She had yet to see their Section Chief since their Senate meeting. It was as if the woman had been in hiding, unable to face them since that momentary slip in her façade. JJ didn't really mind her absence, yet there had been something so kind about the woman in the fourteen weeks that Hotch had been on his special assignment.

Sighing, she shut the file she was working on and turned off her desk lamp. Looking at the clock, she saw Henry would already be asleep. She'd missed time with him, again, and while she didn't relish that, she didn't mind not seeing Will. Their relationship had been so rocky lately, and she knew it was her return to the BAU that had precipitated it.

JJ picked up her briefcase and made her way to the elevators. As the doors opened, she saw the very woman she'd been thinking of, a pensive look on her face. "Good evening, Chief Strauss."

"Good evening, Agent Jareau. How are you?"

It was a perfunctory question, yet she gave an honest answer anyway. "I've been better, Ma'am. The long days are getting to us, unfortunately."

"I know how that is." The woman twisted her wedding band and stared at the doors. "How's Henry? He's almost three now, isn't he?"

JJ looked at her in surprise. "Yes, he is, and growing like a sunflower. He misses me almost as much as I miss him." Her phone buzzed against her thigh and she pulled it out, looking at the new text message. "Oh," she said sadly, feeling her heart clench tightly.

"What is it?" There was real concern in the woman's voice and JJ met her gaze, letting the tears come to her eyes.

"Will's gone home to Louisiana. Their flight just landed. I knew things were bad, but this?" The doors opened and they stepped out, heading for the parking garage. "My son is gone."

"He can't do that to you. Go after them, bring him home."

"Now?"

"Why not? He's your son, and there's no custody agreement stopping you." Strauss cut her words off and bit her lip, looking away from JJ.

"Is that what's been eating your heart?" JJ felt her own mother's heart melt for the woman and touched her shoulder gently. Their eyes met once more and she watched the first few tears roll down the woman's cheeks. Slowly, she nodded. "I'd need someone of authority to convince Will to hand Henry over. Do you feel up to making the journey with me?"

JJ watched the play of emotions warring on her face and smiled encouragingly. After a few long, tense, moments, the woman nodded. "Yes, I will help you, Agent Jareau. I still have a few favors, let me call one in." She pulled out her phone and dialed a number. "Hi Dick, sorry to bother you so late, but I need to use the jet. Yes, for somewhat personal business. There's no time to explain, and I could just have Ms. Garcia release those pictures of you and your assistant to the media, I've suppressed them so far. I'd thought you'd see it my way. We'll be at the airfield in thirty minutes, please have it ready by then." She hung up and shoved her phone back in her pocket.

"Are there really compromising photos of him?"

"Yes, there are. I don't like blackmail, but it was the quickest thing to get him to agree. For the sake of brevity, we should only take one vehicle to the airfield. I'm on the next lever up, where are you?"

"I'm just three cars down, actually." Strauss nodded and followed JJ. "Do you have a go bag or anything?"

"No, I'll be fine in this." JJ nodded and unlocked the car, trying not to cry as she looked at Henry's car seat. The drive to the airfield was silent, with Strauss staring out the window, tears tracking down her face that she absently swiped away. JJ knew she couldn't comment of the sorrow being displayed, and yet she felt like she had to commiserate somehow.

"It's only been a few days since I've seen Henry. Hotch had to be without Jack for fourteen weeks," she said lowly as she parked. "I can't imagine that much time away from my son."

They got out and she popped the trunk, pulling out a large duffle bag. "I wish it were only fourteen weeks." The statement was so quiet that JJ wasn't sure the other woman had spoken as she moved towards the plane. JJ lengthened her stride to catch up with Strauss and listened as she instructed the pilot to fly to New Orleans.

Once on the plane, JJ stowed her bag on one of the seats. Strauss found a blanket and stood there, a faint blush on her cheeks. "What is it?"

"I'd like to get some sleep while we fly down. I know it's only a two hour flight, but some sleep is better than no sleep." As JJ nodded, she took in the dark circles underneath Erin's eyes. They'd overlooked this, and JJ once more felt her heart soften towards the woman. "Would you mind turning around so I can take off my jacket and blouse? I don't want to wrinkle them."

