"Hey, who's the kid?" Reid asked the following Monday, poking JJ's shoulder. She turned to look at the doors and saw a very familiar looking young woman standing there, uncertainly looking around. She stood and went up to her, hearing Reid's questioning "Jayje?" from behind her.
"Kacey?" she asked with a smile and the girl nodded with relief. "How did you get here?"
"The security guard said my mom works on this floor. Do you know her?" The voice, though an octave higher, was Erin through and through. JJ nodded. "Will you take me to her, then?"
"You didn't answer my question, Kacey. How did you get here?" JJ rested her hand on Kacey's shoulder, looking her deep in the eyes.
"You're Jennifer, aren't you?" She nodded. "Mom told me about you two. I found an airline who wouldn't be bothered by a fourteen year old flying alone. We live in the heart of Berlin and it was nothing for me to sneak away and hail a taxi. I paid with my pocket money."
As JJ watched, large tears rolled down her cheeks. "Honey, what is it?"
"I just want to see my mom. Please, take me to her." JJ wrapped her in a tight hug, which the girl returned. "Jennifer, please?"
"I'm actually going to take you to my friend, Penelope. She'll look after you while I go get your mother. She might be in a meeting this morning, so it could be a few minutes, but I promise, I will return with her." Kacey nodded against her shoulder and JJ let go of her to sling an arm around her waist.
Ignoring the looks she got from the rest of her team, she led the girl up to the tech cave. Knocking once, she opened the door and found Penelope watching her screens, looking for something. "One second." She hit a series of keys, pausing the screens and then turned to face them. "Good morning, Jayje. Who's our young friend?"
"This is Kacey Strauss. She's newly arrived from Germany. I'm going to run up and get Erin back here. Show her some cool stuff while I'm gone, okay?" Penelope nodded and cleared her screens.
"So, do you want to spy on your dad?"
"You can do that?" Kacey asked excitedly, sitting down next to Penelope. JJ left before she heard anything too incriminating and went down to her desk, picking up her phone.
"Do you know her, JJ?" Emily asked as the others surrounded her desk. "You seemed pretty chummy there."
"That's Kacey. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go and get her mother." JJ pushed through them and went outside into the hallway, walking quickly to Erin's office. "Hey, Erika, is Erin free?"
"Hey, JJ. Yeah, she's on the phone at the moment, but you can go right in. Is everything okay?"
"I don't know yet. We're going to find out shortly, though." Biting her lip, she slipped inside and watched Erin talking animatedly to one of the ADs. A few moments later, she hung up and smiled at JJ. "Hi?"
"Hello, Jennifer. To what do I owe the pleasure?" She got up and came to her side, slipping an arm around JJ's waist.
"Don't be upset, my sweet Erin." Her lover stiffened and pulled away slightly to stare at her. "I have something to tell you, but it might be a bit easier to hear if we sat down." She led Erin over to the sofa and they sat.
"What is it, Jennifer? Has something happened to Kacey?"
"Kind of. How much would you like to see her right now?" JJ looked into Erin's eyes, noticing the quick flame of hope that lighted there.
"What are you saying? Have you been in contact with Victor? Has he relented and decided to let her come home?"
JJ shook her head, hating to see that flame go out. "She's here. Now. Penelope's looking after her until we can get back down there." Erin covered her mouth with her hand, quick tears pouring down her face.
"She's here. My baby's home," she whispered as she collapsed against JJ. "Victor doesn't know, does he?"
"No, sweetheart. Kacey took his credit card and bought herself a ticket here. She's waiting for you. Are you ready to go see her?"
Erin nodded and they stood up. "Kiss me for courage, mein Sonnenschein?"
"Yes, Erin." She tipped her lover's face up and placed a feather light buss on her lips. "Here, let me fix your makeup a little. I know it's going to run more once we get to Penelope's office, but you have an image to maintain." Erin let out a watery laugh and leaned into JJ's touch. JJ found she couldn't help herself and kissed her lover once more.
"We can't go in there together, can we?" Erin's voice sounded so sad, and JJ wished she could be open about their relationship. "I'm beginning to really hate the frat rules."
"Would you really tell people I'm your girlfriend?" JJ asked, wanting to know her lover's answer.
"No. I'd tell them you are my other half, the one I've found I cannot live without." Erin clasped her hand and squeezed tightly. "Now take me to my daughter." JJ smiled dazedly at Erin's back. This was the closest they'd come to admitting their feelings for each other and suddenly all she wanted to do was kiss Erin senseless. "This is neither the time nor place for that thought, Jennifer," she said without even turning around, her hand on the doorknob.
