Title: Second Chances
By: Ann Parker
Pairing: JJ/Reid
Fandom: Criminal Minds
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of "Criminal Minds." They are the property of Mark R. Gordon and CBS. This is for entertainment purposes only.
Author's Note: I know, I know, its been forever! I think my thesis temporarily killed my creative energy because I just hadn't had a spark to write until watching the current season. From the JJ/Reid scenes in the second episode, to the JJ/Will scenes a few weeks ago, I finally got inspired to pursue a fanfic with my favorite shipper couple. If you're not a fan of JJ/Reid, then this may not be for you. You've been for warned.
Spoilers: This is meant to take directly after the ending of 7x07 "There's No Place Like Home." It may or may not incorporate things from upcoming episodes, just depends on how it fits. Also, for the sake of some later chapters, I'm going to say that this episode took place in mid October. That will make sense later.
Summary: When things end between JJ and Will, who will pick up the pieces? Can their relationship handle all that has gone on between them, all that has been left unsaid?

***

She looked...

Broken. That was the best word Reid could come up with right now. After hanging up her phone from reading Henry his bedtime story, JJ had gone to one of the corners of the police station and was staring out the window, watching the storm that kept her from getting home to her family. Emily had tried to talk to her, to comfort her, but to no avail so the rest of the team was giving her some space. Only Hotch could really understand what it was like knowing that your child needed you when you couldn't be there, but that didn't stop the rest from feeling for her.

Particularly Reid. That was why he couldn't stop watching her from a distance. When he had heard about Henry having a seizure and seen the pain on JJ's face, all he wanted to do was pull her into a hug. Considering his general rule of limited human contact, that was a big deal to him. But he knew he couldn't, not because they were in the middle of a case, but because he was pretty sure he hadn't earned back that right yet. Although the pair had talked after Rossi's cooking lesson and were on much better terms, he knew it would be awhile before they got back to where they were pre-Doyle.

"Just go talk to her, man." Reid snapped out of his revere to see Morgan standing next to him. Reid blinked twice and turned his gaze back the person some twenty feet away.

"I can't. You saw how she shut down Emily; I don't stand a chance. We're...not ready." He didn't see Morgan roll his eyes, but he did see him shake his head out of his peripheral vision.

"Bull. You need to get over what happened in Oklahoma, I'm pretty sure she has. Besides, who better than to comfort her than her son's godfather?" Reid looked his friend, who just stared back at him, dead serious. He was right, this was about Henry more than anything else and he loved that little guy. Taking a deep breath, he nodded and headed over to JJ.

Although she didn't show it, she could see him approaching through the reflection of the window. She continued to stare at the pouring rain and flashes of lighting, waiting for him to speak first. A part of her wanted to lunge at him, to feel the comfort of his touch, but she wasn't sure he would be ready for that. So she waited. Finally, after a minute she heard his soft voice over her left shoulder.

"Hey."

"He-ey," she answered, her voice cracking slightly, thick from the tears she had shed tonight. She couldn't help the guilt that had washed over her for not being there for Henry. She turned to face him, tear streaks still fresh on her face.

"Oh Jayje..." Any self-control he had was lost the moment he saw the pain in her blue eyes. He raised his hands to her face, using his thumbs to gently wipe away her tears before pulling her into his arms. JJ instantly wrapped her arms around him, holding him close. She felt him rest his chin on the top of her head and sighed. She only ever felt this safe when she was in his arms, not that she would ever admit that to him. Or Will.

"Henry is going to be fine. Febrile seizures happen in about 5% of kids from 6 months to 6 years, and most grow out of it before they turn five. There are rarely any complications," he stated after a few minutes. He rubbed her back slightly, before pulling back and looking into her eyes. "He's a strong kid, just like his mom. He'll be fine."

JJ's smile even reached her eyes, cutting through her guilt. "Thanks Spence."

"You're welcome," he smiled back, officially letting her go. Neither acknowledged the chill from the lack of warmth of each other's bodies as he took a step back. They turned back to the window, noticing the rain starting to lighten up. They stood there in silence for a few minutes, each lost in their own thoughts. Although they didn't know it, both were thinking about a certain two-year old...and each other.

Eventually, Reid looked at her out of the corner of his eye, his sudden burst of courage from earlier gone.

"Um, JJ, do you think I could, um..." JJ turned to look at him, tilting her head slightly, letting him finish. "...maybe come by this weekend and visit with Henry? I mean, if he's feeling up for it? I just haven't really visited him since..." Reid chose not to finish that statement, not wanting to bring up the whole Emily fight from weeks earlier.

