Location: Sentara Potomac Hospital
Date and time: 22 December 2006: 12.15am
Waiting can seem like weeks but normally you aren't waiting very long but it drags it feels as though that you are waiting for everything and yet nothing comes, You feel it should have already finished and you can begin to get back to normal or heal.
However, who knows it is a waiting game and everyone hates a waiting game. JJ had finally drifted off while she waited for Emily to return.
They wheeled her slowly in to the recovery room. What should have only took a few hours turned into 5 hours. They had managed to drain the build-up of blood clot that had developed at the back of her head and inserted a drain.
It had been touch and go for a while as they discovered her collar bone was protruding through her skin and had to be fixed with a plate and screws.
They brought Emily back to her room an hour later making her comfortable, the nurse looked over at JJ who was fast asleep on the bed
"Don't wake her" Came a voice from behind "I'll wake her in a while, the poor girl hasn't slept much" Garcia said softly "Is Emily okay?"
"Yes she is" replied the nurse "She should also wake on her own now as they have not given her anymore sedatives" The nurse said before heading out of the room
Garcia walked over to a sleeping JJ and very gently rocked her "Sweetie Emily is back" She spoke softly.
JJ snapped out of her dream "What?" She asked still not fully awake.
"Emily is back and she should wake up on her own I thought you would like to be awake just in case"
"Thanks Pen" JJ smiled softly at Garcia. JJ started to run her fingers through her hair it had become natural since, she had been found. Garcia smiled softly.
The eternal dream, the nightmare that never seems to end, she was trapped. No one was coming. No one knew where she was. She was going to die here in this hell hole, alone, away for her friends, her family, she knew somewhere deep down this was it, this was the end, it was what her life had become, alone in the darkness.
Her eyes twitched as she continued to sleep, was she asleep? Was this all just one big nightmare? She felt something playing with her hair.
She was not safe, she was going to get beaten and hurt again! Her mind played tricks on her, she waited for the blows waited for death to take her, yet nothing came, she felt numb, her body sore yet not defining the pain. Was this hell?
The smell and taste of blood had worn off from her senses, instead she could smell a light scent that even through everything she knew that smell, was she really here was her mind playing tricks. Or had she been taken as well.
"Run! Please! Get out of here" She tried to call out.
She felt her voice fail her the words never leaving her lips, she felt a grip on her hand tighten. However, not too tight as though it was reassuring her she started to hear the voice.
A voice she never thought she would hear again "you're safe Em, come back to me" JJ spoke softly unsure if Emily could hear her "I need you"
She tried to open her eyes she tried to speak, not sure if she could be heard her voice sore and raspy.
"I'm sorry" She muttered hoping to be heard not sure if her mind was playing more tricks on her.
Emily's mind played tricks as the darkness took over, taking her back into the hell-hole that she had somehow become use to. She waited for the blows for the pain but still nothing came, she felt something on her hand it was soft and warm. She knew the scent, that touch that feeling but could she trust her mind, her feelings?
The darkness began to subside as she began to wake. Her eyes fluttered her muscles twitched her hand flinched away from the hold as she began to panic she wanted to run she could no longer feel her bindings that held her in that cruel grasp,
JJ looked softly at Emily as she felt her pull away, she saw the wild frighten look in her eyes it broke JJ's heart to see her like this
"Hey, it's okay Emily, you're safe." She tried to reassure her.
Emily looked blankly at her she knew that voice, but she did not trust her mind she could not. She flinched again this time she hit the bars on the bed, she began to panic more she was trapped, everything she could see and feel was just her mind playing tricks on her.
"Look at me." JJ said it was more of a demand than her asking, she turned her head slowly to the voice she knew, those words she had said them before.
However, was this just her mind playing tricks on her, she heard the words again "Emily. Look at me" Her voice conveyed worry this time.
She turned to see if what she heard was real or her mind playing tricks, her eyes locking into focus as they met blue orbs, she knew them eyes that soft look, she felt safe for the first time since she was taken.
"Forgive me?" Emily said; as she looked into those blue eyes, JJ shook her head slightly.
