A/N If you haven't already, you may want to go back and read 'Correspondence' first! :]

Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds or the LiveJournal community from which I took this prompt list.

Character/Pairing: JJ/Hotch

Rating: T

Prompt: #34 - Roads

Three months and he's just sent her replacement running. Again.

Hotch hangs his head, blows out a long breath.

"I can't work like this, Dave," he admits, "not without..."

"So do something about it," Rossi replies, his voice firm and taking no nonsense.

Hotch glances up.

"And say what? 'Your absence is affecting my work performance, so please come back'?"

Rossi chuckles.

"Or you could try 'I love you'."

There's a stretch of silence.

"What if she says no?"

"Then at least you'll know."

Morgan, Prentiss and Reid walk into the room. Hotch has made his decision, and throws on his jacket as they watch in confusion.

"Where are you going?" Morgan asks.

It's Emily that answers, a relieved smile curving the corner of her lips.

"Chicago."

***

The Chicago field office isn't hard to find. He's long lost his jacket, his shirt free from his pants and the sleeves rolled up. He stops at the reception desk.

The woman sitting there looks up.

"Can I help you?" she asks.

"I'm here to see Agent Jennifer Jareau."

"And you are?"

Puts his badge on the desk. "Aaron Ho..."

"'Otch!"

They both turn their heads, and Hotch feels a smile break free. Henry is sitting comfortably on a woman's hip, his golden hair so much like his mother's it hurts.

The woman holding him tenses. Hotch is reminded of a lioness guarding her young.

"Who's that, Henry?"

The little boy claps his hands together, leaning forward.

"'Otch!"

She arches an eyebrow at him, and then glances at Hotch. He watches her watching him.

"Are you his father?"

He's so wrapped up in Henry that it takes Hotch a moment to realize the question is aimed at him. He frowns.

"Me?"

She scoffs, tossing her red hair over her shoulder.

"Yeah, you."

"No. I'm just a...close friend."

"Are you here to see JJ?"

He nods. She studies him for a moment, before tilting her head towards the double doors.

"If you're no relation to this little guy," she says as he starts to follow, "you must be from the BAU."

She's fishing for information and they both know it. Hotch falls into place beside her.

"SSA Aaron Hotchner."

There's a flicker of recognition in her eyes, and glancing down at the wriggling child, lets Henry fall into Hotch's waiting arms.

"Max Matthews."

"Nice to meet you."

"We've got a pool running," she goes on suddenly, "over why JJ left Virginia."

Hotch is silent, does nothing but readjust Henry on his hip and wait for her to continue.

"Gina said it was a mistake at work. Bobby put $20 on relationship issues."

Hotch winces, and hopes she doesn't catch it. She does.

"So it was both," she says with a chuckle. He nods reluctantly, and wants to explain but doesn't know how.

Max smirks knowingly, and rubs her hand over the back of Henry's head.

"Along the hall, up the stairs. Tell her I'll miss her."

Now he's standing there with Henry in his arms and isn't certain if he wants to knock or not.

It turns out he doesn't have to, because Henry's small fist is already pounding on the door.

"Come in," she calls, not bothering to look up.

"Mmah!"

At the excited squeal from the doorway, her head shoots up, and JJ isn't sure which surprises her more - Henry in her office, or the man holding him.

She tries to speak, but the words don't come.

Hotch smiles apologetically, shifting the baby in his arms.

"Sorry. I intercepted this little guy on the way in."

Her legs have taken her around to the front of her desk. JJ is still staring at him incredulously.

There's a strained beat of silence, and then she clears her throat. Fights off tears, hopes he won't hear the waver in her voice.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to bring you and Henry back to Virginia."

It's useless trying to hide the tears now. Henry rests his cheek on Hotch's shoulder, blue eyes watching his mother carefully.

"Why?" she asks. Hotch reaches out to wipe away her tears, his fingers caressing her skin.

"Because I'm in love with you," he whispers, "because I love your son like he was my own. Because I've read that letter every day, replayed those few weeks we had together to find out where I went wrong. And because I drove 350 miles just to tell you that I can't stand the thought of never seeing you again."

JJ leans into him, knowing in her heart of hearts that her decision was made as soon as he appeared in her office.

"Strauss..."

"I'll fix it," he says, and then she nods and he doesn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Chooses to press his lips to hers. His voice comes out as a muffled murmur.

"Come home, JJ."

She nods again, wraps her hands around the back of his neck. "I didn't...I got scared, Aaron. It wasn't because I didn't..."

He silences her with another kiss, but not before JJ lets out a groan.

"And I hate Chicago!"