Thank you all for the wonderful response to the first chapter. I hope that support will continue just as strongly as the story progresses. I'll keep my mental fingers crossed that it does. Now go read and enjoy.


One week later:

"Here we are. Home sweet home," JJ said cheerfully as she unlocked the door to Emily's apartment. She opened it and then stepped to one side to let Emily go in first.

Emily swung over the threshold and crutched her way down the short hallway to her living room. "And not a minute too soon," she muttered.

She eased down on the couch, leaned the crutches against it, reached down to pick up her splinted ankle and propped it on the coffee table. She wasn't in a very good mood. Her doctor had made her spend two nights in the hospital after the surgery because he had to stabilize the fractures and repair a fully torn ligament. Then he had taken his grand old time in signing her release papers. It was late afternoon by the time she was finally sprung.

"Where do you want this?" JJ asked, holding up the small travel bag containing a few personal items Emily had taken to the hospital with her.

"Upstairs," she said. "But first let me get out my iPod and book. And while you are up there could you get the extra pillow and blanket from the linen closet?"

"Sure," JJ said, watching Emily remove the two items from the bag. "You're not planning on sleeping down here on the couch?"

"No, but I'm not going to drag this up and down the stairs every time I want to take a nap." She patted the splint with one hand. For the next week or two her ankle would be in the splint until the swelling went down and then she would have to go back to have a cast put on.

"You know you can stay with me. I don't have any stairs to negotiate," she offered.

"I know, but thank you for the offer," Emily said, politely refusing.

"Or I can stay here with you," JJ pressed on. "It wouldn't be a problem."

Emily sighed and brushed back a strand of hair from her face. I need a shower, she thought ruefully. "I'm not an invalid. It's just a broken ankle."

"You're right," she said, giving up for the time being. "I'll be right back." JJ picked up the bag and headed up to the second floor.

"Take your time," Emily called after her.


As she ascended the stairs, JJ looked back at her new friend as she made herself more comfortable on the couch. Emily Prentiss was an enigma. In the few short months she has been on the team, JJ knew almost nothing about her. She never spoke of her personal life, never mentioned her parents or if she had any siblings. What little she did know only came from tidbits Emily accidentally dropped in the course of a conversation. For example on her first case with the team, she unthinkingly grabbed the letter from JJ's hands and translated it. When she saw everyone staring at her, Emily had to admit that she lived in several Middle Eastern countries as a kid and could speak fluent Arabic. And in another case, she surprised everyone by speaking Spanish. Later JJ had pulled her off to one side and got to her admit that she was also fluent in French, Italian and German. Beyond that, JJ was clueless to Emily's personal likes and dislikes and she hoped as time passed and Emily felt more comfortable, she would reveal more of herself. JJ was looking forward to that time. She bet the brunette had some interesting tales to tell.

JJ set the travel bag on the bed and went to the linen closet to fetch the pillow and blanket. Even Emily's apartment was a secretive as its owner was. There were no personal photographs on display, none on the walls or on tables. The place was tastefully decorated. The furniture looked expensive but was comfortable and the artwork that hung on the walls was subtle but not overpowering. They made the apartment feel warm and inviting, it had a lived in feel. But it was also at odds with Emily who kept people at arm's length and her emotions under tight control. That made people think she was unemotional and aloof. But JJ suspected that beneath her public persona, Emily had a compassionate and loyal heart and she couldn't wait to see it emerge. Grabbing what she needed from the closet, she hurried back downstairs.


Emily turned her attention to the windows of her apartment and its unimpeded view of the Washington monument and the Capital building. JJ has been a wonderful friend throughout this whole mess. She had driven her to her appointment and had sat in on the consultation. Then she had acted as her representative at the hospital and had the honor to be the first to view the x-ray of Emily's newly surgically repaired ankle that was now held together with a metal plate and screws. She had also visited every day before and after work. Emily couldn't have asked for a more kind and caring friend than JJ, who had been the first to make her feel welcomed when she joined the team.

"I'm back," JJ announced, snapping Emily out of her reverie. "Here are the pillow and blanket as ordered," she said with a grin.

"Thanks." Emily tucked the pillow behind her and laid the blanket over the back of the couch.

