Thank you guys for the awesome reviews and favorites, I'm happy you guys like the changes. I have a good idea as to where I want to go with this new version. I'm going to make Charlie a bit more receptive this time around, but she's also going to be cautious too. This chapter involves JJ going on her first case since Charlie came – one that wasn't in the series but JJ still has to work even if it is the summer.
Chapter 5- Over My Head
JJ's car lurches to a stop in front of Hudson Community Center. There are lots of activities offered for people of all ages ranging from Mommy-And-Me classes to children's plays and even a fantasy football league. JJ hasn't been there in quite a while, but the programs were fun. She'd been surprised to learn Charlie went nearly every weekend for the last three years. To think they could've bumped into one another and never known it. JJ blinks away the randomness that is her life sometimes.
"Hey, so Will's going to pick you up today." JJ reminded her daughter for the third time. She's met with a huffy eye roll in return. When she told them about her case this morning; Henry groaned but nodded mutely, Michael giggled only because she gave his tummy a poke, and Charlie frowned thoughtfully. She informed Will when they first woke up and he smiled sadly, giving her a kiss before offering to drop Michael off at daycare on his way into work today.
"I know you said that already."
"Yes, but I wanted to remind you." The mother keeps her tone patient. "I'm going to miss you." Charlie swallows, a bit surprised by the sentiment and also stunned that she's going to miss JJ too. Fiddling with her seat belt, JJ adds softly. "You know going away on cases is part of my job right honey?" The teenager nods wordlessly. "I want you to know I love you to the moon and back okay? I hope you have fun at the Center today, if you want to get picked up early, just call Will and he'll be here as soon as he can. He's working so he may only be able to answer when he gets off his shift." She can see the tenseness rising in Charlie's shoulders. "Or you can try your Auntie Pen." A newfound sense of anxiety floods through her features. "What is it? What's wrong?"
"I don't really know Penelope." Charlie doesn't want to hurt JJ's feelings by saying she doesn't like her. She does, she thinks Garcia's nice and really funny, but also weird for insisting she call her 'Auntie'. "I've only met her a few times."
JJ reads the anxious young teenager. "I know, but I also know she would drop everything to be there for you." The girl's eyes wander at that notion. "I thought in case Will couldn't get here earlier then you'd like to have a backup plan. Call me later tonight and tell me how your day was okay?"
Charlie nods, feeling simultaneously embarrassed and confused. Emotions she finds strange seeing as to how she's only been with the LaMontange family for ten days now. But, JJ took a few days off during their first week together, opting not to travel on a case the team went on six days ago. A foreign sense of anxiety explodes in Charlie's chest, something she isn't accustomed to feeling, especially about a person she's known for a little over a week. Charlie's gotten into the routine of seeing JJ and Will every morning, going to the Center or Ben's in the mid-morning to afternoon, and then seeing them again at dinnertime.
"Charlie?" JJ frowns at her, concerned. "What's going on up there?"
"Nothing, I'm just…" Charlie swallows not sure why she's feeling so nervous when she's only known JJ for like a week and a half. She's different than most fosters. The teenager has also gotten used to JJ playing with her hair while they watch TV and even when JJ nudges her to be nice. Glancing down at her hands, Charlie sighs. "This is the first time you're going away."
"I'll be home before you know it." The blonde profiler promised in a tone she uses with Henry when he's had a bad day or during story time with Michael. "We can talk later today." She studies the youngster. "Sweets, if you're feeling anxious, I can text you after I get off the plane."
"I'm not feeling anxious!" Charlie exasperated fidgeting nervously. She takes a deep breath and peers guiltily at the patient blonde sitting in the driver's side. She casts her eyes down trying to hide the shame. According to JJ's coworker, Aaron Hotchner's, son Jack everyone on his dad's team can read their minds by looking at you. At first, Charlie thought he was being a typical eleven year old and exaggerating, but now she knows; it's kind of true. "Sorry, I-I'm sorry." The teenager tugs on the hem of her shirt. "Yeah you can text me if you want."
