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Chapter 21: A promise

Hotch angrily knocked on the hotel room door. He wanted to talk to JJ's parents about her decision. He had no idea if they had seen JJ after the first time. But his gut told him that they did. They had something to do with JJ's decision. She would've never made that decision on her own. She was barely holding it together to make a decision like that.

The door was slowly opened by Bill Jareau. The expression on his face was better than Hotch had seen in a long time. But there was no way, he could be civil with JJ's parents any longer.

''Hello.'' Bill greeted as he stepped aside to let Hotch in. ''Is JJ alright?'' he asked immediately.

Hotch saw Sandy sitting in a chair with the phone to her ear. He heard her talk about JJ and how great she was doing. Hotch couldn't believe that her parents were actually so blind to the entire situation.

''JJ is fine.'' he reassured. ''I need to talk to you about JJ, tough.'' he hinted.

''Of course.'' Bill agreed. ''What's going on?''

Hotch stayed in the same spot as Bill sat down on the edge of the bed. ''Did you really convince JJ to go home with you?''

''Yes, we did.'' Sandy answered after she hung up her phone. ''It's what's best for JJ.''

''And how did you convince her to do that? Because the JJ I know would've never made that decision.'' Hotch said angrily, knowing he was right. The look on their faces told him enough.

''We didn't convince her. She made the choice all on her own.'' Bill explained, wrapping an arm around his wife. ''Why wouldn't we be honest with you?''

Hotch took a step forward, ready to profile them. He actually already did. He knew their motives since the beginning. ''Because you lost JJ the moment she went to college. She suddenly turned into a free and bubbly personality you kept under wraps for years, afraid of losing her just like Rachel. But JJ doesn't let anyone make decisions for her.'' Hotch started. ''But right now she isn't herself and decisions can be made for her.'' he went on. ''Or did you make it easier by quilting her into it because you lost another daughter and you couldn't stand to lose her again?''

Bill rose from the bed in defense. ''I am not going to listen to your accusations.''

''Does JJ know that you didn't want anything to do with the investigation after a year?''

''There's no reason for her to know about that.'' Sandy said softly. ''We're here now.''

Hotch took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. ''Yeah, but it's about five years too late.''

''Why are you so hell band on defending or daughter?'' Bill asked. ''What in god's name can you lose when she moves in with us?''

''She was my subordinate and she disappeared on my watch!'' Hotch explained loudly. ''My entire team has something to lose when she isn't around!''

''We are her family!'' Sandy cried out.

''You might be!'' Hotch agreed, still angry. ''But so are we.''

''You only knew her for a year. How in hell can she be your family?'' Bill said.

Hotch wasn't prepared to answer their questions. He came to the hotel to get some clarity but it turned out worse. ''That didn't matter.'' he whispered. ''JJ had such a big impression on all of us. She felt at home the second she walked in that was also why I chose her above everyone else. I had about thirty applicants for JJ's position. Most of them had more experience and weren't fresh out of the academy, but JJ's views were different and fresh. I knew she would bring something new to our team.''

''East Allegheny isn't that far away from DC. You can visit her whenever you want.'' Sandy said to try and change his mind.

Hotch shook his head. ''It's not even about that. It's about what is best for JJ. And moving in with you isn't it.''

''Well, Dr. Ryan approved. She told us that JJ will need to go to therapy once a week and that she'll be better in no time.'' Sandy explained. ''We can fix her.''

Hotch froze. That sentence killed him inside. ''Fix her?'' he asked. ''Your daughter isn't something for you to fix!'' he said angrily. ''She went through hell! Actual hell. And you think you can just fix that? JJ deserves so much better than parents like you.'' he added, seeing the shock on their faces. He just didn't care about their feelings. ''I hope you realize what you're doing to her, because your plans will break her even more. Especially when she finds out that you gave up on her five years ago. I won't tell her, because I don't want to be the one to break her heart even more.'' he went on. ''I love her too much.'' he whispered before turning around and leaving the hotel room. He couldn't stand those people. They only thought about themselves. But right now JJ was the person who was supposed to be thought about. Her feelings were supposed to be more important than anything else.

Hotch went back to the hospital. He was waiting outside JJ's room. He knew the doctor was inside and he wanted to respect her privacy. When the doctor came into the hallway, Hotch immediately stepped inside the room. He noticed that JJ didn't look any better. Her eyes were filled with exhaustion.

''Hey,'' he greeted softly, trying not to scare her.

JJ looked his way. ''Hi.'' she greeted back.

''JJ, can we talk?'' Hotch asked in a whisper.

JJ shook her head. ''Aaron, please don't!'' she warned. ''I don't want to fight with you. Not about any of this, okay?''

The plea in her voice made him cave. He couldn't hurt her. ''Sure.''

''Thank you.''

''Always.'' he said with a loving voice. He held her hand as he sat on the edge of the bed. He wanted to kiss her so badly, but he had to keep his distance. ''How are you feeling?''

''I think I am okay.'' she answered. ''The doctor told me I can leave in two days.''

Hotch felt like crying in that single moment. ''Oh.'' he said, knowing it was all he could say.

''I won't go without saying goodbye to all of you, I promise.'' she said sadly. ''But there's one thing I want to do before I leave.''

''What's that?''

''I want to talk to Julia's fiancé.'' JJ replied. ''I promised her. We promised each other.'' she explained after she saw the question in his eyes.

''Promised what?''

''That we would both deliver a message in case something ever happened to one of us.'' JJ began. ''She asked me to go to her fiancé, Jason Holmes. And I asked her to give you a message.''

His heart a skipped a beat when he heard that. It meant she still had some kind of feelings for him. ''I'll find him.''

''I want to go with you.'' JJ said.

''No…'' he was about to say but JJ caught him off.

''I promised her, Aaron. I don't want to break my promise to her.''

''Okay.'' he finally agreed, picking up his phone to call Garcia.