Thanks for the support?
Chapter Twenty-Three
J.J. welcomed Reid with a hug in the cafeteria.
"Sorry we couldn't eat somewhere nice," she said. "I have another meeting in an hour. It has been crazy around here."
"It's okay," he said. "I doubt the cafeteria food has gotten any better or worse since I left."
They grabbed their meals and sat down. "So what did you want to talk about?"
"Jenna," Reid said with a sigh. "She's been acting out a lot lately and I don't know what to do."
"I'm sorry," J.J. said. "I should have started with asking about Jenna. So how is she acting out?"
"She is getting into fights constantly, both physical and verbal. I know it has something to with missing Jane but she won't open up to me about it."
"I'm so sorry. How long has this been going on?" she asked.
"About two months. It only go physical in the last five weeks."
"Spence! Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because you're so busy lately J.J." Reid said. "One of us is always canceling our Sunday brunches. You and your boys have their own schedules that don't match mine and Jenna's."
J.J. put a hand on his wrist. "But I'll make the time now. All you had to do was ask."
"You know it is not always that easy for me or any of us."
J.J. sighed. "I know. I know."
…
"Cheers to a civil conversation," Rayburn said.
Her ex-husband Dean clinked his glass with hers. "Cheers."
Dean took a sip and then asked: "So what brought about this meeting? You and I have barely spoken in the last three months."
"I've been thinking about that. We really need to get on better terms especially since you're getting married soon," she said.
"And I still want full custody of Stephanie," Dean said.
"I know I can't say anything to change your mind at this point" Rayburn said. "But I do think we need to get along a little better for the sake of Stephanie."
"So what do you want Addison?" he asked.
She sighed. "I'm tired of playing the wicked strict mom in her eyes. I want—"Rayburn stood up. "I'm sorry I thought I could do this but I can't. What do I owe you for the wine?"
Dean placed a hand on her arm. "What do you want Addison? I'm willing to listen."
She tentatively took a seat. "I want her to respect my authority. When she is grounded from seeing her friends outside of school, I don't want to find out that Talia took her and her friends to the movies. She thinks none of the punishment apply to her to when she goes to spend the weekend with you."
Dean looked at her intently. "Why didn't you tell me Addison? I would have set up some more strict boundaries."
She leaned in. "I've been trying but my emails never seem to get to you. You also never have time to talk when I drop Steph off."
Dean cursed. "My secretary. She automatically deletes emails from you. I thought I told her to knock that off."
Rayburn looked like she wanted to say something but bit her lip.
"I know you think all women are attracted to me and will do anything for me," he said with a roll of his eyes. "Trust me, Miranda's getting her final warning over this."
He touched her arm again. Rayburn looked into his clear blue eyes.
"I never intended to make your life miserable Addy," he said softly. "I just want what's best for Steph."
"Okay then," she said.
…
Jenna and J.J. knocked the soccer ball around the empty court. A junior team had an away game this week so they had the court to themselves.
Jenna dribbled the ball. "So how did Dad manage to get you out the BAU long enough to have a 'heart-to-heart' with me."
"He simply asked," J.J. said stealing the ball. "He's worried about you, you know."
"He has a funny way of showing it," she said stealing the ball from J.J. "My friends are betting that I'll get grounded at least five more times before Christmas."
"And you want to see if you can get more punishment?" J.J. asked.
"No, I just wish he'd lighten up a little," she said aiming the ball.
"He wishes you would fight a little less," J.J. said.
Jenna missed. "People make me angry and I don't know what to do about it. And don't give me that shrink BS about taking your aggressions out elsewhere and talking it out. It doesn't work."
J.J. stole the ball. "Does anything work aside from using your fists?"
"I don't know," she said. "Getting angry just feels better than being sad."
J.J. aimed the ball. "It is okay to be sad. People expect kids to act a certain way and respond to punishment but none of that works sometimes."
J.J. shot the ball into the net. "Tell me what's really going on Jen?" she asked looking directly inter her eyes.
Jenna averted hers. "Dad always thinks it's about mom but there is actually a boy…"
…
J.J. returned with Jenna two hours later. Jenna immediately ran to her room.
"Are you going to tell me what you guys talked about?" he asked.
"Girl stuff," she said simply. "I gave her my number and made her promise to call me once a week. Not as therapy session but as a way to get stuff off her chest."
Reid gave her a hug. "Thank you."
"No, thank you. It feels good to have a sister-like relationship."