"Shh, you're safe Em" Was all she could reply she had nothing to forgive. JJ looked into the brown chocolate eyes that she loved but now she saw pain and fear.
Emily's eyes closed as sleep tried to take over "Rest Emily, I'll be here when you wake" JJ said as she saw Emily's eyes closed fighting the sleep that she so badly needed. She began to drift the words leaving her lips just as sleep began to take her.
"Love you Jay"
JJ sat looking at her for a moment did she mean that? She was asleep she could not have meant it. JJ took hold of her hand again settling into the chair to watch over her, she spoke to her knowing Emily couldn't hear her.
"I love you too Emily"
Being a prisoner to your dreams and to your mind can be worse than the real thing, it never stops in your dreams there are no breaks it just keep repeating over and over again until your body finally allows you to wake.
You can feel it repeatedly sometimes you can even taste it! And this was where Emily was at, the never ending dream it feels so real.
"Save me JJ! Please?" Emily begged in her sleep.
The noise and words ripped JJ from her sleep, more like someone slapping you very hard when you had no clue it was coming. She took hold her hand as she stood over the bed brushing the hair away from Emily's eyes.
She spoke softly and calm even though she didn't feel it watching someone you love care for be tormented and hurt even in their sleep is heart-breaking.
"Hey Em your safe, I've got you!" JJ said softly.
Emily flinched against her touch.
"I'm right here Emily, Please wake up." It was more than a prayer. JJ begged as she carried on running her fingers gently through her hair.
The noise made Morgan jump as he move to the doorway, he opened the door slowly looking at them both, seeing his partner like this broke his heart.
"JJ is everything okay?" Morgan asked keeping his voice low.
JJ's eyes met his, her eyes blood shocked "I think she is having a nightmare" she spoke softly as hand fingers continued to run through her hair, her eyes drifted back to Emily.
Morgan walked slowly over to JJ "She will wake up again. JJ" Morgan assured her.
"I know" Her eyes never shifting off Emily as she replied.
The silence fell on the empty room even the machines had become like a humming sound that blended into the lull of the room. Finally, she allowed sleep to wash over her again.
Location: Sentara Potomac Hospital
Date and time: 23 December 2006 7.45am
Emily awoke slowly, pulling herself out of a nightmare of darkness and agony, she felt pinned by a weight across her waist. The terror threatened to drown her, slowly she opened her eyes sighing softly as the tape was finally gone.
Her instincts made her wary. She was glad of her caution moments later when the dim lights seemed to blind her. She closed her eyes before she tried to open them again.
Once again, she was forced to close her eyes again, and this time she used the time to think. She knew that her kidnap and torture had happened. That much, was burned into her memory, but there was something else that she could not be sure was reality.
She hoped it was. With that terrifying thought at the fore of her mind, she opened her eyes, and this time she was able to keep them open, though she had to blink hard a few times. Her view was hazy, but did not eliminate nor did it prove she was free.
Blinking slowly, she turned her head, her eyes, barely able to make out the shape of a woman's face. As she adjusted to the dim light, she was able to differentiate between tanned golden skin and strands of blonde hair.
Her eyes widened as her brain made the leap to who the owner of that face was. She glanced down, assuring herself that the warm, living weight around her waist was an arm, but then the panic returned.
All she knew so far was that Jennifer Jareau was lying next to her. And that didn't mean either of them were safe, despite the lack of restraints and the relative comfort of the bed she was on. Fear cleared some of the fog, and the adrenaline rush gave her the strength to shift slightly, ignoring how much moving hurt.
"Emily?"
The sound of her name got her to turn back to JJ, but the woman was apparently still asleep. If she had woken up to find that JJ was being tortured as she had been, she thought she would have shattered, but her mind clung to the very real weight and warmth of her friend.
As long as JJ was safe, she could hold on. She felt her whole body tense as she remembered terror, but she again distracted as JJ stirred, lifting her head up tiredly., JJ froze as she realized Emily was awake and looking back at her.
"Emily" she smiled softly at her friend as she continued to run her finger through her hair. "You're safe now, Emily,"
"How... how long?" she rasped, hoping JJ would understand.
