Title: How Hotch Knew

Author: LogicBomb.32

Authors Note: Watched Lauren and the moment JJ stepped out into the waiting room inspired this.

It's in that moment, the moment that the grimace of sadness falls across her face that Hotch knows Emily is alive. He doesn't know how he knows, or why, in this moment of destruction this thought comes to him, but it does. And he knows. He watched as she took a breath, preparing herself for what she's about to do, the lie she's about spread. And she looks at him.

It is naught but a glance, a glance that shows she too is grieving, but she is losing so much more. The team is losing a friend, a colleague, a family member, but JJ is losing everyone else. Soon enough and probably to soon, JJ will return to the Pentagon and she will suffer alone. JJ will live with the knowledge that everyone she holds dear is living the shadow of her lie. She won't forgive herself, and maybe they won't either if the truth ever comes out.

He watches, the world slowing around him as the team, his team, breaks down. They lost someone today…but JJ might lose herself.

I'm not very religious by any means, however I was thinking about doing 40 Days of Fanfiction when Lent rolls around. I would post one FF piece everyday, no word limit and across varying fantoms.

Thoughts?

Logicbomb.32