A/N: Hey people! Hope everyone is well. I know it's been over a week since I've posted, and I apologize for that. I thought having a 'stay at home' order would give me more time to write, but that hasn't been the case. Thank you for sticking with me though! I really love this story and writing for this fandom. Please let me know what you think about this chapter.

Also, I apologize for any mistakes. I did not have the time to revise this chapter before typing it up.

JJ was… well, she didn't really know what she was. Pissed? Yes, at herself. Heartbroken? Absolutely.

It had been nearly six months since JJ and Reid had spoken outside of work. It had been nearly six months since the boys had gotten to play with their godfather. It had been nearly six months since that night in Los Angeles.

JJ had absolutely no idea what to do. Her marriage was falling apart. She had practically lost her best friend. And worst of all, she felt like she was failing as a mom.

JJ and Will were still fighting, and it wasn't just about the job anymore. JJ had become very distant towards Will. She knew she shouldn't be like that, but since the whole deal with Reid, she thought she was going insane. Ever since Reid had stopped talking to her, there was a huge void that could never be filled. Because of it, JJ was shutting Will out, so, their fighting intensified.

That scared JJ. She knew she was causing the fights. Michael was still kind of young, but Henry picked up on some of the tension, despite how hard JJ and Will tried to shield them from it.

Henry had even overheard one of their fights about a month ago. JJ spent most of that night apologizing to Henry, and promising him she would do everything she could to make things better. Then she shut herself in a room, and sobbed.

Henry didn't say anything else about the fight. He did, however, ask when he would get to see Uncle Spence again. So did Michael… multiple times.

JJ simply told them that he had a lot to deal with. She asked Reid at work if he wanted to come see the boys, but his only response was that he couldn't make it.

Little did she know, it killed Spence to stay away. He missed JJ and the boys so much, but he felt like he needed to keep his distance. He wasn't aware of how much that was hurting them.

CMCM

It came time for Kristy and Matt's baby shower, so the team came together to celebrate.

At some point, Tara and Reid started talking about Diana's new medical trial, and how she was coping with it. That led to a conversation about regrets, and wishing to change the past.

Reid hoped he wasn't being too obvious when he looked over at JJ. "It kind of makes you wish you could go back in time, and do things differently." He couldn't keep the sadness out of his voice, thinking about what could have been.. and what he should have done. Tara, having no idea what Reid was truly thinking about, struck back up their initial conversation of clinical research.

CMCM

The team was called to investigate, after a body was found near DC. Connecting it to several previous murders, Rossi was convinced that it was the work of 'The Chameleon,' but everyone else had other theories. They had trouble convincing Rossi that this was a different unsub. After all, Everett Lynch was still on the loose, and Rossi was taking it hard.

During the investigation, Emily sent JJ and Reid to the crime scene together. It was one of the first times they had been paired up in a while.

Emily had noticed the tension between them within the last few months, so without mentioning it to them, she kept JJ and Reid separated as much as she could. This time, she wasn't thinking. She had so much on her mind regarding Rossi, so she partnered them up without even thinking.

Reid was surprised when he heard his name with JJ's. He didn't know why, but Emily hadn't been putting them together much… and he was honestly grateful for that. He couldn't handle the tension, or the silence between himself and JJ. Though what was worse than the silence, was the small talk. Before this situation, they could have the deepest, most meaningful conversations. Reid would tell her things he had never, and would never, tell anyone else. And now… now everything was all messed up.

Here they were now, silently making their way to the crime scene. JJ drove, then they had to get out and walk through the woods the rest of the way. The body had been found a good ways into the woods, so it was a pain for JJ and Reid to get there.

They had just about made it, seeing the coroner's van several dozen yards ahead, when JJ slipped going down a hill.

Reid spun around, hearing JJ cry out, and caught her in an instant. The force almost caused them both to slide down the hill, but Reid braced them, keeping them from falling. "I got you." He quietly whispered. Making sure JJ was steady, Reid kept his hands on JJ's waist.

JJ brushed some hair out of her face, and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry."

Their eyes locked, and for a split second, both could imagine a different scenario- one where they were far from a crime scene, and where everything was perfect between the two.

"Agents!" A voice, calling out from behind them, shattered the moment.

Reid immediately dropped his hands as they turned to look at the detective.

"Crime scene's this way."

With one final glance towards each other, JJ and Reid followed the detective to the scene. And just like that, they were back to being absolute professionals… like nothing even happened.

CMCM

The next day, everything went sideways. They had arrested Dr. Hurst, but now they had a bigger problem: Everett Lynch had just helped his daughter escape from custody.

Emily sent several agents, including JJ and Reid, to the attorney's office, seeing as Lynch and Grace were last scene in the parking garage.

When the agents arrived, they split up and went through different entrances.

JJ cautiously entered the parking garage, gun held in front of her. Up ahead she heard voices. Knowing it was Lynch and his daughter, she stepped farther into the garage, having a bad feeling about what was to come. That's when she saw them beside of a van. "Everett Lynch, FBI!

Lynch spun around towards JJ, a gun in his hand.

"Drop your weapon, place your hands on your head, Lynch. Now!"

"Take it easy, lady. No need to gun down a daddy in front of his little girl." As he spoke, Lynch crouched down and placed his weapon on the ground.

"Kick it over." JJ kept her own gun trained on Lynch. "Kick it over to me!"

Lynch complied, so JJ then turned her attention to Grace. "Alright, you too, Grace. Drop your bag and show me your hands. Do it now."

Grace, after a moment of hesitation, looked over at her father. Then, hands visibly shaking, she dropped her bag.

That's when JJ made a potentially fatal mistake- she took her eyes off of Grace, for long enough to pick up Lynch's gun. Hand almost reaching the gun, she felt a searing pain rip through her side. Crying out, she fell to the ground. She could hear Everett and Grace jumping in the van and speeding off. She could feel her blood pooling around her. Then she was coughing, and could taste her own blood. In that moment, the only thought running through her mind was 'This is where it ends.'