Hello, here comes the next chapter. But I warn you: there will be a lot JJ/Will in this chapter. I hope you don't mind.

Chapter 3

Love is stronger than death even though it can't stop death from happening, but no matter how hard death tries it can't separate people from love. It can't take away our memories either. In the end, love is stronger than death. Anonymous

Two months and five days earlier…

"Okay, Garcia, he has to use the blue toothpaste, not the red. And don't forget that he has to be in bed early because…", JJ sputtered hectically.

But she was interrupted by a giggling Garcia: "Yes I know, because he goes to the zoo with his friend tomorrow. Why do you worry so much? This is not the first time I babysit Henry!", Penelope told her best friend calmingly.

"Yes, I know, but…", JJ started but Garcia exchanged amused glances with Will and shoved her best friend out of the door before saying firmly: "Shut up, JJ. Now go and have fun with your husband!"

JJ sighed and hugged her son one last time. The four-year-old told his mother comfortingly: "Don't be sad, Mommy. I know there is no replacement for me but at least you have Daddy!" JJ laughed.

"Oh, this boy will be a heartbreaker when he's grown up!", Garcia giggled proudly. The little boy ran to his godmother who picked him up and kissed him, saying: "And while his parents are away I will spoil my little cupcake-godson rotten, won't I?"

"Yeah!", Henry laughed, knowing that this could only mean a lot of fun.

Will stepped up to give his son a goodbye-kiss on the cheek and whispered into his ear: "You know where the candy bars are, don't you? But don't tell Mommy!" Henry giggled.

JJ slapped her husband playfully against the chest. "You teach him nothing but nonsense!" Will laughed and kissed his wife.

"Ew, disgusting!", Henry squeaked and Garcia shooed them out of the house.

Finally Will and JJ made their way to the car. Will put his arm around JJ and she smiled happily at him. It was a long time ago since they had had an evening just for the two of them.

Will and JJ really had a wonderful time. They enjoyed their togetherness, feeling again like they had just fallen in love. They sat in a nice restaurant in which Will had booked them a table, talking and laughing. For a long time JJ couldn't understand how such a wonderful evening could turn into such a horrible nightmare.

Suddenly the entry door of the restaurant was violently ripped open. A big, muscular man with short, brown hair entered the room with heavy steps. At first JJ found the man just a little strange. She regarded him warily, guessing this was an instinct every cop or FBI-agent had. She never expected to discover what she unconsciously looked out for. Until she saw this suspicious black sheen in his hand.

JJ gasped. A gun.

It was still lowered but when the man looked around in the room with fever-bright eyes JJ instinctively knew it wouldn't take much for him to explode. She froze in her movement. Will looked at her enquiringly, he could not see the man since he sat with his back to him. JJ motioned for him to be quiet and inconspicuously pointed in the man's direction. Will turned around.

In this moment a waiter approached the armed man and asked him something JJ couldn't hear. The man looked at him for a second. Then, with a growl, he hit him so that he fell to the ground unconscious.

A wave of frightened screams and whispers arose in the room. Some people tried to inconspicuously sneak out of the room but when the armed man noticed this he raised his gun and screamed furiously: "Nobody moves!" To emphasize his words he raised his gun and fired a bullet into the ceiling.

Everybody screamed. JJ flinched. She felt Will grabbing her hand. Nobody dared to move.

"Send a message to Hotch!", JJ whispered into Will's ear. Then she kissed his cheek and stood up.

"No!", Will tried to hold her back. But too late.

"Hey you!", JJ addressed the armed man. She tried to look strong and fearless but inwardly she trembled. But it was her duty to protect people. Especially Will. She had to do this. "Put down the gun. Please. We can calmly talk to each other but weapons won't help us.", JJ told the man authoritatively, but still friendly, trying to use the profiler skills the others taught her." I'm an FBI-agent. I can help you. You just need to tell me what you want."

When the man eyed her angrily JJ's legs turned to jelly. He yelled wildly: "Help? You want to help me? Don't lie to me! You just want to kill me!"

