Sorry for the slow update, I was just trying to get some things together before I could update again. My apologies for the super, super long wait. I will do my best to update more frequently as school kicks off again and I'm stuck doing remote learning with my siblings which should make for a chaotic, crazy, and interesting school year. I hope you guys are all doing okay and enjoying the last few days of summer!

Chapter 7- Hold On

Charlie chews on an apple; it's red but somehow tastes bitter like a green one. The center may be a top notch facility, but that doesn't mean the food is equivalent to a five-star hotel. Moreover, Charlie would rate the food to being about the same as a summer camp, decent but definitely nothing to boast about – unless there's some holiday they're hosting that is.

Having a mother was a concept Charlie never allowed herself to ponder. Due to her shitty heart, she spent the vast majority of her early childhood in-and-out of hospitals. Therefore, she wasn't exactly considered an ideal or even a worthy candidate for adoption. Charlie accepted that at a young age. There had been moments when she thought she'd have a family, like with the McCall's, but something always seemed to screw that up. Charlie hoped to have a mother someday; however, having a father – that was someone she never established into her fantasy. The notion of a mom seemed much more real to her, perhaps it has to do with the fact that most Disney films portray orphans as searching for mothers more so than fathers.

Living with JJ has felt simultaneously gut-wrenching and amazing. Charlie may not be good at showing it, but she does like staying with the Jareau-LaMontange family. She relishes in having funny little brothers and even over-bearing parents to boot. There are times when things like her parents overbearingness confuse and annoy her; solely because that isn't something she grew up with, but she does appreciate it. Ben's Aunt Jules had never been protective either; he seems to think it has to do with having feds as parents – which actually makes sense.

That's why when her mother brought up possibly meeting her biological father Charlie felt a ping pong of emotions she didn't know how to convey. Running and not talking about it felt safer, that's usually the teen's go to when it comes to overwhelming topics, like what happened at the McCall's and even when she thinks about Alma.

Taking another bite of the lumpy apple, Charlie grimaces. She isn't certain why she's eating it. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees a boy with brown hair shoving cans of food into his pocket. Leaning back in her chair, Charlie's gaze falls on him with intrigue. "What the hell are you doing?" She finally asked upon seeing him jump, clearly startled by what he perceives as an intrusion.

"I-I work here…I'm just reorganizing." If Charlie were a lesser person she may have believed him, but because she can read people like books and also since she knows pretty much everyone who works at Hudson Community Center, she knows he's full of it.

"Bullshit." The teenage girl grins in slight amusement, oddly grateful for the distraction.

His dark brown eyes are sparkled with anxiety. "Y-You can't say that to me. I could kick you out of here." He runs a hand through his unruly brown hair, sticking up in every which way from sweat and dirt.

"Yeah sure you could." Charlie scoffed in disbelief. She's known the director at Hudson for years, the chances of her getting kicked out of here is slim to none. "What's a kid like you stealing from here for?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" The boy's face is ashen as he suddenly takes in his dirty football jersey and how prep school he must look. If he had planned on slumming it then he would've worn more grungy clothes, but it wasn't like he could just pop on home.

Charlie shrugs with an easy-going smirk. "You're stealing from the wrong bin by the way." She had half a mind to let him steal from the throw out bin, but decided this would be her one good deed of the day. He eyes her looking confused. "That shit's going in the garbage; hmm maybe it's the right bin for you." The girl tosses her curls over her shoulder and shrugs. "There a reason you're reverse Robin Hooding?"

The kid sighs deeply as though carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. He once heard somewhere it's easier to talk to a stranger about shit than a friend. "I fucked up in football…" the girl eyes him strangely, "it's a training camp, for the high school team well I messed up on a play."

"So? Everybody fucks up." That's what is making him steal? Charlie wondered incredulously, when she lived at the Dalton's they'd rob food from the cafeteria as a means of survival. Mrs. Dalton was convinced if she overfed hem then they'd be fatties and gluttony is a sin apparently.

"Everybody doesn't have my stepdad." He stares at the bin feeling slightly stupid now that he notices most of the fruit in there has gone off and the bread has definitely seen less green days.

