This is set at an earlier part of their relationship.
I own nothing.
"Come to bed, babe," JJ says, stroking my shoulder as she appears behind me.
"I will soon. Just give me a minute," I reply, scanning a file.
"You never sleep, do you?"
"What? Of course I do. You've seen me sleep," I retort, but I start to blush.
"Yeah, only after sex do you sleep. Any other time, you're up until three and then sleep restlessly until six. And somehow, miraculously, you function all day."
"I just… I'm not good at sleeping," I lamely reply.
"When did it start?" JJ asks curiously.
"When I was fourteen," I tell her.
"Come on, really?"
"Yeah. I was living in Spain and was with a rougher crowd. We would go to parties every night, or roam Barcelona with drinks and spray paint. I got into a habit of not falling asleep until late, and since my teenage stuff didn't end for a long time, my brain got used to lack of sleep. Then I started college and was up studying or going to parties or working late nights at a diner. After that I started working, and that required a lot of late nights too. And now at the BAU, I'm up with files or cases. So, don't worry. I'm used to lack of sleep," I explain.
"Damn. When I was fourteen I thought I was adventurous when I snuck out," JJ laughs, but it has an undercurrent of sadness.
"I'm glad you didn't do the things I did," I reply honestly. My teenage years were a blur of cities, drugs, and skin. JJ rubs my back and leans in, resting her head on my shoulder, her breath tickling my ear.
"Come lay with me. Even if you don't sleep, it's better than working. Come tell me about your crazy youth and all the things you did."
"It's not exactly a pretty bedtime story," I say.
"But it's yours," she says, kissing my cheek. "And I sleep better with you wrapped around me."
I stand and turn around, giving her a soft kiss before heading to our bedroom with her leaning on me sleepily.
I'll tell her bedtime stories for the rest of my life.
