Preponderance

A Criminal Minds Story

Nothing was out of place. Everything was exactly where it was when she left it. There was nothing to indicate that something different had happened. Every cup, plate, and utensil was in order. Every pillow, couch cushion, and chair was tidy and neat. Every single item in her house was totally, completely, utterly the same.

Like nothing had ever happened.

Yet, somehow Emily couldn't lose the rather annoying feeling that everything was out of place.

The cups, plates, and utensils,

The pillows, couch, and chairs.

All of it was misplaced, disorganized, and untidy.

But it wasn't,

And she knew it.

And it drove her crazy to think that there she was sitting comfortably on her couch while her best friend is upstairs in her spare bedroom mourning the loss of her husband and child… but everything thing around them was the same. Emily's entire life had basically taken a dramatic shift, and she wasn't sure if the ground she currently stood on would ever be stable again. Yet, once again, nothing around her had changed.

And somehow she thinks it would be better if everything was out of place,

If it was messy and unusual,

Perhaps she could deal with this horrid ordeal better.

But it really didn't matter, because right now her focus needed to be on her friend.

Even if there wasn't much she could do for her right now.

Emily sighed as she rubbed her sore neck. She had hurt it while they were at JJ's house when Emily accidentally fell asleep while sitting against the wall in the hallway. The awkward position had caused a small twinge in her neck to appear whenever she turned it to the right.

Ring!

Emily jumped at the sound of her doorbell resonating through her house. Inhaling deeply she stood up and peeked through the door to see who it was. Exhaling, at the sight of the familiar person, she quickly let them in.

It was Hotch and Jack.

"Hi, Aunt Emily," Jack smiled as rushed into his aunt's arms, "We brought some cookies!"

"Did you, oh… They look delicious," Emily nodded at Hotch as she released Jack from her hold.

"Henry's in heaven," Jack stated suddenly, his voice dropping a few levels as he hung his head, "Just like my Mommy."

And Emily didn't know what to say to that.

"Jack, why don't you go see Aunt JJ, so I can talk to Aunt Emily for a minute, okay? Bring her some cookies, but be gentle. She is very sad right now."

"Okay Daddy!" Jack nodded quickly, grabbing one of the plates of cookies from his father as Emily told him where to go. Once he was up the stairs Emily turned towards Hotch, expectantly.

"How is she?"

"She hasn't eaten anything, I made her some soup, but she didn't want it. For the last few hours she's either stared at their picture, or the wall. I finally got her to shower and change into clean clothes. And she hasn't said a word since we arrived here," Emily said. Hotch looked solemn as he attempted to think of what they could do. If they could do anything.

"Did you-"

"Remove everything sharp from the bathroom, yes. But do you think that she …,"

"I thought about it. But I had Jack and I knew I had to be there for him. JJ- she lost everyone."

"Not everyone," Emily replied, still a little shocked by Hotch's confession. Hotch nodded in understanding.

"Reid, Rossi, Morgan, and Garcia, have started on the funeral plans. It is now set for Friday morning. Oh, and they'd like to talk to JJ and make sure that there is nothing specific she wants for them."

"Like she ever gave thought to her husband or especially her son's funeral wishes," Emily spat angrily.

"I know."

"It's just she shouldn't have to go through this."

"I know." Hotch nodded as he watched his agent have a meltdown. Emily was fighting back tears as her eyes flared anger and frustration.

"She doesn't deserve it."

"No one does."

"Hotch. What are we going to do?" Emily finally cried out, all her years of perfecting her compartmentalization techniques swirled away as she let it out. The last few hours she had spent with her grieving best friend wearing on her as the emotion she had tried so hard to suppress rose with full force.

"I don't know," Hotch pulled Emily in and held her tight as sobs wracked the younger agent's body. It was going to be a long process for all of them, and he wasn't quite sure of the effect this would have on the team,

Will they rise up even stronger,

Or have they all worked their last case with the BAU?

Once Jack reached the top of the stairs, he adjusted his grip on the plate. His hands were sweaty and he didn't want to drop the cookies because then Aunt JJ wouldn't want them. And Jack knew she needed them. Slowly he walked down the hall carefully placing one foot in front of the other as went towards the second door on the right just as Aunt Em said.

Reaching the door he lifted his hand up to knock.

There was no answer.

Thinking that maybe she was sleeping he knocked a little louder.

Still no answer.

Mustering up his courage he slowly opened the door and stepped inside. Be gentle, he reminded himself. Looking towards the bed he saw her. She was all curled up and staring at a photograph. His aunt didn't look up when he came in.

"Aunt JJ? It's me Jack," the young boy announced himself slowly as he got closer and closer. He smiled when she looked up at him, but he knew something was wrong. She didn't smile back and Aunt JJ always greeted him with a warm hug and big smile, "Can I sit with you?"

JJ gave a tiny nod.

Grinning Jack hustled over and jumped on the bed before he remembered that he was supposed to be gentle. Glancing apologetically, he scooted closer until he was right beside her the cookies placed smoothly on his lap.

"I made you some cookies. I made Aunt Emily some too, but your plate has more on it," Jack told her whispering the second part as he handed over the plate of cookies. JJ stared at the plate for a long while before she finally took it from his outstretched arms and smiled slightly. Jack faltered a bit by her lack of reaction, but shook it off.

"Aunt JJ. Dad told me about Henry and his daddy this morning. He said that a bad man hurt them. I was real sad. I loved Henry, he was my friend , and he was so little…,' JJ stared at him intently as she gulped, "I'm going to miss playing games and staying over at your house where we held pillow fights even after you told us to go to bed. I'm going to miss playing soccer with him and coming up with ideas on how we could scare my dad. He doesn't scare very easily you know."

JJ smiled as tears fell down her face. She remembered walking into her son's room to find out that him and jack had found the duct tape and taped pillows to themselves as they had an all out pillow war. Once she entered they came straight at her armed with pillows. Yelling,

Get Mommy,

And

No, you cannot make us sleep. We will not go to bed!

Needless to say after ten minutes of epic pillow fighting both boys were fast asleep on the floor, there cause forgotten as the war ended.

As Jack continued, JJ squeezed her eyes shut.

"But mostly I'm going to miss him being here. Just like I still miss my Mommy. But you know what Daddy told me, he told me that my Mommy was in heaven and that she would always be watching over me. And guess what?"

JJ couldn't bring herself to speak as she choked back tears as she barely breathed.

"She is going to take care of Henry too and they'll watch over both of us now," Jack finished as a small tear slipped down his cheek.

Pushing the cookie plate aside JJ pulled Jack into a hug. His arms wrapped around her neck tightly as she held him close. She still seemed sad and Jack wondered if he had even helped his Aunt JJ at all. He was finding it hard to breathe as she was hugging him too tight. It kind of reminded him of the last hug he gave his mom.

He missed his mom very much.

He couldn't help his mother then, but maybe he could help JJ now.

"Thank you Jack," JJ choked out as she continued to hug him, unaware of his current struggle to breathe.

Jack nodded,

Unaware of comfort he had given the grieving mother who had just been contemplating the meaning of her life and why she should still live it.

So are JJ and team on their way to being stronger than ever? Or is this the case that will break them apart? Please let me know what you think. And thank you for the reviews and for reading. You're the best.

-HCB