In an alternate universe in Season 4's "Memoriam," JJ was no longer seeing Will and she wasn't pregnant when Reid decided to stay in Las Vegas to investigate the Riley Jenkins cold case alone. Here is how I imagined JJ staying in Las Vegas instead of Morgan and Rossi to help Reid solve the case.
In Las Vegas, Nevada, Dr. Reid had saved the life of a little boy named Michael Bridges from a delusional woman named Claire Bates who had recently lost her baby. Later on that evening, while the rest of the BAU team shared dinner together at a popular Las Vegas restaurant, Reid slept in his mom, Diana's room at the Bennington Sanitarium. Reid had been experiencing nightmares about a little boy named Riley. Reid woke up from a nightmare of his father, William being at Riley's murder scene in a basement. Diana said Riley was Reid's imaginary friend while growing up. But, Morgan found out that there really was a murdered boy named Riley Jenkins back in the 80s. Morgan showed Reid the case file earlier that day.
The following morning, Hotch had already checked out of the Fountain View hotel and he was already driving over to the BAU jet. Morgan, Rossi, Prentiss and JJ were waiting in the hotel lobby for Reid to show up and check out. Morgan was trying to win some money in a slot machine. Prentiss asked him to stop playing because she was hung over from drinking and the slot noises were too loud for her. Reid finally showed up. JJ smiled at him.
"Sorry I'm late," said Reid.
"Hey," said Morgan. "What happened, kid? You didn't hear the alarm clock?"
"How fast can you pack?" asked JJ.
"Actually," said Reid. "I'm going to stay for a few days."
"Is everything all right?" asked Rossi.
"Yeah," answered Reid. "I just haven't seen my mom for a long time. I...thought that I could spend a little bit more time with her."
"Okay," said Rossi. "Take a few days. Do what you need to do."
Rossi, Morgan and Prentiss left the lobby.
"Hey," smiled JJ. "Take care of yourself."
JJ and Reid hugged each other.
"You, too," smiled Reid.
JJ joined Morgan, Rossi and Prentiss. They were heading to the parking garage when Prentiss suddenly felt worse.
"Emily?" said JJ.
"Oh, God!" groaned Prentiss. "I hate Vegas!"
Prentiss ran into the nearest ladies room to throw up. JJ followed Prentiss inside to hold back her long hair for her. Morgan and Rossi could hear Prentiss making coughing noises inside. Morgan quietly laughed.
"Hey," said Rossi. "The kid only told half the truth as to why he wants to stay. Do you think it has to do with the dream he had on the jet?"
"Yeah," answered Morgan. "I asked Detective Ashby to see if there were any cold cases of little boys who were murdered in the 80s. And there was one. A 6 year old named Riley Jenkins. I think Pretty Boy wants to find out what happened to him."
"Alone?" asked Rossi. "Reid shouldn't be trying to solve a cold case alone."
JJ came back out of the ladies room.
"Emily's washing her hands and her face," said JJ. "She'll be out in a minute. What cold case?"
"Riley Jenkins," said Morgan. "JJ, do you remember when Reid fell asleep on the jet?"
"Yeah," said JJ. "He said he dreamed that Hotch, me and him found a dead little boy behind the dryer in a basement."
"Did Reid say anything to either of you about any more dreams that he's had?" asked Rossi.
"Not me," said JJ. "But, I haven't really seen much of him during the whole Michael Bridges case. Morgan?"
"Yeah," answered Morgan. "The night before Ethan's funeral. He dreamed that Prentiss, Rossi, me and him were down in that same basement seeing the dead kid behind the dryer. But suddenly, Reid found himself covered in leeches."
"Leeches?" said JJ. "He's scared to death of leeches."
"Yeah," said Morgan. "He woke up the whole house screaming for me to get the leeches off of him."
"Did anything else happen?" asked Rossi.
"Yeah, at Ethan's funeral," answered Morgan. "Reid told me that he and his mom were at that same cemetery when he was a little boy attending a funeral of another little boy named Riley."
"Did he ask his mom about Riley?" asked JJ.
"Yeah," answered Morgan. "She said that Riley was his imaginary friend while growing up. But, she's not stable, so I asked Detective Ashby for any cold cases involving a dead boy named Riley. He gave me an unsolved case about a boy named Riley Jenkins back in the 80s. His mom found him dead behind the dryer in the basement when she came home from work. He was sexually abused and stabbed nine times in his chest. I showed Reid the case file."
"Behind the dryer in the basement," said Rossi. "Just like in Reid's dreams."
