Emily let the water lap at her feet. She watched it retreat back to the crystal clear lagoon only to slowly return, and she welcomed it. She dug her feet into the soft white sand. The vast blue water sparkled in front of her like a million diamonds. Emily tilted her head back and took in a deep breath. The cerulean sky was dotted with white clouds and the sun shown above warm and inviting.
Her solitude was interrupted when a presence appeared over her. She turned her head and placed her hand up to block the sun so she could see whom it was. All she could make out was JJ's form but couldn't see her face.
Emily looked back out across the blue expanse. "It's so beautiful, there's no pain, sadness, or emptiness here JayJe. Don't you feel it?"
The blonde didn't respond and remained still next to her.
Emily closed her eyes again taking in the sun, "it's so quiet and warm."
I'm sorry was all she heard as a hand touched Emily's shoulder.
Dark clouds began to envelope the sky. Waves began to swell and crashed violently onto the pearl white sand. Emily felt herself lifting upward and moving swiftly away from the beach. JJ was gone now and she was alone in the darkness.
The pain was back but it hovered somewhere in the distance. Voices filled the black expanse that surrounded her. Her body was heavy and she became aware that her eyes were closed. She suddenly had an overwhelming urge to open them. It took all the strength she had. When she finally pried them open the first thing she focused on was the back of a man. Her heart began to race, she felt panicked. She wanted to get up and run but her body didn't respond. A beeping noise filled the air. The man turned around and looked down at her.
"Well, hello there."
She flinched at first but his voice eased her a little as it was soft and gentle. She tried to speak but no words came out. Her throat was sore and dry. All she could do was squint at him.
"It's okay Ms. Prentiss. You're safe here."
Emily closed her eyes and tried to visualize the beach, she desperately wanted to go back. It was painful and dark here.
"Emily?" the voice asked.
She opened her eyes slowly to reconnect with the man.
"Do you know where you are?"
She shook her head her eyes answering with fear.
He leaned in closer. "You're at St. Sebastian's Hospital." He gave her a reassuring smile. "You gave us quite a scare. It's good to see you awake."
She flashed him a face of confusion. She closed her eyes again trying so hard to see the blue sky and to feel the shining yellow sun but got nothing. She heard him talking again but to someone else. She listened to his words.
"Keep her on the IV drip 3-ml every half hour."
"What about visitors? They've been pretty persistent."
"One at a time, please. If there is any sign of agitation they must leave."
"Yes doctor."
JJ's face flashed in her mind, then images of James and Dale. The last memory she had of JJ created a tidal wave of emotions that flooding her. She had to know where she was, and if she was okay. The unknown almost became too much to handle.
Where was she?
Emily tried to move but felt like a lead blanket held her down. Pain shot through her body.
"Jay-," she wheezed.
The nurse was suddenly over her. "It's okay. Lay still, sweetie." The woman continued to try and soothe with a gentle and calm voice. "You need to lay still. Are you in pain?"
Emily shook her head. "Jay," was all she could say.
"It's okay," was all the nurse kept saying.
Emily was getting irritated. She needed answers. She tried flashing looks at the nurse who was busy working with her IV.
Her mind was racing but her voice and body refused to comply. She needed to know if JJ was okay. The last memory she had was of her being taken from her. Her eyes became heavy. She knew her beach was gone and she tried in vain to fight the sleep. There were no more comfortable dreams. Her mind became wracked with images of James and Dale appearing around every corning and emerging from the shadows; their murderous intentions clear. Emily was running endlessly on the boat until she saw JJ lifelessly body sway with the vessels movement. Emily tried to get to her but found she was frozen in place when her friend's empty eyes stared helplessly back to her.
Emily was powerless, her body heavy and weak. She was unable to move. She tried to scream but her voice failed her. The laughter began and she felt him, a patient malevolent presence. He grew like a shadow up the wall slowly and mercilessly until it completely engulfed her.
Morgan stretched his arms out over his head letting his hands rest on the edge of the bed. His let the weight of his head lay between his forearms and stared unfocused at the floor waiting. Waiting for Emily to open her eyes, to speak, to give him some sort of reassurance that the there was progress in the positive.
The nurse had told them that Emily had been awake, but that had been hours ago. Derek was determined to be the one there when she woke up again.
