Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds
A/N: We finally reached 100 reviews! Yay! Thank you Dextalon for being the 100th reviewer! Please continuing reviewing guys! It really makes my heart grow many sizes! :)
Here's a big juicy chapter for you! I hope you enjoy!
Haley gripped the steering wheel with force, as she gritted her teeth in annoyance. Yes, even though Haley knew something wrong must've happened for JJ to react so violently, it still was unexpected from her. She and Hotch had preached and preached to their children about how violence would not be tolerated, and how JJ followed that rule the best, but it didn't set in, apparently, for some reason.
Hotch was already at the school when Haley arrived. What they saw, surprised the two of them, their little girl sitting in the main office, waiting for whatever punishment she was about to receive. Even though they were upset at the event, Haley and Hotch couldn't help but feel their hearts sink in sympathy, whatever had happened had troubled JJ in some way, parents always know.
Before they could approach their little girl, the principal of the elementary approached them. "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Hotchner? Jennifer Jareau Hotchner's parents?"
"It's JJ," muttered the irritated blonde. "I like to be called JJ."
"JJ," warned Hotch lightly.
Ignoring the bitter remark from her daughter, Haley smiled at the principal. "Elaine, we've met."
The principal, who JJ just learned had the first name Elaine, smiled at Haley. "Oh, right! Haley, wasn't it?"
Haley chuckled a bit and shook her hand. "Yes, yes it is."
"Nice to see you again." The principal's smile turned slightly grim. "Except given the circumstances."
Haley nodded in understanding, catching the glare from JJ at the corner of her eye. "Yes."
"What exactly happened?" Hotch said, cutting right to the chase.
This time, the principal acknowledges JJ's presence. "Would you like to tell your parents what happened, JJ?"
"I'd love to," JJ said with venom, dripping with sarcasm, glaring at Hotch and Haley with such defiance they didn't even know she had. "I was just minding my own business, and the snotty Linda Barnes with her mommy's money—"
"JJ," Haley warned again, much like Hotch did moments before. Though at the mention of Linda Barnes, she knew where this was going. Let's just say that Haley and Mrs. Barnes did not always see eye to eye. Nonetheless, Haley had to keep her composure. "Just explain why you punched her in the face."
JJ cleared her throat, not batting an eye. "Like I said, I didn't do anything to her, but then, she starts talking about how her precious mommy knows that I'm a freak who's disabled, and she called me stupid. But then..." JJ trailed off, and that's when Hotch and Haley see the rage in her eyes as further events flashed in her mind. "Evil Linda was being mean to Spencer, calling him an autistic freak. So what did I do? Yes, I punched her in the face. She deserved it."
The principal kept her eyes on the floor, not wanting to look at the pain in the little girl's eyes. Hotch and Haley were also quiet for the time being. They knew that the sympathy or guilt in JJ's eyes was not for what she did to Linda, that she wasn't truly sorry, but that was mainly for Spencer. Haley and Hotch didn't know how to approach this situation.
"She's going to get away with it, isn't she?" JJ snapped at the principal, wondering why she was silent for so long. "Just because her mommy is rich and donates money to the school, she gets away with it, right?"
The principal pressed her lips together. "Whatever Linda may have said was one thing... but she did not get physical."
Haley winced and frowned at the principal in disapproval. "Elaine—."
"All of her Linda's friends were there, and they said that JJ started to attack her for no reason."
Hotch now frowned, feeling uncomfortable. "That's not right."
"Take her to court, daddy!" JJ said immediately, fire in her blue eyes.
"Look," the principal said, getting fed up. "It's their words against hers, what can I do? JJ will be suspended for three days."
"That's not right," emphasized Haley, repeating Hotch's words from before. "Are you saying my daughter would make up a story like that? You know that JJ recently got an IEP, you know how Judy and the other mothers find these things out somehow. You knew that when I enrolled my kids in this school that Spencer was autistic, now why would she make that up?"
"Mom, just forget it," JJ said irritably, eyeing Elaine with disdain. "Nothing's going to be done."
Elaine was trying to keep her temper inside. "I'll see you in three days, JJ."
Haley did her best not to curse out the principal. "I'd like to pull Spencer Reid Hotchner and Penelope Garcia out of school right now for today."