"You two think Reid knows what happened to Riley Jenkins?" asked JJ.
"He might be trying to remember what happened to him," said Morgan. "We think he's really staying here to try to investigate the cold case alone."
"Prentiss and the two of you recently taught me that it's quicker and easier to investigate a cold case as a team than all alone," said Rossi.
"You think the two of us should stay here and help him, Rossi?" asked Morgan.
"Wait a minute," said JJ. "Now, I agree that we can't let Reid work that cold case alone, but maybe I should stay here and help him?"
"Wait a second," laughed Morgan. "You're not a profiler, JJ."
"No," admitted JJ. "But, Reid is family. He might open up to me better than he would open up to you."
"Okay," said Rossi. "You stay here with Reid and give him any help that he needs."
"All right, I'm outvoted," said Morgan. "But, JJ, the rest of us are just a phone call away if the kid needs any more help."
"I'll remember," smiled JJ.
Prentiss came back out of the ladies room. Morgan, Prentiss and Rossi got into the SUV to join Hotch at the BAU jet.
Reid collected all of the boxes with the Riley Jenkins case files at the LVPD station claiming it was for research. When he returned to his hotel room to read them all, he opened the door to find JJ inside the room patiently relaxing on the couch.
"Hi," smiled JJ. "It's not nice for a gentleman to keep a girl waiting!"
"JJ?" said Reid. "What are you doing here?"
"I thought I would help you work on the Riley Jenkins case," answered JJ.
"Morgan..." sighed Reid.
"Well," said JJ. "Morgan was worried about you. He and Rossi wanted to stay here and help you. But, I told them that you might open up to me better than you would open up to them. Rossi agreed. So, here I am!"
Reid put the case boxes down on the table and he sat down on the couch next to JJ.
"How...how did you get into my room?" asked Reid.
"Oh, I told the receptionist that I was your girlfriend and that I wanted to romantically surprise you," smiled JJ. "He was more than happy to let me into your room."
"You surprised me all right," said Reid. "Hotch might say that I'm too close to this case and he definitely would say that we weren't even invited in to investigate it."
"That's a benefit of being the press liaison," smiled JJ. "Give me the paperwork, and I can make any case a BAU case!"
Reid briefly laughed.
"Spence," said JJ. "When you and Hotch went to prison to interview a death row inmate, the rest of us helped Rossi close a cold case that was haunting him for twenty-two years. We arrested a carnival owner and his son for murdering the parents of three children. We taught Rossi that teamwork can close a cold case quicker than working it alone. We all have your back. Maybe together we can help you find the answers you're looking for."
"Thanks," said Reid while lowering his head.
JJ put her hand on Reid's shoulder.
"Hey," said JJ. "Morgan told me and Rossi about your basement dream with leeches and your memory of you and your mom attending another boy's funeral in that same cemetery when you were little. Did you have another basement dream last night?"
"Yes," said Reid. "This time I was alone in that basement. I saw Riley's body behind the dryer and there was a man standing over the body. I pointed my gun at him and I told him to put his hands up."
"Did you see his face?" asked JJ. "Maybe he was the unsub who murdered Riley."
"Yes, I did," answered Reid.
"Then draw a sketch of his face," suggested JJ. "Maybe Garcia can find his name through facial recognition."
"I know who he is, JJ," said Reid. "His name is William Reid."
"William Reid?" said JJ. "Your father, Spence?"
"Yes," answered Reid.
"You've told us practically everything about your mother," said JJ. "But I've never heard you say anything about your father, Spence. Tell me something about him."
"I can't tell you something about him, JJ," said Reid. "I don't know anything about him. I haven't seen him since I was 8 years old when he walked out on me and my mom."
"He...left you and your mom?" asked JJ.
Reid lowered his head again.
"Yes," answered Reid. "It's the only clear memory that I have involving him. He and my mom were arguing one day about her not taking her medications for schizophrenia. He asked mom what day it was, but she didn't know the answer. So, dad quickly packed up a suitcase to leave because he was tired of trying to take care of her if she wouldn't take care of herself. He told me to leave the room. I told him that statistically, children in two-parent households receive three more years of higher education as opposed to children in one-parent households. Dad said that we were not statistics. Mom wanted dad to take me with him so I could get used to having another room of my own wherever he was moving to. My dad...refused to take me with him. My mom called him weak, and he didn't argue about that. He just said, 'Goodbye,' and he left. I said to mom, 'I'm not weak.' And, my mom said, 'I know, honey.' And, she hugged me. I haven't seen him since then."
