Chapter 28

Location: Garcia's Office BAU (Three weeks later)

Day & Time: Friday, 10.45

JJ made her way down the familiar corridor, her emotions slightly raw after her appointment with the department psychologists, she knew they would not let her back to work just yet and she had resigned herself to that fact. The only saving grace was that she had other things to take her mind off everything.

Instead of knocking JJ walked straight into Garcia's office. "I do like knocking" Garcia said as she heard the door close before turning around to see who had intruded her space. JJ smiled "Well I wanted to surprise you" Garcia spun around a bright smile taking over her lips "JayJ," she let out in a squeal, before noticing the blondes demeanour, though instead of addressing the red water eyes she kept the bright kind smile upon her face as she spoke. "What brings you here?" Garcia asked, they had not seen each other much over the past few weeks since Emily had come home from the hospital and right now JJ needed her bright and bubbly friend.

JJ pulled up a chair taking a seat, "Appointment with the quack" JJ replied with a slight shrug. "How did it go?" Garcia asked her face turning slightly serious, "It went okay," JJ said giving her a half smile.

Garcia nodded not wanting to prod anymore; they all knew how private JJ was she never spoke about her personal life in all the time Garcia had known her. Emily and JJ never really had any problems other than concerns over Amy to which all the team had been concerned about the younger Prentiss.

"Did Emily not go with you?" Garcia asked JJ's demeanour had not altered since she had walked in; JJ shook her head in reply causing Garcia to frown. "Why not?" JJ could not help the soft smile at her friends concern as to why she was here alone. "Emily is still not 100% herself and also she can't enter the building while she is under investigation" JJ said her voice lacking emotion as her voice trailed off slightly.

"How long do you think all this is going to take, with Emily?" Garcia asked, trying to get the young blonde to think about something else. JJ shrugged slightly "We don't know, but right now she isn't too worried about it, the worst they can do is take her badge, which right now I don't think she would mind. Though I know she really doesn't want me to come back without her," JJ said as she rolled her eyes slightly.

"Why would Emily not want you to come back?" Garcia asked slightly confused. "To be honest she doesn't like the idea of me being here without her" Garcia sighed, "She worries about you JJ, you know she would give her" Garcia paused. "Morgan says she feels guilty" JJ could only nod "I know she does but she has nothing to feel guilty about. It wasn't HER FAULT!" JJ said her voice rising slightly.

"Whoa kitten, she is your wife she is allowed to worry" Garcia said softly. "Worry yes, blaming herself for what happened to me," JJ shook her head "It wasn't her fault" JJ said sadly. "We all know what Prentiss is like, and she is your wife JJ," Garcia sighed "You should have seen her when she came back, I have never seen her so angry with the team, with us." Garcia said softly.

JJ nodded, "I know Amy told me," JJ shook her head slightly. "I think on some level she is still angry and there is nothing anyone one can do to change that right now, she will work it through in her own time, but right now she doesn't want to talk about anything" JJ said with a dry laugh.

In truth, Emily and JJ were much alike, Emily blamed herself for not protecting her wife, for not finding her sooner, while JJ hid and could not bring herself to talk to Emily just yet. JJ wondered how much more damage it would do to Emily's mind if she knew every detail. Though they both knew, deep down JJ just was not ready to talk about it and all Emily was able to do was be there for her and be her rock.

Garcia nodded knowing it was more likely JJ did not want to talk about anything yet, they had been friends for so long that they could both tell what the other meant without the words being said.

"So what brings you to my little cave?" Garcia asked changing the subject. "Well I was hoping you would like to come house hunting with me and Amy this weekend" Garcia's eyes went wide, "What about Emily?" Garcia asked with a puzzled look on her face "Shouldn't she be the one to go looking with you both?"

JJ gave a soft smile "She still isn't herself yet," Garcia frowned "She is still being sick?" JJ nodded "Oh yes, at all hours" JJ said with a slight smirk. "So would that be a yes?" JJ asked as she took in the amused look on Garcia's face.

Garcia squealed slightly as she took hold of JJ's hand causing the blonde to flinch slightly. "I was hoping we could look at a few while I'm here?" JJ asked, Garcia smiled "Oh this is going to be so much fun!" she exclaimed as she spun around pulling up a few websites.

JJ could not help but chuckle slightly. "So do you have a rough idea of what we are looking for so we can narrow the search down?" Garcia asked as she turned around to look at JJ. "Gated community, something up market. Emily has given me free rain with it, but I want to find something that will appeal to the person she is rather than what I like" JJ said softly. "Okay. What type of price range?" Garcia asked as she pulled up a site that styled older looking houses.

JJ smiled knowing Garcia would throw a pink fit "$1 million." JJ said with an amused look as Garcia's jaw dropped. "What now?" Garcia asked thinking she had heard the blonde incorrectly. JJ raised her eyebrow, "Do I really need to say it again?" JJ asked as she chuckled slightly. "No I heard you, but seriously JJ what is the budget," Garcia asked not fully believing what JJ had just said.

"$1 million. That is the top scale, if we can find something below that would be great," JJ said as she tried to contain the laughter that was building deep inside her chest. Garcia looked at her the shock still showing on her face "Do I even want to know where you got that type of money from?" Garcia asked her voice filled full of bewilderment. JJ just shrugged "From the few businesses we own" Garcia could only nodded.


Location: Prentiss Household

Time: 12.15

Emily sat curled up with Amy asleep in her arms, as she watched Henry playing with his building blocks, building a tower just to knock it down with his cars, she could not help but smile to herself. Her family was back together though it was still hurt and she knew it was going to take a lot of time to heal, she could not help but feel that this move would help settle them all.

Emily was so lost in her own thoughts she never heard the front door close or the footsteps that fell on the wooden floors. JJ stood against the doorframe watching her wife and her children, she had already gather that none of them had heard her come in. She could see Amy was asleep, and looking at her wife she knew Emily was lost in her mind.

JJ knew Emily too well, even though she was not stood in front of her she knew. JJ spoke softly so not to make Emily jump too much, "Hey darling" the sound broke Emily's thoughts as she jumped slightly causing Amy to move slightly. "Hey sweetheart" Emily said softly as she turned her head to look at her wife before motioning for JJ to come and join her on the couch.

Once JJ was curled into the other side of her, her head resting against Emily's chest, her hands softly running through the blonde's hair giving her comfort. "How did it go today Jen?" Emily asked as she kept her voice soft as JJ wrapped her arms around her waist. "I managed to shock Garcia and sent her on a task of finding us a few viewings for the weekend." JJ said as she tried to curl into Emily more.

Emily could not help the sad sigh leaving her lips before pressing her lips against her head. It hurt Emily, for the first time since they had gotten together JJ could not talk to her, Emily would hold her while she screamed and cried in her sleep but as soon as JJ would wake, it was as though walls slammed down over her. Emily would never push her or make her do anything she could only hope that JJ would talk to her in time.

"Should I be worried that Garcia is picking houses for you three to look at?" Emily asked as she continued to run her fingers through JJ's hair. "Possibly, but I have given her strict instructions" JJ said as she chuckled slightly. "Mommy?" Henry said softly causing JJ to move slightly. "Yes little man" JJ gave him a soft look. "Love you" JJ couldn't help but give a warm smile as she spoke "I love you too buddy." For now, JJ would let the love of her family wash over her and help heal her.

"What time is Amy's appointment?" JJ asked as she moved slightly, "3.30, Will you be okay here on your own Jen? Casey said she will be back around five" Emily said as she looked softly at her wife. JJ nodded as she looked across at her daughter. "Has she been asleep long?" Emily nodded "Since around ten"