Disclaimed!
So for those keeping track this is going to be a JJ and Hotch chapter and this basically came from something I read about the hopes for possible storylines for the next season including JJ and Hotch sharing the secret and JJ's home life.
Thanks to everyone who is taking the time to read, let me know what you think! ...
JJ waited at the elevator for it to reach the BAU office. After her phone call with Prentiss, she had the paperwork to fill out.
Why make contact with a hidden agent? What was learnt from the contact? What were the dangers of the phone call? Where was the call made? Were the correct channels used?
Sometimes, JJ really hated bureaucracy.
The elevator slowly opened and revealed Quantico's acting Section Chief, reading through a file in his hands. His eyes shot up in surprise as JJ entered the small compartment. "Hey."
JJ glanced at her wrist watch while adjusting the bags in her hand. "What are you doing here so late?"
"I have a mountain of paperwork to deal with, what about you?" Hotch asked as he stuffed his file into his brief case as JJ pressed the button for the basement.
Smiling, JJ leaned against the mirrored wall as she replied. "I had a last minute phone conference."
"At this time of night?" Hotch raised an eye.
JJ scoffed quietly. "Trust me you don't want to know."
"Fair enough." Hotch smiled in response. "How's the team?"
"You know you can come down and check up on us any time you want, right?" JJ watched the profiler shift uncomfortably.
Shrugging, Hotch ran a hand through his hair before he answered. "I don't want to step on your toes. You're doing a good job."
"Thanks but I think everyone is ready for you to come home." JJ replied with a sigh.
Hotch smiled warmly. "I'm sure that's not true."
"Believe it. According to Morgan I'm a harsher drill sergeant than you ever were."JJ countered with a tint of pride.
Hotch shook his head. "That cannot be true."
"How is the Section Chief office?" JJ asked as they watched the numbers pass.
He hummed before answering. "Dull."
A few seconds of silence passed by before their eyes met briefly again. JJ pursed her lips brefly before breaking the silence. "Morgan and Seaver went to interview Brian Hollis today."
"The sadistic rapist from the Tallahassee case?" Hotch asked with a raised eye.
JJ nodded as she adjusted her bags once more. "Rossi wanted Seaver to be given the solo."
"She's not ready." Hotch responded quickly.
JJ smirked and rolled her eyes. "That's what I said and so not only is Rossi annoyed with me but so is Morgan for making him go with her and Seaver is silently pissed at me for making Morgan babysit her. Reid's annoyed that I made him have a two week break and Garcia wants some type of new computer thing that is way too expensive..."
"It sounds like you've got a lot of people pissed at you." Hotch stated as the elevator doors pinged open at the basement level.
JJ smiled gratefully as Hotch stepped back to allow her out of the elevator first. "Oh please, add in everyone at Pentagon I pissed off yesterday and the NSA case I debriefed last week, I should just give up while I can."
"You're not a quitter." Hotch praised as they walked along the corridor towards the parking lot.
JJ muttered quietly. "Sometimes, I wish I was."
"Are you okay? I know pulling triple shift, here, with the Pentagon and at home must be difficult." Hotch asked in concern.
JJ shrugged him off as he held the door open for her. "I'm fine, it's just late and I haven't had any caffeine since this morning."
Hotch watched the petite blonde stifle a yawn as she juggled with her bags to find her car key. "Are you going to be okay driving home?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Are you okay?" JJ eyed him out of the corner of her eye as he escorted her to her SUV.
He nodded silently. Taking a step back he shrugged. "I'm fine."
JJ frowned and looked at him in disbelief. "Somehow I don't think you're telling the truth."
"I just..." He heaved a sigh, "...miss everyone and the work."
JJ stopped and watched him closely. "Hotch you know you don't have to be a stranger. We miss you too."
Hotch looked to the ground before meeting the acting unit chief's deep blue eyes. "How's Will and Henry?"
"Henry's great, he's walking and talking and not a little baby anymore and its' heartbreaking. How's Jack?" JJ asked as she leaned against her car.
Hotch tilted his head slightly as he looked at the blonde. "Jack's doing great, he keeps bugging me about arranging a play date with Henry again. I think he likes playing with other's rather than being alone with me."