JJ gasped. Her heart poured out to Reid.
"I took care of my mom alone for the next ten years," tearfully admitted Reid. "After I turned 18, I...had her moved into the Bennington Sanitarium. She's been there ever since."
"I'm sorry, Spence," said JJ.
Reid and JJ hugged each other.
"Do you think your father is the unsub who killed Riley?" asked JJ.
"I honestly don't know," answered Reid. "He might have killed Riley. He might have just found Riley's body in that basement. Either way, I think that he's involved. But while we were at the cemetery yesterday, when I saw Riley's funeral in that waking dream? My mom was standing beside me as a 4 year old boy in the group of mourners. Riley suddenly sat up in his open coffin looking at adult me and asking, 'Why aren't you helping me?' My mom looked up from 4 year old me to adult me saying, 'Spencer, pay attention!' My mind has been giving me mixed signals about this for years. I can't ignore my dreams, anymore."
JJ and Reid read all of the Riley Jenkins case files together. Reid noticed that the Jenkins family home was only half a mile away from the Reid family home. Reid went back to Bennington to talk to his mother, Diana. He asked her if William was ever around any other children besides him. Diana told him that William was his softball coach when he was 4 years old. Reid told Diana that Riley Jenkins was a real person, not an imaginary friend. And, that Riley was also on that softball team.
JJ and Reid both agreed to try talking to Riley's father, Lou Jenkins about William Reid. They went to Lou's construction site. Lou told them that William Reid was no killer. JJ asked him where William was and Lou said he was working at a law firm in Summerlin. JJ and Reid went to the law firm building to talk to William. The receptionist went to tell William that the FBI wanted to talk to him.
Reid walked out of the reception room for a minute because of anxiety feelings. JJ saw William Reid come out and she introduced herself to him. She told him there was an FBI case involving Spencer. William asked if anything happened to him and Reid returned to them. Reid and JJ started asking William if he knew anything about what happened to Riley Jenkins. Then they asked William if they could look at his files from the 80s. William lawyered up and asked for a search warrant.
Reid was upset because his father was still in Las Vegas the whole 19 years he was away from his son and ex-wife. Reid went back to his hotel room. He was on the phone asking Garcia to check on his father's background online. When Reid opened the door, he found a file folder inside his room with a post-it note saying, "You're looking at the wrong guy." The file gave Reid an arrest report on a man named Gary Michaels. Reid had a momentary flashback of seeing Gary's face at a chessboard years ago. Reid returned to the hotel lobby and told JJ about the file and the flashback.
"This file wasn't left at the front desk for you?" asked JJ.
"No, it was put inside the door of my room," answered Reid.
"'Gary Brendan Michaels,'" read JJ. "'Arrested for lewd behavior and exposing himself to a minor.' Charming! I agree that the timing of this is weird."
"Yeah," said Reid. "Within an hour of talking to my dad, we suddenly get handed another suspect who clearly has child molestation capabilities."
Garcia gave JJ a phone call.
"Hey, Penelope," answered JJ. "You're on speaker."
"Hey, my two youngest crime fighters," greeted Garcia. "Our boss and Wonder Woman are here with me!"
Hotch looked at Garcia while Prentiss smiled at Garcia.
"Hey, guys," said JJ. "Did you find anything on Reid's father?"
"First, I will tell you what I didn't find," said Garcia. "William Reid has no records of child pornography online. No memberships to any illicit websites and no suspicious chat room history."
"What about his finances?" asked Reid.
"We went back 10 years," answered Hotch. "There were no questionable transactions that we could find."
"No suspicious purchases of electronic games or renting of any private properties that he could take little children to," added Garcia.
"Well, he bought a ticket to see Celine Dion six months ago," said Prentiss. "But, I think we can excuse him for that!"
Garcia and JJ silently laughed. Hotch and Prentiss agreed that there was nothing in William's past 10 years to profile that he was a murderer or a pedophile. Garcia added that William had been keeping track of all of his son's past accomplishments online.
"It sounds like he's been keeping tabs on you, Reid," said Hotch.
"That's saying something," said Prentiss.
"Great," said Reid while feeling upset. "So, he Googled me! That makes up for everything! I...need some air."
Reid walked away from JJ.
"Reid, wait," said JJ. "Are you guys still there?"
"I thought that I was telling him good news," said Garcia.
"Penelope," said JJ. "You lost your parents in a car accident when you were 16. Reid's father walked out on his family when he was 8. There's a difference. I'll talk to him."
"JJ, is there anything else that we can do?" asked Prentiss.
