So this one's nearly twice as long as the last one. Yay. There'll only be a few more chapters where Emily is pregnant, and then the big day comes. Another yay.
Thanks again to all my reviewers!
Chapter Thirty Seven
''Emily just let me take it for you!'' JJ shouted.
''No! I can take my own go-bag! I don't need help!'' Emily shouted back as she dodged JJ yet again. JJ had been trying all day to let her take her go-bag for Emily since they finished the case, but Emily wanted to do things by herself. JJ was over-reacting, she could carry a bag full of clothes. It wasn't like there was bricks in it or anything.
''But you're pregnant! You could...damage the baby by holding heavy objects!''
''There's four shirts and five pairs of pants in here! How is that heavy?''
''Hey I know for a fact that you have deodorent in there!''
''It's half full!''
''Still! It's heavy!''
''I could lift it with one finger!''
''No you couldn't!''
''Look JJ we're nearly at my car now, just leave it ok?''
''I will not leave it! I just want the best for my niece! Her mother should be relaxing, not carrying heavy loads!''
''JJ the heaviest thing I'm carrying IS the baby! You can't carry that for me!''
''I would if I could...''
''Ugh JJ stop! You're freaking me out!'' Emily grimaced, as Morgan started laughing next to her. ''It's not funny Morgan!'' she shouted as she slapped him.
''It is! Your fights are hilarious! JJ going crazy and your hormones going into overdrive makes for some good watching! We should record you and make a TV show! We'd make millions!'' he laughed as both Emily and JJ glared at him.
''I do not over-react!'' protested JJ.
''Yeah you do! And then Emily goes mad at you, and if I'm honest JJ I don't know how you're alive! I thought Emily would have killed you ages ago!''
''Oh believe me I'm close to doing that,'' Emily said through gritted teeth.
''Emily you wouldn't kill me! You wouldn't have your baby growing up without her aunt!'' JJ smiled and threw an arm around Emily's shoulders.
''If you say aunt one more time JJ I swear I will kill you!'' Emily threatened.
''No you won't...''
''Wanna try me?''
''Not really...''
''Then stop saying that word. Please JJ.''
''Ok, but I still get to say niece!''
''Oh this is HILARIOUS. And you know what the best part is? The two of you will be best friends again in a minute, then on to lesbian lovers, fighting again, best friends, lesbians, you have a cycle!'' Morgan laughed.
''We are not lesbians!'' JJ roared, poking Morgan with her finger.
''You sure act like it! Right Rossi?'' Morgan asked, turning to the older profiler.
''I just took it for feminine bonding,'' the Italian answered.
''Oh they were bonding alright,'' Morgan winked. Both Emily and JJ smacked him but he just laughed it off. ''You know the whole bullpen thinks you're having an affair? The things the two of you shout out, it really makes people think you're doing it.''
''I know, I keep getting looks from people. And it's all HER fault!'' Emily exclaimed, pointing to JJ.
''You do it too!'' JJ cried.
''You're worse!''
''Ok we're both bad! But still, you are the worst JJ!''
''That's just because I'm louder!''
''If Emily wasn't pregnant they would be rolling around on the floor having a catfight,'' Rossi whispered to Morgan.
''Oh damn yeah, now THAT would be hot,'' Morgan smirked as he watched Emily and JJ bicker animatedly.
''Hey that's your co-workes you're talking about Derek.''
''I know, but still. Wouldn't it be hot to watch the two of them tearing the hair out of each other?''
''I think of Emily as a daughter, that would be...weird.''
''Oh yeah I forgot about that 'bond' you have with her. Well whatever you think Rossi I think it would be hot, and damn hot too.''
''Rachel would be an adorable middle name! '' JJ squealed. They had obviously moved on to step two of the cycle.
''Jennifer Rachel...maybe. Jennifer's kind of a long name, maybe we should pick something shorter...,'' Emily mused, furrowing her brow as she thought.
''Hmm...Jennifer Erin!'' JJ shouted, quite proud of herself.
''Are you serious JJ?''
''Yeah...what's wrong with Erin?''
''ERIN STRAUSS!''
''Ooh yeah, better not go with Erin then...''
''No kidding. James was thinking Jane...''
''After our sister. That's sweet of him, it really is, but Jennifer Jane...oh my god you could call her JJ!''
''Maybe not then...''
''You should do it! We'd have the same first name, same nickname, same eyes, same hair, she'll be a mini-me!''
''Oh god no.''
