A/N: Hello all! Hope everyone had an awesome New Years! And I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.

Pre-Wedding 11:

Hotch knocked on Garcia's office door, going there before heading to the hospital. He waited for a reply and heard something akin to 'Enter mortal, the realms of Goddess Penelope Garcia.'

He smiled at his quirky analyst's antics and then pushed open the door to enter the dark room. The smile was still on his face, so there was no reason for the yelp that Garcia let out at his presence.

"Garcia?" he said surprised.

"Hotch, sir, Hotch," Garcia stammered like she couldn't decide on what salutation to give. "Sir?"

He shut the door behind him. And then he stood there, crossing his arms across his chest. Obviously, this wasn't going to be the most comfortable and pleasant of conversations.

"Garcia—"

"I didn't see nothing!" the redhead almost shouted.

He frowned at her sending her back into silence. "Garcia, do you know anyone else who works for the bureau with fiery red hair?"

"I'm sorry sir," Garcia implored. "You guys were taking so long in there; I only wanted to make sure you weren't doubly hurt. And then I saw you and her and you two and…"

"Ok, first, Penelope I need you to breathe, can you do that?"

He watched her take a few deep breaths, probably too quickly. He wondered if he'd need a paper bag, the woman looked like she might start to hyperventilate.

"Slowly," he ordered. He continued when she seemed to calm down. "What you saw… what you saw…" He suddenly found it difficult to put his situation with JJ into words. "It's complicated."

"Are you two having an affair?" Garcia asked, eyes wide.

"No," Hotch answered, adamantly. At least he didn't think a couple of kisses and the admission of their feelings exactly warranted the status of affair. But he was sure Garcia didn't need every detail. "No, Garcia, we're just… we're just… well JJ's confused—"

"But you're not?" Garcia clarified.

"No, not anymore," he said truthfully.

"I see," Garcia said tight-lipped.

He could see that their actions had upset his technical analyst, something he previously thought only un-subs could do.

"For what it's worth, Penelope, I'm backing off until JJ figures it all out."

Garcia just nodded, mouth pursed into a thin line. He wasn't going to get much more out of her. He turned to go, hand on the door knob, he paused.

"I love her, Garcia," he murmured and then he was out a second later.

JJ was listening to something Reid was going on and on about. Something about some guy named Tesla. She had taken a couple of minutes to herself and then had joined her friends to catch up.

But her eyes kept flitting up to Garcia's office and then back to her friends. She couldn't help herself, she was worried. She was worried that Garcia might hate her.

After a few more minutes of Reid's Tesla talk, Hotch caught her eye as he exited her best friend's office. He looked down her way and she saw him, looking grim, shake his head.

"Crap!" she blurted out.

"JJ?" Reid questioned.

All eyes were on her, and they gave her a quizzical look. Double crap!

"JJ, you all right?" Morgan asked, a knowing inflection in his voice.

"Uh…" she stalled. "I forgot, I need… a babysitter tonight! I'll go ask Penelope."

She shot out of her seat quickly to avoid more questions.

"I can do it," Reid shouted after her.

She ignored her friend as she practically ran up the stairs to get to her friends office door. She knocked on the door and waited, and then knocked again. Still nothing.

So, her best friend really was pissed off at her. This was a first. She had no idea how to proceed, this being a first for super-friends Penelope and Jennifer.

JJ stood there contemplating what to do. Should she go, give her time to cool off, or should she wait it out? She still hadn't decided what to do, when the door suddenly opened and a pale arm grabbed for hers, pulling her into the dark depths of Garcia's office.

"Garcia!" JJ protested once she had her bearings about her.

"Sit," her fiery friend demanded.

JJ shot her friend a 'your nuts' look, but did as told. Garcia ominously shut the door on the two of them. The only thing illuminating the pair was the artificial glow from the many monitors.

"Penelope—"

"Shh," her friend cut her off. She was pacing the room back and forth. She looked on the verge of twitching uncontrollably.

