A/N – I do not own Criminal Minds. This chapter focuses mainly on JJ. I'm really struggling with the chapter stuff. I had everything written then I went back and made changes. Please bear with me.
Chapter Two
JJ had known the call to Hotch's office would be coming she just hadn't expected it to be so soon. Nor had she expected him to be quite so pissed.
"Did you know?" He waved a piece of paper in his hand at her.
"Did I know what?" She asked wide eyed.
He raised an eyebrow able to see right through her charade. "You're a horrible liar. Of course you knew." He flung the paper on his desk. "Why didn't you tell me JJ? If you were so unhappy here why didn't you tell me? You know I would have done…"
"Hotch," she interrupted, laying her hand on his arm, "It's not that I'm unhappy here. It's just that…" How did she explain it him that this was just something that she needed to do? She shook her head. "This is a really good opportunity. Working with Interpol," she rationalized, "will look good on my resume." The explanation sounded lame when Emily used it and even more so when she used it on Hotch.
He scrubbed a hand over his face and sunk into his desk chair, his displeasure still evident. "Will is okay with this?"
JJ smiled tightly. "Will's not pleased with anything I do lately. But actually he's okay with this." She didn't feel the need to share with him that it was after a very long, very vocal, argument he finally conceded to allow her to take Henry and accept the short term assignment to London. She also didn't include Will's comment that at least in London she would be away from the man he felt was to blame for JJ's reluctance to pledge her life to him.
JJ sank into a chair across from Hotch. "I think he's convinced himself that absence will make my heart grow fonder." She curled her legs underneath her. "He has an opportunity to do some undercover work that he's determined to do." She remembered the gleam in his eyes as he relayed the information to her.
Hotch grimaced. "Undercover work is often dangerous."
She nodded, "Yeah, I know. I'm sure that's why he volunteered for the assignment." The look she shot Hotch was full of self-loathing. "Maybe if he gets killed this time then I'll really feel bad for not marrying him."
"JJ." His voice held a gentle reproof.
"Maybe if I'm gone for six months he'll have a chance to move on and get over it." She replied remorsefully.
"I'm not sure losing you is something you get over that easily."
She looked at him sharply, uncertain if they were still discussing Will. There was a touch of red on his cheeks that made her wonder if he was as indifferent to her as she always supposed. The mere thought that he might not be was a touch exhilarating.
"He loved you, JJ. Hell I'm sure he probably still loves you. He's hurting." Hotch reasoned. "I'm not sure that going undercover is wise." He frowned. "I sincerely hope his commanding officer considered this before signing off on it."
JJ could only smile at him, leave it to Hotch to be concerned. As flippant as she sounded she was genuinely concerned for her son's father as well. "Do you know that you are by far the most decent man I've ever known?"
"Then why are you leaving me?" He tapped the paper that he so carelessly tossed on his desk. "Help me understand this JJ."
"I'm in a rut and I need to break out of it. This will help me." She looked at him with solemn eyes. "It's only for six," she winced, then groaned, "Okay maybe eight months, but I have every intention of coming back."
He stared at her intently for a long minute before asking, "There's nothing I can say or do to convince you to change your mind?"
He looked so sad that it almost broke her resolve. All the pleading Will did hadn't affected her, but the somber look on Hotch's face had her throat tightening and her eyes tearing. She didn't want to leave him. Maybe an extended leave would help her get over him.
She shook her head sadly as the first tear fell.
"That's not really encouraging me to be supportive, JJ." His voice was hoarse, indicating the fact that the tears bothered him but he remained stoically in his chair.
"Will you help me tell the team?" She asked in a small voice.
He grimaced slightly and she thought he was going to say no before he bit out a harsh. "Fine."
Her chin wobbled and she said. "Will you drive me and Henry to the airport?" Before he could respond she pleaded again. "Garcia will only try to change my mind. Reid would only question my reasoning for taking the assignment. Morgan," she paused for a moment. "Actually I'm not sure about Morgan he's not acting like himself lately. Have you noticed?"
He graced her with a rare smile. "Yeah, I've noticed."
"Of course you have." She grinned back even as she wiped the tears from her cheeks.
"You don't think Will would want to drive you to the airport?" He questioned, getting back to their former topic of discussion.
JJ shrugged. "He'll make it weird. He'll want to make a big production and I'll lose control of the situation." She truly didn't want to hurt the man but she would only continue to do so as long as she remained with him.
Hotch sighed heavily and conceded to her request. "I'll take you to the airport if that's what you want."
She rewarded him with a bright, albeit slightly leaky, smile. "Thank you. Now what are we going to tell the team?"
As they sat gathered around the conference room JJ kept looking to Hotch for support. Something he was fully aware of, as was the group of seated profilers.
