Chapter 2

JJ woke the next morning and sat up in shock when she realised she was on Emily's couch. She quickly regretted the sharp movement as she felt pain shoot through her head, back and right arm. She groaned quietly as she remembered why she was here.

"OK Jayje? Sleep well? I do have a spare room you know!" she heard Emily state as she saw her walk towards her with a babbling Henry in her arms.

"I hope you have some baby food and a diaper in that magic bag of yours," she said, indicating JJ's changing bag on the floor next to the couch, "he's starving... and wet!"

"Of course," JJ said, keeping it light, "Would you mind changing him, while I sort out his breakfast?"

JJ watched as Emily laid the changing mat on the floor and began undressing her son. She walked into the kitchen, carrying a packet of baby porridge, and set about preparing the food. She was about to carry the bowl of baby mush back into the main room when Emily carried a clean and tidy Henry into the kitchen, setting him up on a dining chair.

"I thought it might be easier to keep him clean in here." She said with a smile.

JJ thanked her and started feeding her boy. She noticed Emily hanging around nervously and looked at her questioningly.

"It's after 8 JJ. You are clearly not up to working and I really don't want to leave you here until I know what's going on. I'm going to need to call Hotch and tell him something. How much do you want me to tell him?" Emily asked gently.

JJ thought for a moment and replied calmly, "Once I've spoken to you I will tell the others what's going on – I don't want it kept secret or anything. You can tell him the truth; that I turned up here last night with Henry and a few bruises. Tell him we'll both be in later and I'll explain it then."

"You're sure?" queried Emily.

"Absolutely." She replied with more confidence than she was feeling.

JJ continued feeding Henry as Emily moved into the main room to make her call. She had just finished when Emily returned.

"Hotch was obviously worried, but said that you should take your time and only go in if you're ready." Emily paused before continuing quietly, "Are you ready to talk sweetie?" JJ felt her kneel beside her as she spoke and she felt safe enough to reply, "I am Em, but I don't really want to talk about it with Henry around."

"I understand that," Emily responded, picking Henry up, "I think this may be one of the few times when making use of the digital babysitter would be considered socially acceptable."

JJ watched as Emily carried Henry over to the TV area, set him up with a few toys, and switched on the set, quickly finding an old episode of Scooby Doo. Henry was fixated – he was rarely allowed to watch TV!

JJ had followed Emily out of the kitchen and settled herself back on the couch, which was close enough to Henry to be able to keep an eye on him, but far enough away that they could speak freely. She felt Emily sit down beside her and take both of her hands, as she said "In your own time Jayje."

"After everything that happened over the last few days I spent a lot of time thinking yesterday" JJ started hesitantly. She looked Emily in the eye, saying "I'm not happy with Will Emily. I don't think I ever really was. It was just convenient, you know? I decided yesterday that life was way too short to stay in a relationship just for the sake of it. I sat on the jet and planned how to tell Will that it was over. I knew I had to do it as soon as I got home, that I'd chicken out if I left it."

JJ paused, expecting to see judgement in Emily's eyes, but could only see sympathy, so she carried on. "Henry has been staying with Garcia since Will went back to work, so I picked him up on the way home. Will wasn't in when I got home, so I fed Henry, bathed him and put him to bed. When I walked back downstairs Will had come home and was sat watching TV. I sat next to him and told him that we needed to talk."

At this point JJ could feel herself losing her cool slightly as she said shakily, "I was so set on saying exactly what I'd planned that I didn't realise that he'd been drinking, so I just carried on."

She started crying as she berated herself, "I'm so stupid. Considering how much time I spend with you guys, you'd think I'd notice that my own boyfriend was drunk."

She felt Emily place her hands on either side of her face, gently wiping away the tears with her thumbs, "JJ, none of this is your fault, OK? You did absolutely nothing wrong."

"Try telling Will that." JJ replied drily.

FLASHBACK

"I want you to be a big part of Henry's life Will, but I don't love you and I'm never going to marry you – however many times you ask. You're a great man, a great father, but you deserve to be with someone who loves you."

JJ stopped talking as she realised that Will hadn't said a word, or reacted in any way, since she started talking.

"Will?"

He had been sat so still that she was taken off guard when he moved quickly, grabbing her right wrist and pulling her up so that they both stood facing each other. JJ tried to pull away, but he merely held on tighter, causing her arm to twist painfully.

"Will, you're hurting me."

"You are not taking my son away from me."

JJ was shocked by the hatred in his eyes. It was then that she noticed the smell of alcohol on his breath.

"Will. I wouldn't do that. I said that I wanted you in his life. Now let go of me Will – you are hurting my arm." She raised her voice at this point, angry and worried about how quickly this had escalated.

But his grip only got tighter as he said, menacingly, "I know what'll happen. You say you want me to be part of his life, but you'll find someone else. Henry will start calling him Daddy. I won't have that – he's my son." He yelled the last 3 words directly into JJ's face.

Angered, JJ yelled back, "Get off of me Will. I said you were hurting me. Do you really think I'll want you in Henry's life if I think there is even the slightest possibility that you might hurt him? Do you really think that this is helping your cause?"

She pulled her arm as she shouted and was relieved when she felt him let go. Her relief was short lived, however, as she felt Will's fist connect with her face, causing her to stumble backwards, knocking a vase onto the floor.

"Don't you dare threaten me, bitch" he spat at her.

Shaking, JJ walked around Will and said, trying to stay calm, "I am going to get Henry and take him to stay with a friend. For your own sake, you need to sober up before we can talk about this properly."

She was halfway up the stairs when she realised that Will was following her. She ran up the rest of the stairs and stood in front of Henry's closed door.

"Let me pass JJ," Will screamed at her, "I'm taking my son with me now. I love him. He needs to be with me."

"No you are not," JJ replied, "You are drunk and angry. You would be putting him at risk Will. You can't take him when you are like this."

"You're going to stop me, are you JJ?" Will said threateningly.

"If necessary – Yes." JJ replied strongly. She tried to reason with him, "Will- you say you love Henry. You don't want to hurt him; you'll not take him while you're drunk."

Unfortunately, Will was beyond all reason.

"How dare you suggest that I don't love him," he screamed, "Get out of my way."

"No" JJ shouted in reply.

"Get out of my way NOW." As he shouted the last word he shoved JJ into the door with such force that the door slammed open and JJ fell into the room, hitting her head and back on the floor as she landed.

She was momentarily stunned and was unable to stop Will as he picked up a screaming Henry and took him from the room.

"NO!" JJ screamed, as she finally managed to pick herself up from the floor and follow Will out towards the front door.

END FLASHBACK

JJ was sobbing as she finished telling Emily what had happened. "When we got outside the police were there. My neighbour had called them. They arrested Will and took me to the hospital. One of them dropped me at you place on his way home."

She felt Emily's arms surround her and relaxed into the embrace.