JJ wagged a finger at her. "Now I'm going to run to the store to get your prescriptions filled. I'm also going to pick up some groceries so that I can make you dinner."

"JJ, you've done too much already. I really appreciate it," Emily protested, feeling a bit embarrassed from all the attention. "But I can take care of my own meals." It is called take out, she silently added.

JJ crossed her arms with a stubborn look on her face. "You're not getting rid of me that easily, Emily Prentiss."

"That's not what I intended—" Emily began.

"The doctor wants you to rest that ankle for two weeks so that he can put it in a cast and let you to return to work. That means you are supposed to sit on your duff." Emily arched an eyebrow at the word 'duff'. "Rest and keep the ankle elevated, not on your feet preparing meals."

"But—"

"I'll be stopping by in the evenings when I can and make you dinner. When I can't or the team is out of town, I'll make sure there are plenty of meals in the freezer that you can warm up."

"JJ—"

"I know what you are going to say, that I don't have to do this but I want to so it's not open for negotiation, Emily. I've made up my mind," she informed her.

"You have been hanging around Hotch too long," Emily grumbled, finally getting more than one word in.

JJ held out her hand. "Deal?"

Emily eyed the hand suspiciously, like JJ was concealing a joy buzzer in her palm. "I don't have much of a choice, do I?"

"Nope," JJ said with a shake of her head.

Emily sighed, knowing she had just lost this round to the blonde liaison. She reached up to shake hands. "Deal."


By the fourth day Emily thought she would go stark raving mad if she didn't get out of her apartment. She wasn't claustrophobic, but with each passing hour the walls seemed to be pressing inward. Time was the problem. She had too much of it on her hands. There was only so much TV she could stand to watch. She could read only for so many hours before she would grow bored with the book. She was even tired of the music on her iPod.

Only JJ's nightly visits broke up the monotony. They would have dinner, JJ turned out to be a good cook, and she would fill Emily in on what was happening at work. Even though Emily would be crestfallen that she had missed it all, she kept those feelings hidden from JJ. She knew the blonde woman was just trying to cheer her up, that she was attempting to make her feel that she was still a vital member of the team. But now she didn't even have that. JJ and the rest of the team had departed this morning for Sioux Falls, South Dakota. JJ said she would call, but it wouldn't be the same. Emily would still be alone in her apartment.

When another inane talk show came on, Emily had enough. She stabbed the off button on the remote, cutting the host off in mid wink. Grabbing her crutches, she got up and swung down the hall. She paused at the closet by the door to put on a tennis shoe and a lightweight jacket. Pocketing her keys and cell phone, she headed for the elevator.

"To hell with bed rest," she said to herself as she waited for the car to arrive.

As she stepped out of the elevator and into the lobby, the building's septuagenarian doorman immediately greeted her. "Good afternoon, Miss Prentiss. Nice to see you up and about."

"Thank you, Warren." She pretended to frown. "You know that you can call me Emily."

Warren smiled. "I do and I will, Miss Prentiss."

They shared a laugh. It was a little fun game they played whenever they met. "Where are you off to today?" he asked as he hurried ahead of her to open the door. It was easy for him to do since Emily wasn't going to win any foot races in the near future.

"Nowhere. I just needed some fresh air," she admitted.

Warren winked. "Your apartment feeling small?"

"Shoebox size," she said with a smile and then pointed with one crutch. "I'm just going to sit out of the way on the stoop and enjoy the afternoon."

Warren looked shocked at the suggestion. "We can't have you doing that, Miss Prentiss. Wait right here," he said and dashed back inside as quickly as his seventy-two year old legs could carry him.

He returned a few minutes later with a folding lawn chair, a small stool and a pillow tucked under one arm. "For your ankle," he told her as he led the way to a shady patch of grass to the left of the stoop.

"If you need anything, Miss Prentiss, just shout or wave. I'll be keeping watch."

Emily smiled at his kindness. Warren reminded her of her grandfather. He was always treating her like a granddaughter. It was so sweet. She lowered herself into the chair, laid the crutches on the ground next to it and propped the broken ankle on the pillow-topped stool. "Thank you, Warren," she said sincerely.

Warren beamed in pride and returned to his duties.

