Chapter 2

Emily's absence the following day did not go unnoticed. JJ had to admit, she was relieved. Things had been awkward between them, since she found out she was pregnant, since she announced her engagement to Will. JJ was grateful from the reprieve of having to look Emily in the eye. Staring into those deep dark eyes and being confronted with the pain she knew she had caused was heart wrenching.

As the day went on, with no answer from Emily's phone, the concern among the team escalated. JJ found herself growing frustrated. It seemed as if Emily was deliberately playing games to get her attention. Why would she vanish just like that, causing the team to worry for her, causing JJ's heart to skip a beat as fearful glances were exchanged around the room?

Mid morning, the team decided they should send someone over to Emily's apartment. They looked to JJ instinctively, as if she would naturally be the one to volunteer to go over and make certain that Emily was alright. Six weeks ago she would have been the one. Then again, six weeks ago she wouldn't have needed to go over to Emily's place to know what was happening in Emily's life. Six weeks ago she would have come straight from Emily's place to work. Sure, they would have made certain to arrive in their own cars, at separate times. But there was scarcely a night they didn't spend together. Six weeks ago JJ wouldn't have had to ask Emily what was going on in her life, six weeks ago the two woman shared everything. These days JJ felt like a complete stranger. These days JJ felt like she had no right to impose upon Emily's privacy by going to her apartment. But JJ knew the team would not understand.

JJ carefully turned her gaze away from the others suggestive glances, relieved when Garcia stepped forward and volunteered her services to track down Emily. As the team wondered over the possibilities that could be keeping Emily from the office- Had she slept in ? Lost her cell phone? None of these possibilities seemed plausible in the least, and at the last minute it was decided, Morgan would accompany Garcia.

Garcia turned as she reached the door, exchanging a knowing look with JJ. And JJ watched in silence, thinking to herself 'I should have been the one to go looking for her.'

….....

As they arrived at Emily's apartment, Morgan and Garcia knock forcefully on the door, receiving no answer. Morgan reached for the door handle, surprised to find it unlocked. He then reached instinctively for his weapon, as Garcia drew in a sharp breath.

"Wait here." He ordered her as he descended down the darkened hallway. Garcia found she could only stand still a few seconds, before hesitantly following in Morgan's footsteps. The curtains were still closed, the living room cloaked in semi-darkness. As Morgan flicked the light switch, the horrifying scene revealed itself.

Emily, lying on the floor, pool of congealed blood surrounding her. Pale skin, eyes closed, shallow, rapid breathing.

Morgan rushed to her side "Prentiss, can you hear me?" But there was no answer.

Garcia stood shocked, colour draining from her face until she appeared as pale as Emily. "Call an ambulance!" Morgan ordered her, and she fumbled with the phone, calling first the ambulance, then the team.

Then Garcia sat, with Morgan, at Emily's side. Garcia held Emily's hand as Morgan tried to slow the blood flow from wounds.

….........

JJ had not been able to see Emily since her arrival at the hospital. Emily had not regained consciousness. The team had sat vigilantly in the hospital corridor as Emily underwent surgery, JJ pacing the corridors anxiously. JJ shook her head. It all seemed so unbelievable. It was just not possible that Emily was seriously hurt. Then JJ caught sight of Morgan's blood stained shirt, Garcia's tear stained face, and suddenly it was all too real. And JJ was powerless. Now all that was left was to wait for Emily to wake up. Her condition had been deemed serious, but stable, and her prognosis was good. Hotch decided it was time for some of the team to go over and search Emily's apartment to find the monster who attacked her.

This time JJ refused to leave Emily's side. Berating herself for not going to Emily's sooner, for not realising something was terribly wrong. If something happened to Emily, JJ would never forgive herself. This event made JJ realise just how much Emily meant to her. Emily meant far too much to throw away their relationship. If Emily would just wake up, JJ would tell her so.

So consumed with thoughts about Emily, JJ almost didn't hear the briefing Morgan was giving the team in the hospital corridor. But something caught her attention. "There was no sign of forced entry. A bottle of wine, two glasses on the table. And from the way Prentiss was dressed, it was pretty clear she was entertaining someone." Morgan explained.

Emily? Entertaining someone? The thought sent pangs of jealousy through JJ's entire body. She told herself she was being unfair, after all she was engaged to Will, she was pregnant with his baby. She should be happy that Emily was moving on. But she couldn't quite bring herself feel at ease. Besides, this person Emily was intimately involved with, was likely the person that hurt her. It was all such a mess, and JJ had caused it. JJ knew that things couldn't go on like this, she couldn't live pretending that Emily didn't mean anything to her. As soon as Emily woke up, JJ would tell her all of this.

JJ was so consumed by her thoughts, that she didn't even notice Reid and Morgan slip away to analyse the crime scene.

…...

"You're right." Reid agreed as he surveyed Emily's apartment. "Two glasses, the wine, Emily's attire. She was likely entertaining someone. No signs of forced entry, she likely let him in. She was expecting him."

"Him?" Morgan asked

"Uh, the UnSub." Reid replied, rolling his eyes.

"What makes you certain it was a "him"?"

"It's a reasonable assumption." Reid argued.

"I wouldn't bank on that. We don't even know if Prentiss is straight." Morgan replied.

This suggestion astounded Reid, having never given thought to the sex life of any of the team members, though it does not surprise him that Morgan has obviously spent some time considering Emily's sexual orientation.

"We should ask JJ or Garcia. I think girls talk about that sort of thing." Reid suggested.

"Maybe." Morgan agreed. "Hopefully Prentiss will be awake soon, then she can tell us what happened."

…..

The nurse had explained that Emily was still unconscious, and was not likely to wake until the morning. But JJ insisted in sitting by her bedside. She gently brushed stray strands of hair from Emily's face, stroking the soft skin of her cheek, and whispering that she was so sorry, that she was going to make it up to Emily.

Long after Rossi and Hotch had gone to help Morgan and Reid go over the evidence, JJ placed her head down on the bedside closing her eyes, still grasping Emily's hand in her own. She felt a familiar sense of peace descend upon her, listening to Emily's rhythmic breathing. She was almost asleep when she felt the hand on her shoulder. She jumped in fright, looking first to Emily to make sure she was still sleeping, then turning over her shoulder. Garcia was standing behind her.

"I thought you'd gone home." JJ mumbled.

Garcia shook her head. "I'm staying right here with my girls tonight." She answered, putting a protective arm around JJ. And then as she pulled away, Garcia added "I just ran into Will in the waiting room. He came to see you. I'll sit with Emily for a bit, go spend time with your fiance."