Chapter 4
Emily's heart dropped as she noted the appearance of her friend as she was dragged out of the van. She slowly took in the blood and the bruising, but the one thing that nearly caused her to lose her focus was the pain and fear that was all too apparent in JJ's eyes. She forced herself to pull her focus back to Thompson and the conversation that he was currently having with the rest of the team. Hotch was explaining to Thompson how they had used evidence from his crimes to deduce that he had a hatred of successful women and that, therefore, he was likely to have been in a bad relationship with a successful woman. At this point Emily felt that she needed to get involved, realising that her gender alone would be enough to irritate him and, hopefully, pull his attention away from JJ.
"You just couldn't cope with the fact that she was more successful than you, could you?" Emily said disdainfully. "It was the same with all of these women – they were beautiful and successful. They had everything that you didn't have – that you will never have. What was her name – the woman who left you? Did she leave you? Was she so disgusted at you that she couldn't take it anymore? Or did you leave her? You just couldn't cope with the daily reminders of what a complete and utter loser you are, could you?"
She knew she had hit a nerve when Thompson stared directly at her with a look of complete fury on his face. Out of the corner of her eye she could see JJ begin to drop to the floor and she heard Morgan ordering Thompson to drop his weapon. When the killer turned his gun towards JJ they all took aim, but it was Morgan who took the shot. She watched in horror as the literally dead weight of Justin Thompson landed squarely on JJ's chest. JJ's eyes flew open in shock and pain and she opened her mouth as if to scream, but no noise came out. Hotch and Morgan immediately ran to drag the body of their friend.
As soon as JJ was free to move she struggled to sit up. Emily was by her side in seconds, trying to get her to lie back down. Her friend looked pale and dizzy. Emily figured that she would be safest laid down flat until the paramedics arrived.
"JJ sweetie" she said soothingly, "it's OK... You're safe. You need to lie down."
"No" JJ croaked. Her voice was raw and she was clearly struggling to speak. "Need to sit up...can't breathe...broken ribs."
Emily helped her friend into a sitting position and noted that her breathing, whilst slightly easier, was still laboured. She turned to the rest of the team and asked somebody to call the paramedics. She felt JJ panicking as she supported her.
"No ambulance" she said hoarsely, her breathing becoming shallower and quicker as she panicked.
"JJ" she said firmly, as she knelt in front of her friend, "you need to see a doctor."
"I know" JJ said weakly, "but not in an ambulance. Please don't make me."
Emily followed JJ's tearful gaze and immediately recognised the source of her panic. She was staring at the van that Thompson had used to transport her there. Emily quickly realised that travelling in the back of an ambulance was too closely connected in JJ's mind to whatever had happened in the back of that van. She motioned to the team to cancel the ambulance and took JJ's shaking hands in her own.
"If you can get to the car, I'll drive you to the hospital Jayje" she said soothingly, "but if I think it's too much for you, we'll have to call the paramedics."
JJ nodded in agreement and began to try to stand up. Even with Emily's help, she was pale and sweating by the time she was stood. Emily allowed her to lean on her for a few minutes to catch her breath before supporting her as she slowly walked towards the car. She helped her into the seat and gingerly pulled her seat belt around her, terrified that she was going to hurt her. By the time Emily had walked around the car to the driving seat, JJ was leant back against her seat with her eyes closed.
"JJ sweetie" Emily said reluctantly. "I know you must be exhausted, but I need you to stay with me until we get to the hospital. Can you open your eyes for me?"
JJ opened her eyes and gave Emily a weak smile, clearly trying to reassure her, but she was obviously in alot of pain. They drove silently to the hospital, which was thankfully only 15 minutes away. When they arrived Emily parked in the spot reserved for the police and jumped out of the driving seat. She was quickly met by an angry looking security guard telling her that she couldn't park there. She showed him her credentials and asked him to get help. She watched as he ran into the hospital and then turned to open JJ's door. By the time she had released her friend's seatbelt, help had arrived. Emily was relieved to note that both the doctor and nurse who had appeared were female. She quickly took the doctor aside, explaining the situation as she understood it and asked if JJ could be treated by women only. The doctor agreed and the 3 women helped JJ to step out of the car and sit down in a wheelchair. Emily followed the doctor as she wheeled JJ through the waiting room and into a private side room. The doctor and nurse worked together to get JJ comfortable on the bed and only when they had finished did the doctor introduce herself.
"Agent...?" she started, looking quizzically at JJ.
"Jareau" JJ croaked.
"Agent Jareau" the doctor continued. "My name is Dr Laura Parkinson and I will be treating you today. I can see that you have some bruising to your face and some wounds on your neck and ear and I can hear that you are struggling to speak. Can you tell me what else hurts?"
JJ laughed mirthlessly before saying "you might be better off asking me where it doesn't hurt."
The doctor passed over JJ's attempt at humour, looking at her in concern and saying, "it might be best if you tell me exactly what happened – that way I'll know what I need to check out."
Emily watched as indecision crossed JJ's face. She was obviously not sure that she was ready to talk about what had happened to her. Just as Emily was about to tell the doctor that it was too early for this, JJ spoke.
"Fine" she said, clearly trying to sound strong, "but I want Emily to stay and write this down – I'd rather not have to do this again."
Emily recognised this as a strategy for JJ to keep an emotional distance from her whilst she told her story. While this may not be healthy in the long term, she realised that it was what JJ needed now, so she sat in the chair and got her notebook out as she tried to prepare herself for what she was about to hear.
