"Pull over. Let me drive awhile"
Emily frowned deeply and gripped the steering wheel harder as the blizzard outside the vehicle continued to pound down on them, the wind audibly howling through the cracks in the SUV. She glanced in the rearview mirror to find Reid engrossed in a book. Next to her, JJ was staring pensively out of the windshield, tapping her slender fingers against the armrest set into the door and Emily tried not to be aware of the thoughtful glances the blonde cast her way, burning into the skin of her cheek.
The case in Maine hadn't been a spectacularly difficult one so far, but it had been emotionally draining for Emily at least. Seven women, all closeted lesbians, had been brutally stoned to death in the last six weeks, their bodies left by the side of the road to freeze like road kill. Emily had been especially affected by the crimes. Not that she was in the closet, but she'd barely joined the team and the subject of her sexuality hadn't come up, which she hadn't minded, but seeing the broken and bruised bodies of women who stayed in the closet for precisely the reasons they were murdered for, it was too much.
So far, even Reid had asked her if she was okay, so she knew if he knew something was up with her, she must not be compartmentalizing as well as she thought she was. JJ had seemed on the verge of asking her about it too, but Emily had the feeling when she met questioning blue eyes that JJ already knew and was just looking for confirmation. She didn't seem bothered or surprised and for that, Emily was relieved, as she was really beginning to feel like she and the blonde were getting to be good friends. But still, Emily was a private creature and during a case wasn't the time to bring up her personal affairs. JJ must have agreed because she was careful to avoid how Emily was doing with the stress of the case, just offering a placating touch when her jaw clenched too hard or her anger seemed too close to the surface.
The harsh ring of JJ's phone cut through the wintery ambiance and made Emily jump and swear under her breath, losing control of the car for a few brief seconds but they were going so slow she was able to correct before they fishtailed.
"Hotch." JJ said by way of greeting when she answered the call and letting the other occupants know who was on the other line. "Yeah, we're out in it now…" she glanced down at the GPS in the dash. "We're about an hour out from Bangor but it'll take longer with the blizzard…Great…yeah I'll let them know. Bye." She hung up the phone and put it back in the pocket of her winter coat before addressing them both but looking at Emily. "Hotch says that the lead we got from the sister checks out. Victor Daly is our unsub. They're going to arrest him now."
Emily nodded knowing by 'they' JJ meant Hotch, Gideon, and Morgan. She let out a long sigh as the tightness in her chest loosened for the first time in days but didn't dare take her eyes off the road, refusing to relax not only because of the terrible road conditions, but because she knew she couldn't until Victor Daly was in custody. She tried not to let the battered faces of the victims float through her mind, but they came nevertheless. To her horror, Emily felt her eyes water so she gripped the wheel impossibly tighter, blinking rapidly until her eyes cleared. There was no way in hell she was going to cry in front of the team, even if it was just JJ and Reid. She startled again when she felt the pressure of a hand on her arm. Emily looked over at JJ quickly in acknowledgement, but not meeting the blonde's gaze.
"Pull over." JJ said, her voice soft. "Let me drive for awhile."
Emily frowned, ready to argue, but any excuse died on her tongue when JJ squeezed her arm gently. Sighing, she nodded and pulled over to the shoulder, leaving the car running and the door open as she unbuckled and got out, jogging around the front of the car to get to the passenger's seat. When they passed each other in front of the SUV, JJ reached out a hand and quickly ran it down Emily's arm, whether for comfort or some futile attempt to warm her, she wasn't sure, but it was appreciated nonetheless.
Back in the quiet confines of the car, Emily watched JJ as she carefully repositioned the mirrors and then guided the SUV back onto the highway with the ease of someone who had done a lot of winter driving. JJ turned her head at the feeling of eyes on her and smiled with warm understanding at the older woman, Emily suddenly grateful she'd been out in the maelstrom so that it would hide the blush she could feel creeping up her neck. She settled into her seat and tilted her head back, closing her eyes.