''What's wrong with that? I'd love to have a little clone!''
''No JJ no! My baby will not be your clone! My dark hair and eyes will probably win over James', and your, blue eyes and blond hair, so the baby will have dark hair and brown eyes.''
''NOOOOOOOO! SHE HAS TO HAVE MY EYES AND HAIR!''
''But...but you said a while back that you wanted the baby to have my eyes!''
''I changed! I want a clone!''
''If you want a clone have your own daughter!''
''They skipped the lesbian part,'' Morgan remarked. ''Damn I was looking forward to that.''
''Aren't you lucky the walk back to the carpark from the jet is so long? Once they get over that small fight it will be back on to baby names and you might get some action then,'' Rossi winked at him.
''Damn I hope so. They haven't done anything like that in a while.''
''Morgan you're a pig.''
''Ok fine. Maybe it would be a BIT wierd if the baby looked exactly like me Em, but still wouldn't it be cute?''
''It would be, but realistically she'll have my hair and eyes. The colour is more dominant.''
''I know, I know, but still somehow the baby might have light hair or blue eyes. You always hear of those cases where the baby has a completely different hair colour to the parents. I'm just saying it's possible.''
''It is possible actually. Since James has the recessive blond gene then it's very possible that he passed it on to your baby Emily. The baby has half of both your DNA, and while it's more likely that the baby will have your hair it is possible for her to have blond hair,'' Reid interrupted them.
''See! And what about eye colour Reid?'' JJ asked him.
''It'd possible for the baby to have blue eyes all depends on the amount of melanin present, and the baby might actually be born with blue eyes that change to brown. A child carries two copies of the same gene, one from the mother and one from the father. These two versions of genes are called alleles and some alleles in each pairing are more dominant over the other. In case of the genes that control eye colour, a brown allele is dominant over a blue allele, but a child may inhereit the recessive gene from from either or both parents. So it's very possible for your child to have blue eyes.''
''Thank you Spence! So Emily you never know, our baby might me a mini-me after all!''
''Our baby?''
''I mean your baby...''
It was back to work the next day at the BAU. Strauss had said they could have no more cases for the week, which was good as they were all still tired from the last one, but no cases meant paperwork. And a lot of it.
Everyone was in a bad mood doing their paperwork, they had gotten back late last night and didn't get enough sleep. Even once they went home Emily and JJ were still arguing over the phone, driving Will and James insane. And now at work they were still discussing baby names, but thankfully the conversation wasn't heated. It was still giving the rest of them a headache though.
''Damn Strauss anyway. She just had to be called Erin!'' JJ swore. She had gotten to like the sound of Jennifer Erin, but there was no way Emily would call the baby after their dragon of a section chief.
''Yeah it's all her fault, JJ get over it. It's not a great name,'' Emily said calmly, trying to bring some sense back into the blond who was perched on her desk.
''I like it! Hmm...ooh what about you have the middle name as the baby's star sign?'' JJ suggested.
''JJ horoscopes are a bunch of gibberish.''
''You mightn't believe them but I do.''
''But in case you hadn't noticed JJ, you're not the baby's mother.''
''Pity...the due date is around March right? Early March is...Pisces. Jennifer Pisces.''
''No way.''
''It's cute!''
''It's not! And what if it wasn't March? Imagine Jennifer Sagittarius or Jennifer Cancer.''
''Oh that's cute! Well Jennifer Cancer isn't...''
''It's like damning to her to a life of sickness.''
''But luckily she isn't going to have the Cancer sign and we can call her Jennifer Pisces!''
''JJ no! I'm not calling her Jennifer Pisces!''
''It's cute!''
''It's NOT! Think of something else.''
''Jennifer...Virgo?''
''Something that ISN'T a star sign,'' Emily glared.
''Fine, what about Jennifer Rose?''
''Jennifer Rose...I like it. See isn't that much better than Jennifer Pisces?''
''No, but you want an ordinary name.''
''I want a normal name! I don't want my daughter to be a freak!''
''She won't be! She'll be unique!''
''JJ she's already unique! She doesn't have to be called the weirdest name on the planet to be special!''
''Ok, ok! I'll stop with the horoscopes! How about Jennifer Ann?''
''Maybe...I prefer Jennifer Rose though.''
''Me too, but I would prefer-''
''Don't say it,'' Emily said through gritted teeth.
''I was going to say Jennifer Dawn.''
