Her past catches up with her.
I don't own Criminal Minds and/or Higher Ground. Might not be suitable for younger children. Mild vilence and some swearing.
Chapter 3
"Hey guys. Anything new on the front?"
"Yeah, JJ came in. She said she has some info on the girl. She went to call Garcia. She needed to have a few things looked up. She wants to go to dinner with Officer Jensen and a few of his friends that run a school for troubled teens. I think we should meet these people. They could stop future unsub." Gideon says, trying to convince Hotch
"Sure we can go for dinner. Not booze though. In case soething breaks on the case. Who are these friends of Officer Jensen?"
"They run this school for troubled teens. Jensen was a student there and look at the results." Gideon tells Hotch all he knows.
"Ok. What info does JJ have on the case?"
"She said something about names and a son of Mr. Fellows, she said something about a boy taking the girl because his father didn't want him, but wanted the girl. So in a short, jealousy." Gideon says, trying to make it sound like she might be right. Just as Gideon finished his sentencs, JJ walks in.
"Hey Garcia didn't answer her phone. So I left a message. So if Hotch doesn't mind, we can go eat and then come back to get the information later. Do you guys want to go to Rusty's now and I'll meet you there. I have to call Mrs. Mason to see how she is. When I last talked to her she was coming down with a cold or the flu. I want to just check on her." JJ says, sounding worried
"No! Call her later. She might be sleeping. You don't want to wake her if she sick. Wait until tomorrow." Hotch says.
"Ok, well you guys go ahead. I'll be there in a minute. I have to check on something before I go." JJ says.
"Ok. See you soon." Hotch says, as the team head out of the station.
"Hello, Martha. It's Jen. I was just calling to see how you are. I guess you're sleeping, which is good. I'll call you later. Take care." JJ says and hangs up then leaves.
At Rusty's the team waits for Officer Jensen. "What time did he say to be here?" Hotch asks.
"He said about six. It's five after. I'm sure he'll be here any moment. Let's start with an appetizer. Myself, I'm going to start with a salad. But I think I'm going to have the steak. Mmmmm, that sounds so good. I remember the onion rings are real good…Never mind." JJ says, realizing she was just going to reveal something from her Shelby past. She was able to stop herself though.
"What were you going to say about the onion rings?" Reid asks, taking a sip of the water that was brought when they first got there.
"Nothing. I was thinking of a place at my family home in Michigan. It's onion rings were so delicious. Maybe we should try the onion rings here and see if they come close to The Depot. Maybe some baked potato skins. Excuse me while I use the restroom." JJ says standing up and heading to the ladies room.
"How did she know where the restrooms are?" Pentiss asks.
"Maybe it was the sign." Hotch says, pointing to the sign the said restrooms and an arrow.
"Oh. Well, I guess I didn't see it. So what are you going to have to eat?" Pentiss says trying to change the subject.
"Why were you so suspicious of JJ? If anyone should be under suspicion is you. We don't know you as well as we know JJ. So why are you trying to turn us on JJ. She's more part of us then you." Reid says, defensively.
"No. I wasn't trying to get you to turn on JJ. I just didn't see the sign. I'm sorry I said anything. Excuse me, I'm going to go to the restroom." Prentiss gets up and heads to the restroom in a hurry. When she gets there she goes into the one empty stall and throws up. JJ comes out of her stall and goes to wash her hands.
"Are you ok? Do you want me to get anyone for you?" JJ asks from outside the stall door.
"No. I'll be fine thanks."
"Emily, is that you?"
"Yeah. Please don't say anything to the others. They wouldn't understand. You know guys. It's just nerves. I'm fine now." Prentiss says, flushing the toilet and coming out of the stall. She walks to the sink and rinses her mouth out and looks at JJ.
"No problem. Are you sure you don't need to go to the hospital or something?"
"No. Just stress. Are you ready to go back to the male dominate crowd out there?"
"Yeah. We can handle them. Just as long as we stick together. Plus, we have Garcia on our side at home. That's more than those guys can say." JJ and Prentiss laugh. They walk out to the table together.
"So, what's the gossip going now? JJ asks.
"We were just talking about family. And how we all seem to feel like a weird family. Now a days people seem to consider collegues more family then their real families. Do you agree or disagree?"
"Well, I agree, but also disagree. I love my family. But I spend so much time with you freaks that it's hard not to consider you all my family. I mean, Penny knows the must about my non-existing love life. Reid knows more about the little habits that no one else seems to catch. Me included. Hotch is my boss, but yet he know about my life before Quontico. Gideon is the go to guy if you need to talk about something and you don't want anyone else to know. Morgan, I still haven't figured you out. I guess you are like a big brother, always watching all our backs. I want to thank you all for being there when me or any of us need each other." JJ says, almost in tears.
"You aren't going to start singing feelings are you?" Morgan says, mockingly.
"No you jerk!" JJ says, throwing a roll at him as she laughs.
"What about me JJ?" Emily asks, feeling not part of the group.
