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Chapter 4

The next day proved to be a busy one for the BAU. With another body being discovered they all were working hard to keep another murder from happening again! JJ and Morgan were to be at the neighbors' house tonight, and they all were hoping it would give them a break in this case that they needed! They all decided it would be best to work in the office today. Plus it would give the appearance to outsiders that JJ and Derek both had to go to work that day.

Morgan stood after Hotch finished briefing the team with the latest case details. "JJ and I should get going you guys."

"You're right." Rossi agreed. "You two kids have a party to get to later."

"Just make sure that you both are careful." Prentiss cautioned. "You'll be outnumbered, but we'll be close by if you end up needing any backup."

"Emily is right." Hotch confirmed. "Don't take any unnecessary risks."

"We won't." JJ promised the team.

They all walked out of the roundtable room, and Garcia gave Morgan and JJ both hugs before they got onto the elevator. She and Morgan stayed silent until the elevator stops on the parking garage level. She can feel her anxiety rising, and she's not sure why. The sound of his voice soon breaks the silence.

"You okay?" he asked with concern. "You're pretty quiet."

"I'm good." She assured him with a half-smile. "Just doing some mental preparation for later on."

"It'll be fine."

"Let's hope so. The way Chelsea looks at both of us enough to question what her husband the their friends might be like."

Morgan let out a small chuckle. "True that!" He opened the passenger side door of his Jeep for her to climb in and closed it once she was seated.

They drove to their temporary home in amicable silence. Morgan pulled into the driveway and cut the Jeep's engine. He made a move to get JJ's door for her, but she held out her hand to stop him.

"What's up?" he asked.

"Nothing." She said. "It's just now that we're here you don't want to make yourself look like some kind of knight in shining armor. They might be watching."

"Right." He agreed, nodding his head. "I'll see you inside." And with that, he hopped out of the Jeep and strolled into the house.

JJ sat in her seat for about thirty seconds, and glanced in the side view mirror. She could just make out a shadowy figure across the street that seemed to be gazing her way. She took a mental note and slowly opened the door to the Jeep. She made a big production of grabbing her purse and checking herself in the reflection of the window once she closed the car door. In less than two hours she and Derek would be mingling with those people. She went inside the house to get ready.

/

JJ was just putting the final touches on her make-up when she heard a soft knock at her bedroom door. Knowing it would be Morgan, she gave herself one final glance in the mirror and opened the door. She blushed when he gave a low whistle and flashed his killer smile at her.

"You look gorgeous JJ." Morgan complimented her.

"And you look very handsome Derek." She returned.

"You ready to do this?" he asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be."

"Once we're inside, lets survey the room and the players we have to work with."

"Got it." JJ said.

"And remember, we have to keep up appearances."

"I know. It'll be fine."

"Alright then, let's go."

They walked out of the house and locked the front door. They both noted the black van parked up the block, and knew that it was Hotch and Prentiss waiting in case anything crazy happened. JJ shot Derek a quick glance as they made their way across the street and up to the front door of their neighbors' house. He squeezed her hand briefly in a show of support and reached up to ring the doorbell.

"Jennifer! Derek!" Chelsea exclaimed with a flourish. "So glad you two could make it!" She took a step back so her guests could step into the house.

"Thanks again for having us." JJ said graciously.

"Derek, it's nice to see you again." Chelsea said. "You two look great. Come in and meet everyone."

The two agents followed their hostess through the hallway and into the room everyone was mingling. Sizing up the room rather quickly, Morgan noted that it was a rather small crowd. Chelsea and her husband, then maybe three other couples besides he and JJ. Everyone was drinking and laughing but turned their attention to the newbies who had just entered the room to join them. Chelsea walked up to her husband.

"Honey come and meet our special guests." She said. "This is Jennifer and her husband Derek."

"Ah yes, the house across the street." He said smiling. "It's nice to meet you both. Welcome to our home."

JJ and Derek both shook hands with their host. "It's nice to meet you Dan." JJ quipped.

"Thank you for the invite." Derek continued. "Nice digs you have here."

Just then Chelsea clinked the wine glass she was now holding. "Everyone!" she said, her voice rising slightly.

"Everyone say hello to our new neighbors Jennifer and Derek!" She raised her glass in the air. "Let's make them feel welcome, shall we?"

JJ blushed at the attention, but smiled at everyone. What the hell is wrong with these people?, she thought to herself. The group seemed rather friendly, and pretty soon she and Derek had drinks in their hands, and had been properly introduced to everyone.