JJ makes a face. "You don't have to apologize; it's okay for you to feel nervous. I worry about Will when he goes out and I worry about you guys when I'm not here too." Charlie blinks, stunned by her honesty. "And you know, I think I'd feel better if I did, text you I mean." She presses her lips together tightly to keep from grinning at the teen's relaxing shoulders. "I hope you have a fun day, sweet girl." Before JJ can make a move to kiss her goodbye, the teenager is turning to jiggle the car door to get out. JJ hooks her hand onto her daughter's t-shirt neckline. "Um, no I don't think so. I'm going to kiss you goodbye and you're going to deal with it cause I'm your mom and that's what moms do." The mother plants a loud kiss onto her kid's cheek, smirking at the bright red blush that forms on her girl's face because of it. With her cheeks tinted pink, Charlie gets out of the car trying to understand the conflicted feelings she has towards her family.
Ben's forte lies in the arts, like playing instruments or writing plays, not athletics. He should've known when Charlie informed him they were going on an 'adventure' that it'd mean his feet would be sore and blistered. He clearly didn't wear the right shoes to this venture. Ben thought they were going to hang out in the music room with him playing the guitar for a spell while Charlie tickled the ivories. The Dalton's unloaded them here damn near every weekend which caused the kids to take every class offered. Inevitably, Charlie and Ben each began to learn music. Ben may have an ear for instruments like the drums, guitar, trumpet, and saxophone but Charlie's always been better than him at the piano. That's the only instrument she bothered to learn either.
"Why didn't you just ask your mom to drop us off?" Ben complained wishing he'd opted for his Nikes over the Brogue black dress shoes he's sporting.
"Because," the fourteen year olds response is clipped as they near Alma's new residence. They had to beg Randy for it; the doctor likes Charlie, but he knows trouble finds her like bees to honey. Ben raises his eyebrows at her, his brow glistening in the sun. "Because she kind of doesn't know," Charlie's shoulders slump. "You know how some fosters are."
The older teen tries not to let his blisters get to him or else he'll snap. "I know how some fosters are, but your mom isn't like that. She's not even a foster; she's your mom and I don't think she'd give a shit about this. She's different Chuck, she cares." This entire fucking situation could've been avoided had Charlie been upfront with Jennifer.
"You met her once and you think you know that?"
Ben shrugs casually. "I didn't hafta meet her to know that. I can tell by the way she looks at you. You wanna know what else I can tell? I can tell you care too." Charlie gives him a doubtful eye roll. "What? I've known you forever, you think I can't tell when you care?" At her silence and forceful stomping, Ben sighs. He's pushed Charlie too far, but when he's gone she'll have to turn to someone else to be her sounding board. The boy is kind of hoping Jennifer will fulfill that role so Charlie won't take off on them. "I'm scared." He offers a piece of himself. That's always worked best with Charlie, to offer something personal so she won't feel uncomfortable.
"What're you scared of?" In all the time Charlie's known Ben, he doesn't rattle easily. There were times at the Dalton's when Ben had every reason to be scared, but he wasn't.
"To trust Jack," Ben's voice gets quiet. He doesn't really know when they got this close to the entrance of Alma's nursing home, but here they are. "People leave, my momma did and now Jules is too."
"He won't do that to you." Charlie answered and for a brief second she wonders who she's trying to convince. She and Ben are now in the same proverbial boat yet again. The last five or so years, Ben's lived with Jules so he could stop fretting about when or if he'd get move if he said or did the wrong thing. But, now that he's moving again, Charlie guesses old foster kid anxieties are bubbling to the surface. Right now, as she peers at him, Charlie recognizes glimmers of the foster brother who'd hid the Barbie he was playing with if he heard footsteps coming into the living room.
"My mom did and Jules plans to."
Charlie opens her mouth to say something and frowns. She isn't as good at this as Ben is. Chewing down on her lower lip, the girl hesitates a moment at the entrance of Shady Pines. Ben glances down at her, waiting. "If you ever need me, just text our safe word and I'll be there." Charlie said taking his hand and giving it a comforting squeeze like JJ did with her in the car.
"It's weird we have a safe word when I could just text SOS." Ben smiles, his best friend may try to act tough on the outside but she's a marshmallow when it comes right down to it.
The girl shrugged. "It's more fun to have a safe word." She tugs on his hand wanting to go inside before they have to get back to the Center. "C'mon, I wanna see her new room." As she yanks the older boy inside, Charlie worries that Alma won't even want to see her. After all, Charlie's the reason she's here now and not in her own home.
