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. I will also take the time to explain right here: this story will be sad. It will be devestating. BUT, I promise, there will be a happy ending. I'm already 90+ pages into the story, and find that it keeps getting sadder. AGAIN, there will be a happy ending, but it will take a while.
As the jet taxied to a stop, Hotch immediately picked up the phone and returned the dozen messages he had waiting for him from the same number. "Will—" He stated as the other man picked up, "it's me."
"Hotch—" The other man sighed gratefully, his thick accent clouded by gruffness from sleep. "I saw on the news—did you find her?" The hope was evident in Will's worn voice.
"We haven't gotten the blood results yet, that's why I didn't call you." Hotch paused, looking over at JJ who was purposefully trying not to catch his eye while stealing calculated glances.
Will sighed, remembering all too well the false positives—false hopes that were dashed too quickly. "But you'll call me when they come in?" He asked insistently.
"When we know for sure, you'll be my first call." Hotch promised, feeling only slightly guilty at not giving the other man more. Honestly, he was certain this was JJ—but not only did he have to be sure, he wasn't sure JJ could handle an emotional visit from her estranged boyfriend.
When the jet stopped, Hotch quickly stood and retrieved the kid from where he had been stashed. Practically throwing him down the stairs, Hotch quickly drug the boy to a waiting SUV.
"Come on, we've got to go now." Emily said softly. When JJ simply blinked in response, Emily sighed and repeated her instruction in Spanish. Grimacing as she stood, JJ at least nodded to show her understanding.
Emily watched JJ with interest as JJ studied the blanket in her hands, indecision clearly written along her face. Clutching the still half-full thermos, JJ held the soft fabric up to her face before gingerly placing the blanket back on the couch. "You can take it, he said it was okay." She offered softly, wondering how many more times her heart could break with the sickening theories that accompanied some of her friend's reactions.
JJ shook her head softly, glancing back at the couch and then looking forward to the open jet door with apprehension. JJ limped toward the open jet door, and Emily bit her lip, concerned. Stepping forward, she placed JJ's good arm around her shoulders and tried not to think about how she could easily feel JJ's ribs poking through the oversized medical scrubs.
Emily helped JJ down the stairs of the jet, feeling a giant weight lifted from her at the sight of Morgan and Strauss waiting in the periphery. Derek wisely kept his distance, though his interest was obviously piqued at the sight of the blonde. Emily guided JJ toward the group of agents, grimacing as she felt JJ breathe with labored effort.
"You didn't grab her a blanket, or a coat?" Hotch asked with contempt as he too approached Morgan and Strauss, wrenching his hands wearily. "It's freezing out here Prentiss—"
"I was busy making sure she got off the jet." Emily retorted with annoyance, mentally cursing herself as JJ shivered in her arms—proving Hotch's point.
"Whoa—Hotch, back off man." Derek held up his hands in an attempt to stop their sparring. Seeing Hotch and Emily at one another's throat was a common sight, but right now didn't seem like the right time. "Just a sec—" He instructed hopefully, "I'll go back and get it."
"No. I'll do it myself." Hotch grunted. "We've got a suspect in the back of the other SUV. Morgan, come with me to the station." He added before stalking back to the jet in order to retrieve the blanket.
Derek cast one last glance at the shivering blonde before heading back to the other SUV.
"Agent Jareau?" Director Strauss looked uncharacteristically uncomfortable as she searched the woman's face for recognition.
JJ winced as she put pressure on the leg she had been favoring blankly staring straight through the woman who attempted to speak with her.
Strauss grimaced as she saw the first few flakes of snow float slowly from the sky and land softly on Agent Prentiss's shoulders. Sighing resignedly, she instructed softly, "It's starting to snow. We'd better get in the SUV."
JJ's eyes frantically surveyed the SUV before hobbling lightly to the back of the dark car. Waiting expectantly for the women to open the trunk doors, she was oblivious to the curious looks of Emily and Strauss.
"What is she—?" Strauss began to ask before being interrupted by Emily.
"She thinks she's going to sit in the back." Emily said disgustedly.
"In the trunk?" Strauss asked incredulously, "That's not going to happen." She insisted firmly, as if her decree would change JJ's actions.
