Disclaimed!
The story is going to concentrate on Jotch for a little while but don't worry, I haven't forgot about the whole drama of the Hotch/JJ/Will/Prentiss/Rossi interconnecting pentagon with sqwiggles of Reid/Garcia/Kevin swirling off of it. Hopefully everything will get dealt with before the end!
Does anyone but me feel sorry that Morgan hasn't had any drama, of his own?
As ever, let me know what you think.
...
It had been a month since Prentiss had left the office for the last time. There was no fanfare on her farewell, just a few handshakes and apologetic looks shared between the brunette and the rest of the team.
The small group of agents quickly adjusted to being a group of six and in the field, it felt as though nothing had changed with Prentiss being on desk duty for the previous two months.
The last case had been a horrendous test for humanity, at least nine dead children, four still missing and an UNSUB who went out in a blaze of gunfire. Hotch had instantly excused himself from the teams plan's to sit in the bar for a few hours before going to bed.
Usually JJ did her best to get the team on the first flight back home, but due to budget cuts, they found BAU jet being loaned out more often and had to wait till the next morning to get home.
The media liaison was the last one back to the hotel after notifying the last of the victim's family with the lead detective. The blonde found a practically empty bar in the hotel, with only Rossi, Morgan and Reid accompanying the unenthused bartender.
"Hey JJ." Morgan beamed, slightly intoxicated as JJ eyed them all suspiciously. "Come and join the party."
JJ shook her head as Rossi struggled to stand without swaying. "You've all been here less than an hour and you're already wasted."
"I'm not." Reid smirked as Morgan scoffed.
Punching the younger man's arm lightly, the Chicago born agent chuckled. "Well, boy wonder you're missing out."
"I agree, bourbon makes every bad problem go away." Rossi slurred as he wondered to the bar to get JJ a drink.
Waiting until the older man returned with a vodka and tonic, JJ sat down and rubbed her eyes tiredly. "God, this week has been long."
"Drink up, kiddo, it'll make everything better." Rossi encouraged, and the two intoxicated men cheered as the Pennsylvanian downed the contents of the heavy glass.
Stumbling as he stood once more, Morgan and JJ exchanged concerned glances as the older profiler wandered back towards the bar. Silently raising a hand, Morgan stood to follow the experienced agent leaving JJ with the young doctor by the roaring fire.
JJ watched Reid watch her silently. "You okay Spence?"
"JJ, erm, can I ask you something?" Reid asked hesitantly as he drank his mug of cocoa.
Nodding, JJ leaned back in her chair, quickly glancing at her colleagues who were deep in conversation at the bar. "What's up?"
"Has Will been in contact with Henry?" The Nevadan shuffled in his seat uncomfortably as JJ tilted her head.
"No, not since Prentiss left the BAU. Why?" JJ pressed, seeing there was something on the younger man's mind.
Leaning forward, Reid looked at his hands nervously before he spoke. "I spoke to Prentiss the other day. I feel a little awkward, JJ. I mean I know what she did was horrible and the last thing I want you to think is that I'm not on your side, I am. You're like family to me JJ. You have been for a long time..."
"Reid, you can be friends with whoever you want to be. My personal feelings towards someone shouldn't influence that." JJ smiled warmly, interrupting the profiler's rambling.
"They got married last Sunday." Reid announced quietly, instantly seeing JJ's shock as she tried to cover it up.
Blinking a few times, the blonde took a deep breath before continuing. "Oh. Well, we knew it was coming and I guess they're moving on."
"I guess so. I just didn't want to keep anything from you." Reid smiled awkwardly as their eyes met in the dimly lit room.
Nodding, JJ returned his smile sweetly. "Thanks Spence."
"If you ever need any help with Henry, I'm here JJ. Garcia's not his only godparent." Reid insisted kindly.
"Thank you. But you'd have to pry him out of Pen's hands first." JJ chuckled softy, stealing another glance towards the two profilers at the bar.
Rossi looked towards the chairs near the fireplace, where JJ was laughing with Reid. "Will you stop looking at me? I'm starting to think you're coming on to me, Morgan."