Understanding glosses over Charlie's features. "Oh," she murmured. She never did get why some folks were so serious about football; it's basically a bunch of guys chasing after a ball like a dog. Growing up though, she saw her fair share of irritated dads berating their sons about the game…especially when she's go to Bug's school events with him and the parents would be having heart attacks on the bleachers about a missed play.

"Yeah," he murmured quietly. For the most part, he was able to scamper off before stepdad found him. He wasn't feeling up to it today, but he knows it's safer to stay gone for most of the day rather than face the wrath that is Frank Hayes. "What're you doing in an empty cafeteria anyway?"

"Thinking," Charlie replied hoping he goes away. This is the one moment she has to truly think about what her mom and stepdad are doing and this kid is kind of distracting her.

He asked nosily. "Whatcha thinking about?" She's pretty funny, kind of reminds him of Marisol, especially the look of irritated annoyance towards his presence; he cracks an amused grin at the girl.

"What's it to you?" She huffs with her arms crossed. Seeing his raised eyebrows, Charlie sighs as she finally throws away the apple she was attempting to chew. The fourteen year old bites down on her lip before meeting his gaze, she doesn't usually talk to anyone except Ben about the serious stuff. "You wouldn't understand."

"Probably not, but it's easier to bounce shit off a stranger."

JJ paces. She has to keep moving or else she'll focus on what's about to happen next and she wants to focus on anything but the impending conversation. Dean has a decent waiting room. Behind a thick frame of glasses, his secretary, Adele, is shooting her odd looks, although JJ knows she must look like a crazy woman; frantic and bundled with anxieties the older woman can't quite understand.

"Cher, come sit down." Will tries to coax his wife into the seat beside him. She's been wired all morning, hardly eating any breakfast, instead opting to ramble on and off about everything except the meeting.

"We have to go back-to-school shopping. Henry's jeans are snug on him and Charlie needs a new pair of dress shoes, for if we go to a nice restaurant." The blonde profiler stated her thoughts leapfrogging off one another. Her husband nods patiently and pats the chair. With her shoulders slumped, JJ plops down. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Dean's secretary smirk unnervingly before clicking away on her computer. JJ scoffs, resisting the urge to give that old female dog a piece of her mind. Taking a deep breath, she finally meets Will's gaze. "His secretary reminds me of my second grade teacher."

"Did yah like your second grade teacher?" He has that twinkle in his eye, the same twinkle Henry gets right before she tickles him or before Charlie tells him a funny joke.

The profiler shakes her head. "She made me miss recess for a week when I said she needed to get some."

"Jennifer Jareau!" His mouth nearly falls to the floor and he cackles. The secretary's sharp gaze gets pointed at him with such intensity that Will blushes feeling like a schoolboy in trouble. "Where'd you even learn to say something like that in the second grade?"

"My siblings were teenagers when I was in elementary school; it was impossible for me not to hear stuff like that growing up. I didn't know what it meant, but you gotta admit me using it in the right context is impressive for an eight year old." JJ answered as she leans against him, finding his laughter rumble oddly soothing.

The Southerner shakes his head good-naturally. "If I ever said something like that to my teacher, my momma would've busted my tail in two."

"Yeah, well mine wasn't too happy with me either. I don't know if she was more upset about me embarrassing her or about what I said." The blonde mused. "She wanted to know where I heard it, but I wouldn't fess up so she busted my tail in two." JJ borrows her husband's words all while feeling her cheeks turn pink in embarrassment. Growing up in the 80s, anyone would've been hard-pressed to find a kid that wasn't spanked but JJ still can't get over the casual nature in which Will brings it up.

"Why ain't I surprised yah wasn't no tattle-tale?" Will wondered.

JJ shrugs modestly. She glances at the clock yet again; their meeting with Dean was supposed to start almost eight minutes ago, either he's stalling them out or terrible with time management. "Are we doing the right thing?"

Will rubs his chin. "Ain't it a little late to be askin' that?" He asked thoughtfully, which earns him a frown for his trouble. Taking a deep breath, the husband goes on to add. "I dunno, Cherie, I think doing the right thing don't always mean it's the easy thing."

"So you think this is the right thing."

That sounds like a loaded statement if Will has ever heard one. He takes a deep breath. "I think yah wanna help our little girl feel more complete and there's nothing wrong about that."

