Love And Loss

Chapter 7


"Chief Strauss!" Hotch exclaimed in surprise.

"Agent Hotchner," Strauss greeted shortly. "May I come in for a moment?"

Reluctantly, Hotch stepped aside to let her in.

"What can I do for you?" He asked, gesturing her over to the couch in the living room. Normally, he would offer any guest that came by something to drink, but he didn't see any reason to be overly polite with her, not after everything she had done to him, his team, and his friends.

"I'm here because I may be able to do something for you," Strauss answered.

Hotch raised his eyebrows in amazement. This was going to be interesting.

"Agent Jareau!" Strauss called as JJ came out of the kitchen as well.

"Chief Strauss." JJ's tone was snippy and not exactly welcoming. Since she wasn't her boss anymore, JJ didn't feel the need to fake politeness.

"Why don't you sit down with us? What I have to say concerns you as well," Strauss requested.

JJ hesitantly took a seat next to Hotch on the armrest of his favorite recliner.

"All right, let's get straight to the point. I realized that I may have been a bit hasty with my decision. For that I would like to apologize," Strauss continued.

JJ and Hotch exchanged a look, not sure if they had heard her correctly. An admission of having been wrong, plus an apology, was nothing either of them had ever expected to come out of the Section Chief's mouth.

"Be that as it may, I've spent all afternoon on the phone with the Director. He's been very pleased with your performance and achievements on the job, Agent Jareau, and he is therefore willing to offer you the position to lead his public relations department. Your job would be solely media and communications related compared to the one at the BAU, and you wouldn't be in the field anymore, but you'd be responsible for all of the Director's public appearances, and the spokesperson and the face of the Bureau. You would work from Quantico, the only difference being that your new office would be a few floors upstairs."

Strauss made a short break to let the news sink in and looked expectantly at the couple in front of her. Both JJ's and Hotch's jaws dropped open as they tried to process what they had just heard.

Seeing that they were still at a loss for words, Strauss went on, pulling an envelope out of her briefcase.

"If you choose to accept this offer, Agent Jareau, I think this won't be necessary anymore." She handed the envelope over to Hotch, who realized that it was his still unopened letter of resignation.

"You wouldn't work on the same team, but you could both stay at Quantico and wouldn't have to worry about violating Bureau rules anymore."

JJ nodded absentmindedly, while Hotch eyed Strauss suspiciously, wondering if there was a catch.

"Chief Strauss, I, or rather we can't deny that this comes as a bit of a surprise right now," he started, but was cut short by the older woman.

"And you're asking yourself if it is a foul trick. I can't blame you for that, but I can assure you that you don't have anything to worry about. Agent Hotchner, it's not a secret that we both don't get along very well, but I've come to respect your work and your effectiveness in the field over the last months. I'm afraid I won't be able to keep everyone on your team, the budget cuts won't allow that, but I think this offer might be the best solution for everyone involved. The final decision, of course, is yours."

"When do you need to have our decision?" JJ asked when Strauss was finished.

"As soon as possible. But if you need the night to think it over, take your time," Strauss answered.

JJ and Hotch nodded and murmured small thank-yous, still in confusion about the her sudden change of heart.

Looking at the older woman sitting opposite to her, JJ had a suspicion what it was that caused her to reconsider. Or rather who it was.

"Ma'am, may I ask you a personal question?" She asked carefully.

Strauss clamped her lips together, but gestured her to go on, probably curious about what JJ had to say.

"You're doing this for us because of Dave, I mean, Agent Rossi, aren't you?"

Realizing that she had been figured out, Strauss nodded tensely.

"You're obviously able to tell as much. But my private life is nothing that concerns you or that I am willing to discuss with you," she replied firmly.

"Of course, Ma'am," JJ said quickly.

"We understand and respect that, but I don't think I have to point out that David Rossi is a close friend to both of us. And I don't like to see my friends get hurt," Hotch added with a hint of warning in his voice.

"Of course," Strauss replied shortly, before she stood up. "Well, you've heard my offer. I expect to see you with your answers as soon as possible."

"We will," JJ said. "Thank you."

She reached out to take Strauss's hand as she and Hotch got up, too. Hearing Henry's cries filling the room, she quickly excused herself and hurried over to his room.

Hotch walked her over to the door, took a notepad from the dresser and scribbled an address on it. Handing it over to her, he opened the door and said quietly: "That's where he is if he's not at home."

He glared at her intensely, warning her with his famous Hotchner stare that she better not fool Dave again.

"Thank you, Agent Hotchner."

"Don't thank me. I'm not doing this for you but for my best friend," he answered, putting an emphasis on the last two words to make sure she got the memo.

Nodding slightly, Strauss bid her goodbyes to him, and took a deep breath as the door closed behind her. Her next stop would not be so easy.