"Umm… JJ," she started in a too calm voice. "Answer me this please, what in the heck were you, an almost married woman, doing in the half-naked clutches of my lovable boss-man?"

"Garcia—"

"May I remind you, that however delectable you might find our stoic unit chief, he is not your betrothed, and the good detective is," she cut her off again.

"I know Will is, but—"

"But nothing JJ," Garcia scolded.

JJ let out a sigh. She was going to let her friend finish her ranting before attempting to speak.

"What the hell JJ?" Garcia questioned. "He loves you?"

JJ looked up in surprise. The questioning tone told her she didn't mean Will. She was a bit surprised Hotch had told her.

"JJ?" Garcia prodded.

Apparently, it was her turn to speak. JJ gave an initial shrug. "Yeah, Hotch's in love with me. Strange, huh…"

"Not strange," Penelope denied. "JJ, you've got your charms. I just didn't think you'd use them on Hotch."

JJ tried not to let her mouth drop open. "You make it sound like I did it on purpose. I never set out to make Aaron fall in love with me."

"Oh, it's Aaron now!" Garcia exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air in exasperation.

"Garcia, come on give me a break," JJ tried again.

"Uh uh, hun," Garcia shocked her. "I'm sorry JJ, you're my best friend. But that man, that great man, he's been through too much. Ok? And I don't want to see him hurt again. Understand?"

"I understand," JJ said demurely. She hung her head down, thoroughly scolded.

She felt Garcia give her shoulder a squeeze. "I'm sorry sweets; it would be different if you felt the same about him."

"I don't know how I feel," JJ admitted. "About anything."

"Then JJ, you've got no business hanging around in Hotch's lap," Garcia said truthfully. "Nor should you be planning a wedding with Will."

JJ stared at her friend, Garcia was completely serious. A look passed between them and JJ was sure her friend was completely disappointed in her.

"I've uh…" JJ's voice cracked. "I've got to go."

She stood up quickly. She reached for the door handle.

"JJ," Garcia tried, her voice sounding almost regretful.

But she didn't pause to hear anymore. She quickly and purposefully made her way out of Garcia's office.

She found herself, a minute later, knocking on a closed door, hoping desperately for an answer.

"He just left, JJ," she heard Reid's pleasant voice come from behind her.

She opened the door to see for herself the empty room. She stepped inside and felt dejected.

Feeling hurt and sad, she'd gone to the one place she knew she could get instant comfort, Hotch's office. That had to mean something right?

"JJ, are you all right?"

Reid hadn't gone away. He'd stepped into the office with her. She looked at him, concern on his face, and she felt even sadder. Did she not deserve his sympathy? Was she a completely horrible person, like Garcia thought?

"JJ," Reid said worriedly. "You're crying?"

"I—" she tried to explain, but her voice cracked. Reid pulled her close for a hug and she gladly took the Spencer Reid version of comfort.

"Am… am I bad person?" she asked into his neck.

"JJ," she heard him exclaim in surprise. "No… of course not, you're one of the best people I know."

She smiled into his shoulder. "Thanks Spence."

She sniffled a bit and then pulled away. She wiped at her eyes.

"JJ—"

She knew he wanted to know what this was all about. But she couldn't stand for him to hate her too.

"Sorry Reid," she laughed awkwardly. "I just really miss this place, you know?"

"We really miss you too," Reid assured, the concern lingered in his eyes.

She smiled. She gave her friend another quick hug. "Thanks Reid, you're a sweetheart."

She left him standing there, making quick goodbyes and a quick exit.

All JJ wanted to know was when this emotional roller coaster would end?

Let me know what you think! I'll try to update soon.

Thanks to all my reviewers: gibbsluvr (my x-men evolution fic readers would say the same thing, lol, hope you enjoyed this update); Hotch Fan; JJandHotch4ever96; hot4booth; canny-bairn; Zolidify; kurussom (thanks!); midmac (no worries! Thanks!); and angry penguin (thanks for all the lovely reviews!).