The nurses finally stopped telling him he had to leave. It was a battle that they learned early that was not worth fighting. If they mentioned policy Derek was quick to remind them he didn't care about it. The Agents had become a fixture in the hospital trading off between floors. He knew his career was in danger if he didn't comply and head back to DC with the others, but had no intention of leaving until he knew that Emily and JJ were going to be okay.
Derek slowly lifted his head. He felt the touch at the same time as he saw her hand. A flood of excitement washed over him. He wrapped his fingers around hers and smiled as their eyes connected.
"There she is." He said leaning in.
The initial excitement was replaced by his original concern as her eyes lacked the strength and spark that they once held.
She studied him through lazy half slit eyes. "Derek." She forced out, her raw throat released his name in a harsh whisper.
"The one and only baby." Derek smiled and sat up straighter not taking his eyes off of her.
He began to stumble over his words. "How are you? Do you need anything? Are you in pain?"
There were so many things he wanted to say and so many things to ask. His mind spun with questions of what happened to them. He knew this was not the time to ask, he reminded himself he should just take that she is awake as something.
"JayJe?" Was all she answered shaking her head.
Morgan gently squeezed her hand. "She's okay Emily, don't worry."
As he spoke she broke their eye contact and began to stare at the ceiling above her. Her eyes began to gloss over and she fought the tears that began to well up in them. Derek wanted to say something but words escaped him. He felt helpless to comfort her.
"My fault," she whispered.
"No, Emily it's not."
She continued attempting to speak not listening to him, "I couldn't." A tear broke through and began to descend down her cheek and paused at her chin holding on fighting the gravity that wanted to pull it down.
"Listen to me," Derek said and reached forward. He gently caught the glistening tear with his finger. "Nothing's your fault."
She refused to look at him anymore and his heart began to ache. The pit in his stomach came back gripping him as he looked at her in more than physical pain. He was going to say something when a nurse came in.
"I'm sorry we need to take her to CT."
Derek moved slowly out of the way. He tried to reconnect their eyes but she wouldn't. Her eyes were open but they were distant and empty. He looked down at the tear that glistened on his finger. Derek rubbed it away as his hand clenched into a fist.
JJ pinched the bridge of her nose. The dreams were so vivid and the empty feeling would not leave her stomach. Will's words still echoed and repeated with each throb of her headache. He was still stalling her from going, the doctor had denied her and the nurses kept telling her the reason was that she was not in any state to be moving.
She could not believe anyone's admonition that Emily was going to be okay. Her heart was telling her something different and only seeing her would settle it.
Her body felt weak and she laid her head back on the pillow. Just the excitement of the dreams and constant arguing with Will on top of the nurses was enough for her body to want to shut down.
The door opened but she did not raise her head. She only saw a strange form in her peripheral. She turned her eyes to see what the shape could be.
Morgan's voice filed the room. "Wanna go for a ride?"
She couldn't help but smile as he rolled in the wheel chair to the bed. He stood up releasing the handles and smiled back, but quickly replaced it with a sarcastic grimace. "The nurse, let alone Will, will kill me if anything happens to you. We go slow got it?"
JJ nodded allowing him to help her sit up and turn her feet over the edge of the bed. She fought the lightheadedness by closing her eyes. Her body felt so weak and lethargic, just sitting up was taking all her energy.
She took a deep breath and slowly released it.
"You okay?" Morgan asked with concern.
She feared he would doubt the decision and quickly recovered. "I'll be fine let's go."
Derek obliged gently placing his hands under her arms and lifted her to the chair. She sunk into it with a slight whimper of pain.
"JayJe?"
"Derek, please, I'm going."
Derek nodded and moved the IV's over and maneuvered the chair towards the door. "On our way."
When they exited the room JJ saw that Hotch and Rossi were in a tight huddle talking. She could feel the tension in Derek as he saw them as well.
She looked up at him as they headed to the elevator. "Is there something wrong?"
"Nothing for you to worry about. Focus on you getting better, huh."
JJ sighed in irritation. "Derek, just tell me already."
Derek pushed the button on the wall for the elevator then turned to face the blonde in front of him.
"IA is investigating."
"Okay? Is that really a surprise?"
Derek pushed them into the elevator with a look of confusion filling his face, "I guess not but they going to dive deep into what happened. I really just worry for the two of you."
JJ shook her head, "It's pretty simple, two psychopaths kidnapped Emily and I. The rest-" but she stopped short not wanting to delve into details but knew where Derek was heading in his statement.
