AN: okay guys so I decided to switch it up and write some Jemily to help me get through writers block and it quickly got out of control. Probably gonna be a three shot but maybe more depending on reviews so please let me know what you think. Enjoy!

Blood drips down her arms and stops my heart. Her blonde hair is streaked with dirt and her pale cheeks are caked with dried tears. She's hunched over the sink in the small barn belonging to our unsub, trying desperately to pull herself together. She's battered and bleeding but at least she's alive.

"Jennifer?" I ask hesitantly. I'm shaking and I hope she doesn't hear the fear in my voice. Whipping around, gun aimed at my face, JJ's eyes are wild and clouded over. "Whoa, it's me Jayje; it's only me."

The tensed muscles of her shoulders slowly relax and she places the gun back in its holster. "Don't scare me like that!" my team member sighs heavily and looks down at the dirt floor. "I'm sorry Em. I guess I'm just still on edge."

"It's okay, don't worry about it." Smiling sympathetically I lean against the door frame and cross my arms even though all I want to do is reach out and comfort her. "I just wanted to check on you. Do you need anything?"

After a long pauses, JJ looks up at me. Her clear blue eyes are swimming with tears. "How do you do it? None of this seems to get to you."

I'm slightly stunned by her question and fumble for words awkwardly. "Um, I guess I'm good at compartmentalizing." I ring my hands together, playing with my fingernails for a distraction. Truth be told I'm mostly too numb to be severely affected by our cases anymore. When all you see every day is death it becomes the norm. I used to go home at night and cry every time we were too late to save someone or whenever the pressure became too much. Now I just open a beer and fall straight asleep. But seeing JJ like this, clearly in tremendous pain, makes me feel like I'm hurting too. For some reason she has this power over me.

I'm about to tell her all this when Hotch pokes his head into the tiny bathroom. "Have you changed your mind about the hospital JJ? If you're not going to go then you have to at least go back to the hotel for the night; preferably accompanied by Emily."

Sighing again, JJ tosses the bloody bandage into the garbage can and puts her hand on her hip. "I don't need a babysitter Hotch."

"I know, but you shouldn't be driving with the injury on your arm. There's not much more we can do tonight anyway." Grumbling at her wounded pride JJ simply nods. "Alright, I'll see you two tomorrow morning. We're meeting with local PD at 7:30 sharp."

"Got it." I offer the team leader a smile and a quick good night before he goes back to the rest of the team, leaving JJ and I alone again. "Ready?"

Nodding, JJ leads the way to the car. She tries not to wince as she buckles the seatbelt with her injured arm but I notice. "You need some help?" Biting her lip in defiance JJ tries one more time before conceding and letting me strap her in.

The ride goes by in mostly silence, neither of us knowing what to say. It's a comfortable silence though, one that we seem to share in peace. When we arrive back at the hotel JJ slowly gets out of the car and rubs her temples. "I need a hot shower and a glass of wine."

Chuckling, I nod in agreement. "That can definitely be arranged." I discretely weave my arm through Jennifer's, knowing that she needs the help but is unwilling to address it out of fear of looking weak. She gives me a small smile in acknowledgement.

We both collapse onto our respective twin beds as soon as we enter the hotel room. "After that barn floor this lumpy mattress feels like heaven."

"I bet a bath would feel even better. Do you want me to run one for you?"

JJ bites her lip. "If you don't mind I'd really appreciate it."

"No problem. You've had a rough day, the least I can do is run you a bath." It really is the least I can do. Jennifer got attacked by an insane unsub, almost mauled to death by a pack of dogs, and probably blames herself for Spencer being kidnapped. She needs a break.

When JJ returns from her bath in comfy pajama sweats and a tee-shirt all the words I wanted to say disappear back down my throat. She's my best friend, the person I trust most in this world. I want to let her know that I'm here for her when she's ready to talk and that none of what happened is her fault. Mostly I want to tell her that I love her. But even with six languages under my belt words fail me.

Luckily JJ seems to sense my inner struggle and simply rests her head on my shoulder. I wrap my arms around her waist and hug her tighter. "It's gonna be okay, Jaje."

"That's just what I needed to hear." Sniffling back another round of sobs, JJ buries her face further into my neck. "Thank you Emily."

We stay like that for an hour, JJ crying on my shoulder and me kissing the top of her head. After a little while the woman beside me snores softly as she drifts off to sleep. Tomorrow, I decide. I'll tell her everything tomorrow.