"What's really going on, Rossi?" Morgan chuckled as the gruff profiler cradled his glass protectively. "And don't give me the evasive speech we've just gone through. The real reason."
Scoffing, Rossi looked back to the team's youngest members before responding. "Did Reid tell you Will and Prentiss got married in New York at the weekend?"
"Yeah, the genius mentioned something." Morgan replied with an inquisitive gaze. "Why?"
"The baby might be mine." Rossi admitted quietly.
Whistling, Morgan took a sip of his drink and watched the hurting agent next to him. "Damn. I owe Lynch money."
"Kevin?" Rossi asked with a raised eye.
Nodding Morgan sniggered slightly. "Oh we knew something was going on. Kevin's guess was Prentiss's kid was yours. I went with, Prentiss was one of your ex wives. Garcia said something kinky that seriously disturbed me... You okay, man?"
"I don't know for sure if the baby is mine, but neither does she." Rossi continued quietly.
Morgan could see the older man's insecurity as they both leaned against the bar. "Have you talked to her since she left?"
"I left messages. She wants nothing to do with me." Rossi shook his head as he finished off his drink.
"God, Emily has no idea what the hell she done to people, man." Morgan signalled to the bartender to top up Rossi's glass.
Nodding his thanks, Rossi shrugged half heartedly. "I called my friend, Eric Laughlin the other day. He's a family lawyer. He said there's nothing I can really do till the baby comes."
"Things will get worked out. Prentiss may be in denial right now, or just plain stupid but she's not going to keep the baby away from you if it's yours." Morgan reassured as the slowly returned to where their colleagues sat, with a new round of drinks.
Rossi passed the second glass in his hand to JJ, who smiled in gratitude. She raised the glass in a toast. "Here's to getting the hell out of here in the morning."
"Here, here." Morgan clinked his glass with hers, before he watched JJ placed a comforting hand on Rossi's arm.
Reid and Morgan quickly entered playful conversation about the book, the younger man hid on his lap, while JJ leaned over to where Rossi sat. "You okay?"
"I'm fine. It's not as if I have feelings for her." Rossi admitted with a glimmer of uncertainty in his eyes.
Nodding, JJ bit her lip as she looked down at the glass in the older man's hand before she responded. "Maybe you stop drinking for tonight."
"You're not my mother, JJ." Rossi quipped smugly.
"No I'm certainly not, but I am concerned, we all are." Rossi could tell from the blonde's tone she meant in particular, she and Hotch were concerned.
Downing his glass, Rossi smirked. "I'm a grown man JJ. No one needs to worry about me."
"Fine, but we're here for you, if you need us." JJ stated sincerely then focused on her other colleagues' conversation.
Reid left the small group first, heading upstairs as their attention was turned to the TV screen and late night sports highlights. Rossi and Morgan decided they were hungry around two in the morning and went in search for food, allowing JJ to quietly slip into the elevator to head to her room.
Taking her heels off as she wandered down the carpeted corridor, JJ sighed as she struggled to get the plastic key card out of her back pocket. Her next struggle came when trying to open the door. Kicking the wooden door with her unprotected foot, the liaison groaned quietly as another red light flashed on the lock.
Turning away from her door, JJ looked both ways down the corridor and realised she was alone. Sighing, the blonde hesitantly made her way to five doors away from her room on the opposite side of the corridor. JJ glanced at her watch before knocking quietly.
The door opened slowly, revealing a dishevelled looking unit chief. Squinting under the bright corridor light, he cleared his throat before greeting the liaison. "JJ, what's wrong?"
"The key thingamajig won't let me into my room." JJ complained with a smirk, finding his sleepy state amusing as the alcohol made her a little tipsy.
Leaning against the door post, Hotch kept his voice low, but his amusement at JJ's presence was easily detectable. "And you want me to help you get into your room?"
Shaking her head, JJ bit her lip mischievously, "Nope."
"Why not?" Hotch asked with a raised eye, his exhaustion somewhat alleviating as he talked to the communication coordinator in the middle of the corridor.
Sighing, JJ took a tiny step forward to close the distance. "I was kind of hoping you'd invite me in."
...
Mwahaha, evil laugh for leaving it there!
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