"Yeah," answered JJ. "You can look up anything online about a man named Gary Brendan Michaels."
"You think this man is responsible for Riley's murder?" asked Hotch.
"Somebody thinks so," answered JJ. "I'll call back later."
JJ found Reid playing a slot machine with a woman sitting next to him talking to him. She was trying to get him to buy her a drink. Feeling jealous, JJ intervened.
"Sorry, sweetheart," said JJ. "He's my boyfriend! I can't leave you alone for a minute, can I, baby?"
JJ took Reid by his arm and they started leaving the gaming area together. The woman looked at the screen of the slot machine Reid was playing.
"Wait a minute," said the woman. "You've won $2,000!"
"Keep it," said Reid.
"Morgan will be sorry that he missed this," smiled JJ.
"Missed what?" asked Reid.
"Spence, you just gave $2,000 to a prostitute," said JJ.
"I did?" asked Reid.
JJ and Reid returned to his hotel room. Reid lowered his head.
"I'm sorry, JJ," said Reid. "I shouldn't have walked away like that. He just makes me feel so upset! I don't expect you to understand."
"Spence," said JJ. "I do understand. Wait here."
Reid sat down on the couch. JJ went to her go-bag and she pulled out a small red jewelry box. JJ returned and sat down next to Reid and opened the box and she pulled out a solid gold heart pendant necklace.
"I've seen you wearing that necklace before, JJ," said Reid.
"You have?" asked JJ.
"Yes," said Reid. "In the Pittsburgh case when we were assessing whether or not the five people in town had committed suicide or if they were murdered by an angel of death. Detective Ronnie Baleman wanted us to prove that his brother, Paul was murdered instead of committing suicide by having me read Paul's journal. Morgan said Ronnie just didn't want to believe that Paul committed suicide. You were convincing Ronnie not to have the media alerting the public of an angel of death because it would panic the public. I saw you fondling that necklace with your hands and you were showing micro-expressions of extreme sadness."
"Always the profiler, huh?" asked JJ.
"Yes," said Reid. "And, we proved that almost everybody's suicides were really murders by Peter Redding. But, Morgan was right. Ronnie still didn't believe us when I told him that according to his brother's journal, Paul really did commit suicide."
JJ lowered her head and sadly fondled the necklace with her hands.
"So, JJ," said Reid. "Why does that necklace make you feel so sad?"
"My older sister, Rosalyn," answered JJ. "This was her favorite necklace."
"You never told me that you have an older sister, JJ," said Reid.
"Spence," said JJ. "I had an older sister. My parents were arguing every night when I was 11 and Rosalyn was 16. Roz seemed very depressed lately. Maybe because she just broke up with her boyfriend. One night, Roz caught me looking at this necklace in the mirror in her room. I thought that she would yell at me, but instead, she let me have it. I always wanted one so I was secretly very happy. Roz put it around my neck saying that no matter what happened, she would always love me. The next morning, I found her...dead in the bathtub!"
"Suicide?" asked Reid.
"Yes," answered JJ.
"She electrocuted herself in the bathtub?" asked Reid.
"No," tearfully answered JJ. "She slashed her wrists with my dad's razor blade. I froze up when I saw her in the tub. I didn't know what to do. I...stood there frozen for 10 minutes!"
"JJ," said Reid. "I'm sorry."
Reid gave JJ a Kleenex to wipe her tears.
"After the funeral," tearfully continued JJ. "My parents were arguing even worse than before the suicide. They were blaming each other for Roz's death. One night, I heard my mom yelling to my dad, 'If you can't accept the responsibility of your own daughter's death, then why don't you just leave?!' And...he did!"
Reid's heart poured out to JJ.
"JJ," said Reid. "That's terrible!"
"3 days later, dad was gone," cried JJ. "Mom brought me home from school and his car was gone. His half of the bedroom closet was emptied out and he didn't even tell me goodbye! He sent mom already signed divorce papers and she signed them and I never saw him again! Both my mom and I cried for weeks! He made me feel like our family wasn't worth saving! He made me feel like I wasn't good enough for him to be a part of my life! So, Spence, I do understand all of the heartbreak, hurt and anger that you are feeling for your father leaving your family! I feel the same way about my father leaving my family!"
JJ and Reid hugged each other tightly while both of them were crying for a few minutes. JJ suddenly pulled away from Reid.
"Okay," said JJ. "None of the others know about my sister yet. So, this stays between us for now, okay?"
Reid nodded his head. Both of them dried their tears.
JJ continued, "Now, let's get back to this case. What were you talking to that hooker about that would make you give her $2,000?"
