A/n there are small spoilers for "Penelope" in this. It isn't really based on the episode. The pairing is JJ and Emily friendship.

My thanks to my readers for your support of this collection and your excellent feedback. Also... to my beta REIDFANATIC for her help and encouragement, you're the best my friend.

Disclaimer: nothing recognizable is mine no matter how much I want it to be!

Late night tests

It was amazing how much stress one little box could convey by just looking at it. It was rectangular, and pink and white cardboard. She'd seen them every time she'd come into the pharmacy, but buying one never entered the realm of possibility for her.

This is what happens when you're not careful Jennifer!

That voice was always so loud in her head after she'd done something stupid, like have mind-blowing sex with a teammate and forget about protection. Granted, she was supposed to be on the pill, but it looked like she fell into the category of the two percent of women that get pregnant on the pill. Why didn't that voice speak up before she screwed up, and make her behave?

Wait… we haven't determined that yet. You have to take the test, and after you get the results then you can freak out and start thinking about how you're going to tell -

"JJ… is that you?" A familiar voice from behind her asked, making her drop one of the three pregnancy tests she'd picked up. She froze and decided that if she didn't turn around her friend would go away. It wasn't to be.

"Hey JJ… imagine meeting you in here. I'm glad I'm not the only one that can't sleep. You know what they say about misery love -"

Emily had walked around her friend and when she saw the boxes in her hands she stopped, and seemed to be frozen in place with the strangest look on her face.

"Jennifer Jareau… Are those what I think they are?" She grabbed one out of her friend's hands, and held it out of the other woman's reach.

"Come on Emily, give it back." She reached for the box but the taller woman held it higher over her head.

"So… who's the lucky guy?" Emily asked failing to keep sober at the look on her friends face.

"This isn't funny. Give me the test!" JJ demanded, jumping up like a small dog after a tasty treat.

"Okay…. Don't get nervous!" She handed the test to JJ and the smaller woman piled all three of them into the little basket she carried.

"You've had your fun Emily. I'm in a hurry." JJ pushed past her friend and headed to the checkout stand.

"I'm sorry JJ. I didn't mean to tease, you just looked so horrified. What happened?"

"I should think it was clear." JJ said angrily.

"Well yeah… I get it. I take it this isn't good news." She hurried along after her friend, and despite her longer legs, had to work to keep up with the younger woman.

"Give the tall, skinny one a prize. Of course it isn't good news!" She snapped. They got to the checkout counter and walked right up to the woman manning it without waiting. It was a little after midnight.

The clerk was young, African American and plump, with wildly curling blond hair piled on her head. She was smirking at JJ while she rang up her purchases.

"Will that be all?"

"Yes…" JJ said through gritted teeth. She paid the woman and ignored the "Congratulations," the woman called after her was she walked out the door.

Emily ran to catch up with her. "JJ… Would you just stop?" She put a restraining hand on the other woman's shoulder.

"Leave me alone… please!"

"No… I can see you're very upset. Come on… I have a very comfortable pull out couch in my living room. Come stay with me. We'll do the tests together."

"I just want to be alone."

"No you don't… I can see how freaked out you are. Let me help you with this."

"Emily…"

"The longer we stand here arguing, the longer you have to wait to find out for sure."

JJ looked up at the night sky. It was so black and empty. She wished she could see just one star so she could wish on it like she had when she was a little girl.

A wish won't get you out of this one.

"JJ… you okay?"

"No… I'm not okay." Her voice was trembling and that just made her angry.

"Come back to my place…" Emily encouraged. JJ nodded and went to her car. She followed her friend to her home and got out of the car. Emily showed her the downstairs bathroom and waited outside while her friend did the tests.

JJ opened the door looking very shaky and pale to find Emily holding a couple of steaming mugs in her hands.

"I can't… if I am… it's not good for the baby."

"It's just mint tea. It won't hurt little Reid."