Reid studies as JJ stares out the window of the plane absentmindedly. He bookmarked the page he was reading in Synchronicity to ask how Charlie was adjusting to JJ leaving only to get radio silence in return. At first Spencer thought she hadn't heard him which could have been entirely possible due to the turbulence they encountered, but the second time he questioned it and got silence again, he knew something was off. The genius gently touches her hand stunning the blonde profiler out of her trance, Spence isn't usually a touchy-feely kind of guy.
"Are you okay?"
"What?" JJ blinks, her thoughts had been focused on her eldest child she hadn't even realized Spencer was sitting across from her with a mask of concern now engraved onto his face. She smiles, finally registering what he just asked her. "Yeah, of course, why wouldn't I be?"
"Because you didn't answer the first two times I asked."
The blonde runs a hand through her hair. "I'm okay, Spence." He gives her a doubtful look. JJ tells him the truth. "This is just my first case away from Charlie. I think she's feeling more worried than she let on and now I feel guilty about not being there but…"
Spencer finished knowingly. "But this is your job and you want to make the world safer for her that makes sense."
"The little piccola will get used to it." Rossi put in his two cents from the seat adjacent to them. JJ's heart sinks at the thought of any of her children growing accustomed to her absence. David reads the mother's face and decides to rephrase that. "I mean the first time away is always the hardest."
"He's right." Hotch sits down beside Spencer with a coffee in hand. "My first time away from Jack was awful. Haley had to send me pictures every hour." A rare hint of a smile glazes over in his eyes at the thought of his wife. She really was the love of his life, even when they were in high school he knew.
JJ smiles gratefully at her friends. "I know. I felt the same way when I started work again after Henry and Michael were born, but at least then I knew they were babies and could get used to the idea of me traveling for work. Charlie hasn't had that." She commented and for the millionth time wishing she could've raised Charlie from the get-go, although a part of her wonders if she would've joined the FBI had that been the case. The profiler is doubtful she would've especially as a single parent. Then again, JJ knows her parents would've helped and friends from college would've too. Shaking her head of the what-ifs, JJ refocuses. "It'll all work out, let's just talk about the case."
Garcia's brightened face suddenly appears on the screen. "Good idea sugar plum, because this one is a nightmare's nightmare." She shudders at the image of a disfigured man with the word 'Justice' carved into his chest. "Lucky we have the Fabulous Five to save the day. You see what I did, since there are five of you flying around."
Rossi smiles warmly. "Beauty and brains are a lethal combination."
"Oh my Italian Stallion; you know how to make a lady swoon." Penelope cracks a bashful smirk towards the silver haired man. Putting on a more solemn face at the clearing of Hotch's throat, Garcia nods. "Unfortunately, the men in Myrtle Beach aren't swooning. They're in need of our help…" She begins to rattle off details about a case involving four men getting their genitals removed and being dropped off at various hospitals around town.
Charlie's never felt a lot of guilt about lying. She isn't a sociopath, but whenever she's told a lie, it was usually to save her own skin or someone else's. At the McCall's all the girls fibbed about everything so it was easy to fall into the pattern of it, except a few times when she got caught and Jenna McCall busted her butt for it. At the Dalton's, they lied too, most of the time it was the harmless ones about having fun at Sunday school. At Alma's, Charlie didn't directly lie to the older woman much if at all, but she stretched the truth about Alma's well-being.
But, right now, after eating pizza and chocolate milk with Will and the boys, she does. Charlie feels guilty, here Will is, having set the younger two up with Frozen and now sorting through mountains upon mountains of boxes with her. He's being so nice to her. Charlie worries her lower lip. The guilt is getting to her in a way that it never has before. Will's just too nice.
"I wasn't at the Center today." She blurted.
"Yeah, I know." Will's response is casual, almost conversational. He's decided he and Charlie are going to work together to make the old storage room hers, it'll be a good way for them to bond over a shared job. "Can yah pick that one up for me, Trouble?" He's waited nearly four hours to see if the kid was finally going to fess up to it and is pleased she did.
"You knew?" Charlie hoists the box into her arms and hands it to him.