"I think that would be great Spence. I'll let you know if he's not up for visitors yet. How about Sunday?" JJ tucked some of her hair behind her ear, thankful for a conversation distracting her from her mixture of feelings right now. And that Reid actually wanted to visit again.

"Sunday sounds great." They smiled at each other for a second.

"Hey guys, the weather is cleared up enough for us to go back to the hotel and get some sleep." Both turned to see Morgan in front of them. "You ready to go?"

JJ was the first to speak. "Yeah, just let me grab my things." She made a quick glance at Reid before walking away, leaving Morgan staring and smiling at Reid.

The younger man glared at him. "What?"

"Looks like things are back to normal between you two, then?"

Reid shrugged as the pair started towards the exit. "Getting there." Morgan gently patted him on the shoulder as they met the rest of the team by the exit, ready to head out in the rain and hopefully wash this case off of them.

He shifted nervously on his feet, taking a deep breath. Calm down, he told himself, its just JJ and Henry. And Will. Truth be told, he had never particularly cared for the New Orleans native, but he figured that had more to do with his feelings for the mother than anything else. Regardless, he always felt like he was walking on eggshells when Will was around, like he didn't trust him. Perhaps he had picked up on Reid's feeling for JJ, but surely Will should have realized by now that he would never act on them. And not just because he knew JJ didn't feel the same way, but because he wouldn't spilt up a family like that. Having come from a broken home, he wouldn't do that to Henry.

Shaking those thoughts out of his head, he finally knocked on the blue door in front of him. Soon he found two of his favorite blonds facing him from the other side of the door, the younger one straddling his mom's hip.

"'Pence!" exclaimed the two year old, reaching out to him. Reid smiled and offered out his arms, taking Henry and hugging the little boy tight to him. His body contact rule was null and void when it came to Henry. JJ smiled as she closed the door after Reid crossed the threshold. It always warmed her heart how much Reid let his guard down with her son and how much Henry loved him in return.

"Hey Henry, how are you feeling bud?"

"Good! Hey, wat tat?" The toddler finally noticed the green bag Reid was carrying. Reid chuckled and crouched down, setting Henry on his feet and so that he was down to his level.

"Oh this? Well I heard there was a sick little boy here that could use some cheering up, but if you're good then I guess its not you. Is there another sick boy here?" Reid teased, pretending to look around. JJ smiled and just watched the scene before her.

"No, tat me!" Henry exclaimed, pouting a little.

"It is? Well, then this is for you!" Reid pretended to be surprised, ruffling up Henry's hair.

"Yay! Can I open mama?" he asked, looking at JJ. JJ joined Reid at Henry's level and nodded. The young boy quickly pulled the tissue paper out of the bag to find a stuffed stegosaurus and a dinosaur book. JJ bit back a giggle, not at all surprised by the gift choice. "Cool!" Henry yelled.

"What do we say?" JJ asked.

"Tank you 'Pence!" he replied and hugged Reid again.

"You're very welcome." JJ and Reid glanced at each other and smiled.

"Let's play!" Henry's excitement interrupting a moment they didn't realize they were having.

The adults stood up. "Just a second, bud. Why don't you go introduce your new friend to the rest? I'll be there in a second." Reid had helped Henry develop quite the collection of stuffed dinosaurs over the past two years.

Henry nodded. "K!" He ran around the corner to his playroom, leaving the two adults alone in the front hallway.

"You really didn't need to get him anything," JJ stated, picking up the thrown about tissue paper and gift bag.

"I wanted to. I love that he's excited about dinosaurs." Reid nervously shoved his hands into his pockets as JJ set the bag on the side table near the door.

She laughed a little, "I think he gets that excitement from his Uncle Spence, but that's okay with me."

Reid smiled and then looked around. "Where's Will?"

JJ sighed. "At the bar with some friends watching the Saints game." Noticing the confused look on his face, she added, "the New Orleans football team. We don't get the game on local TV so he left to watch it. He needed a break and I figured I owed him one."

"For what?" Reid asked, "leaving to do your job? JJ, he knew what our job was like long ago. You shouldn't have to apologize or owe him anything."

JJ opened her mouth to answer him when a child's voice interrupted them. "Come on!" exclaimed Henry, having reappeared. Both adults laughed.

"Okay, okay, I'm coming." Reid answered, taking Henry's hand and letting the child lead him to his toys.

JJ sighed as she watched them go. She knew he was right, but a part of her couldn't help but feel guilty anyway. It didn't help that her return to the BAU was a constant argument the couple was having lately. It seemed like lately all they did was fight and it generally went back to one or two topics. She wasn't sure how much more of it she could take, but she was trying to work past it. For Henry. Pushing those thoughts aside, she quickly joined the boys.

***

Next story in series - Snow Family.