Disclaimed!

Hi to everyone who is taking the time to read. Let me know what you think!

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Two weeks passed slowly, all the while, the team gradually accepted JJ as their team leader. They had been on three team cases and dozens of one to one consults, each time the small group became more in tune with each other.

The new unit chief, strolled through the bullpen answering random questions by random agents as she headed towards her best friend's office.

The blonde knocked quickly before entering the room and smirked as she saw Kevin's wide eyes, as the couple sat in front of one of the many screens as Garcia updated her status on one of the popular social networks. "Sorry, JJ erm Agent Jareau, I'm just... we're just on a break."

JJ smiled warmly. "That's okay Kevin, I just need Pen to run a name for me."

"Sure thing, boss-woman." Garcia reached for the slip of paper in JJ's hand.

"Erm, I'm going to go... erm back to work," Kevin muttered.

JJ stifled a chuckle as the technical analyst backed out of the room. "Good idea."

"Don't mind my nerdy love." The computer expert laughed.

JJ pointed behind her where the man had been. "Is he scared of me?"

"Well you're a formidable sharp shooting leader lady now, with kiss ass wardrobe to match." Garcia chuckled as JJ took a seat where Kevin had sat.

JJ closed her eyes momentarily as her friend typed away. Stealing a glance sideways, Garcia frowned slightly. "You're working too hard sunshine."

"I'm fine." JJ moaned as she did her best to wake herself up. "How are you?"

"I'm taking the day in my stride." The analyst glanced at a picture of herself with JJ and Prentiss that was taped to the screen frame.

JJ followed her friend's eye line and smiled solemnly, remembering the fun night but quickly understanding Garcia's pain even if she didn't entirely feel the same grief she did. Resting a hand on Garcia's arm, JJ squeezed softy before speaking. "Maybe we should have a girl's night soon. We haven't spent that much time together outside of work lately."

"You could get Will to babysit?" The blonde asked as she typed.

Nodding, JJ straightened in her seat to look over her colleagues shoulder to the screen. "Sure."

"We could invite Seaver. She hasn't had a girl's BAU night out before. Emily and I had planned..." Garcia's voice trailed off as her hands stilled.

"Of course, we should have probably done something sooner to make her feel more included." JJ replied with a thin smile.

Garcia's eyes widened as her a message flashed on the screen. "We got the douche bag."

"Great. Now all we need his aliases." JJ grabbed one of the many fluffy pens in the stationary set and began to write on the paper she brought with her.

Garcia chuckled in amusement at her friend's eagerness. "Who would have thought this time last year that you'd be back with us, running the team?"

"I'm just helping out Hotch." JJ shrugged off the question.

The San Franciscan shook her head softly. "Do you think Hotch is coming back to the BAU?"

"Yeah, I would have thought so." JJ answered while scribbling names onto the sheet of paper in front of her.

Garcia pursed her lips in thought. "What happens then?"

JJ sat back in her seat, satisfied she had all of the information and sensing Garcia need to talk. "What happens?"

"Are you staying in the BAU or you going back to State?" Curiosity was etched on the thirty-something's face.

"Well I'm still liaising with State and the Pentagon, but I don't know. It's not really up to me." JJ stared blankly in front of her.

Garcia scrunched her face up into a frown. "I hate that they keep screwing you around."

"It's all just politics." JJ tilted her head as she rested her head on her hand.

Penelope scoffed, "well it sucks."

"Yeah, but I'm getting used to it, sort of." The Pennsylvanian sighed softly. "Hey, Pen, are you sure you're alright?"

Nodding, the technical analysts smile faded as she saw JJ wasn't buying her fake grin. "There have been a lot of changes. First Elle left and Gideon broke down. Rossi came on board and things seemed good you know. But Morgan became unit chief when Foyet was at large and then Hailey died and we got Hotch back but he wasn't the same. Then we lost you and our family was broken. "They" bought in Seaver and she's great, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't the same and then Emily died and... and our family really was broken forever. Jayje, I absolutely love having you back, it makes me feel so much better knowing your here but what happens if you get taken away again or what if Hotch never comes back..."

"You feel like you're not in control, I get that." JJ reassured calmly. "Our family might be broken but the important thing is that we're still a family. We might not be the same family. Things won't ever be the same as they once were, but we'll get through it."

Garcia bit her lip worryingly. "Do you really think we can just move on?"

"No." JJ replied warmly as she took her friend's hand in hers. "But it'll get easier."

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