He nods. "Yes ma'am sure did." The stepparent continues sifting through the box attempting to figure out if any of this junk is worth keeping. "I left my phone at the station during patrol so I had ta borrow my partner's and I called the Center to letcha know I'd be late. A Serena Whitehall told me you weren't there today which confused me cause I know Cher dropped you off this morning."
"How come you didn't call me out when you picked me up?" The teenager asked curiously. Usually, fosters or parents in general would leap at the chance to. She also inwardly groans Serena is definitely going to lecture her next time she sees her.
"Wanted you to tell me on your own," the cop's answer is matter-of-fact. He finally stops sifting to appraise the fidgeting teenager standing in front of him. "I'm happy yah did, Trouble." The comment has Charlie blushing in embarrassed glee. "So, where'd you end up going today?" Frowning slightly, Will positions himself slightly closer to the door in case the strawberry blonde attempts to make a break for it. She has that wild look in her eyes that Will recalls JJ having at the very start of their relationship.
Charlie rocks on her socked covered heels. "Do I hafta tell you?"
Will has to think for a moment. She didn't smell like weed or alcohol when he picked her up. He also doubts she's the type of kid who'd have sex and lie about it. But, the stepfather also doesn't know Charlie that well yet. "Did yah get into anything yah shouldn't have?" He puts on his cop eyes and scrutinizes her every feature.
"No sir." Charlie promised shaking her head. She isn't into that stuff. Yeah, she's a little curious about why everyone seems to want to do it, but not so much that'd she risk her place here. The girls at the McCall's smoked up and Bug often swiped a few of Rick's cigarettes when he wasn't looking. Tasha was known for taking a swig of Linda's vodka too and then topping it off with water too. It was actually ironic because Linda would make a vodka tonic and still act slightly buzzed even though Charlie's pretty sure it was mostly water in the end.
"Well okay then, yah don't hafta tell me until you're ready." Will lets the girl have some privacy. This is new for all of them, not just him and Cher. Charlie's not used to answering to parents, so Will's going to let her have this. However, he has to make something clear. "But, I don't like the idea of you and Ben roaming the streets on your own; it ain't safe, 'specially cause I thought you were someplace yah weren't. If something had happened, your momma and I would've been heartbroken." The young girl has the sense to look down, although there is shock quivering in her stance. Will touches her shoulder gently. "All I'm saying is, let me know. Yah don't hafta tell me where you were this time cause I can tell you ain't ready to, but in the future…ah why don't yah share your location with me?" Will's partner told him about that a while ago. That's how he keeps tabs on his teens; it's cheaper than getting them micro-chipped, Santiago joked. At Charlie's pout, Will adds. "I ain't gonna be checking your spot constantly, but I am gonna check it so I know you're someplace safe. This is only for me and your momma to have peace of mind. Does that make sense, darling?"
"Yeah, I guess. I just don't like it." The girl has to admit this sucks, but it's fair enough. She reaches for another box and then winces as though recalling something or rather someone very important to this equation. "Are you gonna tell JJ?"
Will resists the urge to laugh outright. It seems Charlie's a little nervous about the wrath of JJ whereas their sons tend to find Cherie to be the soft touch. He reckons the same will not be held true for Charlie; it hasta be a mom and daughter thing. He nods firmly. "I think you ought to be the one to. I ain't gonna lie to you, Cher may be a little upset with you for deceiving her, but I promise she won't be upset with you for long." Taking out his phone, Will hands it to her. "Call her now; Trouble, while I look through the rest of this stuff."
Charlie takes it with mild reluctance. She starts towards the door, before stopping to turn an eerily similar raised eyebrow at her stepfather. "How come you keep calling me 'Trouble'?"
"Seems like it kinda fits, don't it?"
Tara slides into the chair beside JJ. The blonde has her gaze glued to her phone while trying to glance through a file about possible suspects matching the UNSUB's traits. Putting on her psychologist glasses, Tara offers JJ a cup of coffee. "Don't worry," the brunette assured her. "I got it at a coffee shop down the street. I think the coffee at this precinct is the worst I've ever had." She smirks as JJ nods taking a sip wordlessly. Tara opens a file, skimming through it with an air of feigned casualness, she heard the gossip about JJ's 'previously deceased but not really' daughter. That news must have been jarring to hear, especially for someone who had gone through the entire grieving process. "It must not be easy, having to leave your family."
