This fic is drawing to a close. I don't envisage I can take it much further, possibly another couple of chapters at best. So I would like to take the chance to say a massive thank you to everyone who has commented, including constructive comments. I'm also not entirely sure if I am going to write more – this idea was floating around for ages – well ever since I knew Emily's last episode and hearing Paget was actually back... So a lot is going to depend on whether another idea takes hold, drives me nuts, and I then have to write it! If anyone has any suggestions, I'm always open to ideas!

Chapter twenty six

Emily finally felt the pain and emptiness inside of her bubble into the first sob. Once she started crying she could not stop and she sat dazedly behind the wheel of the vehicle, where she was finally alone. She turned the key, but couldn't drive off, so then put her head down on the steering wheel, closing her eyes and trying to come to terms with everything that had happened in the last twelve hours. She jumped as there was a light tap on the side window.

"Let me in." Was the simple request from JJ, who stood out on the sidewalk. Wordlessly Emily nodded and JJ walked around and hopped in the passenger side.

"Are you even still talking to me?" Emily asked.

"Of course, and I could state the obvious, your gorgeous, and I love you unconditionally." JJ reached out and her fingers interlaced with Emily's. "And you know, that does tend to say it all really."

"I've never meant to hurt you."

"I know that and you know what, I worry about protecting you as well, it's natural we are going to feel this way, its just you're feeling it more intensely because of the way things have been for you lately. It'll get better, I promise." JJ tightened her fingers a little more, to re-enforce her point.

"I know. I need to sort this out properly. I thought it was too soon to see someone about it, but I can't let this carry one." Emily looked across at JJ with a wry smile. "I've got too much to lose."

JJ gave Emily the lightest of kisses on the lips, before beginning to open her door again. "Lets get back in there and sort this son of bitch out."

As they moved to sit down with the rest of the team, it was relief on JJ's face, and for the first time in ages, she and Emily were able to look at each other and then neither of them seemed able to look away. It was a look of such hunger and intimacy that the others at the table started to feel as though they were intruding. JJ managed to tear her eyes away and concentrate on the matter in hand.

After three days where they had little time to sleep, let alone talk, all the team sat at the table in the usual bar they frequented, including Garcia, celebrating the successful capture of the Battlefield park Strangler as he had already become known. The usual sad background story was there, abusive childhood, including sexual abuse. Parental abandonment as a 10 year old, and he was then raised by his uncle, who was the sexual abuser at the time and so the list went on.

"Here's to another triple B, Bastard behind bars." Morgan proposed the toast, already a little worse for wear.

"How do you do it?" JJ wanted to know as she sipped her drink.

"Do what?" Emily looked confused by the question.

"Hello, we've been here what,"" Garcia theatrically looked at her watch, "Five minutes, and you've got the barmaid practically gagging for it. Something we've missing?"

"Hey, I can't help it. I noticed she was doing the same with Morgan here." Emily countered.

"Oh believe me girlfriend, that was a tiny little flirt at our very own chocolate hunk o' love." Garcia said with a flourish, "You on the other hand... she saw you, all bets were off and that was full out, 'I'm desperate for it, bite me' flirting."

"No way." Emily laughed.

"Yes way." Even Reid chipped in.

"Oh c'mon you guys, not fair." Emily looked around the sea of faces, and her eyes rested on Hotch and Rossi, who were just sitting back with amused expressions. "Well, aren't either of you going to say anything?" She then challenged.

"She does seem kind of cute," Rossi pointed out, "You should go for it."

"Be real careful what you say here, and I mean real careful!" JJ said with a mischievous look on her face.

"Oh come on. Grow up the lot of you." Emily said, but with humor in her voice.

"There are grown ups here?" Garcia whipped her head around, looking and sounding outraged by the thought. "And thinking of grown up and therefore kiddies, when were you two children going to tell us?"

"Tell us what?" JJ looked worried.

"Oh as if." Garcia sighed, "Right I've given you plenty of opportunity, now spill; how long have you two been together?"

"Your together?" Reid looked up from his drink.

