AN: For completely selfish reasons, this fic will continue until at least New Years, cause I want to write some fluffy Christmas/NYE stuff for it. Already have another ficcie in the works but considering what I want to do next for CM since that one is NCIS.

MN: This is going to be a huge chapter. It stands at 8 pages handwritten and was done mostly by AJ herself. See, we were writing while working loads of overtime, just not in digital format.


JJ looked up from her desk at the knock on her office door. She had left it open and Spencer now stood in the doorway. "Hey Spence. What's up?"

"Hey, Blake, Rossi, Morgan, and I could all use some more consults." He was fidgeting in place.

She motioned him in and turned to retrieve a stack of files. "I have plenty. If we can manage to stay in town this week, I might actually be able to see my desk again by Friday."

He nodded absently and she sighed. "Alright, what is it?"

He took the files from her but didn't meet her eyes. "Don't be mad, okay?"

"What would I have to be mad about, Spence?"

"I Talked to Hotch about what happened yesterday with Will. I figured we could use the advice and I needed to talk to someone and since he knows…"

She smiled softly. "I was going to talk to him myself. What'd he say?"

He glanced behind him and moved to close the door before responding. "He said that it really shouldn't be a big problem since the 'mitigating factors' haven't changed since the original custody agreement was signed. But, we should be prepared to have to prove your 'support structure', which means that at least Garcia may have to testify.

His continued use of the word 'we' warmed her heard and helped temper her nerves. "And that means we're going to have to tell the team."

He nodded. "Yeah. But, we will have time. We can decide on when and how to do it. Nothing will happen before the first of the year, so we should try to relax and enjoy this weekend."

"Right." They lapsed into silence for a moment before she remembered the other item she needed to discuss with him. "Hey, I have that meeting at 4:30 and it's probably going to go until six. Did you want to see if you can get a ride home from Morgan? It's too cold to walk all the way from the Metro."

Spencer smiled at her. "Actually, I was going to wait here. I figured I could take you out to dinner before we go home."

A smile returned to spread on her face. "Are you asking me out on a date, SSA Reid?"

His smile widened to a grin. "Why, I do believe I am, SSA Jareau."

"Well then, I do believe I'll have to say yes." They continued to smile at each other for a moment before her composure slipped and she chuckled. "Okay, go. I have work to do. I'll see you tonight."

"See you tonight." He adjusted the files in his arm before opening the door and exiting.

She stared after him a moment before the phone on her desk rang. "Jareau."

"Hey, it's Logan Stockwell."

She was surprised to be hearing from him, especially on her office line. "Agent Stockwell, what can I do for you?"

"I have a suspect in custody that I can't get to talk. I was hoping your team was in town and one of you could take a look at the file and maybe give me some insight. I had enough evidence to file charges and make the arrest, but I'm not sure it's enough to convict."

This type of consult was pretty standard. The only deviation from the norm was that he had called instead of just forwarding the file and his courtesy was refreshing. "Sure. I'm actually in my office now if you want to bring it up."

She could hear his smile. "On my way."

He was at her door in under five minutes, a thick file in his hand. She waived him in and indicated a chair to sit in as she finished composing an email then closed her laptop. "So, give me the basics. I want to know who is going to be best suited to giving you a profile."

He passed over the folder. "Wayne McDrubin, 27, only child, single parent who worked a lot. More than a bit socially awkward. Crazy good with computers and numbers. Hacked a bank's servers and siphoned off a couple mil over the course of a year."

While he had spoken she had flipped through the first couple of pages of the file. "Sounds like one for Reid. He may have to get some technical help from Garcia. I'd say he can have something for you by day's end. I'll ask him to make it a priority since the suspect's in custody and he had nothing else pressing right now.

Stockwell smiled widely. "That would be great. I'd love to get something out of him before he's transferred from the holding facility to the prison. They denied him bail because the money is still missing so he's a flight risk."

She returned his smile. "No problem. And while you're here, you saved me an email. We're having a Christmas party this Saturday. You should stop by. Family friendly from 3-7. Adults only after. A bunch of people are bringing sleeping bags and crashing so they can really enjoy themselves on Rossi's dime."

His smile widened even further. "Count me in. I've gotta run, but text me the details?"

"Sure."

With a parting wink, he exited her office.


The doorbell rang and JJ excused herself from the people she was talking to so she could answer it. Stockwell smiled as she opened the door. "Hey, you made it!"

"I said I would. I just got delayed." He shifted to the side, revealing his niece and nephew at his side. "I got roped into babysitting. I hope you don't mind."

JJ stepped aside so they could enter. "Not at all. There are about twenty kids running around. And you guys are just in time for the magic show."

"Magic show?" Layla's eyes lit up as she unzipped her coat.

JJ smiled at her. "Yup. My friend knows real magic. You guys should go upstairs and watch."

The kids shed their coats quickly, shoving them at their uncle before racing upstairs. JJ opened the closet and hung up the discarded jackets, along with Stockwell's.

"You guys hired a magician?" He was looking both puzzled and impressed.

She shook her head. "No. Spencer is really good at magic tricks so he's doing a little show for the kids." She closed the closet then motioned for him to follow her. "There's a ton of food in the kitchen. Most of the people here are in law enforcement, a couple are in government, so there's a lot of shop talk happening. And watch out. Mistletoe keeps popping up. I suspect Garcia's to blame, probably talked Morgan into helping her."

He chuckled softly. "Thanks for the warning. The house looks incredible. How did you manage the time to do all this?" He was still trailing her as she entered the kitchen.

"I can't take credit. Garcia planned, Rossi paid. I've just got the biggest place in town out of the team. Rossi's got a huge place, but it's a bit of a drive. So, I volunteered the space." She walked through the kitchen, gathering pieces of trash that had been left around.

"Well it's a very nice space." He helped himself to some punch. "So, is Louisiana picking Henry up later?"

JJ shook her head as she continued cleaning up. "No. Hotch's sister-in-law is taking both boys. Will had to cover a shift tonight and my sitter is actually coming here later."

"My sister is going to pick up the kids when she gets done shopping. Is the prim and proper Agent Hotchner actually staying to party?" He had hitched up an eyebrow as he spoke.

"He's actually pretty laid back once he takes the suit off. Especially when his girlfriend, Beth, is around." She finished loading dirty dishes into the dishwasher and closed it, pressing the start button. "We all have our ways of dealing with the BAU. His is compartmentalization. Work is work. Home isn't. No grey area." She headed back toward the living room.

"I wish I could do that sometimes, I guess, and my job isn't nearly as intense as yours." He turned toward the sound of someone calling his name then looked back at her. "Speaking of talking shop, I need to go gloat over the confession I got thanks to Reid's profile."


AN: So we decided to split this into two chapters so one of them can be up before JenJen gets home from work. This is only not even half of it.