"How to stop smoking," answered Reid.
"What?" asked JJ.
"She started smoking a cigarette while sitting next to me," explained Reid. "I told her that my mom used to smoke. I used to tell mom every time she smoked a cigarette that I would lose six more minutes of time with her because I was trying to get mom to quit smoking."
"Did that work for your mom?" asked JJ.
"No," answered Reid.
JJ quietly laughed.
Reid continued, "That woman said that she's tried quitting cold turkey and she's tried gum and wearing the patch, but she still craves cigarettes. I suggested that she try hypnosis. Maybe that would help her quit smoking. Then, I thought maybe trying hypnosis would help me remember my suppressed memories. That's why I let her keep the $2,000."
Reid and JJ visited a local hypnotherapist named Dr. Mohikian. Reid explained to her that he needed to find out what happened to him when he was 4 years old. Reid told Dr. Mohikian that it wasn't evidence for a trial in court, but answers for his suppressed memories. JJ talked Dr. Mohikian into letting her observe the hypnotherapy session.
While holding Dr. Mohikian's hand, she put Reid into a deep sleep. He dreamed about his parents arguing one night while he was supposed to be sleeping. William came into little Spencer's bedroom and walked over to him knowing he was awake saying, "Daddy loves you, you know that?" Reid wanted to move on to the next morning.
Dr. Mohikian asked Reid what he saw after he got up from bed the next morning. Little Spencer saw his mom looking out of the living room window while crying. Little Spencer waited until Diana walked away from the window and then he looked outside wondering what Diana was crying about.
"What was she looking at outside of the window, Spencer?" asked Dr. Mohikian.
Reid suddenly started squeezing Dr. Mohikian's hand so hard that it hurt her hand. He started panicking.
"Doctor, that's enough," said JJ. "Please wake him up!"
Dr. Mohikian counted down from five to zero. Reid woke up instantly while breathing hard and shaking.
"Reid," said JJ. "It's all right. You're safe."
Reid hugged JJ tightly and JJ hugged him back.
"It's okay, Spence," whispered JJ. "It's okay."
"JJ," said Reid. "I...I saw my dad burning some bloody clothes in the backyard!"
Reid and JJ went back to Bennington to ask Diana if she remembered anything about the clothes that William was burning in the backyard. Diana went into a schizophrenic panic attack. JJ backed Reid up as they both watched Diana get sedated by the nurses. Diana sat down on her bed.
"It could have been you..." whispered Diana.
"What?" asked Reid. "What did you say?"
"It could have been you," said Diana.
Reid and JJ walked over to the LVPD station. Reid lowered his head.
"I'm sorry that you had to see my mom like that, JJ," said Reid.
"It's okay, Spence," said JJ. "I've read everything about schizophrenia this past year. I've even learned how to calm her down if I need to. It's okay."
"No," said Reid. "It's not okay. You do know that one day it could be me sitting there having those same panic attacks, right?"
"Wrong," answered JJ. "I know you, Spence and I don't believe that for a minute."
"Thank you," smiled Reid. "I wish I shared your enthusiasm."
Reid and JJ saw Lou Jenkins walking out of the LVPD station.
"What's he doing here?" asked Reid.
JJ received a phone call from Garcia.
"Hi, Penelope, you're on speaker," answered JJ.
"Hey, Girl Wonder and Boy Genius," greeted Garcia. "Morgan's with me. There's hardly any online trail records for this Gary Michaels. Shortly after Riley's murder, his trail went completely cold. He must have gone off the grid."
"Maybe he left town before they could bring him in as a murder suspect," said Morgan.
"Are there any other ways he can be tracked?" asked Reid.
"You betcha!" smiled Garcia. "He got printed on the exposing himself charge. Even if he's changed his name, he can't change his fingerprints."
"And, guys like him don't change their habits," added Morgan. "If he's done anything else to kids these past 23 years, my girl will find it!"
"Okay," said JJ. "Thanks, guys. Keep us posted."
Reid and JJ went into the LVPD precinct to ask Detective Hyde to bring in William Reid for questioning for 48 hours. The detective was reluctant to do so. JJ said it would be a personal favor to the FBI if he did, so the detective gave them 24 hours to hold William Reid.
At Bennington, Diana asked Dr. Norman if she could hold off on taking her medications for a little while. Dr. Norman asked her why and Diana knew that it would give her a window of clarity. For Spencer, she wanted to remember what happened to Riley Jenkins. Dr. Norman approved her request.