''Oh that's nice,'' Emily smiled, all traces of anger she felt disappearing. Morgan was stupefied. He could never understand how they could go from friends to anger back to friends again.
''It is isn't it? If Henry was a girl I was going to call him Dawn. I always loved that name.''
''It's nice. Jennifer Dawn...I can see it. It sounds nice, but would James like it?''
''You know Henry's middle name Dean? Will hated it, but I got him round to my way of thinking,'' JJ winked, nudging Emily with her shoulder.
''No! I'm not using sex as a weapon! I want the two of us to like the name JJ!''
''Fine! It was just a suggestion!''
Morgan looked up from his report to glare at the two women who were giving him a headache. Unfortunately they were facing away from him so they couldn't see his glare. He was about to look down again when he saw something, or rather someone, out of the corner of his eye.
''Uh Emily? I think there's someone here for you,'' he said, pointing over to her visitor. Emily turned around to look at Morgan and looked to where he pointed. She turned back around and was shocked by who she saw.
'''Ello love.''
''M..Mick?'' she questioned, completely shocked to see the Brit on front of her..
''Yep, Mick Rawson in all his glory,'' he smirked. ''So love, how about a kiss?''
''Whoa whoa whoa. Slow down limey. What did you say?'' JJ hissed.
''Limey? That's offensive. I'm hurt,'' Mick smiled, placing his hand over his heart for effect.
''JJ he was kidding,'' Emily stated.
''He better be...''
''So gorgeous, I haven't seen you in a while. I've missed seeing your beautiful face,'' he flirted as he began to move forward but the look on JJ's face stopped him.
''I've been fine Agent Rawson,'' Emily replied.
''I can see. Why don't you stand up and give me a hug? Or I could go down to you.''
''Nah. I don't need a hug.''
''Yeah you do. You miss me and I'll be in a meeting with one of your superiors. I'll be waiting,'' he winked and left for his meeting.
''That arrogant Cockney bastard!'' JJ cursed and leapt off the desk. ''Does he not realise that you are in a committed relationship? Or that you have a baby on the way?''
''I don't think so, I'm sitting down and the bump is hidden by the desk,'' Emily answered, although she sensed it might have been a rhetorical question.
''He's a profiler! He should have noticed it!''
''JJ he doesn't have x-ray vision.''
''He sure acts like he does! The nerve of him coming onto you after you said you didn't want to go out with him!''
''Well...''
''Well? WELL? What is the meaning of this WELL?'' JJ asked angrily.
''I might have called him...''
''EMILY!''
''You told me to!''
''Yeah well...well...no I didn't!''
''You did! You practically begged me to go out with him! And I did!''
''Wait, you didn't just call him, you WENT OUT WITH HIM?''
''Yeah...''
''Why do I get the feeling that there's more to this?'' JJ inquired, placing her hands on her hips.
''Because there is...''
''Explain Ms Prentiss,'' JJ demanded, a firey look in her eyes.
''Well we might have went out more than once...''
''Emily!''
''And maybe kissed...''
''Emily!''
''And maybe..slept...together...''
''EMILY! HOW COULD YOU DO THAT?''
''You told me to!''
''I told you to call him! I didn't tell you to actually go out with him, or to date him, or to kiss him, or to sleep with him!''
''Keep your voice down JJ,'' Emily hissed. JJ was too angry to notice.
''And now he thinks he can come back for a repeat performance! The nerve of him!''
''Look JJ we only did it once, and while it was good it didn't feel right so I ended things there.''
''How does that make you look? It makes you look like a slut Em!''
''I'm not a slut! I explained to him what I felt and he was ok with it!''
''Yet he come back here flirting with you! It's clearly not water under the bridge with you two!''
''It is! He's just a natural flirt! He'd flirt with a dog!''
''But you're a flirt too! Em, this isn't good! I have to let him know you're unavailable!''
''JJ no!'' But it was too late. JJ was already gone, and Emily felt really sorry for Mick in that moment.
JJ stormed through the hallways trying to find Mick Rawson. There was no way he was going near Emily, not when she was with James. She walked around in circles for ages until she finally saw him leaving an office on the fifth floor. He set off in the other direction and JJ ran after him.
''MICK RAWSON GET BACK HERE!''
Mick turned around and JJ was directly in front of him, invading his personal space. ''Ello Blondie. To what do I owe the pleasure?'' he smiled in his annoying British accent she found so appealing a few months ago.
''Stay away from Emily Prentiss,'' she threatened, staring deep into his eyes and wishing she was a few inches taller so she'd be more intimidating.
