Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds, God, do I wish I did...Who doesn't right?
A/N: Hi guys, the response I'm getting is awesome and I love you guys for it, I hope you guys like this chapter and I hope that it was a quick enough update, I'm trying to make them quicker and quicker. Thank you again so much for all the reviews, alerts and favs. Love forever and always.
JJ POV
We head into the house quietly and slowly, Morgan points to the stairs and I nod. We begin to ascend the stairs, I'm behind Morgan; gun ready. Just before we reach the top I hear Hotch say he has the girl, I look at Morgan once we reach the hallway and we both smirk at each other. I turn and focus back on the empty hallway; we still had an Unsub to find.
We begin to walk down the hallway, there are five rooms, two to my right and three to my left; Morgan and I are side by side, flashlights pointed straight ahead. I opened the first door and cleared it, Morgan did the next and I did the third. Morgan opened the next door and we saw another door he walked over to it and opened it, he pointed to it and mouthed 'stairs', silently telling me to cover him. I nodded and stood in the doorway letting him walk down them and see where it led, that's when I see it, Joe Marks comes walking out.
He looks at me in shock, he had no idea we were there, and Morgan and I opening the doors must have alerted him.
"Joe Marks, FBI don't move! You're under arrest for the murders of seven women!" I tightened my gip on the gun.
I didn't see it before he raised it; he had a gun of his own. I had a split second to look at him and what I saw in his eyes made me realize that I wasn't going to be able to talk him down. Joe Marks did not want to go to jail and he was going to shoot his way out if he had to.
We both fired at the same time, suddenly I'm on the ground and ...I-I can't fucking breath, I can't move. I can feel a searing pain in my chest and I know that bullet hit me. I hear two more shots go off and I pray that the son of a bitch didn't hit Morgan; my prayer is answered when I see Morgan run passed me.
I'm trying so hard to take a breath; my lungs are starting to burn from the lack of oxygen. Suddenly Morgan is above me, he's saying something in the radio but I can't hear him all I can hear is my own heartbeat.
He undoes the bullet proof jacket, and begins to rub my chest in circles and it hurts like hell, he's saying something to me again, but this time I hear it, its low compared to my heartbeat but I hear it. He keeps saying the same thing over and over, like he knows that I couldn't hear him.
"Breath, breath JJ, the bullet hit the jacket but you need to take a breath" I open my mouth to take the breath he's begging me to take, but nothing happens. My heart beat quickens because I'm panicking, I'm going to die if I can't breathe. I can't die, I'm not ready. "Come on JJ, breath"
I open my mouth again and with the little strength I have left, I take the breath, and my God does it kill my lungs. I go in a coughing fit and it's killing me.
"Easy, you're going to be fine" I hear Morgan say as he stops rubbing my chest. "Keep taking small breaths"
Finally the coughing stops, I look at Morgan's eyes and I see relief and guilt. I lift my hand and put it over his, the one that was still on my chest.
"I'm so sorry" He said softly, I offer him a small smile the best I can do with this pain in my chest. Morgan looks passed me for a second and then back at me. "The medics are here, you're going to be okay"
EMILY POV
I'm driving to the hospital, Morgan called once he got the chance and told me that she was going to be taken there to be further examined, but he thought that she was going to be fine.
The only thought that was running through my mind when I thought JJ was going to die, was that I had been so harsh to her and that I was never going to get the chance to say sorry. It was like what was important suddenly came to light when I heard those shots.
I finally pulled up to the hospital; I got out of the SUV and practically ran inside. I walked up to one of the nurses sitting behind a desk, but before I got the chance to ask her where JJ was I heard my name being called. I turned and saw Morgan waving me over.
"Is she okay?" I asked when I walked up to him; it was then that I realized the rest of the team was sitting down.
"She's getting x-rays right now, but I'm sure she's going to be okay" I gave him a nod and took a breath; I took a seat between Rossi and Reid.
"Are you okay?" I looked at Rossi before nodding.
"Yeah, just worried about JJ" He gave me an understanding look.
"She's going to be fine, she a tough one" I smirked, it's true she really is.
I looked up at Morgan after a few minutes and I couldn't help but wonder where the hell he was when JJ was with the Unsub.
"Where were you?" Morgan looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "When JJ was with the Unsub, where were you?"
"I was checking out another room" I shook my head.
"So you left her alone? You were her partner, you're never supposed to leave your partner alone" Before Morgan had a chance to say anything Hotch cut in.
"Prentiss, back down she's going to be fine" I turned my eyes to Hotch and let out a humourless laugh.
"Luckily, it could have been so much worse" He was about to say something, but I made sure to cut him off this time. "None of this would have happened if you had just let me go instead of her" I shook my head, I got ready to say something else but Reid cut me off.
