Jo stared at the same paragraph for ten minutes as Hotch walked into her office. "Jo?" He knew something was on her mind.
"Oh, I'm sorry." She looked up; after she snapped out of the fog she was in. "What can I do for you?"
"I just came to see if you were finished with that report?"
"Yes." She started to dig through the stacks of folders on her desk. "Here you go."
"Is there something on your mind?" Hotch asked, concerned.
"It's just one of the cases I'm looking into. Have you ever worked stalker cases?"
"I've done my share. Did you want me to take a look?"
"Oh no." She was quick to dismiss. "I was just imagining what it would be like to live like that. Must be scary, never knowing when he would just pop up."
"It can be. Sometimes it is good to understand the victims. But it isn't good to become too emotionally attached. So, if you feel like you are going there. Take a break in the case, or come see me and I'll help."
"Thanks." She gave a meager smile knowing she wasn't talking about any case but her own.
Garcia and Reid were already at Jo's apartment helping her and Lisa set up. Jo opened the door to see Agent Anderson holding a bottle of wine. "Grant, come on in." He handed over the bottle. She leaned in toward him. "Don't worry, I invited Gina, too."
"How did you…" He stuttered uncomfortably.
"Everyone knows. I'm not even a profiler and I knew."
One by one, the rest of the team arrived. Jo was pleasantly surprised to see Rossi and Hotch. Everyone had a drink in their hands, laughing and enjoying themselves.
Jo pulled Morgan aside and asked him to do her a special favor by bringing a present out from her room. She whispered to him the instructions that he needed to follow. Morgan grabbed Hotch to help him inside Jo's bedroom.
Morgan couldn't help but notice something shinny in her trash can. He reached in and pulled out the charm bracelet and the card with the new charm still taped to it. He then put it back when he hear Jo's cue. Hotch and Morgan pushed the huge box into her living room.
"Lisa. I wanted to get you a little present before you left me. It took me a long time to find the right thing for you." Jo then stepped away from the wrapped box.
Lisa walked up, hesitant to open it, unsure of what it could be. She pulled off the top and her husband popped up. "Oh my god! Michael!"
He broke through the box and wrapped his arms around his wife and kissed her.
"Wow." JJ remarked to Emily. "He looks just like Johnny Depp.
"I know, right. Good for you, Lisa!"
They both held up their glasses and took a drink.
Morgan pulled Hotch back aside and showed him what he found in the trash. "Do you think she threw these out on purpose?" Morgan then picked up the card and showed it to him.
Hotch read it and saw "Paul" written on the bottom. "Yeah, I think she meant to. Come on, we shouldn't be going through her things. She invited us to a party."
"Should we tell Reid?" Morgan asked.
"It's none of our business." Hotch insisted and pushed Morgan out of her room. Hotch went to close the door and noticed a pistol sticking out from under her pillow.
Rossi approached Reid. "So, have you changed your mind about telling her?"
Reid let out a sigh and nodded. "Yes, I think that I should. I just don't think tonight is a good night. I will need to find the right time."
"Do it sooner than later." Rossi urged.
On the other side of the apartment, Lisa pulled Jo aside. "How did you pull this off?"
"Michael and I have been planning it for a couple of weeks. He wanted to surprise you. I even managed to keep Spencer out of the loop."
The sisters then looked to see Michael and Spencer catching up.
Jo smiled. "I have always loved how Michael and Spencer get along. I mean, he isn't the easiest person to talk to sometimes. People tend to complain that he sounds like a robot."
"You mean like people have talked about me?" Lisa joked. "I think that's why it works. Michael understands it. Besides, he likes Spencer. He also likes that the two of you are dating."
Jo couldn't help but blush. "Okay, I need to go check on my guests." She walked around with bottles of wine. She went up to Rossi and Hotch, who were talking together. "Do you gentlemen need a top-up?"
Rossi held out his glass. "That would be great. Thanks, Kiddo."
Jo was glowing with happiness and went to check on her other friends.
Rossi took a drink of his freshly filled glass. "She looks like she is enjoying herself."
"Yes, she does." Hotch agreed.
"She needs it."
Hotch looked to Rossi. They both had fragments of what was going on in Jo's life. At that moment Hotch knew that Rossi had another piece of the puzzle.
A couple hours had past and as most of the guests departed, Jo was saying goodnight to a tipsy Garcia who was hanging off of Morgan. "Please get her home safely." Jo urged.
"Oh, you know I will." He reassured her. "Come on Lalaloopsy."
Garcia smiled and waved. "Good night! I love you all!"
Jo laughed as she said goodnight and shut the door. She looked to Lisa, Michael and Reid who were starting to clean up. "Oh, please don't do that. I will take care of it."
"Don't be silly." Lisa brushed her off. "We don't mind."
"Hey, Jo." Michael called. "We wanted to ask you something."
"Shoot."
"Well, Lisa and I were planning on going to New York for a couple of days and wanted to know if you would be able to come with us? Go see the sights, maybe a Broadway show. What do you think?" Michael smiled.
"That would be great. I will talk to Hotch tomorrow. I do have some time off available."