Sorry for the confusion in the last chapter, to clarify. JJ and Will were talking about the kids when I used they, Tom was talking about the unsubs (the one from the case in New Orleans and the one from the case in PA), when Will said they were speaking in code he was talking about the men when he went upstairs to get the bags.
I appreciate all review as long as they are positive, that does include constructive criticism I am not the best at proofing my own writing and tend to jump around (I am trying to get better). Thank you to everyone.
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JJ sat on the small couch that was in the room pulling her knees up to her chest, she watched Mariah, Luke and her mom, wondering what she needed to do to get the focus of Mariah.
"Whatever your thinking it's not going to work." Will making JJ look up
"I have to find a way for the focus not to be on her." JJ whispered
"You are not putting yourself in danger, none of us will agree with that." Will sitting next to her.
"I am not going to let Mariah or Luke be in anymore danger." JJ
"We are going to protect them. It's not just you anymore, I am here, please don't shut me out when it comes to her safety or yours." Will
"I don't know how to ask for help." JJ confessed
"Just talk to me, let me know what you are thinking." Will
/
The front porch
"Garcia sent a message." Rossi looking at his phone
"Will seems to think that this maybe a cop." Rossi
"Did she say why he thinks that?" Tom asked
"No, but we need to let Emily and Morgan know just to be safe." Rossi
"I'll let them know. I don't want them to come out until we sweep the rest of the house." Hotch as he was calling Morgan
"We need her to pull anyone who was on the force during both cases and if they have a connection to Pennsylvania." Reid
"We also will need to start digging into who had a grudge against the two of you or JJ and Will." Rossi looking at Tom and Bill.
"Jen and Will were teenagers when this all started and neither one of them had anything to do with any cops. The only time they were ever around them was at picnics or BBQ's." Bill told them
"We should see if there's a connection first." Reid
"Let me get Garcia on it." Rossi
"Could you find out how Jen and the kids are doing?" Tom asked
"Yeah." Rossi as he was sending Garcia a message.
/
The sun room
Sandy sat down in the chair by Will and JJ.
"Do you know how long we are going to be down here?" Sandy asked JJ and Will
"Not yet. They found a bug in the attic." JJ
"Someone was listening to us." Sandy
"Yeah, it appears that way." JJ
"Whatever is going through that thick head of yours is not going to happen do you understand me." Sandy looking at JJ
"Mom" JJ
"Jennifer Maria do you understand me. That little girl over there would be worse off if something happened to you. Mariah adores you." Sandy
"I am supposed to protect her." JJ trying to reason
"Not by putting yourself in danger." Sandy
"It's better than the kids being in danger." JJ mumbled
"Don't think I can't get every one of those men to keep you in this room until they catch whoever this is. I get that you want to protect the kids; it's the mother in you. But as your mother I will not let you put yourself in danger." Sandy
"Before the two of you really start fighting. Mariah and Luke are going to need to eat soon. What kind of soup will she eat?" Will
"She's not really a picky eater." JJ told him
"Good to know. I'll fix them some soup, while the two of you talk." Will
"Thank you." JJ, watching him walk away
"Jen, I know that you are trying to protect her but her life got turned upside down just like Will's did and right now it doesn't matter whose fault that is. You have to be there to help her through it." Sandy trying to reason with JJ
"I know. I won't do anything crazy, I promise." JJ
"Thank you." Sandy
/
Garcia stopped Will after receiving Rossi's message.
"I am looking to see if there is any connection between cops here and cops in Pennsylvania that worked both cases. Rossi also asked if you or JJ could think of any cop who would hold a grudge against the two of you." Garcia
"I can't, but I'll talk to her about it." Will looking over at JJ
"She's a mess, not that any of us can blame her." Garcia
"Yeah and stubborn as hell." Will
"Tom asked how JJ and the kids are doing." Garcia
"Tell them the truth. JJ is a nervous wreck and Mariah and Luke both seem fine." Will
"Seem?" Garcia
"Yeah, I just don't think they understand but I am sure they both of questions." Will
"They will ask when they want to." Garcia
"Let me know if you hear anything else. I'm fixing lunch, nothing big but we will have some food." Will
"Okay." Garcia going back to her search
/
Two hours later
Emily and Morgan had returned from the station and swept the house for any more bugs. They found three more, two in the living room and one in the kitchen.
