Disclaimers: All original property is owned by CBS and The Mark Gordon Company, and we do not infer that any characters, creations or the concept of 'Criminal Minds' are our property and the following fan fiction has been written purely for entertainment purposes only.

Pairings: Emily/JJ Slowburn

Rating: T

Trigger Warning: This story does deal with the horror of having to deal with watching someone you love succumb to an illness that cannot be beat.

Somebody To Lean On

Part Two

To JJ's surprise it was Ambassador Prentiss, all be it in an electric wheel chair, fully dressed in a beautiful teal coloured two piece that greeted both her and Henry as she entered the kitchen the next morning, the smell of cooking bacon and various other breakfast foods.

"Good morning Jennifer." Obviously unused to the controls the Ambassador did a fairly bad 3 point turn from her place near the fridge, pointing with her free hand to the table for JJ to take a seat.

"Good morning Ambassador, I must say it is wonderful to see you up and about." JJ grinned at the maneuver moving over to sit with Henry in her arms. "Is that the Ferrari or the Lexus model?"

"Either one of those and I'd be able to drive the damn thing." A soft chuckle slipped from the older woman's lips as she bumped into one of the chairs near the enormous kitchen table. "Liam, the chair, can you not get rid of the chair?" She snapped a little, only to have a young looking man who JJ hadn't noticed was just leaning against the wall near the over sized double sink, hurried to shift the chair out of the way so Elizabeth could draw the wheel chair up to the table's edge. "The narcotics they give me would knock out a blue whale so I doubt I could tell otherwise, but did you settle at all?"

"Yes, even Henry managed to get some sleep, those blinds are wondrous inventions." JJ admitted how well they had blocked out all of the storm. "I have to admit my son may have fallen in love with Japanese tapestries just because of you." She complimented softly.

"He has good tastes, that was presented to me by the Prime Minister of Japan on my first visit to his wonderful country. It's over two hundred years old." Elizabeth smiled seamlessly as she relayed the information.

"What?" JJ couldn't hide the shock and horror from her face. "I... should go and wipe it off... he may have drooled on it... I didn't realize..." She stammered going bright red.

"Nonsense, it is now his official feeding quilt." Elizabeth shook her head. "Does it need freshening up, I can have someone rinse it through and have it delivered to the Bureau."

"No, really... we couldn't." JJ continued to fluster. "It's too precious." She tried to continue.

"How did you find the chair?" Elizabeth had seemed to have moved on already.

"It was also lovely." JJ was almost reluctant to complement it but she knew she couldn't be rude either. "I have a rocker at home for night feeds so he felt right at home."

"Well that's good, the familiarity of it may indeed have helped. It was made for me by a family in Marrakesh, well made for Emily I should say." Elizabeth explained with as much of a reminiscent look in her eye as the older woman ever had.

"You rocked Emily in that chair?" JJ's face showed the melting expression of nostalgia and loveliness she felt immediately inside.

"Most nights, under the Moroccan stars." The Ambassador nodded with a soft almost distant smile.

"Hear that Henry, you are one lucky baby." JJ smoothed her hand over his wild blonde locks. "I have to admit my morning didn't work out though, I was trying to get in here early to make bacon for you for breakfast."

"Oh I have a diligent team for that." Elizabeth motioned over her shoulder at a stout older woman who did indeed seem to be in charge of numerous things all cooking at the same time, producing wondrous smells. "She is as happy as I am that you are here. Teresa has been with me, cooking for me for so many years now, the last little while since my... episode, has been hell for her, with oatmeal, and salad, and rice..." Elizabeth smiled. "Do you eat spiced sausage?"

"I don't know if I've ever had it but if has the word sausage in it so I'm willing to bet I'll like it." JJ nodded.

"Teresa is from Castelsardo in Southern Italy, she makes her own pepperoni, salami, olive oil, pesto and bruschetta and I wouldn't eat any other." Elizabeth flashed a smile at the woman.

"Wow, that is one long list of wonderful foods." JJ agreed instantly. "I can't see why anyone is making you have oatmeal, even Emily. What you need right now is healthy food, with lots of vitamins and nutrients to support your system."

For a moment the Ambassador just smiled.

"So what will it be for breakfast Jennifer? An omelet perhaps? The coffee is fresh and the orange juice just squeezed."

"I would love an omelet and coffee, and of course some of that bacon you had me dreaming all night about." JJ encouraged. "I know I look small but your daughter is convinced I have a hollow leg."

"Here, let me take the little Prince and you can help yourself to coffee." The Ambassador held out her arms for Henry boldly seeming to be trying to use both of them despite the weakness in one side, while turning her head just slightly. "Un omlete per Jennifer con un po ' di pancetta e un po' del vostro salame prego Teresa." She directed at the 'cook', who with a flash of a smile nodded and instantly began doing something else in the already busy space.

"Can I get you some coffee too?" JJ asked moving to hand her the small boy who seemed as always content in the older woman's arms.