"You know my hidden thoughts so well." Once in the hall, they switched positions, and JJ schooled her features as she led her girlfriend into the bullpen, trying not to give anything away. She knocked two times on Penelope's door and then went in. "Hey, we're here," she said softly as she shut the door.
"Mommy!" Kacey stood up and ran to her mother, throwing her arms around her waist. "I can't stand being there anymore. I want to be home, with you. Please, let me stay."
"Honey, you know I don't have custody of you. Your father is going to be furious with me when he finds out you're here. I'm sorry." She began to weep copiously and they made their way to the sofa, sitting down heavily.
Penelope turned to look at JJ, her own tears rolling down her cheeks. "Jayje, this is so tragic. Isn't there anything we can do to help?"
"I don't know what we could do. It seems like the douchebag has a lot of judges in his pocket, which is how he got custody of them in the first place." JJ felt her own tears course down her face and Penelope slung an arm around her waist. "I just want my girlfriend to be happy."
The door to the office opened and JJ looked to see who was coming in. Hotch stepped inside and frowned slightly. "Okay, ladies. What is going on here? The rest of the team is freaking out."
"Sugar Bear, you have to help us! Erin's daughter doesn't want to stay with her father anymore, but he has custody. Is there some way you could work some magic and reunite them?"
"If it's a court order, Penny, there's not much we could do. And if her ex-husband doesn't know she's here, things could look bad for Erin. She's going to have to call him and let him know, the sooner the better."
"But will you help them?" Penelope persisted, pulling JJ closer. "Please?"
"I'll look into it, if Erin wants me to. Now, what am I supposed to tell the others?" He pinned his eyes on JJ, and she swallowed hard.
"Are they asking how I know Kacey?" He nodded. "I suppose I'll have to do deal with that, then. While I'm doing that, Penelope, would you call Erika and let her know about Kacey being here and that we're going home after this. That is, if that's okay, Hotch."
"That'll be fine, Jen. You know what? No, you need to work through this. I'll make up a story to cover things for now and then bring them into the conference room. You'll have a thirty minute window to get out of here with them." JJ nodded and then took a seat next to Erin. Her lover leaned back against her, Kacey still crying hard. "I'm so sorry, Erin. I wish…"
"I know, Aaron. Thank you for helping us out in this little way, though." Erin turned her face into JJ's shoulder, soon wetting it with her tears. The door opened and closed once more and Erin sat up. "All right, Kacey. We have to clean ourselves up a little before we go out there. Oh, I'm so glad to see you." She wiped the tears from her daughter's face before kissing her forehead.
"Where are we going? To our house or Jennifer's?" Kacey asked as she smoothed her hair and straightened her clothes.
"Where would you like to go?" Erin stood and they followed suit. Kacey put herself between JJ and Erin, hooking an arm around each of their waists.
"I want to go to the place you call home now," she softly said and JJ met Erin's eye over her head.
"To Jennifer's it is then. Do you think it's safe for us to make our escape?"
Penelope grinned. "Let me check." She hurried over to her computers and tapped quickly away on her keyboard. Soon, a view of the conference room popped into view and they watched the others talking heatedly. "I have access to all the cameras here. I've been taking care of the incriminating footage of us for some time now. It looks like you're good to go."
"Thank you, Penelope." Erin stepped forward and hugged the other woman, stunning both JJ and Penelope. "I'm starting to see what the others see in you." Holding out her hand to Kacey, they went out into the bullpen, JJ trailing after them. "I have to get my things from my office. Kacey, go with Jennifer to get Henry and I'll meet you at the car." They nodded and parted ways.
"Do you have any idea how happy you make my mother, Jennifer?" Kacey asked as JJ grabbed her purse out of her desk drawer.
"I would hope as happy as she makes me. And you can call me JJ, if you want." She put her hand on Kacey's shoulder and guided her out to the elevators. They rode down to the first floor and JJ went up to the daycare room while Kacey hung back a little. "Hey, Kim, I'm here to pick up Henry. Something came up and I have to run home."
"Let me get him. He's playing trucks with Zach at the moment." The young woman turned and went over to where Henry was, tapping him on the shoulder and pointing to the door. Smiling, he ran up to her and lifted his arms.
"Mama, why are you here so soon? It not time to go home now."
"Not usually, no. But someone special came to visit us, so we're going to spend the day with her," she said as she picked him up. "Henry, I want you to meet Erin's daughter, Kacey."
"Hi, Kacey," he said shyly, smiling at her. She nodded and they walked out to the garage. Erin was at the car already, leaning against the passenger side door. "Win! Your tochter is here!"
