Chapter 9

"Well, follow the docs instructions." Hotch says, while he fiddles with paper work.

"Ok, anyway I have to talk at least a week off. I have a funeral to plan, I have to go through Martha's papers to find out what she wanted. Then I have to clean the messes." JJ says, starting to tear up.

"JJ, we've thought we'd help you out. Garcia's talking to Martha's lawyer. Then she's going to plan the funeral and service. Morgan and Prentiss are going to clean up the houses. I've okayed you for family leave. For as long as you need, don't rush back. We have another media liaison from a different team coming to fill in."

"Who is it? Rebecca Lanes, from fraud/identity theft?" JJ asks, disgusted.

"No. Shawn Michael's from sex crimes. Have you ever met him?" Hotch asks.

"No. I've heard of him, but we've never formally met. I hope you guys get along. Once Martha is buried, I have to find Josh and Walt. Maybe Pen can find out where Jess is. Oh, I'll just go to Agent McEnroe and have him give me her whereabouts." JJ says, kind of off in thought.

"JJ, you leave Josh and Walt to us. While you were at the doctors, Peter Scarbrow called. He told me to let you know that they're coming in on the," Hotch pauses as he reads the paper he wrote it on. "The Delta airline. At ten fifty am tomorrow. They also said something about 'The cliffhangers'. They will be calling when they're landing. They want to be here for Martha's funeral and help you get through this time. Gideon does as well."

"What? Peter and Sophie are coming tomorrow? What about the cliffhangers?"

"Something about them reuniting. Maybe they meant that they're coming to see you and make sure you're ok. You know JJ, we're going after Josh and Walt for murder. If convicted, they should get life in prison. You can be in contact with all your old friends and family. Are you going to try to speak to your mother?"

JJ frowns. "No. She let Walt hurt Jess and I. When CPS was called, my MOTHER made me out to be crazy. Then she made me come home and take care of Walt. She never protected me the way a mother should. But I want to be close with Jess again." JJ looks at the floor. Tears well up in her eyes.

"Are you going to stick with Jennifer Jearau or Shelby Merrick?" Hotch asks. Then Hotch's phone rings. Hotch answers. "Hotchner." Hotch's face is blank, but then stares at JJ. She looks at him in confusion. "I see. Have you located any of the others?" Hotch pauses while getting an answer from the caller. "I see. I'll have my team on it right away. Thank you for the call." Hotch hangs up.

"Hotch, what's that about?" JJ asks.

"Right now, you're on leave. This is something that the team will work on. Why don't you go, get a hotel room. Charge it to the Bearu. You can't go home yet. Get some rest and we'll call you with any info regarding your house, Ms. Mason's house, the funeral or anything else we can think of. I'll have someone drive you to the hotel. Why don't you go to your office and lock up any files or personal stuff you don't want Agent Michaels to have access to and straighten it up. He's going to use your office." Hotch says, faster than JJ's ever heard Hotch talk.

"Ok. Who's going to drive me?"

"Let me talk to a few people. I'll send whom ever will drive you to your office. Do you need some help to get there" Hotch asks, moving around his office. To JJ it looks as if he was going out on a lead in a case. This makes JJ believe Hotch is keeping info from her. She decides to try to keep this bit of knowledge to herself.

"No, I can do it on my own. You just go do what you need to. I should be ready to go in about fifteen minutes. Thanks Hotch." She gets up slowly and limps to the door and leaves.

Once in her office, JJ picks up her desk phone and calls Garcia.

"Hey sweetness. What can I do for you beautiful?" Garcia says answering her phone.

"Pen, can you tell me if the team's going out on a case? Specifically my case." JJ asks point blank.

"JJ, honey I can't tell you that."

"Why? That must mean they have a lead on Josh and Walt. Pen, why are people treating me like I'm made of glass?" JJ asks.

"They know you're on leave. They just want you to grieve and heal. Are you ok?"

"I'm fine. Well, as fine as I can be. Later tonight you can come over to my hotel room and have a movie night. If Emily wants, she can come too. If I go to my hotel and rest now, then I'll need something to keep me busy. If I stay alone, I'll start thinking and we all know that's a big problem." JJ says, thinking she'll get info.

"We can try. Who's driving you to the hotel?" Penny asks.

"I'll know soon. I just have to put a few things away. Agent Michaels' is going to use my office while I'm gone. Make sure he treats my stuff good. You'll have to tell me all about him. Lots of details. I'll call you once I check in and give you my phone number and room number. It's going to be nice to sit in a nice hot tub. And yes, my leg won't be in. Call you later." JJ says.

"Ok sweetness. Take care." Garcia says, then hangs up. JJ organizes the files that have been placed on her desk. She grabs an enormous stack of files and tires to carry them to her file cabinets. About half way to the file cabinet, there's a knock at her office door that startles JJ making her jump and drop the files. The person who knocked comes in and begins helping her pick up the files.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I'm Agent Shawn Michaels. You must be Agent Jearau." Shawn says, still collecting paper.

"Yes I am. I didn't expect you to take over my office quite so soon. I was trying to clean this space posing as an office. I should've tried with two smaller stacks. So, you're from sex crimes." JJ says, putting the stacks up in the file cabinet.

"Yes, I am. I'm sorry to hear of your friends death. If I can do anything, please just ask." Shawn says, standing there watching JJ.

"Thank you, I'll do that. When you leave my office, excuse me. Our office, make sure you lock the door. Here's the key. Please use a coaster with your drinks. Make sure you shut down the computer and turn EVERYTHING off. Please don't even go near my file cabinets. I'm really particular about my privacy and rules. I think that's it." JJ says, hobbling over to her desk and grabbing her bag and a few files she wanted to work on while at the hotel.

"Are you ready for your ride to the hotel?" Shawn asks.

"You're my ride? Are you sure?" JJ asks, confused.

"Yeah, I'm sure. The others from the team are on a lead in a current case. I promise not to bite. I also promise to keep a clean office and not touch anything of yours that is of personal property. Unless it is to move it out of harms way. Now, are you ready to beat feet?" Shawn asks, motioning out the office door. JJ pauses for a second, then grabs her bag off the top of her desk. She limps to the door.

Shawn reaches for JJ's bag and says, "Here, let me take that for you."

JJ having one hand with her crutch and the other her bag, "No thank you. I can manage." As JJ limped out of her office and through the bullpen, she notices everyone's gone. This made her sad. When she finally exited the building, she turned and looked at it like she would never see it the same way ever again. Shawn could tell that JJ's in need of someone to talk to.