"JJ" I looked at Reid before turning my head, there JJ was. She had a hand over her chest and was walking up to us slowly. "Are you okay?" Reid asked as he stood up when she got closer.
"Yeah, nothing broken just a bruised sternum" JJ gave us a small smile.
"JJ, I am so sorry" Morgan said to her as he stepped closer. "If I had known-"JJ cut him off.
"Morgan, it's fine, I'm fine" She pulled him into a small hug, I felt a pull at my heart and it made me frown.
We all stood up after she pulled away from Morgan, Reid was the next one to pull her into a hug. Whether he wanted to admit it or not he was worried about JJ.
"JJ, if you need to take some time off..." Hotch trailed off, JJ shook her head.
"No, I'm fine. They gave me some medication for the pain, but really I'm fine" Hotch nodded and Rossi placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Alright, let's go home everybody" Hotch turned and walked away from us.
"Call Garcia" Morgan said before he followed Rossi, Reid, and Hotch.
JJ pulled out her cell and began to walk passed me, before she was out of reach I grabbed her wrist and stopped her.
"JJ, about earlier..." I began but didn't know how to continue, it was stupid what I said. "I'm sorry"
"Don't worry about it" Her reply was quick, she pulled her hand away and walked away from me.
I looked down and took a deep breath before following.
JJ POV
I was sitting on my own on one end of the plane and Emily was on her own on the other side of the plane, Morgan, Rossi, Reid and Hotch were sitting together playing cards. I was watching Emily and she was watching the clouds outside, I kept thinking about the way my arm tingled when she grabbed my wrist...It`s been a long time since I`ve ever felt that.
I looked away from her and out my own window, I took a deep breath...Fuck, note to self no deep breath. I ran a hand over my face and leaned back into my seat. Soon I felt someone looking at me; I turned my head and saw Emily looking at me. We locked eyes and this time I looked away.
-
JJ POV
We landed and drove to the office; I headed in and walked to my office. There was a shitload of paperwork that I had to finish. I stepped into the office and began to close the door behind me when suddenly I was being pushed into my office by Emily. She kicked the door closed behind her before turning to look at me. I gave her an 'are you crazy?' look. She ran a hand through her hair before stepping closer to me.
"What are you doing?" I asked her with a raised eyebrow, arms crossed over my chest.
"Making sure you listen to me and making sure you at least give me a chance to apologize" I looked away from her and shook my head.
"Emily, really it's-"She cut me off and stepped closer.
"No it's not, what I said was stupid and wrong and I'm sorry" She took a deep breath. "Your job is just as important as mine and you are just as good at your job as I am if not better" I finally looked back up at her, our eyes locking again. "I was just pissed off, I was mad that Hotch wasn't letting me go out in the field and I took it out on you. I am so sorry" I finally gave her a small smirk and nod.
"It's fine Em, really" Emily's face broke out into a small smile.
I brushed passed her to grab something that was on my couch, when she grabbed my wrist again but this time she pulled me into a hug. It was firm but not too tight; I wrapped my arms around her back and hugged her back, leaning my head against her shoulder.
"When I heard those shots I realized how stupid I was, I realized how close I was to losing one of my best friends, I realized that I couldn't leave things the way they were between us...I didn't even have a chance to thank you for everything that you did for me" She pulled back from me and gave me a small smile. "So, thank you for everything you've done for me"
"You're welcome" I moved my arms from her and gave her a smile.
"Are we good?" She asked as she put distance between us again.
"Yeah, we're good" She nodded and headed for the door.
"I'll see you tomorrow Jayj" I nodded and she headed out of my office.
I watched her walk away and couldn't help but think about how it felt when she hugged me, I can't remember the last time that someone made me feel that way. What the hell is going on with me? I frowned and ran a hand though my hair.
"It has to be the medication, it's got my head all fucked up" I mumbled into the empty office. "Thank God Garcia's taking me home"
EMILY POV
I walked into the Bullpen and saw Morgan getting ready to leave, I had been really harsh to him but I was just so upset that something happened to JJ, but I needed to apologize to him. I took a deep breath and began to make my way to his desk.
"Morgan" He looked up at me and let out a sigh. "I'm sorry; I shouldn't have said what I said to you. It was wrong and I know that you did everything to protect her and you would never want anything to happen to her. I am so sorry" God, it seems like I'm going to be saying that word for the rest of my life.
"Prentiss, it's okay, I get it you were worried about JJ" I gave him a small nod. "If it was the other way around I'm sure I would have been the same way. Don't worry, we're fine"
"Thank you" I gave him an appreciative smile.
"You wanna walk out of here together?" He nudged his head to the door
"Sure" I grabbed my go bag and we walked out of the door, before I got into the elevators I threw one more glance at JJ office, thanking God that she was okay.