A/N: I am so sorry for the long wait. Life got in the way. So, here is the next chapter. I hope you all like it!

Special thanks to Rid3ThatChocob0, samcarter1980, jenny crum, K.I.M (I hope you are okay!) and PJBecker!

Thanks for reading.

Please review!

I don't own criminal minds.

Chapter 35: Awkward reunion

One month later…

Langley, Terrorism division…

Hotch was walking into the crowded bullpen with a quick pace. JJ had only been gone for one month. He knew she left to get justice. His suspicions told him that she went to Nate and that angered him. The fact that she also loved another man made him feel hurt. He knew he had a job to do and his personal involvement was huge in this case but he wasn't going to let anyone know what happened between him and JJ. It was his memory. No one was going to take it away from him. He just didn't know if JJ thought the same way about it. His life had become a rollercoaster since she came back into his life. Everything he always dreamed about turned into nothing. His dreams disappeared into thin air. Everything would be easier if he didn't love JJ. He would have other things to think about. But he couldn't stop loving her. He was never going to stop loving her. As much as he wished that things were different, they weren't. He fell in love ten years ago. Well, he fell accidentally in love. He never planned on falling for someone after his break with Haley. But he did. He met JJ. The blonde stunner that would always own a part of his heart, no matter where she was.

''Hotch!'' Rossi said, interrupting Hotch's thoughts.

''Yeah!'' Hotch said as he spun around to face his oldest friend.

''Are you okay?''

''I am fine, Dave. I was just thinking about this case.'' Hotch replied.

''It looks like you are thinking about something else.'' Rossi observed when he saw that his normally stoic friend was looking confused.

''You filed for divorce. You have barely seen your son. And you have been defending Jareau non-stop. What is going on, Aaron?'' Rossi asked.

''Nothing!'' Hotch said angrily.

''Don't lie to me. I know you better than anyone else. I can see that you are far from okay.''

''Haley has been cheating on me for years. I filed for divorce because I wasn't happy in my marriage. The woman I married betrayed me. What do you expect me to do? I always wanted to have everything. I wanted the perfect life. The job, the beautiful wife and the kids. But in the midst of all of it, I lost sight of the one person I truly cared about. And now I probably lost the only person who ever mattered to me.''

''I had no idea. I am so sorry. She is special to you, huh?'' Rossi mentioned when he was understanding what he was talking about.

''Yes, she is.''

''How long have you known her? I thought Haley was the only woman you had ever been with.''

''No, she wasn't. I met JJ when I was twenty-two and she was eighteen. We were together for six months. I broke up with her when Haley came back into my life. I choose Haley because I knew what to expect with her. But I made the biggest mistake of my life. I am not sorry about Jack. He is the most important person in my life. But I wished everything could have turned out differently.''

''Did you love her ten years ago? Do you still love her?''

''Yes! More than anything. I never stopped, but I was with Haley and I had no idea where JJ was or what she was doing. When I saw her again, it was like I could finally breathe again. She is my world. I don't know how to explain.''

''You screwed up, Aaron.'' Rossi commented as he sat down in a chair in the conference room. Hotch and Rossi were the only ones there. They knew the rest of the team could arrive at every possible moment.

''I know that.''

''Where is she?''

''I don't know. She was staying with me to recover from her injuries and she was gone the morning after. It was like she fled.''

''Let me guess, she is going for justice. I could get that in her case. We saw what they put her through. She has every right to go for it.'' Rossi said.

''Yeah, but not in a good way. She is obsessed with this case. I know what she went through. She talked to me about it and I could never imagine what it must have been like for her but her feelings are clouding her judgment. She might be running away with the one man who caused everything that happened to her.''

''She is not the only one who is obsessed. You have been going this case for over a month and nothing new has come up yet. You aren't giving up.'' Rossi said analytically, knowing that Hotch wasn't going to let the case go as long as JJ was out there.

''Dave, someone is threatening the woman I love.''

''I know and we will get the person who is behind all of this. But you shouldn't be thinking about who is behind this. You need to think about what is going to happen once all of this is over. What will happen to her? What are you going to do?''

''We need to find her first.'' Hotch said again.

''Find who? JJ? I thought you didn't know where she went.'' James said as he walked into the conference room.

''No, she disappeared that morning. I have no idea where she is.'' Hotch replied with irritation.

''I have a pretty good idea. I need your team on high alert. As of now, JJ is a rogue agent along with Nathan. We need to find them. I have a feeling they are going to finish what they started.'' James said.

''And what is that?'' Rossi asked curiously.

''Nathan will kill JJ if he is the mole. And JJ will not stop until she has gotten justice for the loss our unit suffered. They are going after the terrorists. We need to keep identifying them and track them down. It will be the only way for us to find JJ and Nathan. I want to see your team in the bullpen in ten minutes.'' James ordered and he walked away afterwards.

