A/N: Here's next chapter. I hope you all like it!

Special thanks to Westie80, jenny crum, snuggleUP and 2Addicted2YourLove!

I don't own criminal minds!

Chapter 25: Making a friend

JJ walked out of Collins's office and was surprised to see two strangers talking to Owen. One was an attractive brunette, slightly older than herself. And next to her stood a short man with a look of authority and power. But she didn't put too much thought into it. So she made her way into the bullpen and decided to catch up on the mission at the office instead of taking it home. She knew her apartment held too many distractions for her to fully put her focus on work. So she walked towards the desk that belonged to her, which she barely used since she was away on missions most of the time.

''JJ!'' Owen called out as he smiled to the woman across from him. He watched JJ dump the files on her desk before she made her way towards him.

JJ stopped right next to Owen and looked at him with a saddened expression. ''What do you need?'' she asked politely.

''I would like to introduce you to my friend.'' he said happily. ''JJ, this is Emily Prentiss.'' he said as he watched the two women shake hands. ''Emily, this is Jennifer Jareau.''

''Nice to meet you.'' JJ said.

''Likewise.'' Emily responded, noticing that the blonde seemed a little nervous or unfocused. She knew that look from her own experience. She had lived through it more than once unfortunately.

JJ turned to Owen and then looked at Emily again. ''How do you two know each other?''

''We graduated from the farm together.'' Emily answered with a smile on her face. ''This one made all the training bearable.'' she said, pointing at Owen who stood across from her.

Owen looked to his side, seeing that JJ's face was lighting up a little already. He had always known that JJ and Emily could hit it off if they met. They were both in the same business and lived similar lives, and he knew that JJ could use a friend so he was happy to introduce them. ''I'm going back to operations to prepare for tomorrow.'' he announced. ''I'll see you both later.''

Both women watched him walk away before turning their attention back to each other. ''How long have you been here?''

''It has been about two years.'' JJ replied. ''And you?''

''I started at the CIA eight years ago but right now I am working with Interpol.'' Emily explained simply. ''It's been a hard road and it won't get easier.''

''Well, I can believe that.'' JJ agreed with a smile on her face. ''It's a hard job, but we choose to do it for a reason.''

''Yeah, you're right about that.'' Emily stated, as she looked behind her when her name was being called out by Clyde Easter. ''My boss is waiting for me. I should go.''

''Of course. It was nice to meet you.'' JJ said before turning away.

Emily watched the blonde walking away and then she suddenly decided to stop her. ''Jennifer?'' she called out.

JJ turned around at the sound of her full name. She could never get used to people calling her that. She had preferred JJ her entire life. ''Please call me JJ. Everyone does.'' JJ said as she walked back to Emily.

''This is going to sound strange, but I'm going to be in town for a while to prepare for my next assignment and…and I don't have many friends.'' she explained hesitantly. ''Would you like to get breakfast after my meeting so we can scold our jobs?'' she joked.

''Yeah, that sounds great.'' JJ said happily. ''You can find me at my desk in the bullpen.''

''Okay,'' Emily whispered as JJ walked away. Their jobs didn't leave much room for building relationships, even friendships. So if she had chance to make one friend, she'd take it. And since JJ was in the same field, it made it that much easier to talk to her.

An hour later, Emily and JJ were sitting across from each other in a local diner. JJ had been able to catch up on some reports while Emily had her meeting with Collins and Easter. It was just another normal day at the office. But to JJ it didn't really feel that way. She knew her assignment with Warren was standard, but she couldn't help but feel guilty towards Hotch. She couldn't be unfaithful to him. He deserved more from her since he barely knew anything real about her in the first place.

''What's bothering you?'' Emily asked as she put her water down on the table.

JJ smiled at the fact that she noticed anything at all. ''The better question would be, what isn't bothering me?'' she started. ''It's just…everything.''

''Oh, I've been there.'' Emily spoke out in sadness. She could probably relate better to JJ than anyone else. She had done her fair share of assignments, but she knew the worst had yet to come. It was the one they were currently planning with the CIA. ''The freedom that comes with the job can be exhilarating, but sometimes you can't help but long for a normal life. You might meet someone who brings that out in you or something happens to you and suddenly you want different things.''

