Chapter 7: Doubts
A couple more months had passed and Hotch had hired Agent Kate Callahan from sex crimes to fill Dr. Blake's vacant role on the team. When the others met Callahan, Reid remembered her from karaoke night at the Benjamin. Callahan easily bonded with Garcia from both of them talking about kitten videos.
Callahan's first case with the BAU dealt with an unsub who was selling body parts online. Rossi learned that Callahan had the same arresting the unsub passion that he had. When the team was closing in on the unsub, he hurt Callahan in her right shoulder from behind before Hotch had shot him dead. On the flight home, JJ and Callahan talked about their past battle scars when Morgan came in ready to boast to them about his own battle scars. JJ was ready to be bored to sleep. Reid was experiencing residual burning feelings in his neck from being shot. Both JJ and Morgan noticed him rubbing his neck.
The BAU team went to Colorado to investigate a plane crash that killed everybody on board except the copilot. The BAU realized that the unsub who they were looking for had gained the power to remotely control and crash airplanes from the ground. Hotch, Morgan and Callahan found the unsub and shot him dead, which destroyed the remote device he was using to try to crash land another plane. The plane was then able to regain control and safely land at the nearest airport. That case reminded Callahan of her own family's tragedy in 2001. Callahan's sister, Liz and her husband, Joe were killed in the Pentagon on 9/11. Callahan and her husband, Chris then adopted their surviving niece, Megan and continued raising her.
The BAU team took another case in Missoula, Montana. Men were being killed with unusual stab wounds and their cell phones were left in their mouths with the clock set at midnight. JJ figured out that the unsub was a woman and that she was a delusional Cinderella who was killing men she dated because they all just wanted to get laid with her instead of sweeping her off of her feet like Prince Charming would in the Cinderella story. Her name was Claire Dunbar. She stabbed the men to death with her high heeled stiletto shoe. Hotch asked Reid and JJ to get the stiletto shoe collected into evidence before they went out looking for Claire.
JJ and Reid found Claire in a cemetery with her boss's son. She had hit the boy in his head because he had interfered with her delusion that they were visiting her father's grave. Claire wanted to stab him to death with some clippers. JJ pulled out her gun to shoot Claire if she resisted arrest. Reid walked up to Claire claiming that they had spent a night dancing together, but then she disappeared. Reid removed her glass stiletto heeled shoe from an evidence bag. He got down on one knee and he placed the stiletto shoe on Claire's foot. He kissed Claire's hand and he told her that their carriage awaited. He gently escorted Claire over to the SUV. Claire thought that she had finally found her happily ever after. JJ lowered her gun and she called for medical help for the injured boy.
On the flight home from Montana, Hotch was writing his end of case report. Rossi was writing a new book chapter. Morgan and Callahan were teasing Reid about becoming Claire's Prince Charming to arrest her. And, JJ was taking a nap.
JJ was dreaming that she was in a cemetery visiting her big sister's grave because she missed her. Then Reid walked up to JJ the same way he walked up to Claire Dunbar. Reid told JJ he enjoyed the dinner and dancing date that they've recently shared together. Reid got down on one knee and he pulled a small box out of an evidence bag. He opened the box to show JJ an engagement ring. JJ started crying happily. Reid asked JJ to marry him and she accepted. He placed the ring on JJ's finger and he kissed her left hand. JJ and Reid got up and they kissed and hugged each other. Then Reid gently escorted JJ over to the SUV to go and live happily ever after together. Then JJ heard Reid saying, "JJ? JJ."
"Yes, Spence?" smiled JJ in her sleep.
"Wake up, JJ," said Reid.
JJ opened her eyes to see Morgan, Reid and Callahan looking at her.
"What is it?" asked JJ.
"We've landed," said Reid.
"It's time to go home," said Callahan.
"Oh, okay," said JJ.
"Let's go, Prince Spence!" laughed Morgan.
"Prince Spence?" JJ thought to herself.
