Chapter Text
JJ was sitting in the quad during her lunch break looking over a file when a shadow fell over her. She looked up to see the newest member of the team.
“Hey, mind if I sit?”
“Not at all,” JJ shuffled her paperwork away.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt what you were doing.”
“Oh, no, I was waiting for a reason to put that away and give my brain a rest.” JJ chuckled. “I would much rather chat about…anything, but a casefile right now.”
Tara sat down and set out her meal before speaking, “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.” JJ propped her arms on the table.
“Is it a part of being on the team that Hotch controls everything? Like, does he force everyone to give up that control? Or is it something he only does to the more submissive people?”
JJ tilted her head, “Control? Hotch doesn’t force anyone on the team to do anything. Though, sometimes he wishes he could. We are able to do what we do because everyone is equal. What made you think that?”
“Garcia. This situation with her. He pretty much told her she had to hide under his thumb at Quantico and it didn’t seem like she was really given the option of witness protection. I mean, I know it was brought up, but it didn’t seem presented as an actual option. And she just accepted his decision about it.”
The blond smiled and shook her head. “Hotch doesn’t trust witness protection. Garcia knows that, and why, she wouldn’t have gone unless it was the only viable option.” She got quiet a moment, “none of us would.”
“Oh.” The taller agent watched the others around the quad. “Is this one of those things that the team just doesn’t talk about?”
JJ’s eyes snapped up to meet hers.
“Something Derek said.”
“Yeah. Most of us have worked together for years. Once you’re a part of this family though, you are never not a part. This family is forever and if you think you can get away, you clearly don’t know Garcia well.” She laughed. “Look. Hotch, he looks out for everyone. Not to be controlling, because he has no problem being told to butt out. But he worries. He fears that something could happen to someone and he wouldn’t be able to step in in time.” She finally took a swig from the bottle in her hand, “I can’t blame him for that. Just like we accept the unique magic that is Penelope and all that makes Spence, Spence. We also allow Hotch to have his fears. Rossi is the best at talking him down and believe me, nothing gets past him.”
“So if it was you in trouble?” Tara finished up her meal and began shuffling everything back into the bag.
“It has been me a time or two. And he will literally more heaven and earth. For Morgan, for Spencer, even for Rossi but Rossi seems to have a knack for avoiding major trouble.”
The two women stood to head inside.
“And what gives you the idea Penelope is submissive?”
“Huh? Oh. She just, compared to everyone else anyway,” Tara shrugged.
“She has no problem standing toe to toe with him, or anyone on the team, and defending herself. She just tends to be the person whose boundaries are most respected. I think she just overwhelms the guys into compliance.”
The both laughed.