Emily Prentiss stays for the next case. And the next one. And the one after that.

While JJ does not feel completely comfortable with the addition, it is clear that she is in the minority. What's more, after her public and furious blow up upon Emily's arrival, her anger had fizzled into sadness that had then melted into a kind of dank embarrassment and humiliation. She had not meant to reveal so much of herself that day, hadn't meant to show everyone how deeply the loss of her sister had hurt her, or how much unresolved fury she had over the murky details of her sister's suicide.

Roslyn had been sixteen and JJ, who was only ten, had thought she was the world. Everything she did was cool and unattainable and magical. Everything Ros did was the right thing to do. Even now, as a rational adult, it is difficult for JJ to reconcile her ten year old hero worship with the flawed and hurting person her sister must have been. And seeing Emily again…well, it just brought all of that back, didn't it? Her father's hands too tight on her shoulders as he shook her, harder than was necessary.

You stay away from people like that.

Her mother's obvious dislike of the teens in their town that wore too much make up, or had more than one piercing. JJ had learned to glare at them on public transportation. She'd gone out for soccer instead of drama. She'd tried to follow her mother's unspoken rules all the way through high school and into college, where her flare for public relations could not be ignored. Only then had she begun to really think about what she wanted.

She hadn't realized how deeply her parents' words were ingrained inside of her until they were spilling out in front of everyone. She had accused Emily Prentiss of…of what? Of putting the idea of suicide into her sister's head? Of putting that slippery little knife into her hand? Of providing the pills?

JJ shakes her head. She had only known Ros for ten years, but what she could say without a shadow of a doubt was that no one told her what to do. No one made her do something she didn't want to do.

So that means…

JJ shakes her head, unwilling to follow that line of thinking any further. For the moment, she wants to protect herself.

So she watches as Emily begins to win over her team. Gideon returns from Guantanamo Bay and tells Hotch that Prentiss was "a helpful addition, pivotal in the prevention of the attack." It's high praise coming from him, and JJ sees Hotch look out over the pen to where Emily is setting up her desk with careful precision, his eyebrows knitted together in thought.

Morgan takes a shine to Emily too. They come back from her qualifications with sweaty brows and wide smiles. "Good shot," He tells the group as a whole. "She might even have you beat, Hotch."

Hotchner allows himself a brief smile. "Doubtful."

"I dunno," Morgan presses cheerfully. "firearms 98, hand to hand 96? Coming off of Interpol, I never would have guessed."

JJ looks to Emily to see how she is handling the praise. The brunette has her head turned away from the group, but her smile is still evident, small and proud.

JJ is not a profiler, but she puts all of her energy into profiling Emily Prentiss. She is fascinated by, and maybe a little jealous of the way that the new agent seems to be able to match her personality to the people that she's with. She can play chess with Gideon and last just as long as Reid. She can crack jokes with Morgan that make him guffaw. Even Penelope seems to warm up to her, and she out of all of them is the least adaptable to change. None of them had been exactly sorry to see Elle leave, but they'd been rubbing along just fine without her. Why fix what isn't broken.

…..

…..

For the most part, they steer clear of each other. Emily seems relieved that there has not been another blow up, and on the next several cases they are assigned, the two see very little of each other. JJ stays at appointed headquarters, wrangling newscasters and journalists, and Prentiss follows Morgan and Gideon into the field, returning at the end of the day with a slightly careworn expression and her work boots scuffed from the streets.

But they cross paths in the middle of Emily's fifth case. They are working the murder of prostitutes in DC, and so they can work it off of their home base. JJ is trying to put together a press conference, but the Congresswoman seems to be blocking her at every turn. She sighs as she sets down the telephone on another dead end.

She doesn't usually like asking for her Boss' help, but she doesn't see any way around it this time. She stands, grabbing the folder on her desk and heads up towards Hotch's office. The door is closed, and JJ is about to knock on the door when she hears Hotch speak.

"I don't appreciate being questioned in front of other agents," he says, and JJ is backing away from what is clearly a reprimand in progress when Emily's voice answers.

"It was not my intention. I apologize."

"What were you talking to the congresswoman about?"

