Sorry for delay in posting. Unfortunately had real life to deal with, but to try and make up for it, I'm posting two chapters together today. And as always, thank you for the comments.

Chapter twenty one

"Hotch is trying to placate the local police, who to say weren't very happy we'd come in all guns blazing is an understatement." JJ was back at her hotel room, which had been booked before they had flown out of Quantico. "But, having killed Doyle has put a few points in our favor. The biggest problem is whether we bring you back under the radar or not because you are still officially dead, although I think its more likely we'll use one of your aliases and we'll sort out the technicalities of that when we get home."

JJ carefully peeled the wet shirt off Emily, trying not to gasp as she saw the fresh bruises that had appeared. It wasn't about seeing Emily undressed, because concern to help overwhelmed all other senses at the moment, just as it had in the safe house when JJ had become her nurse. Emily had even confided that she was so used to others; doctor, nurse, whoever it was, seeing her stripped down with god knows what poking in or out of her, she didn't even think about it, when she had sensed some early embarrassment from JJ – but in typical Emily fashion, she had assured JJ, it was all the same. Trying to stop her hands trembling, JJ began to clean around the worst wound, that was up by Emily's right collarbone. She probed, and although deep, it did seem to be stable and no longer bleeding, so it shouldn't need stitches. She could feel Emily flinching under her fingers, but not once did she moan, and JJ could tell she was desperate to hide how much pain she was in.

"Can this wait?" Emily asked so quietly JJ almost didn't hear.

JJ looked at her, and could tell Emily was at the end of whatever was keeping her going and although she had just been talking about mundane stuff to try and keep Emily's mind away from what had just happened, felt worry creep up seeing how tired and pale she now looked.

"I've just got to get this wound patched up and finish up with a couple of the smaller cuts. I'll be as quick as I can. You're sleeping here and I brought some clothes back from your apartment you can change in to after we visited it earlier."

Emily barely had the energy to nod.

JJ walked back out from the bathroom where she'd gone to wash her hands and change, having finally washed and covered all the cuts and grazes, making Emily take some painkillers as well as getting her in to a top and shorts, to find Emily had pulled the covers across her body, and was already asleep.

"Sweet dreams." JJ whispered as she planted a feather light kiss on Emily's exposed cheek.

"How is she?" Hotch asked as JJ joined the team in the lobby of the hotel, where they were sitting around a table, with coffees.

"Fast sleep. Tired, battered, bruised, emotional, stubborn, you name it, the list goes on." JJ said, as she grabbed her own coffee.

"Its not unexpected," Hotch admitted. "Does she need hospital treatment?"

"I don't think so, although I would like a doctor to check her out at some point, but I think we can wait until we get back."

Hotch nodded. "We'll give them a call when we land."

"Garcia, can you do me a favor." JJ said quietly, not wanting the others to hear what she was asking.

"Sure kitten, anything I can."

"Can you pop around to Emily's apartment and just put everything in to bags for it to come back, before we fly home. I honestly have no idea if Emily wants anything from there, but I want her to have the choice once we get home." Garcia's hand gripping her own was all the answer JJ needed, and she smiled her thanks.

JJ's attention was suddenly brought back by Hotch speaking.

"I want everyone to try and get some sleep. I've got some more things to do at the local police station, but I don't envisage any problems. I've arranged for wheels up at 19:00 local time."

"Does Emily's mother know?" JJ suddenly asked.

"I've spoken to her. Naturally she's relieved and wants to know when we arrive."

"Emily is just going to love that!" JJ heard Garcia mutter sarcastically under her breath.

"I'm going back up, I don't want Emily to wake up alone." JJ stood up, and acknowledged everyone with a quick nod of her head, before going back to the room.

Once there, she sat on the couch that was there, sipping her coffee as she watched Emily sleeping. Her own tiredness began to creep in, but she stayed where she was, not wanting to risk disturbing Emily by getting in the bed. Eventually, she stretched out on the couch, and dozed off.

Feeling guilty but knowing they had to get ready to leave, JJ walked over and gently shook Emily. Emily began flailing arms around immediately as her eyes popped open.

"Emily... Emily." JJ said with urgency, "It's okay. You're safe, nothing is happening."

JJ could see the look she herself remembered after the Tobias Hankel incident. JJ still had occasional nightmares about that night in the barn, and how she then reacted when her friends came in and she could see it now mirrored in Emily's eyes. She also knew that she had to be no threat to Emily.

"JJ." Emily looked as confused as she felt. "It's real I'm not imagining this?" she then asked quietly.

Smiling, JJ reached over and placed a hand on Emily's one forearm. "No, your not. You're safe."

"Its real?" Emily looked lost for a second, and it tore at JJ's heart.

"Yes." JJ continued the reassurance, grasping Emily's hand in her own this time. Seeing Emily beginning to relax, she couldn't help but release the breath she'd been holding. JJ moved, and getting in to the bed, settled down alongside Emily. She pulled her across, allowing Emily to use her like a pillow, and her hand began to stroke Emily's hair to reassure her. Within seconds, Emily's breathing had regulated and JJ could tell she was relaxing.

"We've due to leave in an hour. I thought you would want time to get ready." JJ said once Emily had relaxed enough as way of explanation.

"Thanks."

"Coffee?"

"Yeah."

"I'll organize one." JJ moved, and headed towards the door.

"I know I don't always say it enough, but thank you." Emily said as JJ got to the door. JJ turned around, and slowly walked back to the room.

"I know this is going to be a challenging time for me." Emily carried on, afraid if she stopped she wouldn't say what she need to, "It might not have for the duration I've had before, but being out in the field like that, it takes its toll and I didn't have the same support. I was finally beginning to move on after moving to the BAU, but this...this has set me back JJ. You need to understand I'm going to be different. I'm asking you to give me time to adjust."

"I can't understand what you've been through, but I'm not naive enough to believe this wouldn't affect you, so I expected this is going to have some sort of effect." JJ replied softly, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"I know its all a bit hazy, but when we were at the boathouse and you asked about my gun, you sounded so angry. Why?" Emily questioned.

"I was angry at you, Doyle... the whole situation." JJ drew a breath and ran her hands through her hair. "I'm not even sure why, it just seemed after all the planning, all the sacrifices, you did something reckless."

"Reckless?" Emily looked as confused as she sounded.

"Going after Doyle alone."

"And?" Emily prompted, knowing JJ was holding something back,

"I found this." JJ pulled the picture she had found in the apartment in Lucerne out of her pocket.

"Ah." Emily blushed, "I..."

"So much for security." JJ admonished, "I don't know whether to be mad at you, or just a little embarrassed you had it."

"Can we go with embarrassed?"