JJ did as asked, listening to the sounds filling the cabin. Once she was sure it was safe, she turned to see Erin was facing the wall of the plane, the blanket pulled up around her shoulders. "Am I a bad mother?" she asked suddenly, somehow knowing the woman would give her an honest answer.

"No, Jennifer, you are a good mother. You deserve your child." She felt the breath being sucked from her body at the raw pain in Erin's voice. As she watched, the other woman's shoulders began to shake and silence filled the cabin. There were no words to say, no pithy statement that would make everything better. Instead, she closed her hand around Erin's shoulder, unable not to reach out.

She lay down on the other side of the plane, staring at Erin's back. Something had to change when they got back. She could see that now. "Try to sleep peacefully, Ma'am." JJ pillowed her head on her hands and found sleep to be a long time coming. The next thing JJ knew, the plane was beginning its descent.

Stretching, she turned to look at Erin. The woman was still sleeping, the blanket having slipped down to her waist sometime during the flight. JJ stood and went over to her, resting her hand on the woman's shoulder. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked up in confusion. "Are we landing now?"

JJ nodded and watched Erin hurriedly cover her chest with the blanket. "We should be on the ground in ten minutes or so. I'm going to use the restroom a moment, try to freshen up." Rummaging through her bag, she pulled out her toothbrush and went to the back of the plane. When she came back out, the woman was dressed and checking something on her phone. "I hope that you're scoping out rooms to rent. It's three in the morning, and I don't want to wake Henry up right now."

Erin looked up, yawning slightly. "No, sorry, I was checking my email. Though curling up in a bed does sound nice." She blinked a few times, trying to stay awake. "I guess I'm not as young as I once was."

"And sorrow makes us long for sleep." JJ sat next to Erin, keeping a small bit of space between them. "This way, though, we'll get an earlier start. He won't think that I'd be coming down so soon. Thank you." She held out her hand and Erin clasped it lightly.

"You're welcome, Jennifer." Her name sounded so odd on Erin's lips, lovely and yet haunted. Few called her by her given name, and she rather liked it from the other woman for some reason she couldn't put a finger on. "Most likely, we'll only be able to get one room, when we get into town. It's so late at night."

"We share all the time on cases. I'm used to it by now." JJ squeezed her hand and then let go to wrap her arms around her legs as the plane taxied to a stop on the tarmac. Once they'd deplaned, an agent from the local field office met them and drove to a Hilton close to where Will's aunt lived. "Thanks, Mark," JJ said as she shouldered her go bag.

Joining Erin inside at the front desk, she saw the other woman putting away her credentials and pocketbook. "Thank you for all the advice. We're going to head up to our room now." She took the keys from the young woman's hand and turned to JJ. "Ready to head up?"

"Yes." She followed Erin over to the elevators and watched her push the button for floor fifteen. "We're near the top of the building?"

"It's all that was available." The elevator came to a stop and they got out, JJ following the other woman once more. The room was at the end of the hall and as soon as Erin had the door open, JJ felt her shoulders slump a little in relief. This was real; they were going to get her son back. The lights came on and JJ saw one king size bed dominated the room. "I think I'll sleep on the floor," Erin murmured.

"Nonsense." They stared each other down and JJ watched a faint blush once more stain the woman's fair skin. "The bed is plenty big enough for the two of us to sleep in it without touching." Setting her bag on the dressed, she pawed through it and tossed a nightshirt to Erin. "Here, wear that to bed." Turning back, she quickly stripped down to her panties before pulling another long shirt over her head.

When she went to get into bed, Erin was setting her clothes carefully on the chair next to the bed. Then she turned the lights off and crawled into bed. JJ barely felt the bed dip, and she turned to look at the other woman. "I set a wakeup call for eight with the front desk," she whispered and JJ nodded. At the movement, Erin turned to face the wall and JJ sighed as she let sleep steal over her exhausted mind.