Emily rubbed her tired eyes thoughtfully. "JJ, come sit in the front of the car." She instructed. Seeing the younger woman's obvious hesitation, she translated quickly and repeated her instruction in Spanish. Shrugging off Strauss's questioning look, Emily gently guided JJ toward the front of the SUV.
"Come on JJ, it's okay." Emily coaxed, holding open the front door of the SUV and gently taking the thermos from JJ's shivering hands.
"Here." Hotch came up from behind the women, wrapping JJ gently in the warm plush fabric. JJ stopped, frozen as she glanced over at Hotch before quickly averting her gaze. Hotch saw JJ's trepidation clearly written across her gaunt features.
Opening the doors to the second row of seats, he spoke with a gentleness Emily had never heard before, "Get in the car JJ." His heart broke as she struggled to pull herself up into the car. Desperately wanting to help her, he almost put a hand on her back to help her. Forcing himself to pull back as he realized that any contact on his part might only serve to traumatize her further, he winced as her foot slipped off the step bar along the bottom of the vehicle. After a couple more failed attempts to climb in the vehicle, JJ eventually managed to maneuver her way into the waiting SUV.
Swiftly walking over to the other side of the vehicle, he motioned for JJ to slide along the seat. At Emily's perplexed look he explained softly, "Her shoulder. The seatbelt will hurt her shoulder unless she's over here."
When she was satisfied that JJ was as settled in her seat as she was going to get, Emily offered the thermos with the luke-warm soup out to the other woman. JJ hesitated and looked to Hotch for approval. Hotch shook his head slowly in disbelief, completely disgusted that this was really happening. JJ misinterpreted his headshake as a sign of disapproval, and flinched away from the offered thermos.
Taking the thermos from Emily, he gingerly placed it beside the skittish blonde. "JJ," He felt sick to himself that he had to tell her what to do but didn't see another option, "I want you to listen to Emily. Do you understand?"
JJ nodded almost imperceptibly, gingerly rubbing the sling on her arm as she avoided catching Hotch's gaze.
Checking to ensure JJ was buckled in safely, Hotch closed the door softly. "Drive safe Erin." He said through the rolled down drivers' side window, more of a plea than any type of demand. Strauss nodded, not bothering to correct him for the familiar title, nor point out that she was the director of the FBI.
They rode mostly in silence, the two FBI officials trying to avoid acknowledging JJ's whimpered cries at each small bump the car took.
After a while, Director Strauss spoke up quietly, "How bad would it have been to—?" She trailed off, unable to adequately articulate the scene that was playing itself out behind her.
Emily glanced back at JJ, biting her lip at the sight of her broken friend. "Bad." She stated softly as the only response she could give to her superior.
Pulling up to the Emergency Room doors, Emily cursed softly as Strauss turned off the car. "For three years, she's probably had no control at all." Emily whispered, horrified. "And we're doing the same thing."
"We're taking her to the hospital." The Director said in confusion, "That's hardly the same as..." She trailed off, realizing exactly what Emily was referring to. A different set of people, carting JJ off to somewhere without asking her permission—suddenly the thought of carrying the woman behind them through the hospital doors seemed far too sinister.
"It's exactly the same." Emily whispered sadly.
Director Strauss fought the urge to vomit as she closed her eyes, blinking back the images that swamped over her at the realization of what this agent had faced. "Agent Jareau—" She started, her voice catching with emotion as she suddenly realized this woman would never work for the FBI Again.
"JJ—" Emily continued for her, "do you want us to take you to the hospital?" She asked, already knowing by the blonde's trembling figure what the answer would be.
JJ glanced up briefly, eyeing Emily for any sign that her answer would be used against her. Shaking her head slowly, she watched Emily closely for her reaction.
Strauss, who had been watching for JJ's answer through the rearview mirror, offered, "We could go to the hotel across the street," Gesturing to the large building, she added "at least until tomorrow morning."
Emily nodded, looking at the woman with newfound respect. It had been said that "power corrupts," with Strauss, she had become more human on being appointed Director of the FBI two years ago.
"Thanks." Emily whispered.
"I didn't do this for you," Strauss said sadly, "I did it for her."