Spencer Reid: Afterlife

Disclaimer: I don't own anything!

AN: Thanks for the reviews! Here's the next chapter. I've made Henry just a tad younger to fit my purposes. Hope you don't mind. Enjoy!

Chapter Eleven: Henry

JJ felt guilty. Really guilty.

She was starting to realise how they'd all acted towards Reynolds since he arrived, and she felt sick to the stomach.

Never in her life had she treated someone that way, and deep down she knows it's not what Spence would have wanted.

So as she walks through the BAU that morning – January 2nd – with Henry squirming in her arms, she vowed that she was going to make it right.

"Mama!" Henry reached a chubby hand for her face, sensing her distress.

JJ gave her pride and joy a soft smile. "I'm okay sweetie."

He seemed to calm down after that, but when they entered the bullpen and he immediately called "'Pence!", she began to regret her decision to bring him to work.

So far they didn't have a case. Only paperwork called, and with Will on patrol and Marie still on holiday, JJ thought it made sense to bring Henry with her.

She hadn't thought about the impact on Henry, or the impact Henry would have on the team.

The guilt seemed to increase again, even more so when Emily turned their way, tears already misting at Henry's cry.

"Hey little man." Morgan walked in behind her, though JJ knew from his own tears that he had also heard Henry. Nevertheless, the male profiler tickled Henry's tummy, causing the toddler to giggle wildly.

Morgan smiled at JJ. "I've missed the little guy."

JJ returned the affection, but her smile too was a little sad. She hadn't really brought Henry around because of Spence. The toddler was too young to understand what had happened. Henry simply knew that he didn't see Uncle Spencer anymore, and that hurt JJ more than she could have imagined.

She'd named Spence, her best friend, as Henry's godfather because she knew the man would do – would have done – everything in his power to make sure Henry was safe and educated if something ever happened to her or Will.

JJ had never thought about Spence leaving them first, and not so soon after.

"He's missed you too Morgan."

Their little bubble was broken however by Morgan's next words. "Strauss wants us to do a group psych eval."

JJ's jaw literally dropped. "Again? Doesn't she think we've been through enough?"

Morgan agreed with a low sigh, shaking his head. "We got no choice in the matter JJ. She thinks we're still hung up over Reid."

JJ's fists actually clenched. "Hung up is the wrong word completely. He was my best friend. That isn't going to go away."

Morgan put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I know. But like I said. We've got no choice."

JJ sighed softly and unclenched her fists. "Let's just get it over with."

But then her eyes drifted downwards, and –

"What about Henry?"

"Baby girl's in there too." Morgan replied, ruffling the child's blonde mop. "So you'll have to leave him with Anderson for a while."

JJ nodded, but deep down she knew that Anderson wasn't that comfortable with kids, and Henry wasn't that comfortable with him.

Her eyes scanned the bullpen, but she found only Reynolds, filing paperwork.

"I'll be with you in a minute Derek."

Morgan nodded and moved away to the round table room, presumably where the evals were taking place.

Once he was out of sight, JJ gingerly made her way to Reynolds, her nerves showing through ever so slightly as she chewed her lip.

"Are you alright?" Reynolds asked her immediately, before she even got over to him. He turned in his chair, concern in his eyes. "You're biting your lip which means you're nervous."
JJ swallowed. This was going to be harder than she thought. He looked so much like Reid, especially when worried. Especially when worried about her.

"I, uh… I was wondering if you would look after Henry for me for a while?"

Reynolds' eyes immediately shifted up to the round table room. "Psych evals? Trust me, I know they suck."

JJ couldn't help but laugh a little and she found the tension easing from her body. "You could say that."

Reynolds flashed her a smile. "Sure, I'll watch the little guy."

JJ let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. A small part of her wasn't sure Reynolds would accept the olive branch she was holding. Not after the way the whole team (Minus Garcia) had acted over Christmas. "Thanks."

She gently placed Henry on the floor, who toddled over to Reynolds with a bright smile on his face. "Pence!"

The look on Reynolds' face deserved to be captured on camera. He looked completely and utterly dumbfounded.

JJ meanwhile looked horrified. "Henry baby, no. That's not Uncle Spencer."

"Pence!"

Shaking away his stupor, Reynolds simply laughed. Scooping Henry up with practiced ease, he whispered into the young child's ear.

Henry giggled, but didn't yell Spencer's name again.

"We'll be fine." Reynolds smiled at her. "You don't want to be late."

JJ was shocked at how natural Reynolds was with Henry, but she forced a smile, covering the pain that came with the brief thought of him replacing Spencer for Henry. She wanted – needed – to give the man a chance. "Thanks Sam."

"No problem Agent Jareau."

"Call me JJ."

When JJ left the Psych Evals over an hour later, she was happy to see Henry playing away, a spacecraft looking object in his hands.

"That's a tie fighter." Sam explained to him, and Henry giggled with glee.

JJ's smile saddened slightly, though she was happy to see the two getting along. Spence had always said he would teach Henry about Star Wars.

Slowly she made her way over. She didn't want to interrupt them, but it was past Henry's breakfast time.

As she got closer however, she was shocked to see the remnants of a dish of fruit beside Henry.

"Seedless grapes, strawberries and small chunks of pineapple." Sam listed just as JJ said them in her mind. "He was getting hungry. I hope you don't mind."

"O…Of course not…" She didn't mind, of course, but she was shocked that he would know Henry's favourite breakfast dish.

"My godson loved it too." Sam informed her, giving Henry's tummy a little tickle, and she could see a sadness in his smile.

"What happened?" The words were out of her mouth before she could even think.

"This job." Sam replied, looking up at her. She would see a small amount of tears collecting. "I don't really get any time with him." He glanced back down at Henry, the smile widening slightly.

"I'm sorry." For the first time since he'd arrived, Sam seemed human. To JJ at least. Not Spence's replacement anymore. Just Sam.

"I'm okay." He replied, but she didn't have to be a profiler to know it was a lie. Again, she found the words coming out of her mouth before she could think them. "You're welcome to come see Henry. He clearly loves you."

"Sam! Sam!" Henry giggled at her words before raising his arms to her to be picked up. JJ willingly obliged, holding him close. The psych eval had dregged up some back memories, and Henry always made them better.

Sam seemed shocked at her words, but his smile quickly turned from sad to joyful. "Really?" Once again, the similarities between him and Spencer – that almost child like happiness – hurt.

Still, JJ stayed smiling. "Of course. Me and Will would love the extra company."

"Thanks JJ." This time, it was Sam left feeling grateful.

"For what?"

"Giving me a chance."