"No, no. Believe me, this is the best morning I've had in a long while Jennifer, I don't need coffee to help lighten it."

"I'm glad it's a good morning." JJ's smile was bright and almost infectious as she moved to get herself a cup.

-x-

"Okay so not what I was expecting." Garcia looked at JJ as the blonde moved to put down an extra grande coffee in front of the analyst and a large decadent looking muffin. "With the horrible storm we had and the possibility that you'd been mauled by Ambassador Prentiss' war hounds of death, I was expecting someone more glum or at least tired looking, but you look... Rested, showered and well, happy."

"Well that is because I actually was not mauled by the war hounds of death, but invited to stay at the Prentiss estate last night, complete with Emily's rooms black out blinds, an heirloom rocking chair, and a two hundred year old Japanese blanket Henry drooled on because I didn't know it was that old when she had in brought in for me to use while nursing." JJ laughed lightly. "Oh and a huge breakfast cooked by an Italian chef that works magics for the Ambassador."

"You stayed the night at the Prentiss Estate?" Garcia's eyes went wide. "Oh wow." She summed up. "She has a chef? Of course she has a chef." She berated herself. "And staff, she has staff right?"

"Lots of staff." JJ nodded. "And her physiotherapy is working wonders, her speech and her use of her left arm is greatly improved. Emily should be so pleased by the improvements she sees when she gets back." She enthused more. "She was even up and about in her electric wheel chair for breakfast."

"Out of bed? But I though since the grand mal she's been bedridden."

"Well I don't think her leg has improved enough to be up walking around but she was up in her Lexus as we started calling it." JJ laughed lightly. "Cause Prentiss' only drive Lexus'." She added the joke.

"Again, lamely enough I have to say, wow." Garcia smiled at the blonde. "So there was me worrying about you all night and you were just living it up at the Estate letting my God son drool on antiques and poop on priceless heirlooms?"

"Thankfully we did not have any backdoor explosions." JJ shook her head. "But yes drooling... oh and charming the Ambassador." She grinned. "I almost thought I wasn't going to get him back to take him to the sitter."

"Next thing you know 'the Estate' will have a nanny, 'just in case' you drop by." Garcia winked.

"I'm already booked for Saturday." JJ gave a soft laugh at Garcia's ability to pre-empt things like the all knowing Goddess that she was. "She wants to give Henry a tour of her gardens."

"He's not old enough to play peek-a-boo with, I don't think he's going to fall in love with her choice of fall colours and variegated foliage for the main walkway." Garcia put on her best 'posh' accent. "But that's sweet that she's enjoying the distraction of having the two of you to show things to."

"I think that's the important part, she's dying... but she's not gone yet." JJ underlined. "She's been reminiscing a lot with us about places she's been, things about Emily." She gave a soft laugh. "I even think the fact I'm not from 'their world' makes it feel okay to just talk about things, there's no worry about her impressing me or appearing weakened in her current state."

"Has she mentioned being ill?" Garcia asked.

"Not specifically about things being terminal, we do talk about the medications, the ones she likes and dislikes, we've talked about her therapy sessions, about her nutrition and keeping her strength up." JJ nodded. "She has an appointment with a new Neuro-oncologist next week, he's flying in special to consult on her case. I think like anyone she has her hopes up secretly that he'll have some other way to attack the problem, rather than just giving in... she's not the type of woman to just give in."

"She's a Prentiss." Garcia nodded that that went without saying considering the Prentiss they both knew and loved. "Speaking of which.." The other blonde smiled a little unevenly, when the phone on her desk lit up with an incoming call. "That's probably them." Leaning forward she cleared her throat. "Good morning my lovelies, any over night strikes on those leaders you left in the water?" She opened with her voice bright and cheerful, full of the energy it always was.

"Maybe Baby Girl, I've got some work for you and JJ to do." Morgan's voice came back, not quite as up beat, but at least it wasn't a direct 'no we have nothing'.

"That's what we're here for good looking, hit us with an action plan."

-x-

JJ was just easing herself down onto her couch, one hand curled around her mug of coffee the other reaching for the TV remote when the sound of her cell phone ringing from where she had left it on the kitchen counter when she was making her coffee pulled her attention to it.

With a sigh she got back up again, laying the coffee down on the table and reached the phone on the counter just in time for it to stop ringing. She even tried to answer but got nothing and checking the number it was one she didn't recognize. She kept it in her hand as she moved back to the couch and her coffee when it rang again.

"Jareau." She answered professionally kind of expecting to find this was a wrong number.

"Jennifer?" Through a bad line, lots of interference and with a background of voices and loud music Emily's voice was barely discernible.

"Emily? Where are you at a club?" JJ tried to talk louder hoping it would encourage her to do so.

"Kind of, I'd have called on my cell put I don't have it." The brunette's voice was oddly wavy.