She spent the rest of the afternoon outside people and traffic watching. It was a nice change of pace from sitting in her apartment. She had always been too busy working hard to notice what was really going on around her. Now that she had plenty of time to see how the rest of the world lived. Warren kept an eye on her, popping up every now and then to offer her a bottle of water or some of his wife's homemade chocolate chip cookies.

The coming of dusk finally forced Emily inside. She thanked Warren for the loan of the chair and to compliment his wife's delicious cookies. He blushed. When she returned to her apartment, Emily no longer felt like she was living in a shoebox. The sunlight and fresh air had done her a world of good and she planned on doing it again. Only the next time she would have to pick a place less conspicuous. Several tenants of her apartment building had given her odd looks as they passed by.

When JJ called later that night, Emily was happily ensconced on the couch with one of the meals JJ had prepared and frozen.

"How was your day?" the blonde agent asked.

"Totally exciting," Emily deadpanned. "I watched some TV. Napped. Watched some more. Napped. Entertained the thought about tearing my hair out. Napped."

JJ laughed. "That good huh?"

"You have no idea." Emily had no intention of telling JJ about her little outing this afternoon or about any future trips. If the blonde liaison learned that she was ignoring the doctor's order to stay put and rest, she would surely blow a gasket. And who knows what JJ would do to force her to obey those orders. Emily was a little afraid that she would wake up one morning and find herself handcuffed to the bed. She had no doubt that JJ was quite capable of doing so.

"How is the case going?" Emily asked, changing the subject before JJ could probe deeper.

JJ quickly brought her up to speed. Emily listened carefully and made a few suggestions of her own. When JJ said she would pass on her ideas to the rest of the team, Emily asked her not to tell them that they had come from her.

"Why not?" JJ asked, genuinely puzzled. "They are good ideas."

"I'm on medical leave. I'm not supposed to be working any active cases."

Technically that was true, but her real reason was Hotch. He was already suspicious of her motives. If he learned that she had been 'meddling' in the case it would simply add fuel to the fire. Give him another reason to remove her from the team. JJ reluctantly agreed with her request though she thought it silly.

The two new friends continued talking for a while longer before bidding each other a goodnight. After hanging up, Emily leaned back against the cushions gazing out at the Washington Monument. While she finished her dinner she planned out tomorrow's little getaway.


The next morning dawned clear and brisk. Emily rolled out of bed, eager to start what she was now calling her grand adventure. But first she took an awkward shower, balancing precariously on one foot made washing her hair more difficult when she had to keep one hand on the wall to keep from falling over. After dressing for a day to be spent out of doors, she hopped down the stairs and settled down to have a leisure breakfast while she waited for the temperature to warm.

Emily rooted around in her hall closet, searching for a bag that wouldn't interfere with the crutches. Eventually she uncovered a messenger bag and in it she placed everything she thought she would need. She tossed in her iPod, the book she was reading, her meds, a bottle of water, her lunch, credentials, gun and some spending money. The cell phone and keys to the apartment she would carry in her jacket. Her intended target: the park three blocks down. She laced up her shoe and pulled a boot slipper of over her injured foot so that her toes wouldn't get cold. She shrugged on the jacket, slung the strap of the bag across her chest and made a beeline to the elevator and her freedom.

Warren greeted her when she entered the lobby with a big smile and a tin of cookies. "Chocolate chip," he said with a wink. The Missus made them especially for you. She even added extra chips." He sighed dramatically. "She never does that for me."

She laughed as she tucked the tin in her bag. "I'm sure she would if you just ask."

"Probably. Planning on another afternoon in the sun?" he asked. "Do you need the chair and stool?"

"Actually I was thinking of heading down to the park today."

Warren frowned slightly. "That's a long way to go when you're…"

"…On crutches," Emily finished for him. "I know it is. If I find it too long, I'll take a cab back."

"Good," he said with a nod. "If you have trouble getting one, Miss Prentiss, call me and I will send one to you."

Emily had no doubt about that. Warren had that unique ability to summon a cab by simply stepping up to the curb and sticking his index finger in the air.

"I will," she agreed. Emily gave the doorman a friendly wave then set out to start her second day of playing hooky.