JJ sighs, scrubbing a hand over her face. As she opens her mouth to respond, Adele cuts her off with a snippy. "Mr. Adkins can see you now."

The sound of buzzing interrupts Charlie mid-story, she groans and flicks through to view the full message from her self-imposed Auntie Pen. Looking up reluctantly at the brown eyed boy, Charlie purses her lips. "I better go." The girl knows if she isn't outside soon then Penelope will come storming in and the red haired girl would rather that didn't happen. This guy seems decent enough. He'll be attending Walnut Hill High School and also happens to be in the ninth grade – maybe starting the year out with at least one recognizable face in the crowd wouldn't hurt. "My aunt and uncle are outside with my brother." The boy nods in understanding as he follows Charlie outside to the parking lot. Charlie looks around. "Do you need a ride somewhere?"

The boy's shoulders go up and down before he finally shakes his head. "Nah, I'm all set." That isn't technically true, but he figures getting a ride home from this girl's aunt and uncle would be awkward considering he only just met her an hour ago. "I can call my momma to get me." His lie feels eerily similar to the truth.

Charlie squints at him. She can't very well force this guy into Auntie Pen's car. Shrugging the teenager nods in a resigned agreement as she responds, "If you say so, I'll see yah later Robin Hood."

"Does that make you the Princess I save?" He cracks a coy, jokingly flirtatious grin.

"Um I saved you from pooping weird tonight." Charlie responded laughing lightly, this kid kind of reminds her of Ben except a little less serious. She stands up straighter. "I'm the hero here."

A slight hint of a smile tickles its way onto his face. "Yeah, whatever Red, you're like that chick from Brave."

"JJ," Dean takes in the sight of his ex-girlfriend. She hasn't aged a day since he last saw her fourteen years ago, it's a wonder she stayed as gorgeous. He knows his own face has gained its fair share of wrinkles and his hair is matted with grays when it used to be an auburn-brown color. "You look as beautiful as ever," the Congressman offers her his campaign grin as he turns to the other guest in his office. "And you must be JJ's husband."

"Will LaMontange, pleasure to meet you." The Metro cop shakes Dean's offered hand, not even flinching when he feels the Congressman squeeze it a bit harder than necessary.

Dean nods while trying to conceal his confusion. He scrubs a hand over his face. It already feels like it's been a long day and it isn't even lunch yet. "I got your messages." The Congressman hoped JJ would've taken the hint at the third 'missed' message, but it seems she hasn't. "I've been busy campaigning you know, it's just a crazy time. The other side is always trying to stir up drama when there isn't any." He gestures for the pair to sit, waiting until they do so before doing the same. "So, what's up? No offense, but we haven't talked in I don't know how many years and out of the blue, I have an 'urgent meeting' with you."

"No uh the reason we're here is…uh, well you see," JJ stumbles over her words. The last time she felt this flustered was when she wrote Dean an email about her pregnancy and never sent it. She planned to after her baby was born, but then Charlie 'died' and JJ decided this would stay her burden. That is until today. "There's something I have to tell you and it's a lot to take, but I only just found out about her myself so…well I thought she died." The blonde ignores her ex-boyfriend's eyes. "Okay, so I'm just going to come right out and say it." JJ takes a deep breath before deciding to simply word vomit this all out. "I have, we have a daughter."

"Excuse me?" Dean's eyes widen as he feels the spit in his throat gather into a ball making him cough.

The blonde profiler runs a hand through her hair, taking note of how sweaty it is from nerves. "Fourteen years ago, I had our baby and she died. I mean I thought she did, but…"

"What? Are you joking?" The auburn haired man blinks. Although, JJ would never quite joke about something like that, surely she has to be kidding. "You had our baby and she died?" He sees his ex-lover nod minutely. "After all these years, why in the hell would you tell me something like that now?" A sense of rage envelops in his core as he realizes, maybe and hopefully, his competitor Cooper Rodman is using JJ as a ploy against him. "Are you working for Rodman? Did he put you up to this?" She squints in annoyed confusion. Dean swallows, having realized his ex-girlfriend isn't working for the competitor and it was foolish to even consider such a thing. "So what, do you want some kind of compensation because I promise–"

