The Fugitive
-Chapter 9-
JJ peeked into Emily's room about an hour later; the brunette had taken a long bath then JJ brought her a bowl of the soup she brought for her earlier. Even though Emily said she wasn't hungry, JJ left the bowl anyway and managed to convince her that the girls were downstairs playing with her own kids and that there was nothing to worry about. When the blonde peeked inside the bedroom, she saw that Emily was fast asleep, her eyes quite puffy, but JJ was happy she had at least eaten half of the soup and was getting some much-needed sleep. As carefully as she could, JJ left the room and headed back downstairs where Penelope was entertaining the kids on the living room floor. They had built a giant bed on the carpet with all the blankets and pillows they could find. Now, they were watching "Where the Wild Things Are" on the big screen TV. Henry was lying next to Ellie who was resting against the technical analyst's lap. Garcia sat on top of the blankets with a bowl of popcorn. Michael, JJ's youngest son, was at the end of the blanket, sprawled with his elbows resting on the floor and his head propped on his hands. Ellie was curled in a ball on the other side of Garcia. The girl watched JJ return from her mother's room holding the bowl in her hands. JJ passed them walking back toward the kitchen, and Zoe stood up going after the blonde telling the technical analyst she was getting some water, which wasn't a lie.
"Hey babe." JJ said, watching the girl walk in. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I just needed some water." Zoe said reaching into the fridge to grab a bottle of water.
"Is mom okay?" She asked shyly uncapping her bottle of water and taking a small sip.
"Um…yeah, of course, honey, why?" Zoe shrugged, looking down not meeting JJ's soft eyes.
"Hey." JJ said gently, coming closer to the girl. "Is everything all right?"
"Yeah..."
"Zoe...come on..."
"I heard mom crying when you were upstairs with her,…Aunt Penelope told me to go find you guys and I heard her..."
JJ nodded taking Zoe's hand and guiding her to sit on one of the kitchen stools."
"Your mom is okay, she's just tired, but everything is going to be all right." Zoe didn't respond, she just looked down ashamed.
"What is it, babe?"
"I wasn't very nice to her." She offered, ashamed.
"To your mom?"
"Yeah, she just wanted to talk, and I just didn't feel like talking. I didn't mean to make her cry." Zoe said sadly as her eyes became glassy.
"Oh, sweetheart..." JJ reached to pull her into a hug. "You didn't do anything wrong."
"Then why did she cry?"
"Because some times adults need to cry, too, it helps us deal with our feelings."
"Is she sad because of dad?" JJ didn't really respond because she wasn't quite sure what Emily had shared with the kids, and she didn't really think she was in a position to tell the kids about their father.
"I know he killed someone, I saw it on the news." JJ's eyes widened.
"Is that why you were upset with her earlier? Because you think your dad hurt someone?"
"No, I'm mad, I was mad because she lied to me."
"Honey..."
"It's true, all she keeps telling us is that he's out of town, but I know he's in prison." The girl said looking at the blond angrily.
"Zoe, I'm sorry you have to see those things on TV, and I'm really sorry this is happening right now, but your mom just wants what's best for you."
"But she lied to us!"
"She just didn't want you to be upset and sad...this is something very hard, honey, for all of you, even your mom."
"So, it's true? Dad left us for another woman and then he killed her?"
"I don't know, babe, but what I do know is that your mom really needs you right now, I know this is something very hard, and I'm so sorry this is happening to your family, but we need to help your, she...well, she really needs all of us right now."
"Is she mad at me?"
"No, of course not, babe, why would she be mad at you?"
"Because I wasn't being very nice."
"Oh, Zoe." JJ said reaching to wipe the tears that had escaped from the child's eyes. "Your mom couldn't ever be mad at you, I think she's just worried that you're hurting, and you're too afraid to tell her."
"I just don't want to make her cry anymore…I can hear her cry at night, even when she thinks we're sleeping."
"Honey, I really don't think you will hurt your mother by telling her how you fee; if anything, it will only help you both to feel better."
"You think I should go say that I am sorry?" JJ smiled at the child's gentle soul.
"I think you can talk to her later, we should just let her sleep now, okay?"