Emily was tired, especially her arms, by the time she reached the park. But it was a good tired. She had really needed the exercise after doing nothing but sitting from the moment she broke the ankle. She took her time, enjoying checking out her neighborhood that she had never thought to explore before. Once there, she found a bench under the broad branches of a maple tree.

Placing the messenger bag on the bench, she sat down and propped the injured ankle on top of it. The crutches she laid on the ground within easy reach. Resting an arm over the back of the bench, Emily looked around and was pleased with her selection. From where she sat, she had a clear view of most of the park: the picnic area, the other benches strategically placed, the playground and the lone baseball diamond. Content, she pulled out her book and settled down to read the afternoon away. After every chapter Emily would surface to check the comings and goings.

At six o'clock, Emily packed it in and reluctantly headed for home. It was the beginning of spring, so the sun was still setting early and she didn't want to be caught out after dark on crutches. As she neared her apartment building, she could see Warren standing at the curb, gazing worriedly down the street. How sweet, she thought. He's looking for me.

"Here I am," she announced when she was close enough. Emily watched in amusement as a look of intense relief flashed across his face. "You weren't worried about me were you, Warren?" she teased.

He grinned from ear to ear. "Of course not, Miss Prentiss. You're a smart and tough FBI agent who can take care of herself."

"Except when it comes to tree roots," she said, poking fun at her own clumsiness.

Warren looked blankly at her, not getting the joke at first then he got it and pointed at her foot. "Ah," he said, "so that is how you broke it."

"Yup," she said as she hobbled up the steps of her apartment building and through the door Warren held open for her. The two paused in the lobby to chit chat for a few more minutes longer before going their separate ways: Warren home to his beloved wife and Emily back to her empty apartment.

Emily was contently stretched out on the couch, bad ankle propped up on pillows, munching on popcorn and watching 'The Thomas Crown Affair' when JJ called to do her nightly check in. Reluctantly she muted the sound before answering. Now that she had found a way to relieve the boredom during the day, television at night now seemed more interesting.

When JJ asked how her day went, Emily said that it was good and left it at that. She knew that the blonde liaison would not press for any further details. She would naturally assume that Emily was following the doctor's orders and getting plenty of rest, so there would be very little going on. That she was spending the days curled up with a good book or occupying her time by watching television. And that was what Emily wanted JJ to keep thinking so she deftly maneuvered the conversation away from her and on to the current case.

Emily settled back against the cushions listening to JJ telling her how the case had come to a stand still at the moment and that Hotch had told everyone to take a thirty minute break to recharge their mental batteries and regroup. That was the reason she was calling now since there was a strong possibility they would be pulling an all nighter and she wouldn't have the time later. JJ then complained that Sioux Falls seemed to be trapped in a never-ending cycle of bad weather. According to her, it rained morning, noon and night and it was making everyone short tempered.

All this talk made Emily homesick for the BAU. "I wish I was there with you guys," she said with a wistful tone into the phone.

"I wish you were here too," JJ confessed. "It's no fun being the only girl. I've got no one to bitch to."

Emily let out a small laugh. "That is a bummer. And if you tried to bitch to one of them they would automatically conclude that it was your time of the month."

"Right," JJ agreed with a laugh of her own. "Well, Emily, I hate to do this but my time is up. Have to go back and catch a killer."

"It's no problem, JJ. I completely understand," Emily said.

"I know you do and I know it sucks being stuck in your apartment day in and day out."

"It does big time but I'm coping. I haven't started counting down the days with slash marks on the walls…yet," Emily joked.

JJ laughed. That's good to know. Talk with you tomorrow?"

"Yup. You know where to find me," Emily said and hung up.

She stared at the phone in her hand, again wishing that she was there sitting at the table with the team. At this point she would gladly welcome Reid's snide remarks and Hotch's distrustful glances over sitting here alone in this apartment. Emily sighed and tossed the phone on the coffee table. She picked up the remote and thumbed the volume back on. Talking with JJ left her feeling depressed, but she didn't have the heart to ask her to stop calling. JJ was just trying to be a good friend and truthfully, Emily didn't have many. She found it difficult to let people get close so she'd take what friends who were willing to stick around.


And that concludes this week's installment. Do check back in next week to see how Emily's medical leave continues. Will JJ catch her playing hooky? But before you run away, let me know what you think. Until then.