Chapter 08

BAU Headquarters
Quantico, VA

Friday, August 26, 2005

JJ

But he didn't get up off his duff and go to the DMV. About thirty minutes after JJ had sent that emotional burst, just enough time for her to get coffee and settle in with her first file of the day, her cell phone rang. "This is Jareau." She answered with her usual polite tone.

"Where are you?" Said a male voice with a thick southern accent.

What? "Excuse me?"

"Where are you? Kinda busy today, I don't have much time."

"I, um, think you have the wrong number." She looked at the number on her phone and entered it into the computer, hoping to identify the owner.

"Jennifer Jareau, right?" He rattled off a string of digits.

All of a sudden JJ's heart started to pound. That was her Virus ID number. "Yeah. How did you get this number?"

"Tell you later. Right now I need to get you out of town if this thing doesn't turn."

"What? What thing? Where..." JJ looked at her screen. The number was blocked, but... "Oh my god. You're in New Orleans?" Her head swiveled to look out over the bullpen. The TV was on to the 24 hour news station. Right now the screen showed the giant, swirling cloud over the Gulf of Mexico.

Over all of the Gulf of Mexico.

"Yeah, and I need to get you out of the way."

"I'm in Washington DC."

"You're where?"

"Washington DC. I'm not in any danger from the storm."

She heard him let out a deep breath. "Okay then. Can we talk more later? I'm trying to get some things going here."

"Sure. I'll, um, I'll call you back in a little bit. Wait, what's your name?"

"Will LaMontagine. Junior."

"Will. Everyone calls me JJ."

"Jayje." His accent made it a name. She really liked the accent. "Okay, this number's good for you?"

"Always. You?"

"As long as the network's up."

"Okay, if I don't hear from you by six your time..."

"Make it seven."

"Seven I'll call you back."

"Sounds good chère."

All of a sudden JJ didn't want to let go. "Take care of yourself."

"You too."

He hung up, leaving JJ to sit there, staring at her phone. She could still feel him, but now she understood his anxiety, his concern. But now there was this wonder.

She understood the wonder. She was feeling it too.

"William LaMontagine Jr." Penelope said. JJ had gone straight to her friend's lair, collecting Spence along the way. "Does he have a file? Oh look, he does."

A picture popped up on the screen. Square jaw, sharp cheekbones, soft, sweet eyes, a gentle smile. JJ found herself staring at those eyes. He had the most amazing eyes.

"He's a police detective." Spencer said, reading over Penelope's shoulder. "New Orleans police department. He's your age, went to the University of Louisiana, majored in Criminal Justice, excellent record..."

"New Orleans?" Penelope said. "No wonder he's been freaking out."

"Yeah. I wish I could get down there to help him." She was an FBI agent, surely they were shorthanded...

"Um, they've been talking about mandatory evacuations starting tomorrow." Penelope replied. "I don't think that's going to be possible."

"True." But now she was thinking. "Can I get you two to help me?"

Logan School Condos
Apt #13
Washington DC

About six thirty New Orleans time JJ's phone rang. "Hey chère." That voice drawled again. "I finally got a meal break here. How are you?"

"I'm doing what I can to help you." JJ replied. "Admittedly that's not much, but they won't let me come down there."

"No, don't come down here. Just stay up there out of the way. Besides, I don't know that you'd be much help anyway."

"I don't know, Detective. I figure you're pretty shorthanded."

That stopped him, and she felt his confusion. "Now how did you know that?"

"I looked you up."

"Looked me up?"

"Yeah. You're a great cop, you know. Even though you cheated."

"Cheated?"

"You looked me up through law enforcement access to the database.

That surprised him. "I don't know how you know that but yeah, I did. Don't have time to get to the DMV right now. City is losing its mind already."

"I believe that. Since I can't help you I figure the best thing I can do is stay out of your way. So I've taken the week-end off, I'm staying at my partner's place..."

"Your partner?"

Huh? "Oh, not romantic partner. I'm an FBI agent"

That surprised him even harder. "You serious?"

"Yeah. I'm with the Behavioral Analysis Unit."

"I have no clue what that means. You'll have to tell me later. But you mean that kind of partner, got it."

"Yeah. My best friend is here; we're going to hole up all week-end and watch you on the news. I'm not going to be chasing any bad guys, no arrests; nothing is going to happen on my end. Anything you feel until this is over is entirely you. I just wish I could do more."

"Aww, I appreciate that chère. It may not sound like much but it's a load off my mind. A literal load." They shared a laugh again. "Tell you what, when this is over I'd like to come up there and meet you."

God, she could melt over his voice. "I'd like that too." She said. "Or I could come down there."

"I don't know how much of down here is going to be around for you to come to. I'll come up there, always wanted to see the Capitol."

"Well you will get the cook's tour."

"Something to look forward to. Hey, could you do me a favor?"

"Sure."

"Could you send a picture? I don't have time to get back to my desk and look you up right now."

JJ felt herself blushing. "Sure, I'll send you one."

"All right. Tell you what, I'll call you up tomorrow night this time, assuming we still have service."

"That would be great. Take care of yourself and your family, okay?"

"I will. You do that too."

They rang off, and JJ practically jumped off the couch. "Take my picture." She said as she ran into the kitchen, where Spencer and Penelope had been waiting, giving her privacy. "No, wait." She pulled off her FBI sweatshirt, leaving just her black camisole over her jeans. "Okay, now take my picture."

Penelope laughed as she snapped the picture.

French Quarter
New Orleans, LA

Will

Will was just tossing his dinner wrapper when his phone chirped an incoming picture. "What have you got there?" His partner, Charlie, asked him.

"My life mate." Will replied. "Or so the aliens say." He'd had a cold last week, not a big thing, but they made him go check before he could go back to work. And here they were. "Would you believe she's an FBI agent?"

"Nu uh."

"So she said."

"You're gonna need proof of that."

Just then the picture downloaded and Will stopped in his tracks. Damn, she was something. Long, wheat blond hair, a slightly round face, big blue eyes, a sweet, sunny smile. Lots of confidence in a rocking body. Hell, more than something. And those eyes...

Charlie looked over his shoulder. "You owe those aliens a fruit basket there."

Will shot off a quick text. FBI?

A few moments later another picture came back. Same beautiful blond, only this time showing her credentials and badge. "See." He showed Charlie.

Charlie chuckled. "Don't you let go of that one son."

"If we get through the week I do not intend to."