The next day, JJ arrived at the elementary school parking lot. Since she was off, or she had a half day, it was her turn to pick up her kids up from school. The majority of the time it was Will who picked them up, but she tried to make it a habit of getting her kids whenever she wasn't working a case. Henry was in 7th grade and Michael was in 3rd grade. Usually, it was Henry who got out first, but even then, she was at least twenty minutes earlier than usual, and there was a definite purpose to her early arrival. JJ parked her car and started walking toward the brick building, but instead of heading in the direction of her son's classroom, she went the opposite way, heading toward the modular classrooms. She waited outside knowing the class would be dismissed any minute. She glanced at her watch nervously unsure if she should be doing this…right, everything was telling her that yes she should. Just a few minutes later, the bell rang and students started coming out of the gray-colored rooms. Her eyes scanned the stampede of kids until she located the one she was looking for.
"Jack!" She called, as soon as his familiar blonde head appeared amongst the other students.
"Hey!" Jack responded, surprised to see the blonde profiler there.
"Bye, Tommy." He turned to wave at one of his friends and then began walking toward her.
"Hey, I didn't know you were supposed to pick me up, I thought that I was taking the bus to Uncle Dave's."
"You are." JJ said, almost getting cold feet. "I just need to talk to you really quickly."
"Okay." Jack frowned. "What's going on?"
JJ began walking away from the crowd, guiding Jack away to a much more private, quieter area.
"So, what's going on, is mom okay?" He asked, immediately thinking something had happened to her.
"No, she's not." JJ spat angrily, "How could you say something so cruel and mean to her?"
"She went and snitched to you?" Jack said, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms over his chest.
"She didn't snitch to me! And what are you, six?" JJ asked annoyed. "Why would you say something like that to her?" She questioned severely.
"You don't understand!" Jack said defensively.
"You know what? No, I don't understand what would make you hurt someone that has done so much for you."
"She lied to me, to all us."
"So what!" JJ shouted. "That doesn't give you the right to be such a..." JJ stopped before she could regret her words.
"You're not a little kid anymore, Jack." She said, her stern glare directed to him.
"Your words and actions have consequences, you hurt her badly and she doesn't deserve this; she has done nothing but be kind and loving to you since she met you...and she is your mother whether you like it or not! She adopted you and that makes her your legal guardian, so regardless of how you feel, you should respect her and love her."
"I didn't mean to hurt her." Jack said meekly, looking down at the ground.
"Well you did! The things you said...you just don't say that to someone who has raised you since you were a little kid and has done more than your own mother ever did for you!" JJ clamped her mouth shut, but it was too late…she watched as Jack's face turned hurt and his eyes became watery.
"I'm sorry..." JJ stated, trying to take a deep breath. "I just…I thought someone needed to tell you that you were completely out of line with her."
"You did, now you can leave me alone." Jack said with anger and hurt in his voice.
"Jack!" JJ said in a much softer tone.
"Look, you said what you had to say...I've got to catch my bus." He turned around walking away from her.
JJ sighed, running a hand over her face frustrated; this wasn't how this conversation was supposed to turn out, but she had let her emotions win and now she had probably made everything worse.
Later that afternoon Spencer waited at the check in area, bouncing his leg nervously and looking at the clock. There was a reason why this place made him so uncomfortable…he had been here before and it hadn't been a pleasant experience. But, he really didn't want to think about that now. There was a specific reason why he was here, and that was what was important. The security guard finally motioned to him that he was okay to enter.
He stood up following the guard through the doors, passed the corridor and then to the waiting room. He took a seat looking around; there was an entire level of creepiness in a place like this. The door opened again and this time he saw his former boss come through the doors.
"Hotch." He said, standing up and giving him a tight hug. On any other day, the ex-Deputy Director would have considered his actions inappropriate and even homophonic, but Spencer different, he had know him since he barely became an adult, and he was sort of like a son to him, and he had always had a soft spot for him.
"Reid, what are you doing here?" Hotch questioned, surprised.
"How are you?" Spencer asked instead, as both men sat down.
"I can say that I've had better days..." He replied, huffing and looking around.
"Are you eating enough?"
"Spencer, what are you doing here?"
"What do you mean? You're my family. I wanted to come before, but it's just been messy, the Bureau is questioning everything we do...and Morgan has been on a roll since then." Hotch nodded, knowing perfectly well that after his arrest, his ex-team was under a magnifying glass.
