A/N: Time for more JJ and Will fluff! Just a short one-shot. Post-200, right after the episode ends. First time I've tried to write something that ties in with an actual storyline. Hope you like it and let me know what you think!
Also, if anyone's been reading it, I haven't forgotten Ready or Not and have written a few more chapters but just need to fix the one that connects them to the rest of the story.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything to do with Criminal Minds etc. etc.
The noisy, crowded bar and her friends' high spirits had prolonged the effects of the adrenaline on her body. For a while she had enjoyed their company; she had enjoyed the normality of the evening. But now JJ was exhausted and parts of her body she never knew existed were starting to hurt. She and Will had slowly strayed from the group and were standing together, watching the others from several feet away.
"Can we go home?" she whispered against her husband's chest as she swayed tiredly on her feet and allowed him to support more of her weight.
"Sure we can. Are you doin' OK?" Will asked, his lips pressed against her forehead. She shook her head slowly, remembering her promise of no more lies. He pulled away slightly and observed the look of discomfort on her face. "What's wrong?" he frowned.
"I'm just not feeling great – I'm really tired and my ribs hurt," she replied, quietly so as not to worry the others. He nodded in understanding.
"Let's go home," he agreed, turning himself and his wife back towards their friends so they could say goodbye.
"Is everything alright?" Hotch asked as they returned to the group.
"We're gonna head home," Will explained, keeping a comforting arm wrapped around JJ's shoulders. The team were disappointed that their night together was coming to an end but they could see that JJ needed some rest. Emily stepped forward to say goodbye to her friend and Will released JJ into her arms.
"Sorry, we're disappearing so early," JJ apologised. "I know you'll be leaving soon…" she trailed off. Emily shook her head.
"Don't worry about it," the brunette reassured her with a shake of her head. "You should be resting at home. And you can always take a vacation to London to visit me," she reminded her friend.
"I know," JJ nodded. The exhaustion and trauma from the past few days had left her emotional and she felt tears pooling in her eyes. "Emily, if you hadn't been here today; if you hadn't been able to help... I just… I can't even…" she struggled for words to express her fears over what could have happened. "Thank you."
"I was glad I could help," Emily smiled, tightening their hug but being careful not to aggravate JJ's injuries. "Now let Will take care of you – it's what he's there for!" she chuckled. "We'll speak soon."
"I'll call you when you're back in London," JJ promised as she stepped back towards her husband. Will draped his wife's jacket around her shoulders and pulled her close. They said goodbye to the others before stepping out into the cool night air.
"None of them mind you leavin'," Will reassured her, placing a kiss on her head as they crossed the street towards the car.
"I know," she murmured. "I don't know what's wrong with me." He opened the passenger side door, and helped her into the car, pausing to look her directly in the eye before he closed the door.
"There's nothin' wrong with you," he smiled. "You just need to rest. And let me take care of you," he added. "It's what I'm there for," he grinned and she returned a weak smile as he repeated Emily's words.
/
/
"Henry's fast asleep," Will informed JJ, joining her in their bedroom after he had checked on their son. They had arrived home ten minutes earlier and quickly thanked and paid the babysitter. All JJ wanted was to lie down on her own bed and be alone with her family.
"Good," she smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. She was currently perched on the end of the bed, staring at her reflection in the mirror. She seemed to have aged a decade in the time that had passed since she last saw her reflection. The dark circles encased her eyes and all colour had washed out of her face.
"What do you need?" he asked, sitting beside her and taking hold of her hand.
"I can't get my sweater off," she muttered dryly, a humourless chuckle and a wave of tears choking her. Her arms were weak and aching from being chained above her for so long.
"I've got it," Will soothed. Carefully, he eased one arm, and then the other, out of the garment. He moved her slowly, trying not to cause any unnecessary pain. "How 'bout you sleep in one of my shirts?" he suggested as he unclipped her bra, his eyes never leaving hers; never drawing attention to her injuries. If she wore one of his shirts she wouldn't have to stretch her arms over her head to dress. She nodded and he stood up and crossed to the dresser.
"Thank you," she said, in a delayed response to his assistance. He returned to her side and helped her into an old white shirt, crouching on the floor in front of her to do up the buttons. Seeing just how tired she was, he slowly unzipped and pulled off her jeans. He hated the way she tensed as his hands brushed over her thighs; he dreaded to think what that animal had threatened to do.
"You need to lie down now," he instructed, when she continued to sit on the bed and stare into space. "Come on, JJ." He ran his hand through her hair, pushing stray strands of blonde behind her ears. She gazed into his eyes but still she didn't respond. In one careful movement he lifted her from the bed and into his arms and, instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his neck. Supporting her with one arm, he pulled back the covers, before setting her down on the soft sheets.
"Thanks," she breathed once again.
"Stop sayin' that," he replied, kissing her forehead. "You don't need to thank me." He pulled the covers over her and smoothed down her hair. "Go to sleep," he instructed softly.
"Don't leave me," she whispered, in an uncharacteristic outburst of neediness, when he stepped away from the bed.
"I'm right here," he assured her. "I'm just gettin' changed and then I'll be with you." She watched him as he undressed. Her eyes were heavy and she could hardly focus her vision but she was scared that if she looked away he'd be gone and she'd be back with Askari in the basement.
"Will?" she asked, struggling to stay conscious as he settled down in the bed beside her.
"Yeah?" he responded, slowly wrapping his arm around her, mindful that she was in pain.
JJ's head filled with all the things she wanted to say to him. She wanted to share her heartbreak over the baby they had lost; she wanted to apologise a hundred times for failing to tell him; she wanted to tell him that he and Henry were the only reason she had managed to survive; she wanted to tell him she loved him. But the words jumbled up and were lost somewhere between her hazy mind and tired muscles. So instead she stared up at his gentle, caring eyes and willed him to, somehow, understand what she wanted him to know.
As he absent-mindedly stroked her hair, Will's mind was also filled with thoughts he could not seem to voice. He needed to be close to her. He needed to be touching her just so he could be one hundred percent sure that she was there - that she was alive. He wanted to tell her that he couldn't live without her; to tell her that she could not scare him like that again. He had to be sure that she knew that they would have another child but that even if they didn't, he had all he needed right here. But just like his wife, he couldn't form the sentences required to say any of these things out loud.
So they held their gaze for several moments and in that time reached a silent agreement that they were together and safe, and that everything else could wait until morning.
"Close your eyes," he whispered. "I'll be right here."
And despite everything that had happened, JJ had all the reassurance she required, and drifted into a deep and restful sleep.
