A/N This episode is one of my favorites for a number of reasons, but every time I watch it, something jumps out at me. We're never actually told that JCB (yes, I just wanted to use those initials...) was JJ's first kill, and I guess an argument could be made either way. For the purposes of this story, I'm going with it not being her first.

Also, this means we've reached the end of All I've Got: Part One. Thanks so much to everybody who has been reading and reviewing - I hope you'll join me for Part Two! :]

Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds or the LiveJournal community from which I took this prompt list.

Character/Pairing: JJ/Hotch

Rating: T

Warnings: spoilers for 3x09 'Penelope'

Prompt: #21 - Rise

Hotch finds her sitting on the floor of her office, leaning against the wall, her head resting on her knees.

"You should go home," he says softly, and she jumps. Seeing it is only him, JJ places a hand to her chest.

"Hotch!" she gasps breathlessly, "You scared me."

"Sorry," he replies, taking it as an invitation into her office.

"Garcia sent me to check on you," he says quietly as he shuts the door. JJ glances up.

"I'm fine," she responds.

"Good," he replies, but still moves towards her. He hesitates, and then sinks to the carpet beside her.

JJ blinks in surprise.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm not letting you wallow in misery, JJ," he says bluntly, "You're too good for that."

JJ shakes her head, her eyes fixed on the floor.

"I killed someone, Hotch. And it's not the first time, but..."

"You're wondering why this one felt different."

She sighs heavily, her head falling back onto her knees.

"I'm wondering why I don't feel anything at all."

Hotch thinks that she does know, just doesn't like the answer.

"Because there was a threat to someone you love," he says. JJ looks up at him uncertainly.

"He could have killed you," she replies, her voice dropping to no more than a whisper. He blinks, wonders why it's that she has on her mind.

"He didn't."

A few more minutes of thoughtful silence, and they are both still sitting on the floor.

Hotch nudges her with his elbow.

"It was a perfect shot, you know," he points out teasingly, "Dead centre."

Against her will, JJ lets out a soft chuckle.

"I am the best shot at the FBI," she retorts. Hotch nudges her again, but this time lets his hand linger by her leg.

Almost touching, but not quite.

For a moment, JJ considers kissing him and wonders whether he's about to do the same, but then Hotch is moving away and standing up.

He extends a hand.

"Get up," he says. JJ looks up at him in surprise, her eyes darting between his face and his outstretched palm.

"What?"

"We do this every day," Hotch begins softly, "and sometimes we have to make decisions that when we look back on them, don't seem right. But we sleep on it, we work through it, and then we turn up here the next day to start it all over again."

JJ thinks about getting to her feet. Thinks about Garcia lying in that hospital bed, thinks about Morgan and Rossi and Prentiss and Reid. Thinks about how close James Colby Baylor came to taking that all away.

Their eyes are still locked together, and somewhere in the back of her mind, the blonde agent decides that she's not totally opposed to the heat being exchanged in one simple stare.

A tiny smile breaks free from the corner of Hotch's lips.

"Get up," he repeats with a slight shake of his hand, "You've got work to do."