"I know, you've probably seen this, but their text messages from your phone between you and Beth..."
"I read the file." Hotch replied without even touching the file. His head hurt enough as it was.
"Spence, I know you don't believe me, but I didn't do this."
"Who says I don't believe you?" Spencer questioned hurt. "Of course you didn't do it, I know you didn't do it. I know that because I know you, and because I've been in your shoes before...I know what it's like to be accused of something you didn't do, and you sat in that same chair and you believed me."
"This means a lot, Spencer, you have no idea. I just wish Emily..."
"Hotch, whoever did this, we can fight them. I will help you, no matter what I have to do."
"It's not that easy."
"I know it's not, but you can't just sit here waiting for a miracle to happen. They are going to prosecute you."
"You think I haven't thought about that? Reid, I haven't slept since the day they brought me here trying to think and trying to understand who did this and why, but right now, I can't trust anyone, and…."
"You can trust me." Reid said, looking at him firmly.
"I know that I can, Spence, but I can't do anything from here, and my life is falling apart slowly there is nothing I can do about it...Emily is filing for divorce."
"She's just confused and hurt, but you can't just give up, Hotch, you have to keep fighting just like you taught me so many years ago, remember? When Kat set me up, and I spent 84 days in prison and all that time I didn't give up because I knew you would exonerate me."
"It's different when your entire family turns their back on you, there is nothing I can do to prove my innocence, Spencer." Hotch said, aggravated.
"Yes, there is, you know there is, and I also know you have thought about it because I know you…you know there's a way, don't you Aaron?" Spencer eyed him meaningfully.
"Yes, but..."
"No!, you love Emily and the kids, you do whatever it takes to be with them. Hotch, I had to do what I had to do in prison to survive; I did things that I'm not proud off, but it was my life or theirs...so, are you going to sit around in a cell all day hoping a miracle happens? If so, that's not the Aaron Hotchner I know."
"I don't know what to say."
"Don't say anything, just do it."
"Reid..."
"I have to go, but think about what I'm saying." Hotch didn't reply, he just stood there looking at Spencer thinking…was he really telling him to do what he thought he was?
"I heard you're getting transferred today."
"Yes, I am."
"Then stay safe, Hotch." Reid said meaningfully, he stood up to leave the room, but he turned around once he was by the door.
"Hey, do you remember that time when I was so angry with God and church...and you spent all of your time trying to help me reconcile my faith?
"I remember." Hotch replied with confusion in his voice.
"I've been going to this church...well it's not really a church, it's a shrine, but sometimes when I am questioning my life, I go there. I guess I'm lucky it's one of the very few places of its kind."
Hotch frowned again, unsure of where the genius was going with all of this.
"And you're telling me this because?"
"I just thought you should know; I will be praying for you there." The genius waved and with that, he left leaving Hotch more confused than ever.
Later that afternoon, Emily was sitting in her living room talking to JJ and Garcia, they had taken the kids to the park earlier in an attempt to get them distracted. The truth was that Emily was trying to distract herself from breaking down completely in tears. She had visited Aaron that morning to talk about the divorce, but their conversation had ended a lot worse than Emily imagined it would.
"You're filing for divorce?" Hotch asked hurt, as tears formed in his eyes, watching the woman who was supposed to be his entire world.
"What did you expect? For me to throw you party! To celebrate that you sleep with your assistant and you got her pregnant?" She answered coldly.
"You got her pregnant!" She cried. "How could you have done something like that?"
"I didn't do it, dammit!" He glared at her and banged his fist on the table. "You're supposed to be on my side, you're supposed to believe me, we made vows... in sickness and health;, the good and the bad times. You do remember that don't you? ." He was so hurt and angry, he couldn't help himself.
"You're right, we made vows, ones you chose to forget when you were fucking your lover."
"You're one to talk!"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You think I don't know about what's been going on with the you and the director of the academy?" Emily felt her stomach drop.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"You don't? "Aaron asked furiously, reaching inside his orange jumpsuit and pulling out an envelope, then tossing it across the table. Emily watched him warily as she picked up the offending envelope. Inside, there were pictures, pictures of her specifically with Steve. The first picture was taken from far away, someone obviously had been following her around, since it was at that café where she had bumped into Steve in Richmond. The picture showed the two of them, and just the moment Steve had reached to touch her hand. The second picture was taken inside the academy, another rather coincidental moment when Steve was briefly touching her arm. The third picture was what struck her the most, the picture had been taken at the café just the second the director had reached to touch her face."