The phone ringing woke her up hours later. Sitting up, she saw that Erin and she had moved closer together during their sleep, as if their bodies had sought out the warmth of each other. Reaching over, she picked up the phone and answered to hear an automated voice informing her that this was their wakeup call. Erin still slept, so JJ carefully disentangled herself from the sheets and slipped into the bathroom to take a quick shower. By the time she was back in the main room, Erin was dressed, her hair and makeup done.

"Do you want to head down and grab something to eat before we go claim Henry?" she asked, looking at a spot somewhere over JJ's shoulder.

"That would be nice," she replied as she twisted her hair up and stuck a clip on it. Picking up her purse, she let Erin lead them out of the room. She was slightly shocked when the woman eschewed the elevator, instead choosing the stairwell. "Fifteen flights of stairs at eight in the morning," she murmured as they started down.

"It's not like I get much experience in the field. I have to get my exercise somehow. Better down than up." JJ could hear the smile in Erin's voice and nodded, though she knew the other woman couldn't see her. "Have you thought about what you're going to say to Will?"

"No, but I hope it comes to me when we get to his aunt's house."

"Be tough as nails and do not back down one iota. You are in the right here and he will either give us Henry or come home on the jet with us. Those are his two options – that is what you will tell him. I will bring up the small matter of your being a federal employee and that anything done against you is a serious offense." Erin paused at the lobby level and waited for her to catch up. "And if he gives you hell, I'll have him arrested."

A tight, wounded, look passed over her face and JJ nodded. "I have complete faith in you, Erin." The woman bobbed her head once and they continued on to where the continental breakfast was set up. Suddenly, JJ's stomach was all knotted up and she passed on everything except two slices of toast and a cup of coffee. The only thing in Erin's hands was a glass of orange juice.

"If things should go south for any reason, grab Henry and go. I'll hold him off as long as I can." She sipped at her juice as if she expected JJ not to remark on the comment.

"I don't think so. We go in and out together," she said, then she took a large bite of toast, figuring two could play at this game of hers. Erin merely raised her eyebrow as JJ continued to eat. When she'd finished, they stood and she led them over to the concierge desk. "Excuse me, we'll need a cab with a toddler seat in it, please."

"Just one moment, ladies." The man made a quick call and then led them over to the door. Within two minutes there was a cab there and they got in. Nervous anticipation filled her stomach and she tapped her fingers against her thigh as the cab came closer and closer to his aunt's house.

"Wait here, please," she heard Erin say as they got out and began to go up the walk. Will had the door open before they knocked, a shocked, defeated, look on his face. "I take it you know why we're here, Mr. LaMontagne. If you hand over Henry, we can all go on with our lives. This is not how you want to deal with this situation."

"You just had to bring Strauss into it, cher." Will looked at her and she saw the anger boiling beneath the hangdog look he was putting on for the other woman. "Aunt Tammy, go get Henry, will you?" he called out, not moving from the door. He kept his eyes on JJ the entire time it took for his aunt to return with her son.

"Expect to find a court date set up when you return to Virginia. I'm through with you, Will." JJ took her son from the aunt's arms and stalked off, Erin keeping up with her as they went back to the waiting cab.

"Would you take us back to the hotel?" Erin asked as JJ buckled Henry into the car seat. Henry babbled on the entire ride and she listened to him, a smile on her face.

Back at the hotel, Erin took Henry up to the room while JJ went down the street to find a grocer. While she was in line with some juice boxes and crackers for her son, her phone rang. Pulling it out, she saw it was Will. "What do you want?"

"Just because you had that she-devil with you doesn't mean you'll keep me from my son. I'm coming for him and for you, cher. You can count on that. When you least expect it, I will take him back and you will never see us again."

"Don't count on that. After this little stunt, I'll get full custody and you won't get within an inch of my son." She hung up and tried to calm herself as she paid for the items. She walked briskly back to the hotel and tapped her foot impatiently as she waited for the elevator.

"And that's why Mama will always love and protect you, Henry," she heard Erin softly say as she opened the door to their room. "And she will always be by your side, because she's a good mama who would do anything for you."

"Why you cwy Win?" Her son's voice tugged at her heartstrings, and JJ leaned against the door, watching them

"I just miss my children, Henry." He hugged her tightly and JJ watched Erin's shoulders shake as she cried.