JJ looked at him and then at Erin. "Are you teaching him German?"
Erin shrugged her shoulders slightly. "He's so bright, I figured I would fill his brain with knowledge." Henry reached out his arms and Erin took him from JJ and opened the car door, putting him in his toddler seat. "Are we ready to head home now?"
JJ nodded and got behind the wheel while Kacey slid in next to her. "Oh, okay, that works, too. So, what do you want to know about me?"
"Penelope told me you were the one who got my mother the phone so she could talk to me without Father knowing. He checks my call log morning and night, so this had been a really wonderful blessing. You rock, JJ." Kacey smiled at her. "Sometimes, I wished Mom would find a way out and be happy with someone else." She looked in the rearview mirror at her mother.
"I couldn't leave you kids with him. I always knew Victor might pull a stunt like this one." She stopped talking and JJ longed to stop the car and just hold her lover. "Jennifer's been so good to me."
They made it home in record time and JJ had Henry run up to his room to play. She then joined Erin and Kacey in the living room and sat on the sofa. Kacey was staring at her hands as Erin paced back and forth in front of the fireplace. "You're going to have to call him sometime, Mom."
"I know. I just don't know what to say to him. I know I'm going to cry and I don't want him to see me as weak." JJ frowned and patted the open spot next to her. Erin sank down and rested her head on her shoulder.
"We'll be right here, honey. Take some of my strength if you need it." JJ kissed her soft cheek and Erin smiled.
"All right." She took a deep breath and pulled out her cell phone, her finger hovering over the number pad as it began to ring. "Looks like he finally noticed you're gone, Kacey." Pressing the speaker button, she said, "Hello, Victor."
"Is my daughter there, you spiteful bitch?" He sounded so angry and JJ curled her arm around her lover's waist.
"Yes. Kacey is sitting right here next to me. What are you doing to her that she felt she had to run home to me? Why are you letting Rachel hit her? She showed me the bruises on her back."
"See, this is why I had to get her away from your lying, manipulative influence. Kacey fell onto some boxes and that's how she got those bruises. Rachel would never hurt her. Why would she? Kacey might hurt the baby. Fuck, Erin, you disgust me. I want her back home as soon as possible."
Erin leaned against JJ with Kacey curling up into her mother. "She's staying the night. And tomorrow. I'll see if I can find a flight out to Berlin on Wednesday. You won't argue this, because I'll have one of my legal team look into how Kacey really broke her arm in that car accident. And I'm taking pictures of the very much hand shaped bruises on her back."
"You think you can get away with this, you stupid bitch?" JJ felt tears wet her shirt once more that day and she rubbed Erin's back gently.
"I actually know I can, Victor. The preponderance of evidence is in my favor in this case, Victor." She took a deep breath. "Wednesday at the earliest." She pursed her lips, and they all waited for his response.
"Fine, but come the next school year, she's going to that boarding school. Consider that your punishment, Erin." He hung up angrily and Erin shuddered.
Kacey slipped onto the floor and knelt between the two of them. "I hate him, Mom. I really do. Why do I have to go back to a place that I cannot stand?"
"Just because you are having problems with your father, do not let that make you hate Germany. Your great grandmother was born there. Try to focus on the good parts of the country. Soak in the culture. I expect to hear reports on the operas, plays, and museums, okay?" She stroked Kacey's cheek lovingly. "There's always a silver lining to be found."
Slowly, Kacey nodded and rested her head on Erin's legs. "I suppose I could look at it that way. And I can try some more of the pranks that Penelope suggested I try, to make their lives miserable."
This was news to JJ and she looked at Kacey askance. "When have you been talking to PG?"
"She programmed her number in my cell phone right around the time Mom got the number to call me from. We've been texting back and forth about some things. She listens really well. And Father has no idea how the little annoyances have happened." Kacey shrugged. "You have really nice friends, Mom."
"I really do." She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Kacey, holding her tightly for a few minutes. After letting go, Kacey stood with a yawn.
"I hate to ask this, seeing as how we have such little time together, but is there somewhere I could nap? I'm suddenly exhausted."
"The guest room is the second door on the right upstairs. I'll wake you up in time for supper tonight. Oh, I love you, my sweet darling girl." Erin kissed her softly and let her go. Once she was out the door, Erin burst into sobs. "Jennifer, I only have one day with my baby. Will you stay with us, get to know her? I want her to know you like I do."
"So we'll be off until Thursday. I'll let Hotch know." Erin nodded and curled her hand into JJ's skirt as she cuddled close to her. "One second, Erin." She pulled out her phone and called Hotch, hoping he'd pick up.