"Eight days in total, we found you four days ago," JJ replied, watching as Emily's eyes widen.
"How bad is it?"
Jennifer hesitated, but Emily knew she would not lie to her. She was just trying to find the right words, the ones that would tell her both the good news and the bad without sending her into a panic.
"Bad, Emily," JJ started at last, her blue eyes, bloodshot and dull, filled with pain and what might have been tears, "He cracked a few of your ribs and caused some internal bleeding. They have dressed your wounds. You will need more surgery though" JJ closed her eyes trying to focus on what she was saying.
Emily nodded slightly as she tried to form words "Is… are I mean," Emily sighed as a single tear rolled down her cheek.
"They think plastics will be able to correct the damage he has done to your chest and" JJ's voice trailed off slightly.
Emily tried to lean towards JJ understanding what she was trying to tell her "It's okay JJ" Emily said softly, JJ shook her head slightly meeting Emily's eyes with her own before continuing.
"You had a bleed in your brain which they had to drain late last night. It was touch and go for a while" Emily nodded numbly "I was really worried about you," she whispered
Before JJ could continue, a blonde nurse entered, pulling the curtain slightly back to reveal a wheeled tray covered in cloths and other items. "Hi Miss. Prentiss," she chirped brightly. "My name is Kelly and I'm here to clean you up a little and check your dressings" JJ looked at Emily and then back at the nurse.
JJ started. "Do I need to leave?" But Kelly cut her off, "Only if Miss. Prentiss wants you to."
Emily rolled her eyes slightly "Stay JJ. Please. Please call me Emily" her voice was raspy and slightly shaky as she spoke
"Alright then," confirmed the nurse. "Let's start." Kelly ripped open a foil package and drew out a steaming, wet cloth. She began with Emily's arms, cleaning her fingers gently and as much of the rest of her arm as she could reach.
Once finished with the first cloth, the nurse picked up a soft towel and patted Emily's damp skin to keep her from feeling chilled. JJ perched on the side of the bed and held the fingers of Emily's right hand in hers as the nurse tore open the second foil package.
This time she cleaned Emily's face, ghosting over her broken and swollen cheekbone. She carefully wiped the wincing brunette's neck before she eased the thin gown down to reveal Emily's collarbone and shoulders and the tops of the thick bandages protecting her collarbone and brutalized breasts.
As she worked, Kelly hummed to herself and occasionally spoke to Emily, letting her know what she was doing. She pulled the gown a little further down to inspect the bandage and, seeing the blood beginning to soak through.
"I'll let your charge nurse know that these need to be changed." Emily struggled to hold back her tears at the thought of her most private areas.
Kelly re-tied the gown around Emily's neck and pulled the warm blankets up to tuck them snugly over her shoulders. She then moved to the foot of the bed and lifted the blankets from Emily's legs before tenderly cleaning as much of the foot and leg as she could reach; she pushed the blanket up a little further to reveal the bandages hiding Emily's mutilated core.
Emily closed her eyes tightly as she weakly squeezed JJ's slender hand. JJ made soothing sounds low in her throat as she started to run her fingers gently through Emily's hair, trying to pass on as much strength as she could to her. Kelly inspected the bandage gently before beginning to cleanse around the area. Kelly pulled the gown and blankets back down to re-cover Emily's, now shivering form.
Kelly spoke softly, "I'll send your charge nurse in when she's available to change your bandages and update your chart, Emily." She then turned and wheeled the cart away, pausing to close the privacy curtain as she left.
The tears fell from Emily's eyes as she sobbed uncontrollably "Shh, your safe Em, the rest we can work out" JJ whispered softly as she knew why Emily was crying. The tears finally subsided as Emily looked up tiredly at JJ.
"JJ... I think I'm falling asleep," she whispered faintly, realising only as she said it that it was true.
She had obviously exhausted whatever reserves her body had managed to regain, and she could live with it as long as she knew she would never wake up in that place again.
