Her Oldest And Biggest Fan
Chapter 37
Back at the BAU, JJ and Hotch walk into the bull pen. Many of the other agents that JJ was acquainted with greeted her and flooded her with well wishes. Which in turn made JJ feel blessed and a bit embarrassed. But thankful, none the less.
"JJ, you head to your office. I'm going too get your case file and will meet you in there momentarily." Hotch says, handing her the go bag that she had with her at the hospital. And they head to their respected offices.
Once JJ opens her office door, she sees Gideon in her seat, behind her desk. "Hi Gid!" JJ walks over to him.
He stands up and hugs her." Hey! How are you feeling?"
As JJ pulls away, Gideon and JJ look each other in the eye. "Gid, I just said good bye to the one man that I loved and he loved me back. And then I had to say another good bye to my best friend and Aunt. I feel a little more at peace. But I guess time will tell. I have to believe this empty, alone feeling will slowly go away. Or be replaced by something useful again. Oh, and Garcia and Derek might have stumbled on a clue that proves someone else was in that house and 99% certainty that this is the killer. Not me. But I have yet to hear back from Derek. But there is hope." JJ smiles slightly.
Hotch knocks on her office door and walks in. "Oh, Gideon. Would you like to help us go over JJ's case file? Maybe you can find more differences and clues. You're a sucker for details. I can't believe I didn't catch the waste basket differences." Hotch beats himself up mentally.
"Well, there is one question that I have yet to hear brought up or even maybe thought about? Where is JJ going to stay?" Gideon says, sensing something deeper going on with JJ and Hotch. Something they might not even realize.
"Oh, I didn't even think about it. I'd just assumed that I would be in jail." JJ giggles at the tense moment.
"Well, they haven't arrested you yet. And if they come to arrest you, I'll get you out. No worries. From what they have, it's not adding up correctly. It still has me puzzled. The murder weapon. The only prints of yours is on the handle. You would think there would have at least been a partial somewhere else on the knife. And there was only that prefect grip. No prints anywhere else. Who picks up a knife that way? Think about when you grab a butter knife from your silverware drawer. You are bound to bump your hand or brush a finger here or there. It's like someone wiped it clean, used it and then places it in your hand to get your prints on it. Have you seen this knife before?" Hotch asks, showing a picture of the knife with blood on it.
JJ stares at it. Caught in a trance as she remembers the warm, wet feel of all that blood. She starts shaking. "That's a knife from my kitchen." JJ says, still sounding far off.
"Then why wouldn't your finger prints be all over the knife? If it was washed, you still have to pick it up and take care of it. Something doesn't seem right. JJ, why don't you sit down and think of anyone that would want to hurt you. Make a list. Make sure you do private life and work. Gid and I will be right back." Hotch and Gideon step out of JJ's office. JJ sits and begins her list making assignment.
Outside JJ's office, Gideon and Hotch talk quietly among themselves.
"Jason, you've been held up in this office most of the day. Have you come up with ANYTHING?" Hotch asks, curiously.
"Actually, the way the blood splatter and the corners report, there is no possible way JJ's the murderer. See the first cut of the throat, there is going to be blood splatter or spurts. That little extra bit was starting from right to left. So if JJ was sitting on Tom's torso, it would have had to go left to right. Her left to right. But it doesn't. It's hard to really tell if JJ's body was in deed laying on the bed when the murder took place. With the blood being on her cloths and the mattress and sheets. Now if she would have been on something glass or plastic, then we'd be able to tell. Now, we need to find out who might have wanted JJ or Tom dead. This is going to be hard on JJ. Digging into her past. Digging into Tom's past." Gideon says, feeling nothing but sad and empathy of JJ and Tom. To Gideon, they seemed made for each other.
"Ok, so then we have the cut direction and waste basket. TWO differences to give some doubt and us a place to start to prove she DIDN'T do this." Hotch almost looked like a kid in a candy store with all this 'new' info.
"Aaron, just remember that we can have all the proof WE need. But it's going to have to hold up to our legal system. I don't want you to be disappointed if it doesn't come out your way. It's great you believe so strongly. I believe in her too." Gideon lays a sympathetic hand on Hotch's shoulder.
"Gideon, I will hunt every and any lead down to make sure JJ is safe and cleared of this mess. But I would and have done it for all the members of my team. So I don't know what you are implying, but I'm trying to save a colleague." Hotch resents the hint that he's more 'involved' with JJ then client/lawyer, boss/employee and even a little friends.
"Just be careful. She's fragile right now. But so are you. I would hate for you or her to 'need' comfort and turn to each other. Then mess up whatever we call this group." Gideon says, sounding all yoda-ish.
Before Hotch can respond, they hear a noise from JJ's office. They peek their heads in the door.
"Hey JJ, are you ok?" Hotch asks, holding onto the door jam.
"Uh…" JJ made the confused noise as she stares at her computer screen. She opened an email and she's seeing live feed of herself.
When JJ doesn't respond the way the men see fit, they walk in and over next to JJ.
"What is it?" Gideon asks.
"Look." JJ yells and turns her computer monitor so they could see it.
"Oh my…" Hotch starts and waves his hand. In turn seeing it on the monitor. "Someone has put a camera in your office. We should have your office and home swept for bugs and cameras. This could be the big break in the case." Hotch finished.
Then from no doing of any of them, a tape clicks over. They first see that it's Tom and JJ. They are alone in JJ's bedroom. Tom has just places JJ down on the bed. Tom starts kissing JJ and moves lower.
JJ blushes as she knows when this sexual encounter was. AND knew what was coming up. She didn't want the older gentlemen and co-workers to see her in THAT situation. JJ stands up and blocks the screen.
"Ok, sorry. But you guys don't need to see that! NO ONE needs to see that." JJ was in pain from seeing the love that Tom and she shared. Salting the wounds.
"JJ, this might show how much you and Tom loved each other. Wait! Do you remember when this day/ night was?" Hotch asks.
"I believe that it was about two months ago. Give or take. We just came back from the bar with you guys. Please don't watch or listen to it. Please respect Tom's and my privacy. The little bit I thought we had. Oh God, this person saw Tom and I doing…oh good God! I don't feel so good." JJ says, then goes for her office trash can and vomits. Believing it's all about the shock of everything, little did she know what was to come out sooner, rather than later.
AN/ Hope you all are enjoying this story. Please make sure it you read, you review. It's greatly appraicated. Thanks!