Disclaimed!
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...
Quantico, late October 2004
"Urgh!" JJ slammed the phone into its cradle as she hung up on an impetuous detective. Placing a flat hand on her forehead, the liaison jumped as she heard a small voice at the doorway.
"Erm is this a bad time?" A young man with wide eyes asked as he stared at the flummoxed blonde.
JJ smiled thinly at his awkward stance. "No, can I help you?"
The skeletal twentysomething, wearing what appeared to be his great grandfather's heavy wool cardigan, cleared his throat and took a step into the cluttered office. "I'm Doctor Reid, Agent Gideon's assistant over in the academy."
"I heard he returned to teaching." JJ stated as the young man stood in front of her desk. "You're a doctor?"
He smiled thinly. "I'm half way through my third degree."
"Wow." JJ's eyes widened at the man who looked barely old enough to shave.
"Agent Gideon has been getting phone calls from this man." Reid handed her a slip of paper across the desk. "He's from the Courier."
"I'll take care of it." JJ glanced at the reporter's name, instantly knowing the conversation would end with her yelling at the notorious antagonistic reporter.
Reid mumbled his thanks, stumbling as he turned when a familiar face charged into the office. Reid apologised quietly as he escaped from the office, noting the new visitor's angered frustration.
Meeting the woman's eyes, JJ stood quickly, feeling her shoulders tense at her presence. "Hailey."
"It's Mrs Hotchner. We're keeping things formal right? That was your agreement with my husband, that you'd both keep things professional?" Hailey scoffed in frustration as the pair faced off.
Glancing at the open door, JJ took a deep breath, attempting to keep her emotions in check. "My transferral was beyond both of our control, but yes we're remaining professional, Mrs Hotchner."
"I don't know what you hope to achieve Miss Jareau. But Aaron and I are married and are having this baby in five months time." Hailey pressed a hand to her slowly growing bump. "You being here, won't change that."
JJ forced a sweet smile and nodded. "Of course not and I wish you and your husband a world of happiness."
"Of course you do." Hailey replied as she rolled her eyes.
JJ re took her seat slowly. "I have a lot to get on with Mrs Hotchner. I'm not here to ruin your plans and I promise I'll stay out of your life. I hope that we can remain amicable for the team's sake."
"I'm sure that can be arranged." Hailey tensed as JJ began to get back on with her work while she still stood in her office. "JJ."
JJ glanced up from her file in front of her. "I assumed you would want to get on with your day."
"Did he ask you to come here?" Hailey asked timidly.
JJ shook her head softly. "Don't worry he's dedicated to being a father and a husband. My presence won't change him into a cheater."
Hailey scoffed lightly. "And yet that doesn't make me feel any better."
"I'm probably not the best person to comfort you." JJ stated dryly.
Rubbing the hint of a baby bump, the pregnant woman stepped closer to the desk, keeping eye contact with the young FBI agent. "I made a mistake, which nearly ruined the best thing I ever had. I know I interrupted your little fantasy of playing house with my husband..."
"I thought we were remaining amicable, Mrs Hotchner?" JJ countered with pursed lips. "I won't be made to feel guilty for what transpired in Seattle. You ended your relationship and he moved on."
"He's back where he's supposed to be, now." She argued confidently.
"Right." JJ retorted tersely.
Hailey's eyes watered as she observed the younger woman. "I don't like the fact that you're here. I know how he feels about you and I for one..."
"We're not having this discussion. I'm here temporarily. I'll be gone before your baby is born." JJ assured the worried wife.
Both of the blonde's attentions turned as Hotch jogged through the door, looking baffled towards his wife.
"Hailey, what are you..?" Hotch's eyes darted between the two women guiltily.
The uninterested pregnant woman took a step forward and kissed the profiler's cheek after taking a quick glance to make sure the liaison was watching. "Don't worry, babe we're just making amends."
"Hailey, I thought you were going shopping with Jess?" Hotch asked quietly in confusion.
She nodded as she kept her hands on his chest. "I'm on my way. Just thought I'd pop in and say hi."
"You should have come to my office." Hotch suggested in a forcefully light tone.
Hailey giggled softly, obviously putting on a happy persona for the liaison's benefit. "I got distracted."
She pressed a lingering kiss against his lips before taking a few step towards the door. "I'll see you tonight. Goodbye Agent Jareau."
"Mrs Hotchner." JJ responded in restraint as Hotch flashed her, an apologetic look before following his wife to the elevators.
Waiting until the door closed, JJ picked up the phone and muttered pettily to herself as she dialled the Courier reporter's number. "Goodbye Agent Jareau!"
"Reg Hanks." A deep voice announced at the other end of the phone.
JJ rolled her eyes at her feelings of frustration and jealousy and composed herself mentally before she replied. "Mr Hanks, I'm Agent Jareau with FBI, we need to have a word."
...
Hotch placed his hand on his wife's back and slowed her stride. "What are you really doing here?"
"What am I doing here?" Hailey turned to stare at him in ridicule. "She appears pretty settled into that office, Aaron. How long has she been here?"
He looked away briefly. "A few weeks ago."
"And it took till last night to tell me you're working with your mistress?" Hailey spit in disbelief.
"JJ wasn't my mistress, and nothing is happening, or going to happen between us again." Hotch reassured his pregnant partner.
"Because I'm pregnant." Hailey shivered in disgust. "If I wasn't pregnant would you even be with me?"
"I'm trying, remember?" He retorted lowly. "I'm back home with you. I left my life in Seattle to be with you."
"You came back for the baby, not for me. If I hadn't resorted to drastic measures and blackmailed you, you wouldn't be here." She wiped away a fallen tear from her cheek, regretting the ultimatum she had given her husband three months ago.
Save our marriage or never see your child.
She hiccupped her tears away when she realised Hotch was thinking of the same discussion as he replied. "What do you want from me? We're taking things slow but I'm dedicated to making our marriage work, I wouldn't jeopardize losing my family."
Hailey pressed the button for the elevator unable to hold the profiler's gaze. "I'm not crazy, Aaron. I know what you feel for that girl. Because that's what she is, a perky twenty-something that entertained you for a year and a half. I have every right to be worried that she works here now. You have no idea how much it kills me to know how you feel about her and what you were up too with her in Seattle."
Hailey noticed his eyes glaze over as he restrained himself from retorting, before she continued. "Look, I know I didn't go about getting you back in the right way and I feel awful for putting you through so much. But I love you and I want us to work everything out."
"We'll talk more when I get home." Hotch added in finality.
Hailey watched him for a few seconds, noting the stress lines around his eyes. "I can't remember the last time you didn't look at me with anything but contempt."
"Hailey, can we please talk about this later?" The Unit Chief stressed in frustration.
"I'm not a horrible person, Aaron. I know I've screwed up but all I want is for you to love me like you used to. I'm still the same person you fell in love with all those years ago." Hailey inhaled deeply. "I just don't want anything or anyone to get in our way for a happy ending."
"I do love you Hailey. I'll always love you. I'm just hurt right now." Hotch grimaced at the look of insecurity on his wife's face. "But I'm sure we'll get there one day."
Hailey's voice quivered as she replied. "I don't know if we ever will as long as Jennifer Jareau is in our lives."
...
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