"I guess the unsub was making sure he heard us." Morgan
"The problem is now we could be looking at cops, we all know that could get tricky." Emily
"Did Garcia get anything from the search?" Reid asked
"She is still searching there are lot more cops than we thought." Rossi
"So let's start with what we know." Hotch
"Guys, first we need to get ready for the storm." Tom
"It shouldn't take long to board up both houses." Bill
"We should get Will and JJ. Garcia said the kids were doing okay but JJ was a nervous wreck." Rossi
"Will can help, but JJ stays in the house." Hotch
"Why don't Morgan and Reid come with me? We can start boarding up my house and get the food from there." Tom
"Don't discuss the case, we didn't check that house and hurry back." Rossi
"I'll text Will." Bill
/
Downstairs
"How much longer are we going to be in here?" Mariah almost whining
"Yeah, can't we go upstairs?" Luke
"Didn't the two of you just ask that?" Will
"Yessssssssss" Mariah half smiling at Will
"Then stop asking." JJ ready to laugh
Mariah and Luke had decided it was fun to ask Will the same two questions about every five minutes.
"Do you know when we can leave the room?" Mariah
"Nope and you asking is not going to make it any sooner." JJ
"But we are bored at Aunt Pen won't let us play on the computer." Mariah
"She is working, so you are not allowed to bug her." JJ
"Then what can we do?" Mariah asked
JJ looked at her mom and Will before answering Mariah.
"Baby, I don't know maybe you two could draw some pictures." JJ
Mariah fell on the bed and sighed dramatically.
"That is going to take some getting used." Will as his phone went off
"That was calm." JJ looking at him
"Can you ask Grandpa Dave when we can come out?" Mariah
"Well my dad just texted and said we can." Will
"I knew I like him." Mariah smiling
"She's only nine right." Will
"Yes, I can't wait until she's sixteen." JJ rolling her eyes as she stood up.
"We have to get ready for the storm, but the kids are okay in the house." Will
"Okay, we need to talk after were done getting ready for the storm." JJ
"Whatever you want, Garcia are you okay stopping." Will
"Yes." Garcia
/
Emily and Rossi went downstairs to help Will and JJ while Hotch and Bill started getting out the boards for the windows.
"Em, the kids are coming up first." JJ
"Okay come on monkeys." Emily
Emily helped Mariah and Luke up the ladder, Rossi grabbed Garcia's computer than helped both her and Sandy up the ladder.
"Cher your next." Will told JJ
JJ climbed up and Will followed.
"What's the plan?" JJ asked
"Morgan and Reid went with your dad to board up his house. Hotch and Bill are getting the boards so we can board up this house. You are to stay in the house, so are the kids." Rossi
"Okay. Can the window in Luke's room be boarded first?" JJ
"Yes, Will we need your help." Rossi
"Okay, let's go." Will
/
An hour and half later both houses were board up and all the food was put away. Sandy had taken Mariah and Luke into the basement to play some video games, Tom went down to watch Mariah. Bill and Rossi were cooking dinner; the team was all resting in the rooms they stayed in the night before. JJ went to the room her mom stayed in hoping Will would find her.
"Jen" Will opening the door a little
"Come in and shut the door." JJ sitting up
"You said you wanted to talk." Will standing by the door
"Yeah. You can come sit down we just haven't been able to talk much." JJ
Will sat next to her, he watched as JJ put her hand in his.
"She's funny. I am so used to Luke having a girl is going to be completely different." Will
"Mariah was seeing what she could get away with but she can a little more than dramatic." JJ smiling
"She has your smile." Will looking at JJ
"I guess." JJ looking at the ground
"We agreed to be honest with each other." Will
"I realized downstairs how much you missed out on with Mariah. When Mariah and I were laying down she was talking to me, not asking question just talking but you should know some of it." JJ
"I would love to know. I have to admit I'm a little jealous watching the two of you." Will
"She likes that you call her Princess because no one else calls her that and that you listen and remember what she says, she's not sure why but she feels safe around you, she's not happy about our arrangement and she's almost positive you are not going to change your mind." JJ told him
"Jen, I am not going to let her down or you." Will
"I know but she's a lot like me when it comes to her feelings sometimes it takes her awhile to come around, but she doesn't understand why it is different with you." JJ
"How do we help her?" Will
"We don't. You do and I am not asking you to take time away from Luke but you spending time with her helps." JJ
"I have to earn her trust." Will
"Yeah." JJ
"Okay then that's what happens. What about you?" Will
"You have my trust." JJ
"Good. Now the arrangement how do we fix it." Will
"I have no clue. I am ready to ask everyone their ideas." JJ
"I almost asked your mom when we were in the room." Will admitted
"I feel like I am sixteen again when I ask her for help but I don't have any clue what to do to help Mariah, Luke or us." JJ
"Then let's take suggestions because I am lost." Will
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