Preponderance

A Criminal Minds Story

The police station was extremely busy. Officers were bustling about carrying paperwork and talking on the phone. Many were yawning as they sat behind their desks with closed eyes. But it made sense; most of them hadn't slept at all the previous night and probably wouldn't get the chance to sleep at all today. Dr. Spencer Reid was also feeling the relentless urging to rest even if it was just for a moment, but he couldn't. And he wouldn't until they proved his friend's innocence. Problem was most of the evidence they had was circumstantial. The only real piece was the drop of blood they found on JJ's floor, but that was still being tested.

Taking a deep breath, he continued his path towards his friend. He hadn't seen JJ yet, but from what he has heard she didn't look so good. Completely understandable, given the situation, but still it hurts him to know that she is in so much pain. Heck, he couldn't even look at the bodies while he was at the morgue. He just couldn't stand to see Henry like that, lying on a cold metal table…dead. His heart dropped, because that was the reality of this whole situation.

His Godson was dead.

"Reid," A commanding voice stopped him, it was Hotch. Reid turned around to face his boss, "What did the ME say?"

"The bullets were from a law enforcement issued gun," Reid stated, Hotch exhaled loudly, "But not from JJ's gun… from those." As a detective walked by Reid pointed towards the gun in his holster.

"They could just argue that JJ used her own husband's gun, her finger prints are all over it," Hotch stated as he nodded at Rossi and Morgan who had just entered the station.

"Any word on the blood sample yet?" Reid asked.

"No. And officers were walking all over that room, it's probably not even viable any more. Any judge would throw it out," Rossi sighed. There one piece of solid evidence disappearing down the drain.

"So what are our options?" Hotch questioned.

"Find the Unsub. Get him to confess…" Morgan offered.

"Garcia compiled a list of suspects, we could interview each of them," Reid added.

"We're uninvited and in their station. This isn't our case. We don't have any jurisdiction, plus their captain is on that list along with the lead detective," Hotch told them.

"So JJ is our only hope," Rossi put his head down. "Is she talking yet?"

"Every time she starts we get interrupted. Emily is with her now. Once one of the officers steps into the room she stops and reverts back into a state of shock. They didn't even have her checked at the hospital. When we got here, she was still covered in blood."Morgan clenched his fists as Reid lowered his gaze.

It wasn't right.

"Can we see her?" Reid slowly asked. Hotch nodded and led them to the interrogation room, but on the other side of the mirror. Several gasps filled the room as they saw the state their friend was in. There was still blood splattered on her face and her shirt was still soaking in it. Emily was sitting in a chair by her. They seemed to be whispering as she kept sending worried glances towards them and the door as if she was waiting for the door to open any minute. Emily appeared unusually disheveled as she continued to talk to JJ, who had her eyes closed and was scratching at her hands. Hotch reached over and turned the speaker on, but they couldn't make out what was being said.

Out of the blue the door to the room slammed open and both women jumped as they watched Detectives Turner and Sheridan step into the room. A file in their hands. From the other side of the glass the team shared curious glances. They didn't notice as JJ's eyes widened in fear.

"This is recording right?" Morgan questioned as he messed with the monitor. There was no red light. Someone had turned it off. Finding the switch, he flipped it and the red light came on, along with the camera in the room. They watched as Emily glanced at it seeing the now active camera.

"Agent Prentiss. We need to ask you to leave," Sheridan stated rubbing his right arm as a flash of pain crossed his features. He appeared uncomfortable. Hotch shook his head towards Emily, knowing that she couldn't see him.

"I don't think I will," Emily firmly stated glancing back at JJ. The blond nodded her head slowly, knowing her friend would understand. JJ clutched Emily's hand.

"Look at JJ," Reid said abruptly. Their colleague was now visibly shaking as her blue eyes flicked towards Sheridan in fearful recognition, "Something about Sheridan is causing her to react like that."

"He's rubbing his right arm, Hotch," Morgan noticed, "Are you thinking what I am thinking?"

"I think you will, or we will arrest you for obstruction of justice and witness tampering," Turner suggested strongly, his voice rung loudly through the speakers.

"Can he do that? Would he?" Reid asked looking at his boss.

"He can and would."They witnessed as Emily stared apologetically at JJ, squeezing her hand once more before she stood up to leave.

