A/N: Here's next chapter. I hope you all like it!

Somehow, I have managed to find inspiration for this which I am really happy about. And of course it helps that you guys read, follow and review! It means the world to me!

Special thanks to jenny crum, snuggleUP, 2Addicted2YourLove and Westie80!

I don't own criminal minds!


Chapter 28: London calling

The next morning the sound of a cellphone caused them both to wake up. Hotch turned on his side and jumped from the bed when he realized it was his phone. He looked at the floor to try and locate his jeans. Once he had found them, he bent down and pulled the phone from his pocket and answered the call as he walked into the living room, hoping JJ would fall back asleep.

JJ sat up straight in the bed, her hand going through her hair as she looked down at the alarm clock on the nightstand. It was a little after seven on a Saturday so she knew his call was probably very urgent. She stepped from the bed and walked towards her dresser and quickly threw on some shorts and a tank top. She continued her way into the living room where Hotch was still on the phone.

''Yeah of course.'' Hotch said as he turned around to see JJ standing behind him. He gave her an apologetic smile which she returned. ''The team can consult on the case, Ma'am. But our workload is too big to take this on fulltime.'' he explained desperately hoping that Strauss would give him some leniency. ''Yes, I'll be there in an hour.''

JJ sat down on the couch as he put the phone down and looked at her with a pained expression. ''Is everything alright?'' she asked.

''Uhh…I don't know.'' he replied as he walked over to her and sat down next to her. ''My boss, the section chief, asked my team to consult on a case.''

''Okay, is that bad?''

''No, not in particular. But it's a murder case, JJ.'' he went on, not knowing how to deliver the news to her. ''The victim is Tyler Warren. Your boss.''

''What?'' JJ asked in shock. Her tone of voice wasn't because of the surprise of his death, but more about the shock that Hotch was consulting on the case. And then she realized how close he could come to discovering who she truly was.

''He was found shot in his home.'' he explained sadly. ''Some disturbing information came to light and MPD wants us involved.''

''Do they have any idea what happened? Are there any suspects?'' she asked with concern.

''I have no idea, but they asked me to be there in an hour, so I have to go. I am sorry.'' he apologized.

JJ rose from the couch carefully as she held onto her arm. She could still feel the bullet tearing through her flesh. She had been lucky. Extremely lucky, but she didn't know for how long. Hotch could easily put two and two together after he had seen the bandages on her arm. ''It's fine!'' she reassured. It was actually the perfect time for him to leave because she had to inform Owen and Collins about the FBI's involvement.

He walked towards her and kissed her lips gently and then walked back to the bedroom and slipped into his clothes as JJ was standing in the living room, contemplating what to do next. Everything was at risk now. If he was truly as dedicated to his job as he seemed to be than the CIA could be in trouble. She just prayed that the agents cleaned any trace in Warren's home that pointed towards terrorism, or even her. If he connected the dots, then her cover was blown and Hotch would know her secret, which wasn't something she was ready to reveal just yet, or maybe ever. She had a lot to sort out before she could make any kind of choice regarding her job. And to her it wasn't just a job. Before meeting Hotch it was her life and she loved every minute of it. She couldn't just give that up.

''I am going!'' Hotch announced as he stepped back into the living room to find JJ daydreaming right in front of him. ''JJ?''

''Hmm. Yes?'' she said as she looked up to him.

''I am going, but I was wondering if you'd like to do something tonight?''

''Yeah, of course.'' she agreed, her head somewhere else as she talked to him. ''Just send me a text with the time and I'll be ready.''

''Okay,'' he whispered as he stepped towards her and pressed a kiss to her cheek. He then pulled away and walked out of her apartment.

The exact moment that the door fell in its lock, JJ got into action and hurried into her bedroom. She pulled some casual clothes from her closet and quickly changed into them, all the while feeling a burning sensation go through her arm. She knew she was supposed to rest, but Hotch's involvement was more important than anything else. So once she was changed, she crouched down in her small walk-in closet and removed on of the wooden boards and retrieved her gun and credentials, just in case she had trouble on her way to Langley.


Once JJ arrived at Langley she stormed through the hallways as she saw a few familiar faces, who she knew probably wanted to catch up since she had been gone for a long time before her mission in DC. But she kept on walking and opened the door to SAD with a code and her ID. She walked inside, and just like a day earlier, the bullpen was filled with voices and agents. Everyone was at the top of their game.

JJ walked over to operations and opened the door, interrupting multiple agents, including Owen and Collins. ''Sir, can I speak to you for a moment? Alone.'' she added when Owen was about to follow Collins.

''Let's talk in my office.'' Collins said as he walked past JJ and across the room to his office. He held the door open for JJ and pointed for her to sit down. He took his own seat behind the desk and looked at her with concern. ''How are you holding up?''