"Alright people!" Dan shouted with a beer in his hand. "This is a party! Let's act like it!"

Meanwhile…

Emily turned to her unit chief from her position in the passenger seat of the van she sat in. They had been parked for nearly an hour, and all seemed to be okay with their fellow agents.

"What do you think is going on in there?" Prentiss asked.

"It's hard to say." Hotch said. "It seems pretty tame whatever it is. I'm sure JJ and Morgan are fine."

He turned back to look at Emily when she didn't answer right away. He noticed that her dark eyebrows were furrowed.

"What's the look Emily?"

"It's nothing, I just…" her voice trailed off. "JJ seems slightly more on edge than she should be these past few days."

Hotch seemed to ponder Emily's statement for a moment, then he responded.

"Maybe so." He said. "This is her first big case. It can't be easy for her."

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Emily agreed, but didn't seem quite convinced.

They went back to watching the house their colleagues were in at the moment, hoping that everything was going okay.

/

Morgan and JJ made fast friends with the neighbors and various party goers. It was now apparent to both he and JJ that the Chelsea character has seemed to "help" all of these couples in some manner. It seemed more like sexual thing, as everyone was more than friendly with each other. Every time Chelsea or one of the other woman at the party got close to him, he found a reason to regain his personal space. JJ couldn't quite hide her discomfort though. The guys at the party made no secret of trying to hit on her, and he had to admit to himself that it made him jealous. But then JJ was a gorgeous, technically single woman! He was brought out if his thought when Chelsea appeared with yet another bottle of wine.

"Everyone ready for refills?" She said in an overly sexy voice. She looked pointedly at Derek then to JJ.

"Actually.." JJ started. "Your bathroom?"

"Down the hall and to your left honey." Dan offered, brushing his hand on her shoulder. The touch didn't go unnoticed by Morgan.

"Thank you." JJ said smiling back at her host. She looked at Derek. "I'll be right back."

He nodded at her, knowing she would spend a few minutes taking a look around if she could. Just then Chelsea wrapped her serpent like arms through his.

"Are you having a good time honey?" She asked. "This isn't overwhelming, is it?"

"It's fine." He assured her. He wanted to be a gracious guest. He accepted another glass of wine, and kept his eyes peeled for when JJ would resurface. A few more minutes went by, and she still hadn't returned to the party. He was starting to worry, and wondered if he should go and look for her. Just as he stood up and put his glass down, Dan did the same.

"That gorgeous wife of yours must have got lost Derek." He said winking. "I'll go look for her for you."

Before Morgan could protest the man was off, and he could do nothing but wait there and hope for the best.

"Don't worry love." Chelsea said from behind him. He turned around to face the woman. "Your wife is in good hands. Trust me."

But he didn't trust her. Not for a second, and he swallowed hard he thought of JJ alone with that creep.

"Hey Derek!" one of the party goers shouted to him. "Don't be jealous man! Dan chases after all the pretty girls."

This did not make him feel better. Just as he was about to take off down the hallway to find JJ, she appeared with Dan's arm draped around her shoulders. I'm going to kill him, Derek thought to himself.

"Look who I found!" Dan sang out happily. He squeezed JJ to his side.

Morgan made eye contact with JJ who gave him a slight nod in return. All he could think about was getting this guy as far away as humanly possibly from JJ. His blood was literally starting to boil! If JJ had information, then he needed to get her alone to get it. Hell, even if she didn't he had to get her away from Dan. He knew what he had to do. He just hoped she knew too. Clearing his throat, he untangled himself from Chelsea and crossed the few feet where Dan and JJ had stopped in the room. He gave the man a tight smile and cleared his throat as he turned his attention back to his "wife". Partner? Whatever…

"Jennifer…" Morgan started. "A word please?"

"Uh oh!" Another party goer sneered. "I sense some jealousy!"

Ignoring the comment, JJ nodded her head, keeping her eyes on Derek. She pulled Dan's arm off of her, and looked at him sweetly. She wordlessly let Derek lead her into the far corner of the room. They both knew they had an audience at this point. JJ looked down at her arm where Morgan still held on to her. She was having trouble reading him, at that scared her a bit.

"Are you okay?" he whispered.

"Yeah, I am." She looked up at him with concern. "Are you okay?"

"Me?..." He shook his head as if to clear it.

JJ looked briefly over Derek's shoulder, and saw that Dan had a smirk on his face, and that some of the others were obviously talking about her and Morgan. Perhaps waiting for an argument to erupt between them. They need to give their audience something. She looked back up into Derek's piercing brown eyes.

