Authors Note: Anything you like or recognize belongs to someone else.
R-C
Her head throbbed as she made her way through the house, going about her morning routine. After a shower, she dressed for work and headed for the kitchen. Once there she completed her morning with coffee and aspirin. Stretching her back awkwardly she cursed her decision to sleep on the couch and once again considered buying a new bed.
Glancing at the clock on the stove to check the time she finished her coffee and stood, feeling the tightness in her back and neck. She rubbed them in a futile attempt to loosen the muscles on her way to the door. With a deep breath, she put on her mask and slipped out into the world. Anyone who looked now would see normal, happy JJ.
She was halfway to her car when she realized she had company. At first she thought it was her imagination playing tricks. Mentally she calculated how many shots of vodka she'd had the night before. Was she seeing things?
The figure stepped away from the sedan parked at the curb. "Need a lift?"
She still couldn't process what she was seeing. She blinked hard twice, attempting to reset her eyes. How could Emily be here, looking calm and perfectly at ease, as though she never left? JJ took a moment to assess her friend. She looked professional in her pantsuit her hair hanging down past her shoulders. The time away had been good to her, and JJ noticed a beautiful silver necklace hanging down, the pendant disappearing under her shirt.
Finally, her brain kicked in. "Emily?! Oh my God, what are you doing here?"
With a playful grin, she opened the passengers side door. "Needed a break from London, missed my family and thought I'd come by for a visit."
By the time she had finished speaking JJ was in her arms, squeezing her tight. She couldn't believe Emily was here, it defied logic but JJ didn't care. For a single instant, she allowed herself to be vulnerable and she melted into Emily's embrace, savoring the undeniable feeling of safety she found in her arms. She held on for as long as she could without making things awkward and then she stepped back. For the first time in weeks the smile on her face was genuine and real. She truly had missed Emily.
"Seriously what are you doing here? You didn't just stop by to say hi. Are you on a case? Is something wrong?" Her mind went to the worst possible scenarios and fear gripped her tight.
A gently hand rested on her shoulder and JJ looked up to see the Interpol agent smiling warmly. "I told you, I just missed you." She paused briefly before adding, "I missed the team."
"You just up and left London for a vacation in the middle of the week?"
With a nod toward the car Emily used the hand on JJ's shoulder to nudge her in that direction. "I'll explain on the way, but if we don't leave soon we'll get stuck in traffic and you'll be late for work."
Suddenly JJ was skeptical. "You're going to drive me to work?"
Emily grinned. "I'm on vacation, I can do what I want. I want to see the team and I'm in desperate need of some girl-time. Interpol is one giant boy's club."
"That's not much different from the FBI," JJ pointed out.
Emily kept a hand on JJ's shoulder as she guided her. "In the FBI, I had you," she admitted in a quiet voice.
JJ froze. Her head which had been looking at the car spun back to Emily and she looked deep into her brown eyes. For a second she forgot about her problems, about Will, about the kids, about everything. For a single moment, she was at peace. The smile felt strange on her face, real and unexpected.
With a dramatic sigh and a roll of her eyes JJ slid into the passenger's seat. She wasn't entirely opposed to being driven to work, especially since the pounding in her head refused to cease. She made a mental note not to drink quite so much next time as she reached for the seat belt. Watching Emily close her door and then round the car to head for the drivers seat, JJ was overcome with questions. What was Emily really doing here? Vacations weren't particularly common in their line of work. Was there trouble in London, did she have to leave? How long will she be staying? What could possible be so urgent that she needed to show up in front of JJ's house so early and wait for her?
The engine roaring to life reminding JJ that she wasn't alone. She turned in her seat slightly to get a better look at Emily who was pulling away from the curb. "So what's going on Em?"
The driver smiled at her passenger before she answered. "London is nice and all, I like my job, my team is good, things are good."
JJ could hear the 'but' coming so rather than replying she just waited for it and she didn't have to wait long.
"But in London, there is none of this." As she said the final word Emily took her right hand off the steering wheel and gestured first to JJ and then to herself. "I missed my family."
