Try to See it My Way

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.

A/N: I am so sorry that this took so long to post. It's a fairly hefty chapter so hopefully that can make up for the long wait. There should only be only two more chapters after this one, I think. Sorry for any spelling and grammar errors… As always, spleeling is not my forte. Hopefully this chapter is able to provide insight on JJ and Emily's feelings.

Thanks to everyone who has alerted, favourited and reviewed along the way. And a big thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter: calzonaobessed, srhittson, Angelsheart85, odunit, Aaliayah13, rmpcmfan, BlackWidow10.27 and multiple Guests. You guys are amazing. And as always reviews are greatly appreciated!


Chapter 8

Emily had made it home relatively quick, when compared to the drive down to Hotch's cottage. As soon as she entered her home, her bag and coat fell from her hand. She was exhausted. Not that she had done much to end up like that, but rather the sheer fatigue that follows a flight and difficult conversation had consumed all her remaining energy.

At least she had put herself out there. Yes, it was an unfair position to place JJ in but Emily could now rest knowing that she had down all she could. The decision belonged to the blonde. She held Emily's heart.

Emily quickly sent a quick text to Derek to let him know that she had made it home safely. He responded right away, with a not so subtle way of asking her if she was okay. Emily had to smile. He always had a way of cheering her up.

The brunette dragged herself up the stair to her room, doing the bear minimum so she could plop herself under the covers. Hopefully she could have a restful night because she knew very well that tomorrow would be filled with questions from her friends; Emily was unsure if she would even have answers for them.

xXx

JJ knew that Emily had left the cottage but she had made no move to halt her. She couldn't believe that she was faced with this sort of decision.

All the while her group of friends laughed and fooled around the camp fire JJ was stuck inside her head. The moments that she and Emily had shared since they were young were flashing before her eyes. Emily asking her to their first dance- the brunette had even bought her a corsage; Emily hating on all of her boyfriends, Hotch included; and the brunette never really having any serious boyfriends of her own.

It was late when the blonde's eyes scanned her friends faces, she saw Hotch looking at her. She knew that he was concerned, that the problems with dating a FBI Agent of the Behavioural Analysis Unit, it meant that she couldn't keep any secrets from him- he always knew when something was troubling her. The same applied to when JJ was hanging out with Derek and even Emily, Emily, although the brunette promised to try to tone down the profiling.

Not too long afterwards, the group decided to head to bed, everyone bidding goodnight to the others. Spencer making his way off to secluded bed room, followed by Penelope offering to let Derek bunk with her because he no longer had a roommate, and finally Hotch patiently waiting beside their bed for his fiancée to spill her thoughts.

JJ couldn't prevent her sigh when he questioned, "What happened with Emily?"

"We had a fight."

"I had gathered that much, care to share?"

JJ was thankful that he never pushed her, he would calmly wait for her to approach him when she was ready to so, "Not really, I just need to sleep on it."

Hotch nodded climbed into bed, JJ crawled in on the other side and turned her back to her fiancé trying to gather her thoughts because she knew sleep wold evade her.

xXx

With hardly any sleep JJ woke early the next morning and went for a brisk walk to clear her head, but instead of ending up with a better gasp on what's going on she only became more confused. The blonde slowly made her way inside the cabin not entirely ready to face all her friends.

Before she even had a chance to get her feet through the door, Hotch approached her with his phone in hand, "JJ, what's this?"

The blonde was shocked at his demanding tone, "What?"

"Why did Emily request a transfer 'Effective Immediately'? What was your fight about?"

Spencer, Penelope and Derek had all been sitting at the breakfast table, trying their best to ignore the couples quarrel. But as soon as there was mention of Emily quitting the BAU, Derek could no longer contain himself, "WHAT?!"

"I- I… Our fight had nothing to do with work," JJ was absolutely shocked at the brunette's rash decision making.

Derek fled the room to get his cell phone so he could try to talk some sense into his best friend, Penelope sat at the table open mouthed utterly confused and Spencer didn't even know what to make of the situation as he had difficulties understanding these kinds of occurrences.

JJ just looked back at Aaron, "I honestly have no idea. Excuse me," and with that she turned on her heel and proceeded back outside. She now had even more to think about.

xXx

Emily woke up bright and early; rather she could hardly sleep at all that night. She spent the whole time analysing everything she said in the past twelve hours. She was basically doing all she could not slap herself in the face. This had to be one of her more embarrassing moments. How was she supposed to face JJ now? Or if JJ told Hotch, that could be so much worse!

