A/N: My attempt at responding to the JJ episode. Didn't matter how many times I watched that episode, I cried every time. Hope this does it justice.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Criminal Minds.
Emily groaned when she heard the ringing. "Cmon. It's only…" Emily glanced at her bedside clock, "4am?" she cried. She grabbed the cell and answered it gruffly, "Prentiss."
"Uh… hi Emily," JJ started, "Is… uh… is Hotch there?" Emily sat up and looked at the cell in her hand. "Shit," she huffed to herself. JJ chuckled on the other end of the phone, hearing Emily whispering to Hotch.
"You answered my cell?" Hotch whispered back. Emily bit her lip. "I thought it was mine," she replied, thrusting the phone at her bedmate. Hotch rolled his eyes and took his cell from Emily, rolling out of bed and leaving the room.
"JJ?" Hotch said quietly as he headed down the hallway. She cleared her throat and decided to just skim right past the Emily answering Hotch's phone surprise. "Uh hi… I just got a text from Strauss asking for an urgent meeting with her and yourself first thing this morning," she explained. "Hold on a minute," Hotch replied, checking his cell for texts. Sure enough, there it was.
"Do you know what it's about?" Hotch asked. JJ sighed. "I have an idea," she replied, "I… I've received an offer from another agency." Hotch wrinkled his brow. "Meet me in my office at 7:30. We'll figure out a course of action before Strauss comes in," he replied. JJ agreed to the plan and apologized for the early wake-up call. "And Hotch…" she started. Hotch rolled his eyes and cleared his throat, "Nevermind JJ. Just… don't say anything to anyone else." JJ smiled sadly and nodded, "Yes sir."
Hotch ended the call before heading back into his bedroom. He dropped it on his bedside table and headed for his wardrobe. Emily sat up in bed and rubbed her hands down her face. "We going in?" she asked with a yawn. Hotch pulled his slacks up and picked a tie from the rack. He shook his head, walking back into the bedroom. "No," he started, "I have to go in for a meeting." Emily wrinkled her brow. "Is that why JJ called?" she probed. Hotch nodded and made his way to the bed to slip his shoes on.
"What's going on?" Emily asked, rubbing Hotch's shoulders. "Bureaucracy," he replied. Emily wrinkled her brow and sat back. The look on her face made Hotch's heart skip a beat. "I can't tell you Emily," he insisted. Emily shook her head. "I'm your partner Hotch… Your teammate," Emily started, "What happens when we start keeping secrets from each other?" Hotch turned and kissed her gently. When he pulled back he looked her square in the eyes. "If I keep something from you, it's because it's not my secret to tell."
Emily wandered up to Hotch's office and tapped on the door. She heard him clear his throat, "Come in." Emily sighed at the defeat she heard in his voice. She pushed the door open and smiled sadly when Hotch looked up.
"I know you're not really one for social gatherings, but… We're all heading to the bar for drinks," she explained. Hotch sat back and sighed. It had already been a big day and all he really wanted to do was get home to his son. But before he could shake his head, Emily pointed a defiant finger at him. "No… we need this," she jumped in before he could decline. Hotch smiled sadly and nodded. "Just let me fill out this paperwork and I'll meet you there," he replied. Emily nodded and returned his sad smile. "I'll just grab a lift with Morgan."
Once the group had arrived at their usual joint, Rossi nodded in the direction of the bar. "Drinks?" he asked. Everyone nodded and placed their orders, before the older agent headed over. "Wait up Dave," JJ called, chasing after him. Rossi turned and waited for the beautiful blonde to join him.
The two agents ordered and paid for the first round of drinks. While they were waiting for the young bartender to ring them up, Rossi put his arm around JJ's waist and kissed her cheek gently. "I'm gonna miss you kiddo," he whispered. JJ smiled sadly and pat Rossi's cheek. "I'll miss you too."
Rossi took a deep breath and chuckled, remembering the first time he'd met the young liaison. "You know I first thought that role was just pointless," he huffed, "We'd never had a communications and liaison officer before." JJ's jaw dropped at his confession. At the look on her face, Rossi put up his hands defensively. "But you sure proved this old codger wrong." JJ bit her lip and threw her arms around Rossi's neck.
Hotch had arrived by the time Rossi and JJ returned with the drinks. They all sat in the booth, sharing jokes and listening to each others' stories.
"Hahaha," Garcia started, "Remember when we were investigating that CIA mole and we were in my office…" her voice trailed off, JJ picking up the story. "Garcia was so excited to have access to their systems. When we'd found out who the mole was, and the supervising CIA agents had left, she actually tried to find Prince William's phone number!" The entire table laughed at Garcia's expense, the latter joining them.
"But I didn't just try, JJ. I succeeded!" she cried out, "I had his number, on my screen. But the damn network shut down before I could write it down." Garcia stuck out a dejected pout, Morgan wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "It's alright Baby Doll… I'll be your prince." Hotch and Rossi rolled their eyes at each other, the rest of the group laughing further.
