Chapter 24
Day 10

"I didn't even know Blake had a niece." JJ said.

The team was clustered at the door, watching this reunion going on. "She was in Europe." Dave replied. "Doing her grad work."

"Oh, here she is. Doctor Joanna Miller." Penelope said, looking at her tablet. "I always feel better when I can find someone. Awww." She said as she checked out the couple. "So now what?"

"I'm going to take Jo down to be checked out and then take them both back to my place." Dave said. "Alex wouldn't want her to be alone right now and I don't think we're going to be splitting them up anytime soon. Can you find a way to get word to Alex?"

"If it's possible I'll make it happen."

"Great. Thank you."

"I'll go down with you." JJ said. "You might want a woman along. And it would be good for me to move."

"You sure?" Morgan asked.

"As long as I don't have to rush." JJ ran a hand over her very tight belly. "The pressure might get this one to hurry it along."

"Tired of being pregnant?"

"You have no idea."

"Looks like they're ready for company." Hotch said.

They trooped in, and found Jo curled up in the bed next to Spencer. "Okay, now we have to figure out a way for you two to answer a knock." Morgan said.

Spencer considered this, then found the alphabet sheet. ONCEYES

"And twice no. Okay. You two ready for company?"

Spencer tapped a cast off the table once.

Introductions were made all around. "If you're ready we should really get you checked out." Dave said.

Spencer looked at her, a question in his eyes. I went home. She wrote. I didn't know what else to do.

"How did that happen anyway?" JJ asked.

One moment she was pacing around in front of the med room as usual, the next all hell was breaking loose.

Jo was an academic and a doctor. What the hell did she know about big men with guns.

"Get down!" Paul said. He jerked her into the med room and on to the floor. "Keep your hands where they can see them."

One of the men stopped in the doorway. "Petty officer Johnson?" He asked.

Paul looked up. "NCIS. That's my ride. Come on." He grabbed Jo by the elbow and pulled her up. "She's one of the victims." He said. "How do we get out of here?"

"This way."

Jo followed Paul who was following the man in front of them. But they were running down the stairs a little too fast, and they got out ahead of her. They emerged in the underground garage, which seemed like chaos. Not helped by not having been outside in weeks...

"Johnson!" Someone yelled out.

"Grizzy!" Paul yelled back.

As Jo watched he ran up to a group of large men who started embracing him. Those must be members of his unit, she thought. He's going home. Good.

And then a helicopter took off from just beyond that building. As she watched a small group of men with FBI on their vests piled into a car and took off in the same direction. They must be taking Spencer to the hospital, she thought. They'll take care of him, I know they will.

Now what do I do?

"Hey lady!" Jo turned and found a cop standing there. "This is an active crime scene! You can't be in here!" She obviously wasn't under arrest, but she also wasn't injured or high as a kite. Before she could get a post-it out of her pocket to tell him that she was a victim he took her arm and shoved her behind a barricade. "Don't make me arrest you!" He said.

Um, okay.

She looked around and spotted a cab a little ways away. I don't know where Spencer is, she thought, but his family is with him. And Paul's family is with him. My family isn't here, but that doesn't mean they can't help.

She went over to the cab driver and wrote him a note. Take me to Georgetown?

The driver looked and shrugged. "Sure thing lady."

So I went home. Joanna wrote. We keep a little stash of emergency cab money inside the gate, and spare keys behind a combo lock in the greenhouse. I got something to eat out of the pantry and went to bed. I think I may have repeated that a few times.

"That was probably a stress reaction." JJ said.

"At least you two are safe." Dave said. "That's the important thing. Let's get you downstairs, they're going to give you a once over."

I'm not injured. They never laid a hand on me.

"Humor me. Besides, what would your Aunt say?'

Jo sighed, nodded, got up from the bed, kissed Spencer on the temple, and went down with Dave and JJ.

"You look better." Penelope said as she settled next to the bed.

Spencer thought about this, nodded and found the alphabet card.

JOISSAFE

"You're better because you know Jo is safe?" He nodded, and Penelope smiled. "That's understandable. We really need to find a better option than these cards."

"You know it's going to be four to six weeks before you two can make with the healing." Morgan said with a grin.

"Are you sure?" Penelope asked. "Do you have to be careful? Do you have...stitches?" She practically whispered the last part.

"He does." Morgan replied. "They have him on something to make sure he doesn't pull on any of them."

In other words, to keep from becoming erect. If Spencer could groan he would have. All this and they still couldn't be together like they wanted.

"I can get that."

"Speaking of Unsubs, did you know their names?" Penelope asked.

Spencer slowly smiled. ONE

"We have a list." She booted her laptop and started reading off female names. She stopped when he nudged her. "Marjorie Berkshire. Oh my god, she's, like, ancient."

Morgan looked over Penelope's shoulder. "Yeah, she's 87. And she can afford very good lawyers. You know, she's never going to trial." Spencer nodded with a slow smile. "And you're okay with this?"

HAVEAPLAN

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So I am going to take a little hiatus over the holiday. I'll be back on the 27th. To answer a question I have, since questions aren't allowed here, please check this chapter on AO3. Thanks and have a happy holiday.