Suddenly JJ felt bad, for questioning Emily's motives when she should just be grateful that her friend was here. Once again the smile she wore didn't require quite so much effort. "We missed you too Em, I can promise you that. The team is going to be thrilled to see you," JJ said honestly.
JJ went back in her memories, trying to remember the latest news she'd heard about Emily. For months, she'd been walking around only half hearing conversations, too lost in thoughts to focus. She realized, not for the first time, just how disconnected she'd become. She closed her eyes briefly, and took a calming breath.
"You ok Jayje?" Emily asked as they reached the halfway point in their journey.
"Oh yeah I'm fine, I just didn't get much sleep last night."
"Up with the kids?" the Interpol agent guessed innocently.
JJ didn't want to lie to Emily, but she couldn't tell her the truth either, that left her with only one option, half-truths, the kind that made her feel sick to tell.
After another soothing breath, she answered. "No actually, just case files and things. Will took the boys to visit his relatives in New Orleans. I think I'm having trouble with all the quiet." With a slightly forced laugh JJ nudged Emily with her elbow across the console. "Can you believe that? For years, I've been begging for peace and quiet and now that I've got it, I don't know what to do with it. The girls laughed together as Emily expertly steered the car to the office.
"How's Will?" Emily asked after a short stretch of quiet.
Inside JJ was fuming with anger and rage. How was Will? She was sure he was fine, better than fine probably, definitely better than her, he had the kids and…
Lost in her thoughts she was interrupted by Emily's hand resting on her leg. "Its going to be okay," she said in a whisper.
Unable to contain it, her mask slipped and the anger she was feeling poured out. "What's going to be okay?" she asked in a bitter tone.
Emily's hand didn't move, it just sat there, maintaining contact. "Whatever is going on, I want to help you, help your family, but you need to talk to me Jayje, please."
Her fury burned hot under her skin and she made a point to push Emily's hand away, knocking it off her leg before she spoke. "That's why you're here?" It all made sense now, the impromptu visit, the 'innocent questions.' JJ watched as Emily's eyes turned soft and showed their concern and she hated it, she hated the pity and the worry.
"JJ please," Emily pleaded.
"Who called you? Was it Hotch? Garcia? Reid?"
"JJ," she didn't get the chance to get another word out before JJ interrupted.
"What'd they tell you huh?" she barked, her volume rising with each word. "Poor JJ's walking around, looking tired, not talking to anyone, JJ didn't do this, JJ did do that. Well damn it Emily, forgive me for being busy and having things to do." She swallowed hard and continued her rant, she could feel Emily's brown eyes watching her intently the entire time, flicking over to the road only when absolutely necessary. "I'm a mother of two boys, of course I'm tired." She threw her hands up in frustration. "Jesus Christ did you ever consider that maybe after practically living with the team for weeks on end that maybe, just maybe I'd like some fucking time for myself?"
They made the final turn and Emily slowed the vehicle. "JJ that all makes sense, and if that's the case, fine. I just want to help you. You just need to tell me what you need."
"What I need? What I need is for all you people to stop fucking profiling me, that's what I need!"
As they landed in a parking spot JJ was out of the car in record time. She had to get to the elevator before Emily or else they'd have to ride up together. She couldn't handle that, she needed to be alone, to regather her composure before she went out and faced the team.
Luckily a pile of files in her office demanded her attention so she'd hopefully be able to hide away for most, if not all, of the day. Emily got out of the car at a more reasonable speed, JJ could hear the noises of the door closing but didn't look back. Halfway across the parking lot she looked over her shoulder without slowing down. "I'm sorry you came all this way for nothing, but I'm fine." Without waiting for a reply, she hurried to the elevator, leaving Emily behind her.
When the elevator doors opened, JJ was thrilled to see the box empty, she stepped inside and reached for the right button. The knot in her stomach grew tighter as she watched Emily try to catch up. JJ hated herself for doing it, but she pressed the 'Door Close' button all the same.