''I've been better, but that's not why I'm here.'' she began. ''I just found out that the FBI's involved in Warren's murder. The man I am dating is on the case.''

Collins sat back, feeling relieved that JJ came down to Langley to tell him that. It meant she was still as dedicated to the job as before. ''The director told me that the FBI is involved now. But there's no need to worry. Our agents brought in any evidence linking Warren to terrorism and a possible sell of the weapon.''

''Okay, good.'' JJ sighed out in relief. That was one last thing she had to worry about, which made things a little easier. ''Do you have any which group from Russia could possibly be involved?''

''No, but I have my suspicions.'' he began as he opened one of his drawers. He pulled out a copy of a week from a datebook with things scribbled down, probably appointments and JJ immediately recognized the handwriting. Collins turned the copy around and put it down in front of JJ, knowing she would come to the same conclusion.

She looked down at the piece of paper and found that there was nothing out of the ordinary until her eyes fell upon initials that she knew by heart. It was a time in her life that she wanted to forget more than anything, but she couldn't. It had happened and there was no going back. CW? Could it be? Is it really him? JJ asked herself in despair.

''Are you thinking what I am thinking?'' Collins asked her with hesitance, knowing that particular case could reopen something that JJ wanted to keep buried. She had been vocal about keeping the details of that assignment between them. Her files had even been redacted when it concerned that case. Collins and JJ were the only two people in the world who knew about everything that happened. But JJ knew because she was there. She had lived it.

''Yes,'' JJ replied. ''Christian Ward.'' she stated breathlessly.

''Do you mind if we involve Owen in this, JJ?'' Collins asked compassionately. He remembered that JJ had been having some trouble during that case and after she'd come back, but she was still with them. That's what mattered. ''He tracked Christian Ward after you left Russia. He might have some input.''

''Sir,'' JJ began. ''I don't think anyone at this agency knows Christian Ward better than me.'' she explained. ''Owen can join us, but I won't talk about the details. I just can't.''

''Given the information we got from Tyler Warren, I strongly believe that Christian Ward and the unidentified group he works for could be involved.''

''I agree with you, sir.'' JJ began. ''But I spent six months undercover and I never found any evidence of a group. So far it's just hearsay.''

''I realize that, but we're chasing down several leads in order to find a weapon that could kill millions of people.'' Collins interjected. ''We know Warren was going to sell the weapon to the Russians. But how is Asad Hawsawi involved in this?''

JJ rose from the chair. Theories had been racing through her mind since she sat down with Collins. There were dozens of explanations. But they only had one possible way of finding the weapon and the people who were after it. ''Right now, we have no idea where the weapon is. But we do know that two parties are interested in it. One identified and the other unidentified.'' she stated simply. ''I suggest we track down Asad Hawsawi and follow his movements because he could lead us to the weapon.''

''I agree.'' Collins said. ''I might even be able to contact and asset or deep cover agent who has infiltrated Hawsawi's network. It's dangerous but everything has changed.''

''What do you want me to do, sir?''

''I know you were supposed to have some time off, but we're in a crisis and I could use you.''

''Of course. What do you need?'' JJ asked with hope. She was glad that he was willing to keep her involved in the case. She was injured but not badly enough to be put behind a desk.

''I need you in London to liaise with British SIS.'' he replied. ''They're in a panic and I need someone in London I can trust, and I trust you, JJ.''

London wasn't exactly what she wanted to hear. But in that moment her relationship with Hotch had to suffer under her job. Her job was so much more important. It was about saving lives, and preventing an attack that could change the world forever, like 9/11 did. She had to put her job ahead of anything else. ''When do you need me to leave?''

''You can take the jet when you're ready.'' he answered. ''This will only be for a month, JJ. I have someone else coming in in four weeks who can take over. This isn't for forever. You'll be back in four weeks.''

''It's fine, sir. I'll call you as soon as I land.'' JJ said before she walked out of the office.

Owen watched JJ coming from the office in a hurry, so he quickly caught up with her and stopped her by pulling her back by her non-injured arm. ''JJ, what's going on?''

''Collins wants me on the ground in London to liaise with the British.'' she explained quickly. ''I am leaving tonight, but I'll be back in a month.''

''Okay, but what about your cover at Chemicaltech?'' he asked for clarification.

''I was Warren's right hand so I'll explain to the board that I went to the London offices to explain the situation and help them out wherever I can.'' she explained. ''Collins will make a story of it. It'll be fine.''

Owen took a step back to look at her. He was worried for her. She seemed awfully determined, and not in a good way. Not in a way he used to know her. ''Be careful!''

''Yeah, you too!'' she said as she passed him by. She took her phone from her pocket and dialed Hotch's number to set up a date for them before she'd leave. She had to explain why she was going and for how long. He deserved that much from her.