he asked gently.

''I'm doing better, I guess. It still hurts, but I'm good.'' she said, taking a step backwards as her hand rested on her stomach. ''How have you been?''

''Busy,'' he stopped to just look at her. She didn't look good at all. She had dark circles under her eyes. She looked exhausted as if she hadn't slept in months. ''work has been a lot and it's been hard to keep the team running, you know.''

''I do know.''

''So, Dave has been your bodyguard, huh?''

''Yeah, I guess you're right. He has been helping me out a lot. Since my attack he has been a little protective, but I can't say that I mind.''

''Have you talked to someone, JJ?'' he asked. A silence fell. ''About what happened to you?''

''No, I don't need to. I'm fine.'' she replied. ''I'm trying to move on with my life. I have to focus on Henry from now on. Will went back to New-Orleans and I filed for divorce.''

He gasped, not expecting her life to move so fast. He thought about the courage she showed. After what happened to her she had every right to be scared, but she didn't show any fear at all. He marveled that despite what happened, she managed to hold on to her positive view of life. It was exactly what made him love her even more. ''Oh, I'm sorry.''

''Of course you are.'' she laughed.

''What's that supposed to mean?''

''You never wanted me to marry Will, but you were too much of a coward to admit that.'' she started to explain, her voice raw and trembling. ''I heard what you said to me in the hospital, Hotch. I heard all of it.'' she said as she took a seat in the chair. She still hadn't regained all of her energy and the exhaustion drained her. ''You love me?'' she asked with every ounce of hope she had within her. She needed to hear him say it.

''I do!''

''Why did you wait so long to tell me? Why after all of this? I mean, how could you?''

His eyes began to water when he saw the hurt in her eyes. He never wanted to see so much pain on her face. It was even worse because he was the cause of it. ''Because of our jobs. Because you were married. Because I'm with Beth.'' he said without realizing that he made a big mistake.

She gasped. ''You're still with Beth?''

''JJ, we can start over. We can be together now.''

''No,'' she contradicted. ''No! Not after everything that happened. I can't believe I was willing to give you another shot.'' She was already standing. She turned around to hide the tears from him.

As usual, he couldn't think of a response. ''I missed you!'' he finally said to break the lingering silence.

She decided to ignore that. She needed to get to business and explain what she wanted from him. ''I need something from you.'' she began and Hotch nodded. ''I want to transfer to the BAU and take the classes to become a profiler. You need to sign off on the transfer. At least that is what Dave just told me.'' she blurted out.

''I don't if that will be possible, JJ.''

''Why not?''

He sighed deeply, knowing his answer wasn't going to be good enough for her. ''Because it means I'll be your boss again. We'll go back to being subordinate and boss. I can't be around you without…'' he stopped there. ''It'll be too hard.''

''Nothing will happen. You have Beth and I'll never let it get that far again.'' she promised while trying to convince herself. He was intoxicating. The smell of his cologne made her knees go weak. The way he looked in a suit made her stop and look at him. Everything about him still got to her.

''Please, Hotch.'' she begged. ''I need this. I need to be around the people I love or I won't survive this.''

''Fine,'' he finally agreed. ''but Dave will help you through the classes and the dozens of reports. I can't do it with you, even though I'm supposed to.''

''Thanks.'' she whispered.

''It's good to have you back Agent Jareau.'' He took her hand and shook it gently. His hand stayed on hers. He didn't want to let go. The soft touch sent shivers down his spine. He started softly caressing her hand.

''Hotch!'' she warned. He let go of her hand and he quickly made his way out of the office. She dropped down in the chair once again. She was finally getting back the little pieces she had lost over the months. But she knew it was going to take a lot more time to heal from everything that happened. Her sleepless nights didn't help. The nightmares only made it worse, but she felt like a failure if she told anyone how scared she actually was.