Hotch's frown only deepened. "Haley—"
"Nope, I'm not having it," decided Haley, who shook her head as the principal made an announcement over the speakers for the two to report to the main office with their things.
Hotch took out his phone and immediately called his office. "I'm going to need to head home early, I'm sorry, it's an emergency...yes...thank you for understanding." He hung up quickly, pocketing his phone as he shook his head in disapproval. "Haley, I love you, but pulling Penelope and Spencer out of school and fighting with everyone is only going to make things worse."
"You're a lawyer, you fight with people for a living."
"JJ, please..." Hotch said, burying his face in his hands. "Haley, we'll figure this out, let's just go home." Soon after Penelope and Spencer came down to the office, inquiring what had happened, no one answered them. Hotch went back to his car, with Haley taking the kids in her car, the ride being mostly silent. As soon as they got home, Haley faced Penelope, JJ, and Spencer, who were looking expectant of what was going on. Well, JJ knew the situation with the fight, but she didn't know what was going to be done.
"Three of you can go upstairs, please," said Haley, meaning no nonsense.
JJ tried to protest. "But—"
"Now," repeated Haley, remaining firm as the three trotted up the stairs. As soon as they heard to door slam, Haley muttered a string of curses. "Un-freaking-believable. I swear to fu—"
"Haley," Hotch cut her off before she could swear. "It's okay, you know how the Barnes family is."
"They're so pretentious," Haley interrupted, her eyes flaring madly. "You know, we have money too, but we don't go on about bragging about it, Judy is just prejudiced against our family, assuming that because our kids are from the system, they must be rejects and scum."
"Haley..."
She was getting hysterical. "That Judy is a piece of work. Yes, her little family may be rich, but let's just say, with rumors and scandal that had been going around about her lately, she shouldn't even let her daughter talk!"
"Haley..."
"Let's just say, about Judy," Haley paused, smirking bitterly. "She is what she is..."
"Haley, do you hear yourself talk?" Hotch said incredulously, thankful he got her to stop ranting. "Yes, the Barnes family aren't exactly the most welcoming people in the world—"
"Aren't exactly the most welcoming people in the world?" Haley echoed, letting out a bitter laugh. "That's an understatement, Aaron, and you know it. They've been the most hostile to us and our children ever they got here."
"They're not as bad as the Jensen's were," Hotch muttered calmly, remembering their former neighbors.
"I beg your pardon?" Haley countered back in disagreement, horror creasing her face. "At least the Jensen's didn't like us straight up and weren't afraid to tell us, the Barnes family is so fake! That Judy witch, especially, wait 'till I get my hands on her..."
"Haley," Hotch said quickly to get a word in. "You can get into trouble just for saying that! As a lawyer, I would know!"
Haley bit her tongue, not saying anything back to him. She wasn't really angry at him, both of them knew that. Who she was really angry with, was Judy Barnes and her daughter. Wordlessly, she picked up her cell phone and dialed the first number that came to mind. Hotch didn't know what to say, swallowing a lump in his throat at who she could possibly be calling. When a voice answers, Haley speaks. "Dave? Can you come over for a second?"
"You're calling Dave for this?!" Hotch exclaimed in disbelief. "Haley, why are you..."
"I need another lawyer's opinion for this," Haley said immediately in her no-nonsense tone. "This makes you biased."
JJ could hear them arguing. Well, she couldn't make out what they were saying, but she knew they must've been arguing about her, saying how horrible she was for punching another girl. This was especially awful, since her eldest brother and sister were notorious for getting into a huge brawl before, and that was before they were adopted.
It must've reminded them of that event. Now, here she was, sitting with her little brother who had no idea what was going on, and with Penelope, who she's beginning to think had an idea that something was wrong.
"JJ, what's wrong? Why are you sad?" Penelope asked right away when she saw a tear stream down the younger blonde's cheek. Immediately, Penelope sat beside the girl, who's tears were now openly streaming down her face.
JJ's voice was barely controlled. "They're ashamed of me."
"Ashamed?" repeated Penelope, furrowing her brows in confusion. "Haley and Hotch? Why would they be ashamed?"
