"Hotch wants to know if you are done with the Jefferson file." JJ says, walking into the kitchenette area.
Emily is leaning against the marble counter, mindlessly staring at the coffee pot as it is slowly, drip-by-drip, being refilled.
"Not yet, I needed to take a break. Cases with children… they are horrible… I am not looking forward to getting one of those." Emily responds, too tired and weary to catch her mistake.
Emily had been working so hard at pretending that the accident didn't actually happen. She had gotten so good at powering through at full speed that JJ was actually surprised at how much she appreciated the slip. At how much she appreciated that, deep inside, Emily was aware that she is almost a new person, experiencing new things. She was actually quite happy for the small recognition that things were in fact different.
"I'll let Hotch know that you are still working through it. No hurry…" Jennifer says, leaning against the counter across from Emily.
It had been three weeks since Emily had returned to work. They had had two cases but mostly had stayed in DC. It seems that the brass was giving the team some time to acclimate to their new circumstances.
After actively ignoring Emily for an entire week, JJ realized that she needed a new plan. She couldn't avoid the brunette forever, not just because they worked together, but because she didn't want to. While the situation was different, this was still very much the Emily she loved. The kindness, sense of humor, and strength were still very much there. She continued to be attracted to Emily's personality. She continued to seek out the brunette's company.
She tried to keep it all very professional. They didn't spend anytime outside of work together, JJ wasn't sure she could handle that just yet, but the blonde sought her colleague constantly at work. Just right now, she was here, alone with Emily, inquiring about a file that Hotchner probably didn't even know exists.
"Thanks, it might take me the rest of the day to get through it." Emily answered, as she poured herself a new cup of coffee. "Would you like some?" Emily asked JJ, reaching for her cup with the newly brewed carafe. The question was purely a formality as she still hadn't seen JJ say no to a cup of coffee.
"Thank you." JJ answered, taking a careful sip. "How much longer are you working?" JJ asked, too afraid to allow for a lull in the conversation, afraid Emily would walk back to her desk now that she had more coffee.
"For a while," Emily answered, "I have a basketball game tonight so I will probably work up to it."
"With the league?" JJ asked, "I didn't know you had already re-joined…"
"Yeah, its a good way to meet people… or re-meet them." Emily continued, "what about you?"
"Who knows? Sometimes I feel like I will be in my office forever. I have started to keep clothes in there just in case I don't get home." JJ answered candidly, though omitted that she also didn't want to go back to her place. She had been mostly living at Emily's apartment before the accident and her apartment just didn't feel like home anymore.
"That's good to know…" Emily says while subtly giving her friend a once over, "…in case I ever need a change of clothes." Catching herself, embarrassed, she continues hoping to change the topic, "that is a nice sweater. Where did you get it?"
More than a little encouraged by Emily's clear appreciation, JJ answers "I didn't, it belonged to a friend."
It belonged to you.
And then it hit her. She had an opportunity here. She could fix it. She could be strong and confident. She could be the Jennifer that her Emily deserved. So she took a deep breath and made a decision she should have made years ago.
She came out.
"Girlfriend, actually… it belonged to an ex-girlfriend." JJ clarified, feeling as light as she had ever felt.
Feeling her heart beating fast and needing a moment to collect herself, JJ raises her cup as both a "thank you" and "see ya" to Emily and makes her way out of the kitchenette.
"Damn," Emily exclaims, making JJ turn around and pay attention, "she lost you and that nice sweater?" She jokes with an unmistakably flirty smile.
Laughing genuinely for the first time in 4 months and 3 weeks, JJ walks out of the kitchenette with an extra spring in her step.