Chapter 3

Emily was devastated for her friend and, quite frankly, ready to find Will and castrate him. She held JJ tightly as she cried out the anger and pain and tried to decide what she could do to help her.

She felt JJ pull away and heard her say, "I always swore to myself that I wouldn't let a man do this to me Em, but I let him hit me twice. I let him hit me twice."

Emily was pissed – how could JJ be blaming herself for this?

"You didn't let him do anything Jayje. He hit you, you didn't let him do it, you didn't give him permission – he just did it. You did nothing wrong. All you tried to do was protect your son. You have got nothing to be ashamed of."

JJ looked up, clearly surprised by the passion in Emily's voice. Emily continued with a question.

"Did you file a report JJ?"

"Yes, I did," JJ replied nervously, "I nearly didn't. I figured that he was drunk, he didn't mean it, it was a one time thing, you know? But then I realised how many times I had heard those excuses before. He needs to know that he can't get away with it, that it's wrong. I need him to know that there is no acceptable excuse for what he did." Her voice grew stronger towards the end of the speech.

"See, this is what I mean," encouraged Emily, "You didn't just let it happen. You reacted positively and decisively. You should be proud of yourself."

She heard JJ sigh. "Thanks Em," she said quietly, "I really needed to hear that."

"No problem hun." Emily stood up and said, "Now, what about breakfast? I can make pancakes!"

"That sounds great Em. I haven't eaten since lunch yesterday."

"Pancakes it is then!"

JJ followed Emily into the kitchen, picking Henry up on the way. Emily watched her wince and asked, "What did the doctor say Jayje? Have you got any painkillers that you can take?"

"It was all just bruises really – my eye, my back and my wrist – and a mild concussion from where I hit the floor. He gave me some Vicodin, but I don't like taking them – they make me drowsy. It doesn't hurt that much, it's just an occasional twinge – that's all."

"When did you last take one," Emily continued, "because you could just take some of my Advil instead?"

"The last painkiller I took was the one they gave me at the hospital last night." JJ replied. "A couple of Advil would be great – thanks."

Emily passed JJ a glass of OJ and the packet of painkillers. They both sat in a companionable silence as Emily prepared the pancake batter. Emily was thinking the whole time that she was baking and, when she eventually spoke, it was with an offer:

"JJ, you and Henry are welcome to stay here as long as it takes for you to sort this out. The spare room has plenty of room for you and Henry's travel cot." She had been busy thinking about the practicalities. "We could stop by your place on the way to see the team to pick up some clothes and things."

"Em, that's great," she heard JJ reply thoughtfully, "but I really don't want to get in the way."

"You couldn't possibly be in the way Jayje. I love having you and Henry around," Emily said honestly.

"In that case," JJ responded, "we'd love to stay, wouldn't we pumpkin?" Emily watched with a smile as JJ kissed her son on the forehead before looking up into her own eyes and saying, "thanks Em."

"That's sorted then." She replied. "Now, would you like bacon or syrup with your pancakes?"

"Syrup sounds great."

They both sat and ate their breakfast hungrily; Emily watching as JJ fed the occasional mouthful to her son.

When they had finished eating, Emily encouraged JJ to go and shower whilst she cleared the kitchen and watched over Henry. When she had finished in the kitchen she carried the wriggling boy into the main room, placed him on the floor and started to tickle him.

"Hey gorgeous. How are you doing?" she said, blowing a raspberry on his belly. He giggled and grabbed at her hair with surprising strength.

"Yeah," she heard JJ say from behind her, "he's got a real obsession with hair at the moment. You need to be really careful."

She turned to see that JJ was wrapped in one of her large towels, her hair still wet from the shower.

"I haven't got any clothes with me," JJ said to her, "Can I borrow some sweats or something?"

Emily gave Henry a kiss on the forehead before walking into her bedroom to get what JJ needed. She gave the clothes to JJ and sat with Henry while his mother changed. When JJ was ready, Emily showered and changed herself. They both, Emily with Henry in her arms, made their way to Emily's car.

As they drove to JJ's house, they discussed the things that they needed to pick up, both carefully avoiding discussing the potential problem of Will being at home. However, when they arrived at the house Emily insisted on going in first.

"He's working today Em," JJ informed her, guessing at her intent, "he shouldn't be in."

"Better safe than sorry," was Emily's reply.

When she walked into the front room she was disappointed and annoyed to see that Will was in fact at home.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Emily growled protectively.

Will looked past Emily and spoke to JJ; "I've been suspended JJ. I've been sat here thinking all morning. We really need to talk."

Emily's retort was cut short by JJ putting her hand on her shoulder and stepping forward.

"You have to know," JJ responded angrily, "that nothing you have to say is going to change my mind about us being over."

"I know that." Now that Emily looked at Will properly she could see that he was tired and emotional as he tried to convince JJ to talk. "I just don't want to leave things like this."

Emily was furious with Will, but she recognised that both he and JJ did need to talk things through.

"I'll take Henry into the kitchen to pack some food Jayje," she offered. As she walked past Will she said, threateningly, "I can hear everything in there. If you hurt her again, I swear to God, I will kill you."

Will couldn't look her in the eye as she continued into the kitchen.