''Whoa back off, I never knew she played for the other team,'' he said, backing a few inches away.
''Other team? What...no! I'm not with her!''
''Then who is Blondie?''
''First of all, stop calling me Blondie. Second, it doesn't matter, what does matter is that she's pregnant.''
''She's pregnant and you won't tell me who she's with...methinks she doesn't know who the father is,'' he smirked with an evil glint in his eye.
''She does know who the father is!''
''But he abandoned her didn't he? I always wanted a family...''
''No no no no no! She doesn't need you, she DOES know who the father is, she IS with him, and she doesn't want you! She is perfectly happy without you! She's better than perfect, she's...she's...great!''
''Ok...I don't believe you. I think that Emily is lonely and needy, her boyfriend left her when she needed him most, she needs someone to be there for her. You don't want me near her because you're secretly in love with her and you're hoping that one day she'll realise you've been there for her all along.''
''No! Well some of it is true, but most of it isn't! She's in a perfectly happy relationship! Stay away Rawson!''
''I'd like to find out for myself thanks. Now I'm off to see Emily,'' he winked, leaving JJ standing on the spot absolutely fuming. She followed him back to the bullpen and found that he had just beaten her to Emily. He was talking to her and she was laughing. Not good.
She stalked over to them and lodged herself in between Mick and Emily. ''What did I say Rawson?''
''I don't know. What did you say Blondie?'' he asked, mimicking her tone to annoy her.
''I told you to keep away from her Rawson. She's off the market.''
''Thanks for making me sound like a piece of meat JJ,'' Emily remarked.
''That wasn't what I meant. What I meant was that this annoying, Cockney, arrogant pr-''
''JJ.''
''Is coming on to you when you're in a relationship. She doesn't want to be with you Rawson so sling your hook and get out,'' JJ demanded, the fiery look back in her eyes.
''Can't. I've another meeting in an hour. Might as well stick around,'' he smiled and went back to talking to Emily.
''Get out Rawson. I have a gun and I'm not afraid to use it.''
''Empty threats. You wouldn't hurt me, I'm too loveable,'' he smirked.
''Don't think that I wouldn't.''
''Face it Blondie, Emily and I are talking.''
JJ hissed and stalked back to her office. She pulled out her cellphone and called James. ''James? Yeah I need you to get down here. And quick!''
JJ hung up on her end of the line leaving James very confused. His initial reaction was that Emily was hurt, but if she was JJ would sound hysterical, not angry. It was obviously something else, her tone told him that. He was spending too much time with Emily.
He decided to go anyway, he didn't want to face JJ afterwards if it was serious. He drove to the BAU and thankfully it was the same security guard so he was let in straight away. He took the elevator to the BAU floor and JJ was waiting there for him, much to his surprise.
''Hey Jen what's the big deal? Is something wrong with Emily?'' he asked, seeing the look on JJ's face. The last time he had seen her this mad was when he first found out Emily and JJ already knew each other.
''Yeah there is. Him,'' JJ answered, pointing to a guy inside the bullpen.
''A guy is her problem?''
''That guy is her ex...sleep partner.''
''Meaning she slept with him?''
''Yep.''
''And now they're talking?''
''She's talking, he's flirting.''
''I'm going to kill him.''
JJ and James walked back into the bullpen, identical expression on their faces. Emily saw James and smiled. She waved at him and gestured for him to come over. He walked over angrily with JJ at his side and glared at Mick. ''James hi! What are you doing here?'' Emily smiled.
''JJ called me to come in...who the hell is he?'' he asked, pointing to Mick.
''JJ called you? Oh I get it. James this is Mick Rawson, an...old friend of mine. Mick this is James Slade, my boyfriend.''
''Oh so he does exist. I thought you were faking it gorgeous,'' Mick smirked and held out his hand for James to shake.
James didn't shake his hand, he just glared at him. ''Back away Rawson, I mean it,'' he spat.
''James calm down,'' Emily said quietly.
''Whoa ok. I was just having a little fun, no need to get all protective...hey you and Blondie look alike,'' Mick noticed as he looked between the two.
''That 'Blondie' is my sister, and I suggest that you leave her alone too.''
''Ah I see why you were so protective now Blondie. Well seeing as I'm not wanted here, I'll be off Em,'' he winked, and turned to walk away.
James and JJ both relaxed a little and JJ sighed, but then Mick turned back and said ''You ever want a real man gorgeous you know where to find me.''
