Different Shades of the Same Colour
Chapter Seven – Bruise Pristine
It was late when a knock on the door sounded through Jennifer Jareau's house. She'd just put Henry to bed and Will was in the shower, leaving only herself to answer the door. She checked the time, only eight and wondered who it could be. Opening the door she was surprised to see a teary eyed Emily with her go bag, on her door step.
"Em? What are you doing here? Are you okay?" JJ asked as she ushered the brunette inside.
"I'm sorry to turn up like this JJ but I didn't have anywhere else to go," Emily apologised as she followed JJ into the lounge room.
"Em, its fine, honestly," JJ reassured her, "Now tell me what happened. Was it something to do with Harry?"
Emily looked away then, sighing as she sat on the sofa, her go bag on the floor beside her. She was biting her lip and JJ could tell she was trying not to bite her nails. Looking up at JJ she took a deep breath before speaking.
"Harry and I had a fight," Emily finally reveals.
"What did you two fight about?" JJ asked, concerned like any good friend would be. She was a little confused though, mainly because they hadn't talked much lately but she wasn't about to turn the brunette away.
"He wants to move up the wedding. He wants to get married in less than a month Jayje!" Emily exclaimed eyes wide in a panic.
"Is that such a big problem?" JJ asked not completely sure where the brunette was going with the conversation or the appropriate response.
"I don't know Jennifer," Emily sighed, leaning back on JJ's soda in defeat. "I just don't think I'm ready right to get married, you know?"
"What's this about Derek?" Penelope asks, concerned by the serious look on Derek's face. It's not very often he looks this serious with her unless working on a tough case and she's really worried.
"What did you mean earlier when I asked you what was up with Emily?" he asked pointedly.
"Nothing," Penelope lied, looking away from the profiler.
"Don't lie to me Pen. What the hell is going on? You, Emily and JJ have all been acting differently for months now and it's starting to worry me," Derek shot back, basically pleading to be let in on the situation revolving around the three women.
"Look, Emily and I had a bit of a fight okay and now JJ's stuck in the middle that's all," Penelope told him, only omitting a few details.
"What did you guys fight about? Harry?" Derek asked, remembering Penelope's earlier comment.
"Derek," Penelope sighed, giving him all the answer he needed.
"What? Did he hit on you and JJ? Does he not like you? Give me something baby girl," he pleaded trying to piece together the puzzle.
"No, no Derek, nothing like that."
"Then what? Did he hurt her or something?" Derek asked, hoping it wasn't true but he could tell just from the tech analysts' body language he'd strayed down the right path.
"Please tell me he didn't hurt her," Derek cried in disbelief.
"I don't know Derek!" Penelope sobbed, turning away from him embarrassed.
"Well than just tell me what you do know Mama," the profiler replied gently, trying to calm his blonde friend down.
"She had a bruise okay, on her cheek. She'd covered it with make-up and everything but I could still see it. I asked her about and she got all defensive on me, saying it was nothing. Then I asked her about it again, in front of Harry and she, God Derek, she look terrified of me," Penelope practically whispered, upset.
It was nearing nine when JJ and Emily decided to head to bed. JJ had set the brunette up in the spare bedroom and was just opening the door to bring her another pillow when she saw it. Emily had just been pulling her sleeping shirt down, her back to JJ and the door, as the blonde walked in.
"Shit, Em, what happened to your back?" the blonde gasped, dropping the pillow on the bed and lifting the back of Emily's shirt to see the blue, black bruise forming.
"What are you talking about?" Emily asked confused, letting JJ lead her to the full length closet mirror. Turning her around, JJ pulled up the back of her shirt again and gestured for Emily to look and sure enough a massive blue, black bruise was forming along her back.
"How the hell did that happen?" JJ asked, trying to keep her anger in check.
Emily cringed as Harrys grip on her wrists tightened. He glared at her angrily, as she tried to fight of his grip.
"Harry, please, let me go," Emily spat at him, equally as angry as he was now.
Harry however didn't say anything, instead pushed her back, hard until she slammed into the kitchen counter, wincing as the granite connected with her back. She stood stunned, trying to control the tears pooling in her eyes as Harry turned away from her.
"Get out."
"What?" Emily muttered confused, "Harry what are you-"
"I said GET OUT, Emily," Harry bellowed angrily, causing Emily to grip the counter behind her in fear, "I don't want to look at you right now."
"Harry, I'm sorry. Please," she begged, reaching out to touch his arm but he pushed her away again sending her tumbling into the wall this time. She watched silently as he left the room, heading towards his study before she grabbed her keys off the counter and headed towards the front door, tears falling silently.
"I um, I don't know. I must have bumped something," Emily lied, although it was less than stellar. Pulling her shirt back down she turned to JJ, a polite smiling gracing her face. "Thanks for letting me stay JJ. I think I'll get some sleep now," Emily told her quietly as she ushered the blonde from the room.
"Are you sure? We could stay up and eat ice cream and watch sappy movies?" JJ suggested hopefully.
"I'm really tired," Emily replied, faking a yawn.
"Okay then, I'll see you in the morning," JJ replied, smiling worriedly at her friend.
As the door closed JJ pulled out her cell and headed for her and Will's room, dialling a familiar number. Once she was safely in her room, Will already sleeping, she hit call and waited for the other end to pick up. Anxiously she bit her lip, as she heard the familiar voice of her friend.
"What can I do for you JJ?"
"I think you were right about Harry, Pen."
AN: Hey readers! Pretty fast update for me right? ;) Hehe. Thanks to all the reviews! I'm so glad people are still reading. Now, I'd just like to acknowledge that the title of this chapter actually came from the title of another fic over at The O.C. fandom. I didn't mean to rip it off but I just thought the wording fitted so well for this chapter.
Also, this is set after the last chapter but I've just skipped a few hours. I may revisit those hours in flashbacks over the next few chapters and I may not but yeah.
Oh, another thing, I can't decide between a lawyer and an executive of a company or business for Harrys job. So yeah, help me out a little, which do you think he should be?
Please review! Love ya, LT. :)