"Well, to be honest Emily, you haven't been in our team long enough. But I do consider us friends. Like when we get back home, I think you, Pen and I need to hit the bar sene and have some fun. What do you think?" JJ says with a big smile on her face. Emily smiles back at JJ.
"I'm in!" Emily yells and laughs.
"Ok,ok no more girlie talk. Next thing you girls are going to do is ask us guys to hold your purses." Morgan says. He gets scary looks from both the girls.
"Man, I think you better apologize. It could be hazardous to your health. As in they are going to tare you a new one." Reid says, getting a scary vibe from the girls.
"We are going to go shoot some pool. When we come back, lets see if Mr. Shovanistic Male has gone bye-bye. And I sincerely hope he leaves pretty damn fast." JJ says. All the guys look at her in shock. This was not the way JJ acted. Especially around Hotch and Gideon. The girls walk over to the pool table and the stand there for a few minutes talking among themselves.
"WOW girl. What was that? I think Hotch's going to have to get a new jaw. When you said that, Hotch's jaw hit the floor. I wish I'd said that. But I'm also glad I didn't. Are you going to apologize when we go back over?" Emily asks.
"I don't think so. We've to put up with all there sexist jokes and stereo types. Maybe they'll respect us a little more." JJ says as she picks out her pool stick. She rubbs the blue chalk on the tip and starts to rack up the balls.
"Maybe we are more alike then you think." Emily says picking out her pool stick.
"Do you want to break?" JJ asks.
"Sure. " Emily says. JJ lifts the triangle plastic racker. Emily leans down, and lines up the shot. She shoots and the first ball to sink was a stripe. But she sank four more of her balls and two of JJ's.
"Wow, that's pretty good Prentiss. You play before?" JJ asks as she leans over and lines up a shot.
"I have played before. Just not professionally. My mom hated it when I played. She said it made me look like a punk. She had high standards of how you're supposed to behave in public." Emily says as she travels back in time in her mind. Hearing her mother disapproving voice, "Sorry. Haunting old memories. My turn?"
"Yeah. Don't let your mother bother you. I think all mothers bother their daughters at least one time in their life." JJ says, moving out of the way so Emily had room to take her shot.
"What'd your mother bothered you about?" Prentiss asks JJ.
"I-I can't think of anything right now. Do you want your drink?" JJ says, changing the subject.
"Yeah, thanks." Emily says.
"Back in a sec." JJ says walking over to the table. She gets there and grabbs the glasses. The guys are quiet. Morgan stands up and is about to say something.
"Don't say it please. I just need to cool off. She walks toward the pool table. Just beyond the pool table, JJ sees Peter and Sophie walk in. The sheer shock of seeing them is greater then she thought. She bumps into the bar counter and drops the glasses. She then falls on the broken glasses, cutting her head and leg. "UH!" She hardly moves. Emily runs over and grabs a towel from the bar counter. She gently puts the towel on her head, but feels some glass in the cut. JJ passes out.
When JJ came to, she's on the restaurant floor. The first person she sees is Gideon.
"JJ, are you ok? You're the last person I would expect to faint." Gideon says with a grin.
"I don't know. My body hurts. Oh God, am I lying on the broken glass?" JJ asks, trying to get up. Gideon and Morgan are on both sides of JJ and pulls her up to a standing position. Her leg is still bleeding. That's when Reid comes over and wraps a towel around that gash. When he goes to apply pressure, JJ screams in pain. Reid feels a shard of glass embedded in the cut.
"JJ, we need to get you to a hospital. There's glass in your head and leg. It's deep."
"Wonderful! Officer Jensen's supposed to meet us here." Just as JJ says this, she starts to lose the ability to maintain standing. Morgan catches her.
"Go ahead and lean on me. You're losing a lot of blood. Let me carry you to the SUV." As he picks her up to carry her, someone approached them.
"Can I be of some help?" A gentleman asks. JJ looks over and sees Peter.
"I think we need to get you to the hospital." Hotch says to JJ.
"I might be able to get the glass out. You still need to go to the hospital and get stitches." Peter says.
"I think a hospital's the best idea JJ." Hotch says again.
"I think tha…" JJ passes out. This time she doesn't wake.
"Jen, wake up. Come on JJ, this isn't funny." Morgan says, taping her face trying to get her to come around. Morgan scoops her up and hurries to the black SUV. Gideon and Hotch are right behind them.
"Stay here! We'll call with news!" Hotch yells over his shoulder to the rest of the BAU team. Peter and Sophie go over to the table where Reid and Prentiss remained.
"Excuse me, I don't want to be a bother, but can we ask what happened to the young lady?" Peter asks with concern.
"Because I don't feel comfortable giving out info about a friend." Reid says.
"Reid, don't be rude. Hello, I Special Agent Prentiss with the FBI. This is Special Agent Dr. Spencer Reid. The young lady, Special Agent Jareau bumped into the bar counter and dropped a few glasses. She has a piece of glass in her head and leg. I'm afraid it might've hit a main artery in her leg. JJ, sorry: Jennifer never passes out. I think when Officer Jensen gets here, we should go to the hospital. JJ was acting strange before the accident." Prentiss says, not really talking directly to anyone.
