It's been kind of rough and not just because of recent news relating to the show. I could use a review.
Chapter Thirty-Five:
When J.J. walked into the conference room on the fourth floor for the video recording, she didn't know what to expect. She certainly didn't expect a full lighting crew and makeup studio.
A woman with dark hair pulled in a bun appeared.
"Hi, you must be Jennifer Jareau. How nice of you to come in early. I'm Elly Murrell, the director of this film."
The women shook hands.
Elly looked at her closely. "Your hair is fine, but your make-up could use a touch-up. I'll send you to Jason first and then we get to the recording part."
J.J. sat awkwardly on the chair. It had been a while since she'd this done for an on-camera appearance.
Addison Rayburn appeared suddenly with headphones around her neck.
"Hi," she said almost timidly. "I'm sorry about all this nonsense," she said under her breath as Jason added eye-shadow. "I write a grant for a professional camera man and editing crew and instead I get a three ring circus."
"It's okay," she said. "I used to be a media liaison so I'm kind of used to it. You're Addison Rayburn right? Why do I feel like I've you seen you somewhere outside of work?"
Rayburn sighed. "Probably when my daughter punched Reid's daughter on the soccer field."
"Right," she said awkwardly.
"Done," Jason declared.
"My daughter's anger issues are being addressed," she said quickly as they walked to the recording area. "No more fighting on the field or elsewhere."
"Raising kids can be tough," J.J. said.
"I can't imagine raising two," she said.
J.J. sat down on the stool next the FBI seal. Something seemed off.
"Wait, how did you know I have two kids?"
"The casefiles," Rayburn said. "Dr. Tara Lewis joined your team while you were on maternity leave. When your name was selected I was careful to read all of your case history."
Murrell appeared along with a sound tech to place a microphone on her.
"So this is just a conversation between me and you," she said. "Just talk naturally while I ask you some questions. Got it?"
"Sure," J.J. said.
"Let's start rolling," Murell said and the light for the camera went on.
"So Agent Jareau, start at the beginning, what inspired you to become an FBI agent?"
"David Rossi," she said. "I was still in college unsure of what to do when I saw him speak at one of his book signings."
"You ended up working with Agent Rossi correct?"
J.J. knew how this worked. "I ended up working with agent Rossi for twelve years. It was an honor and privilege to work with him."
Out of the corner of her she saw Rayburn in the background. She didn't look pleased.
"Great," Murrell said. "Tell me, how has working for the Behavioral Analysis Unit has transformed your life?"
"I don't know where I would be without the BAU," she said. "I met my husband through my work there. An agent is the godfather of one of my sons. Working for the BAU has transformed every aspect of my life."
Again she noticed Rayburn didn't look pleased.
"Tell me about your favorite part of the job," Murrell said.
"My favorite part of the job is bringing relief to the family members and the victims we manage to rescue."
Rayburn didn't look satisfied.
J.J. waved her hand. "Um Addison, is there something on your mind?"
"Ignore her," Murrell brusquely.
"Why?"
Murrell looked annoyed. "You know how directors rarely cut their own trailers? You know why? Because they're too close to the project to see what appeals to the wider audience."
Rayburn took a step forward. "All of these answers sound canned. I know they aren't but I have heard them all before in other recruitment videos."
"Why remake the wheel?" Murrell said irritably. "You brought me on to create a quality recruitment video."
"I applied for a quality editing studio."
"But you got me and you should be grateful," Murrell said nastily. "I'm getting sick of the bad looks you keep giving me."
"Fine," she said. "Get out."
"Seriously?" she said. "You're going to produce this on your own?"
"It is what I have been wanting to do since the start but it took seeing J.J. to realize why I should have," she said firmly. "Now please leave."
"Have it your way," she said with a huff. "Good luck with that shrew," she said getting up.
Murrell walked to the door. "You won't be seeing me again."
"Good-bye Mrs. Murrell," Rayburn said simply.
Rayburn watched the door close. "That is the closest I have ever been to having someone call me a shrew to my face," she said mildly.
"How did you know I liked to be called J.J.?" she asked.
"It is common knowledge around here," she said lightly. "I don't hear people calling you 'Section Chief Jareau,'"
Rayburn took Murrell's seat and looked at her iPad.
"Did Rossi know right away that he inspired you to join the FBI?"
"No, he didn't know from the start" J.J. said blushing slightly. "It happened on a case when he was ready to give up because another fan of his books died seeking out the truth involving a cold case."
"Did that change your relationship with him at all?"
"It changed our relationship in that I think we grew a little closer."
Rayburn scrolled through questions her tablet. She stood up. "I am missing something," she said more to herself than J.J. "All of the answers I have received are great. Nothing wrong with them. But I know I can still bore a room to sleep with this video."
"What case made you want to walk away from it all?" Rayburn asked.
"I never wanted to walk away even when I was asked to go on special assignment. I never wanted to leave my team."
Rayburn smiled. "That is what I have been digging for. Team work. Every kid in school hates it due to other commitments, conflicting personalities and different work ethics. How did you manage?"
"We managed to work as team because we had a strong leader," she said. "He saw the strengths each of us had along with our weaknesses. He used them to create a strong unit."
"He?" Rayburn said. "Who is he?"
"The current deputy director of the FBI Aaron Hotchner."
"I can cut that line for timeliness later," she muttered and pulled out her iPad again. "I am rescheduling everyone and you are the star of my show this afternoon."
"But I have other meetings," J.J. said.
"Then take the time to reschedule them now. The current director wants this to take priority. He wants something viral."
"Out of the FBI?"
"I think you can do it."
J.J. pulled out her phone and began to send texts. "You seem to know an awful lot about my team."
"I studied you closely," she said.
"But there are other teams," J.J. said. "Would it have anything to do with Spencer Reid?"
Rayburn looked up. "Why would you say that?"
"I'm known as J.J. only to the people in my unit," she said. "Some of your micro-expressions show you're trying to hide something. I think you know more about my team beyond what is in our files."
Rayburn looked to the cameraman and the other crew. "Guys take ten. I want to ask Jareau a few questions that contain sensitive information before we start up again."
They all looked at her quizzically but did as told. Rayburn sighed.
"I was in a romantic relationship with Reid for a few weeks," she said looking slightly ashamed of herself.
"While the girls were fighting?" J.J. said.
"We were two lonely people who met at a support group for single parents. We knew it wouldn't work out but we kept seeing each other until he became interested in Felicia. I'm happy he found someone."
"Wait," J.J. said. "I don't think he is over you."
"Why?" Rayburn said shocked.
"I had brunch with him and Jenna on Sunday. Jenna was mad that he and Felicia got into a big fight and he wouldn't tell anyone what it was about."
For a profiler, watching Rayburn's changing expression was fascinating. She saw hope, sadness, fondness, and despair.
"Addison," J.J. said. "Are still in love with him?"