"Strauss, you have to fix this." Rossi burst into the Section Chief's office.
"Fix what?" Erin Strauss asked feigning ignorance.
"You transfered Agent Jareau. Fix it." Rossi commanded.
"David, I'm sorry you're upset, but the order has already gone through. My hands are tied." Strauss tried to hide her happiness at ruffling David Rossi's feathers without him being able to threaten her--she was just doing her job.
"There has to be something you can do. The BAU is exponentially better with a competent liaison, and Jennifer Jareau is as good as they come. She is specially trained for our unit and I don't think its in the Bureau's best interest to transfer her." Rossi tried to reason, hoping Strauss would change her mind. He knew she held a petty vendetta against the BAU, but he hoped that she would realize how ridiculous this whole thing was. Striking genius, he decided to try another approach. "Erin, she is the face of our unit. She represents the BAU and she does it well. And while you may forget this, the BAU represents you. You're the section chief over us, and if the BAU begins to fail, you reputation will as well. I hope you'll reconsider."
The smug grin on Strauss's face immediately began to disappear. She grimaced at what he had said. Rossi was right, if Agent Jareau's replacement was a failure then it would be her ambitions and reputation that would take a hit. She was torn at what to do. She could either give into the arrogant David Rossi or she could risk her future. "We can find a skilled replacement."
Rossi stared at the woman contemptuously. He had thrown out his best material and Strauss was holding onto her foolish stance stubbornly. He tried to find anything that could change her mind. He had already tried appealing to her pride, and came out empty handed, there was nothing else he could think of that would make Strauss even consider taking a second look into the transfer. "You are making a mistake. And for what? To get back at the only unit that doesn't grovel mindlessly at your beck and call...." He shouted angrily.
"I'm not doing this to punish the BAU, I am doing this for the good of the Bureau. Oregon asked specifically for Agent Jareau, and I think that she will do an excellent job there. Quite frankly, I find it selfish that instead of congratulating her on this giant success like a true friend and collegue, you're trying to undermine the decision made by FBI Brass. You must allow the FBI to do what is best for the whole, even if it may inconvenience your unit for a short time." Strauss countered calmly, her voice giving every indication that she had no intention on changing her mind.
Rossi was at loss for words, he stared at her, eyes penetrating right through her false reasons for why she wouldn't help. An imbecile could tell that it was because she was trying to punish Hotch and the team. But that was not what surprised him; What he couldn't believe that Strauss was accusing him of not caring about the well-being of the FBI or JJ. The only thing that would send Rossi on this hopeless mission was his knowledge that he was doing the right thing, for both JJ and the FBI. The BAU, one of the most recognizable and influential units in the entire FBI, and hindering it would lead to large complications for the entire Bureau.
Strauss broke the angry, tense silence tersely. "I'll be on the look out for an impressive replacement for Agent Jareau, but for now, I have work to do. I suggest you get out of my office." She lifted her hand, indicating the door and began reviewing the files piled onto her desk. Irate, Rossi got up and exited the woman's office. He knew Strauss was difficult, but this was an entire other story. Her tunnel vision was going to lead to the breaking up of his family. The team would not be the same without JJ. He agonized over how the next few months would be. He didn't know how the team would function, most specifically, he didn't know how Hotch would function without her.
He hadn't failed to notice how the younger man reacted to the news, mumbling congratulations and then avoiding the blonde agent. Rossi had known that Hotch and JJ held an attraction for each other, practically the entire FBI did. But after seeing Hotch's reaction, Rossi was sure that the connection was much deeper than he'd originally thought. He walked briskly to his own office, slamming the door behind him.
A few moments later, a knock came sofly onto his door. "Come in." Rossi shouted angrily.
"What is going on?" Hotch asked concerned. "I think counter-terrorism heard your door shut."
"Erin Strauss is the worst thing that has ever happened to the FBI." Rossi complained. "She isn't going to do anything about JJ's transfer. She's just going to let her go."