Location: Sentara Potomac Hospital
Date and time: 23 December 2006 8.15am
Hotch opened the door slowly as to not disturb Emily as she was sleeping peacefully he smiled softly as he motioned to JJ to join him in the hallway "Has she woken up at all?" Hotch asked.
"She woke for about half an hour" JJ half smiled as she kept trying to watch the inside of the room.
"I won't keep you long JJ, I have sent everyone to get some breakfast and to change, will you be okay? We should be back within a few hours" He said softly.
JJ nodded "That's fine, Hotch? Is there any chance you could get Morgan to get me a few things from my house as I could do with a shower, the nurse has said I can use Emily's" she asked softly.
Hotch nodded "We won't be long" With that Hotch turned and headed down the corridor and JJ quietly entered the room.
She sat watching still running her fingers through Emily's hair, a commotion outside pull JJ from her thoughts as she groaned slightly as she rose leaving the room to find out what the hell was going on outside the room.
"I do not care what her team say's I demand to know what room she is in" An angry voice said at the nurses, JJ shuddered internally as she recognized the woman who was shouting somewhat at the nurses.
"Ma'am?" JJ said softly, the woman turned and look at JJ
"Agent Jareau.
"I would say it's a pleasure, but under the circumstances..." the Ambassador trailed off slightly,
JJ professional walls slammed up as she spoke to her "If you'd like to follow me Ma'am"
The Ambassador gently touched JJ's arm as you spoke softly "I think we can leave the professionalism outside, don't you Jennifer?"
JJ looked blankly at her for a moment even though she had only meet her a few times at work and while she was at Emily's this had totally taken her by surprise.
"Ma'am?" JJ went to question again.
"Elizabeth please" The ambassador requested, now tell me where my daughter is please"
JJ half smiled as she guided her into the room "She's only just gone back to sleep" JJ spoke quietly as she watched Emily.
JJ had never seen the Ambassador like this her words pulled her from her thoughts as she turned and looked at her.
"You look terrible, is there no food or coffee in this place?" Elizabeth asked as she looked at JJ, "I am sure she will be fine for a while, shall we?" Elizabeth turned opening the door "Jennifer? You're no good to her if you don't look after yourself" JJ was slightly in shock; this was not the normal abrupt woman she knew.
JJ followed her outside the room slightly wary knowing that she could in fact whisk Emily away if she wanted to. As they walked toward the cafeteria Elizabeth spoke softly.
"I know my daughters wishes Jennifer."
This worried JJ somewhat "Ma'am with all due respect" JJ started but the ambassador cut her off.
"Is the care up to your standard?" She asked as she turned to look at JJ
"Yes Ma'am" The woman sighed slightly.
"Let's leave the Ma'am outside, please," She requested again, "I know my daughter and I also know her feelings towards you." This took JJ by surprise as she went to speak again but again she was cut off "I am not a total bitch Jennifer and Emily and I do talk" she smiled softly at her.
After getting some food and coffee, they both sat around the table; there were not too many people around as Elizabeth spoke again "Can you please tell me what has happened and what the injuries are please?" Elizabeth asked eyeing up JJ as she spoke.
JJ explained everything and told her all the injuries Emily had endured at the hands of Rob; she stumbled slightly over her words. "There's more, that you aren't saying?" Elizabeth asked.
JJ blushed shyly a tear rolling down her cheek. She didn't want to talk about Emily's more private areas as she still thought it was her place so she settled on the half-truth "She will need both plastic and corrective surgery" JJ said as she looked down at her hands.
Elizabeth gasped slightly as she had some idea of what she was being told "Does Emily know?" She enquired
"Yes Ma… Elizabeth" JJ corrected herself as she spoke which cause Elizabeth to smile softly.
"If you feel the care is not up to standard we can have her moved to a more competent hospital" as she said this JJ panicked somewhat
"With all due respect unless Emily says she wants to."
JJ was again, cut off again "Jennifer I will not force, nor will I take her from here unless you feel she needs better care, my daughter trusts your judgement and therefore I do as well." She said in a steady but caring voice.
JJ smiled at this as she spoke "They have been fantastic with her"
Elizabeth nodded "May I ask you a question and I would appreciate an honest answer" JJ nodded as she listened to the ambassador. However, what she asked made JJ choke on her coffee.
