A/N: I was going to upload this yesterday, but my new toy, aka portable hard drive, got in the way, and I spent a whole day "cleaning up" my laptop. By the way, I was actually surprised at the numerous alerts I got over the past days, thanks a lot for that. Special thanks to everyone, who has reviewed, it really makes me happy to hear what you think, so keep it coming. Oh, and as a warning: there won't be many happy JJ/Rossi chapters for a while, but I promise I'll try my best to work towards a happy ending for both of them.

Chapter 5

Once they were seated inside Hotch's office, the Unit Chief wasted no time and got straight to the topic.

"Okay, I want this to be a calm and rational talk, guys. No one will leave the room until you two have worked out some kind of agreement, understood?"

JJ and Rossi nodded.

"So, who wants to start? Dave?"

Rossi frowned at him, but started to speak after a few seconds. "Listen, JJ, I don't really know what to say right now. I am really sorry about the way I feel, but I can't help it. I can't change into a different man within a few hours. It's just that I'm not ready to be a father, and I don't see how I could ever be."

"Not ready?" JJ shrieked, and was immediately interrupted by Hotch. "JJ, please, I know you're upset, and you have my full understanding for that, but screaming at each other won't help you two find a solution."

She nodded shortly, and went on in a quieter tone. "You think I was ready to have another child so soon after Henry? I wasn't, god, I'm still not sure how everything will work out, but complaining about it doesn't change the facts now, does it?"

"Then tell me why we are in this situation again." Rossi started to accuse her again.

"Dave, stop." Hotch interfered at once, knowing exactly what the older man was about to say. "This is not the time and place to discuss how you two got into this. Although, let me add that I don't quite understand how two intelligent and experienced adult people with no desire for another child, were not able to use adequate protection to prevent pregnancy."

Seeing that both wanted to answer to that, he quickly raised his hand to silence them. "No, don't say anything. That was a rhetorical question. And yes, Dave, you are just as much to blame for it. Fact is that you are becoming parents and that you have to focus on this issue rather than accusing each other of all kinds of things. On with it."

Hesitantly, Rossi began again. "If you need money for the child, I can help you with that, JJ."

"You think I want your money? The child needs a father to be there for him, not his money."

"JJ, I don't think I can do that. I don't want strings. I tried that, three times, and it didn't work out. I failed, and I don't want to fail anyone again," Rossi tried to defend himself.

"You're afraid, Dave," Hotch threw in.

"Hell, yeah, but I can't change that." Rossi sighed, looking from him to JJ, searching for at least a tiny bit of understanding in them.

JJ shook her head vigorously, tears forming in her eyes as she stated with an ultimate finality in her voice: "You know what, Rossi? Go to hell. Stay out of my life and my child's life."

Seeing the pain in her eyes, Rossi tried to apologize. "I'm so sorry, JJ, I really am. I can only say that if you need any money, you just have to ask, but I just don't know how much more I can give you."

"And I will say it again: I don't need your money! If this is your last word, I will have a waiver of paternity drawn up for you to be signed as soon as the baby's here."

Rossi lowered his head in defeat, but didn't say another word.

Waiting for a few seconds to analyze the situation in front of him, Hotch realized that there would not be a happy ending for his two friends, at least not for the moment.

"Well, if this is the way you two want it, let's move on to the next point. What I want to know from both of you, is: Are you still capable of working together? Will you manage to not let your animosities interfere with our work?"

JJ answered first. "Of course, Hotch."

Rossi nodded in agreement, as JJ turned towards him again. "I think that it would be for the best if we didn't tell the team yet that I am pregnant, and when we will, it's probably easier if they didn't know who fathered that child."

Rossi nodded again, and JJ continued. "As hard as it is for me to say this right now, Rossi, but you are an important part of this team. The others look up to you, they respect you, and I'm not sure if it is any good for our continued success if they lost that respect."

He felt ashamed for not being able to bring up the same grandeur as JJ, so he simply whispered: "Thank you, JJ, I really appreciate that."

"Shut up, Rossi. I'm not doing this for you, but for the team. I happen to like my job, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't spoil that by making the work atmosphere within our unit insufferable. You and I have nothing else to say to each other anymore except for work related issues."

As Rossi didn't say anything else, Hotch began to speak again. "Are you two sure, you can pull this off? I mean, you do realize that you're working with people who read behavior for a living, don't you? They may notice anyway."

"I am sure," JJ insisted. "From now on, I will not let my private life interfere with work ever again."

"I can do it, too." Rossi said.

"Fine. But let me give you one last warning. If this agreement doesn't work out, I will have to pull one of you from the team."

JJ knew exactly that although he didn't specify it, she would be the one who'd have to go. Rossi knew it as well, and it was the last thing he wanted. He slowly began to realize that he might have lost her for good. Not being able to see her anymore every day would break him. Little did he know that the following months would do just that with him, but he had no idea, how he was ever going to fix the mess that he'd made.

"Well then, if that's all you have to say, I suggest you go back to work. I will do my best to support you. Both of you. And I want you to come to me with any problem, you understand me?" Hotch concluded their meeting.