This time, Spencer looks up from the floor. "Mommy and daddy would never be ashamed of you, even when they get upset when you don't get something as quickly." Unfortunately, this comment caused more damage than help, as JJ began to sob. Spencer looked confused on how that would hurt JJ's feelings, wasn't it supposed to help? Well... JJ knew Spencer didn't mean any harm, he never did. But on top of the comments from today, let's just say it wasn't one of the most helpful things that could be said.
Penelope put her arm over the shaking blonde's shoulders. "JJ, I think you're very smart. But... what happened? It's not just that, is it?"
"Linda Barnes in my class, called me stupid, and..." JJ stopped, sniffling before continuing. "She said that I'm slow, and that I don't understand..."
Spencer tried to open his mouth to say something, but Penelope silently cut him off. "Sweetie, not now." Penelope's attention was solely on JJ. "There's more to it, isn't there?"
JJ whispered on what Linda said about Spencer, how she called him an autistic freak. Penelope could feel her own body beginning to shake slightly in a rage. Yes, she hadn't been with this family for so long but, she felt like she had a duty to protect Spencer, considering the wrong she has done that continues to eat at her to this day. Then, she finished with, "I punched her in the face."
Penelope was about to applaud her, to say she had done the right thing, until a shout from downstairs interrupted her thought. "JJ, come downstairs, please!" commanded the voice of Hotch.
Right after Dave had arrived only seconds later, Hotch and Haley explained calmly about the whole situation that had occurred today.
"I think that JJ should be rewarded," said Dave, after silently thinking about what could be done. "No one else was there to back up JJ's case, so it looks bad, isn't that punishment enough?"
"Dave, Aaron and I are the parents!" Haley snapped irritably. "We'll decide!"
"You asked for my opinion," Dave said, trying not to appear shocked.
"Your opinion as a lawyer," Hotch said, not sounding angry, but firm. "Apparently, I'm biased."
"I'm proud of JJ, kid doesn't take shit off nobody."
"Dave!" Haley shouted in disapproval. "We will not have our eight year old daughter fighting in the streets of Virginia!"
"Don't I get a say in this?!" Hotch said, feeling left out. He shook his head. "You know what?" He walks to the front of the stairs. "JJ, come downstairs, please!"
JJ quickly ran down the stairs, with no signs that she had been crying earlier. "Yes?"
"That a girl!" Dave said with a smug grin, and even Hotch couldn't hold back a chuckle that managed to escape. Haley glared at the two lawyers disapprovingly before turning her attention to JJ, who's face remained stoic and serious.
"JJ," Haley said calmly, with no hint of anger in her voice. "I understand that your feelings were hurt, and that you wanted to protect your little brother, but you know this family has no tolerance for violence, you know that better than anyone."
"I'm not like him," JJ said with disdain, surprising herself and everyone else. "Tell them I'm not like Spencer." Suddenly, everything clicked. The way JJ had been acting toward her new IEP, she automatically assumed that she was stupid, when she wasn't. Haley was about to go into a big speech on how JJ wasn't stupid, how it took her longer than others, and that there was nothing wrong with that. But it was interrupted with Derek and Emily returning from school.
Immediately the two of them felt a tense atmosphere.
"Alright, what happened?" Emily said right away, wondering why JJ looked near tears.
"I punched Linda Barnes in the face for picking on me," was JJ's reply.
"Punched her in the face!?" Derek exclaimed, not quite believing it.
"Good for you," Emily said immediately, finding the incident funny. "Don't take shit from anyone, JJ, you got that?"
"Emily!" Haley exclaimed, horrified at the swear she said so casually.
"That's exactly what I said!" Dave said, agreeing with Emily, sharing a laugh.
"This isn't funny!" Haley said, seeing a smile creep up Derek's face as well. Her eyes went to Dave. "Don't you have pasta to make?" Dave took the hint, leaving the house as Haley continued speaking. "We don't condone violence in this house!"
"In this house," Derek repeated, still smirking. "You didn't say anything about it in school."
"Derek, don't twist my words, alright?" Haley said lowly, in a voice that told her son not to try and test her. "Violence isn't allowed, period!"