R-C
Emily almost made it, but as the doors closed with her only three feet away she realized just how far JJ had gone. While she waited for the next elevator her mind went back to their conversation. Garcia was right, something was very wrong. In all the time they had spent together in the office and out Emily could count on her hands the number of times JJ had said the word 'fuck' but apparently it had become a larger part of her vocabulary.
Her friend looked weary and sad and that was not the JJ that Emily knew. What could have happened? She didn't feel the least bit guilty about profiling JJ, first in the yard and then in the car. What she saw, she didn't like. Using the access card she still had, she pressed the button for Garcia's lair, the girls needed to talk.
While she travelled, she turned the card over in her hand, recalling her last day at the BAU. She had tried to return it but Hotch gave her one of his rare smiles and then shook his head. "Keep it," he said "you never know when you might need to come back."
Garcia's office was just as she remembered it, a few new pictures but Emily quickly noticed none of JJ, Will, or the kids, most were of Savannah, Morgan and their little one. Emily smiled. She stood silently in the doorway and watched the Queen type away at her 'babies'
"I travel all this way to see you and you can't even bother to say hello," she teased.
Garcia spun around in her chair and her jaw dropped as Emily stepped further into the office, shutting the door behind her. They'd need privacy for this.
By the time the door was closed Garcia was out of her chair and squeezing Emily so tight that breathing was becoming difficult. Rather than complain Emily hugged back. She loved Garcia and missed her greatly. More than once during her time in London when the techs failed to get the necessary information she thought, 'I need Garcia.'
Once she was released Emily took half a step back and the women spent a moment staring at one another in silence. Finally, Garcia ended the quiet, quite loudly. "Oh My God, Emily!" she shouted, likely forget where they were.
In an effort to calm her excitable friend, Emily took her hands, while Garcia practically bounced in front of her. "Garcia calm down, of course I'm here, I told you I was coming."
It took a moment but Penelope began to settle. "Emily," she said squeezing their joined hands. "Emily I can't believe you're really here." Her voice was low now, as if they were speaking in secrets.
"Of course I'm here you needed me."
Garcia pulled Emily in for another, less violent hug. "I've missed you so much."
"I missed you too Garcia, every day."
Both women sat and arranged their chairs to face each other. "Have you seen JJ?" Garcia wondered, turning the conversation serious.
"I drove her to work this morning and you're right something is very wrong."
The concern coming off Garcia was staggering and obvious. "What happened?"
"We talked a bit and I thought I was getting somewhere and then I offered to help her and she snapped," Emily recalled quietly.
Garcia gave her a sad look as if she expected that answer. "How bad was it?"
She scoffed lightly and shook her head. "I heard JJ cuss more on the way here this morning than I did in my first three years at the BAU. She's angry and its almost like she's bitter. She kept rolling her shoulders, like she was uncomfortable and any mention of Will and kids seems to set her off."
As she detailed her trip, Emily watched the sadness spread across Garcia's face and she wanted to stop it, but she had to be honest.
"You see it too then," Garcia said weakly. "I mean I'm no profiler but its pretty obvious somethings wrong and I tried to help, I really did, I tried and tried but I can't reach her."
The tears came and Emily held her friend as she cried. "Its going to be alright Penelope," she said gently as the crying slowed. "I know you tried and JJ knows you're trying too, she's just too upset right now to admit it." Emily settled Garcia back into her chair. "I'm going to fix this, I promise. I'm going to figure out what's going on here and I'm going to get the old JJ back, but I'm going to need your help."
Garcia was quick to answer as she swatted at a final errant tear. "I'll do anything. Where do we start?"
Emily thought for a moment, closing her eyes to focus. If this was any other case where would she start? Her eyes opened and she pointed toward the mass of computers. "Find me Will's cell phone. I want to know exactly where he is at all times."
