Disclaimer: I do not own anything!
A/N: Thank you so much for the response, I love you all so much. So this chapter is really something to help me push the story, not a whole lot happens and I am sorry about that, but I wanted to get something out there because...I got myself a job so finding time to write is going to be slightly tougher, but I promise to update as fast as I can and I promise I will never leave this story hanging. Love forever and always.
JJ started up at the FBI building in front of her, suddenly feeling more than intimidated. A month had passed and JJ could finally feel herself healing, she began talking to a therapist that Hotch suggested to her and when she finally began to open up…She finally began to heal, but she knew she was still far from fine and the road was going to be a long one…But she was finally on the right path. The night before she was ready to be back, she had told Will that she was more than ready to be back with her team and do what she did best. Despite all the healing the JJ had been doing, there were still a couple of things she couldn't bring herself to do. She had yet to take her engagement ring off, something she argued about with her therapist almost daily, and she still couldn't step into her bedroom.
All the confidence flew out the window when she stepped in front of the double doors, all the negative thoughts she worked hard to get rid of were flooding her mind. What if she wasn't ready for this, what if she snapped like she did a month ago? JJ closed her eyes and took a couple of deep breaths before pushing through the doors. When she stepped out of the elevator and into the BAU office, she felt her hands begin to shake and she quickly balled them into a fist in order to hide the shake.
"JJ!" JJ looked to her left and smiled at Garcia. "Welcome back pumpkin pie" Garcia quickly pulled her into a hug and JJ returned it.
When JJ was forced to take her time off, she requested that no one came by to visit her. All she wanted to do was spend time with Henry and take the time she had to really move on from what had happened, in order to that she had to take a step back from her job and everyone involved with it. Seeing Garcia after a month put a genuine smile on her face, she missed them all but especially the always excited blond.
"Hey Garcia, I missed you too" JJ pulled back, a smile on her face.
"Oh it is so good to see your face again" With that Pen lightly tapped JJ's cheek a couple of time. "Come on, the rest of the team missed you too" Garcia took JJ's hand into her own and began to tug her.
"The Pennsylvania Petite is back in the saddle" JJ let out a laugh as Morgan made his way over to her. "Welcome back" Morgan pulled her into a brief hug.
"Thanks Derek" JJ pulled back with a smile.
"I missed you" Reid said as he stood in front of her, hands stuffed into his pockets.
"I missed you too, Spence" JJ looped her arms around Reid and felt his arms circle her waist.
She threw Rossi a smile when she felt him pat her shoulder a few times, as he walked by her. Hotch walked from his office down to her, smile on his face, and stuck his hand out.
"Welcome back" JJ shook his hand with a smile.
"Thank you" Hot nodded.
"Speak in my office in 15?" JJ gave him a nod; Hotch threw her one more smile before heading back toward his office
"Hey" JJ looked over her shoulder and smiled at Emily. "It's good to have you back, we've missed you" Emily placed her hand on top of JJ's shoulder, before she could move her hand, JJ put her hand on top of Emily's.
"Thank you, for everything" Emily returned the smile before the two separated.
Over her time off, JJ had reflected on a lot of things, one of them being Emily. Emily had really been there for JJ when she lost Claire, it was her arms that held JJ up when she ran into the classroom, her arms that JJ broke down in at Claire's funeral, and her presence that stopped her from killing Jacob Sawyer and Troy Wayne. JJ had been so lost in her own grief that she never thanked Emily; it took her time off for her to realize how much she actually leaned on the older agent. She would never be able to truly thank Emily for all she did, but saying the words was at least a start.
Once JJ was settled back in her desk, she made her way to Hotch's office. They didn't have a case today, something JJ was glad for. She wanted to get back to work, but she wanted to get her rhythm back with the team. JJ knocked on the door and walked in when she heard Hotch call out.
"Have a seat" JJ nodded and sat down in front of him. "How are you?" JJ took a deep breath, she was better but it was still a very loaded question.
"I'm healing" It was the best answer she could give him, it was the most honest. "I'm moving on"
"Do you feel ready to be back?" Hotch raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, I'm actually thinking clear again…When I close my eyes I don't see her on that floor" Hotch gave her a small nod. "You were right, I need time to really process her death and I didn't take the time to do that…I just jumped back into work and tried to power through it, but clearly being around death wasn't going to do anything to help me cope" JJ took a small breath. "But I am ready Hotch, I'm here and I'm ready"
"I think so too" Hotch stood up and stretched his hand out. "Welcome back, JJ"
"Good to be back" JJ stood up and shook his hand.
-
Emily was standing in the break room, pouring herself a cup of coffee; she looked to her left and smiled when she saw Garcia beside her.
"So how's it going with Anna?" Garcia asked, sly smile on her lips.
