Chapter 2

There hadn't been a time where Emily could recall feeling so guilty in her life. As she sat in the hospital waiting room waiting to find out just how many internal injuries JJ had because of her, Emily couldn't help but drop her face in her hands. Ashamed to face the rest of her team, she sought out a hidden corner of the room after she had spoken to JJ's doctor about the incident. She explained everything to the woman who seemed more than understanding and eventually conceded to be checked out herself. Thankfully, there was no damage to her or the little life inside her and that seemed to be the only consolation she would have. Having just gotten off the phone with Christopher Knox, the father of her child, and being read the riot act- for good reason- Emily half expected that the team would make her walk back home to D.C. They were in Texas.

"Hey." A voice snapped her out of the pity party she was throwing. Emily looked up and saw Morgan, a smile on his face and a steaming cup of coffee in his hand. He handed the cup to her and placed a gentle hand on her back.

"Are you alright?" she realized that she had failed to ask before- amongst other things she had failed to do recently. The man nodded and nudged her shoulder.

"It's not your fault. It was her choice." He rationalized and Emily nodded, plastering a fake smile on her face so that he would drop the topic altogether. If only she had told them the truth then she would've never even been there to get shot at in the first place.

"Thanks." She motioned to the cup before setting it down in front of her. She noticed Morgan's strange look but chose to ignore it. Just then, JJ's doctor came out and informed the team that she was fit to travel- just not for field work for at least another two weeks. Surely, the blonde took well to that news having just been allowed to return to work recently. They hurriedly packed their things at the hotel and were on their way to the airstrip less than an hour later. JJ had- thankfully- fallen asleep on both car rides, her medication clearly taking its toll. Hotch was prepared to carry her again as they prepared to board but the blonde suddenly awoke with a burst of energy. The team chuckled as they watched her enter the jet and plop down on the nearest seat, her head leaning against the window and enjoying the cold feel of it on her skin. As they settled in, Rossi leaned over and tossed a blanket over her still form. They took off wordlessly, no one acting any different than usual and surprising the still-guilty ridden brunette. Emily risked a glance at the once again sleeping JJ before easing her way over Morgan and into the bathroom. When she returned, JJ had awoken but seemed slightly out of sorts. She sat next to the woman and offered her a bottle of water.

"No thanks." She said with a thin smile before returning her head to its previous position.

"JJ." Emily got her attention once more. "I just wanted to thank you. Again. You didn't have to do that."

"Of course I did." The blonde replied, her tone a tad higher than usual and Emily realized that JJ would most likely not remember this conversation in the morning. With a smile and a shake of the head, the brunette went to stand before feeling JJ place her head on her lap. Sighing, she looked down at the big, blue eyes that had glazed over hours ago.

"You really didn't." Emily insisted and regretted it almost immediately.

"Did to." JJ frowned. "I don't have anything in there." She patted her belly and tilted her head in thought. "Not like you do!" JJ drawled out the last part and Emily's cheeks immediately flushed, feeling all eyes turn to her. JJ, unaware of what she was saying, turned her head in Emily's lap and pressed an ear to the brunette's still-flat stomach.

"What did she just-" Emily heard Morgan ask Rossi before JJ continued.

"Hello in there." She whispered as if not wanting to disturb the fetus. "I bet you're gonna be really cute." Emily lowered her head, allowing her hair to cover most of her now bright red face as JJ continued to talk to her stomach as if it were an actual person.

"When were you planning on sharing this news?" Hotch raised an eyebrow in her direction and Emily could already hear the lecture.

"Emily likes secrets, Hotch." JJ came to her friend's defense. "Like that one time she and Detective McHotness went to visit her mom and when they got bored they started to-" JJ continued to speak even after Emily had placed a firm hand of her mouth in a desperate attempt to stop the blonde. Morgan practically fell out of his seat laughing, Reid choked on his water, Rossi was sending her a look that communicated nothing short of 'good job' and Hotch remained as stoic as always. When JJ seemed to finish her tale, Emily cautiously removed her hand from the woman's mouth. Seconds later, she was asleep on Emily's lap and the brunette turned to flash her boss a charming enough smile that would keep her out of trouble. Needless to say, it was ineffective.

By the time the team had landed, JJ's medication had worn off leaving her unaware of what transpired on the jet and in pain. Emily allowed the blonde to hold onto her while they walked a handful of paces behind the men. She helped JJ into the car and sat next to her, squeezing her hand every time the SUV drove over a bump in the road. Finally, the SUV that held the two women and Hotch pulled to a stop in front of JJ's home. The three knew exactly what would transpire when they entered and prepared themselves for it. Before the group even got to the front door, it opened revealing a red-faced Leila. The now 19 year old girl practically sprinted to the front lawn where Emily had released JJ and enveloped her sister in a desperate embrace.

"Don't do that." Leila could be heard whispering in JJ's ear in between the sobs that could no longer be stopped. JJ returned the hug and stroked her sister's raven hair as she closed her eyes.

"I'm sorry." The blonde said softly. The pain wracking her body was barely noticeable as her sister held onto her for dear life, crying into her t-shirt. After a few moments, Leila slowly let go of the blonde and furiously wiped at the tears on her cheeks. She quickly turned to Emily and reached out for her next.