"No!", JJ contradicted soothingly. It was difficult to think straight when a gun was pointed at you. "I don't want to kill you. I swear!" Ignoring her fear she slowly approached him. All those people. She had to save them. "Give me the weapon, please. Everything will be okay.", she told the man as calmly as possible.

But the man didn't believe her. His eyes blinked insanely. "Stop! Don't move or I shoot you!", he yelled aggressively. JJ heard the click when he released the safety catch of his gun. The way he looked at her… he would shoot her. JJ knew it.

Then two things happened at the same time.

She heard a familiar voice screaming: "NO! JJ!" In the next moment a shape threw himself in front of her.

Simultaneously there was a loud "BOOM!". The bang of a shot.

JJ blinked, not getting what was happening. Then she saw Will. He lay on the ground. He was bleeding.

JJ's eyes went wide open. She yelled: "Nooooooo! NO!" She fell on her knees, carefully placing Will's head in her lap. "Will, hang on. Everything will be good. Soon you will be okay again." Tears streamed down her face while she gently caressed his face. There was so much blood. Too much blood.

"Put the gun down! Now!", a voice yelled authoritatively.

"JJ? Will?", another voice shouted.

But JJ didn't hear anything. She didn't see anything. Right now her world consisted of only one thing. Will's face. It was pale but his eyes were open. JJ had always admired what an amazing green his eyes had. "Will, don't close your eyes. Look at me. Please, you mustn't die.", JJ whispered desperately. "Will, I need you. I love you."

Will looked at her, his eyes full of pain and love. A strange mixture. Weakly he raised his hand. JJ took it and squeezed it comfortingly. "Don't cry, JJ… I love you…", Will managed to say. Blood dripped out of his mouth. "Tell Henry… tell him that… I love him, too…" With that Will closed his eyes, at peace with himself. He had saved her. That was all that mattered…

JJ gasped. "No, Will! You will tell him that by yourself! Stay with me! Please, Will! No!" JJ clutched Will's hand. She begged. She cried. She screamed. She talked. She told him about their first date. The day Henry was born. She talked until her voice was raspy.

Even when he had stopped breathing.

Suddenly JJ woke up, gasping. It was her fault. It was all her fault that Will had died. Why had she allowed that? The pain was so present. The whole in her chest burned. Tears streamed down her face when she saw Will's lifeless body in front of her inner eye. Every night she relived the most terrible moments in her life. Every night. JJ sobbed.

"JJ?", a voice asked softly. JJ flinched. Then she remembered. She had fallen asleep beside Hotch on the couch. No, in his lap. Oh my god, JJ thought.

Hastily she jumped to her feet. "No!"

"JJ, it's okay! It's just me.", Hotch tried to sooth her.

"I know, I know, Hotch. I'm sorry. I just… I can't.", JJ told him wearily. "Hotch, I'm really sorry but… Maybe it would be better if you and Jack go home now."

"JJ…", Hotch tried to talk to her.

"No, Hotch! Leave me alone!", JJ shouted angrily. She felt so ashamed. She had shown this man her weakest side, something she never, ever did. Nobody was allowed to see her like this. No one.

Only Will.

She wanted to be alone, alone with her thoughts, her memories and her pain. She wanted to bury herself in her bed and take the strongest sleep pills she had. Hotch being so near suddenly made her feel sick. She wanted to vomit. She just couldn't bear it.

Hotch sighed sadly. Each of her harsh words felt like a stab into his chest. Why did she reject him? He would do everything for her. "JJ, please, listen to me.", Hotch begged. "I know you are not ready yet to allow new feelings. I understand that. I was the same after Hailey's death. I just want to help you!"

"If you want to help me, then go away and leave me alone, Hotch!", JJ cried exhaustedly.

Hotch gave up. "Jack!", he shouted, walking up the stairs. "We go home."

True love burns the brightest. But the brightest flames leave the deepest scars. Anonymous

I have a question: Do you liked the flashback? Should I write more flashbacks to explain what happened with the unsub and with JJ after Will was killed? Of course there will be more Hotch/JJ in the next chapters.