"Things are going okay, we're really just taking it slow" Emily grabbed some sweetener and ripped it open. "I gotta say though, she's pretty cool"
Anna Granger bought Emily a drink one month ago, Emily was certain that smaller brunette just wanted a night of fun with no strings. What she got instead was a night of great conversation and laughs, Anna was someone that matched Emily on an intellectual level, something Emily only found at her job and it was nice to meet someone who she could truly hold an intelligent conversation with, to top it off for Emily having a serious job she needed humor, and Anna had a great sense of humor.
Anna works as a doctor, in the trauma department, her work hours are hell and it doesn't help that Emily has hours that are worse than hell; though the two still managed to find time to see each other and get together. They weren't in a relationship, not officially at least, but they were dating, both felt it was too early to really put a label on it.
"She's awesome" Garcia said with a smile, she had met Anna only a handful of time but just loved the girl. "Are you uh…"Garcia looked over Emily shoulder at JJ, sitting at her desk and laughing with Reid. "Are you going to tell JJ?"
Emily looked over her shoulder at JJ as well before turning back to Garcia; she shrugged and took a sip of her coffee.
"There's nothing to tell right now, Anna and I aren't anything serious" Garcia fixed her with a look. "What?" Pen continued to give her the look. "Look there's no point in having that conversation, Anna and I have only been on a few dates"
"Alright, just make sure she hears it from you" Garcia moved around Emily to leave the room, but turned back around once more. "It hurts less"
"Hurts less?" Emily frowned. "She was engaged, she moved on a long time ago, Pen"
"There is always a sting when an ex moves on, it's less when it's not heard from a third party" Garcia gave her one more smile before leaving the room.
-
Emily sat at her desk and kept her eyes on JJ, she couldn't get Garcia's words out of head, should she mention something to JJ before it slips from someone else? Will JJ really care that much?
"I can feel you staring at me, Prentiss" JJ lifted her head smiled at Emily. "It's a little creepy"
"Sorry" Emily laughed; Emily ran a hand over her eyes before throwing JJ a small smile. "Can I talk to you about something?"
"Yeah of course, what's going on?" JJ raised an eyebrow.
"Let's go to the break room" Before Emily or JJ could stand up, Emily's cell went off. "Sorry, just give me a sec" JJ nodded and went back to her paper work; Emily looked down at the ID and saw Anna calling her. "Hey"
"Hey Agent" Emily smiled hearing the sweet voice on the other end. "I was wondering, if you don't have a case, if you would want to grab some lunch with me?"
"We're actually case free today" Emily said with a small laugh, she saw JJ raise her head and look at her.
"Great, then you'll grab lunch with me?"
"Yeah that'd be great" Emily closed the file in front of her and pushed away from the desk.
"Rex's dinner, by the hospital?"
"Sound's good, be there in a few" They said their good byes and hung up.
"Was that your lady love?" Morgan asked with a small smirk, JJ turned her eyes to him before slowly moving them to Emily.
"Lady love?" She raised her eyebrow at Emily.
"Morgan's making it a bigger deal than it is" Emily stood up and gave JJ a smile, fighting the urge to glare at Morgan. "It's uh, this girl I met about a month ago, and we've just been on a few dates" JJ nodded with a small smile.
"You're seeing someone?" Emily nodded, glancing quickly at Morgan, Reid, and Garcia, before turning her eyes back to JJ. "That's great, Em" JJ gave her another smile. "Good for you"
"Thanks" Emily smiled; she picked up her blazer and shrugged it on. "I'm going to lunch, can we talk after?"
"Yeah, have fun" JJ smiled once more before turning back to her paperwork.
Emily let her eyes linger on JJ for a moment before turning and heading out of the BAU. Garcia watched her leave before turning to JJ, she watched as JJ focused on her paper work, after a few moments she smacked Morgan on the back of his head.
"Ow, hell" Morgan grabbed the back of his head and turned to Garcia.
"I love you, really I do, but you're an idiot" Garcia's voice a harsh whisper.
-
JJ walked up her stairs, the day's events fresh in her mind, Emily was seeing someone…Emily was seeing someone; JJ knew she had no right for her heart to hurt but it did. There was a small sting that made it's presences known every time the thought crossed her mind, but she took a deep breath and let it out. This was not going to back track her healing process, Emily had every right to move on and JJ was going to try her best to be happy for her. They were friends and JJ was not going to throw that away, it took a long time to get back to that and JJ like having her back in her life…So she was going to be supportive and she was going to be happy.
JJ was about to move passed her bedroom to the guestroom, but she stopped, she stopped and stared at the door in front of her. It was time to let another weight lift of her chest, she put her bag down and stepped slightly closer to the door. She rubbed her hands on the side of her pants; she placed it on the doorknob and took a deep breath. She closed her eyes and turned the knob, opening the door, her eyes fluttered open and she looked at the room. With another deep breath JJ stepped into the room for the first time in a month, she looked around the room and tears sprung to her eyes…But a smile graced her face, she nodded with the smile as tears slipped from her eyes. She was getting over this, she was truly healing.
