Erin Straus stares at Aaron Hotchner. She slowly nods.
"Of course. The funeral is Saturday?"
"Yes, ma'am. But I have a call in to his captain offering the help of our team if he thinks he may need it."
"My God…" She takes a deep breath. "Do they…have any idea?"
Hotch shakes his head. "Not that I have seen. Morgan reached Martin Florence and he said it is looking like a random act of violence. But considering Will was a cop they have to look into it very carefully."
Straus nods. "Can I assume Garcia is already looking into anyone in Will's history that could want this to happen?"
Hotch manages a grin. "I don't know for sure and I don't think I'll ask."
Straus grins. "I don't blame you." She takes a deep breath. "Anything Agent Jareau needs from us she will have. This will be very hard for Henry."
Hotch takes a quick breath. "Trust me, Chief, I know."
"Of course you do. I'm sorry, Aaron, I didn't mean to imply otherwise."
"No offense taken. I guess…it's just making me remember the early days with Jack. I'm going to offer JJ the chance to start maternity leave early to spend time with Henry. She may refuse but it's just the right thing to do."
"Yes, it is," Straus agrees. "Tell her working from home is an option, too. I would join you on Saturday but I have a previous engagement with my children."
"I think now more than ever we all understand the importance of being with your kids. I will keep you apprised of the situation as we learn more. Thank you," he nods and leaves.
Straus stands and walks over to her window. She remembered the dark days in the BAU when Hotch lost Hailey. The team had blamed themselves and of course Hotch was devastated. How will they weather this hit? Will LaMontagne is the father of JJ's son, Emily's stepson; his son is Godson of Reid and Garcia. This is personal and, much like when Foyet was targeting Hotch, they would not rest until the man that committed this murder is brought to justice. She hears a noise behind her and turns.
"Are you okay?" she asks.
Rossi eases her office door shut and shrugs. "Think we're all still in shock. Sounds like it was senseless…pointless. And now a boy who was excited about his father coming for his third birthday in a couple weeks will now be forced to learn what death means. Give me time and I think the anger will set in. Until then…" he takes a shuddering breath, "until then I have to try to get JJ's scream out of my head. And I don't think that's happening anytime soon."
Straus sees what he needs and is glad to offer it. She walks over and pulls him into a hug, knowing he feels like a father to both JJ and Emily and loves Henry as if he really was his blood kin.
"I can't believe I know two kids that have to learn about death so soon and so…so harshly," he croaks as he allows Straus to try to hug him into a better mood.
Reid sits in a chair in front of Morgan's desk. The two are silent for the moment. Finally Reid looks at his friend.
"All the stats in the world. I can rattle off any stat I've ever read about police deaths, children orphaned by police, children who lose parents, and none of it makes a damn bit of difference."
Morgan shakes his head, his eyes on the photo of his father that sits on his desk. "No, it doesn't."
Reid studies him a moment. "I'm sorry I can't give you what I can give Henry." Morgan looks at the genius, obviously confused. "My eidetic memory. I can tell Henry stories I know. I can't do that for you. I wish I could."
Morgan manages a smile. "Thanks. I was older so I have some good memories. And my Mom never made us go quiet about Dad. We could talk about him and share memories without worrying about the pain. We kept him alive that way. What you can do for Henry will be invaluable to him as he gets older."
"I hope so. I just wish I could do more."
Morgan takes a deep breath and sits forward. "We can. Whether we go as a BAU team or not, I'm offering my help even if I have to take personal time for it."
Reid lifts a brow. "Need help?"
"Always, Pretty Boy." Morgan grabs his phone, planning to call Marty Florence back to let him know Reid and he would be willing to do whatever they could off the books to help find Will's killer.
"Aha! And saved to share drive," Garcia says as she finds another felon Will had put away who is now out on parole.
Her fingers fly over the keyboard. She knows that at any moment Straus or Hotch could come in and order her not to look into the case of Will LaMontagne. She had to do what she could as fast as she could. Her Godson deserved to grow up knowing that even though he didn't have his daddy the man that killed Will was in jail. Or had suffered the death penalty. This was one of the times Garcia supports that penalty with no reservations.
"We'll find this bastard, Henry. Your Fairy Godmother will not let you down. And knowing your uncles, they are all working this case regardless of invite or not. We'll find this guy, Henry. When you get older you will have every answer you could possibly need to understand why you lost your father. I knew why I lost my parents and damn it you will know, too! I swear it, Henry!"
Garcia keeps scanning parole files in Louisiana to find anyone Will had helped convict who was either paroled or recently died in jail. Will's death could be a random act of violence or it could be revenge. Garcia would do everything she could to help figure out just which one it is.
Emily holds JJ as she cries. Cries for her son. Cries for her ex. Cries for a little baby who will never know her father. Cries for a woman who has lost her husband.