"Why don't you have your cell? What are you doing?" JJ pushed for details.

"I don't..." The double questions seemed to confuse the brunette. "I was allowed a phone call."

"Allowed a phone call, Emily are you alright?" JJ felt her stomach twist. "Just tell me what is going on."

"You're number is on the card, the card in my wallet. I have my wallet. You have a baby." Emily's voice slurred a little.

"I do... Emily where are you?" She asked the clear question, moving quickly to her laptop and opening it, silently cursing at it to wake up quicker as she quickly tried to open a messenger to reach Garcia. Typing one handed to the analyst to get a hold of Hotch and find out where Emily was and why she sounded drugged or drunk.

"Snake." Emily replied. "Yellow and green." There came a loud raucous over the phone followed by hollering and cheers. "Sin to WIN!" The brunette whooped loudly.

"I'm getting help, you just stay with me." JJ assured her getting a short message from Garcia that she was on it. "Do they know who you are?"

"I am ...no." Emily mumbled. "Coke not diet."

"Good, just try to stay with me. Help is on the way in very soon." JJ felt a wave of relief come into her when she saw Garcia's message informing her that Hotch was sending in officers to find them, wherever there was she didn't care right now. Though the them made her immediately worry. "Do you know where Morgan is?"

"Boys do the business, girls have the fun." She added a loud "wooo hooo." To the end of her sentence, vaguely muffling the background conversation happening around her of 'Hey E, come on do another line, get off the phone.'

"Just hang on, tell them you're buzzed already you don't need to do anymore." JJ encouraged as she typed the information update about Morgan to Garcia to relay to the team.

"I really have to go. Can't let the party down, not if there's fireworks coming." Emily slurred more. "Be safe, miss you."

"Be safe, I miss you too." JJ repeated loudly expecting almost with equal amount of relief and worry the sudden ten fold increase of noise as the came loud screams and loud voices, but clearly this time it wasn't part of the party but indeed the fireworks. She counted three gunshots in the background before the line went dead. Instantly she shut off the connection and dialed Garcia. "Tell me you have audio, video something..." She urged immediately.

"Not right now sweet cake." The unhappiness in the other blonde's tone was complete. "You heard them hit?"

"Yes... there were gunshots." JJ recalled closing her eyes and leaning her ass against the table. "They did something to Emily, I have never heard her that intoxicated. She said something about the boys doing the business while the girls had fun... I pray they find Morgan fast too."

"Oh he'll be okay or I'll kill him myself." Garcia put on her usual 'tough' act. "Welcome to my end of the world, where five minutes when you guys are out there in the middle of no where, even if it is just the next state over, feels like an eternity." She added with a quick breath. Both women jumped when the sound of the internal line beeped on Garcia's end, flicking over the link for just a second, JJ could hear the other blonde breathe out and then take a couple of quick breath and repeat yes a few times before flicking back over. "They have both of them."

"Thank God." JJ let the initial breath of relief hit her as well. "Do they have any idea what they did to Emily? Is Morgan in the same shape?"

"Emily is on her way to the local hospital, Morgan they got their before his second bout, apparently his words to Hotch were, you could have waited I'd already made 10 grand."

"So Morgan." JJ couldn't help but laugh. "Keep me posted on Em okay? She'll be in the best place soon, even if she hates hospitals."

"You know I will, great work Jayge, they still have to get confessions from the main runner and his two accomplices but as of right now, that town just got a lot safer, even if just because there is no way 'Fourheads' will be opening again for a long, long while."

"It's a four headed yellow and black snake isn't it?" JJ questioned with a smirk to herself knowing even 'tanked' Emily was the best agent there was.

JJ's laptop messenger, though no longer being used for the conversation suddenly flashed up with a jpg of the club sign the embodiment of what the blonde had just described.

"Know it?"

"Emily described it when I asked where she was." JJ admitted. "Snake, yellow and black... she was trying to tell me even while roofied." She gave a soft laugh. "Prentiss is one of a kind."

"Apparently right now a very high one of a kind, unofficially and totally not on record, according to Rossi, she was recovered, 'sans blouse'."

"Prentiss is going to be so angry with embarrassment." JJ closed her eyes briefly. "If she's released are they coming back tomorrow?" She thought of the fact it was Saturday and she was already due at the Estate.

"Yes, which we both know means they'll be back tomorrow. ETA mid morning, I'd say by ten." Garcia estimated.

"Well I'll get the story of her gigantic hangover first hand. I'll call you when I have details." JJ laughed more. "Thanks for you help." She added. "Let me know if there are any updates."

"You know I will." Penelope sent a smile through messenger before hanging up her phone.

-x-

"Hey there beautiful." Morgan gave JJ a smile as he stepped down off the jet and moved towards her. "So she broke down and called you to drive her home huh?" He glanced behind her towards the plane watching as Rossi and the others made their way down the steps, the last one to do so being Emily, who took each step individually, holding both side rails as she did. She wasn't even carrying her go bag, having let Hotch take it for her.