"Yes... no... maybe." JJ blabbed. "We're not going to get away with this are we." JJ whispered to Emily, who just shook her head. JJ then looked up at the team. "Well, if you must know, Will and I split up ages ago."

"And, okay we confess. But its early days yet." Emily said with a smile. Her announcement was greeted by a round of cheers.

"Well this calls for further celebration." Hotch stood up, "Next round is on me."

"Is Hotch feeling okay? He's smiling, buying a round and not having a hissy fit about department regulations." Garcia looked incredulous.

"It's amazing what being with your family can do." Rossi said with a smile.

Emily had declared to everyone she wanted to dance, and without another word had got up, and JJ had watched entranced. It was the first time she'd really taken that much notice of Emily in this sort of situation. She was aware that she was a pretty good dancer, the sway of her hips seemed to slow down, JJ was so memorized.

"Come on." Morgan broke the reverie, as he grabbed JJ by the arm, "Lets join her."

Emily opened her eyes as she felt the presence of JJ by her. Without a second thought, her arm snaked out, pulling JJ closer who fell easily in to her rhythm.

"Your incredible." Emily looked right at JJ, her eye lids heavy with desire, her pupils dilated and JJ was suddenly aware she and Emily were both incredibly aroused. JJ moved her arms up, clasping them around Emily's neck drawing her in closer sharing the same air to breath. JJ shivered as Emily's fingers caressed her spine, while her own hands tangled in Emily's hair. Then she became aware that the others were staring at them and just how it must of looked.

"Emily." JJ tried to say.

"Ssshhh." Emily interrupted, with a finger that pushed against JJ's lips. "We're just dancing."

"Its more than that." JJ managed to say, her thoughts interrupted further as Emily's tongue caressed her neck.

"I know." Emily said with a satisfied sound to her voice.

"Oh god."

"Hhmmm he isn't going to help much now," Emily once again moved her tongue along JJ's neckline.

"Emily." JJ managed to gasp, and she then heard a snigger from nearby. She looked up, and saw Garcia and Morgan with massive smiles across their faces.

"Lets get out of here." Emily then grabbed JJ's hand, and before she could register what was going on, she was being hauled in to the rest room.

JJ was clinging to her values by the smallest of margins as Emily pushed her against a stall wall, before kissing her deeply. JJ emitted a low moan, and despite her reservations, she knew this wasn't the time or the place, and that Emily would be mortified in the morning.

"We..." JJ had managed to break the kiss, but was stopped again as Emily captured her lips and JJ might have managed to resist, except one of Emily's hands had found its way to her breasts, and was taking it in turns to lightly brush up against her nipples through the fabric of her top.

"Your drunk." JJ forced herself to break contact again. "I don't want regret about this in the morning."

"You're as turned on as I am." Emily said softly, as if to re-enforce the point, and before JJ could move back further, Emily had deftly unbuttoned and unzipped her pants and JJ shook as Emily cupped her through her panties. With the last ounce of effort JJ possessed, she pushed herself away.

"God damn it, I want you." JJ voice sounded husky, "But we've had a tough few days, and we've only just back on an even keel and I don't want to risk it again by doing this, not here, not now."

Emily licked her lips, but stopped what she was doing.

"Okay." Emily then began to walk away, deliberately throwing a look over her shoulder as she went making JJ moan softly to herself, "But don't say I didn't give you the opportunity."

Later that night, JJ steered a very drunk Emily in to the bedroom, who was continually professing her love of JJ and Henry. JJ couldn't help but smile, but it suddenly turned to a frown.

"Gonna be sick." Was all Emily could mutter and JJ just managed to get them to the toilet in time. JJ then got Emily across to the bed, and stripped her down and somehow managed to get her in to the shorts and top she wore in bed.

"Don't feel so good." Emily murmured as she lay down grasping a pillow as if her life depended on it as she went. "And going to get help, talk to department shrink." Emily then moaned in to the pillow, "God, don't feel well."

"I know sweetheart, try and sleep." JJ shifted position to lie alongside her, wrapping one arm around her protectively and they both drifted off to sleep.