"Dean, shut the hell up!" The blonde profiler cuts him off before he can stumble his way into saying something he'll regret or get slapped for. "She didn't die. I thought she died after I gave birth to her, but she didn't. You remember that doctor who gave away people's babies?" Dean sits back in his chair. He recalls a dinner with Lillian rambling on about a doctor from near his hometown doing that, but kind of wasn't paying much attention. His wife usually likes to throw money at whatever crusade gets the most press. JJ sees recognition hit his eyes and goes on despite his silence. "His name was…is Dr. Robert Willis, turns out, my baby didn't 'die' like I thought. He gave her to another family and she ended up in foster care because she has heart problems." Now that tiny detail gets the Congressman's attention, his children were spared the hereditary disease as were his sister's kids.

Will adds softly. "Three weeks ago, she came to our door more or less demanding to be emancipated." The New Orleans born can tell Dean is still stuck on the fact that Charlie has HCM. "We decided it'd be in her best interest to have her stay with us and by we, I mean, us and her social worker." He can already see the tension growing in JJ's arched shoulders. Reaching over, he squeezes her hand as a show of support and compassion.

"She has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?" Dean's breath catches guiltily, part of the reason he went into politics was to create awareness for rare diseases. Although, the original mission has become blurred over the years, the health of his children is a lingering worry of his. He and Lillian thought they were lucky when the physicians tested the kids and told them they didn't have HCM like his kid sister did. Hearing a child of his got the rare heart disease makes his own heart quench. He did this, his lousy genetics. "Like Ducky," he releases the breath he was holding.

"Charlie's okay, Dean, she's healthy." The blonde mother promised; her eyes sympathetic. In their time together, Dean rarely spoke about his sister, Daphne, affectionately called Ducky by everyone within the family fold. She passed away from a heart attack when she was twelve or so.

Dean scrubs a hand over his face wearily. "Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?"

There's a moment of silence. JJ knew this was going to be a question, or rather, demand of his and fair enough considering the facts. She tucks a hair behind her ear and decides to be honest. "You left…and I was alone and angry and sad…I-I just thought…I don't know, Dean. I didn't tell you because I didn't think you'd care."

"You didn't think I'd care?" He repeated his eyes meeting hers. "It wasn't like…" he pauses, searching for the right way to say this. "That was my child, JJ; you had no right not to tell me about our kid."

"You're right, I probably didn't, but I was twenty-two years old, Dean – an adult yes, but I had no idea what I was doing or what I wanted out of life." She feels Will takes her hand and give it a comforting squeeze. "You left me and I was bitter, okay? I was angry and I thought your family would pressure me to get an abortion."

Dean tries to keep his anger at bay. "They'd never do that."

"Yeah, sure they wouldn't." JJ huffed sarcastically. The few times she met Dean's family, his parents and sister made it very clear what they thought about her. "You left me." She repeats. "All I got was a goodbye email saying you needed to 'think about your future' and while you did that, I had to think about raising a child alone." She got pregnant in early December when Dean visited her for a weekend, found out she was on New Years, and had Charlie in July – two months early due to the stress of getting in a car crash. It was a traumatic delivery to say the least, but her baby had been a good enough size, at least that's what the death certificate said. JJ frowns to herself wondering just what she ought to do with the death certificate now, she also briefly wonders if she should notify the Riley's and tell them where their biological baby is buried.

As these thoughts circle around her mind, Dean's voice sounds distant; it's as though he's trying to talk to her while she's underwater. Through his muffled voice she makes out the man's annoyed tone and statement. "It wasn't like I moved to Siberia, JJ I only went to New York."

"New York," The woman echoed hollowly. "To stay at your parent's summer estate where you refused to answer my calls or emails or even see me. Don't make yourself to be the victim in this, Dean, it doesn't suit you."

"My parents were only doing what they felt was best for me." The tone in his voice sounds almost pleading with his ex-lover to understand where he's coming from and JJ does, she really does.

His point is one JJ hadn't considered or thought of until she became a parent. She would and has done everything for her children. Nodding in resigned agreement, JJ responds evenly. "And I was only doing what I thought was best for my daughter." She takes a deep breath as she sits back down in the chair again feeling as though they've been here for years rather than eighteen minutes. "Look, I don't want anything from you okay? I just thought you should know had another child out there, but Charlie, Charlie deserves to know her father and I'm giving you the chance to get to know her."

