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BITTERSWEET
:: xxxiv. | secret love affair

Jennifer sat at her desk late at night, there's no rush to get home anymore. Will moved out not too long ago and though she doesn't like it one bit, she didn't want to say anything after all. Her due date was coming soon but this case was her prime focus till then. She needed to protect them and she needed to get to the bottom of what was going on. That meant convincing Vanessa somehow that she can trust jj with whatever she's trying to protect Cole from.

That thought sat in her mind as she looked around the office.

She knew convincing Vanessa was going to be hard but she was up for the challenge. She was up to showing Vanessa that she wasn't going anywhere and that she would always be there. She also needed Vanessa to know how serious it is that her team knows of this crucial information, which is why not only a second later her phone was out and she had sent a quick text to Vanessa.

Just only less than five minutes later, a text was received back. Jj was happy to see that it was from Vanessa and that she agreed to jj coming over. Though it was really late, Jennifer took no time into getting out the office and rushing to Vanessa's.

It was less than thirty minutes before the blonde found herself on the porch of Vanessa's house. She didn't even need to knock for Vanessa to know that someone was out there. The door was soon opened and jj walked into the quiet house.

"Thank you for agreeing to have me over even though it's so late." Jj broke the ice as they made their way to the living room.

Vanessa sat down, "Yeah, well I thought about what you said — you and Morgan. I can protect Cole but her best chance is with you guys."

"So what really happened?" Jj leaned back, trying to get comfortable as possible because being pregnant can be painful sometimes.

"Cole was two when it first happened and I'm grateful she doesn't remember." Vanessa continues, "The door was busted down and people stormed into the house. I had no idea what was going on but Miguel knew exactly what was happening."

"Why were you so scared to tell us?"

"Because —" Vanessa was about to share more to the story but soon a bang was heard outside the house, "Did you hear that?"

Jj pulled out her gun as she stood up, "Stay put."

Vanessa immediately shook her head, "You're pregnant. Therefore, you are in no condition to be looking for trouble."

"And you are? You're not an agent."

"No, shit. But I know how to work a gun, so hand it over." Vanessa stuck out her hand and jj placed it in her hand.

Jj sat back on the couch quietly as Vanessa held up the gun, walking to the front door. Just as she was approaching, the loud bangs were heard again. Vanessa's eyes wandered around suspiciously but before she noticed, a bullet went through the front door and just missed by a hair of Vanessa's shoulder.

"Jj, down now!"

The bullets soon began to fly and it wasn't just the front of the house, it was all over. The loud noise kept erupting as Vanessa began to crawl back to the living room because there was a pregnant agent in there.

Just as she made it to the coffee table, the bullets stopped. Jj and Vanessa both looked at each other. Just before Vanessa could whisper something, jj put her her finger over her mouth instructing Vanessa to stay quiet.

The two heard the front door open and that's when Vanessa quickly, quietly finished crawling next to jj in front of the couch. The two sat there, listening to the door slamming closed.

Then a sigh of relief escaped their lips as soon as they heard that familiar voice.

"Mom!"

Vanessa stood up from the couch and immediately went to bring Cole into an embrace in the hallway.

Jennifer followed and she watched as the two hugged. Her eyes soon wandered around the house and saw all the bullet holes. She had no idea how they were going to pick up the pieces this time and all she could think about was how much worse this case was going to get.

• • •

Soon enough the team was at the house and so was Miguel. Vanessa was with Miguel, talking while jj was outside telling her team what happened.

"What doesn't make sense is how would someone know if Vanessa talked or not?" Emily ask the obvious question.

"Her house has to be bugged." Spencer chimed in.

"And who's dumb enough to do that?" The team gave Morgan a look like he already should know then it just clicked, "Son of a bitch."

"I didn't even get the full story out of her. Just when she was telling me, the bullets started. So whatever happened . . " Jj sighed.

Hotch's phone started ringing from his back pocket. He pulled it out and saw it was Strauss calling. He pressed the green button as he walked away, bringing the phone up to his ear.

She informed him that this case was their top priority now and that she wants it closed as soon as humanly possible. She also suggested that the team bring in Miguel but Hotch fought her a bit because they don't have any evidence incriminating him yet.

So soon the call ended and he found his way back to the team who were still trying to figure out next steps.

"Ok." He approached the group, "We know there's multiple unsubs and we know who one of them is. We need to take them down from the root, Miguel is just a piece of the puzzle." He sighed, "But for now, we sweep the house for bugs and we continue to follow Miguel."

"What about Vanessa? She's still holding information." Emily spoke.

"Bring her in." He simply put.

As the group began to disperse, yelling was heard from inside the house.

• • •

"She's lying Miguel!" Vanessa turned to him, "Right?" He didn't need to say anything for her to know that he messed up. She just looked in his eyes and how glistening they were becoming, she knew. "You're the one about to cry?" She scoffed, "Fuck you."

He grabbed her arm, "It was a stupid mistake. Our divorce was finalized and I was angry. Each time meant nothing."

Vanessa turned to Bethany, "How many kids do you have by him?"

"Three." She blankly said.

Miguel went into a bit of a frenzy, "It meant nothing! It was all after you! I swear!"

She turned back to Miguel and yanked her arm, "The math isn't making sense." She let out a deep sigh as she turned back around to Bethany, "How old is your first kid?"

"Eleven."

Tears began to well up in her eyes, "Did you know?"

"I promise you I didn't at first but afterwards, it wasn't that hard to put the pieces together." Bethany nonchalantly spoke.

Miguel slowly approached Vanessa, "Nessa, love?"

She couldn't move, she couldn't think, she couldn't do anything. She felt paralyzed. The man she loved ever since she was a teenager, who always shared his love for his small family had a hoe on the side the whole time they were together.

What made it worse was that she knew Mabel knew because why else would Miguel's mom had gone to Spain if it wasn't for her other grandchildren.

Vanessa continued to stand there before yelling, "Everyone get out!"

"Mom. . ?"

She looked to her daughter, "You too."

"I didn't — "

"It's not safe here anymore, Cole. Text me when you get to a friend's."

"Mom?" Cole pleaded.

"Go. Please." Vanessa spoke more sternly, she was angry.

Cole sighed in defeat before going upstairs to quickly pack a bag as everyone else began exit the house and neighborhood.

Soon enough, Vanessa was all by herself. She walked to the kitchen and took out a glass from the cabinets. Next was a bottle of wine that she dug around for in her pantry because with a teen in the house, they are very curious.

She poured the red wine in the clear glass. It wasn't even the regular portion, she filled the glass up. She never had a problem with alcohol but she definitely knew this was the beginning to losing herself.

a/n:
sooo here it is !!
i reworked the
middle of the story.
so what i had originally
planned, it changed &&
im so excited to share it
w you all soon !!