"Hurry up now, someone is on their way to transport her to jail, and we have a few more questions to ask," Emily fake smiled as she patted Sheridan's right arm, he flinched, glaring at Emily as she shut the door behind her.

"Please tell me we're recording this," Emily barged into the other room. Rossi nodded, "I hate that I had to leave her." She watched as the two detectives sat down across from her friend.

"Well Ms. Jareau, I'm kind of tired of your bull crap. I think it is time for you to confess. We're seeking the death penalty and we will get it." Turner's voice echoed into the other room.

"Do the right thing, Ms. Jareau… for your son."Sheridan added, "It is your fault that he is dead. 'You could have saved them' remember, those are your own words."

"So essentially you did kill them. Because you didn't save them! How does it feel Jennifer? To know that you killed your husband and son. People who did nothing but love you," Turner smiled as she cringed. The team gritted their teeth as they watched unable to stop it.

"Guess you didn't love them back, they were just burdens to you weren't they?" Morgan fought the urge to storm in there and throw him against the wall.

"Sheridan was there. JJ identified him to me once he came in," Emily said, "I think he killed them."

"Should we tell the captain?" Reid wondered.

"He wouldn't do anything. He's a power- hungry, condescending, smug man and I can't shake the feeling that he is part of this somehow," Prentiss growled.

"Sheridan isn't competent enough to pull this off on his own. Someone told him what to do."

"Just admit it you killed your son." Their patronizing voices flooded the room. They watched as JJ looked up, showing no emotion.

"I think it's time we called this in and make it a federal case, I think we have enough to prove that something isn't right here," Rossi stated pulling out his phone and leaving the room. If they didn't Rossi knew he probably could pull some strings.

"Why would anyone want to kill them? What possible reason could there be," Emily shook her head.

"I think Will figured something out and reported them. Garcia found a file that was under investigation. Just as she was about to read it and someone wiped it from the system. It probably didn't help that Will was up for the Captain's position either."

"That explains Will, but what about Henry. And why leave JJ alive," Reid stated, not that he wasn't grateful that she was it was just… strange. She was a witness that could potentially reveal them all.

"They were all awake," Emily realized, "They weren't after them, just Will, but since they were awake. They were witnesses and had to go."

"And before he could kill JJ, she got a hold of Will's gun and started firing," Morgan contributed as everything was coming together.

"Sheridan spooked and ran off, but not before JJ got him. And since she was in such a severe state of shock they came up with the plan to frame for the crime."

"How can you even call yourself a mother, a wife? You're nothing but a murderer. You don't feel, you don't care." The team continued to watch as JJ squeezed her eyes shut.

"You killed them. Just admit it."

JJ shook her head, fresh tears falling down her face as she stared Sheridan in the eyes.

"No you did." The team listened surprised, "You killed them. You killed my baby boy and yes, I should have stopped you."Her voice was raised, but it was tired and weak and broken. She was shaking uncontrollably.

The team was so immersed in her confession that they hardly noticed Captain Johns walk in.

"It's time for you all to get out!" He bellowed, as he yanked Emily out of the room by her arm, "Or I will arrest you all."

"Hey-"Emily started angrily before she was stopped by Hotch's nod, "Oh I oughta…" Emily murmured as she stalked out of the room, followed by the rest of the team.

"Hope you said goodbye to your friend because in just a few minutes she'll be heading to lock up as she waits for trial, no thanks to you bunch," Johns smiled proudly.

"Actually, I don't think so," Rossi smirked, waving his phone in the air, "This is now officially a federal case. Apparently, your boss doesn't like you very much."

"No. You can't do this." Johns screamed, "I'm in charge here." The entire station stopped what they were doing to watch. Many seemed quite happy to finally see their boss lose it.

"Not anymore. Now I have a few question s for you starting with a case you worked in September." Captain Johns faltered as immediate recognition crossed his face.

"Oh, so you know it," Emily pitched in, "Well you might want to tell your life goodbye because you're going away for a very, very long time." The team watched as Captains Johns was led to an interview room, pleading the whole way.

Morgan chuckled, "Come on, let's go free our girl."

So what is the real reason behind the murder of Will and Henry? And is JJ really free? Tune in next time... :D I'm just kidding. But really, the story isn't over yet. Thank you for all of the reviews and for reading! You are amazing! please let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions or criticisms. I really appreciate your support and interest!

Thanks!

-HCB