Family

A/N: Hullo, all! Well, we've reached 100. I've only seen this episode once and that was back when it first aired… I apologize for any inconsistencies with the actual episode, but I did the best I could and tried to be a little ambiguous… I hope you all still enjoy!

Hey, fun fact to distract you from possible un-canon-ness!: Originally, I was going to call this story "Siblings." However, I decided that wasn't good and changed it to "The Reid Family." I was rather displeased with that too… eventually I settled on just, plain "Family." And now you know! (not that you really wanted to).

Disclaimer: I do not own anything recognizable. Including, but not limited to: Criminal Minds or the characters. Alexander and Juliet Reid are characters of my own design. I made up the "Chop Master 3000."

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Chapter 37: Selfish Togetherness

Episode: 100

The car ticked as the heated air began to cool around the two occupants. JJ and Spencer sat in the parking lot of the Reid's apartment building, JJ in the driver's seat and Spencer in the passenger's, neither one saying a word. Neither was really sure what could be said. Today had been Hell, for Hotch especially, and nothing anyone said seemed appropriate.

Morgan had accompanied Hotch to the hospital, who hadn't protested much as long as Jack was by his side, and the rest of the team had returned to the office. They had supposed there would paper work to do but were surprised by Strauss sending them home. They had time off "until this mess was sorted out."

Without a word to each other, what was left of the team had split up to leave. Garcia went to spend time with Kevin, Rossi and Emily went to their respective homes, and JJ fell in step with Spencer and they both headed for the parking garage.

Spencer stowed his cane in the back seat of JJ's car and JJ had driven back to his apartment without a thought of going to her own. However, when they finally came to a stop outside the building, neither made more of a move than to unbuckle their seat belts. Both were unsure of how to proceed.

Spencer, surprisingly, took the first action, reaching over and placing his hand over JJ's, causing her to gasp slightly. They hadn't touch all day- it hadn't seemed right- but now that the barrier was broken, they both needed more.

JJ leaned over in her seat, wrapping Spencer arm around her shoulders before winding her arms around his midsection. Spencer complied with her apparent wishes and brought his other arm around her, pulling her further over. Scooting closer, until she was just about sitting in Spencer's seat, JJ leaned up and kissed him. Spencer seemed only too eager to deepen the show of affection, putting his other arm around her waist and pulling her so close she was almost in his lap.

They stayed that way for a moment until JJ suddenly moved again so that she was sitting fully on his lap in the passenger's seat, back pressed against the dashboard, causing Spencer to squeak in surprise against her lips. However, she didn't release him and his arms came back up around her waist and seemed to be trying to pull her closer, still, as her hands tangled in his hair. For a moment it was as if they were attempting to meld together as one until JJ's foot slipped and jarred Spencer's knee, causing him to break the kiss with a sharp cry of pain. "Sorry!" JJ jumped and fell back over to the driver's seat with her legs still stretched across Spencer's lap.

Spencer took a deep breath and shook his head to refute her apology. "It's okay… I'm okay."

There was a short silence broken only by the sound of a car driving by the building. "So, no statistics on how a… an event like happened today can make you want to be closer to the one you love? Something about life affirmation?" JJ asked in a feeble attempt at teasing.

Spencer shook his head and reached over to grab her hand. "Not this time." He said quietly. "…But that is true."

JJ smiled wanly and gave his hand a squeeze before moving completely into her own seat again. "Come on, let's go inside."

Nodding this time, Spencer extracted his can and bag from the back seat as JJ grabbed her own bag and both made their way steadily up to the apartment building. Once inside, they headed straight back to Spencer's room- really more like their room by now- to drop their bags and change out of their work attire. Spencer didn't even blink when JJ took two of his t-shirts out of the dresser and kept one for herself. Feeling more and more worn with every step, as the stress they had suppressed throughout the day began to weigh down on them, they headed back out to the living room. Perhaps a mindless thing like TV would take them away from their dark thoughts…

They realized there would be no such luck, however, when they came upon Alex and Julie watching television. They had forgotten that it wasn't quite as late as it seemed. "Hey, guys," Alex said before looking up and taking in their dismal expressions. "…Is everything okay?"