"Yes she did, I thinks he was afraid the doctor's wouldn't release her if she didn't prove someone was 'looking' after her when she got home other than her team. Thankfully he didn't check who I was very carefully." She gave a soft laugh. "So you won 10K? That is one expensive shiner."

"You should see the other guy." Morgan's smile was bright. "And hey if I was paying for all the shit that Em put away, I'd be in the red not the black."

"Garcia emailed me her tox screen." JJ laughed more giving quick hello/goodbye's to the rest of the team who filed by to get to their cars and their own beds and hopefully a quiet weekend. "Girls have fun while the boys talk business." She repeated with a smile as the brunette finally got closer. "Hey Sparky, you okay to make it to the car or should I drive it up?"

"Can we walk home, I think if we drive I may throw up." Emily sounded awful, her voice was low and gravelly and her cadence off.

"No but I did bring air sickness bags and some chew-able gravol for you." JJ smiled. "Put ice on that." She instructed Morgan lovingly. "Come on Sin to Winner."

"Look after my Old Lady." Morgan winked his good eye at them.

"I hate you." Emily grumbled in his general direction not really loud enough for him to hear.

"Now now don't waste your energy." JJ had laughed at the comment. "Old Lady is a compliment in biker circles, mean you're not everyone's property, only have to put up with one guy not the whole club." She encouraged taking the go bag from Hotch as he went by, giving them a quick instruction to Emily to get some rest. "I bet you wish you'd been in this pit fight not part of the party."

"Why do people do this to themselves deliberately?" Emily began trudging slowly towards JJ's car with the blonde. "I feel horrible, I feel more than horrible, I kind of want to die."

"Ahhhh poor Prentiss, we'll get you home and into bed as fast as we can." JJ encouraged slipping her free arm into her co-workers to guide her slightly wobbly steps. "Hopefully after a few hours sleep you'll be up to tea in the garden with us."

"Tea in the garden? You have a garden?" Emily seemed completely confused. "Am I still high?"

"Probably a little." JJ laughed again. "And I mean your garden, well your mother's garden... we had this planned before we knew you were coming home."

"Oh well don't let me get in the way." Emily groaned. "Leave the junkie in the attic." She adjusted the lie of her shades. "The inside of my nose is burning."

"I've been told cocaine will do that." JJ assured her. "And you're not a junkie, you were administered those drugs without your knowledge." She underlined. "Big difference."

"I wasn't even wearing a blouse when they hit the club." Emily groaned. "I don't even know where it is." She admitted. "Thank god I was wearing something dark bra wise."

"That you took off your top and played along probably saved your life." JJ hit the button to open her trunk re-framing the unfortunate fact. "And Morgan's... they trusted you enough to make the call to me and I was able to call in the team. That blouse will be remembered for its heroic sacrifice."

"I don't remember which one it was." Emily admitted. "I'll find out when I unpack." She moved around the car, using it to support her, to get to the passenger door. "Did you know that bath salts don't go in your bath anymore?"

"I did, I saw a news expose the other week. Though I can't imagine willingly using them." She admitted moving to close the door for the taller woman before moving around to get in the driver's seat. "Just chew these and then tilt the seat back, let me worry about getting us home."

Emily took the pills from the blonde and then frowned.

"Why are you having tea with my mother?" The question came with an air of total confusion.

"Because she wants to give Prince Henry a tour of her garden." JJ explained with a smile at the fact Emily's brain had woken up. "You're going to be so pleased when you see how much improvement she's had with her therapy this week. And shame on you for making her eat oatmeal for breakfast all the time, that isn't real food she needs variety and flavours."

"The hospital diet sheet said oatmeal." Emily objected. "And it wasn't every day, there was scrambled eggs once a week, omega three whites only eggs, but you know..."

"Well we've modified that a bit since your mother has a fabulous cook named Theresa who doesn't need to prep a 500 gallon vat of oatmeal for a whole hospital." JJ explained the flaw in the 'oatmeal' logic.

"You know she probably could do that if you asked her to, she's pretty good." Emily mused aloud. "So you modified when she eats, what she eats, let me guess, she doesn't lay in bed all day either, you've got her wandering around smelling the...waiting you said tea in the garden..." The brunette's brain really did start to work. "I am not making the help wheel that damn bed out there."

"No, she's driving her Lexus chair out." JJ corrected her. "We've had coffee on the veranda already, the ramp wasn't ready yet but it is for today." She outlined. "She's getting good with it too, you're going to be so surprised."

"I'm going to be surprised because when I left she was drooling on herself, now apparently she's driving her Lexus around the estate?" Emily arched her eyebrow, reaching up to lower her huge black on black shades down.

"Not her car, her chair... the electric one?" She pointed out to see a vague squint of understanding from Emily. "I didn't even realize she had one but she was in it getting the hang of it when I came down for breakfast the morning Henry and I stayed over because of a thunderstorm."