''He seems determined. What do you think?'' Rossi asked.

''I know JJ didn't do this. She would never do this. She isn't like that. If she trusts Nathan, I trust her.'' Hotch said and he followed James into the bullpen.

Cabin, Rock Creek Park…

JJ was focusing on all the pictures and documents on the wall of the cabin. She could see that Nate put all of his time into tracking down the people responsible for their team's death. JJ had a feeling that she could trust Nate but she still stayed vigilant because anything could happen. That was the one thing she learned on the job. She knew the CIA would see her as a fugitive but she just didn't care anymore. Too much had happened for her to care about her loyalty towards the agency. Her supervisor didn't trust her enough when he was supposed to have her back. Her loyalty was with herself now. She knew Nate thought the same way about it. JJ had been avoiding him when it was about their relationship. It was the thing she had become good at as a month passed by.

''So, we aren't talking anymore?'' Nate asked as he watched JJ go over all the evidence he had.

''I don't know what we are doing!'' JJ said with annoyance.

''Could you please listen to me? Even for a second?'' Nate said to make JJ turn around.

''Sure!'' she said as she finally faced him.

''Thanks. JJ, I know that I hurt you. I know you went through hell in the past two and a half years and I wished I could have spared you that pain. I wish I could have been by your side every single day to just hold you. I missed you so much. I want to be us again. And I am so proud of you. You are still here after everything you have been through.''

''I had no other choice, Nate. What else was I supposed to do?''

''Do you think you can trust me?''

''I don't know and that is what scares me the most. I haven't seen you in a year. I have no idea who the mole is or who betrayed us. I can't trust anyone anymore.''

''You can trust me. Do you want to be with me?'' Nate asked, hoping JJ was going to give him an answer.

''I do but you have to realize that I have feelings for someone else and it is going to take me some time to get over those feelings, Nate.'' JJ said honestly.

''How long do you think it will take?''

''Look Nate. It is simple. I am scared. I have only been in two serious relationships in my entire life. If you want this, we need to think about now and not what happened in the past. Aaron and I happened ten years ago. It is over between him and me. But he will always define me. He will always be a part of me. Nothing can ever change that. I want to give us a shot.'' JJ said with fear in her voice. It was the fear of not knowing what she really wanted for herself.

''I understand. Can I have the ring?'' Nate asked as he pointed towards it.

JJ took off her necklace and she gave the ring to Nate. The eternity ring Hotch gave her was still on the necklace and she put it back on.

''Jennifer Caitlyn Jareau, will you marry me?'' Nate asked.

''Are you serious? Of course! I love you!'' JJ said and she flew around his neck. She still felt loved around him. She felt good and special around him. She really loved him, but there would always be someone in the back of her mind.

''So, now that we dealt with that I think we should go over to the house where the terrorists are living.'' Nate stated.

''Really?''

''Yes, I want to get on with our lives and we can't do it if we are in hiding. I don't want that!'' Nate said as he grabbed a bag and he started to put several guns in it.

''Let's go. I will drive!'' JJ said quickly as she put a gun on her waist and one in her ankle holster.

Langley, bullpen…

''I matched one of the terrorist faces with a drivers license. I have an address to an house in the suburbs. One of them is living there!'' Garcia announced from behind all of her computers.

''Great job, princess!'' Morgan said to complement her.

''I want SWAT to get ready to go to the house. Chances are big that Jareau and Atkins might have been there!'' James ordered.

''Sir, my team can go in now. We will be there faster and we can't take the chance of them getting away.'' Hotch explained quickly.

''Fine. Go ahead. You are in charge now. I will stay here. Let me know what is happening as soon as you find anything. We finally have a lead so don't screw it up, Hotchner.'' James said.

''We won't!'' Hotch said. He followed the team as they were walking through the halls to get to the parking lot. They put on their vests and they checked their guns when they got to the SUV's.

''Prentiss, I want you with me. I want the rest of you to take the other car.'' Hotch ordered.

Everyone stepped in the cars and they drove away. Hotch was feeling nervous because this could be a way to find JJ. But he was scared because he didn't know what was going to happen to her once she was caught. The CIA, Interpol and FBI had declared her a fugitive. Hotch believed she hadn't done anything and that she wouldn't do anything.

''Hotch, are you okay?'' Emily asked with worry.

''Yes, I am. I need to ask you a question.'' he announced.

''Okay.''

''I want you to stay with me the entire time when we enter the house. I have a personal involvement if JJ is there and I need you to back me up when something goes wrong.'' Hotch explained.

''Personal?''

''Yes, JJ and I had a relationship about ten years ago. We were together six months before it ended.''

''Okay. I will stay with you at all times.'' Emily said for reassurance.

