Disclaimer: I Don't own any Criminal Minds Characters. All rights belong to the creators of Criminal Minds.
Authors Note: Taking a quick break on my "No-Brainer Sacrifice" storyline as I'm having a bit of writers block. I was thinking of what to write then a thought came to my head, "What if Reid was forced to leave the BAU instead of JJ?" I have so much I want to write about this one and cant let the thoughts leave my head. Don't worry tho I'm not abandoning the Sacrifice story, just taking a little break. Ok enough rambling enjoy the story! ~ Levi
"Ive been holding out so long.
I've been sleeping all alone. Lord i miss you."
~ "Miss You" Rolling Stones
"What?!" Everyone in the bullpen was shocked by the news their resident Genius had given them. Strauss, without so much as a warning to the rest of the team, was pretty much forcing Reid to leave the BAU for an indefinite period of time and to head to the Pentagon to join forces with the Department of Defense, effective almost immediately. Reid would later realize that the DOD was just a cover story for something else.
*A half hour earlier*
Reid only found out after the team touched down on the tarmac after their recent case in Florida. Strauss had called Reid and told him to meet her in her office once they got back without an explanation why. Reid was confused at first but after their meeting that confusion grew to rage and anger. He couldn't believe that Strauss had the audacity to just pull him away from his team, his family.
The first think Reid did after the meeting was storm into Hotch's office to see if he could do anything. "Hotch we need to talk."
"What's wrong Reid?" Hotch has rarely seen Reid this upset about something so he knew it was serious.
"Strauss called me on the jet to talk to her when we came back. Apparently either the Director or someone higher up than her told her that i was to be removed from the BAU and transferred to the Pentagon." Reid responded slightly aggravated.
"What? No one has told me about this." Hotch said with a slight raise in his voice. He never enjoyed having someone go behind his back and make changes to his team without his approval.
"Strauss told me that i would be transferring over to the Department of Defense. She didn't say how long."
"You sit right here Reid I'm going to go up and talk to her. Do not tell anyone else about this until i return clear?" Hotch ordered now rising from his Chair."
"Yes sir, Thank you." Reid said setting himself down on Hotch's couch. Hotch was only gone for 5 minutes which Reid new wasn't a good sign. If Hotch could somehow find a way around not making Reid leave the BAU he would have taken longer than 5 minutes, especially with Strauss and how she talks.
"Im sorry Reid but this is out of my hands. I can't do anything to help you. I'm sorry." Hotch apologized to Reid. Ever since Reid joined the BAU Hotch has seen him more and more as his son and always hated when he couldn't help him out.
"It's alright Hotch, it's not your fault, you did everything you could. Don't worry I'll try my best to keep in contact with you while I'm away. Maybe even help consult on a case if I can." Reid said shaking Hotch's hand.
"Will do, you take care of yourself Reid."
"you too sir." Reid left Hotch's office and walked down to the bullpen toward his desk. "Morgan can you go get JJ? There's something i need to say to everyone."
"Sure pretty boy, everything ok?" Morgan asked slightly concerned with Reid's tone.
"Not really, but not the way you're thinking."
"Okay kid give me a second." Morgan said as he got out of his chair and went to JJ's office asking her over to the bullpen to where Emily, Garcia and Rossi were slowly shifting Reid's desk.
"What's up Spence?" JJ asked placing a hand on his shoulder.
Its been roughly a year since Will left JJ and Henry. Things between them just weren't growing the way they wanted to and they both realized the only reason they were together was because of Henry. Once he left Reid almost instantly took his place, becoming the active father in Henry's life.
Reid could never let Henry grow up without a father figure in his life because he knew what it was like after his own father abandoned him when he was 11, leaving Reid to take care of his schizophrenic mother alone. He didn't want Henry to suffer the way he did. JJ internally thanked Reid for helping her take care of Henry. He was there, helping her with cleaning and cooking and watching over Henry so JJ could have at least a couple hours to herself everyday.
As time went on Reid was spending less and less time at his place and more and more time with JJ and Henry at her house. The relationship they had was on a thin line between strictly platonic and something more, however neither of them had acted on it.
Shaken from the contact of JJ's hand on his shoulder Reid blinked away from his thoughts about what he was being forced to leave and began.
"Hey JJ, I need to tell you all something that I just recently found out about 30 minutes ago. I already talked to Hotch and he said there's no way for him to change her mind and that this decision is final." Reid started, looking around at his team's faces.
"Reid? What are you talking about?" Emily cautioned.
"Yeah what do you mean by 'she' and Hotch couldn't change her mind?" Morgan added.