"I'm unconscious on the floor of that club as high as a kite right now aren't I? Pants and everything have gone haven't they?" Emily groaned.

"No, you're fine... just..." JJ's face grew a bit serious. "She's not dead yet Em." She said softly. "She's not given up yet either, maybe for a while she was thinking about it but Prentiss women don't know how to give up."

"She wanted the hospital bed, I bought her the chair." Emily said with a soft smile. "I don't know if I wanted her to use it or if it was my challenge to her, to see if she was broken, you know?"

"I think for a little while she was, but she's back fighting again." JJ assured the brunette. "Where do you think Henry is? When she found out I was picking you up from the strip, she insisted I bring him there first and then come get you."

"You left Henry with my mother?" Emily pulled her shades off completely. "JJ are you insane?" There was actually an edge to the brunette's tone. "She's dying, she could have a ..."

"Theresa offered to look after Henry with her and the nursing staff is there, her aides, the house keepers." JJ quirked an eyebrow. "I wouldn't have put that burden on your mother Emily, I've not lost my mind." She corrected her. "But Elizabeth loves spending time with him, I can't deny her that simple pleasure."

"I wasn't calling Henry a burden I was worried about his safety." Emily pointed out her focus had been completely the other way around. "And did you just call my mother Elizabeth?"

"She insists, apparently me calling her Ambassador is too formal and Mrs. Prentiss makes her feel old and she's old enough, her words not mine." JJ established pulling out of the parking spot. "She didn't mention I'd been over at all when you spoke to her did she?" She questioned.

"No, but then again I didn't ask." Emily admitted. "They were very much regimented check ins of the how are you, did you take your meds, anything new to report kind."

"Did she tell you she relented to her Dr's request and is seeing Dr. Singh on Thursday for a secondary opinion?" JJ quirked an eyebrow. "Or that she's not happy with the sedative dosages to help her sleep?"

"She didn't." Emily shook her head and breathed out slightly harder than normal, resting her head against the headrest.

"It doesn't matter if she did, because I just did." JJ assured her reaching across to put her hand on Emily's leg in support. "She won't ask you but you need to be at the appointment with her, and I mean in the appointment talking to the doctor okay?"

"Okay I can do that." Emily nodded with ease. "I wanted to be in on consultations all the way but she wouldn't hear of it."

"Em, I mean this will all the love and respect I can give you okay..." JJ preempted softly. "But don't ask her what she wants, just do it. She doesn't want to burden you, she knows your job is important to you and she feels since she's asked you to respect the need for hers your whole life she can't suddenly just expect you to drop yours... even if that is exactly what she wants you to do for things like specialist appointments." She encouraged. "She wants her daughter there holding her hand through it all if you can be."

"Her slightly high, hung over mostly likely to have a wicked sinus infection daughter, that one?"

"Yes that one." JJ underlined. "I might have left out the drug fueled biker club event from my round up that you were coming home today conversation." She gave a soft laugh. "I didn't want to worry her that you were back in your twenties again."

"What did she tell you?" Emily blanched a little.

"Oh nothing." JJ laughed again. "Though come to think of it, losing your shirt is something you have issue with isn't it?"

"Every and I mean EVERY time has an explanation."

"Of course it does." JJ nodded but kept chuckling. "I have to ask though, where did all the Koi go from her pond?"

"Which time." Emily smirked back with a wink.

-x-

Emily walked out into the afternoon sunshine and slipped her shades back into place on her face. She felt a world better, that was a fact and the sight that met her lifted her spirits even more, driving back the lingering headache and body aches even further.

Sat out on the lawn, under a large angled shade umbrella, were JJ, her mother and Henry. The Ambassador was parked in her 'Lexus' against the edge of an enormous quilted blanket, dressed as always in a perfect suit, this one in summer blue, matched perfectly with a summer hat, on her lap sat Henry, perfectly supported, in a little sailor suit, with a sun hat on shading covering his wild blonde curls and shading his fair skin, JJ was half laid out on the quilt, in a pair of white knee length shorts and a button down shirt, her sandals kicked off by the side of the blanket, a floppy sun hat sat slightly unevenly on her head and almost masked the fact she had on sunglasses. A large wicker picnic basket was placed close by the blonde, who had a glass of something in her hand.

Pushing away from the house Emily made her way down the walk and onto the lawn making a bee line for them.

"So how were the gardens? Sorry I slept through the tour."

"They are lovely, better than the horticulture house because they don't mind if tiny hands grab things." JJ admitted with a soft laugh.

"If he wanted to I am sure he could have a future in horticulture." Elizabeth smoothed her hand down over Henry's leg.

"He can be anything he wants, can't you little man." Emily ducked down and placed a quick kiss against Henry's sun hat on the way past, pressing her lips to her mother's cheek next before moving off to sit on the other side of the Ambassador's chair.