"My name's Peter Scarbrow and this is my wife, Sophie. If we can help in any way, please call us. Here's my card." Peter says.
"I thought Jensen would be here by now." Reid says, worried.
"Brady gets busy sometimes. Would you like us to get word to Brady and then show you to the hospital?" Peter asks.
"Sure. That would be great. I've never seen JJ in trouble like that. She's quite an agent. She's pretty damn good with a gun too. She's saved a lot of people. She never seems to waver. Well there's that one time when those wild dogs attacked her. She had to shoot them. She was in shock. Plus she was worried about Reid. Some guy kidnapped him and she couldn't stop this guy." Prentiss says.
"My God! Well obviously you both are ok." Peter says, shocked at what he's just heard.
"She has a fear of dogs now. Of course she denies it, but I see it if she sees a picture of a dog in a magazine or a case file. I mean those dogs ate that woman." Reid says.
"Reid!" Prentiss yells.
"What? It's true. I don't know of ANYONE who wouldn't be afraid of dogs after seeing them tareing a person apart. Oh, I'm sorry. I really shouldn't be talking about details of a case. So, what do you teach?" Reid asks, wanting some info on Peter.
"Well, I knid of teach a plethora of subjects. My main subject's hope and servival. A grate many of my students wanted to give up on life. Most of them had troubles at home. I tried to teach them how to push on and deal with their problems at home and really anywhere. Trying to stop potenial murderers, rapist, robbers, prostitutes and addicts. Even if it affects just one students then I know it's worth the time. But it seems that I'm taking some of your potenial cases away." Peter says.
"Actually, we'd live with that. We've had too many as it is. JJ looks over all these cases and desides which cases need our immediate attention. It must be hard for JJ to chose. Especially when there are children. She amazes me. She stays so calm and reassuring." Prentiss says.
"Why are we just sittting here? We need to be at the hospital. She needs us.!" Reid says, with bad thoughts running through his head.
"We can talk to the sheriff and have him tell your cop friend that your waiting for him at the hospital. Then we can drive so you can follow. I'd like to check on her myself." Peter says.
"Sure! That'd be great!" Reid says getting up and heads toward the doors, "Come on. We really have to get there. I'm having a funny feeling."
"Yeah. I have a walkie-talkie in the truck that goes directly to the police. Curtis should be able to get your message to Officer Jensen." Peter says, turning around and exiting the restauarnt with Sophie and FBI agents in tow.
When they show up at the hospital, Peter and Sophie meet up with the FBI agents that followed then there. They all rushed into the ER. Emily went up to the counter and waited a few short seconds before she called for some help.
"Hello! Someone!" Emily says banging on the counter. A short, plump nurse comes over.
"Is there something I can help you with?" The tan nurse asks.
"I need to find out the statis of a patient that was brought in about an hour ago. Her name's Special Agent Jennifer Jareau." Emily says trying to throw the FBI label to get what she wants.
"Are any of you family?" The nurse asks.
"No, but she's my partner. See, I'm an FBI Agent too." Emily says holding out her cradentionals.
"Sorry, but only family members." Nurse says.
"I'm here fiance. We work together and fell in love. I just proposed yesterday. I haven't gotten her a ring. Do you have a suggestion about where to get a nice diamond at a decent price?" Spencer says.
"Good try honey, but I don't buy it. You can wait with the three gentlemen that brought her in. They're in the ICU waiting room. You go down this hall. Turn right where it dead ends. You should see them in the room. Good luck to you all. Hope she's ok." The nurse says, then returns to what she was doing.
"Thanks!" Spencer says as he starts to rush.
They get to the waiting room. Gideon and Hotch are the only ones there.
"Hey, any news on JJ?" Emily asks.
"She nicked an artery. They had to open her up more to remove the glass and then seal the nick. She'll have to stay here at least overnight. They wanted us to see if any of us are AB negitive blood type. She may need some." Hotch says.
"Where's Morgan?" Reid asks.
"He's being tested. Gideon is O negative. I've had hepitis B as a child. Morgan wasn't sure of his blood type. Do any of you know your blood type?" Hotch says.
"I believe I'm AB negitive. I wouldn't mind getting tested." Sophie says.
"Who are you two?" Gideon asks.
"My name's Peter Scarbrow and this is my wife, Sophie. We came into Rusty's to have dinner with Brady and you folks. We just wanted to make sure she's alright." Peter says calmly.
"That's nice of you. Thanks for helping us get here." Reid asks.
"No problem. Any word on her progress?" Peter asks.
"Well, she should be ok. I worry about her. She's very professional. She shows sympathy and empathy. She's shown bravery and courage. We couldn't be more lucky to have her on our team. She just doesn't take care of herself to well." Hotch says.
A nurse comes and wisks away Sophie. Not too long after words, Morgan slowly walks in. "I just gave like half of my blood for JJ. She better take that as an apology." Morgan says.
"I'm sure she will Morgan." Hotch says.
"Any word yet?" Morgan asks.
"No. We'll just have to wait and see." Gideon says.