"It's an election year." Dean commented after a pregnant pause. "A scandal this huge could ruin my career. I have a strong lead among conservatives, JJ, and I'm a Moderate. Do you know how rare that is for a candidate with my political background?" JJ blinks wondering if she heard him right and shares a look with a bemused Will. Perhaps when he's reelected they can swing this as a cutesy thing to drum up more supporters. However, right now with the conservatives teetering between him and Rodman; he can't have any potential scandal like a bastard child from his twenties ruin things. "Now just isn't the right time for me, but after the campaign then–"

"No," the woman barked sternly. "You don't get to decide when you want to be a parent; it's a full-time job, either you're in or you're out."

"I know that. Don't you think I know that?" The man questioned feeling his temper rise as well. He's missed more soccer games and art shows than he'd care to admit. "I have to think about my family and my actual kids too."

JJ's eyes flash with a rage Will only thought possible for the slimiest of criminals. "Excuse me?"

Dean swallows the baseball sized lump in his throat. He pinches the bridge of his nose. This is why he usually has his speech writers at the ready. "I didn't mean it like that…like how it sounded, but my children are–"

"Your children are your actual kids." She finished, effectively cutting him off.

He opens his mouth wanting to protest that fact, but also not quite sure how when it's pretty obvious that's what he said. The Congressman sucks in a breath feeling guilty, annoyed, and ashamed all at once – JJ's always had a way of making him want to be a better person. She expected a lot out of him and when he got scared and couldn't measure up, Dean left, he tricked himself into believing their time together was a summer fling that spilled over into Thanksgiving, but it wasn't. He knows what they had was more than that.

The man has often pondered what a life with JJ could've been like. Maybe he would've opened his auto shop and his life wouldn't feel so scripted. His parents introduced him to Lillian because they knew her parents from the country club; they got married two years later and had two children thereafter. Dean wouldn't trade his kids for the world, but there are times when his thoughts drift to what might've been. "JJ," he amended softly, "I have to think about how this could affect them too."

"Affect them or your campaign; you did say it was an election year." The profiler crosses her arms with rage practically steaming out of her ears. Will watches concerned, but decides to be a passive observer for now. JJ needs to let this off her chest; it has, after all, been fourteen years coming.

"You aren't being fair." Dean's once soft green eyes flash in hurt warning.

JJ shrugs, not quite caring about his feelings. "Maybe, but you're being a jackass so it's called for." She stands every ounce of her wanting to slap him, but then remembering she's a federal agent and not a twenty-two girl who'd possibly be able to get away with that behavior. "The only reason I came here was to give you the chance to get to know our daughter because she's amazing. I feel lucky to know her and look at her every day." In JJ's eyes, she got the best parts of her and even Dean. "She's added so much to our family, we love her." Will nods in agreement, the only reason he hasn't said his piece yet was because he knows Cher's needed to get this off her chest for quite some time. "And you know what; you've become a real Adkins now, Dean, good for you." She pauses at the door and snaps her fingers. "Oh and my mother wanted me to tell you, she's voting for Rodman." She remarked bitterly watching as his face goes ashen before leaving the office.

Will gathers up his wife's purse. In her amazing walkout, Cherie's forgotten a few things. He turns to the slightly broken looking man seated at his throne. He sighs. "You're missing out, Mr. Adkins, you really are."

Dean's eyes flash dangerously. Who is this guy to come in here and tell him that? He clenches his fists and rises to his feet glaring. "Don't you lecture me; you don't know what I've given up for my family."

"You're right, I don't. I have no idea, but by turning your back on your child you're giving up the opportunity to raise a kid who's gonna change the world." Will runs a hand through his hair. "Now I wasn't put on this world to judge you sir, but if you shut the door on knowing her, don't you dare try to open it again." He stares at the broken looking man in front of him, a brief sense of pity flutters over Will's eyes before he swallows. "You have a choice here, sir. You know as well as I that there are times in a man's life when we have a big decision to make and how you decide is gonna stay with you, for the rest of your life." Taking the last few steps to the door, Will opens it before looking back at the auburn haired man behind the desk. "Good luck with your campaign this year, Congressman."

