A/N: Hey all! Sorry for the super long wait. I've gotten myself a temporary position with a school and things have been hectic. Writing has definitely been put on the backburner, much to my dismay.

In good news, two of my stories have won a Profiler's Choice Award. With A Little Help From My Boys and It Happened One Night won for Best Hotch/JJ and Best One-shot, respectively. I am definitely honored and pleased, so thanks to anyone who may have nominated or voted for me. Go check out Chit Chat on Author's Corner for a complete list of winners. They are all really great!

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.

Chapter 4:

"No," JJ echoed, dangerously. "What do you mean no?"

Hotch watched her standing there, crackling with energy. She may be mad at him, but this is the JJ he preferred to see: full of life and vibrancy. Before, the dejectedness around her had been just wrong.

"Exactly what it means, JJ. No, I will not take you anywhere," he clarified. "At least, not until we talk, and the sooner you can accept that the sooner we can go back to normal…"

He crossed his arms over his chest, prepared to wait her out. JJ had two options: to call a cab or face him. That she'd stormed in there making her demands told him she was leaning towards the latter of her choices.

Hotch held her gaze, practically daring her to leave with his eyes. He knew the vivacious blonde couldn't resist a dare. After an intense eye battle of wills, she let out a "harrumph," crossed her own arms, mirroring him, and dropped herself into his chair. Hotch held back his smirk of triumph.

"So…" he began.

"Don't," she protested, glaring at him.

He gave her a confused look. How did she know what he was going to say, he didn't even know what he'd been about to say.

"Don't what?" he tried instead.

"Don't start with the whole 'how was your day?' stuff, Hotch," she said bitterly. "I know you don't really care. We're co-workers. We're two parents who have kids that like to spend time together. Nothing more."

Whoa! he thought, shocked. Where had that come from? After everything they'd shared… this felt worse than a slap to the face.

"JJ—" he started, but had to stop to clear his throat. "I don't…. know how you can say that…"

He eyed her carefully. For a moment, her glare was replaced by a moment of uncertainty. But it was gone a second later.

"How I can say that?" she said incredulously. She stood up to start pacing the room. "Hotch, if Henry and I have become such a burden to you, a distraction, you should have told us… not… not… continue to lead us on."

Burden? Distraction? What the hell was she talking about?

He watched her continue to pace. The energy from her anger was making her frazzled. She was a jumble of nerves and he could tell that she was on the verge of making herself sick. He had no idea whatsoever what she was talking about. But one thing he knew for certain, he needed to calm her down and now.

Hotch grasped one of her hands as she walked by, pulling her down into his lap. JJ let out a little yelp of surprise, but didn't fight his hold. He felt her slender fingers grasp his shirt front, a move he found a little too desperate for his liking.

Her head hung low in defeat; he used the hand that wasn't wrapped around her waist to tip her chin up so she would meet his eyes. The tears threatening to brim over nearly killed him.

"JJ, please," he pleaded. "Tell me what I've done?"

She shook her head. A tear slipped down her cheek. "You've done nothing, Hotch… it's me…"

"I don't understand," he replied.

Everyone told him he'd done something to upset her. Heck, he knew he'd done something. This just didn't make any sense.

JJ looked him in the eye; her beautiful, blue eyes were too sad for words. "I'm sorry, Hotch; I didn't mean to get attached. You've been so good to me and Henry… And then, that night… I read too much into it… I fell for you, I'm sorry."

His heart beat a little faster at her words: 'I fell for you.' He wanted to jump for joy. He wanted to wrap her in his arms and never let her go. But then the rest of what she'd said hit him: 'I'm sorry.'

"JJ, honey," he began.

Her eyes widened at his uncharacteristic use of the endearment. He vowed right then to use them more often.

"I'm not going to lie to you, I'm confused as hell. I think sometime today our wires got crossed. Can you please tell me what's going on? What happened after we left the consult meeting this morning?"

JJ stared up at him, surprised. This is not what she'd been expecting when she'd apologized for her attachment. A rebuff, sure. Or his own apology for leading her on, yes. But not a "please, let's see where everything went so wrong…"

Maybe… she thought, as her heart suddenly sung with hope. Maybe this really was all just a misunderstanding.

"JJ, come on, I feel awful," Hotch pleaded with her.

