Chapter 2

Rushing out of Rossi's office, JJ fumed with rage. She had anticipated that he would not jump with happiness at the prospect of becoming a father, but to actually suggest to her to dispose of her child – no matter how implicitly or unconsciously – was more than she could take. It was simply not acceptable for her. She stormed past Hotch's office blindly and was about to run down the stairs when she bumped into him.

"Whoa, JJ!" Hotch blew out. "What's up with you?"

JJ just shook her head. "Nothing, Hotch, it's nothing."

Furrowing his brows at the sight of violent anger mirroring in her face, he went on: "You sure? You look like someone's pissed you off tremendously."

She shot a dark glance into the direction of Rossi's office and Hotch knew exactly that his friend must have pulled one of his infamous stunts again that had it in their nature to upset people. He just didn't know what it was, yet, but he was determined to find out. Bad blood within their team was nothing he would tolerate as it might diminish their successful teamwork.

"JJ, whatever he has done now, I'm sure he didn't mean it," Hortch tried to calm his blonde media liaison down.

"Oh yeah? I highly doubt that. He sounded pretty clear to me."

"Look, why don't we go inside and you tell me about it? Maybe I can help you with him?" Hotch suggested, guiding her into his office, before she had a chance to protest.

"Have a seat. Would you like a cup of coffee?"

"Yes, I'll have one so that I can throw it at him!" JJ raged.

"What happened? Did he have one of his stupid little chats with the press again?"

"No, that's not it." JJ took a deep breath, knowing that Hotch wouldn't like what he was going to hear.

"What is it then?"

"You're not going to like it."

"Why don't you tell me so that I can decide for myself?"

"Don't say I didn't warn you."

"JJ, I'm sure it's not that bad now, is it?"

"It is actually. I'm pregnant."

"What?" Hotch was dumbfounded.

"I'm pregnant," JJ repeated.

"But what does Dave have...," he started, as it hit him. "Wait, is he...?"

"Yes, Hotch. Rossi is the father."

"Oh my God, I can't believe this."

"Told you, you won't like it."

He looked at her for a few seconds, seeing sad, tired eyes instead of the joy one's supposed to have written all over their face when expecting a child, and he realized that he wouldn't be helping her if he reproached her now. Smiling encouragingly he said gently: "I'm guessing he's not thrilled then."

"He doesn't want to have it." JJ's voice sounded almost numb.

"What? The baby?"

"Yes. He more or less told me to get rid of it."

Hotch shook his head as if he couldn't believe what he'd heard.

"JJ, are you sure? I mean, maybe he didn't mean it like that."

"Hotch, I am sure!" She stressed.

Hotch fell silent for a moment, before he asked: "How long has this been going on with you and Dave?"

JJ sighed deeply and looked down on the floor as a small tear escaped her eye. "There is nothing going on. It was just one night."

"And you didn't use protection?"

"I was on the pill, I honestly thought this wasn't going to happen."

Seeing her let her head fall into her hands, he continued: "Am I correct to assume that you wanted more than just one night?"

JJ raised her head again. "I don't know, maybe. We both agreed that it was only a one-time event."

"But you have deeper feelings for him, am I right?" JJ didn't have to answer his question to tell him that he was right, when he saw her desperate eyes.

Taking her hand and pressing it reassuringly, he said: "I'm going to talk to him, okay? We'll find a solution."

Smiling lightly for the first time since she'd left Rossi's office, JJ answered: "Thanks, Hotch. I really appreciate it. But I'm not sure if you can do anything about it."

"Let's see, JJ. I know Dave can be a real jerk sometimes, and more often than not he needs some pushing in the right direction, but I don't think he'd be stupid enough to miss out on his first child."