The two agents were unsure of how to respond and so were silent. Spencer, especially, seemed perturbed, staring at his siblings for a moment as though he was seeing them for the first time in a long time. Julie turned fully to face them, looking worried for their lack of response. "What's wrong?" She asked quietly.

Spencer finally seemed to realize an answer was required and cleared his throat. "Remember… the day I got shot? I told you that Hotch was also in the hospital?" He watched as his siblings nodded tensely. "The person that… hurt Hotch resurfaced."

There was a brief pause and Alex looked as though he was about to speak but Spencer continued as though he didn't notice. "He… found Haley- Hotch's ex-wife- and his son and he…" Spencer found himself unable to continue in the face of his brother and sister's anxious looks.

"Spencer?" Alex asked. "What happened?"

"He…" Spencer cleared his throat and attempted continue, but his voice refused to cooperate as he stared at Alex and Julie.

"Are they okay, Spencer?" Julie asked tentatively.

Finally, Spencer managed to shake his head and sank on the couch, which he had been standing next to. Both younger Reids looked to JJ for information, but she seemed as tongue-tied as Spencer for the moment. More confused than ever in the face of two dumb-struck agents, one of whom was staring at them as if they were doing something peculiar, Alex and Julie exchanged a look and turned their worried eyes back on Spencer and JJ. "What happened?" Alex asked, a little more forcefully.

"He murdered Haley. And tried to murder Hotch." Spencer replied, suddenly, sounding somewhat detached. "Hotch killed him… in self defence."

"Oh, my god…" Julie mumbled, bringing a hand up to her mouth.

Alex didn't say anything, but the shock was evident on his face. "What about Jack?" Julie asked quietly.

"He's okay. He wasn't hurt." JJ suddenly broke in, coming out of her slight stupor.

Both siblings knew it had to be worse than what the agents were telling them, but they didn't dare press for details. Not now, at least. Not while they were both slightly shell-shocked and JJ was walking up to the couch and demanding the Spencer scoot over. Nudging Julie, who scooted over until she ran into Alex, who moved until he was pressed up against the arm of the couch, Spencer moved until there was just enough room for JJ on the other end. She gratefully pressed herself into the space between Spencer and the sofa arm and snuggled up against the former. "What are we watching?" She asked finally.

"Um… CSI." Julie admitted.

Spencer groaned. "Change it, please… I can't take any more of… that." He said gesturing towards the crime scene on the television.

Alex smirked slightly at the way his brother and JJ had been able to come in and take over both the couch and the TV in a matter of minutes but grabbed the remote and changed the channel to the first thing available, which happened to be an infomercial. He moved to flip channels again when Julie stopped him. "Wait, what is that?" She pointed to the item on the screen.

No one had an idea as to what it was, exactly, though it looked like something off an alien ship in a bad sci-fi movie. The device was large, covered in more buttons than anything really needed and crafted from chrome. "A 'Chop Master 3000', apparently." Spencer said as the title flashed across the screen.

"Well, that's a dumb name for a… food processor? Is that what it is?" Julie asked.

JJ shrugged. "It might be a blender." She put forth.

"I dunno… food processor seems like a good guess." Alex said, watching as the host came on the screen smiling enthusiastically.

"That's right folks, the Chop Master will save you tons of time in the kitchen. Forget all your other appliances, there's not a thing this little beauty can't do for you…"

"Well, that was terribly ambiguous…" Spencer commented and was hushed by both Julie and JJ.

"We want to hear what else it can do." Julie said, suppressing a smile.

Spencer rolled his eyes but complied with their demands.

20 minutes later, all four of them seemed enraptured with the infomercial. "Well, it can't possibly grind up all those potatoes." Julie exclaimed in feigned disbelief.

"But there's not a thing that little beauty can't do for you." JJ pointed out with a small smile.

They watched as the host tossed potato after potato into the Chop Master. "Including make a pound of processed potatoes." Alex said when the man had finished.

"I stand corrected." Julie said with a shrug.