That was the last thing James needed to hear. This guy was hitting on his girlfriend right in front of him and now he practically propositioned her? That was it. This guy had it coming.
James walked up to him and punched him with all his strength, causing him to fall against one of the desks. James flexed his sore knuckles, but they weren't that sore. He took kickboxing, he knew how to punch properly.
Mick felt his sore jaw before launching at James, pushing him back against one of the desks. He swung his fist but James dodged it, and pushed Mick off him. Morgan jumped up to stop the fight while Emily and JJ screamed at them to stop. JJ ushered Emily out of the way so she wouldn't be hit, and watched as Morgan dived in to stop the fight which was getting more intense as fists started flying everywhere.
He pulled Mick off James but the damage was already done. Mick had a bloody nose and a sore jaw, while James had a few cuts on his face. Morgan took Mick out of the bullpen while Emily and JJ rushed to James.
''What the hell? Why did you do that? He's an agent James, an AGENT! You just beat up a federal agent!'' Emily screamed at him.
''He hit me too,'' he answered gruffly, tending to his sore eye.
''You started it. You just better hope he doesn't press charges.''
''He won't.''
''You don't know that. You're lucky most people were gone to lunch, what the hell were you thinking?''
''He came on to you Em. Right on front of me.''
''You still acted incredibly stupid. James you could be in a lot of trouble.''
''I don't care, I was protecting you.''
''I can protect myself. I was just humouring him, I wouldn't go near him again James. I'm with you, I wouldn't betray you.''
''I know you wouldn't, there's just something about that Cockney bastard that is so annoying.''
''It's the accent isn't it?'' JJ asked.
''Yeah, hey do you have any ice? He got a good punch in just above my eye,'' James asked as he winced from the pain.
''We'll take you down to Garcia office. She has some first aid stuff in her office. We might want to have a look at your shoulder too, you fell on it pretty hard,'' JJ said and her and Emily took James to Garcia's office.
''Enter mere mortals,'' Garcia called out from her office.
''Pen we need your first aid supplies. There was an...incident,'' JJ said.
''Sure, come on in, was anyone hurt?'' Garcia asked as she opened the door. ''Oh my lord someone beat you up bad,'' she remarked as she saw James.
''Nothing I can't handle,'' he said as Emily took him in. JJ started telling Garcia the story while Emily cleaned up James' cuts and got ice for his eye.
''You'll have a black eye tomorrow,'' she said as she wiped some blood away.
''No big deal. I'm pretty sure I got him more than he got me.''
''That's nothing to be proud of. Take your shirt off, I want to see this shoulder.''
James did as he was told and Garcia's eyes nearly popped out of her head when she saw him. ''OMG JJ your brother is HOT!'' she whispered as she leered at him.
''Pen stop that. It's bad enough having one friend lust after him, we can't have you too,'' JJ replied.
''I can't help it, it's the abs...''
''Garcia stop. That is my brother and Emily's boyfriend.''
''You mean you don't find him hot?''
''He's my brother!''
''Still, do you think he's hot?''
''Well...maybe a little bit...''
James winced as Emily pulled a thumbtack out of his shoulder. ''How did you manage to get a thumbtack in there?'' she asked.
''It must have been when he pushed me against the desk. I'm fine Em, I don't need anymore help.''
''I think I've got everything. I'm still incredibly mad at you, but your safety comes first. Are you sure you're alright?''
''I'm fine Sparkles, there is no need to worry about me. He should be the one worrying. That first punch was a good one,'' he smirked. Emily smacked him on the shoulder. ''What was that for?''
''You're such a guy.''
''Well duh.''
''You have to solve everything with your fists. Every single one of you, well except Reid.''
''Em the guy came on to you, you can't blame on to me.''
''I don't really, I should have told him where to shove it,'' she said as she rested her hands on his shoulders.
''It is not your fault. The guy wouldn't go away, so I stepped in. I'm sorry Em,'' he apologised as he slipped his hands around her waist and rested her head against her chest.
''I can't stay mad at you, just make sure to control your temper from now on,'' she said as she rubbed circles on his back.
''I will. Do you think your boss will be mad at me?''
''Let's just hope he doesn't find out.''
''Yeah, again Em, I'm sorry,'' he said as he looked up and stared into her dark eyes.
''Just forget about it ok? The sooner we can forget about Mick Rawson the better,'' she smiled as she leaned down and kissed him softly. ''Anyway he wasn't half as good in bed as you are.''