Author's note: Thanks to everyone who has reviewed or alerted this story. Again, I'll direct you to the warnings in the first chapter of this story.
"What do you mean we have a problem?" Emily snapped back at her boss, for just a moment struck by the realization that three years before, she would have never dreamed of speaking to her boss that way.
Wordlessly, Dr. Gonzales turned on the TV in the upper corner of the room. Missing Federal Agent found after three years, the words scrolled across the bottom of the screen as a reporter appeared in front of the very hospital they were at. "Thank you Carl. Missing FBI Agent Jennifer Jareau has reportedly been found alive and is being treated here at Crossroads Mercy Hospital. Authorities have not yet confirmed her identity but—" Hotch quickly turned the TV off.
"Someone tipped off the media." Emily groaned.
"Really?" Hotch snorted sarcastically. "I didn't notice." He winced as the retort left his mouth, remembering all too well the breaking point between him and Emily.
Pulling yet another 'Missing Persons' file from the large stack, Hotch could barely focus on the written words as he searched for any connection with the present case.
JJ's case.
He shook his head, trying not to think about what could be happening to the agent that he considered to be a part of his family.
With the exception of Reid's three-day abduction and Elle's week long avoidance, he had never lost an agent.
Sure, Adrian Bale killed six of his fellow agents in the line of duty, but he hadn't been responsible then.
With JJ, things were different.
Emily and Derek opened the door to the precinct, allowing in the worried calls from the press and flashing camera lights as JJ's posse—and friends—tried to find any information on her disappearance.
The problem was, there wasn't any to be found.
There had been no ransom demand, no taunting call from the UnSub, nothing. And Hotch was running out of ideas.
Emily stalked toward him, obviously agitated. "Hotch—they're everywhere. You've got to have someone talk to the press—they're—"
"Tell JJ to—" He responded automatically before stopping, kicking himself mentally for the Freudian slip. He was just so used to having JJ take care of it—he was beginning to realize that they may not be able to do this without her.
"I'd love to tell JJ to take care of the press." Emily retorted hotly. "But someone sent us out into a field in the middle of NOWHERE."
"Agent Prentiss," He clenched his jaw tightly, "stand down." He could easily see that Emily was teetering on the edge, but right then, he didn't care. He was certain Emily blamed him for JJ's disappearance, her previous statement evidence of the guilt he felt.
"Stand down?" Emily asked incredulously, "Why? So you can get in front of the media and tell them we're doing everything we can? JJ's out there! We know what happens to kidnap victims that are held longer than 24 hours. There's been no ransom demand!"
"I'm well aware of the case at hand Agent Prentiss." Hotch bit out darkly. "But maybe you are too close to the case to remain objective. Perhaps—"
"Of course I'm too close to the case!" Emily threw up her hands angrily. "I was there when they took her! I couldn't stop them." Hotch could easily see the tears that Emily was struggling to hold back. "And none of you were there."
"If you need to be relieved from this case," Hotch said softly, not bothering to hide the condescending tone, "then I have no problem ordering you to take some time off."
Emily looked at him, horrified. He felt a slight twinge of guilt as he realized he was taking his anger out on her, but pushed that thought aside as he picked up another file.
"Maybe you're too close to the case, Hotch." Emily replied quietly, her anger being redirected into a cold calculated response, "And if we don't find her, it will be because you didn't know when to step back, or when to step up."
Derek, seeing the situation was only going from bad to worse quickly intervened. "Em, stop." He gently turned her and pulled her out of the room. Hotch smirked as he heard the other man whisper loudly, "it won't do JJ any good if you lose your job. We'll find her."
But they hadn't.
All they had gotten was one phone call that nearly destroyed the entire team, followed closely behind by the misidentification that both Emily and Hotch felt solely responsible for.
And ever since their blowout, Hotch and Emily hadn't been able to return to civility.
Emily rolled her eyes at his previous comment before returning to the matter at hand. "We have to get her out of here."
"The jet is at the airport." Hotch mused to no one in particular.
"Absolutely not." Dr. Gonzales defended, looking at the two FBI officials as if they had grown another head. "There is no way that I can release her unless it is to another hospital. She has wounds that need to be treated now."
"Dr. Gonzales," Dr. Martinez shot the younger doctor a warning look, "we have no way of ensuring JJ's privacy. If all those reporters outside decide to storm the hospital, we have no way of stopping them. We wouldn't be able to administer the treatment she needs. A larger hospital would be able to help her heal more quickly." Turning to the agents, he spoke quickly, "we can have a helicopter at the helipad in ten minutes. That should be able to get you to your jet undetected."
Dr. Gonzales huffed angrily, clenching her jaw into a tight line. "Fine. But you have to promise me that the first thing you will do is take her to another hospital to be treated."
"There are other priorities right now—" Hotch began, mentally cataloguing everything he needed to do to make sure JJ was safe. At this point, they knew virtually nothing about JJ's captivity over the last three years. Not to mention the fact that he had to alert the team, Will, the bureau…all had to be notified that they may have found JJ.
"I'm afraid I must agree with Dr. Gonzales," Dr. Martinez stated with finality, "if you don't promise to take Jennifer to an Emergency Room as soon as possible then we will not be able to release her into your custody."
Both Hotch and Emily gaped at the doctor for a moment, surprised at his insistence. "Alright." Hotch nodded. "As soon as the jet lands, I'll have Emily-" He paused, glancing over at the brunette to make sure she was willing to continue at JJ's side; seeing Emily nod, he quickly continued, "-I'll have Emily take her to the hospital."
"Doctor," Dr. Martinez commanded quickly, "get Jennifer ready for transport. Show Agent Prentiss anything that she might need to know to care for Jennifer in the next few hours. She should be ready when the helicopter comes in ten minutes." He smiled as Dr. Gonzales nodded her understanding. "Agent Hotchner, I'm going to need the name of the hospital you're taking her to so they can be waiting for your arrival."
Hotch nodded, "Tri-County Medical in DC," He said automatically, well aware of the closest hospital to the DC airstrip. "And if you will excuse me, doctor, I have some phone calls to make."