CHAPTER 10
He took another big breath. He'd finally gotten it off his chest, but it had pained him to go through the events of that day all over again. He'd hoped that he'd never have to tell anyone about the horrific aftermath of that mission. Hell, he even tried to put off talking about it with JJ, however, "the talk" was inevitable. There were details that hadn't been discussed before she transferred back to the BAU – important things about this case that had remained open since early 2011. They'd discuss things over early morning sprints and breakfast; it was their near-daily routine. They'd meet up at central park, and have done so for the past year.
However, he wasn't quite finished yet. He continued to speak.
"I woke up in the field hospital, hoping that what I last saw was just a nightmare, but when Sergeant Johnston told me it wasn't a dream... My heart sank. The last thing that I'd seen was my unit member, my agent, giving up her own life just to save our unit's. She's never even served in the military, yet the woman I saw on the field that day... I didn't see an agent — I saw a soldier. She's a goddamn hero." he paused, frowning at what he was about to say next.
"Lance Corporal King had succumbed to her injuries shortly after arriving at the field hospital. I was lucky enough to only have sustained a few broken ribs and a punctured lung. But we were now short a team member – Corporal King was the only one that had the codes to access the GPS tracking system that had been implanted in all of our arms. Thankfully, Lieutenant-Commander Edwards was also sufficient in computers and technology, so he'd been able to hack and trace her GPS tracker. We found JJ the very next day. Her location was thirty miles south of the border of Fallujah, in an underground cave. She'd been beaten up, badly. It looked like they'd been beating her for information. But before slipping into unconsciousness, she'd confirmed that she didn't give up anything, because she didn't have the answers to the questions they'd been asking. Tough woman. She'd lost a lot of blood from the gunshot wounds. I was unsure if she'd make it or not... I couldn't bear the thought of losing another one of my members, but she did make it through. Immediately after she'd been released from surgery, we'd airlifted her straight back to the United States. Physically, she'd recovered very well. Emotionally... Well, let's just say that she was very good at keeping her emotions to herself. But I'd say that it took a full four months for her to really recover. She was one hell of a woman, taking up the assignment of assisting your team in locating Emily and putting her into hiding. It'd been only a month after we came back from Iraq. I thought it was too soon for her to be doing fieldwork like that again, but she insisted... Said it could help with her recover, so I agreed. Since then, there'd been some complications regarding Operation Covenant, so Strauss and I let her transfer back to the BAU. We thought it would be safer for her. But since then she's been able to keep this a secret from you guys."
He'd finished talking, lifting his head up and seeing each and every one of the agents' faces; riddled with an unsettlingly common look – shock, fear and bewilderment.
They couldn't believe their own ears. Mateo could've sworn he saw a huge "What the actual shit?" flashing in red, bold print over everyone's heads. Derek was the first to break the silence.
"You're serious?" he questioned. Cruz simply nodded.
He couldn't believe a thing that was just said. His partner – his JJ – in a combat zone? He felt a range of emotions sweep through his body; shock, fear, anger, confusion, guilt, and lastly, sadness. The first, being absolute shock – the shock of hearing about his little princess being all the way in a dangerous combat zone. He couldn't see the petite woman fighting terrorists, but now it seemed all too real. But to think that she was in a special ops team as a top-class sniper?
"Holy crap." was the only thing he managed to choke out.
Then a second wave of emotion swept over him; anger and confusion – why would she keep her time away a secret from them? He absolutely hated being lied to, especially after the Prentiss-Doyle situation. However, he immediately got over it, thinking about JJ, who was still trying to recover. After hearing of her getting shot and beaten in Iraq... It must've taken a huge toll on her emotional state. And then coming back home right after her ordeal, only to help them to find Emily? JJ, who'd still been suffering, still managed to help find Emily, all the way through to faking her death, and kept watch over her for seven whole months? Just the fact that his JJ had fought and was still fighting for the protection of the people of this country, while he played chicken shit with Doyle for seven months, and he still had the balls to resent her after revealing that Emily wasn't dead? He'd felt like a lesser man at that very moment. Oh my God, I've been such a jerk. A final range of emotion swept through him, the last being sadness, guilt and understanding; not of himself, but for the brave woman he proudly could call as his partner. He always thought he was kind of the hotshot of this team, but it was really JJ who'd been on top. She'd been protecting everyone on this team this whole time. This country. He couldn't say the same about himself. He silently paid his respects to the young blonde woman, who'd fought for her life back in Iraq, and is still fighting now, wherever she is. Just hang tight princess; we're coming to get you.