"I just wanted to let you all know that we will be having Alex Blake join us, she is going to replace the position that was left vacant by Emily's move to Interpol." He spared a glance at both Reid and Rossi aware that both agents were familiar with Alex. Morgan and Penelope were busy scowling he could only guess how well they would mesh with the no-nonsense agent.
"She'll be a good fit." Rossi commented.
"It won't be like Emily." Penelope pouted.
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes Hotch agreed, "No it won't be like Emily, but then again Emily wasn't exactly a smooth fit when she first arrived either." He smiled at the memory. "Alex Blake is a good agent and will be a valuable team member. Hopefully some of the qualities you admired in Emily you'll be able to see in Alex." He glanced at Penelope. "I hope that you will give her the opportunity to prove that before you cast any judgment."
"Yes sir." The sullen technical analyst mumbled.
Hotch squeezed Penelope's shoulder. "Okay." He paused and shot a warning glance at JJ. "I have one more piece of news. I recently got a request for assistance asking specifically for JJ." He smiled as Penelope gasped and Rossi harrumphed. He held up his hand. "Listen, everyone seated at this table knows JJ's value to the team; additionally she made quite a reputation for herself when she was at the State Department. This role is not permanent and her position will be waiting for her when the assignment is over."
"Okay, quit the snow job, where is this assignment? The Pentagon? Homeland Security?" Rossi questioned, then looking directly at JJ. "Did you have a choice this time? Because I have a little pull…"
JJ shook her head, "Ew, gross, I know you have a little pull." She used her fingers to simulate quotes. "This was totally my call. Hotch is supportive of it."
"What aren't you saying, Jayje, where are you going?" Morgan wanted to know.
JJ looked at Hotch for a little moral support. "Actually I'm going to go to London and work with Emily." She mumbled.
"You can't go to London!" Penelope erupted. "That's insane, you belong here, your job is here, Will is here, Henry is here."
"My job will be here when I return." JJ replied adding, "Will has agreed to let me take Henry to London…"
"That makes no sense, how are you going to fix…"
"Baby Girl." Morgan interrupted her before she could finish her sentence.
"I get what Penelope is saying," Reid, as naively clueless as always he finished her thought, "How are you going to repair your relationship with Will if you take off to London?"
Two bright spots of color rode JJ's cheeks as she looked at both Reid and Penelope. "This is hardly the place to be discussing my personal relationship with Henry's father. This opportunity is a good one, probably a once in a lifetime chance."
"There are so many great places to go." Rossi stated. "I'll make you a list."
Thankful for his support JJ smiled at him embarrassedly.
"The decision is solely JJ's and it has already been made. The request came through formal channels and has been vetted and approved by both myself and Section Chief Strauss. There is nothing further to discuss." He pinned both Garcia and Reid with a look. "I expect that everyone will be supportive and wish JJ great success."
JJ swallowed the lump that formed in her throat during Hotch's dialog. Sneaking a peek at Reid and Penelope she knew that she hadn't heard the end of it from them. Her theory was right when Penelope latched on to her arm as soon as Hotch went through the door.
"What are you thinking, JJ?" Penelope hissed.
"I'm thinking that this is a good idea for me." JJ snapped, angry that Penelope refused to accept that her relationship with Will was over. "I don't know how many times I have to tell you that Will and I are not getting back together."
Penelope shook her head. "You know that he wants to make it work, JJ."
Sighing, JJ calmly stated. "But it's not, Pen, and marriage isn't going to solve our problems. I'm sorry that you can't understand or respect that but I know what is best for me."
"Well it seems to me like you're running away."
"You know what, Pen? I am. I totally am. And I hope that while I'm away Will has an opportunity to really get some clarity on our relationship and see that this is for the best." She was starting to lose her patience with her friend.
"Will is a great guy, JJ." Penelope argued.
"You're absolutely right, he is. You know who else is great? Kevin. Maybe you should focus on your relationship instead of mine."
Penelope blinked at JJ's sharp tone. "Kevin is already dating other women."
"Because you told him you weren't ready to be married."
Garcia eyes got wide and she looked around to see if anyone overheard. "How did you know that?"
"I spoke to him." JJ responded, matter of factly.
"You did what?!" Penelope sputtered indignantly.
JJ shrugged, "I figure if you felt it was okay to butt into my private affairs turnabout was fair play."
Garcia gaped, stuttered, and then sighed. "I'm sorry." Her shoulders slumped. "I guess I had that coming?"
JJ leaned forward and pulled her friend into a hug. "I don't want to fight with you, Pen." She squeezed the normally bubbly blonde. "I get that you may not always like what I do, but you really don't get a say in how I live my life."
"Are you sure?" Penelope asked.
JJ grinned. "Pretty sure."
"I'm really going to miss you." She pouted.
Throwing an arm around her, JJ led Penelope out of the conference room. "I'll be back before you know it."
Thank you for reading, hope you enjoyed. Emily will be back next chapter! A huge thank you to all that reviewed and followed this story, I hope it lives up to your expectations!