"Yeah, JJ?" he said brusquely.
"Kacey goes back Wednesday. I'll see you all on Thursday." She ran her hand through Erin's hair, looking for the words to explain why she was doing what she was doing.
"Family is important, Jen. And I am working on finding out a way to bring Kacey back permanently. But what about the others? I know she has a son and an older daughter. Why isn't she fighting for them, too?"
"From what I understand, they've drunk the kool-aid." Erin looked up at her and she smiled. Her lover tried to smile back, but the quiver of her lips told JJ she was close to losing it once more. "I'll talk to you later, Hotch. Have a good day." She hung up before he could respond and set the phone on the table next to her. "You look exhausted, Erin."
She just sighed and fitted her body closer to JJ's. "I am. I have to say good-bye to my baby too soon." The hand on her skirt let go to creep around her waist and JJ pulled her up closer. "You're my witness. I didn't say anything bad about Victor today. I didn't stoop to his level."
"No, you didn't, my dear. Though I wish you would let Penelope unleash her ways on him fully. I know why you won't, I understand why. But I just want to be petty for once in my life. He's a bastard, Erin."
"I know he is, Jennifer. And I'm beginning to loathe him with every fiber of my being, but I don't want him to infect you, too. You mean so much to me, dearest, so much, and to let him eat away at you would hurt my heart."
JJ lifted Erin's face and kissed her soundly. "What hurts your heart hurts mine as well. We are entwined now, or at least that's how I feel. You fill this hole in my life so well. You've helped me to heal, even when the pain felt like too much to bear." Hot tears spilled onto her cheeks and Erin reached up to wipe them away. JJ turned her head to kiss that hand and the motions stilled.
"I want to cuddle here for a little while, to listen to your heart, feel your warmth bleed into me." Erin stood and kicked off her shoes. JJ followed suit and then stretched out on the sofa, using pillows to support her back as she turned on her side to look at Erin. "Thank you," she whispered as she nestled in close to JJ, resting her head on JJ's chest.
"Here, let me," she whispered back, undoing a few buttons on her blouse so that they could have skin contact and she smiled at the way Erin buried her face in her cleavage. "That's one way to take our minds off the events of today. But I think we'll have to wait until tonight."
"Hush, Jennifer. I can't hear your heart." Erin's lips were soft against her breast and JJ smiled, running her hand through her lover's ash blonde hair. "If I fall asleep, wake me with a kiss?"
"Yes, always, my Erin." Her arm tightened around JJ's waist and they both sighed as one. A deep silence fell over the room and they were soon breathing in tandem. JJ watched the clock above the fireplace, wishing she could do something to help her beloved. Hearing the light patter of feet behind them, she smiled. "Hello, Henry."
"How'd you know it's me, Mama?" he asked as he came around to look at her, a bright smile on his face.
"I know everything about you, my darling boy. You are my pride and joy and I will always know when you're near." Henry giggled and crawled up on the sofa, somehow fitting himself between her and Erin. She watched him kiss Erin's cheek and then rest his head on her chest.
"Have you come to cuddle with us, Henry?" Erin asked lowly, a tender smile fluttering across her lips.
"Uh huh. Where's Kacey?"
"She's upstairs, sleeping. Flying takes a lot out of you, especially when you go from one country to another. And she has to be ready to fly back on Wednesday. Her father won't let her stay any longer than that."
"He's so mean, Win. Can't you do something about him? I mean, you work with Mama and help put mean people where they belong."
"Just because someone is mean to us doesn't mean they've done anything wrong. Sometimes in this life there are those who like to treat others badly. They don't do anything bad enough to be punished for because they know how things work, and so they can escape the repercussions."
"And that's what her father did to you?" Erin nodded. "Why do people like that live?"
"There's some good in him, he does love his children, in his own way. He just doesn't love me anymore, and so uses Kacey to hurt me. And everyone has the right to live. If we didn't have the bad in this world, we wouldn't know how sweet the good is. And my good is so very, very sweet right now, Henry. I have you, and your Mama, and, for one brief day, I have my darling Kacey back." She kissed his forehead softly and JJ smiled.
"I love you, Win."
"I love you, too, Henry." Erin tousled his hair lightly and he giggled. "Do you want soup for lunch?"
"Yeah! And grilled cheese!" Henry got up and tugged on Erin's arm, pulling her up. "Mama, go get Kacey while we start the soup."
JJ nodded, buttoning her shirt before standing and kissing Erin sweetly, "We'll be down in a few minutes."