She knew she was doing it again, it was something she always did; more so that only thing she knew how to do. She was running. In the case of fight or flight Emily was a flight risk with personal issues. For work, or when protecting someone else she would always fight because it was what is right, but when it came to her own life that was a different story. The brunette had run away from countless problems.

And here she was ready to run again.

Emily had gotten up early that morning for a reason. She knew that if she planned on getting over JJ it had to be from a good distance away. Now many people may call her a coward, but this is the only way she knew how to cope with her problems. So with a great reluctance wrote in for a transfer.

Even though it was holiday many members of the FBI were present at work and as soon as Emily said it she needed the transfer it happened. That was one of the benefits of having an Ambassador for a mother… After she knew that the notice had been sent into Hotch, Emily turned off all modes of communication. She really wanted this process to work she needed to be on her own for a bit. And this was the only way she knew how, even if it meant ignoring her friends.

xXx

JJ had been rather grumpy the whole morning, and told everyone that they should probably get heading home. It was obvious to Derek that the blonde was upset but he had yet to figure out a way to fix this for his best friend.

He had tried to call Emily to let her know they were coming back, but there was no answer. He sent her a text to let her know, and even an email. Now it's not unusual for someone to take a while to reply, they could be in the shower, out for a run or just plain busy. But by the time ten o'clock at night came, Derek was worried.

Emily was usually fairly good about replying, especially when the last message he had left her said that he needed her help, that it was very important.

Then it hit Derek he knew what was going on, Emily was his best friend of course. She was running. Emily was the toughest girl he knew, and he'd seen her take on criminals and fight before, but whenever the dealing got too personal the brunette would freeze. He knew it had something to do with her parents, and that she had never been taught how to properly approach and handle her emotions.

So Derek jumped into his car because when Emily was on the run it could go one of two ways. She could just be hiding from the world or she could be gone for good. The last time she had run, he didn't hear from her for six months; and that was just because she had gotten into a fight with the Ambassador. Derek knew that this was worse, much worse and it could be years until he would see the brunette again. He cursed her coping mechanism.

Derek ran up the steps to his friend's home, feeling like he had done this one too many times. He pounds on the door, but nothing. "EMILY! I'M NOT LEAVING UNTIL YOU OPEN THIS DOOR!" He demanded, sometimes his girl needed tough love.

He didn't hear anything so he tried again, "Em, please?" And he listened again but couldn't hear a sound, "I'M COMING IN," and then proceeded to pull out his key to her place.

Before he even had a chance to insert the key the door swung open, "What do you want?"

"I knew you were home, now step aside woman," Derek flashed his friend a smile; he was relieved that she had not disappeared.

Emily just rolled her eyes as he pushed through her door, "You know it is late, why are you here?"

"Can't a man come and visit his favourite lady?" Emily just eyed him and he continued, "We left the cottage early."

"So?"

"Just thought you should know… and JJ missed you."

"Derek, why are you doing this?"

"You know exactly why," Derek changed his method, seeing as subtly was getting nowhere he was going to have to be tough on her, "Em, you can't run away from your problems."

"Who says I'm runn-"

Derek interrupted her, "You asked for a transfer! This is not how you deal with trouble. You are a fighter what the hell are you doing running, Emily Prentiss. That isn't the girl I know. You know that you have to deal with this! JJ is still your best friend no matter what. And you know what I think she love you too. She likes Hotch but as soon as you were gone, it like you took part of her with you. Talk to her again, because you know that you can't let her marry the wrong person."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, ma'am," Derek said with great honesty.

Emily sighed she knew he was being truthful, "I'll fix it," Plus if she had a chance at getting JJ she shouldn't pass it up just because she was scared. If she did this she would lose all her friends, if she pursued JJ, and it didn't work out her and the blonde would just be acquaintances. In the end she guessed it would be better to try than to just admit defeat before she had even put the effort in.

"Well I thought it was going to be more difficult to convince you to not leave…"

"Yeah, it seems when you give a girl time to think she realises that she can't hide from trouble," Emily smiled at her friend, "That's what I did when I was younger and now I have to face this like an adult. And JJ is that kind of woman that you have to fight for; like you said I can't let her marry the wrong person."

Derek pulled his friend into a hug, "Call Hotch right now and tell him it was a mistake."

"I can't talk to him," Emily mumbled into his chest.

"Fine, send him an email or something, just make sure you fix this."

Emily nodded and headed to her laptop with Derek following closely behind her to ensure she made it right.