"I'm sure that's not true." JJ giggled lightly.
They stood opposite each other for a few moments in the empty parking lot. Hotch glanced at his wrist watch. "It's getting late."
"Yeah, I should get home." JJ unlocked her car as she listened to Hotch's footsteps walk away from her, while tossing her belongings in the back seat. Biting her lower lip, JJ turned suddenly and called for the retreating profiler. "Hotch!"
He turned suddenly with a frown creased on his brow. "Are you okay?"
"Do you want to get a coffee at that diner along the road?" JJ asked hesitantly.
He nodded. "Sure, do you want me to meet you there?"
"Yeah, thanks Hotch." JJ answered quickly before getting into her car.
They arrived separately but met at the doors before finding a table in the relatively empty diner. Apart from a few marines at the far end of the room, and the waitress the two agents were the only ones in the premise drinking their coffees.
Hotch watched JJ closely as she sipped her drink. "JJ it's four in the morning, what have you got on your mind?"
"How did you do it for so long?" JJ asked quietly. "Keep Prentiss's secret from the team without feeling guilty."
Hotch took a deep breath. "I felt guilty from the moment you walked into the waiting room at the hospital. But I guess, I justified the situation to myself. We're protecting Prentiss which in turn protects the team."
"My phone conference was with Emily." JJ admitted slowly.
He sat back in his chair. "Is everything okay?"
"Yes. It was just a routine check in. But she said something about if this ends everyone will hate her." JJ looked down to the contents of her coffee mug.
Hotch cocked his head in thought. "That wouldn't happen."
"Of course not... They'd hate us... me. I got you involved when I shouldn't have." JJ scrubbed her face tiredly as she mimicked Hotch's laid back posture.
He stared blankly at her. "We knew that they wouldn't agree with our decision. It always going to happen but I appreciate that you came to me."
JJ sniffled slightly and blinked a few times, feeling tiredness take over her body. "There's a possibility that she could be coming home sooner than we thought."
"There's been progress?" Hotch asked in astonishment.
JJ bit her lower lips faintly. "I can't really talk about it but there'll be some movement soon in the case."
"Have you located Doyle?" The profiler questioned.
JJ looked around the room briefly. "Maybe."
"But you wouldn't be able to tell me anyway, right?" Hotch reasoned in a hushed tone.
"Nope." JJ smiled tiredly.
They both drank some coffee in silence before Hotch began the conversation once more. "You know relocating Prentiss wasn't your fault right? If she had come to us sooner or if we had more time..."
JJ shook her head and interrupted him. "They'll just argue that we could have trusted them."
"Is this really what's on your mind?" Hotch asked with a raised eye.
JJ met his uncertain eyes before pushing her mug forwards. "I'm just tired Hotch. I'm sorry to be keeping you here so late."
"JJ, you know you can talk to me." Hotch stated reassuringly.
The Pennsylvanian nodded. "I know."
"When I asked about Henry and Will, you only talked about your son." He deduced confidently.
JJ scoffed and rolled her eyes through a mumble. "Profilers."
"Is everything okay at home?" Hotch prompted.
JJ met his searching eyes knowingly. "Who talked?"
"Garcia... and Reid." He replied dryly.
JJ groaned deeply. "Will just wasn't happy with my dedication to work. He got fed up. We're still trying, I guess we both owe each other and Henry that, but with being back at the BAU things aren't good."
"I'm sorry." Hotch met her eyes sympathetically.
JJ smiled at his sincerity. "Thanks but maybe it's for the best. I don't think I'll be changing any time soon. Henry is the most important person in my life and between his toddler antics and work there isn't much room for anyone else right now."
"I understand that." He shrugged knowingly.
The reconnected comfortable eye contact as time passed slowly. Glancing at the TV in the corner of the room, JJ started to collect her belongings together. "We should make a move. I have to be back at work in two hours."
"Yeah, it's probably for the best." Hotch agreed as he checked his wrist watch. "JJ I went through a lot with Hailey and if you ever need to talk, I'm here."
JJ smiled warmly and reached for his hand gratefully. "I know, thanks Hotch."
...
Thanks for reviewing; stefi, lolyncut, mummacass and BeagleFancier!
So there's only one chapter left, hopefully I'll update again soon!