"Little Prince." Elizabeth corrected, bouncing Henry on her knee. "And of course he can, I was just meaning he is already very dexterous and has a good eye." The older Prentiss looked towards the young infant's mother. "Are you considering teaching him sign language? The trend is quite popular among young mothers these days."

"I was thinking about it but I'm not sure with my work schedule it will be much use unless I can get the Sitter to try too." JJ admitted. "It would be nice though if he was able to tell me he wanted a drink or an arrowroot cookie once he's a bit older."

"You don't have a nanny?" Elizabeth looked a JJ and then at Emily before looking back at JJ.

"Oh no." JJ shook her head quickly. "I'm afraid the salary I earn from the Bureau doesn't allow for that kind of luxury, I have a very good sitter though I'm lucky."

"Emily." The Ambassador's frown was constant.

"Mother." The younger brunette returned the look adding a 'you want me to do what' to it.

JJ watched the exchange with a neutral expression and then reached towards the basket.

"Emily you must be hungry, we have some lovely snacks." JJ tried to refocus them both quickly.

"I am a little." Emily moved to the picnic basket and smiled at the blonde as she opened it. "Sorry." She mouthed at her.

JJ gave a soft head shake as she began to pull out carefully packed Tupperware out of the basket.

"So your mother and I were just discussing whether she should have some of the cherry blossom trees relocated or whether its nicer that they've created the canopy that they have." She steered the conversation expertly back to the neutral topic.

"Aren't they going to need a little trellis work to support them in situ?" Emily questioned glancing off towards the general area.

"Trellis work, that's something that we didn't think about." JJ looked up at Elizabeth. "Would help give them guidance and support."

Elizabeth smiled.

"Good good, I knew that education would be worth it." She made the humorous comment. "Jennifer." She continued. "I think our little Prince needs to go down for his nap and I have to admit after our full morning I am flagging."

"Then lets get both of you inside." JJ pushed herself up moving to gently take Henry and settle him into his carrier before moving to help Emily pack up the picnic basket and fold up the blanket. "Emily I can sort this stuff if you want to get Elizabeth inside and into bed to rest."

"Okay, thank you." Emily pushed up and moved over instantly to her mother's side.

"Leave that Jennifer, I'll send the boy out to get it." Elizabeth called over her shoulder as Emily turned her and pushed her towards the house.

-x-

"So Henry has a crib here, an activity blanket, a full change table and you have changes of clothes?" Emily leaned against the fridge with a beer in her hand. "I was away four days."

"That was all Elizabeth." JJ frowned softly. "I told her none of it was necessary but she had it all arranged before I could really object. She is very... organized." She took a sip of her own water, pleased that Henry was asleep in said crib and that the Ambassador was resting comfortably.

"She is." Emily took a sip of her beer and then abandoned it on the side, the taste obviously reminding her too much of the recent past. "Don't let her railroad you into anything you're not comfortable with."

"Try this." JJ held out her water in exchange. "So... what do you think about how she's doing?" She asked the question tentatively.

"Amazing, I shouldn't be surprised I suppose, she's strong, and has this iron will to succeed, but even so, I didn't expect anything so dramatic. Thank you for your part in in." The brunette smiled at the blonde and then breathed out softly. "She seems to do better when I'm not around."

"No, that's not the link you're supposed to make." JJ shook her head stepping closer. "I think a part of it was seeing you get back to work, you being on case reminded her that the world keeps spinning and she can either give up or enjoy the time she has left." She re-framed the fact reaching out to put her hand on Emily's arm. "She missed you."

"I doubt that." Emily shook her head. "Really though Jennifer, thank you for keeping an eye on everything, you didn't have to do that, with Henry and the fact that you were as much on case as the rest of the team, it was more than you should have done." The brunette smiled softly. "You can spend your Sunday resting, enjoying your son and generally just forgetting the extra burden you've had."

"Emily... why do you keep calling her a burden? Is that how you feel?" She asked softly trying not to sound judgmental. "Like all of this is just something you don't want to deal with but have too?"

"No, I mean for you, she's my mother, she's not yours." Emily shook her head. "Jenn you've seen how her life is, it's not like she needs me to be here, she has enough staff and enough people around her to deal with anything she needs, I could be at the bureau if I wanted to be but I want to be here." She stressed. "I feel like I've missed 35 years Jenn."

"I'm going to tell you something now Em, because if you feel that way I don't want you to miss whatever time you have left with her." JJ moved a little closer. "She wants you here too, she wants you with her... you're all she has. I think she's afraid she's going to die alone surrounded by staff and not holding the hand of the one person on this earth who means everything to her... you."

Emily took a sip of water.

"I won't let that happen." Emily shook her head.

