A/n Warnings for language only. This is a short chapter, but you'll see why when you read it. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed. If you haven't yet, please take the time to let me know what you think I respond to all reviews.

Disclaimer: I don't own CM. No copy right infringement intended.

JJ knew the dangers inherent to their jobs. Over the last year and half she'd known Spence, he'd only faced real danger to his life twice. Once, when he'd been forced to shoot Philip Dowd, and again when he'd tried to talk Randall Gardner into revealing the location of his kidnapped daughter. Garner had been wearing a bomb strapped to his chest, and it went off while Spence, Morgan and Hotch were only feet away. Both times Spence had been hurt, but not badly. This time he might not be so lucky!

It was supposed to be a quick trip to New York City, and back again. Spencer and Gideon had gone off to teach another seminar on profiling to the police, just as they had in LA a year ago. JJ had been glad when Spence told her where they were going, that it wasn't LA. There was only one woman in the world who could set loose the green eyed monster in JJ, and that was Lila Archer. It had taken Spencer months to stop mooning over that woman, and JJ didn't want him anywhere near her, especially if the actress got it into her head to look him up again.

They had gone two days before, and like before, were headed back to the airport, when they were caught in a colossal traffic jam in the middle of Manhattan. As they sat waiting for an opening in traffic, a man had entered the cab, on the passenger side of the front of the car. He was waving a gun, and demanding to be taken to the airport. He was incensed when he saw Spencer's sidearm. Gideon told him who they were, and he demanded that Spencer get out of the car with him. He wanted a human shield against the two cops that had just caught up to him, and had their guns trained on the car.

Fearing for the life of the cabbie and for Gideon, Spencer did as he was told, gave his gun to Gideon and exited the car. The man forced the cops to let him pass by threatening to kill Spencer and innocent by-standers. The cops couldn't risk the lives of the people in the traffic jam, so they let him pass. He was holding his gun on Spencer's back, and he made him enter a small café that held an additional twelve people.

This was how it stood when JJ had received the call from Gideon. Now she ran down the hallway at FBI headquarters, her heels slapping the tiles. Agents stared with undisguised curiosity as she sprinted toward the elevator. She was going to be on the next flight to New York whether her boss liked it or not. This was Spence, and she put him above all else, even her career. She waited impatiently for the elevator as Gideon's words rang in her ears.

"JJ… please…don't panic - it's Spencer. He's been taken hostage. No…JJ don't come here…you can't help. Did you hear me JJ?"

She had closed her phone with a slap, and in the one minute it had taken her to run to the elevators, the only voice she heard was Spence.

Please God…get him out safe, and I'll never roll my eyes at one of his strange tangents again.

What she wouldn't give to hear one of his speeches right then. She would relish in it - let it roll over her like a tidal wave…if it meant he would be there safe…and in her arms again.

The doors to the elevator finally opened. There were several people on the car, and she gave a distracted "three" when asked which floor she wanted.

The ride was never ending; it seemed there was at least one person to get off at every floor - before number three. At last the ride was over, and she was out the door at a dead run. The Directors secretary tried to stop her from going into his office.

"He's busy and can't be disturbed, Agent Jareau."

JJ ignored her and went in with out knocking. The Director looked up at her, and she knew from the look in his eyes she was in a lot of trouble. He ignored her after that, made her wait while he finished his call. When he hung up he was livid.

"What's the meaning of barging into my office without so much as a knock, Agent Jareau?"

"I'm sorry sir…but I need-"

"The answer is no Agent; you will not go to New York!" His tone was more even, but still angry and no nonsense.

"But sir-"

"I know all about what is going on in New York, after you hung up on Jason Gideon, he call me directly. He seems to think you want to go running into the situation in New York. He would rather you didn't show up there, and I am telling you - that you will not leave this office. I need you hereJJ...is that understood?"

"Sir I-"

"Agent Jareau, do you think me harsh or uncaring, because I won't let you go running off to do whatever you think you have to do?"

"May I speak frankly sir?"

"Oh by all means...JJ and, please sit down while you do, I hate to argue with someone standing over me."

"Sir I'm a media specialist, if you let me go I can-"

"Forgive me agent…but you were media liaison for the BAU, the operative word being "were" - now you work for me…try again."

"Sir I know that it is against protocol for me to leave, and go to New York but Spence-"

"Ah ha - now we are getting to the heart of the matter. You want to run off and what - rescue a fellow agent, or your lover?"

JJ could only stare; there was no way for her to phrase this request, without looking like a hysterical female who didn't believe in her former boss, or her lover.

"I see…well, I'll let you in on a little secret. I get paid the big bucks to make sure that you don't do something stupid to make the Bureau look bad. I need you here...and you need to let Agent Gideon do his job. Right now he is Agent Reid's best hope of coming out of this alive. If you run to New York, you will distract him simply by being there."

What could she say to that logic, she knew her boss was right; Jason Gideon would get Spencer out alive. She had to trust in that fact.

"I'm sorry sir - I was wrong to come in here and make demands. You have my word it won't happen again."

"Yes it will Agent Jareau, but that's why I hired you, I need someone to handle the media for me that isn't afraid to tell me the truth to my face, and you do that everyday. Now I want you to monitor what's going on through the media, and the New York Field office."

When she gaped at him he smiled and said, "JJ you didn't think I would let anyone else handle the media on this, did you?"

"No sir…I guess I didn't think…I am sorry sir."

"Apology accepted Agent - now get to work!"

She was turning to leave his office when he said, "JJ...I know you love Dr Reid. I am not an uncaring man, I have my own family. I trust in Jason Gideon, he will get all the hostages out alive."

"Yes…sir." Her voice was beginning to tremble. He pretended not to notice, and let her leave. He knew she would do her job.

She monitored the standoff, dealt with the media, and the hours dragged on and on. It was three o'clock in the morning, when the news came that it was over. All of the hostages were alive. The news reported that a federal agent had been shot. JJ was the only one left in the room besides the Director, when they saw the news report. She would have fallen onto the floor when she fainted, if the Director hadn't been standing next to her. He swung her up into his arms, and carried her to a chair. He lowered her into it, and then he placed a call to Jason Gideon.

A/n I felt the story needed some angst at this point. Let me know what you think. There will be another chapter dealing with the aftermath of the standoff.