And she cries because on some level she still loved Will.
"Let it all out, Jen. Let it go now so we can go talk to Henry."
"H- -how do we…"
"Honestly, I don't know. But we'll do it together, okay? Do…do you want me to tell him?"
JJ shakes her head. Then shrugs. Then just cries some more. "I…I don't know. Maybe. I should but…I don't know if I can."
"You can try. I'll be there if you need me to take over. I promise," Emily vows.
They sit in the Lexus for 5 more minutes as JJ tries to get all her tears out so she can face her son. As she sits up in the seat, she looks at Emily.
"Thank you."
"Jennifer, you know better."
"I know I don't have to say it but I will anyway. I will always have love in my heart for Will because he is Henry's dad and because we did have a good year together. I never loved him like I love you but the love was there and part of it lives in me still."
Emily reaches over and caresses tear-stained cheeks. "I know, Jennifer. I know. How can it not when you have a wonderful reminder of that love at home." She takes a deep breath. "Are you ready to go face him?"
JJ takes a deep breath and wipes off her face with her hands. "I think so. God, and then we need to call my parents. God, Em, so many things to do."
"Yeah, I know. We'll talk to Helen tonight and see if she wants us down there tomorrow or Thursday. Whatever she needs to help her get through the next few days."
JJ just nods. Emily holds her wife's hand, knowing the blonde is silently steeling herself for the conversation ahead. In her own mind, Emily is thinking about an envelope in their safe; an envelope she will need to keep close: Will's Final Directive ceding his parental rights to Emily upon his death. On the off chance Aunt Jolene tries to take Henry, Emily wanted that paper, and her lawyer's phone number, handy. No way was that woman going to inflict more pain on JJ or Henry than they were already going to experience. No. Freaking. Way.
JJ stares out the window of the Lexus. But instead of the sites along Route 1 she sees images of her life with Will playing out as if on a TV screen.
Their first date. They were both so nervous and couldn't help but wonder if JJ had flown all the way to New Orleans for the weekend for nothing. Will had attempted to show her everything the city had to offer in less than 48 hours. It had been a bit frantic and crazy. By Sunday JJ was beginning to think she'd made a mistake. Then she saw the real Will: the man apologizing for trying to impress the girl from the big city. She had smiled, told him he didn't have to do anything to impress her. He just had to be himself. He had smiled, blushed, then kissed her. A gentle kiss full of promise. "Next time I'll show you me instead of the city," he vowed. They had both laughed at the unintended innuendo but she was happy he wanted a second visit.
A month later she finally had a weekend she could escape the DC area. He had met her at the airport with a single red rose in the terminal…and a beer in his car. She had smiled, glad he remembered her brand and appreciative that he knew she needed it. That weekend had been the one to convince her to give the long distance relationship a go. He had made her a wonderful breakfast Saturday morning that they ate out on his screened in porch. They had talked about their childhoods, their college years, their hopes for the future. By the time she woke up Sunday morning in his bed, his lips questing down her neck, her body pleasantly sore from the evening before she had decided he could maybe be the one.
For a few months things had been really good. Then their jobs got in the way. She'd try to go down but end up on a case. He'd try to visit DC and end up with a homicide he couldn't walk away from. Court dates, seminars, family commitments. They tried to make it work but he could tell she was holding back. Then they crossed paths in Miami. She had finally admitted that she was terrified of a relationship with him. They had made love that evening, promising each other to stop making excuses and start making time for each other.
And for a while they had. Then she had come to realize she just didn't love him enough to uproot her life to move to New Orleans and didn't really want him to move to DC. Plus…she had started to have undeniable feelings for Emily. She was practicing her "we're over" speech when she got the confirmation she had been dreading. She was pregnant. For the baby, they tried to make it work. He had made plans to move to DC to be Mr. Mom but by this time they both knew they were just going through the motions and standing on societal mores for the sake of the baby.
"Will…it's just…we're not…we could…"
"I know, Jayje," he interrupts gently. "I know. I could never be happy up here."
"And I couldn't be happy down there. What are we going to do?"
He gave her a charming grin. "Compromise and move to South Dakota?"
JJ chuckles. "Uh, not sure that will fix us."
"Nah, probably not." He reaches over and takes her hand. "I will always have love in my heart for you. I really thought you were the one. But if we have to change so much about one of us to make this work then I guess we aren't really meant to be."
JJ shakes her head, her eyes filled with unshed tears. "No…we're not."
He leans back in his chair and gives her the sweet grin she had first fallen for. "I can't say I'm surprised. And I wish I could say I didn't feel the same. I do care about you, JJ, but I think you're right."
JJ gives him a small smile. "Never thought I'd hate to be right. You will be part of his life, right? I mean, even if we can't be together, you'll be there for him? Us?"