Garcia waits until Reid carefully maneuvers the car en route to the Jareau-LaMontange household before turning to the teenager expectantly. "So Strawberry Shortcake, who was that boy you were flirting with?" She asked earning a snicker from Henry and a huff from Charlie.

Luckily, they don't have to worry about Michael because his babysitter, college junior Anna Paterson, is watching him today. On particularly busy days, like Tuesdays and Thursdays, Anna takes Michael home from daycare and gets him a snack before JJ or Will get there. Sometime between the time Anna gets there and they get home, Charlie comes back from the Center opting to hang out with Anna for a spell. Henry's basketball camp ends at about six and Kristy drives him home. By the time Henry arrives, she or Will is there about ten minutes after. JJ thought about having Charlie watch Michael until one of them came back but ultimately decided it'd be too much stress son the fourteen year old and anyway, Anna and Charlie seem to get along.

Redness flames up Charlie's pale cheeks. She didn't see the guy as being anything other than a substitute for Ben in that moment. The girl didn't even realize he was cute until they walked outside together. If anything, his arrogance outshined his cuteness. "I wasn't flirting with him; we were just talking about stuff."

"What kind of stuff?" Garcia prodded; she's been searching for ways to bond with Charlie. Maybe they can bond over boys or crushes – it's weirdly easier with Henry and Michael, all she has to do is give them candy.

"Stuff, like school…I guess he's going to the same one JJ put me in."

Penelope claps her hands excitedly. "Aww that's so great! You've made a friend already."

Doubt forms across the girl's cherubic face. Charlie can make friends fairly easily, having moved around a lot, the ability to make friends is simple; it's the act of keeping them after she leaves that's hard. Really, if Charlie's being honest with herself her true friends are Ben, Tanya, Miss Serena, and maybe Brooke. Although…Charlie isn't quite sure about Brooke; Alma did threaten to lay her grandmother out once and that caused a slight rift of sorts to form between the girls. She shrugs, embarrassed. "I don't know if I'd call him my friend. He's just some guy."

"Some cute guy," Penelope adds. He had a jersey on and based on the amount of dirt encrusted on the shirt; he must be pretty decent at whatever sports he play. "So…" she encouraged. Charlie blinks innocently with a smirk that looks eerily similar to her mother's. "You're really going to make me ask; what's his name?" The teenager raises an eyebrow innocently. "Ugh, don't smirk at me with that mini-Jennifer Jareau face, Shortcake."

"I don't know, he never said." The red haired teen admitted, having enjoyed getting a slight rise out of Garcia.

Henry's big blue eyes widen dramatically. He points a finger at his older sister. "Ooh you're in trouble; you're not supposed to talk to strangers." The boy waits for one or both of his relatives to react to this news.

"He's not a stranger; it was just some guy who's gonna go to my school. Totally harmless," Charlie rolls her eyes at the theatrics her brother is displaying. She swears their parents should take him out of Scouts and put him in a local play or something.

The image of Jeremy Sayer flashes through Reid's mind and he glances back at his best friend's daughter. "Next time get his name and other identifiable information." At the teenager's bemused frown, Spencer expands, using what he knows best as a frame of reference. "Statistically speaking more than ninety percent of juvenile offenders are males with near half of them being killers, predominately white males." Now it's Penelope's turn to gaze at the FBI's resident genius in amused curiosity, she's never heard him sound this serious before.

"I can't just ID someone." Charlie shares a giggle with Henry at the thought.

Reid tries to get the teenager to see this more clearly. He stops at a red light and gazes into the rearview mirror, hoping to catch Charlie's eyes and when he does, he states. "You certainly can, especially a stranger who could overpower you in a fight."

"How do you know he could overpower me?" The fourteen year old questioned shooting him a look that Penelope swears her mother has worn. Deciding to cut Spencer a break, Charlie scratches the back of her neck before finally remarking. "You don't hafta worry, all he did was take some stuff."

"He stole?" Henry's question is accompanied by even wider eyes. If they get any bigger, Charlie is pretty sure; they'll pop right out of the almost eight year olds head.