R-C
Garcia's fingers wandered across the keyboard with ease, but her eyes were busy alternating between the two screens. On one she was running a search for Will's phone, and on the other she was watching the bullpen, enjoying the scene of Emily's reunion with the others. She noted JJ was absent from the crowded get together so she opened a third screen and with a few keystrokes added another camera to watch, JJ's office. She found her friend sitting at her desk bent over an open file. More than once while watching she saw JJ's eyes flash to the window, to see Emily and the others, but that never lasted, she'd look toward the window and then almost immediately turn her attention back to the file.
Garcia's worry for JJ was dulled by Emily's presence. She knew the Interpol agent was coming, but to actually see her here, to hear her say that everything was going to be okay, it gave Garcia hope that maybe she was right. After all, Emily Prentiss was rarely wrong.
Deep down she knew Emily was the one who could reach JJ when no one else could. She could have asked the others of course the entire team worried about her. But none of the team knew JJ as well as Emily did. The two shared their secrets, they shared their pain, they had a special bond, born out of tragedy and hurt and it made them closer than blood. After Afghanistan, it was Emily that JJ turned to for help. When Askari kidnapped her, it was Emily who crossed an ocean to help and in the end save JJ's life.
But their relationship was a two-way street. When Emily was away, hiding, pretending to be dead, cut off from everything and everyone she loved, it was JJ that kept her connected to the world with constant games of online Scrabble.
Two eyes watching three screens, Garcia was concerned she might get whiplash. The tech girl sighed each time JJ looked toward the window and she noticed that Prentiss took as many opportunities to glance up to JJ's office as she could. This simple gesture reassured her that Emily was as serious about helping JJ as Garcia was, as if leaving her job and changing continents wasn't enough proof.
On another screen, she watched Emily come out after going upstairs to meet with Hotch. Garcia watched Emily stealthy creep toward JJ's office. Looking at the clock above her screens she could see it was nearly lunch time. She wondered if Emily was brave enough to invite JJ to lunch. Garcia herself had tried this method of luring JJ from her office many times and it always failed. She silently hoped Emily would have better luck.
She focused her attention temporarily on JJ's camera, as well as the catwalk. She watched Emily knock on the door, and then turned her head to watch JJ tense in response. She had never wanted sound on these cameras as badly as she did in that moment. She could see JJ's lips moving and her hands waving dramatically while she stood halfway between the door and the desk. She didn't even open the door to let Emily in. With her back to the camera Garcia couldn't see if Prentiss replied but she was sure she did. Whatever she said caused JJ to take a slight step back before she returned to her angry yelling and hand waving posture. It was so unlike JJ it was painful for Garcia to see. Emily walked away from the door without seeing JJ, just as Penelope had done so frequently. Heading toward Rossi's office, just a foot from JJ's door, Garcia could see Emily's lips moving and assumed she was talking to herself until she glanced at JJ's screen and saw the blonde with her head in her hands as if she was about to cry. Had Emily said something to JJ that had finally gotten through to her. Garcia hoped so, she missed her friend.
When the beep came, she was pulled away from watching Prentiss tease Reid while Alvez stayed close and added the occasional comment. The sound was much louder than she was used to it and she was confused briefly until she remembered she increased the volume on the computer searching for Will, to ensure she wouldn't miss any news. Garcia's world ran on information, and now she had some. Her computers were telling her that Will's phone was in New Orleans.
Garcia felt a wave of guilt. JJ had said Will and the boys were visiting family in New Orleans and the phone seemed to back up that claim, so why then was JJ so distraught?
Pulling out her cell phone she called Emily and waited. Garcia knew she was interrupting a bonding moment between Emily and Rossi, but she'd apologize later. Before Emily could even speak, Garcia erupted, "I got something you need to see!"
R-C
Author's Note: Thank you for reading. I didn't know if this story would interest anyone but me, but there seems to be some interest, so as long as people keep reading, I'll keep posting. Thank you to everyone who reviewed, favorited and followed my story, I appreciate it.
To the Reviewer who asked if this was going to be a Jemily story, I can honestly say I'm not 100% sure. That is my intention, but since I'm making this up as I go, I can't promise anything.
Thank you,
R-C
