A/N: Hey! Thanks for the kind words, and spread this story! There aren't a lot of Intelligence fans out there but I know y'all exist, especially within the CM fandom! Haha anyways, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or Intelligence and/or their affiliates.

Riley stepped into the large home that JJ had been living in for the past ten years, and all her memories of the house came flooding back to her. She remembered when she and JJ started house hunting, and they came upon this house. JJ had gotten lucky with the price, and Riley had to push her to buy it. However, JJ had fallen in love with it the second she stepped into it as it's owner. Riley remembered that day, how she had been so proud of her friend and how lucky she felt to help her achieve her dreams.

Soon enough, JJ entered the foyer. She had changed from her dress into a pair of black cotton shorts and a grey tank top, while Riley was still in her funeral ensemble.

"Hey" Riley said as she looked up at the blonde.

"Hey. Here, let me take your bag, you can stay in the guest room upstairs, the one down the hall from the master." JJ carefully took Riley's weekend bag off her shoulder as Riley put her keys into her purse. However, something caught her off guard,

"Upstairs? Don't you normally have every guest, even me, stay in the suite downstairs?" Riley tried to catch JJ's eye as the two began to head up the wooden stairs. Then it hit her.

"I, uh…I haven't been upstairs for more than five minutes since…" JJ's voice cracked, and Riley knew she needed to drop the subject.

"Right. I'm sorry, I didn't know." Riley was apologetic, she knew she needed to be as sensitive as possible for the time being.

They headed up the stairs and down the hall to the smallest upstairs guest room. Riley had only stayed in this room once, when JJ and her friends/coworkers Emily Prentiss along with Garcia had the weekend off, so she decided to ask the two of them along with Riley to spend a girl's weekend in-town with her. Garcia had taken the downstairs guest suite while Emily had the one next to Henry's room, so naturally Riley took the small room at the end of the hallway. At the time, Riley had hated the idea of being cramped in such a small space with five other people in the house, but now she enjoyed the close comfort, and the knowing that it was just her and JJ. She felt her heart twist as she thought of JJ being alone every night in the basement suite, most likely not sleeping and crying to herself every few hours, and being in too much pain to even think of stepping within three feet of the room she and her husband had shared for the past seven years.

Riley dropped her bag on the bed, then quickly followed JJ back downstairs.

"You hungry? We have a lot of food, people have been bringing me stuff every single day…mostly salads and casseroles and deserts…" JJ asked as she stuck her head in the refrigerator. Riley couldn't help but giggle at the sight of her petite friend digging through shelves and shelves of food that was filled with nothing but carbs.

"Um, I am hungry, but maybe just an apple and a sandwich will do." Riley chuckled to herself as JJ practically dove for the drawer with deli meat and cheese in it. Riley didn't even have to tell JJ what she wanted, she just knew-roasted ham and medium white cheddar cheese. Riley padded over to the bread cabinet and looked over at JJ to see if she was pulling out food for herself. She did-leftover steak and swiss cheese. Riley then reached in and grabbed two chibata rolls and sliced them in half as JJ closed the fridge and set the bags of meat and cheese on the counter Riley was working on. They silently made their sandwiches and Riley grabbed a red apple for herself and a pear for JJ. They sat at the small table off the kitchen, and began chewing their sandwiches in comfortable silence. Riley enjoyed the comfort of being with her friend in one of her favorite places, despite the ever-present grief that they were experiencing. JJ finished her food fairly quickly, and Riley realized that she hadn't been eating as much, due to the depression that had filled her heart.

They finished, and when Riley stood up she realized how gross she felt.

"Hey, do you mind if I take a shower? I'm all sweaty and I'd love to get out of these clothes." Riley looked down at herself as JJ took their plates over to the sink.

"Sure, just use the third bathroom up there." JJ didn't even bother to glance up as she rinsed off the dishes.

Riley simply said a quiet "thanks" and retreated up the stairs.

As JJ stood, carefully placing the plates in the dishwasher, she came to the realization of two things; first, she realized how good it felt to have food in her stomach. She tended to stop eating whenever she was grieving, simply because her stomach couldn't handle it. Second, she noticed how much she had been needing to be around Riley; just her presence brought a previously unknown sense of comfort to JJ, and it was something she couldn't quite explain. No other person could bring the sensation, and JJ enjoyed it.

Xx

They spent their afternoon lounging together in mostly-silence, simply laying with each other on the couch in the main living room, sharing short words and kind gestures. At one point, JJ retold Riley her favorite story of their friendship when they'd first met as JJ laid with her head in Riley's lap, her long hair tickling Riley's bare legs. They went to their respective bedrooms, but Riley simply sat on the window seat against the far wall of the room, her knees tucked into her chest and her big eyes looking up at the full moon. She dozed off like this, but was woken up when she felt a light tap on her shoulder. She turned her head to see JJ standing there, trembling and gasping for air.

"JJ, what happened? What's wrong?" Riley rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she stared her friend down in concern.

"I-I j-j-just h-had a bad d-dream…W-will he…he…" JJ's body was as shaky as her breathe, and she sounded absolutely exhausted.

"Aw, JJ come here." Riley stood and took JJ into her embrace.

She tried to stop JJ's shaking as best she could, and it started to ease as JJ breathed deeper and deeper into Riley's chest. Riley grabbed JJ's hand and pulled her onto the bed, sliding under the covers with her. She wrapped her arms around JJ, letting her cry and carry on as her breathing slowed and her body relaxed. Riley pressed a kiss to JJ's cheek when she finally fell asleep, keeping her right arm across JJ's ribcage and her left just behind JJ's head, her fingertips lightly stroking her blonde hair that seemed to glow in the moonlight that was coming in from the window. Slowly, Riley fell into a deep sleep, the sound of her friend's breathing and the warmth of her body comforting her.