"Hey, has Miss Erin been telling you stories while I was gone?" she asked, needing to let Erin know she was there.

"Yeah, Mama! Your friend is so nice! Like Miss Penny, only sadder. You should make her happy, Mama."

Erin tried to look away quickly, but JJ saw the tears still rolling down her cheeks. "I'm going to try, Henry. But you have to help me, okay?" He nodded and hugged Erin once more, giving her a slobbery toddler kiss. "Do you want to go home now, baby?"

"Yeah! Can Win come with us?" He looked up at her expectantly, his little hands still around Erin's waist.

"Well, she'll be on the plane with us, but she has her own home to go to."

"No! She comes home with us!" Henry frowned, his lower lip stunk in a pout.

JJ sighed. "We'll discuss this on the plane." She packed up her things quickly and turned back to look at them. Henry was nuzzling into Erin's chest, yawning largely. "Ready to go?" He looked at her and nodded, then turned his face back into Erin's shoulder. JJ picked up Erin's purse and they went out to the elevators.

As Erin rocked Henry back and forth, JJ checked them out and had a cab hailed for them. Erin loaded her son into the car seat and then climbed in the front next to the driver. When they reached the airfield, the pilot was just starting up the plane and once more, Henry decided to cling to Erin.

The plane had barely taken off when Henry and Erin fell asleep, and JJ smiled at them. Her phone rang and she answered it. "What is it, Hotch?"

"We're heading out on a new case. Where are you?"

"Coming home from New Orleans. Will took Henry last night and I went to bring him home."

"Well, I need you on this case. What's your ETA?"

"About two hours if the tailwind holds up. And I have no one to…no, never mind, I think I have someone who will take care of Henry until I get home. And you can't leave until I'm home anyway. I have the jet."

"And who approved that?"

"Strauss. I'll see you in two hours, Sir." She slipped her phone into her pocket and sat back in her seat to take in how peacefully they slept, seemingly unaware of the turmoil that surrounded them. As they got closer to Quantico, JJ woke Erin.

"Yes, Jennifer?" she asked softly, disentangling herself from Henry's grasp.

"There's a new case for our team and we're going to head out as soon as the jet gets refueled. I hate to be such a burden, but there's no one to watch Henry. Do you know of any good…?"

"I'll watch him. He seems comfortable with me, and until you can find someone you're comfortable with, I can do this." The determination in her voice belied the sadness in her eyes and JJ nodded.

"Thank you, Ma'am. I'm sure this will make Henry happy."

"That is all that matters in the end, Jennifer." Erin looked away from her to watch Henry. "Do you want me to take him to my home?"

"He might not like that. Would you mind going to our place? There's a guest room, so you can sleep. Erin?"

"Yes, Jennifer?"

Their eyes locked and JJ suddenly forgot what she was going to say. "Uh, Henry's potty training, still. We're using stickers as a reward. Every time he gets ten, he can pick a prize from the box."

"Anything else I should know?"

"He likes to cuddle before he goes to sleep. If he wakes up in the middle of the night, we usually let him crawl in with us. My cellphone number is on the fridge. If you have any questions, just call."

Henry sat up, rubbing his eyes. "My ears hurt, Mama."

"That's because we're landing, baby. Listen, Mama has to go to work when we land. Miss Erin is going to take care of you until I get home. Be good for her, okay?" He nodded. "Okay, I'll hold you to that."

The plane touched down and JJ could see they were still alone at the airfield. Erin lifted Henry into her arms once more while JJ dug her keys out of her purse. "Mama, kiss me?"

"Of course, Henry." She kissed his cheek softly, smiling at his giggle. "Remember, your best behavior."

"I know, Mama. Kiss Win, too?" JJ looked at Erin, who shrugged, looking at the floor. JJ leaned forward once more, quickly kissing Erin's cheek. "Yay, Mama! I love you."

"I love you, too, baby." They got off the plane and JJ watched Erin load Henry in the car and drive off as Hotch and the others pulled up. Sighing, she waved her hand in welcome, wondering if she had done the right thing. And yet somehow she knew Erin would need this time with her son to heal. And really, that was all that mattered.