"Derek.." She whispered. He just stared down at her. He needed to get them out of this house. She seemed to sense what he was feeling. He leaned in close so that his mouth was practically touching her ear. And her breath hitched in her throat when he whispered her name.

"Morgan…" She reached up and grabbed the lapels of his sport coat with both hands so he would look at her. "Just do it already."

She felt him finally let go of her arm only to have his hand cup the side of her face. Before she could react his mouth was on hers. Even though she had known it was coming, she couldn't help but be taken by surprise. She could hear the hoots and catcalls from the others in the room. Morgan would not be deterred though. He kissed her almost roughly, running his tongue along JJ's bottom lip so that she would open her mouth. She finally did, and he deepened the kiss, their tongues battling one another. This is crazy, she thought to herself.

About thirty more seconds passed with Derek practically mauling her in front of these people when all of the sudden he pulled away. There was an audible hiss in the room from the crowd, as they were disappointed the free show had come to an end. JJ tried to control her breathing, and Morgan stared down at her not saying one word.

"Well now…" Chelsea's voice floated out of nowhere to try and break the tension.

Derek cut her off by taking a step back from JJ. He looked into the blond agents piercing blue eyes then looked back at the other people in the room.

"We're leaving!" he announced. He looked back at JJ one last time, then started out the door without her.

She stood rooted to the spot for a moment, then Dan moved towards her. She held up her hand at the man. "I'm sorry everyone." She picked up her coat and purse. "I have to go. Thank you for having us!"

Chelsea caught up to JJ in the foyer. "Honey, I wish you would let me and Dan help you! I hate to see such a beautiful couple having such troubles."

"Maybe.." JJ said smiling as she walked through the now open front door. She looked up just in time to see Derek slamming the front door of their temporary home closed behind him.

"I'll check on you tomorrow darling!" Chelsea said waving. She really did want Jennifer and Derek to accept help. It didn't work out too well for the last couple that refused to get help in saving their marriage.

/

Emily and Hotch noted the exchange between JJ and the neighbor. They also noted that Morgan had stormed out of the house mere seconds before that.

"Should we call them?" Emily asked.

"They know to call us if they've got something." He looked at his watch. "We'll hang out for a little while longer, then get going if we don't hear anything. We have a briefing tomorrow afternoon anyway."

"Okay Hotch." She hoped he was right.

/

JJ walked through the front door, a flood of emotions running through her. Why did he choose to storm off like that? She swore she could still feel his lips on hers. Her mind instantly flashed to that night they shared together. The night they couldn't talk about.

"This is ridiculous." She muttered to herself. "I cannot let my mind go there right now!"

"JJ…" Morgan seemed to appear from nowhere. He started to walk towards her, and she in turn took a step back.

"Not right now Morgan." JJ said holding up her hand. As if that would stop him from getting closer if he wanted to.

"Can we just talk please?" his eyes were pleading.

"Not now." She repeated, making a bee line for the stairs. He was on her heals though.

"I'm sorry about leaving like that." He began. "About kissing you like that…"

Stopping at her bedroom door, she turned to face him. She could tell that her face was still flushed, and she was hoping the low light hid that fact. She ran a hand through her hair.

"I can't do this with you right now Derek!" She looked up at him, and instantly regretted it. "We need to focus on this case. Everything else can wait."

She opened the door to her room and stepped inside. When he tried to speak again she held up a hand to stop him. She didn't trust herself to let him in the room right now. She was so amped up right now, that anything could happen.

"Not now." Was all she said before gently closing the door in his handsome face. Letting go of the door handle, she turned and leaned back against her only defense. A closed door.

"What are you doing Jennifer Jareau?" she asked herself. Then, as if to answer herself as well, she jumped from the door as if it were on fire. Not thinking twice she quickly opened the door, only to find that Morgan still stood there. She opened her mouth as if to say something, then quickly closed it again. Her mind was racing. Without thinking she grabbed his arm and pulled him inside the room, slamming the door closed behind him.

"You changed your mind about talking about this?" He ask bewildered.

"No." JJ said in a low voice. "I still don't want to talk."

"Oh." Was all he managed to get out before their lips met in a fiery kiss.

To be continued….

Sorry about the cliffhanger, but we have to leave some things for the next chapter! Thanks for reading, and don't forget to REVIEW! Reviews fuel my fire for writing…. xo