The rest of the team had sat quietly, but in shock; all of them wide-eyed, still trying to shake the aftershock of hearing the entire story from Cruz - the same thought running through each of their heads again. Their JJ? The-girl-who-used-to-be-the-media-liaison, Jennifer Jareau, a war hero? It was definitely unheard of.
Aaron had crossed his arms, still displaying his tough, stoic demeanor. He was proud as hell of his own agent accomplishing great things overseas, like he'd done so a few years back. But the work that JJ had done was extraordinary – topping everything he'd accomplished in the Middle East. When she was snagged by the State Department, he'd predicted that she'd become much better off than any other members of this team – and he was right. However, he was a little upset that she wasn't able to come to them sooner… He felt a little guilty they hadn't been able to protect her. We're all here for you JJ. We will find you. Just hang on a little longer, you can do it.
David coolly slouched in his chair, resting one arm on the table. He'd been trying to decipher how on earth a petite woman like JJ could have trumped a US Marine Corps sniper. Still, a feeling of pride, honour, and dignity ran through him, thinking of his little JJ being so brave and strong, fighting against terrorists for the safety of this country. But what he couldn't understand is why she never bothered to talk to him about being out in combat, or even bothered to approach him before engaging in combat, three years ago. After all, he'd been the war veteran of the team, with the exclusion of Cruz. He was a widely respected USMC Sergeant Major, for crying out loud. Still, David managed to show a little grin during this tough time, knowing that the woman that he'd pictured as his own daughter was truly a fighter. Semper Fi, Jennifer Jareau. We will find you. That's a promise.
Spencer had been sitting in complete shock, tightly gripping the arms of his swivel chair, hearing of his best friend being sent away to a very dangerous place, engaging in dangerous activities. Even his genius mind couldn't comprehend the statistics or variables of the outcomes of that mission, or even come up with a logical explanation as to why exactly they wanted her. He was devastated when JJ had been forced to transfer to the DOD. He remembered that he was at a loss of words – "they can't just take you away," being the only thing he'd managed to choke out. But he realized that they took her because she was needed. Not to tear this team apart, but because her services were needed overseas. And to think that she was willing to give her own life up to save her entire unit's… He was more than thankful and proud. He'd also felt like a jerk – resenting and ignoring JJ after learning that she'd kept Emily a secret from him. He'd even yelled at her in the precinct in front of everyone, threatening to take dilaudid again. Sure, he was upset, but he'd never taken into account how much JJ must've been suffering, being forced to keep Emily a secret, let alone her time at the State Department a secret for almost three years. He remembered when Hankel abducted him; getting drugged, tortured, and eventually becoming addicted to the damned drug. But then he thought about how much worse JJ must have had it in Iraq, and right at this very moment. He was still unsure if there was a God, but at that very moment he'd found himself praying to one, praying to spare the life of his best friend. I will destroy the bastard that did this, JJ. I promise.
Alex had found herself in a compromising position. She'd never been close to anyone at work to care, but here she was, worrying for the life of the young agent. She'd never met anyone so strong-willed and brave in her life. She couldn't even comprehend how impressed and proud she was of JJ. Through her entire career with the FBI, not once had she bothered to make a friend, but JJ… she was one of a kind. JJ actually cared about her. She'd thought back to when she was shot while apprehending an unsub in Los Angeles, then flying straight to her hometown to deal with another unsub a few months ago. Her arm had been awfully throbbing, but somehow dulled the pain away to focus on her job. And there JJ was, supporting her; even asking, "How's the wing?" because Alex now knew that JJ too, had been shot in relatively the same area. She simply shook her head, hoping they'd find her soon. Just hang on, JJ. We're coming for you.
Emily found herself biting her nails again. She knew JJ was a tough cookie, but she'd never heard this side of her story. Her favourite blonde had almost died overseas, and still managed to find a way to help her out with her Doyle situation. How could she have even thought about coming back to the FBI after that experience? Emily too, had found herself questioning the requirements of this job a few years ago, before accepting Easter's offer to run the London Interpol office. But she remembered the oath of office... I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies, foreign and domestic. JJ was doing it to protect her country. And for that, she was beyond thankful. She thought back to the time that JJ had helped her fake her own death, and flying to Paris to meet up so she could go into hiding. But she'd never known that JJ was still trying to recover from her ordeal. They were both fighters. But in that moment, she'd found herself cursing herself for not being able to see what was really going on with her blonde friend. I couldn't profile her behaviour at the time… How could I not see it? However, she put the thought aside. She wasn't going to be much help by biting her nails to stubs. She'd promised that she'd return the favour. She ran the London Interpol office. She could use her resources to help find JJ. Emily silently excused herself from the room, immediately speed-dialing different numbers and sending a multitude of messages to different people. She was going to help this team, her team, bring their girl home, just like JJ had done with her a few years ago. It's my turn to return the favour, Jareau. Hell or high water, we will find you.