Charlie answered shrugging. "Just some rotten fruit, but I got him better ones."

Spencer rubs his brow. "You aided someone in theft?"

"Is it really theft if the food is gonna be trashed anyway?" The girl asked curiously. If anything, she's saving the planet by recycling food they planned on tossing. Hudson Community Center strives to be the cleanest facility in their area and at the end of each day, when there's not enough to be considered leftovers for the next day either gets given to homeless people or tossed. She studies her surrogate uncle; noticing traces of worry and frustration crease his forehead and not understanding it. The girl decides to change the subject. "Hey, can we get Chinese for dinner Auntie Pen?"

Garcia gushes at being called 'auntie' and beams. "We sure can my spicy egg roll." Charlie smiles lightly as she puts in her headphones and Henry looks at his comic book. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Spencer giving her a pointed look. "I'm not stupid boy genius, I know she just played me, but you can't expect me not to melt at Shirley Temple 2.0 calling me auntie." The techie adjusts the AC and then adds. "She was helping another kid out, Charlie's a perceptive kid; she can read people better than some profilers." A fact the techie isn't sure if it's a good or bad thing, Charlie obviously learned very early on how to read a room in a way that most children never had to.

"Everything's gonna be all right, Cher."

Will's soft words get JJ to finally stop pacing and sit down on the bed beside him, defeated. Maybe she should've been less harsh with Dean today, but seeing him after all these years stirred up feelings of anger. Then after he said he didn't want to know Charlie until after the election well that was the last straw. Her kid is amazing and the fact that he doesn't want to know her is…well it's a dick move. The second JJ found out Charlie was hers; she tracked her down, which may have been unprofessional but – the mother sighs. The former foster kid mentioned that he might not want her and she sounded fine with it at the time, but JJ can tell Charlie puts on a mask to conceal her true emotions.

"No it's not." She murmured leaning against him for support, both emotionally and physically. Tears of guilt rush to her eyes. "How could it be all right? This is such a mess. We don't know how this'll affect Charlie; she puts on a brave face, but she's not as tough as she likes to pretend."

"I know she ain't. She's like her mama like that." Her husband soothed, they picked up some burgers on the way home but neither has really eaten much. Usually one of the few ways to calm his wife is through food, but right now Will isn't quite sure that's going to work.

"I feel like we're failing her Will." JJ admitted finally reaching for a fry.

He hums thoughtfully. "Yah wanna know something?" Will takes a bite of his burger, chewing and swallowing the savory piece of meat before admitting. "Even on my best day, I feel the same way." JJ's brow crinkles, as her husband is one of the best fathers out there. He smiles sadly. "Hell, after I get off a long shift and Henry comes bouncing into our room demanding I play soccer and I send him away or when Charlie wants to help me cook, but it'd be faster if I just do it myself and I tell her another time or if Mikey is having a meltdown for some reason or another. We ain't perfect Cher. We make mistakes. Some days we ain't the best parents in the world, but today ain't one of those days." He promised seriously watching as she takes a bite of her burger too. "We damn well aren't the bad guys in this, Cher. We haven't failed Charlie today cause we did our best."

The mother swallows her dinner. "I hate him for this."

"Don't darling, it's his loss." Will stated seriously. He feels about eighty-five right from the emotional encounter with Dean Adkins, but before they sleep this day away; they need to talk it out. Through a mouthful of fries dunked in a strawberry milkshake, the Southerner comments. "Yah know Cher, there's enough." The profiler glances at him, her eyes puffy from crying but hopeful all the same. "We love her enough. That's all that matters, we just gotta show her she's loved enough and she is. We've got an army of people who love her too." Wrapping an arm around her on the bed, Will chuckles as JJ reaches over and takes one of his fries despite her plate having more than enough. "Now I don't know if I ever told yah this, but I fell in love with you for your appetite."

"Funny, I fell in love you for your deep pockets." JJ teased, popping one of her own fries into her mouth this time. Closing her eyes, she lets out the breath she was afraid to release following their meeting with Dean. "Tell me she's going to be okay. I know it's not true right now, but tell me anyway."

Will's voice is quiet and in a soft mumble, he responds. "She's gonna be okay."