They all shared a small laugh and fell silent. They had put away the notion that there should be no smiles or laughter that night. There would be time for mourning tomorrow, when things had sunk in more. Somehow, it felt as though if weren't able to do something so normal at that moment, they might never be able to do so again…

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After watching nearly two hours worth of infomercials, the four occupants of the couch had retired to their respective beds, which was where Spencer and JJ resided now. It had been silent for a time, but JJ could tell there was something Spencer wanted to say, she could always tell lately. "I thought of them today. While we were in Hotch's house. Standing in the middle of all of that… I thought of my brother and sister." He admitted finally, sounding guilty.

"Spence… it was awful. You thought of people you love… people you're close to…"

"People I was scared for… it was illogical, but I was scared for them… and… you."

JJ was quiet for a moment. "I was thinking about my family… and you and Alex and Julie." She told him. "It's natural to think about people you love, Spence."

Spencer tightened his arms around JJ's waist and pulled her closer against him, nuzzling against the back of her neck. "I do love you…" He mumbled into her golden hair.

"I love you, too." JJ said, putting her hands over his.

"Would you ever consider moving in?" Spencer suddenly blurted.

There was silence for a moment, broken by JJ's startled "What?"

"I- I'm sorry, I did not mean for that to come out… I mean, I did, but not now, it's just something I've been thinking about for the past… few months and I just… I don't know why I had to say it now of all times… I'm sorry…" Spencer began to ramble, pulling away from JJ.

"Spence," JJ cut him off mid-apology, sitting up and turning on the light. "It's fine…"

"No, I…" The genius looked away, refusing to meet her eyes even as she scooted up next to him.

"You've been thinking about it for months?" She asked quietly.

"Well…" Spencer shrugged. "It's just… you're here more often you're at your own apartment and Alex has a job and will be moving out as soon as soon as my leg is fully healed, so it won't be too crowded, and my apartment is closer to work than yours… It seemed logical."

"Logical?" JJ quirked an eyebrow. "You want me to move in because it's logical?"

"Yes- no, I mean…" Spencer grew more flustered. "It is logical, but I want you to move in because… I just… want you here."

JJ smiled a little. "Well, I do practically live here anyway… and I certainly can't ignore logic… I suppose I'll just have to move in."

Spencer's eyebrows went up. "Wha- really? You- you want to?" He watched as JJ nodded. "Because I don't want you saying yes just because you feel pressured by… the events of today or by the sudden realization that life is fleeting, or…"

"Shush." JJ placed a gentle hand over his mouth, effectively silencing him. "Don't spoil it. I'm saying yes because I want to be here and because I've sort of been hoping you would have asked a while ago."

A muffled and surprised "really?" came out from behind JJ's hand and she smiled again. "Yes, really. And there'll be time to think about the rest of what you said tomorrow. Tonight, we just need… sleep."

JJ released Spencer from her silencing hold and he slunk back down under the covers as she flicked off the light and joined him.

And true to JJ's word, things did sink in the next day. There were tears on JJ's part and a few on Spencer's, there was a tearful call from Garcia, a gruff one from Rossi, a subdued one from Emily and one call to an exhausted Morgan. There was comforting and holding and the wish to call Hotch but knowing there would be no answer.

Just for that day, everyone was selfish, as selfish as they had felt when they had simply gone home and gone to sleep, even if that couldn't have been helped. They all took the day not to think about the future. No one thought about the looming investigation this was sure to spur, JJ didn't think about what she would do about cases and Spencer didn't think about having to inform his siblings about their new 'roommate.'

There was time for the impending future tomorrow, they decided. Today would simply be today.

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A/N: I'm not too sure about the ending, but I wanted something that would sort of make it so that I didn't ignore Hotch or anyone else's emotional-ness… I hope you guys liked it, though! And this was the last one to do with an episode… and there's only three chapters left! I'm sorta sad and sorta happy…

Thank you so very, very much to clt, Laura Beth loves Jesus, Daisyangel, cmwinner, Eriks angel 15, SlasherrGirl, RockerChild1987, CRIMINAL-MINDZ-FANZ, 67Chevy, xXxOtAkU-444xXx, SSAFunbar, donttouch, Noel Ardnek, Red K 5 and Hopeful Writer! You guys all rock most awesomely! As are the people who added this to their alerts and favorites! I'm running out of adjectives to describe your awesomeness after 36 chapters…