"It's really not." JJ sighed. She shakes her head, breathing in the coffee fumes. "I know I'm supposed to say it gets better, but every time I leave, I feel like I miss out. I love what we do. I know every time we stop an UNSUB, we change the world for them and that makes it all worth it." That's the truth of it all, JJ loves her job because with every person they catch; they save another's life. Derek chose to leave for his family and JJ's choosing to stay for hers. "I just wish my own kid would call me."
The pieces click together. "Oh, why didn't Charlie call you?" Tara asked.
"Will said she wasn't where she said she'd be today. I guess she took off from the Center when I dropped her off this morning, I don't know." JJ kind of thought in the near two weeks Charlie's lived with them if she planned on taking off, she would've done it in sooner. "I know I should be more upset and I am, but he also just texted saying once she fesses up to it; he'll have her call me." Tara nods, letting her continue. "Now, I'm pretty sure the reason she doesn't want to call me is because she knows I know and think I'll lecture her about it."
"Well are you?"
"Probably," The mother shrugs honestly. This is the first time Charlie's stepped over the line really with them; thus far she's been mostly well-behaved. "I'm just a little surprised, she hasn't gotten in trouble since coming to live with us and she chooses now to start testing us." She stated a part of her knowing she should be somewhat happy about this step, but a larger part of her wishes she could be there so she could grill Charlie in person about today. Unfortunately, their case seems to be way more complicated than they originally surmised; female UNSUBS possess patience their male counterparts don't have.
"Hey, maybe it's a good thing she hasn't. It shows she feels comfortable enough to push the boundaries with you and Will a little. That's some progress." JJ hums, knowing that's true. "Hey, teenagers forgetful, it's in their job description to forget to call their mom – and if it makes you feel any better, when she does finally call you and she will. You can guilt-trip her a little, after the lecture, I mean. I can't tell you the amount of times my mom guilted me into spending the day with her." Tara chuckled wishing she could go back in time to when she was fourteen and not act so bratty about having to hang out with her mom. Spending the day with her mother would be a welcome gift now as compared to how annoying it felt all those years ago.
The blonde profiler laughs feeling better. "Ooh, I like the way you think Lewis."
Spencer huffs over to them looking annoyed. "If you two are scheming against Rossi, then count me in." He runs his fingers into his hair vigorously trying to get the flecks of glitter out of it. "Apparently, he's trying to pick up the slack of Morgan being gone and start a prank war."
"That's not like Rossi to throw the first stone." JJ mused, watching Reid leave in a huff still attempting to take out the glitter piece by piece.
Tara looks around before leaning in to confide. "It wasn't Rossi."
"Tara Lewis, I'm shocked." The blonde profiler gaped, a bit impressed by Tara's lack of an expression during the entire encounter. She'll have to remember that the next time they have family poker night. JJ laughs in relief and glances around, she's safer staying on Tara's team. "I won't say a word, but if Spence does find out, don't let his innocent genius act fool you, he's a prankster too." Tara snickers with a 'bring it on' kind of stance as JJ shakes her head in amusement. This should be good.
"Why're you here and not Will?"
That's the first thing Charlie blurts out as she climbs into her mother's car. She doesn't even know why she's happy yet at the same time upset to see JJ. After all, it's only been a few days, five to be exact. Charlie thought JJ would be home sooner so she may be reacting out of anger more than anything else. Based on Henry's child-like description of their mother's job, she was under the misguided perception that JJ would be home earlier than five long days.
JJ hides her hurt with a warning frown. "Hello to you too, Grumpy," she answered her eyes warning the fourteen year old to tread carefully. "Have you had this attitude all day or was I the lucky winner in today's drawing of which parent can I be sassier to and maybe get away with it if I apologize?" Charlie huffs noisily, rolling her own eyes at the mother's light reprimand. JJ is taken-aback by the sudden sass. "Watch it, Char; I'm not above giving you a time-out to your room when we get home." The threat flows out of her mouth before she can stop it and once it's out in the open; she can't take it back. "Come on sweets, I just got home from my case and I wanted to surprise you."
"I'm sorry…you were gone for five days. That's a long time." Charlie would be lying if she didn't think for a brief millisecond last night that she worried if JJ was really planning on coming back. It was a stupid, irrational thought yes, but one her child brain had for all of a minute.