And he had had been. He'd dropped everything and flown to DC to be there when Henry was born. He'd popped up anytime he had a few days off, had taken vacations with Henry, had picked him up and spent time in New Orleans, DC, anywhere he could get to with their son. Henry had known his father's love. And the love of his stepmother. And now has a half-sister, too.
"Oh, Will...he'll know his family down there. I promise. He'll know Annabelle and Marie and Helen. I promise you he will," JJ vows under her breath.
Emily glances once at her wife then turns back to the road. JJ was processing so much right now. Emily just squeezes her hand in support. JJ looks at her wife.
"I'm scared to tell him, Emily. I am scared to tell him his Daddy is dead."
"We'll tell him together, Jennifer. You have no need to be scared. I'm right here with you."
JJ just nods, her mind thinking about the times she had nearly lost Emily: Alaska, Doyle, Reese, Donaghy, others. JJ's tears slip down her cheeks as the unwanted image of telling her son he has lost his Mama, too, slams into her mind. She lifts up Emily's hand and kisses before turning to look back out the window, unable to shake the image from her mind as she again tries to come up with the words to say to a boy not yet 3 whose life has changed irrevocably.
Francesca meets Emily and JJ in the hallway. She sees the tear-stained cheeks of JJ and the war going on in Emily as the brunette fights to maintain control of her emotions.
"Caras? Perche sei triste?"*
Emily takes a deep breath and steps to the nanny. "Will e stato assassinato."
Francesca's hand flies to her mouth in shock. "Quando? Come e accaduto?"
"La note scorsa. Gli hanno sparto."**
"Dios…no…" She takes a deep breath. "Jennifer?"
JJ looks at the nanny, tries to speak but can't find her voice. Francesca just pulls her into a hug.
"I'm sorry, cara. So sorry. When do we leave?"
JJ eases back. "We?"
"It's family, cara. Yes, we. You, the children and even Helen will need me. When do we leave?"
JJ just shrugs and pulls the woman close once more. Emily places a hand on Francesca's shoulder.
"Tomorrow. When Father's jet arrives. I just…have to call him in a bit. But first," she looks at Jen. "We have to tell Henry."
"Go to him. I will take Rocky and make a snack for her."
"No, she needs to know, too. She needs to know Uncle Will is gone because Henry will probably be pretty upset the next few days and, shit, maybe she can help him when we can't," Emily suggests.
Francesca nods. "Perhaps. I will be here in the hallway if you need me."
The women nod and go into the playroom. Rocky and Henry run to them, their faces alight with happiness.
"MOMMY! MAMA!"
JJ drops to her knees and engulfs them both in her arms. Her tears come once more, unbidden but refusing to leave. Henry and Rocky ease back and stare at her, concern on their faces.
"Mommy? Why cry?" Henry asks.
"Boo, Mommy?" Rocky asks.
JJ shakes her head. "No, Rock Star, no boo-boo," she chokes out.
"How about we go sit on the window bench," Emily suggests.
The kids run over to it. Emily sits down and pulls Henry up into her lap so JJ can look at his face. JJ sits down with Rocky. JJ takes a deep breath.
"Henry…you know…you know the job of a police officer can be very dangerous, right?" Henry nods, confusion on his face. "Well, you see…last night…your…it was…" JJ's throat closes up and she can speak no more as she stares at the last moments of innocence for her little boy. She looks helplessly at Emily.
Emily takes a deep breath and turns Henry so she can look into his eyes. "Son, last night…a very bad man…hurt your Daddy." Henry stiffens. "He…he…your Daddy is…is with Jesus now. He was…he…he died."
Henry stares at her, trying to understand what she is saying. "I go see. I help him feel more better."
Emily bites her lip. "Henry…he can't get better. He…he is in Heaven now."
"NO!" Henry leaps off Emily's lap. "I go! I help Daddy!"
She reaches for him but he kicks her in the shin and runs from the room. Rocky calls after him.
"Ree! No kick! Ree!"
Emily gets up and limps to the doorway. She sees Henry in Francesca's arms, crying for his daddy. Francesca just nods that she has him. Emily turns and walks back over to JJ and Rocky.
"Em…I am so sorry," JJ whispers. "I saw his innocence, his…his purity. And now that is gone. Forever.
"It's okay, Jennifer. I understand."
"Mommy? Mama? Ree time out?" Rocky asks.
JJ hugs her closer. "No, Rocky, he won't get a time out. He's very sad because something bad happened to Uncle Will."
"Love Unca Will."
JJ hugs her close and kisses her temple. "He loved you, too, Rock. Oh, he loved you so much, too."
Emily pulls the two into her arms and holds them, touched to see Rocky patting her mommy's shoulder, offering all the comfort a 16 month old can.
*Emily and Francesca's conversation. Translation per Android Translator:**
Darlings! Why are you sad?
Will has been murdered.
When? How did it happen?
Last night. He was shot.