She tried to change the subject. "Tell me what to expect when I see Emily."
The elevator dinged and the doors slowly opened. The floor was a lot quieter that the one JJ had been on. There was an eerie air to it and she didn't like the feeling.
She made eye contact with Derek as he tuned her around to face him. He knelt down to her eye level. He took a deep breath and looked down the hall then back to the blonde.
"She had severe internal bleeding. They had to operate and barely got the bleeding to stop. There was a lot of blood loss, it's been touch and go."
JJ tried hard to swallow his words. "And now?" She asked shakily.
"They have been keeping her pretty sedated. They took her off the ventilator earlier today and she seemed to panic when she initially woke."
JJ held her breath knowing what Emily was seeing. She saw the same things. She almost could not control the emotions that began to overwhelm her. She squeezed her eyes shut holding back the tears. She started to doubt if she could handle what she was going to see.
"JayJe are you okay?"
"Yeah," she breathed, "I just need a minute."
"Okay."
Derek stepped away but she could feel his concerned eyes on her. They had made it out of the nightmare, but she couldn't shake the feeling that a new one was starting. They were the ones that were not supposed to be the victims. They saved them and stopped the evil. She felt the evil still hovering over them like a thundercloud threatening to release a fury onto them. They had to move forward together and not allow the Turners to keep their talons hooked in them, even from the grave. They were stronger; she had to believe it, and needed to make sure Emily believed it too.
She took another shaky breath. "I think I'm ready."
Derek jumped into action pushing the chair down the hall to the room. JJ found herself holding her breath as they entered the room. It was dimly lit and the machines beeped quietly in the background.
As they got closer she was able to fully make out Emily's face. The swelling had gone down but she looked so pale.
When they reached the side of the bed she looked up to Morgan. "Do you mind?" She whispered.
He lightly touched her shoulder and gave her a smile before quietly leaving the room. JJ redirected herself to Emily. She reached out her hand touching her friends lightly. She had proved her dream wrong as she watched the rise and fall of Emily's chest.
She took in a breath before she spoke trying to keep her voice steady and strong. "Em, we're going to be okay. Keep fighting."
Her heart broke as she watched a tear escape Emily's closed eyes and she followed it as it traced its way down her pale cheek. She squeezed her hand trying to transfer whatever strength she had.
JJ started to feel the effects of her actions. Her muscles weak and tired, her mind telling her she needed sleep. Just the emotional drain of the anticipation of seeing Emily and now the physical movement had taken a toll. She allowed her head drop and closed her eyes.
"JJ?" A quiet hoarse voice asked.
JJ looked up and smiled as she saw Emily looking at her.
"Hey," she answered returning the slight pressure she felt in her hands.
Emily looked away for a moment trying to gain the strength to talk.
"I was scared-" She stopped to swallow and try again to finish her words. "You were dead."
"I did too." JJ tried to give a reassuring smile. "No one would tell me anything. They thought I wouldn't be able to handle it."
Emily turned her eyes out of the room to Derek who was standing patiently in the doorway arms crossed watching the exchange.
Emily moved her eyes back to look at the blonde. "They don't know."
JJ squeezed the hand intertwined in her own. "No, they don't."
Emily let out a sigh and JJ really saw how weak she looked and it tore at her.
"I'm going to let you rest. I wanted to come see you. I'll try to come back tomorrow."
"I'm sorry. I should've-" She stopped, her bodies weakness not allowing her to finish the sentence.
JJ was taken aback. She couldn't understand why Emily was apologizing.
She would not want Emily to have to have gone through what they did but the fact she was there was why they survived. She believed that to her core but did not know how she could convince her of it.
"Emily, if there is anyone to blame," she paused and then spit out the names, "it's James and Dale."
Emily wouldn't look at her anymore. "I didn't-" she paused for a breath. "Have the house cleared." She finally forced out in a hushed whisper.
JJ tried to sit up and regain the eye contact they had earlier. "Emily, if you had not come I would have been dead anyway. Your fight kept us alive."
Emily let out a shaky breath but didn't answer.
Derek coming in the room interrupted their conversation, "I hate to do this ladies but I have to get JayJe back to her room. You both need to rest."
JJ knew he was right but it saddened her that this was how they were leaving it.
Emily watched the two depart her face drawn and emotionless. JJ rested her head in her hand and left in silence. It was not the encounter she had hoped for. She knew there was a long road ahead for them.