"We talked about this, baby." JJ's tone softens. "I go away on cases and sometimes they take a little longer than we think, but…but we talked a lot didn't we?" Charlie nods, that's true. She, Henry, and even Michael spoke to their mother twice a day; once in the morning and once at night. The teenager even texted JJ a few times yesterday because she was bored. JJ squints trying to read the girl. "Honey, I will always come back home to you, Will, and your brothers. I know this is all a little confusing for you, but I…" JJ doesn't want her kid to feel like her absence is going to be a normal thing. She also doesn't want Charlie to feel anxious every time she's not around. This really is a catch twenty-two situation. "But, I'll always come back okay?" She reiterated before nudging the teen. "Hey, I heard you had a fun few days with Will."
A big grin dimples Charlie's freckled cheeks. "Yeah, we cleared out a lot from the room."
"That's great; I can't wait to see it." JJ stops at a red light. She's now on her way to pick up Michael then Henry, the toddler's daycare closes in about an hour and JJ wants to talk to his new teacher about his week.
"How was your case?" There's a politeness to Charlie that surprises JJ. The profiler wonders briefly if Charlie feels anxious around her because she's been gone for longer than either of them anticipated. Inwardly sighing, JJ does wish they could've found the UNSUB sooner, but she was more contained with her psychosis than the usual psychopath. Charlie's trying though, that's the important thing. After their little chat a few days ago about Charlie now needing to let them know where she is at all times, JJ worried the girl would lash out and refuse to speak with her anymore, but she didn't. In fact they spoke more following the mini-lecture.
"Good, we caught her." JJ informed.
"Cool…" Charlie nods a bit awkwardly, it feels strange to not have seen JJ for so long. It wasn't even that long, but a lot of crap has transpired since Charlie last saw her. For example, Ben now lives full-time with his dad, stepmother, and half-brother in D.C. They've nearly cleared out the storage room for her and Henry is slowly getting her into watching Moana. The teenager drums her fingers against her shorts and then asks. "So uh what was your case about?"
JJ chances a sideways glance at the teenager. "Grown-up stuff," She stated firmly, there's a reason she doesn't bring this stuff home and when she does, she only involves Will with it.
Charlie strains as though wondering if she heard her right. JJ did not just say that. The fourteen year old puts down her phone to shoot the blonde a huffy glare. This is what she gets for trying to be polite and ask about her mother's day at work like a normal kid. She griped. "Ugh, JJ, don't talk to me like I'm seven."
"Hey, watch your tone please. That time-out is still a very real thing that could happen." The mother ordered in kind as they pull into Michael's daycare. "Sweets, my work isn't okay for your ears." Charlie makes a face while JJ parks. She turns to the girl, ultimately deciding they have enough time to hash this out before going in to get Mikey. "I'm not trying to be patronizing, it's the truth, the work my team and I do; most adults can hardly handle it. Will and I see things we can't talk about. I know you're mature for your age, but your age is only part of why we won't ever tell you about our jobs."
Charlie murmured softly. "I know bad stuff happens." In her short life, a lot of bad stuff has happened and she's seen most of it. Like the fire at the McCall's, Rick Dalton's temper, Linda Dalton parading she and Ben around whenever company was around.
"It does, but that doesn't mean I want you to know more than you have to." JJ's blue eyes become full of warm sympathy, there's still so much she doesn't know about her kid. "Or add any more hard memories. Sweets, it's mine and Will's job as your parents to shield you from that."
Not too many fosters have tried that and if they did, they failed. Charlie doesn't harbor grudges, living with Alma taught her a lot about letting go of the bad shit that's happened. Weirdly enough, Alma also taught her how to hot wire a car. Charlie's broken out of her trance to meet her mother's concerned gaze. "What's the other part?" She questioned only to get a confused squint in return. "You said my age was a part of why you and Will wouldn't tell me about your jobs, what's the other part?"
The mother takes the keys out of the ignition. "You're our child; we'd never burden you with a fear of living your life." JJ answered simply. This is also the first time she's referring to Charlie as being more than just her kid which normally would've amazed Charlie, but the girl smiles slightly. JJ grins back at her. "Let's go get your little brother and then you can tell me all about your day all right?"
"All right," Charlie agreed following her mother's lead out of the car.
