Believe Again

Dave pulled his SUV up to the curb of Jessica's house and threw the engine in park. "Are you okay?" he asked JJ.

She gave him a nod as she looked nervously at the house. "Will he remember me?" she whispered, tears filled her blue eyes.

"You have been gone longer than this," Dave gently reminded her, "and he didn't forget you. Garcia has popped in to check on him, and he seems to be thriving. Didn't he make you a picture?"

"He did." JJ patted her purse that held the precious picture that was never going to hang on her fridge. The apartment wasn't hers any more, and now there was nothing she could hang the piece of paper with the crooked heart and stick figures haphazardly drawn by the hand of her three year old son.

"He talks about you all the time…at least that is what Jessica has told Hotch. Henry loves you, Jen, and he misses you," Dave said softly.

"He thinks I've been out catching the bad guy," she muttered wryly, her hand absently touched the ace bandage around her wrist.

"You have," Dave replied.

JJ shook her head. "I haven't been out catching the bad guy," she contradicted bitterly at the lie she was going to have to tell her son. "I've been lounging around in a hospital bed," a tinge of anger coated her words.

"You weren't 'lounging', Jen, you were recuperating," Dave corrected.

"While the rest of the team risked their lives to catch…" She paused to search for an appropriate word "…him," she finished.

"They were doing their job…the same you would have done for any of them. Henry doesn't need to know the truth, he just needs to see his momma." Dave started to rest a hand on JJ's shoulder, but stopped at the last moment.

"What if he asks about how I look?" JJ whispered fearfully, suddenly self conscious of her appearance.

"He'll be so happy to see you that he won't notice, but if he does, you'll think of something. Now, let's go get your son." Dave opened his door and stepped out.

JJ unfastened her seatbelt. Inside the two story white home at the end of the brick path was her son. She needed to get him and hold him in her arms again. She opened the door and joined Dave on the sidewalk.

"Ready?" he asked. JJ nodded. Together they walked up the path to the front door. Dave pressed the doorbell. The chime sounded and a few seconds later the door opened.

"MOMMY!" Henry shouted. His face lit up before he threw himself into JJ's arms. "Mommy, you're back!" he cried happily and pressed dozens of kisses on her face.

JJ held her son tightly. He smelled so good…he felt so good. "I'm back, Henry." The tears slipped from her eyes as she tried to melt Henry into her.

"I missed you," Henry said. He pulled back to look at his mother. "Mommy, what happened to your face?" His blue eyes were wide with fear. He reached out to touch the yellowish bruises on JJ's cheek. "Does it hurt?" he breathed.

JJ's hand shook as she brushed a tear away. "No, honey, it doesn't hurt."

"Did you fight the bad guy?" he asked. JJ nodded…reluctantly. "Did you win?" He waited with breathless anticipation for her answer.

JJ hesitated, then looked at Dave, then at Jessica, who had walked into the living room as soon as she had heard Henry's shout.

"Umm…" She searched for an answer that would satisfy him. "We…we won," she choked out.

Henry hugged her tightly. "I knew you would, Mommy. You always win."

From the doorway, Jessica took in the scene unfolding before her eyes. Quietly she took in the bruises and cuts on JJ's face and the bandage on her wrist. She was far from being a profiler, but it didn't escape her attention the way JJ hesitated when Henry threw himself into her arms. Though they had only met twice before, Jessica could notice the difference in attitude and body language of the blonde she had once been reserved toward.

It didn't escape her how JJ's smile failed to meet her blue eyes…eyes that were now dull and red rimmed. Her heart immediately went out to JJ as she noticed the pained expression when she hugged Jack, who had run up to greet his "Aunt JJ".

"How are you doing?" Jessica finally asked.

JJ looked down at the ground. "I…I'm fine. A little bit of a sprain, but the doctor says it should be okay." Awkward silence filled the room as the adults knew that a sprained wrist was not the inquiry.

Jessica stepped closer. "Henry, why don't you go get your bag and toys? Jack, go help him, okay? I need to talk to Miss Jareau." Happily, the two boys ran up the stairs. As their feet faded, Jessica spoke again.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

JJ nodded. "Yes."

"Where are you going to be staying? Do you need a place?" Jessica queried.

"I…"

"She and Henry are going to be staying with me during her recovery," Dave finished.

"That's good." Jessica laid a comforting hand on JJ's. "If you want, you could leave Henry here for a few more days. He gets along with Jack and the other kids…and it might help you in recovery."

JJ involuntarily tensed from Jessica's gesture. "Henry needs me." Her lip trembled.

"I understand, but it might be too much of a burden right now," Jessica pointed out matter of fact.

"I'll be there to help her," Dave pointed out. "JJ won't be overwhelmed."

"Still…he is three and you've been hurt…" Jessica trailed off. "I discussed it with Tom, and we can keep Henry for as long as you need us to."

"I can handle it, Jessica," Dave replied.

"But he's three and she's been thru hell."

"I am on medical leave with my hand," he reminded her, "and Henry won't be a burden."

"I didn't say he would be a burden," Jessica corrected. "I'm just worried that with everything that has happened, and all that is going to go into recovering, you might want a little more time to yourself."

"I thank you for the offer, Jessica, but I have it under control," Dave commented.

"I'm still here, and I need my son," JJ spoke up. "And I'm going to take him home with me." Her words left no room for argument.

Immediately chastised by JJ's tone, Jessica took a step back, her face softened. "Are you sure, Jennifer?" Her worried look was directed at Dave.

"He's my son and I want to take care of him," JJ stated in a cold tone. The sound of footsteps on the stairs interrupted any further conversation.

"I is ready, Mommy!" Henry announced happily.

"Did you get everything?" JJ faked the cheerful tone.

"Yep." Henry held up his mini go bag. "I put it all in here. Just like you taught me. Can we go home now?"

"Yes." JJ nodded. "Thank you, Jessica…for all you've done."

"The offer still stands…if you need me to watch Henry again…"

"I'll…think about it. But I probably won't." JJ grabbed Henry's hand. "Come on." She opened the door and guided Henry down the porch steps.

"Dave…" Jessica began, "…I know that you and I don't see eye to eye…"

"Because of Hotch."

"Yeah," she agreed. "But this…Jennifer…she was hurt badly? I mean, Aaron didn't go into details, but I can tell…"

Dave nodded. "Yes." He didn't elaborate, he didn't have to.

"I don't think she's up to taking care of Henry," Jessica pointed out.

"Jessica…"

"I've had the flu and barely could keep up with my two." She paused and weighed her words. "I'm just saying that you have dealt with this…situation, and you know that she's going to have a breaking point."

"I'm aware of that being a possibility."

"The offer to watch Henry still stands…no matter what."

Dave kept his face expressionless, but he did give a slight nod. "Thank you. I'll call you if I need you."

"Take care of her."

"I will," he promised, then followed JJ and Henry to the SUV.

Standing in the doorway, Jessica watched as Dave helped secure Henry into his car seat, then helped JJ inside before closing the door. She waited until the SUV pulled away from the curb and disappeared.

"Aunt Jessica," Jack asked as he suddenly appeared beside her.

"Yes."

"Is Aunt JJ okay?"

"Yes," Jessica lied quickly.

"I didn't get to tell Henry 'good-bye'," he said sadly. "And he forgot his Iron Man toy." He held up the plastic action figurine.

Jessica wrapped her arm around her nephew. "It's okay, he'll be back."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded sadly. "Yes. Very sure."