"I'm glad you're ok." She told the older woman and Emily smiled into the girl's shoulder as she patted her back. The teen carried JJ's bag inside, Hotch and Emily following, and placed it at the foot of her bed. Before long the four heard the pitter-patter of little feet and Henry appeared.

"Momma!" the five year old cried as he raced towards her. Leila reached out and stopped his rapid approach.

"Henry, remember what I told you?" the girl raised an eyebrow at her nephew.

"Momma has boo-boos." Henry stated with a frown. "So don't hug her too tight."

"That's right." Leila wisked some hair out of the boy's eyes before stepping out of his way. Henry rushed forward but slowed down as he waited for JJ to make her way down to his level. When she managed to stay kneeling, the little boy wrapped his arms around her neck gingerly and buried his head inside the crook of her neck.

"Momma ok?" his small voice asked. JJ nodded against him with a smile.

"Of course." She placed a kiss to the boy's lips before beginning the process of standing. "You're welcome to stay if you'd like. Both of you."

"Thank you, but it's almost Jack's bedtime and-"

"Say no more." JJ waved a hand at her boss. She knew the importance of not missing bedtime. She turned her gaze to the strangely silent brunette.

"I'd love to…but I have to go home and get the lecture of my life from a more than agitated detective." Emily rolled her eyes, already dreading the conversation she would have with Chris. When she had called and told him about the incident, he insisted on driving down and meeting her at her apartment. Emily was sure that he was already there, waiting for her with a speech prepared.

"Serves you right." The women heard Hotch mumbled behind them. Emily raised an eyebrow at the man before shaking her head and turning to the others. They remained silent. Sighing, she ran a hand through her hair.

"We'll see you soon." Hotch told JJ. "But not too soon, I hope."

"Oh, trust me she's got her own speech ahead of her." Leila mumbled, already aware of what was going through Will's mind as he counted the seconds of his shift.

"Momma, what's agitated?" Henry's curious eyes looked up at her and JJ smile half-heartedly.

"What your father will be when he gets home." The blonde responded with a yawn. Emily and Hotch took that as their cue and headed for the door where Hotch decided to be a gentleman and hold it open for the brunette. Emily groaned loudly at the taste of what the next several months would be like and JJ didn't miss the mischievous look on her boss face as they got into the SUV and drove off.

"Alright little man, it's time for bed." Leila announced after a few seconds of quiet. Henry complied willingly- as he always did when Leila asked- and headed to the bathroom to brush his teeth, leaving the sisters alone. JJ stood passively, fingers picking at her nails, while she waited for Leila to say something. As the seconds trickled by in agonizing silence, JJ lost her patience.

"Aren't you going to say anything?" the blonde asked, her crankiness clearly on a higher level than usual. Leila simply shrugged, her white tee easing upwards and revealing her tanned stomach.

"What do you want me to say?" she asked, a bored look on her face. JJ shrugged and withheld a wince as the movement irritated her broken ribs.

"I don't know, just stop looking at me like a kid that's home after curfew." The blonde moved to enter her room but was blocked by Leila. "Look, I know it was…risky but what was I supposed to do? It would've hit Emily. I was the only one who knew and I couldn't just let her…" she drifted off just as she was about to say 'lose the baby'. Leila's gaze softened as she saw the internal struggle her sister was going through. She knew about the baby JJ had lost in Afghanistan and wasn't about to bring it back up.

"Your-our mother called." Leila changed the subject and JJ raised an eyebrow. "She wants to get together. The three of us." She watched as her older sister shifted her stance at the mention of their mother. It had been hard getting back in touch with their parents after what had happened in New Jersey and the blonde still hadn't come to terms with what they had done. Unfortunately, she knew that part of Leila's therapy was to rekindle-or in this case, kindle- the relationship with her parents. That would mean that JJ had too as well.

"What do you want?" she asked Leila. The teenager crossed her arms and frowned as if she still hadn't thought about it.

"I-I think it couldn't hurt." She admitted. Leila knew how JJ felt about the whole situation and didn't want to push her into spending time with their mother. "You don't have to come if you don't want to. I totally under-"

"No." JJ replied forcefully. "No, I'm coming with you. There's no way you're doing this alone." Leila smiled and reached out for her sister's hand.

"Thanks." She said softly as she felt JJ squeeze her fingers. "I'll tuck Henry in, you should go to bed."

"K." JJ said with a nod, finally acknowledging just how tired she was. That medication really did a number on her. Leaving her go-bag on the floor, JJ slowly removed her shoes, socks and pants before reaching for one of Will's discarded shirts. Sighing as the smell of her husband surrounded her, she finally eased into her own bed and was asleep in seconds. She didn't wake up when Will came home or when he and Leila discussed the current situation right outside their bedroom door. Only when Will entered their bed did JJ finally crack an eyelid, force a smile and slowly roll towards her husband before falling back asleep in his arms.

Outside, a hooded man kept a close eye on their home. He watched as the lights turned off one by one and the street fell into darkness. Only then did he approach the front door and place a bouquet of flowers along with a card on the porch before sprinting two blocks away and getting into his car. With a dark grin and a menacing look in his eye, Jeremy Parilla turned to the backseat and chuckled as his next victim squirmed and kicked against the bindings that held her. Tears streamed down from the girl's pure, blue eyes and stained her cheeks as Jeremy drove off, his only thought of the moment they would close forever. Very soon, the BAU would be reminded that crossing him was not something they wanted to do.