Reid questioned his father in the interrogation room. William denied that he killed Riley Jenkins, but he claimed he knew that Gary Michaels did instead. Garcia called JJ again. JJ answered her phone.
"Hey, Pen," said JJ. "You have something?"
"Hey, Jayje," answered Garcia. "Hotch and Rossi are here with me. And, yes, I do have something!"
"We got a Codis hit on Gary Michaels in California," said Hotch.
"So, he's in California?" asked JJ.
"Some of him is," answered Rossi.
JJ got Reid out of the interrogation room so he could also hear about Gary Michaels.
"He's dead?" asked Reid. "Where did they find him?"
"A construction crew dug up his body while breaking ground in the California desert 7 years ago," answered Hotch.
"Whoever killed him buried him across the state lines knowing that Vegas PD might not make the connection," said Rossi.
"How was he killed?" asked JJ.
"The coroner said based on the fractures on the body, he was possibly beaten with a pipe," said Hotch.
"Or, a bat," said Rossi.
"A bat?" whispered Reid.
JJ and Reid saw William being police escorted over to the jail cell.
"That's why I couldn't find any online activity for him earlier," said Garcia. "There wasn't any! Somebody killed Gary Michaels shortly after Riley was murdered."
"This information is very helpful," said JJ. "You're the best, Pen!"
"Awww," warmly said Garcia. "And, you're the most perceptive! Smooches!"
Hotch and Rossi stared at Garcia.
JJ smiled, "Thanks, guys."
JJ hung up her phone.
"How is it helpful, JJ?" asked Reid.
"You said you saw your dad burning some bloody clothes in the backyard," explained JJ. "Your dad just said that he didn't kill Riley Jenkins."
"But, suspects say that all of the time, JJ," said Reid. "That doesn't mean what he said was true."
"Maybe it does this time, Spence," said JJ. "When your mom needed to be sedated, she said that it could have been you. She might have meant Gary Michaels could have killed you instead of Riley Jenkins. Maybe the blood on those clothes your dad was burning wasn't Riley's blood. Maybe it was Gary's blood, instead."
JJ and Reid drove out to Inyo County, California to read the files they had on Gary Michaels's discovered body. The sheriff said that they found a fingerprint on his broken eyeglasses that they never found a match to. Reid thought that they might match his father's prints. JJ suggested that they could run it through Afis to be thorough.
By the time JJ and Reid returned to Las Vegas, JJ got a call confirming a match on the fingerprint. JJ told Reid that they needed an arrest warrant, but not for William Reid. Gary Michael's killer was Riley's father, Lou Jenkins. JJ and Reid went to Lou's construction site with an arrest warrant. Detective Hyde arrived to arrest Lou himself. Reid realized that it was the detective who left the Gary Michaels arrest report in Reid's hotel room. But, Reid and JJ let him arrest Lou Jenkins.
Reid and JJ interrogated Lou about Gary's murder. Lou confessed to JJ that a concerned party told him that Gary had killed his son, Riley. Reid asked was it his father and Lou denied it. Detective Hyde came into the interrogation room with William and Diana Reid right behind him.
"Spencer," said Diana. "It was me. I was the concerned party. Your father didn't tell Lou about Gary Michaels. I did."
Reid and JJ took William and Diana out of the interrogation room. Diana explained to them that Gary Michaels had played a game of chess with little Spencer. Diana noticed the way Gary was looking at little Spencer and she just knew he was a child molester. A mother knows. Diana assured Reid that Gary never got to touch little Spencer. Worried about little Spencer, Diana told Lou Jenkins about Gary. One night, Lou drove Diana out to Gary's house in his truck after reading that arrest report on him. After Diana identified Gary Michaels for him, Lou told Diana to walk back home. But shortly after Lou went into Gary's house holding a bat, Diana followed him into the house and she saw that Lou had beaten Gary to death in the kitchen. Diana panicked and she slipped on the blood pool. Diana got Gary's blood all over her clothes. Diana didn't remember what happened after that.
William continued saying Diana went home afterwards, but she wouldn't tell him why she was so upset or where she got the blood stains on her clothes from. But, William was smart enough to figure it out. Diana saw Gary Michaels get killed for murdering Riley Jenkins. William kept what happened a secret because Diana could have been arrested as an accessory to Gary's murder. William had Diana change out of her bloody clothes and he burned them the following morning in the backyard, not knowing that little Spencer saw him burning them through the window.
"You...were burning her bloody clothes," said Reid. "Is that the reason you left?"
"I tried to keep our family together, Spencer," answered William. "I swear to you, I did. But the weight of that knowledge was too much for me to handle."
