Note: Apologies for not updating earlier, Real life just got in... Anyway here is the next chapter;
"What are you doing here? Is Henry okay?" JJ got up, jumping to the worst conclusions on the reasons of Will's presence.
"Henry's fine. But you will have to explain to me why Agent Anderson is shadowing our son" Will said calmly.
He noticed rapidly that JJ seemed preoccupied with something.
"I think I'll give you two a few minutes to talk" Hotch said, all the while looking at JJ to confirm if his retreat was fine with her.
"Huh, I think you should stay for this" Will stopped him.
Hotch turned from the door and looked straight into JJ surprised gaze. Each other wondering if Will had, some way or the other, found out about them. Not that it was any of his concern, considering that they broke up and he moved out before anything happened with Hotch, but JJ did not want Will to find out about them, when Hotch and herself had not yet worked out their feelings.
"I received this two days ago" Will stated handing an envellope to Hotch.
Hotch opened the said envellope and found a note inside, the word 'MINE' was written in bold capital on same along with some pictures of JJ. Some photos had been clearly been downloaded from the internet but there were a few others which had been taken a few days ago here in Colorado Springs; one with JJ walking with Reid outside the police station, several others of JJ alone. One picture caught Hotch's attention more than the others; it had been taken outside the hotel while JJ and himself were talking to each other. As per angle this picture was taken, the person who took it was only a few metres away from them.
JJ watched all this in horror. He had sent a letter to the father of her child, to which extent will that sick man get? Was Will in danger? Could he hurt Henry?
"JJ sit down" she heard Hotch ordered her.
She looked at him blankly before realizing that she could not breathe and that all her body was shivering. She tried to slow her heart rate by taking deep breaths.
"What's wrong with me?" she asked Hotch around her clattering teeth.
"It's alright, you just had a shock. You'll be okay in a moment. Just continue to breath slowly' Hotch soothing voice told her.
Will watched the exchange between the two agents and felt his heart broke a little more. He loved JJ and would do anything to be with her but he realized that they were not destined to be with each other. If he could hate her if would have been easier for him but he could not.
"Was this sent by post?" Hotch's voice drew Will from his depressive thoughts.
"It seems. Now would you tell me what's going on?"
"The unsub we are working on took JJ as his next target" Hotch replied bluntly. "Where is Henry?"
"At home. With my mother" Will said automatically. He was still shocked and looked at JJ. She raised her eyes to look back at him and he saw the fear in her eyes. One thing he knew about the mother of his son was that she was not afraid for little things. This was serious. There was danger.
They both heard as Hotch barked some orders so that Henry was placed under full protection.
Several minutes passed by in silence before Hotch returned. He pulled a chair and sat in front of JJ.
"Henry's fine. Will's mother and him are being moved to a secure place and will be under the protection of four armed agent." He waited until both parents nodded and continued,
"Now JJ, Strauss requested that I review some options with you." Hotch saw JJ eyebrows go up and braced himself to continue. This would not be easy.
"JJ just keep your mind open, will you? The FBI is suggesting that you" Hotch glanced at Will, "Will and Henry be put under the protection of the US Marshalls until we catch this unsub"
"Okay" JJ answered
Well that was too easy thought Hotch.
"Will and Henry will go into the program. I'm staying here." JJ continued looking at both men defiantly.
After what seemed to have been hours of argumentations, JJ did not change her decision. She stormed out, leaving the two men in the conference room.
In her hurry to get away from these two, she bumped into someone in the hall.
"Hey are you okay?" she heard a familiar voice asked her. She looked up to find a pair of brown eyes full of sincere worry looking back at her.
"Agent Barrett, I'm sorry, I wasn't looking." JJ gave him a small apologizing smile.
"It's okay. You seemed a bit..." he searched for the right word, "distressed. Is everything alright?"
"I'm just tired. I think I'll catch a lift and go back to the hotel" JJ answered.
"I've finished my service, I can drop you" the police officer offered.
JJ thought about refusing but she did not want to ask one of her team members. She knew they each would want to convince her to go into the program for her safety. And she needed some time alone.
"If you can, that would be great. Let me grab my bag"
Fifteen minutes later, JJ and Agent Barrett were talking comfortably in his truck. He had a wonderful sense of humor and effectively changed her thoughts from her current situation. She sent a text message to Hotch informing that she needed a few hours alone and that she will be back soon.
Agent Barrett dropped her, promising to take her to lunch one day before she went back. JJ simply smiled and waved him goodbye. He was nice and she did not want to rebuke him. He surely would realize sooner rather than later that she was not interested.
JJ arrived in front of her hotel room and she was already imagining the hot bath she wanted so much. Before she even had time to insert her key, she felt a chill running through her.
She sensed him before he made any move.
She felt the needle in the neck.
And then everything went dark.