"She stopped by to say hello. She worked with my mother so I've known her since I was a kid," the words are barely out of Prentiss' mouth before Hotch is talking again. He clearly has an agenda. Despite herself, JJ leans closer to the door.

"Did you tip her off about this case?"

"No," Emily's answer is clipped. JJ wishes she could see the other woman's face. Her tone gives nothing away.

"This team can't function if I don't trust the people on it."

JJ expects Emily to cower, to admit wrong doing, or apologize for any perceived insubordinate behavior. Emily does neither.

"Sir, if I touched a nerve out there today, I am sorry. But I don't deserve this."

I don't deserve this. JJ catches her breath.

"I will not put up with a political agenda."

There is a profound silence.

"My mother is a career politician," Emily says finally, and now she sounds emotional. On the verge of anger. "You've met her," she continues. "Did you like her?"

This question seems to bring Hotch up short. "She's an impressive woman," is all he says.

"Well, I think politics makes people distrustful. I think it makes them hate themselves. I think it tears families apart, and damages people. So if there's nothing else, I would like to get back out on the street and find out who's killing these women…Sir."

Hotch doesn't respond, doesn't dismiss her, so JJ barely has time to turn away and pretend to be engrossed in a file before Emily has stepped out into the hall. When she hears the woman's steps fade away in the opposite direction, she turns to look at her body language. She is not fleeing, that much is obvious. She walks past her desk and around the corner to the bathroom with the same even stride that JJ has come to recognize. Yet her voice just a minute ago had sounded quietly furious, possibly even tearful.

How does she do that? JJ wonders for the umpteenth time. How does she stay so calm in every situation?
But here, at least, is the answer to one of her other nagging questions. Hotch didn't request a replacement for Elle. Prentiss was assigned to their unit out of the blue.

Of course, this answer only brings up more questions, the most pressing of them being why?

Impulsively, JJ follows after Emily, descending the stairs and rounding the corner in time to see her disappear into the bathroom.

With a deep breath, JJ follows her, unsure about what she wants to say, but somehow knowing that she wants to at least try to say something.

Emily is standing at the far end of the bathroom, looking at herself in the mirror that runs the length of the room. She is dry eyed, blank faced, but when she turns to see has entered, she gives JJ a look that is as transparent as glass. It is the first time JJ is able to completely understand one of the brunette's expressions. It reads: I am trying to decide if I can trust you.

JJ waits.

"I hate politics," Emily says, tilting her head so she can keep eye contact with JJ. "I have no political agenda."

And JJ understands that Emily saw her by the door when she left Hotch's office, and that she was not fooled by JJ's attempt to look occupied.

"Is that what people think?" Emily asks after a moment, and the genuine concern in her voice takes JJ by surprise.
"What?"

"Is that what people think? That I'm just some political plant?"

"Oh," JJ says. "No!"

Emily blinks at her, measuring. "No?"

"No," JJ says more resolutely. "No one here thinks you're a political plant."

"Hotchner does," Emily says, and for a moment her shoulders sag. It is a movement of infinitesimal proportions, but JJ catches it nonetheless. There really is a person in there, isn't there. I wonder what Roslyn saw in her. I wonder what they meant to each other. I wonder what she thinks of me…after what I said to her.

"Hotch," she says, trying to bring herself back to the present, "has to consider every option. We went through a bit of a rough time."

"With Elle?" Emily asks tentatively, and when she sees JJ hesitate, she holds up her hand to stop the response. "Don't tell me. I'm not Strauss' puppet, and I won't act like it."

JJ finds that she is smiling. And Emily smiles back at her, a tight, almost hopeful little smile.

"Look," JJ says, gathering her resolve. "About…our introduction…"

"Forget it," Emily says with a wave of her hand.

"I didn't," JJ studies Emily's boots, trying to find the right words. "I wasn't trying to imply."
"Jennifer," Emily says firmly. "Forget it." She straightens her shoulders. She looks better than she had at the beginning of the conversation. Brighter somehow, healthier.

"See you out there," she says, and she gives JJ another smile before slipping out of the bathroom.

…..

…..