"Don't call me that," said Reid.
JJ smiled at Reid and thought to herself, "Someday you will be my Prince, Spence!"
Morgan, Reid, JJ and Callahan departed the jet.
The BAU team took another case in Boston, Massachusetts involving a prominent attorney who was kidnapped because he was secretly a pedophile. Two of his past victims kidnapped him. One wanted revenge and the other wanted a recorded confession. The pedophile discovery made the case personal to Morgan. The abductors brought one more victim into the old building to decide whether to do revenge or do a recorded confession from the pedophile. Things went sideways and one of the abductors and the pedophile attorney were killed. The two survivors set the old building on fire. Then Morgan and JJ arrested the two survivors. They proved to the living abductor that the third victim was another pedophile. On the flight home, Morgan decided to tell Callahan about his past with Carl Buford.
Rossi had a young 30 year old woman named Joy Struthers following him during a local case. He later found out from her that she was his daughter who he never knew about before from his second marriage to Hayden Montgomery. Rossi took a week off from solving cases to spend some time with his daughter, her husband, Shawn and their 2 year old son aka Rossi's grandson, Kai.
Reid and JJ had been going out together on dates in between cases. Reid had started feeling doubts about JJ because they were only going out to places that JJ liked, but not to any place that Reid liked. Reid decided to talk to Morgan about it. One morning, Reid walked into Morgan's office.
"Pretty Boy," said Morgan. "How was your date with JJ last night?"
"It was okay," said Reid unenthusiastically.
"Uh, oh," said Morgan. "Did the two of you have a fight?"
"No," answered Reid.
"Did JJ say, 'No' to you when you dropped her off at home?" asked Morgan.
"No," answered Reid. "Nothing like that has even happened."
"Well then, what's wrong, kid?" asked Morgan. "You look like you've just lost your best friend."
"We've only been going out to places that she likes, Morgan," said Reid. "Not once have we tried going out to places that I like."
"Did you ask JJ if she wanted to go anywhere that you like?" asked Morgan.
"No," answered Reid.
"Why not?" asked Morgan.
Reid answered, "Because I've tried that once before during Gideon's days with us. I was trying to ask her out to a comic-con convention with me. But, JJ said, 'Let me save you the time, Reid. I am never going to comic-con with you.'"
"Reid," said Morgan. "That was eight years ago. Both you and JJ have changed a lot since then. She just told you that she loves you. If she really loves you, then she would want to go out to places that you like."
"I don't know," said Reid. "JJ doesn't play chess. She doesn't like comic-con. She doesn't like it when I talk about quantum physics, paraphiliacs or statistics. I'm beginning to think that I'm just her rebound guy because of Will's murder."
"Kid," said Morgan. "You're selling yourself short. Yes, JJ loved Will. Henry being here now is proof of that. But, opposites do attract, man. From what we've all learned about Maeve, she was practically a girl version of you. But, you've always loved being around JJ, right?"
"Right," answered Reid.
Morgan continued, "And, JJ may not be a genius, but, she's always loved being around you, Reid. Before she even met Will, I've noticed her flirting with you. I've seen how worried she was about you every time something bad had happened to you. When Tobias Hankel abducted you, JJ refused to sleep until after we've found you. And, the time you were mad at her for faking Emily's death, I've never seen JJ looking so sad before."
"Really?" asked Reid.
"Really," answered Morgan. "Because JJ didn't want to lose you, Reid. I told her and Hotch about that orderly who tried to poison you in the hospital. JJ was so happy that she cried when I said Garcia shot the orderly to save your life. Think about how happy JJ was because you've survived getting shot. Or, how happy JJ was when you joined us in San Fransisco after Maeve's murder. Or, the fact that she's let Henry dress up like you for Halloween. Or, how JJ was proud of you after you've helped deliver that baby. JJ doesn't want to live her life without you."
"You think so, Morgan?" asked Reid.
"I know so," said Morgan. "Where would you like to take JJ out to right now?"