"Do you have feelings for my daughter?"
"Wh…What?" JJ blushed deeply as she recovered herself.
"A simple yes or no would suffice Jennifer" Elizabeth chuckled slightly as she took in the shocked look upon her face, JJ nodded as the words failed her.
She smiled but spoke seriously "If it was up to me I would bang both your heads together! Why have you not told Emily?" JJ never answered her she just looked blankly at the table "I am well aware of Emily's sexuality Jennifer and I have and never had any problem with it, but if you hurt her I will have a problem. So if you feel this is too much or you are unable to stand by her you must tell me now."
JJ whispered her reply "I'd do anything for her" the tears rolled down her cheek as
Elizabeth rose placing her hand on her shoulder. "Then let's get you back downstairs and you can take a shower while I sit with Emily"
Location: Sentara Potomac Hospital
Date and time: 23 December 2006: 09.35am
Emily stirred slightly from her sleep, as she woke she could make out the figure near her "JJ?" she said softly as she turned her still unfocused eyes towards the figure, the voice answered sending her body into panic.
"Ma'am?" The male nurse replied as he looked over at her.
Emily froze as the voice the figure near her sent waves of panic through her body as she tried to flinch away. As the fear washed over her, she remembered JJ being there. And all she could think and focus on was the basement and the upcoming torture that would be inflicted on her. More importantly, she feared what this figure had done with JJ, As the fear and panic set in she began to thrash violently in the bed, the nurse's voice rose slightly.
"I need some help in here!" he bellowed as four more nurses flooded into the room sending Emily more and more into a fit of panic as they tried to hold her still.
The two women walked slowly down the corridor, the noise bring both women out of their thoughts. As they turned the corner, rushing towards Emily's room wear the commotion was emanating from Emily's room.
JJ froze as she saw five nurses holding Emily down and placing restraints on her as she weakly tried to fight them off. Elizabeth had walked slightly in to the back of the frozen press liaison.
As she too looked into the room seeing them holding her daughter down the anger in her voice as she spoke made JJ jump.
"GET OFF HER, RIGHT NOW!" Elizabeth ordered, as the nurses turned to look were the voice had come from.
Emily laid stiff as a board in her bed, her arms and legs tightly bound to the rails of her bed, and a wide-eyed look of frozen terror on her face.
"Move away from her now, can you not see your scaring her!" JJ said in a dangerous voice.
"Get out now" Elizabeth ordered as the nurses tried to push the two women to one side as they spoke.
"This is for her own safety" The male nurse said coldly, which made JJ get more angry.
"I said move, before I move you myself" The fire and disgust latent in her voice.
Kelly had walked onto the ward as her shift started that morning upon hearing the raised voices coming from one of the private rooms she rushed down towards her patient, she stopped mid-step.
As she saw what was going on "Everybody out now!" Kelly ordered in a professional manner.
"Emily!" JJ muttered still reeling and slightly frozen as the nurses moved away from Emily's side.
Slowly JJ approached the terrified woman as calmly as she could, she spoke softly "Emily look at me sweetie" gently she moved to take hold of Emily's hand; Emily panicked more as she felt the touch.
"Emily. Look at me!" JJ tried again with more authority in her voice, hoping to bring her friend out of the terror that been inflicted, on her yet again.
Unfocused eyes meet blue ones as she finally registered the voice, she looked blankly at her for a few moments as JJ slowly tried again to touch her, Emily flinched slightly at the touch but blue eyes held her deep brown eyes to hers as she spoke.
"You're safe Emily" she said as calmly as she could.
Emily's voice was weak and strained as she spoke, still held in the terror of the basement "Run" as a tear ran down her cheek.
"Shh.. your safe Emily" fear still latent on Emily's face as she looked into her friends eyes, eyes she trusted, she tugged weakly at the binding that held her to the bed.
JJ ran her fingers gently through her hair as she spoke "I need you to stay still , okay?" she said softly as she ran her fingers down her arm meeting the leather restraints that held her friends wrists.