"I know you won't." JJ kept her hand in place. "But I also know that right now you have a lot on your shoulders, so please don't waste any precious energy apologizing to me because I've chosen to spend time with Elizabeth when you weren't here, will continue to spend time with her if she wants me too. Time is the most precious commodity your mother has right now, and that she wants to share it with me, with Henry... is a gift that has no price. That I get to share time with you at the same time, be here if you need something, someone to talk to."

"It's not about what I need right now." Emily shook her head.

"When it comes to Elizabeth, no I get that... but when it comes to times like right now when she is resting as she needs too and all you have is the time to sit and think, then its about you, for me especially." JJ underlined in a gentle caring voice. "It's one of those things you can't dissuade me from, no matter how much stoic Prentiss style you try to put on me. Got it?"

"Stoic Prentiss, is that a thing?" Emily smiled slightly.

"Yes." JJ nodded. "It's one of those cute things you inherited from your mother." She smiled back.

"Did you just call my mother cute?" Emily arched her eyebrow.

"I actually just called you both cute." JJ gave a brighter smile. "But way to duck out of a compliment."

"I'm not used to them." Emily actually blushed slightly. "She dotes on Henry, I've never seen her like that before." The brunette was honest.

"I was wondering if she had a general love of all things little children." JJ nodded at the appraisal. "Or if the Little Prince..." She raised an eyebrow at the title. "Had charmed him all on his own."

"She doesn't 'do' children." Emily shook her head. "I think your little charmer is a one of a kind." She admitted. "But then we knew that right?" She offered the blonde a slim smile.

"Yes, yes we did. He charmed you." JJ reached up to pull lightly on the taller agent's collar. "And we know you're not easy to charm."

"I'm a push over." Emily laughed softly reaching out to lightly push on JJ's shoulder. "Would you rather gather your sleeping son and make a hasty retreat to your own home and forget about all this madness while you can?"

"Answer me this one question honestly..." JJ gave a soft laugh at the girlie push but then her face was serious. "Do you want us out of your space, out of your private life?" She put heavy emphasis on the word 'you'.

"No, it's not that." Emily shook her head. "Jenn." She said her voice softer. "There isn't going to be a happy ending to this, I don't want you to lose yourself in this and get hurt."

"I know the ending, but it's not about the ending, that will bring pain no matter how much I'm involved. I would rather honour her now, help you both, then wish I had done more later." JJ outlined back her voice also soft. "I know what it feels like to lose people... the victims we see everyday who I wish I could have done more for, and people who I have loved so deeply I will never be over losing them. My eyes are wide open Em."

"I have a long list of things to do for next week, I have some dignitaries arriving from over seas they're staying at the estate I need to prep rooms, work out a menu..." Emily smiled softly at the blonde.

"What can I do?" JJ asked smiling back at her.

"Are you any good at choosing linens?"

"I am great at making beds." JJ nodded happily. "Let's work out how many rooms we need ready." She motioned to the kitchen table.

-x-

"Emily." Morgan pushed up out of the seat at his desk in the bull pen and moved to where his partner was slipping out of the elevator and moving towards them. He met her more than half way to the enclosure and pulled her into a soft hug. "I can't tell you how much we're missing you here, the files are piling up on your desk." He smile brightly, leading her through towards her desk and a smiling Reid, who pushed up out of his seat and gave the brunette a wave.

"I miss you guys too." The brunette smiled back and then turned and nodded to where a couple of delivery guys were carrying in some bags of take out and trays of drinks. "I thought I was behind on coffees and snacks so I brought in Chinese, I thought it was about lunch time." She smiled more.

"That was very nice of you." Reid nodded a little excitedly. "Why don't I take them to the conference room so we can all eat in there?" He offered. "I think JJ is in Garcia's office." He instructed as he motioned for the delivery people to follow him.

"You didn't have to bribe us, just seeing you is more than enough, though I'll always take Mr. Wongs." Morgan smiled at her. "How are you doing? How's your mom?" He asked a little softer.

"She's holding up." Emily nodded. "Why don't you go get Hotch and Dave, I'll go get the ladies." She encouraged him with a smile as she moved towards Garcia's lair. Knocking on the door lightly when she reached it, the brunette just opened it enough to see inside. "Hey beautiful people, lunch is served in the conference room, if I can interest you, Mr Wong's special."

"Princess!" Garcia seemed to jump out of her chair and headed towards the brunette. "How are you doing? It's so good to see you... you didn't have to bring anything just your beautiful self." She engulfed her in a hug instantly.

JJ stayed leaned against the analyst's desk just smiling at the brunette, not having been expecting to see Emily at work that day.

"I hoped that but I thought I'd sweeten the deal just in case it wasn't enough." Emily smiled brightly as she eased back from the hug, keeping her hand on Garcia's arm and rubbing it lightly as she looked over to JJ. "Please though can you gather some kind of eating implements before the boys go neanderthal on us." She asked of her.

"I have supplies in my office for just such an emergency, you two go ahead I'll meet you in there." JJ encouraged moving past them, reaching to pat Emily's arm in silent support before she slipped out.