Will rolls his eyes as he wanders into the kitchen. He can only take so much of his kids fighting, before it grates on his ears. Charlie's been here nearly three weeks and she and Henry have already found ways to annoy one another that subsequently bug everyone else too. Luckily, Michael's still little enough that he can get distracted by the story Brown Bear, Brown Bear. Well that, and doesn't care what's on TV. At the moment, Charlie and Henry are bickering over what to watch before dinner. JJ's ordered the teenager that whatever she chooses has to be age appropriate for Mike and Henry. So it's a battle between Henry's choice of Moana and Charlie's demand of Toy Story.
"Why the hell can't they just choose a different movie?" He murmured as he goes over to the pan to put some olive oil on the brussels sprouts. JJ snorts in agreement. "They like both movies; they could watch one of 'em before dinner and one after. At the rate they're going, they'll still be bickering after dinner and only have time for one movie." So either one or both of the kids are going to lose out.
"If they're still fighting in five minutes, I'll choose a movie for them." JJ shrugs seasoning the salmon. They made the decision to tell Henry's its chicken as a way of tricking him into eating it. If he knew it was fish, he'd likely never eat it again because eating fish is apparently 'gross' to seven year olds. It's one of the things, JJ's hoping he grows out of soon. Charlie has no issues about what she eats, but the parents think that may have something to do with her upbringing.
Will shakes his head with a smile. "Ooh, even I don't wanna see momma bear angry." He shudders teasingly as his wife cuffs the back of his head lightly while passing him to get the rice out of the cabinet. Looking towards the living room, the father purses his lips. "Are you sure you want to do this? Charlie's adjusting just fine. Tanya even said she's never been so in sync and comfortable with parents like this before." Tanya also doesn't know they plan on reaching out to Dean Adkins about Charlie.
"I should've told him years ago, but it felt like my burden to bear alone."
"You ain't alone anymore." He wraps his arms around her. "You don't owe him anything, Cher."
JJ's shoulders sag. "You know that's not true, Will." She pours the rice into a pan. "What if you had another kid out there? Wouldn't you want to know about her?" As her gaze becomes slightly pointed and Will sighs in defeat, she gets her answer. Her husband would walk through fire for any one of their kids and that's one of the reasons she loves him. JJ reminded. "I scheduled a meeting through his assistant for not this Monday but the next." This way, JJ can enjoy being home a little while before they have to jet off. She almost set it for this weekend until she remembered how Charlie reacted to her coming back after this last case, she changed her mind.
"You said he was a Mayor or something right?" Will asked as he stirs the rice so it won't stick to the pot.
"Congressman now, in Pennsylvania, at least that's what my mother said. She also said she made sure not to vote for him and told all of her friends not to either." JJ does very little to hide her amusement. The profiler pities anyone who lands on the wrong side of the Sandra Jareau – that woman once held a grudge against her good friend, Andrea, because Andrea couldn't go to Sandra's wedding because she was on bed rest per her OBGYN's orders. Yes, Sandra will act sweet with Andrea because she does like her, but she'll also mumble under her breath about how Andrea didn't go to her wedding…even though JJ's parents are now divorced.
The brown haired man laughed. "Of course she did." It took a while for Sandra to warm up to him. To this day, Will still isn't sure if the woman actually likes him. He's pretty sure his sister-in-law feels the same way too. "Are you one-hundred percent sure about this? His family's still got money and power, Cher, if they wanted they could take her from us." He has to ask the elephant of a question looming in his mind. Charlie's grown to be a piece of Will's heart. She may only be his stepdaughter, but he loves that little girl just like he loves his boys.
"Dean's not the only one who has power anymore." They have influential people behind them too, like Rossi and Hotch; they're both strong forces at the FBI. If it comes down to it, JJ's going to fight for her kid to get everything she deserves and Charlie deserves to know both of her biological parents. JJ does worry about what this'll mean, but she has to tell Dean. "We may not have the kind of money they do, but I know people in high enough places that owe me favors." She takes a deep breath, she can't look at this like it's going to be a war. "Charlie deserves to know her whole family."
Will plants a chaste kiss to her lips. "Damn straight," at the sound of raised voices in the living room; he rolls his eyes. "Yah know, those two would fight over the color of the sky."