JJ glared up at her friend and then she began to cry. Emily led her over to the couch and pushed her down. "I'm sorry. I was just teasing you. I had no idea you and Reid were… you've hidden it well."

JJ laughed shakily through her tears. She took the Kleenex Emily handed her and blew her nose. She took a sip of her tea and sighed.

"We've been together since Georgia. He's the only one that understands the way I feel about that case and what happened afterward." She saw the look on Emily's face and tears began to fall again.

"I'm sorry Emily. I didn't mean that the way it came out. I didn't know you that well then, and well Reid is…"

Emily was absently stirring her tea, "I know… I was just taken off guard. Of course you'd be closer than any of us, it makes sense. I just hope you know I'm there for you no matter what happens."

JJ put down her cup and hugged her friend. "Of course… I'm glad you and I are friends. It's good to have a friend that's in the same line of work and can understand what you go through everyday."

"I agree… I can see why you and Reid would get close. I've seen how he looks at you. It's very sweet."

She began stirring her tea again and she grinned at her friend. "Now tell me how this happened. I want to know all the details. Is the good doctor good in bed?"

"Geez… Emily he's your friend too. How can you ask that?"

"I think you need to stop stalling and tell me all about it."

The buzzer sounded from the bathroom and JJ grinned, "Saved by the bell."

"Right… well the night is young." Emily shot back, putting her spoon in the cup and standing up.

"I can't look! You go and tell me." JJ begged. Her face was very pale.

"Come on JJ… I'll be standing right next to you."

"What if it's positive? What am I going to tell Spence?"

Emily took her hand and began pulling her toward the bathroom door. "You'll do what you have to do. Don't underestimate him JJ. He'll be there for you. He's a good man."

JJ pulled her hand out of Emily's and the other woman saw that JJ was crying again. "What is it?"

"What if it's negative?" Her doe eyes were full of fear and hope.

"Then you'll deal with that as well. You'll tell him and the both of you will be okay. If you can get through Georgia, you can do anything."

Emily opened the door to the bathroom and they went inside. Three tests were lined up on the counter. JJ had her eyes closed and Emily prodded her.

"Take a look." What JJ heard in her voice made her heart slam even harder in her chest?

"I can't look!"

"Yes… you can. You'll feel better… trust me."

JJ opened her eyes and saw three positive signs in front of her. When she'd left the apartment that night for the test she was angry with herself for letting her shooting of Garcia's attacker get to her. She'd been careless that night with Reid. She didn't blame him, he was very upset. Garcia was a very good friend and her shooting had been very hard for him to deal with. He knew what it was like to kill someone and even though he hadn't seen her pull the trigger, he was completely unnerved by what she had to do. They'd gone home that night and they'd been careless, letting their overwrought emotions rule their heads. Now she was scared, but strangely elated as well. Maybe everything would be okay.

"Sweetie, are you okay?" She heard Emily ask.

"Yeah… no… I don't know. I didn't think this is what I wanted, but now that it's true, I want this so badly. What if Spence doesn't, what if he's angry?"

Emily pulled her phone off her belt loop. "There's only one way to find out."

"I can't call him. It's almost one in the morning!"

"If you don't, I will."

"Fine… okay… I'll call him."

"You'll feel better I promise." Emily led her back out into the living room and their cooling cups of tea.

"I'll give you some privacy." She picked up the cups and took them into the kitchen. She started washing the cups and saucers, so she could ignore the murmur of JJ's voice on the phone.

"I'm going over to Spence's place. I can't tell him over the phone." JJ's voice came from the door way several minutes later.

"Okay honey… do you want a ride?"

"No… I'll be okay."

JJ approached Emily and gave her a hug. "Thanks… I couldn't have done this without you."

"No problem. Call me after you talk to him. I want to know what he says."

"I'll call you in the morning. It's late."

JJ left the kitchen and Emily watched her retrieve the tests and then she left. What she wouldn't give to be a fly on that wall!