"Spence, you're starting to scare me, whats going on." JJ softly spoke, now gripping his shoulder a little out of fear.
"Im being forced to leave the BAU and to head to the Pentagon, to work with the Department of Defense. Effective immediately." Reid said his voice fading.
"What?!" all 5 agents said in unison. How could he just be taken from them? They were family.
Rossi, who was shocked like the rest, tried not to show it and have some composure, "Under who's orders and do you know how long you will be gone?"
"Strauss called me on the jet asking me to speak with her when we got back. Oh and don't bother trying to convincer her otherwise Rossi, Hotch already tried. It wasn't her decision, it came from someone above her. She was just the messenger." Reid responded to Rossi, knowing of his relationship he and Strauss had.
Slowly most of the team started to regain composure and accept that their Genius friend was leaving them. Apart from JJ, JJ was on the verge of tears clinging to Reid, hugging him as tight as she could.
"They can't just take you away..." JJ cried into Reid's shoulder.
Reid didn't know how to respond to that so he just held JJ tighter, putting his chin on JJ's head trying to comfort her.
"I'll stop by your house after everyone leaves here to say a proper goodbye to you and Henry." Reid whispered in JJ's ear. JJ just barely nodded into his shoulder now slightly hiccuping since she couldn't cry out anymore tears.
*At JJ's house*
Reid knocked on JJ's door and she let him in. They talked for a bit on her couch about random things, wanting to avoid the reason for his visit. They both had dinner with Henry, bathed him and tucked him into bed.
"Henry I'm going away for awhile. It's work related and i wont be able to see you for a bit. I want you to know that i Love you." Reid said hugging his Favorite godson.
"When will you be back Uncle Spence?" Henry muffled into Reid's shoulder.
"I'm not sure buddy. But I'll still contact your mom so we can talk over the phone as often as I can. You can bet on your Mac n' cheese that you can't get rid of me that easily."
Reid said trying to lighten the mood.
"Uncle Spence you silly!" Henry laughed.
"Only for you Henry. Now get some rest you don't want to be late for school tomorrow cus you've been up so late." Reid said kissing Henry on the forehead.
Henry Laughed. "Goodnight Uncle Spence, I love you!" Henry said softly as he dozed off to sleep. That was the first time Henry has said I love you to Reid.
Reid had to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall. "I love you to buddy." He got up from his spot and noticed JJ leaning on the doorway with a tear in her eye watching her two favorite boy's interaction. "He's never said he loved me before." Reid said to JJ as they exited and closed Henry's door.
"You know he didn't have to say it just for it to be true. He's always loved you." JJ replied back as they sat back down on her couch.
"I know I know, but just hearing it JJ. Hearing that someone besides my mom loves me. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside." Reid said leaning back on the couch cushion.
JJ moved her way closer to Reid and gave him a hug. "I hope you know that the whole team loves you too... including me." JJ's voice was a slight whisper on those last two words.
Reid pulled away from JJ slightly to put his hand to JJ's cheek and rubbed soft circles with his thumb. "I know they do. And I know you do too. I love you too JJ, always have."
JJ saw a sparkle in Reid's chocolate brown eyes and knew it was now or never as she didn't know how long his reinstatement was going to be. She slowly inched her head toward Reid. Reid saw that same sparkle in JJ's ocean blue eyes and met her half way, their lips crashing into each other. They were both shocked but didn't let it stop what was unfolding. Reid took his free hand and put it in JJ's hair gently pulling her closer. JJ took her hands and grazed it on Reid's cheek and on the back of his head not wanting this feeling to end. When the need for air became priority they broke apart, leaning on each-other's foreheads.
"Wow.." they both breathlessly at the same time.
"I'm going to miss you." JJ said after gaining her ability to talk again.
"Me too, you have no idea how much I'm going to miss you."
After a couple more minutes Reid told her he had to go as he didn't want to be late on his first day, which broke JJ's heart hearing that, wishing it weren't true.
As he was going through the doorway he turned around, now facing JJ. "I love you JJ, this isn't a goodbye, just a see you soon." Reid said as he cupped her cheek and gave her a farewell kiss.
"I love you too and I'll be waiting here for you. I promise." JJ responded to, leaning into his touch. They hugged one last time and then Reid left her house and JJ closed the door. Leaning back and sliding down the door JJ started silently praying for Reid to come back to her as soon as he could. JJ never realized until after he was gone how much she would miss him."
Authors Note: Hope you enjoyed the first chapter. I don't believe I'm going to get writer's block on this story, i have so much in mind for what to write and cant wait. Happy reading!