When their next case is over, Penelope and JJ resolve to go out. The week has been long, preceded by three long weeks, and they declare that Friday a Girl's Night, and wait for 5pm with ill-disguised anticipation. If Emily sees their excitement, she does not mention it, and when 4:55 rolls around, JJ is not thinking of anything else besides the bar and the waiting sidecar martini. Penelope wanders into the pen just as JJ is finishing up her paperwork, waving up at her. But when JJ steps out of her office seven minutes later, it is to see the technical analyst perched on Prentiss' desk deep in conversation with her. JJ approaches slowly, trying to decipher if Garcia has already invited Emily to their girl's night. She hopes not. She can't put her finger on why, but she wants to be alone with Garcia, to feel free to talk about anything.

"So, are you coming with, Prentiss?" JJ hears her ask. "Girl's night? Hard liquor? Karaoke? Five cases makes you official!"

"Ah, yes!" Emily says, leaning forward, reaching for her briefcase, "That would be…" JJ closes her eyes momentarily. She wracks her brain for a reason to rescind the invitation, but can think of nothing. She opens her eyes and sees that Emily is looking at her over Penelope's shoulder.

"You know what?" she's says, swinging her back up over her shoulder. "I can't tonight."

"What?" Garcia sounds genuinely disappointed. "But you just…"

"I have other plans." Suddenly, Emily's face has closed in on itself. She still looks normal, content, but the depth that was there just minutes before has gone. "Sorry, Garcia," And she sounds truly sorry even if something about her expression does not quite sell it. "I totally forgot that I made plans tonight…and I've cancelled too much already."

If it is a lie, it is a good one. Penelope is at once diverted. "Oooh, that means a date!" she squeals, her invitation forgotten. "Dish, my darling! What does he look like?"

Emily's smile is…JJ doesn't know how to categorize it. She has never come across something that appears so simultaneously easy and very forced.

"Sorry," she says again. "I don't kiss and tell."

This draws an "ooooh," from Garcia, and a "get it, girl!" from Morgan, whom Emily fist bumps on the way out.
As soon as Emily has disappeared from view, Penelope rounds on JJ, her usually cheerful face turned downwards into a frown.

"What?" JJ asks, trying to sound innocent.

"You know perfectly well what," Garcia says, pouting. "I'm not a profiler, and I could have seen that you didn't want her to come from space."

JJ looks around at Morgan and Reid, who have both become very interested in their paperwork.

"She uninvited herself," JJ says, gesturing that they should head out too. "I didn't say anything."

"You're really gonna sit there, doing the job we're doing, and tell me that just because you didn't say anything means you didn't say anything?"

This gets a laugh from Morgan, though he doesn't look up from his paperwork.

"Back me up!" Garcia commands, and when Reid opens his mouth, Morgan speaks over him.

"Uh uh," he says with another laugh. "We are staying out of it."

"You really have nothing to say on the subject?" JJ asks, and she hears the words in her head, but is still powerless to stop them. "Hotch is worried she's a political plant. Come to split us up. You know, after Elle?"

This sobers the group very quickly. Morgan sits up in his chair.

JJ was unaware that she could feel such immediate regret.

"Is that really a possibility?" Reid asks, looking concerned.

"You don't think that, do you, JJ?" Penelope looks both concerned and disappointed. JJ wonders if she's stumbled over anything in the snooping she's undoubtedly been doing.

"I…" JJ shakes her head, "I don't know, Pen. I'm just saying, don't you want a girl's night that's comfortable and easy?"

This seems to split Garcia. She looks torn. Finally she stands up, pushing her glasses up her nose. She gives a shrug and a sigh that says "it doesn't matter now, anyway," and the two of them say their good-byes to the men.

"Here's to not getting called in," Reid calls after them.

Garcia knocks on the wall as they leave, superstitious to the end.

...

"Oh, my god, look!" Garcia grabs JJ's arm as they approach the bar. "Look! That's Emily!"

Yes, Garcia is right. There is Emily Prentiss, stepping out of a cab, dressed casually in dark denim and a red, low cut blouse that makes a couple men look over their shoulders as they pass. And as JJ watches, she turns and reaches back into the taxi, offering her hand to…a woman. She emerges like liquid, holding tight to Emily's hand, tall and dark skinned, with a heap of tightly coiled braids that cascade down her back. She is wearing a skirt and a tank top, and together, the two of them stop men dead.