"It's not what you think." Emily stated quickly, looking at him.
"Sure it's not." He said angrily. "According to you, I cheated, and now you have, does that make you feel better, and are we even now?"
"I didn't cheat on you, Aaron...this is not…there is nothing between him and I."
"That's not what the pictures say."
"Who sent you these?" Emily asked, terrified to know someone had been following her around.
"Does it matter?"
"Yes, it does…I am not…there is nothing going on between us I swear!" Hotch just gave her a stern look, one that clearly said he didn't believe a word she was saying.
"I didn't cheat on you." She reiterated, but she knew no matter what she said, he just didn't believe her.
"You know what hurts me the most? That you couldn't even wait until you filed for divorce...that
you would turn your back on me like that and go sleep around."
"Just stop! I didn't sleep with him, Aaron...I swear...I..." She quickly realized what it felt like to be on the other side, the one where her integrity was being questioned, where her credibility was jeopardized.
"I know that no matter what I say, you're not going to believe me." Emily said sadly with tears forming in her eyes.
"How does that feel?" Aaron stated in return.
"Did you send someone to follow me?" She asked all of a sudden.
"Is this what this is? You think that by making it look like I'm having an affair as well; it will fix everything?"
"I didn't send anyone Emily." Aaron blurted out angrily. "Don't you get it? Don't you see what their doing? Whomever set me up is now going after you...just think about it Emily why would they sent me this?."
"I can't do this right now." She told him, standing up from the table. Everything was a fog on her brain, and she wasn't sure she could do this.
"I can't play games...I need to go. OUR kids need me, you can sit here and keep playing whatever this is."
"I'm not playing anything...are you really so blind that you don't see what is really going on?" Aaron asked her and stood up as well.
"Goodbye, Aaron." She said, not even meeting his eyes and walking away before he could say anything else.
The whole drive home, she had nothing on her mind but those pictures, obviously, someone was following her around. Someone sent those pictures to Aaron for a reason, was it possible that this was all an elaborate plan to ruin her and Aaron's life? What were the odds he was telling the truth, someone had to go a long way to create evidence to incriminate him…that sounded absurd, but possible perhaps? Maybe she was a little rusty with criminal profiling, even though she had been teaching it for the past five years. Still, something didn't make sense...whomever sent those pictures to her husband obviously wanted to cause serious damage. If Aaron was telling the truth, then she had to find a way to help him, or at least do some researching of her own.
"You okay, gumdrop?" Garcia asked touching her hand.
"Yeah, I'm okay, sorry...I just spaced out for a second."
"What's on your mind? Anything we can do to help?" JJ asked.
"I…uh..." Aaron's words resonated in herhead… Don't talk to anyone, don't trust anyone.
"No, I'm good, it's just been a long day." She lied.
"Emily..."
"Pizza should be here in any minute." Emily stated, standing up avoiding JJ's intense glare. As if she had been saved by the bell, the doorbell rang at that instant.
"Perfect timing." She said, giving her friends a short smile and heading toward the door.
"And you're not pizza!" Emily said as she stood at the front door of her house looking at Morgan and Dave who had worried looks on their faces.
"May we come in?"
"Of course, you don't even have to ask." She moved out of the way to let them in. "We just ordered pizza if you guys are hungry."
"Thank you." Dave said, glancing around her living room where the kids were all sprawled out on the carpet watching a movie.
"Penelope, will you please take the kids upstairs?"
"Ugh, yeah, why? What's going on?" The analyst asked, frowning. "Just do it, please mama." Morgan said softly, giving her a serious look.
"Okay, taking the kids upstairs." Penelope said, surprised at the lack of details, but doing as she was told.
"What's going on, guys, why are you dismissing my kids?"" Emily queried, annoyed once the kids were gone.
"We need to talk." Dave said, looking at both women with a very concerned face. "Will you please sit down?"
"Dave, just say what you have to say!"" Emily snapped.
"Aaron escaped prison!"
"Then you fight until you find something to fight for. But the moment you stop fighting the current, the moment you surrender to it, that's when you are truly lost."― Sherry D. Ficklin