Washington DC, suburbs…

JJ pulled up in front of the suburban home. She pulled the keys from the ignition. They both stepped from the car at the same time. They glanced at each other to make sure they were ready. JJ pulled her gun as they were walking towards the house.

''Ready?'' Nate asked in a whisper once they were standing in front of the door.

''Yes!'' JJ said softly.

Nate kicked down the door and JJ followed him inside. The entire house was dark and it was a real mess. They made their way around the corner when they heard voice coming from a room behind a closed door. They stopped in front of the door. JJ gave him a nod to enter the room. There were three men inside when they got in.

''Freeze! CIA!'' JJ yelled loudly as they pointed the guns at the men.

In the meantime Hotch and his team arrived at the house. They all stepped out of their cars and made their way towards the house. They were about to enter when they could hear multiple gunshots. They all went in together. They were split up into groups of two. Hotch made his way to the back of the house. Emily was checking another room as he stopped in front of a door. Hotch froze when he heard JJ's screams.

''Nate! Nate!'' JJ screamed as she two men took him away. They had their guns pointed at her and she couldn't do anything. She watched as they disappeared outside. JJ took that moment to grab her gun from the floor that was laying next to the dead body.

''FBI!'' Hotch yelled as he entered the room and he pointed his gun at JJ.

''Aaron!'' JJ said in total shock as her gun pointed at him as well.

''Drop the gun, JJ!'' he yelled.

JJ dropped the gun to the floor and she held her hands up. Hotch walked closer towards her and he pushed her into the wall behind her. He looked at the dead man and he knew it was one of the terrorists they were looking for.

''Tell me you didn't do this! Tell me! JJ!'' Hotch said as he pinned her hands above her head against the wall.

''I can't!'' JJ whispered softly.

''I am sorry but I have to do this, JJ. I am so sorry!'' Hotch said and he turned JJ around. He put the handcuffs on her.

''Jennifer Jareau you are under arrest for the murder of Steven Reynolds. You have the right to remain silent. Everything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one. One will be appointed for you.'' Hotch said and he pushed JJ back against the wall. The memories of him and JJ came rushing back and he couldn't help but feel emotional about the entire situation.

''I can't let you do this.'' JJ mumbled softly in his ear.

''You don't have a choice in this, JJ.'' Hotch said and he pulled JJ away from the wall and he led her towards the door.

JJ suddenly elbowed Hotch against his chest and he almost lost his footing. JJ turned around and pulled the gun from her ankle holster.

''I don't want to do this. But I will if I have to. I need to save him. I can't let something happen to him.'' JJ said as tears streamed down her face.

''JJ, don't! Don't ruin your life for someone who isn't worth it!'' Hotch said as he stood in front of her. The distance in her eyes shocked him to his very core. She looked like she was betrayed by everyone she knew.

''Nathan didn't do this! I know that!'' JJ yelled angrily while the gun was shaking in her hands.

JJ suddenly felt a gun pressed against the back of her head and she knew it was over. But it didn't stop her. She had nothing to lose and she was going to fight for justice. She knew Nate didn't do it. She knew it and she needed to proof it.

''Drop the gun, JJ!'' Emily ordered from behind her.

''No! I will shoot him if I have to.'' JJ said as her gun was still pointed at Hotch.

''No you will not. I know you loved him, JJ. I know what he did to you in the past but that doesn't mean he deserves to get hurt now.'' Emily said.

''JJ! look at me!'' Hotch said to get her attention while he was walking closer towards her.

JJ's mind was racing. She knew she had to get away from them. She put her gun on safety and she put it down on the ground. She was still handcuffed and she knew that only made it harder.

''That is it, JJ.'' Hotch said softly and he took her by the arms.

''Can you give us a minute, Prentiss?'' Hotch asked.

''Sure. I will put out an alert on Nathan Atkins and the others.'' Emily said before she left the room.

''What were you thinking, JJ?'' Hotch asked as he held her by both of her arms. His eyes were on her hands that were handcuffed in front of her.

''These people killed my team. They tortured me. We found them but they got away with Nathan. He is out there. We need to find him!'' JJ yelled loudly but she stopped when Hotch pressed his hand against her mouth.

''Do you realize what you have done?''

''I don't care. I have nothing left. Absolutely nothing.''

''That is not true. You have me! I am here for you. You should have stayed with me!'' Hotch said.

''It is not that easy, Aaron.''

''It could have been. We need to bring you in. Carter has been on edge ever since your disappearance.''

''Like I care. He wanted to fire me. After everything I did for him and the agency and even after what I had been through. It is not supposed to work that way.'' JJ said angrily as she felt the sparks go through her body when Hotch got closer to her.

''I hope we can get you out of this mess.'' Hotch said after sighing deeply. JJ had gotten herself in a lot of trouble. He was hoping she was going to get out of it. He needed her to be okay.