"But, you could have come back," cried Reid. "We could have started over again."
"I didn't know how to take care of you anymore," admitted William. "After losing that confidence, there was no going back."
"What's done is done," said Diana. "At least you know the truth, now."
Reid lowered his head.
"I was wrong about everything," admitted Reid. "I'm sorry."
"I am, too, Spencer," said William.
JJ put her hand on Reid's shoulder.
"Well," said William. "I need to give Lou the phone number for a good lawyer."
"Why?" asked Reid. "He killed Gary Michaels."
"Because Gary killed his son," answered William. "I think that he's suffered enough."
"But..." said Reid.
"Spence," said JJ. "Gary Michaels was the real monster in this case. Lou Jenkins was a grieving father making his son's killer pay."
"How can you defend Lou Jenkins?" asked Reid.
"Because if it weren't for Lou Jenkins," answered JJ. "Gary Michaels might have killed you like he killed Riley."
"And, that would have been a terrible, terrible loss," added Diana.
"Being an officer of the law, I normally don't justify murder," said JJ. "But, Lou Jenkins saved your life, Spence. If it weren't for him and your mom, the BAU might never have gotten their resident genius. And, I would never have had you become my best friend."
"But..." said Reid.
"Spence," said JJ. "Let it go. We've solved this cold case and arrested Lou Jenkins. We've done all that we could. It's up to a judge and jury now to decide whether Lou Jenkins should be a pardoned free man or be put in jail for murder."
"Okay," said Reid. "You're right."
"Thank you, Agent Jareau," said William.
"Don't thank me," said JJ. "Now that this case is over, I have something to say. Mr. Reid, I think that your leaving your family because of your ex-wife's schizophrenia or knowing about Gary Michael's murder are just cop outs!"
"JJ," said Reid.
"Agent Jareau..." said William.
"No!" angrily said JJ. "You were supposed to take care of your family your whole life because that's what husbands and fathers are supposed to do! Instead, you just ran away from them! If either of them can forgive you now, I respect their choices, but I can't forgive you! My mom isn't mentally ill, but my dad did the same thing to me and my mom when I was little! My parents argued with each other every night! Then one morning, my 16 year old sister committed suicide! She slashed her wrists with my dad's razor blade in the bathtub. And, I was the one who found her that morning! I was only 11!"
"Spencer," said Diana. "You never told me that in your letters to me."
"Mom," said Reid. "I only found that out myself within the last 24 hours. Tell them the rest, JJ."
"My parents argued with each other even worse after the funeral," tearfully continued JJ. "My sister didn't leave us a suicide note, so I don't know if the arguing was why she committed suicide or not. A few days later, I overheard my mom yelling to my dad, 'If you can't accept the responsibility of your own daughter's death, then why don't you just leave?!' And, 3 days later, he did leave! He moved out while I was in school without even saying goodbye to me! He sent my mom divorce papers he had already signed and she signed them and I never saw him again! So, Mr. Reid, I know exactly what your ex-wife and your son felt like after you left them! Angry, heartbroken, sad, abandoned and not feeling good enough for you to stay in their lives! My mom and I felt the exact same way after my dad left our lives!"
"Jennifer," said Diana. "I'm sorry."
"Thank you," said JJ. "My dad leaving us gave me strong commitment issues! I couldn't trust that any man wouldn't do the same thing to me that you and my dad did, Mr. Reid! Get married, start a family and then abandon us one day! Both you and my dad are cowards! I recently broke up with a detective who wanted me to move to New Orleans with him, marry him and start a family with him! I love my life in DC and I don't want to give that up!"
"You didn't love him, too, child?" asked Diana.
"Yes, ma'am," answered JJ. "I loved him. But, I realized that I wasn't in love with him. He deserves to be with a woman who would fall in love with him, too and that just wasn't me. I deserve to be with a man who I've fallen in love with. My whole life, there's only been one man who I did fall in love with. Your son."
"What?" asked Reid.
"Yeah," smiled JJ. "I love you, Spence. I always have loved you. You are the smartest, sweetest, gentlest and most compassionate man I have ever met in my life! No man has ever treated me the way that you do. Most men just want to take me into the bedroom! You're the only man I have ever met who I have completely trusted with my life! And, you know exactly how I feel about my dad leaving my family. That made me love you even more!"
"I love you, too, JJ," smiled Reid. "No woman has ever treated me the way that you do. You don't tease me like Emily does. You stand up to Morgan and Emily when they tease me. And, you've made me trust you more than I have ever trusted anybody in my life. You bring out the best in me."