Penelope couldn't come to terms with her best friend, the mother of her only godson, going overseas into a dangerous zone like JJ had done. She was a little upset her Jayje never came to talk to her, even once, about her ordeal. They'd always done that; talk to each other about absolutely everything, no matter what subject. Most of all, she was upset with herself for not being able to see through JJ's tough barrier. Why didn't you come to us sooner Jayje? However, she understood that JJ was a very brave woman. She came to terms with the fact that JJ had been keeping this secret to protect them. But she couldn't say that she wasn't shocked about hearing of her sweet, vanilla cupcake being sent into a military zone. She couldn't imagine the pain and suffering she'd gone through, and is probably suffering again right now. Still, the quirky analyst willed her tears back, as they wouldn't do any good to find her best friend. She promised she would do everything she could to help find her cupcake and bring her home safely. You stay alive, missy. Or I will be very upset. Just keep hanging in there, Jayje...
Mateo examined the looks on everyone's faces once more. They'd taken it better than he expected. At least no one's broken or thrown anything… yet, he mused. But still, he was upset that it had to come down to this.
"Since JJ had been captured and taken in Iraq, and after discovering that Bravo-7 had been targeted, it turned into an international pending investigation. We haven't been able to find whoever's been targeting us, but I sensed some sort of conspiracy going on. Since early 2011, members of this team have slowly been taken out – Strauss being the last straw before I requested a transfer to the BAU to keep an eye on JJ. When Lance Corporal King had died in the field, I never would have suspected a felony, but when Lieutenant-Commander Edwards was murdered and Sergeant Johnston went missing in 2012, I knew something was up. Early 2013, before Strauss was murdered, Sergeant Smith had been declared MIA. Strauss' murder crossed the line, and I found myself transferring to the BAU. Major Price had been leading the counterintel unit at the Hoover building, still keeping me in the loop with updates. But we've been stumped on leads ever since. Whoever has it in for our team is damn good at hiding his or her tracks."
Mateo stopped there, frowning. He had nothing else to say. There was a prolonged silence in the room, before Aaron had asked another question.
"Wait, so what brought you and Major Price to the apartment? Why'd you run?"
"That abandoned apartment serves as an offsite operations base exclusively for the members of this team, if we found ourselves in the States. What you guys didn't find there was the multiple hidden computer systems built into that apartment. If you step on the right board, it activates a pressure switch that turns all the walls around, revealing the equipment. There, we also store our weapons. It's our safe house." Derek cut him off.
"Sounds like some James Bond-type crap right there." he breathed. Mateo smirked back.
"Oh trust me, it's all there." He continued on. "We thought we'd be able to track JJ's GPS tracker from the computer, but it was a dead end. Then I remembered there'd been a microchip we needed to insert into the system in order to access the satellites in which we're all connected to. I was about to head back to the State Department anyway to retrieve the chip, when we heard you guys come in. I told Major Price to stay put, because if you arrested him, it would buy me enough time to get out and retrieve the chip, come back, and explain ourselves to you guys. That's when I bumped into Emily."
All members had nodded. It started to make sense.
"Sir, do you have the chip?" Garcia quietly asked. She had hoped she would be able to utilize to chip and integrate it with her system so they could find JJ. However, she was instantly thrown off by the section chief's frowning gesture.
"No. That's missing too. Someone in the State Department's been tampering with our equipment. Someone's messing with us."
Almost all of them had sighed at the same time. They were at back at square one. They had nothing.
Suddenly, Emily rushed her way back into the room, panting. She had a mixed look of shock, fear, and anger engrossing her entire face. Everyone had focused their attention to the brunette.
"… Smith's the mole."
AN: I apologize for this one being so long! I originally hadn't intended for it to be this long, but hey, I guess the more you get to know where this is going! Don't forget to review! This will be the last update for the year 2013! Next chapter will be up sometime after new years', I'm officially moving back home with my parents and taking a semester off school :) God bless your souls, my little profilers. Until next time!