"Well," said Reid. "There is another comic-con convention coming up in two weeks. Or, there's a Beethoven piano concert that I would like to take her to."
"Well, there you go," said Morgan. "Pick one of those places to go out to and then ask JJ if she wants to go there with you. And, she'll say, 'Yes.' I'm sure of it."
"Okay," said Reid. "Thanks."
"Anytime, kid," said Morgan. "Anytime."
JJ was also experiencing doubts about her recent dates with Reid. After a case, JJ was giving Callahan a ride home.
"Can I ask you a question, JJ?" asked Callahan.
"Sure, Kate," said JJ. "What's the question?"
"Are you and Reid a couple?" asked Callahan.
"Uh," said JJ. "That's complicated, Kate."
"Why?" asked Callahan. "Neither one of you are married. I know I'm still new to the team, but I've seen something very special between you two. Don't you love Reid?"
"Yes," answered JJ. "I love Spence more than I could ever tell him."
"Don't you want to be his girlfriend or even his wife?" asked Callahan.
"More than anything," answered JJ. "But, I don't think Spence loves me the same way, Kate. Not after I've hurt him."
"How did you hurt him, JJ?" asked Callahan.
JJ explained to Callahan about the Redskins game date, the failed comic-con invite, the Tobias Hankel case, Reid's dilaudid drug addiction, her meeting Will in New Orleans and her weekend visits with Will resulting in her getting pregnant.
"...and then," continued JJ. "Will came to New York asking Hotch to take me out of the field. And, I had to tell Hotch and Spence that I was pregnant with Henry. And then, Will also announced that he proposed to me. And, I've recently remembered the look on Spence's face that day. I wasn't a profiler yet when I was pregnant, but I'm a profiler now. I realized that I've broken Spence's heart when I told him."
"Whoa," said Callahan.
"That night in New York shattered Spence's perfect vision of me forever," cried JJ. "And, even though I've never married Will, I never understood how Spence could have ever forgiven me. I was no better than a cheating wife who was having another man's baby behind my husband's back!"
"Well," said Callahan. "You weren't Spencer's wife or his girlfriend, so technically, it wasn't cheating on him with Will, JJ."
"Well," said JJ. "The guilt that I've been feeling from hurting Spence, it might as well have been cheating."
"So, Henry is Will's baby, not Spencer's?" asked Callahan.
"Yes," answered JJ.
"Are you sure?" asked Callahan. "We do have DNA testing now."
"Spence and I have never had sex, Kate, so I'm sure," answered JJ. "I don't think he's ever had sex."
"Well, he's still young," said Callahan. "Are you telling me that he hates Henry because Henry is Will's son and not his?"
"No," said JJ. "Spence loves Henry. I made him Henry's Godfather. And, Henry adores Spence."
"Are you sorry that you've had Henry, JJ?" asked Callahan.
"Never," answered JJ. "I was really scared when I first found out I was pregnant. But, Henry is the love of my life, Kate."
"Then, what's the complicated issue, JJ?" asked Callahan.
"We've recently started going out together on dates," said JJ. "But, Spence has never made a move on me."
"Do you want him to make a move on you, JJ?" asked Callahan.
"Yes," answered JJ. "I want to have sex with Spence. But, since he hasn't made a move on me, he might not feel the same way."
"You've just said that he's never had sex," said Callahan. "Maybe he just doesn't know how to make a move on you."
"Or," said JJ. "Maybe he's just not into me, anymore."
"Not into you?" said Callahan. "When we did the plane crash case, I told Reid about my sister and her husband dying in 9/11 and me and Chris adopting my niece, Megan. And then, he told me his mom was schizophrenic and that his girlfriend was murdered right in front of him simply because we were sharing."
"His mom, Diana, and his girlfriend, Maeve," said JJ.
"That was her name? Maeve?" asked Callahan. "He's never said her name to me. Every week he talks about his mom. He sometimes talks about missing an Agent Emily Prentiss and Dr. Alex Blake. But, there's only one other woman he's constantly talked about since I've met you guys."