"First, are you okay? Do you need anything? I have had zero requests from you come across my desk and I am ready for anything you might need." Garcia didn't let Emily follow just yet. "I can research medicines, doctors, anything you might possibly have questions about." She urged.

Emily looked at the blonde and sighed softly, her bright smile dimming slightly.

"We have a new specialist appointment tomorrow which is something I asked of her when she first received her diagnosis and she refused, so I'm feeling lucky enough as it is." She admitted to the analyst with a soft shake of her head. "And I needed a little space to decompress which is why I am here, bringing the people I miss more than I thought I would, lunch." She admitted. "We have an estate full of people who are so very polite and proper, but to be honest I feel like I'm twelve again and I needed a time out."

"Okay just remember, I get any answers, totally confidential and totally top secret if you need them." Garcia underlined. "Now if decompression is what you want, then that is what you'll get... you haven't been here to know but make sure you ask Reid about the girl at the coffee shop near his house and tease Morgan about how his hair cut is uneven. I don't think it really is but he's been convinced it was since the barber's on Monday."

Emily laughed softly.

"Most definitely." The brunette nodded, "I'll go help JJ with the utensils I have something I need to ask her for Mother." She pointed after the blonde with a quick eye roll.

"I'll keep the boys decent until you get there." Garcia smiled at her lovingly and slipped out with the brunette who detoured to JJ's office.

-x-

"Do we need cups?" JJ already had paper plates and plastic cutlery and was pulling a stack of wrapped cups from her bottom drawer when she looked up to see Emily in her doorway.

"Probably I got a variety of pops and coffee's for later." The brunette nodded. "Though not to interrupt I have something to ask you from mother." She smiled softly. "We're having a formal dinner this evening, with some of her visiting friends and their families, she wanted to know if you and Henry would be able to join us."

"I would love to come, what time do we need to be there and how formal is formal?" JJ smiled at the brunette.

"Just something pretty." Emily shook her head. "It's not a black tie dinner Jenn." She smiled more. "Mother will send a car for you around six, six thirty."

"Okay, I can drive over you know." JJ pointed out softly. "How is she doing? Are you both nervous about tomorrow's appointment? You remember your promise to call me as soon as you can to let me know the update right?" She checked knowing the dinner later would not be the time to remind her.

"Anxious." Emily nodded, the brunette's demeanor somehow, off. "She's already told me what she's 'not' going to do no matter what." She summed up with a slow nod. "But she's going which is something."

"What are her not's?" JJ moved over closing the door softly and leaning against it giving Em the chance to explain, hoping she might be able to put her finger on what exactly was bothering the taller agent the most.

"Chemotherapy, disfiguring surgery and any kind of animal cells, I'm really not sure what the last one is about." Emily rolled her eyes.

"Are any of those? Maybe not the last one... even options?" JJ questioned with a frown.

"I wouldn't know because she won't let me know exactly what her oncologist told her, I only have the run down of what the ER responders and the secondary support team that looked after her seizure to go on. Terms like, with your condition, and in cases like, mean little when you don't have the missing pieces." Emily gave a tired sigh. "It's just a tumour, in there." She waved her hand at her head. "Is all I get, and that's when she's being communicative."

"Okay well tomorrow you can get a lot of answers." JJ encouraged her. "Now... what has you on edge? It's not the appointment is it?" She observed softly.

"Edge? I'm on edge?" Emily immediately squared her shoulders and quirked her eyebrow.

"You're on edge." JJ smiled gently at her. "Not a challenge, but an observation and a request for you to vent some with me, no strings attached."

"There is just people everywhere at the Estate." Emily shook her head. "And mother is acting like she's wonder woman and when she's entertaining of course she is, but in between she's exhausted and in pain and I'm getting the brunt of the negative." Emily offered a 'reason'.

"Mmmmm I can imagine that's tiring but..." JJ looked at her carefully. "Are you sure that's it? You've been biting your nails." She nonchalantly pointed to the thumb on Emily's hand which was vaguely massacred.

"That's not enough?" Emily arched her eyebrows. "Jenn dinner tonight is for 28 people." She clarified. "That's not counting the under twelves."

"If you say that all then it's all." JJ gave a soft shrug. "Is it?"

"The guest list is... hard." Emily slipped in another crumb of information. "But I'm dealing."

"Who on the guest list is the hardest?" JJ realized the small opening and took it immediately.

"Daphne Saxena, nee Matherson." Emily said the name slowly, licking her lips after doing so.

"Who is?" JJ leaned causally against her desk.

"My past." Emily summed up taking a breath. "We need to get to the conference room while there's still Mr Wong's left."

"Don't disappear after we've eaten, I'm walking you downstairs and you're going to tell me more." JJ nodded that this was all she was going to get. "But I'll be there tonight, just for you no matter what or who this Daphne is."

Emily nodded with a small smile and let JJ push open her door.

-x-