Hotch swallowed loudly. This wasn't news he wanted to hear. "JJ will do an excellent job in Oregon, maybe its best if we just let her go." Hotch said stoically, hoping that Rossi didn't see that he was telling himself that too. He couldn't stand the pit grinding in his stomach. He wanted nothing more than to beg JJ to stay; to figure out a way where she wasn't thousands of miles away from him. But he knew it was in vain, while he'd fallen hard for JJ, she was still getting over Will. Now, she'd find some guy in Oregon to give her heart to, and he'd be in D.C., thinking of her.
"You're seriously not going to do anything?" Rossi asked, his glare penetrating Hotch's every defense.
"What is there to do?" Hotch asked softly.
"I don't know, fight for her? Tell her you'll miss her? Talk to her? Take your pick!" Rossi said angrily.
"It's out of my hands." Hotch said lamely.
"Then you're a coward. You don't deserve her." Rossi said coldly as he walked out of his own office.
A week later, the team was celebrating JJ's goodbye party at the office--she was leaving the following day to get her apartment in Portland set up in order to be ready for work the next week. The entire team was shocked by how many agents were currently packed into the BAU bullpen. As JJ hugged the majority of the FBI, Emily silently came and stood next to Hotch, who was standing, watching JJ longingly.
"You still mad at Rossi?" Hotch asked, eyes never leaving JJ. For the last few weeks, Rossi had been recieving the brunt of Emily's and Garcia's anger. In the women's minds, if Rossi hadn't forced JJ to certify, she wouldn't have to go. It had led to some interesting briefings and phone calls, but lately the tension seemed to die down.
"No, I was only mad at him because I felt bad that I was the one who approved her profile. Now, I'm not mad him or myself." Emily admitted. "It isn't going to do any good being mad at him, Jayje is leaving anyway."
"It isn't your fault that JJ decided to take the classes." Hotch said bitterly. "You know she could fight the promotion if she really wanted to, the FBI can't force her to transfer if she filed a complaint. If Agent Jaraeu ends up in Oregon, in the end, it was her choice."
"I know. I talked to her about it a few days ago. She's going to go through with it." Emily replied sadly. JJ said that she had to go to Oregon because the last few weeks had shown her that there was nothing left for her in Virginia. Emily had begged, but she knew that anything she had to say wouldn't change JJ's mind, the only person who could was Hotch. And he was doing nothing.
"How could she leave the team?" Hotch asked, not caring for a response. He was trying hard to hide it, but he couldn't handle JJ's decision. He knew it was petty, but he was angry that JJ would choose to leave them--leave him.
"Why shouldn't she?" Emily retorted angrily. "You've given her no reason not to leave! What does it matter if she stays if you act like you don't care one way or another?"
"So what? If you're not mad at Rossi then it's my fault?" Hotch tried to deflect.
"Hotch, you love her. Please don't try to deny it, because I know the truth." Emily whispered, giving him a wry smile. "Why won't you just fight for her?"
"Emily, she's leaving." Hotch said, his voice pained at the idea that JJ was walking out of his life. "Anything I say won't change that."
"Do you really think that she doesn't care what you think?" Emily asked rhetorically, turning to him, she pleaded with him. "You might have more power over her decision than you may think." And with that, Prentiss turned around and walked away. Hotch stood there, contemplating for a few minutes. Was what Emily said true? Did he really have any power over JJ? It seemed like all his hopes were flying and falling at the same time. If he could have changed her decision, it was too late now. JJ was leaving, and all he could do was let her go.
Noticing that she had a rare moment alone, he walked up to her, still unsure of what to say. He stood there for a moment, then finally the words came out of his mouth without being able to stop them. "Congratulations JJ." He said, turning around quickly, he walked out of the bullpen--as far away from her as he could get.
Watching the retreating figure, JJ was engulfed by yet another one of her bureau friends' hugs. "So, you're really leaving?" Her friend, Agent Amy Stimpson asked.
Seeing the bullpen doors close behind a man she had once considered her friend, JJ could only murmur "Yeah, I'm leaving."
AN/I know, some of you are very angry that I'm making JJ move across the country, but never fear! Well, ok, I guess fear, because she really is moving, and Hotch really is staying, but it's not the end yet! Let me know what you think :)