With those words, Emily hit exactly the right spot with JJ. That had happened to her. She had met someone who made her long for a normal life. ''It's happening to me right now.''

''Who is he?'' Emily asked curiously, wondering who had been able to soften up JJ's heart. She had heard her name before from Owen. He had described her as one of the toughest agents he had ever trained. But Emily saw a lot more than toughness in her.

''He's a FBI Agent.'' she began as a wide smile spread across her face. Just talking about him made her day. ''And he's more real than anyone I've ever met.''

''That sounds like love.'' Emily teased. ''When did you meet him?''

''I only met him seven weeks ago, but it's…'' she stopped to search for the right words, but she couldn't just find them. Her relationship with Hotch had become indescribable. It was just something. They had a connection, a certain chemistry that she had never felt before. ''It's very real.'' she went on, and then she suddenly realized she was pouring her heart out to someone she barely knew. ''I'm sorry.''

''Oh no, don't be.'' Emily reassured quickly. ''It's nice to have someone to talk to for a change because it isn't easy with our jobs.''

''Is there a man in your life?''

''No, not at the moment. I find it very difficult to combine love and our jobs, so I really admire you for not giving up on it.'' Emily said, knowing she had given up on it long ago. She had known a love like JJ's. One that swept you off your feet, one that made you dream. She knew it and it got ripped away from her.

''But there was someone?'' JJ wondered very carefully. She saw a flash of pain cross her expression, so she just had to ask. ''You don't have to tell me.''

''I met him on a case. He was British SIS and we immediately hit it off.'' Emily told, her voice soft and tender. ''He was passionate, he was everything I ever dreamed off.'' she went on. ''Our relationship lasted for two years and in that time we only saw each other maybe three times a year, and the last time I saw him, I told him I couldn't do it anymore. Saying goodbye to him was too much so I broke it off.'' she said as her eyes began to water. ''He died in the field six months later.''

JJ gasped in shock. ''Oh my god. I'm so sorry!''

''It's okay. I've come to terms with the loss, but if I could do it over again, I would've never let him go.'' Emily explained. ''You shouldn't give up on it too easily. Every moment of pain, confusion, or fights is worth what you get out of it in the end.''

''I guess we have a lot more in common than we would've thought.'' JJ smiled out, hoping to lighten the mood a little. ''Plus, we have Owen in common.''

''Haha, that we definitely do.'' she agreed. ''But is that a good or a bad thing?''

''I think a little bit of both. Owen's loyalties to the CIA sometimes blind him in ways that destroy certain parts of his life, and he is left to deal with fallout later on in his life.'' JJ answered. ''He's a fantastic agent.'' JJ breathed out as her mind went back a few years to a certain moment in time that had shaped her into the agent she had become.

2 years earlier…

Sweat was covering her skin, her clothes clung to her body, but she kept going. She was ready to take him down. She ducked when a fist came her way, and then she got up, throwing her hand forward and punching his face with power and control. With her left hand she threw another punch, and at that same time another one was coming her way. So she grabbed her opponent's arm and turned her back against him and then brought him to the floor with ease.

A smile appeared on her face when she watched Owen watch her from the corner of the room. She had known he had been there throughout the entire hour of training, and she also knew she had killed it in combat training. So she walked towards him as she used a towel to wipe away the sweat from her face.

''How did I do?'' she asked happily when she stepped in front of him.

''You did great!'' Owen commented, his voice filled with joy. Training JJ had been amazing and very easy. She was quick and she picked up things faster than anyone he had seen before. ''You're going to do great as an agent.''

''Thanks!''

''You've done such a great job that you deserve a night out.'' he began. ''Would you like to go to dinner with me tonight?''

''I would love to.'' she grinned. ''I'll see you tonight then!'' she said before she ran back towards the group of her peers.

That moment caused a smile to take over JJ's face. During training at the farm she had been in complete awe of Owen. She listened to him during training, and because of that she had become a great agent. He had trained her. He gave her the abilities she had now, and for that she would be forever grateful.