Note: It was just realized that we uploaded the wrong version of chapter 27 somehow. This has been corrected to add the last section of the chapter. We strongly suggest reading that before this. Sorry!
AN: I'm starting to feel like we need to wind this story down. I'm very sad to see it end, but excited to move on. Also, I work in the health insurance industry and this is our busy time of year. Overtime mandates start tomorrow so I will be working long days, and possibly Saturdays for the next 6 weeks, so updates will likely be further between.
MN: With the exception of a little bit of agreed upon drama, AJ has greenlit me to end this is fluffy fluff. Anything in particular you want to see?
"He's doing what?" JJ was livid, the angriest she'd been in a very long time.
Spencer squeezed her hand tightly as the attorney spoke. "He's filed a petition for sole custody with the right to move Henry out of state. He cited a job offer in New Orleans as a police captain. Now I know you're upset, but the out of state petition actually helps us. He has no real support structure there: no established sitter, you're not there, your mother won't be just a few hours away, and Ms. Garcia wouldn't be able to help out with childcare. Running a police precinct means long hours. I'm fairly certain we can convince a judge that it would be foolish to allow him to take Henry there to that when you have resources here; we just have to be prepared to back up those resources."
She took a deep breath, nodding as she calmed herself. "Well Garcia is already prepared to testify. Hotch's sister-in-law is willing to as well since she said she can take Henry any time when she has Jack. There is no keeping my mom from coming to town for the hearing anyway. I want to try to avoid bringing the babysitter into the middle of this so maybe she can just provide a written statement about her intention to continue providing care to Henry regardless of who has custody?"
The lawyer had been scribbling notes as she spoke. "I think that can be arranged. The judge has already ordered an evaluation by a psychologist for Henry. I should be getting the assignment information by the end of the week for that and a court appointed advocate should be contacting you before the weekend as well. When she does, set up an appointment and say nothing more. Neither of you talks to anyone without me present." She could see the visible shift in the man from calm and unemotional to a more personal mode. "Look, I know this isn't going to be easy, but I think the facts are on your side. We just have to stay calm. We don't want to badmouth Mr. LaMontagne. We need to do this clinically. I'm not going to let you lose your son, okay?"
She found herself once again nodding. "Thank you. And I agree about not badmouthing him. Will isn't a bad guy, or a bad father. He's hurt and angry and lashing out, but he loves Henry and he's good to him. I want him to be in Henry's life as much as possible; I just want to be in it too."
They went over a few more details then stood, shaking the man's hand before exiting his office. It was snowing heavily and, as she stepped through the door Spencer held open for her, she adjusted the scarf around her neck.
They had parked in a lot a few blocks away and started toward it in silence. Halfway to the van, she couldn't handle the silence anymore. "Thank you for coming with me."
He reached over and took her hand, pulling her both to a stop and to face him. "Of course I came with you. We're in this together, Jayje. You and me, from here on out."
They stood in the snow for several long moments facing one another, gloved fingers entwined before he moved. He kept his grip on her hand but turned and resumed the journey to the parking lot. "Want to go grab lunch before we head back to the office?"
Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she pulled it out as she responded. "Sure. I'm starving. I was a bit tense this morning so I didn't eat with Henry." She opened the email that had come through and sighed. "We'll have to make that lunch to go. This can't wait. I imagine we'll be wheels up in an hour."
He shrugged nonchalantly, but she could tell he was disappointed. "I'll call in an order to that Chinese place on the way. We can get enough for the team. This early, none of them will have had lunch yet. We should all eat before we go."
As they approached the van, she used the key in her pocket to both start the engine and unlock the doors. As Spencer tried to release her hand to round to the passenger side, she held it tightly. He turned back toward her, confusion on his face.
She stepped close to him and stretched up to place a gentle kiss on his lips. "I'm still going to say 'thanks' Spence."
A gentle hand on her shoulder drew her from sleep and JJ lifted her head, blinking groggily. She had, apparently, drifted off while studying the case details at the local sheriff's station. As her vision came into focus, she realized it was Spence next to her. "What time is it?"
He lowered himself into the chair next to her. "Almost 4am. Hotch wants us to go get a couple hours of sleep while the techs finish analyzing the evidence we collected." He reached over to brush the hair from her face. "When was the last time you slept?"
She shook her head. "On the way here, then a nap on the couch sometime yesterday I think? I haven't made it to the hotel yet." The case had taken them to a town nestled in the hills at the foot of the Rockies. The singular hotel in town catered to the area's seasonal hiking and hunting tourists. This time of year it bustled with snowboarders and skiers and Garcia had managed to secure the last 4 rooms that had been vacant for them.
"Jayje, we've been here for two and a half days. Come on." He stood and reached his hand out to her.
She was too tired to argue with him so he placed her hand in his and allowed him to pull her to her feet. She went to reach for her bag, suddenly realizing it wasn't there as he started gently pulling her toward the door. "It's already in the car. Blake took it."
"I guess so." She focused her attention and energy on placing one foot in front of the other to make it to their borrowed sedan. Blake was already waiting in the driver's seat so she slid into the back. She tried desperately to stay awake, but was asleep again before they made it to the rustic style hotel ten minutes later.
The next time she woke she was nestled snuggly under a heavy comforter with Spencer's arms around her. She woke slowly, forcing herself to climb out of the clutches of sleep. Her phone was ringing and she knew she had to answer it. She managed to locate it on the nightstand and slid a finger to answer it. "Jareau."
"Blondie, the techs have something for us. Hotch wants us all to head back down to the station. He and Rossi took the sedan so we've only got the one SUV here. I'm already downstairs and Blake is already up so she'll be down shortly."
As Morgan spoke, she finally got her eyes to focus on the clock. It was 9:45am. "Morgan, if you love us you will grab coffee and bagels for the rest of us from the continental breakfast. We'll be down in a few minutes."
She could hear the smile in his voice. "We? I guess that means I don't have to call Reid. Very unprofessional, Agent Jareau."
Spencer was moving on the bed behind her. "Bite me Morgan." She disconnected the call and forced herself to get up
Spencer had made it into a sitting position and was rubbing his eyes. "We have something?"
She found her bag and heaved it onto the foot of the bed, unzipping it as she spoke. "Yeah, forensics found something. Hotch wants us all at the station. I'm going to run myself through the world's fastest shower so I have a prayer of being halfway alert."
He nodded as he tossed the blanket back. "I took one last night. I'm going to get dressed and go downstairs, make sure Morgan fixes your coffee right." He stood and stretched as she pulled what she needed from the bag.
"Sounds good. I have to ask, why am here instead of in my room with Blake like I'm supposed to be?" She rooted through the bag looking for a pair of socks.
He shrugged. "You fell asleep in the car. My room is on the first floor and closer to the door. Besides, Blake wasn't a fan of changing you into that." He waived a finger to indicate her lack of clothing other than a large t-shirt.
She studied him a moment then nodded. "Fair enough. I won't be long." She moved toward the bathroom, but found him in her way. When she stopped before him, he lifted a hand to her face, tilting her chin to look up at him. He bent and gave her a quick kiss then stepped aside so she could enter the bathroom, a smile now resting on her face.
AN: There was gonna be more but then it wasn't gonna get done tonight so I'll use that as the start for the next chapter, which I will try desperately to write this weekend. Until then, please, do NOT call your health insurance company this weekend if you can avoid it! ;-)