A/N: Thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed, favorited or followed this story!

Special thanks to samcarter1980, jenny crum and Jotchprossi18!

I don't own criminal minds!

Chapter 6: Family drama's

November 9th 2012

The team, Emily and Derek had been waiting in the hospital for five hours while JJ was in surgery. Hotch still didn't tell the exact details about JJ's condition and what had happened to her. He wanted to prolong it, but he knew he couldn't keep it from the team. If they were going to work the case, he knew they needed to know the details.

Hotch rose from the uncomfortable chair with his arms folded. ''I think I should explain to everyone what's going on.'' he began. As his eyes took in the people who he cared about more than anything. The team was his family. And of course Jack. Emily already knew what was going on. Rossi didn't know JJ, but he had gotten to know her through Hotch and he had helped with the investigation. He was the one with fresh eyes when Emily left. Blake replaced Derek a couple of months later. She also knew nothing about JJ, but she supported the team in their search and promised to help out wherever she could. Anderson wasn't present in the hospital. Hotch sent him to the station to keep an eye on the investigation while the others waited for news about JJ. ''As you all know the doctors are still operating as we speak. One of them informed me and Emily on JJ's condition a few hours ago.'' he said. He was about go on when his phone started ringing. It was the worst moment for a phone call, but he saw it was Haley.

''I'll take over.'' Rossi reassured. Hotch had told him the details earlier. He needed to vent his frustrations and Rossi was the perfect person for that.

Hotch picked up the phone as he walked away from the group. He stepped back into the empty waiting room. ''Hotchner.'' he said.

''Aaron, where the hell have you been? I've been worried sick. You weren't at your place yesterday. Jack has been asking about you non-stop.''

''Haley! Please calm down!'' he said loudly when she didn't stop rambling. ''I got called away for a case. I've been too busy to check my messages or calls. I'm sorry.''

''So, you choose work over your own son. What the hell could be so important?''

Hotch was used to Haley blaming him about his work and never being there for his own son. It was one the reasons his marriage fell apart. But it wasn't until JJ went missing that things became even worse. ''I wouldn't never do that. But we found JJ yesterday.''

''JJ? The girl who worked for you. Wasn't she the one who disappeared? The agent you had your affair with?''

''Yes, it's her.''

Haley had gotten over the affair Hotch had. She knew Hotch would never look at her the same way as he looked at JJ. And over time Haley moved on. She even got married again and this time she was truly happy. ''I hope everything is okay, Aaron. I'll explain to Jack what's going on. Take all the time you need. Good luck!''

''Thank you!''

Hotch hung up the phone. He slowly walked back to the team. Reid was staring at the floor. Garcia had tears in her eyes as she was in Rossi's embrace. Blake's face was filled with horror and shock. He had never seen that much emotion on her face. Hotch didn't see Emily and Derek. He figured they were probably talking somewhere. And he knew that couldn't be any good. They never got along after JJ vanished. He tried to mend their relationship but neither of them were willing to do so.

Emily was running away after Rossi had informed the team. She couldn't watch them fall apart. She still felt guilty for everything that happened. She was there when JJ disappeared. She should've had her back, but she didn't.

''Emily, can we talk for a second?'' Derek asked, following her through the hospital. ''Emily, just stop!''

She turned around fiercely with tears in her eyes. ''Stop?'' she asked. ''So you can blame me again? So you can tell me how much I screwed up?''

''Yeah, I blame you.'' he said angrily. ''Never leave a man behind!''

She took a step forward. She felt the anger boiling on the inside. She didn't need anyone else to blame her when she did it to herself every single day. ''I never left her behind, Morgan! Never!'' she started. ''JJ decided to split up and she was gone before I could stop her.''

''So this is her fault?''

''No! Of course not!'' she snarled. ''This is no one's fault. None of us knew what was going to happen that day. And I am not going to stand by and let you tear me apart again!'' she yelled.

Derek felt angrier than he ever had before. JJ had gone through hell and it all could've been avoided if Emily had done her job. ''She was raped Emily!'' he yelled back. ''Not once. Not twice. God knows how many times!''

''Do you think I don't know that?'' she cried out. ''You think it was easy for me? Do you really believe that I just moved on?''

''I didn't say that.'' he started. ''I just wanted to know how you are when you got all defensive on me.''

''Are you kidding me?'' she asked. ''I'm far from okay, Morgan. JJ's disappearance took over my life. And I have been blaming myself every second and if that's not enough for you than I don't know what more you could possibly want.''

Hotch heard them fighting. He thought they could talk about it like normal adults. But the conversation seemed to get out of hand. He approached them with anger. This wasn't the time or place for the two of them to have this discussion.

''Stop it!'' he ordered. ''Stop acting like children. JJ is in the hospital for god sake's. She's going to need all of us when she's ready. But you can only fight about who should blame who.''

''Hotch, we were…'' Derek tried to say but Hotch held his hand. Derek knew he didn't want to head any excuse.

''No, don't say anything!'' he ordered. ''It's time for you to stop blaming Emily for JJ's disappearance. It was never her fault in the first place.'' he croaked out, knowing he was the one who let JJ go off with Emily.

''What do you mean?'' Emily asked.

''At first I wanted JJ to come along with me, but she wanted to go with you because we had a fight that day.'' he explained. Emily knew what he was talking about but Derek didn't. The team never knew about his affair with JJ because he knew it could lead to irreversible consequences. ''I let her.''

Derek saw something he had never seen his life. The expression on Hotch's face was so heartbreaking. Not once had he seen that in his former boss. Sure, Hotch could show emotions, but he was mostly stoic. ''What did you two fight about?''

Hotch realized everyone would find out the truth sooner or later. If it wasn't from him, he knew JJ would definitely tell them. She could barely hold their secret when the affair actually started. ''JJ and I were in a relationship.'' he admitted.

It didn't surprise Emily, but Derek gasped in shock. ''You what?'' he asked loudly.

''I'm sorry about never telling and of you, but it needed to stay private.''

''Private?'' he said outraged. ''Even after her disappearance? Her disappearance could've been linked to your relationship. It can still be linked! Not only because you're twelve years older than JJ, but also because you had a wife.''

''Are you actually accusing me, Morgan?''

He shrugged his shoulders, preparing to do whatever it took to defend the blonde. ''Yeah, I am.'' he replied. ''You could've been the one who risked her life because you couldn't keep it in your pants!''

Emily stepped between the two agents, trying to keep them at distance from another. She knew this had to be a shock for Derek, but he was out of line. She thought the emotions were probably just stacking up. ''That's not fair, Derek!''

''Don't tell me anything about fairness, Emily.'' he began, trying to calm down. ''I think you should talk to JJ about what's fair or not.'' he went on, beginning to choke up. ''That girl in there has only been through hell. Six years of it. If anything isn't fair, it's what happened to JJ.'' he said before storming away.

''He's barely holding on.'' Emily commented as she turned to Hotch. ''What about you?''

''I think none of us are holding on. I mean, how could we?'' he asked. ''And Derek is right I should've been honest six years ago. I only made life harder on JJ and she never deserved any of it.''

''Did she love you?''

''Yes,'' he said, remembering that shocking moment. ''She did.''

''Than she didn't regret it. JJ was smart enough to look out for herself. If she didn't love you, she wouldn't have stayed in a relationship with you.'' Emily said to comfort Hotch, hoping it would work.

Rossi was walking in their direction. ''The doctor just told us that she is out of surgery.'' he stated firmly.