Emily leans forward to whisper something in the other woman's ear, smiling when her comment garners a full, head tilted back, mouth wide open laugh.

Emily's girlfriend, that must be what she is, has a laugh like butter.

"Woah," Penelope says, eyes as wide as saucers behind her glasses.

Something suddenly occurs to JJ, as they watch Emily wrap her arms around her date and lead her into the bar. "Is Emily Prentiss pretty?"

She glances at Garcia, doing a double take when she sees the other woman staring at her. She realizes she has asked the question out loud.

"Are you kidding me?" Penelope asks, arching an eyebrow.

"Uh…no?" JJ glances back at the door to the bar where the two women have just disappeared.

"Emily Prentiss is a knock out," Penelope says, and she begins to laugh but stops when she sees that JJ is not laughing along with her. "Have you honestly never noticed?"

"Why would I notice?" JJ snaps, irritation rising inside of her. "It's not like she dresses that way at work."

"Well, we both know I only have eyes for a certain cocoa butter god, but I can honestly say that I would not mind."

JJ feels her irritation heat into anger. "Let's go somewhere else," she says.

"Awww, Jayj" Garcia pouts. "C'mon. It's 2 for 1 Martini night. We don't even have to ask them to join us...even though they are girls and it is Girl's N…" she trails off when she sees the look on JJ's face, sighing heavily. "What is up with you, lately, JJ?" she asks. "I mean…I know that Emily was…around at the time of your sister's-"

But JJ shakes her head. Not tonight. Not now. "Pen. I am trying okay?"

"It did seem like you were trying very hard today when you accused her of being a political spy."

"Hotch accused first I was just," JJ changes course abruptly, knowing that line of reason will not earn her any points. "Look," she tries. "I am trying. I don't want her here, but I am trying to accept her as a part of our team. I am trying to undo years of conditioning against her, okay? And I can do that in my professional sphere, Pen, but I can't do it in my social sphere too. I can't have her everywhere, and still be nice to her. So if she's going to be at work, she can't hang out with us outside of it. Get it?"

Garcia bites her lip. "Got it," she says quietly.

"Now can we please go somewhere else?"

"Smitten Kitten has 5 dollar margaritas until 2," Garcia answers hopefully.

"Done," JJ says gratefully. "On me."

"One more question."

"Just the one?" JJ says wearily.

"Do you mean that? That you don't want to work with her? Do you really dislike her…Do you really blame her that much?"

JJ does not know the answer. She doesn't want to think about the answer. She wants to drink herself into oblivion, maybe make a bad choice that sneaks out in the morning before the sun comes up.

"Ask me after we're about thirty bucks in okay, Pen?"

Garcia smiles as she puts her hand up for a taxi.

"Deal."


...

...

Hi everyone!

Thank you for all your nice reviews and PMs. I'm really excited to branch out into this fandom as well. The Jemily ship was my first and is still my favorite ship of all time, so I was hesitant to start this, but it won't leave me be. I just finished outlining, and it about 22 chapters and an epilogue. Please feel free to let me know what you think, good or bad as long as it's respectful, I love writing and talking about writing and debating about writing etc. As long as you're coming from a place of respect, I will return the same courtesy.

I'm super happy to see some R&I people followed over here, that's like…the biggest compliment you could give me. Zarosguth, Ravens Trinity, Beanmeup (right?), Sideadde, Loveisles, how nice of all of you. Schnitzel, of course I'm going to tell you to watch the whole series (which is just out there chillin on Netflix), but if not, thanks for readin along! Just to give you guys an idea. I will be using the canon cases, and although they will go in order (for the most part) they won't all be there. I'm still on the fence about Will and Henry. I've outlined them in and out, and I can't decide. Does my love for Emily mothering Henry exceed my serious hatred of Will? This chapter falls in the middle of 2x11: Sex, Birth, Death. CM watchers will recognize Emily's verbatim denunciation of politics.

Ok…everything addressed? Everyone welcomed? Let's hit it.

Happy Reading

tc