Title: I'm With You
Pairing: JJ/Emily
Summary: Music beats compartmentalizing.
Disclaimer: I don't own Emily, JJ or any other characters from 'Criminal Minds', but I do own all of the lyrics used in this fic!
"Home, sweet home!" was the first thing I exclaimed when I walked into my apartment. We just finished a really long case, and it was good to be home. My head and body ached for sleep, but I knew that as soon as I close my eyes I'll be hunted by the case. So instead I find an apple (the last one), grabbed a bottle of water and sat down on the couch.
When I first joined the team and JJ and Hotch asked me how I do the job without a second thought I said compartmentalizing, but it's only half true. Sure I do compartmentalize better than most people, but what really gets me trough the days are music. Growing up as a daughter of an Ambassador 'play-time' was limited, but wherever we lived there were always a piano. When I was nine some of the household staff started to tutor me and I fell in love. When my mother discovered my love for music, she payed for lessons; not only on piano, but guitar, violin and vocals. For my sixteenth birthday my parents gave me a beautiful piano, witch is still in their house in Virginia. The piano never fitted my apartment, but I brought with me my guitars, my Taylor 910 and my Taylor GA8-12 12 strings guitar.
So here I am. My 910 is lying next to me on the couch while I scribble some lyrics down on a sheet. A look over the words and hum the melody that formed in my head; changing a word here and there. Picking up the guitar I hum through the melody while slowly strumming the chords I've chosen. Adding a 9 here or changing it from a regular major chord to a major sus4. As I make the changes I scribble them down on the paper. I can already feel some of the tension and feelings from the case disappear.
"Whenever you smile, you make my day brighter
When you tell me it'll be okay, I believe you"
Yeah, it's perfect. As I put down the finishing touches I hear a knock on my door. I put the pen and the sheet down on the coffee table, place the guitar back on the couch before I make my way to open the door.
"JJ?" On the other side of my door is my best friend Jennifer Jareau, tears streaming down her face and she is cradling a sleeping three-year-old Henry in her arms.
"Emily, I..." Her eyes are desperately seeking comfort, and without a blink I pull her into my apartment. I take Henry from her arms and push her softly towards my living room.
"Wait for me in the living room, I'll just put Henry on my bed." The blonde slowly nodes and walks to the couch. My heart breaks when I see her look so defeated. This is not the JJ I know. Sighing I walk down the hall to my bedroom. After placing Henry in the middle of the bed, I stuff pillows around him so he won't roll over and fall down. Softly kissing his little forehead I silently walk out of the room, leaving the door slightly ajar, and walk into my living room.
On the couch JJ is sitting in one of the corners, her legs pulled up to her chest and arms wrapped around her legs. I slowly make my way over and sit next to her. I wrap my arms around her and pull her into a hug. After a few seconds she relaxes and snuggles into me. I can feel her warm tears soaking my shirt, but right now I don't care. I don't know what else to do than to hold her. I try to whisper calming words to her, but it doesn't seam to help. Remembering from when I was a child and scared my grandfather singing to me always calmed me down. I know that it's not the same, but I can't stand to see the beautiful blonde in so much pain, so I softly start to hum.
Before I know it, lyrics are forming in my head along with a melody. Once I open my mind the song floats out.
"One look in your eyes
and it's there
One tear on your cheek
and it's clear
I see the loneliness in your eyes
and I hear the emptiness in your words
If you wanna scream, I'll scream with you
If you feel like crying, I'll cry too
And when you get lost in the dark
I'll be there
I'm here
I'm with you
I can see what he's done,
he has hurt you for the last time
I can see he is gone
he has taken a part of you
I know that right now you want to die
but I hope you'll let me catch you before you fly
If you wanna scream, I'll scream with you
If you feel like crying, I'll cry too
And when you get lost in the dark
I'll be there
I'm here
I'm with you
Right now my words cannot soothe you
and I can't take away the pain
But I'm here, if you need me
I won't go away, I'll wait for you
'cause if you wanna scream, I'll scream with you
If you feel like crying, I'll cry too
And when you get lost in the dark
I'll be there
I'm with you
If you wanna scream, I'll scream with you
If you feel like crying, I'll cry too
And when you get lost in the dark
I'll be there
I'm here
I'm with you
I'm with you
I'm with you."
JJ's sobs slowly fades trough the song, and when I finish the last line she looks up at me. Her blue eyes are filled with tears, but a small smile is tugging on her lips.
"I didn't know you could sing." She whispers before burying her head, once again, in the crock of my neck. I just shrug my shoulders and smiles down to her.
"If it helps I'll sing to you every minute of every day," My whisper left my mouth before I got a chance to think it over. Shit! But JJ just lifts her head and meets my gaze.
"You're the best Emily."
After sitting in silence for a while, JJ's breath has turned back to normal. She's almost sitting in my lap now, not that it bothers me, and playing with my necklace. Out of nowhere her stomach growls, and we burst out in laughter.
"Where are my manners!" I silently curse myself, before making an attempt to untangle myself from the blonde. "Would you like something to eat or drink, JJ? I probably should have asked you that an hour ago."
JJ holds me firmly in place, it's like she thinks I'll leave her when I get up.
"No, Emily! You are the perfect hostess! I am the one that should think about my manners! I mean coming bursting in someone's door like that, with Henry. You're so good to my Emily." JJ looks pleadingly into my eyes, trying to reassure me.
"You know I'd do anything JJ." I smile softly and squeeze her shoulder. "How 'bout dinner?" It's way past dinnertime, but I'm starting to get hungry too and I'm guessing that JJ didn't eat dinner either. After a quick check list in my head I remember that I currently have no food except a jar of pickles and a jar of peanut butter. "I would cook for you, but I just remembered that the only thing I have to offer is pickles with peanut butter." I smile apologetic, but she just smiles.
"I think I'll pass that one. Take out?"
"Sure, what do you fancy?"
"Pizza?" She thinks for a moment before she answers.
"Peperoni and pineapple coming up." I smile and reach for my phone. "I'll be right back, I'm just gonna go and get the number. Do you want anything to drink?" She releases the grip on me, letting me get to my feet.
"I'll have the same as you. If you don't mind?" Her confidence fades and it makes me wonder, JJ is always so calm and confident.
"No, I don't mind at all. Why would I sit by myself and drink a bottle of wine and only offer you water?" I smile softly and brush some of her hair from her face and tuck it behind her ear. She sighs happily as I make my way into the kitchen to call in our order and find a nice bottle of wine to share with her, the woman I'm in love with and would do anything for.