Emily and Reid were up at the bar, ordering the second round, when JJ suggested that she and Morgan have a round of darts. He nodded and smiled, following her to the corner.
JJ pulled the darts from the board and returned to Morgan's side, handing him his. He accepted them and looked at his feet, sighing sadly. JJ took a deep breath but Morgan held up his hand and turned to face her.
"I know I gave you a hard time over the years," he started, "I know I sometimes pushed you too hard… But I need you to know that I only did that because I care about you… I love you… and I respect you."
JJ could feel her eyes well up with tears at his honesty and reached over, pulling him into a tight hug. "I love you too Derek," she said sadly. "And I want you to know that I will always think of you as my brother and friend." Morgan pulled back and nodded, wiping the tear from JJ's cheek.
It was starting to get a little hot in the bar and Emily was definitely in need of some fresh air. She let Hotch know where she was going, but declined his offer for company. The fresh air was as much because of her need to get away as her need to breath.
She made her way through the doors, fighting against the crowd of co-eds that were pushing their way inside, gasping when she finally met the cool night air. Walking down the block a way, she found a spot to lean against the wall. As she watched the people pass her, she thought back on her time with the team and thus her time with JJ in her life.
As if her thoughts were brought to life, Emily heard the heels on the pavement and looked over to see JJ heading her way. She smiled and reached out for her friend, taking one hand in her own. "Thought I'd take this chance to come and talk to you," JJ said quietly. Emily smiled and nodded, fighting back the tears.
When she couldn't hold them back any longer she looked up at the sky. "I'm not going to be able to look at you while I say this so don't judge me," Emily started. JJ chuckled and squeezed Emily's hand. Emily took a deep breath.
"You know that growing up, I had a really tough time making friends. I wasn't in one place long enough to really get to know anybody so I was a really lonely kid," Emily felt the tears start to flow more quickly and squeezed JJ's hand tight. "But when I got to the BAU, I knew immediately… I had found a friend. A sister." JJ could feel herself starting to lose it. "I'm not going to be able to say anything without crying," she explained. Emily chuckled and drew JJ in for a tight hug. "It's not like we'll never see each other again," she huffed, standing back to wipe the tears from her eyes. JJ nodded to the door. "Wanna head back in?" Emily nodded and the two women walked back inside, hands holding.
JJ told Emily she was heading to the bathroom, so Emily sat down next to Hotch. He reached over and rubbed her shoulder, checking that she was ok. As much as he wanted to kiss her and make it all better, he knew he couldn't do that in front of the others. So he'd just have to settle for this.
JJ looked up as she exited the bathroom, narrowly avoiding bumping into Reid as he left the men's. She took him by the hand and guided him to a table in the corner, away from the others. When he looked at her quizzically, she chuckled. "I just wanted to take some time to thank you for being my friend," she explained. Reid smiled awkwardly and shook his head, "It was easy JJ… I love you," he replied. JJ nodded and squeezed his hand.
"I know you've been through a lot since and before being on the team. And I know I still blame myself for what happened to you," she started. Reid wrinkled his brow and shook his head. Taking her hands in his, he looked her in the eyes, "I don't blame you JJ," he assured her, "You… and the rest of the team… are what kept me alive." JJ grinned and ruffled her hand in Reid's hair. "I love you too Spence."
Reid chuckled as they stood, drawing JJ into a hug. "You know you're still the only one who calls me that?"
Rossi had managed to drag JJ onto the dancefloor, jigging to a couple of classics. She was about to thank him and call it a night when she saw Hotch heading towards them. He tapped Rossi on the shoulder, "Do you mind if I cut in?" Rossi shook his head and passed JJ's hand to his friend.
After Rossi had walked away and was out of earshot Hotch took a deep breath. "I noticed that you'd managed to speak with everyone else so I wanted to add my two cents," he began. JJ huffed and nodded for him to continue.
"Over the last seven years I have watched you grow from a young, green agent into a confident and capable member of this team. You have proven yourself over and again… and you have shown me that it is possible, in spite of all of the darkness that we see, that there are still things worth a smile." Hotch paused for a moment and bit his lip. "I know I said this to you before, and I know that you're not leaving the district… but I will miss you JJ."
JJ bit back the tears and leant up, placing a gentle kiss on Hotch's cheek. When she leant back, she rolled her eyes at the shock on his face. "Hey, you're not my boss anymore Hotch… And that is how I demonstrate to a friend that I love him." Hotch drew JJ into a hug and felt a single tear drop from his face. He stood back after a moment, cleared his throat, and nodded at the table. "We should get back to the others."
JJ nodded and Hotch led the way to the table. She paused for a moment, taking in this picture one last time.
Rossi was quietly sipping his bourbon in the corner, while Reid nattered incessantly about something intellectual. Morgan had his arm around Garcia, whispering something sweet in her ear. And Emily leant closer to Hotch, placing an inconspicuous hand on his shoulder.
They were her family.