"You bring out the best in me, Spence," smiled JJ. "Will you be my boyfriend for real?"
"Yes, JJ," answered Reid. "I would be honored!"
Reid and JJ happily hugged each other tightly.
"Agent Jareau is one tough as nails woman," said William.
"Yes, she is," said Diana. "I hope that she becomes my daughter-in-law someday!"
Reid and JJ took Diana out to dinner with them. Then, they returned Diana to Bennington and Reid hugged his mom goodbye. JJ hugged Diana, too. Reid and JJ flew back to DC on the BAU jet. They were sitting together while snuggling in each other's arms.
"JJ," asked Reid. "What made you decide to tell me you've always loved me?"
"A number of things," answered JJ. "First, we've almost lost you three times, Spence."
"Three times?" asked Reid.
"Tobias Hankel was the first time," explained JJ. "And, Benjamin Cyrus was the third time. After those times, I had nightmares. With Hankel, I dreamed that he didn't give you CPR to revive you. Morgan shot Hankel dead in that cemetery. Then, we all attended your funeral in Las Vegas and I couldn't stop crying in your mother's arms. After I woke up, I couldn't stop crying from almost losing you then. With Cyrus, I dreamed that Rossi brought Emily out of Liberty Ranch safely. And then, we all saw Liberty Ranch explode. Morgan came out safely saying that you tried to stop Jessica from picking up the detonator and you were engulfed in the explosion. Then I woke up and I couldn't stop crying from thinking how close we came to losing you forever!"
"But, JJ," said Reid. "Those were only two times. "When was the third time you almost lost me?"
"The SUV explosion in New York," answered JJ.
"But, that was Hotch and Kate Joyner's SUV, JJ," said Reid.
"Yes," tearfully said JJ. "But it could have been your SUV. Or Garcia's SUV. Or Emily's. Or Rossi's. Or Morgan's. Or even my SUV."
"I'm glad that it wasn't your SUV or my SUV, JJ," said Reid.
"I'm glad that it wasn't our SUVs either," smiled JJ. "Jack was lucky. He still has his father around after that. That incident gave me a nightmare that Hotch and Joyner were with our team in the command center that night instead of you. Garcia played the street security camera footage for us and we all saw you climbing into your SUV and then it exploded. You were killed instead of Agent Joyner. Then, I woke up and once again, I couldn't stop crying! That was when I realized that I've always loved you."
JJ put her hands on Reid's face. They both smiled at each other.
"I've also been so proud of you lately, Spence," said JJ. "You've gotten yourself clean from your addiction. You always mentally find things to solve our cases that the rest of us can't find. And, you've just brought Michael Bridges safely back to his mom and dad."
JJ kissed Reid's cheek.
"Was there anything else that made you say that you've always loved me, JJ?" asked Reid.
"My mother," answered JJ. "She called me last night to check up on me. I told her about you saving Michael Bridges and she made an observation. She said that even when I was seeing Will, I was talking about you much more than I ever talked about him. So, she asked me how would I feel if you had been killed by an unsub."
"What did you tell her?" asked Reid.
"I said I would have been devastated," answered JJ. "I told her that every time I had a nightmare of an unsub killing you I would constantly cry after I woke up. I wouldn't have been able to continue doing this job without you, Spence. And, mom said that I must be in love with you! I would normally argue with her, but this time I agreed with her. I didn't want to ignore my dreams or my feelings anymore."
JJ took Reid's hands into her hands.
JJ continued, "I was going to ask you out to dinner when we returned from the Michael Bridges case to celebrate. Just the two of us. Then, I was going to tell you that I've always loved you and then ask you to become my boyfriend. But, you wanted to stay in Las Vegas and solve the Riley Jenkins case. So, I chose to stay with you and help you solve the cold case any way that I could."
"Thank you for staying and helping me solve this case, JJ," said Reid.
"Anytime, Spence," smiled JJ. "Anytime."
"I want you to promise me something, JJ," said Reid.
"Anything," said JJ.
"If we have a case in the future that makes you think that an unsub has caused your sister's suicide," said Reid. "Let me help you solve your sister's case with you. I want to help you just like you've helped me."
JJ fondled her heart pendant around her neck with her hand. A tear streamed down her cheek.
"I promise," said JJ.
Reid wiped JJ's tear with his finger and JJ kissed him on the lips. Reid kissed her back, awkwardly at first, but he soon relaxed while they both enjoyed each other's embrace. They continued kissing each other the rest of the flight back to DC.