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JJ takes a deep breath as she walks over to the waiting room to tell the team what has happened to Emily.
This isn't how she wants it to be. She knows that the rest of the team is going to suffer; she knows the damage that this is going to cost. But as Hotch had said to her, "We don't have much choice." This is about Emily's safety.
She takes the final steps into the small room and sees the team— her friends— sitting anxiously, waiting to hear that Emily is okay.
"She never even made it off the table." She manages to say, fighting back the tears that are now brimming her eyes.
The damage is done.
—
JJ sits in her office as she waits for Garcia to come and get her for their weekly lunch.
It's been 2 weeks since the hospital; 2 weeks since JJ sealed the lie with her own words as she watched the people she cares about grieve and mourn for Emily.
Emily.
JJ hasn't heard anything about her since that night in Paris to give Emily the identity she was supposed to be changing her life to. Which is ultimately a good thing; no news is good news when it came to that situation. She wasn't allowed any contact with her friend unless it was an emergency.
JJ opens a drawer and pulls out a bracelet that Emily had given her a week before her encounter with Doyle. They had breakfast that morning and JJ knew something was going on that Emily wasn't telling them.
"Are you sure you don't want to talk about anything?" JJ asks softly, watching her friend stare at her plate of food, picking her fingernails.
Emily looks up, "No, Jayje. I'm fine."
"Emily—"
"It's just some stuff I'm going through." Emily shakes her head, forcing a smile, "I'm fine."
JJ lets out a sigh, "Okay then."
"But I do have something to give to you." Emily says, going into her purse and pulls out a small box.
JJ looks at Emily with a confused look, "What's that for?"
"It's for you." Emily says, "I want you to have it."
JJ opens the small box and in it sits a beautiful gold bracelet with small jewelled charms. Her mind flashes back to her older sister, but instantly forces herself to focus back on Emily.
"Emily…" JJ begins softly, shaking her head, "You love this bracelet." She puts it back into the box and pushes it towards Emily.
"Jayje, take it." Emily takes JJ's hand and puts the bracelet into her palm. "My dad gave it to me when I joined the FBI, as a gift."
"But why?" JJ asks.
Emily shakes her head and gives JJ a small smile, "I still owe you a birthday present." She says softly.
JJ laughs, "Em, my birthday was months ago."
"Better late than never, right?" Emily smiles.
"But this bracelet means a lot to you." JJ says.
Emily shrugs and lets out a small sigh, "Yeah," she manages, "But you mean a lot more."
"Jayje?"
JJ looks up from her desk, still holding the bracelet in her hand as Penelope walks into her office and takes the seat in front of her desk.
"Hey is that new?" Garcia asks.
JJ shakes her head, "From Emily…" Garcia looks at her in a daze, "She gave it to me a week before…" JJ stops for a second, "You know…" She doesn't want to say the exact words, "I knew in my gut something was going on and I didn't do anything. I couldn't bring myself to force her to talk."
Garcia takes JJ's hand from across the desk, "None of us had any idea…"
JJ nods, "I know." She says softly, "I haven't been able to wear it yet."
Garcia smiles, "It's gorgeous."
JJ forces another smile and plays with the bracelet again.
"I miss her too…" Garcia says quietly.
JJ nods simply, "You ready?" She gets up from her seat and tries to ignore that all too familiar ache in her chest.