"One other woman?" asked JJ. "Who?"
"You, silly!" answered Callahan. "He's said, 'JJ had Henry dress up like me for Halloween.' And, 'JJ was there for me no matter what after my girlfriend was murdered.' And, 'JJ is my best friend in the whole wide world.' And, 'I love the way JJ laughs whenever I tell her my dream about Garcia marrying...'"
"Okay," smiled JJ.
"Uh, Garcia marrying him and his girlfriend?" asked Callahan.
JJ tried not to laugh. They were arriving at the Callahan house.
"I'll tell you about that tomorrow morning," smiled JJ. "Spence has told you that much about me?"
"Yeah," answered Callahan. "And, I don't think Spencer would talk so much about you if he didn't love you, JJ. I think he's totally into you!"
JJ pulled her car into the Callahan driveway and parked it. She happily gave Callahan a big hug.
"Thank you," smiled JJ.
Callahan said, "You've said that he once asked you to go to a comic-con date with him, but you refused. Have you ever gone anyplace that he likes on a date, JJ?"
"No," answered JJ.
"Then maybe he feels that you're not into him, JJ," said Callahan. "Maybe you should try going somewhere that he likes. When Chris and I were dating, we compromised. One date we did something that he liked and the next date we did something that I liked. Spencer might believe you're totally into him if you tried doing things that he likes. Maybe he'll even make a move on you if you try that."
"Okay," smiled JJ. "I get your point."
Callahan added, "And, I don't think your issue is Spencer forgiving you for having another man's baby. I think your issue is you forgiving yourself for it, JJ. I'll see you tomorrow!"
Callahan left JJ's car and walked into her house to embrace her family. JJ drove home thinking hard about what Callahan said. JJ realized that if Reid simply didn't know how to make a move on her, then Reid also didn't know that JJ was making moves on him when she stroked his hair while walking by him at the Super Bowl party before they started the Tobias Hankel case. Or, when JJ threw popcorn on her Spence's back when Gideon showed the BAU team the Charlie Chaplin films in the round table room. JJ thought Reid was mad at her for their splitting up in the Hankel case. Thinking that Reid didn't want JJ to become his girlfriend anymore, she started visiting Will in New Orleans that following weekend.
The following Saturday, Reid was playing with Henry at JJ's house. JJ was looking for comic-con conventions online.
"Spence?" said JJ.
"Yeah, JJ?" said Reid.
"I was looking online and I found this comic-con convention coming into DC next weekend," said JJ.
"I know," said Reid. "I've been collecting pamphlets from previous conventions I've attended."
"Would you like to go?" asked JJ.
Reid looked at JJ surprised.
"W..with you?" asked Reid.
"Yes, with me and Henry, silly," laughed JJ. "It says some of your favorite authors are going to be there. They can autograph some of your books. And, they have stars from the recent 'Avengers' movie who you could meet. And, they have a costume party as well. You could go there dressed up in a costume. And, Henry could wear his Spider-man costume. Maybe I will wear a costume as well. What do you say, Spence?"
"Yes!" cheered Reid happily.
Reid ran over to JJ and he happily hugged her and he lifted her off of her feet. JJ happily laughed from being swept off of her feet. Then Reid kissed JJ happily and JJ kissed him back.
"I love you, Jennifer," said Reid. "What made you decide to try this? You've never wanted to go to comic-con before."
"No," JJ answered. "But I have some wise people who have reminded me that if I really loved you then I would try doing things that you love just like you've tried doing things that I love. I'm not guaranteeing that I will love doing this, but I love you, Spence, so I will give it a try."
JJ put her hands on Reid's face and she kissed him gently. Reid kissed JJ back.
"Henry," said JJ. "How would you like to be Spider-man next weekend?"
"Yeah, Spider-man!" cheered Henry.
JJ and Reid laughed.