Warning: Reference to abuse
Emily spent the rest of the day thinking about JJ. She knew the circumstances were far from ideal, but she couldn't help the joy that spread through her at the thought of living with the blonde and getting to help the woman she loved.
After many agonizing hours, it was finally time to go.
"You ready?" Emily asked JJ, knocking on her office door
"Just about," JJ replied, examining the last pages of a file. After a moment, she looked up at Emily.
"You wanna ride together?" Emily offered.
"That's okay. You go on," JJ told her, looking back at the files. "I'm gonna finish up here and then I'll drop by my house and grab some stuff."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Emily asked, concerned.
"It'll be fine," JJ brushed off. "He'll probably be passed out anyway. And if he isn't I'll just tell him we're having a girls' night or something. You mentioned yesterday we were gonna."
"Do you want me to come with you?" Emily prodded, unconvinced.
"No." JJ said quickly before repeating, softer and gentler, "no. Sorry, that came out wrong. It's just…if he sees you there," Emily could see JJ was nervous, biting her lip and avoiding Emily's gaze.
"Why would he mind me being there?" Emily asked, confused.
JJ continued to hesitate, clearly agitated, "he…well…" she muttered before finally ranting in one long breath, "After yesterday, he sort of got it in his head that there was something going on between us and I told him it wasn't true but he won't drop it now that he's thought of it, he won't let it go and I'm sorry Em, I told him it wasn't true but he just…he didn't believe me…I'm sorry." She finished quietly.
Emily was stunned. She couldn't deny that she had feelings for the blonde, but she'd been so careful! Had she let something slip? Did Will find out somehow?
"Em?" JJ whispered anxiously, "Em, are you okay?"
"What?" Emily started, shaken from her worries. "Oh. Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. Just…that's just weird. Why would he think that?"
"I don't know…" JJ admitted, "I mean…I told him I was bisexual a few weeks ago…so maybe that has something to do with it," JJ said, avoiding Emily's eyes even more so now.
JJ paused a moment before beginning to ramble once more, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I just didn't know how you'd react and I didn't want you to hate me. Do you hate me? I get it if you don't want me to stay with you I'll just go home I'm sorry I shouldn't've said anything I- "
"Hey," Emily interrupted, putting a hand on JJ's shoulder, "It's okay. No, I don't hate you. And of course you're still gonna stay with me. I know you're bisexual, Morgan told me."
"You do? He did?" JJ asked, finally meeting Emily's eyes.
"Yeah. Don't get mad at him, though. He was just trying to reassure me." Emily explained.
"Reassure you about what?" JJ inquired, confused.
Emily cursed herself, realizing she couldn't say the real reason, "I…uh," she began, inventing quickly, "I was worried about how you'd react if I told you that I'm gay."
"You're gay?" JJ repeated in shock.
"Yeah. Well, technically I'm bi, but I lean toward women." Emily elaborated.
"Oh…" JJ muttered, still stunned.
"Anyway," Emily said awkwardly, "so you'll stop by your house, grab some stuff, and then meet me at mine?"
"Uh…" JJ whispered, shaking herself from her thoughts, "Yeah. Yeah, sounds good."
"But promise you'll call me if you need anything," Emily pleaded, uncomfortable with JJ being near Will again.
"I…" JJ hesitated, but upon meeting Emily's desperate gaze, she agreed. "Okay. I will, I promise."
Emily smiled and gave JJ a quick hug before they both headed down to the garage. Just a little longer, Emily thought. Just a little longer and she'd know for a fact that JJ was safe.