Brown eyes focused on her voice and eyes as she nodded weakly. Slowly and gently JJ removed the restraints that the nurses had placed on her already bruised and frail skin. Humming softly as she kept her movements slow and steady her gaze never leaving Emily's face. As JJ removed all the bindings from her wrists and ankles, she smiled softly at Emily,
"I will be right back, okay?" Emily nodded as the fear and panic drifted away from her mind.
Kelly followed JJ and Elizabeth out to the nurses' station "I want to know what the hell happened" JJ's voice was dangerous and firm as the five nurses looked at the small blonde "NOW!" she snapped.
"She woke up and panicked" the male nurse brushed her off, which caused JJ to become angrier as Elizabeth cut in.
"Is that how you treat trauma and rape victims? Sending a male nurse in to see to her care?"
"I was just checking her charts" He tried to dis-miss the two women before he noticed Kelly stood behind them.
Kelly's voice cut in before the agent and ambassador could start again "You was told not to go in that room. By Doctor Grant, and myself, you all are aware of the trauma she has suffered and yet you still, went in there. Causing my patient to panic and no doubt have caused more damage to her injuries," she stated as all five nurses looked down as though a teacher was shouting at them. "I suggest you all leave right now" Kelly ordered "And off my ward"
Kelly looked at the two women, "I am so sorry JJ, Ma'am." Kelly said sincerely.
JJ nodded as she began to walk back towards Emily's room as she spoke "If any of them come in. I will not be held responsible for my actions" her voice giving no room for a disagreement.
"I doubt they will have jobs when I am through" Kelly said softly as she followed the two women back into the room.
Emily laid still in the bed as the fear and panic started to pass, the three women walked back into her room "I need to check her dressings" Kelly said softly as she could see the blood seeping through her blankets.
"I'll wait outside Jennifer," Elizabeth said softly as her eyes washed over her daughter sadly.
JJ just nodded as a tear ran down her cheek before slowly walking over to Emily's side. She spoke softly and calmly "Emily, Kelly just needs to check your dressings" she watched Emily. As she spoke she could still see the fear on her face, JJ took hold of Emily's hand, as she whispered softly "I'm not going anywhere you're safe" Emily nodded slightly as she watched JJ.
Kelly walked slowly over towards the two women, as she did not want to frighten her more than she already was. Causing stress and fear too anyone is bad enough but someone who had gone through so much already could have dreadful consequences on a person. Kelly spoke softly as she approached the side of the bed.
"Emily I need to check your dressings and change your blanket" she said softly; as she slowly moved her hands towards the top of the blanket, which had turned red, in Emily's struggles.
Gently she removed the blanket that was covering her chest, JJ was talking softly to Emily her eyes focused on her face and not was the nurse was doing at the side of her.
Emily closed her eyes slightly as she felt her touch her skin and she flinch slightly "Shh, I've got you" JJ reassured her.
Kelly had removed the dressings slowly and gently as she could, revealing her swollen and reddened breasts. Emily turned her head in shame, trying to hide herself into JJ.
For just a moment JJ's eyes left Emily as Kelly spoke. "I will have to get the doctor too come and have a look, her stitches have burst" she said softly as JJ caught a glimpse of the exposed flesh. She half flinched as she finally saw the damaged that had befallen Emily.
"Okay" she said softly feeling the tears fall onto her hand she looked back to Emily who had been watching JJ's movements.
"It's okay sweetie," she said softly. Emily shook her head slightly, as she became embarrassed and humiliated.
"Ss…oorr.y" Emily muttered as she started to close her eyes.
She smiled sadly at her friend as she wrapped her arm the best she could around her small frame "Don't be sorry Em" she said softly as she ran her fingers gently through her hair, for the first time in her life Emily doubted herself and the words she heard falling out of JJ's mouth.
"I. You should. I mean" Emily stumbled over her words as she spoke and yet again JJ understood.
"I am not leaving you Emily Prentiss," she said firmly causing Emily to look into her eyes "What has happened to you is not your fault." She held her eyes in her own for a moment before the words softly fell from her mouth "I love you, and I am not going anywhere"