"Tell them about what she said about Spencer," JJ said bitterly, her eyes flaring at her mother. When Haley saw the confused looks form on her eldest children's faces, she couldn't hide it from them.
"What did Linda Barnes say about Spencer?" Emily asked, trying to remain calm.
"Emily..."
"What did that snotty little cow say about Spencer?" Emily snapped, this time more forcefully and angrily.
"I'll tell them," JJ said, making sure to face Haley when she said the next sentence. "Linda Barnes called Spencer, your son, an autistic freak."
"What!?" Derek shouted, losing all the composure he had, putting his hands on his head and beginning to pace back and forth. If he had done anything else, it would have been violent, and that wasn't allowed in this house.
"Are you serious!? Why the hell isn't that bitch Linda in trouble?!" Emily's face grew dark. "Wait 'till I get my hands on that little—"
"Emily, no!" Haley shouted over her, not wanting a confrontation. "You think I don't want to do anything to the Barnes family?! You think I'm not upset about the fact that they're getting away with this scot free?"
"They're getting away with this!?" Exclaimed Derek, looking horrified. "That's my little brother and sister they just humiliated! They should pay!"
"Enough!" The reasonable voice of Hotch shouted over the argument. He pointed to Emily and Derek. "You two, upstairs to Derek's room, now!"
Derek tried to protest. "This is bullsh—"
"Now!" Hotch interrupted before Derek could swear. The two went up the stairs wordlessly. Hotch's next step was to console JJ, leaning down in the front of her so they'd be at eye-level. "I want you to understand something. Don't think I'm not proud of you for what you did, defending your little brother like that, because I am. It could've been done without violence, however, with your words." Hotch took JJ's hands in his, the latter beginning to tear up. Hotch went on. Another thing, you are not stupid, do you hear me? You're an incredibly bright girl, it just takes you longer than other people, and that's completely okay. That doesn't make you stupid. Having an IEP is beneficial, do you remember what it stands for?"
"Individualized Education Program," recited JJ, remembering the conversation.
"Yes, very good, and it works for your needs, it'll help you do better in school. In fact, you have an advantage over some of your classmates. You have goals, both personal and academically, and it shows your strengths, as well as your weaknesses." Hotch paused, taking a deep breath of relief that JJ stopped crying. "This is a very good thing, JJ. Don't let anyone tell you you're stupid."
"I'm not Spencer," JJ said, still a bit worried.
"No you're not, you're both different people," Haley said, putting in her statement. "An IEP isn't for one specific reason, it's for many reasons. Spencer has an IEP because he has a disability that makes him socially challenged, and he has to achieve goals because of it. You have an IEP because you have trouble with academics, and it takes time for you to learn, you also have specific goals to achieve because of that. What's his weakness is your strength, and it works the same for him. Everyone has trouble with different things, but understand that this doesn't mean your stupid. Do you understand?"
JJ nodded sincerely. "I understand, mommy." She reached over for a hug, all was calm.
Spencer and Penelope were sitting together, alone in the girl's room and oblivious to what was going on downstairs with JJ and the rest of the family. Both of them had heard the voices of Emily and Derek returning home, but didn't expect for them to be able to stay down there.
"Penelope," Spencer started off, his eyes narrowed in such suspicion that it didn't look much like him. "I have a question."
The plump blonde's heart skipped a beat in anxiety. "Wh-what?"
Spencer seemed to be working something in his head in that big brain of his, turning away from her just for a moment. When it looked like he was done thinking, he asked, "Do you ever get that feeling that you know someone from before?"
He knew, he knew, he knew! He was a genius, of course he would find out eventually! Should she just confess? Maybe he'll go easy on her? No... just play it cool. "What do you mean, hon?"
"Well..." Spencer trailed off, biting his lip apprehensively. "It's just... my um, therapist, was talking to me about our gut instinct, something that doesn't have to do with a body part, but a feeling. And uh, I just... I feel like I know you from somewhere. Have we met before?"
Penelope was going to tell him, fess up, but when she saw that vulnerable little face, she just couldn't. "No, I don't believe so."
A/N: Such a long chapter, jesus... But hey, a lot was done in this chapter. It looks like Spencer may be onto Penelope? Maybe, maybe not? Leave a review :-)