She allowed herself to look into his eyes. The dark chocolate depths were brimming with concern and… something else. These were not the eyes of a man that was indifferent to her. These were the eyes of someone who—

JJ couldn't finish the thought. Suddenly, she wasn't sure of anything anymore. She stood up and began to pace the room once again.

"JJ?"

He made a move to grab her again. She pulled her hand away. "Wait," she said urgently.

She needed to think and being touched by him would interfere with coherent thought.

Both Emily and Garcia had both said that Hotch was going out on a date this weekend. That was two people. Could two people both have their information wrong?

She paused to look at him, arms crossed over her chest as she gave him a glare. "What are you doing this weekend?" she demanded.

He gave her an odd look. "Well nothing much, but I could make time—"

She shook her head furiously. "No, Hotch, what are your plans this weekend?" she asked and then added, even though it hurt her like hell, "Are you going out with anyone?"

JJ watched as his face formed its trademark frown. "Well…" he started, nonchalantly. "I was meeting someone tomorrow night, but I could postpone it."

JJ's heart began to race. Confirmed by the source. She could feel her heart breaking in two.

"I see," she said, voice little more than a whisper. She dropped her gaze to the floor, trying to hide her tears. "I think… I think I'm going to call a cab now…"

She turned to go. All she needed was to burst into tears right in front of him that would just make her day.

"Wait, JJ," Hotch said urgently. He'd jumped off the couch and had grabbed her arm to spin her around. Now his hands were on her shoulders, firmly, but gently, holding her in place. "We talked and now I'm even more confused. I don't understand."

JJ shook her head, words failing her. She knew sobs would only come out if she even tried.

Hotch let go of her abruptly, causing her to stumble without his support.

"JJ, what the hell? This morning we were fine. I know we were both thinking about the same thing. And I know we were both thinking about wanting more. And then later, Dave tells me your sick and says he thinks you're pregnant—"

"Pregnant!" she exclaimed.

She wasn't pregnant. No way, she just had her… Crap! she thought back, When was the last time I had a period?

But that new dilemma was put on hold as Hotch continued his sudden rant.

"Yes, pregnant. But I'm not sure if it's that. And then you go on to tell me you don't think I care about you or Henry; that you're burdens to me? I don't know how you can say that to me, when I know that you, Henry, and Jack are my world. It kills me to hear you think that.

"But now, I don't know what any of that has to do with my meeting tomorrow night with a potential piano teacher for Jack?"

JJ's jaw dropped and her heart skipped a beat. Eyes wide, she asked meekly, "Piano teacher?"

All the air out of his sail, Hotch replied slowly, "Yes, piano teacher. Hailey always wanted Jack to learn, so Rossi recommended a friend. Wait," his eyes widened in sudden realization, "who do you think I was meeting with?"

JJ could feel her cheeks warm up considerably. She knew she was blushing profusely. "No one…" she denied, sheepishly.

But she could already see him putting the pieces together in his head.

He took each of her hands in his and she let him lead her back to the couch. She ended up right back in his lap.

"Look, I know we said we'd take things slow," he started. "But slow, for me, doesn't mean I want to see other people. Does it for you?"

She shook her head, not able to get out the words: "No way in hell."

"Good, because sleeping with you that night is not something I took lightly, JJ," he explained; he cupped her cheek with is hand. "I was with you because I care about you, and I want to with you."

JJ couldn't help it. This was everything she'd hoped to hear and more. She leaned into his warm body and pressed her mouth into his in a desperate feeling kiss. She was so afraid to lose him. This whole day had showed her how much she really loved him and how easy it would be for her to lose him. She never wanted that to happen.

She pulled him closer, grabbing fistfuls of his shirt. She held onto him so tightly, she was sure her knuckles were ghost white.

Hotch pulled back slightly; she opened her eyes and looked up, worried she'd see rejection in his eyes. But all she saw was the love he felt for her.

"JJ, I'm right here," he said, voice low, husky. "I'm not going anywhere, ever, sweetheart."

Going to stop here. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I will update soon, probably next weekend. Just a warning, next chapter will be rated M.

Thanks to everyone who's been reading and reviewing: Hotch Fan; Katelyn G (thank you very much); deeda; canny-bairn; MegKate; angry penguin; jekkah; and Jotchprossi18 (yep it makes sense; thanks).

So, I'll see you all soon!