Chapter 52
Location: Prentiss Household
Day & Time: Thursday, 17.59
Emily couldn't help laughing as hurried footfalls came down the hallway as they both walked in "Mama!" Henry hollered as Emily scoped him up in her arms. "Hey little man" JJ ran her fingers through his hair before running her fingers gently down Emily's arm.
Emily hadn't spoken much since they left the BAU, her mind was in over drive, she placed a kiss on Henry's brow. "I don't know what I'd do if something happened to him Jen" Emily whispered as she placed Henry back down. "I know darling, much like Emily she couldn't get the image of what they had found and what Emily had been made to do, her heart went out to Emily but the image of that little girl pulled at her heart more than anything.
The way she had clung to her reminded her so much of Amy, her darkened hair her hazel eyes screamed at her. No child should have been through what that little girl had. She looked sadly at Emily. "What is it Jen" Emily said as they made their way into the kitchen. "I can't get that little girl out of my head" JJ said as she started making them both a drink. "What do you think will happen to her?"
Emily gave her a weak smile "She will go into the care system like the rest and hopefully they will find her a home where she will be safe and looked after properly." Emily said as JJ passed her the mug of coffee. "She reminded me so much of Amy when she was little, scared of everyone and everything " Emily knew where this was going as she wrapped her arms tightly around JJ. "We can't Jen, as much as I'd love to we can't." Emily sighed, "I know just, it broke my heart Em, I looked at her and all I could see was Amy" "I know darling" Emily whispered as she held JJ closer.
Time: 20.58
The evening had been quite Henry was curled up in-between Emily and JJ, Amy had disappeared not long after dinner as she needed to get her homework done, "I think this little one needs to go to bed" JJ mused as she looked at his sleeping form. His head rested on Emily's lap, her fingers ran through his hair automatically. Emily nodded as she looked at JJ. "I think we all need to go to bed" Emily said softly. They both knew nightmares may plague them both tonight.
Emily laid in bed as she waited for JJ to join her in bed, her arm laid outside which would allow JJ to curl into her, JJ smiled as she got into bed she gladly curled into Emily her fingers running out the bump, "Em, are you thinking of leaving?" JJ asked. Emily sighed slightly "I don't know Jen, part of me wants to and then something like today makes me want to stay" Emily's fingers ran through JJ's hair.
"I do know I can never do an undercover assignment again, I'd rather turn in my badge" Emily said as she pulled JJ closer. "The other part of me thinks I've gone back too soon" Emily said sadly "I hate leaving them, I know you do as well Jen, but Amy was right in some of the things she said. I can't abandon my family ever again, it has ripped me in two." JJ placed a soft kiss on Emily chest.
"You have never abandoned this family Emily, "I was the one that spoke to Hotch about faking your death, and I'd do it again to keep you safe if I have to, and you being sent on an undercover mission wasn't your fault, no one blames you for what you have done, I don't blame you or think of you any differently. I know better than anyone that this has ripped you apart inside. You need to stop blaming yourself for everything that has happened these past few years." JJ said softly.
"You have this habit of blaming yourself when things go wrong and when people get hurt Em" JJ said. "If I hadn't been sent on that undercover operation" Emily took a deep breath as she tried to suppress her emotions. "Don't go there darling, I don't blame you for any of this" JJ said softly.
Time: 04.32
Emily woke with a start, her eyes adjusted to the dim light which shone through the curtains, JJ was still curled into her side, and Emily couldn't help but smile as her wife slept peacefully in her arms, she knew it wasn't JJ that had ripped her out of her slumber and there were no extra bodies in the bed. There was nothing, no noise, no crying, just the silence that came with the early morning. The birds were chirping outside everything was peaceful though it didn't explain why she was ripped out of her slumber.
Time: 07.01
By the time JJ had stirred Emily was already downstairs making breakfast for everyone as she wasn't able to settle back down. "Hey" JJ said as she walked into the kitchen, Emily couldn't help but chuckle as she looked at JJ, who had yet to change out of her nightwear, her hair told the tell tails signs that she had not long since woken.
"Good morning sweetheart" Emily said as she placed the plates on the breakfast bar. "How long have you been up?" JJ asked as she took a seat her hands wrapping around the warm mug of coffee. "A few hours" JJ frowned "Couldn't sleep?" she asked carefully. "I couldn't get back to sleep" Emily mused. "How are you feeling this morning?" JJ asked as she took a good mouthful of coffee. "Okay I guess still pondering what I should do" Emily said with a half-smile."
"Give it time darling, I can understand you wanting to quit but I also know you love this job as much as I do" JJ said just as Amy walked in. "Morning Amy mumbled as she walked over to JJ "Morning princess" JJ said as she wrapped her arm around her pulling her close. "Where's Henry?" Amy asked, she had been in his bedroom only to find he wasn't there, he had checked her Mom's bedroom only to come up blank. Emily smile "In the den" Amy nodded as Emily passed her a glass of oj.
"Have you got everything you need for school?" Emily asked as she made her way into the den. "Yeah, Ma" Amy said as Henry climbed onto her lap. Amy chuckled slightly "Can I take him with me" she teased as she tickled his stomach. Emily laughed slightly, "I doubt your class would get anything done" Amy smirked as she continued to tickle him. "Don't be too long Amy, the bus will soon be here, and Mom and I have to go to work" Emily said as she gave them both a kiss. "Have a good day Ma" Amy said just as JJ walked into to say goodbye. "We should be home around seven" JJ said as she kissed Henry on his cheek.
Location: BAU
Time: 08.13
"How is it that we set off later than we meant to yet we still beat everyone else in" Emily mused as JJ refilled the coffee pot. "Because I drive us in every morning" JJ teased "Also I want to get this report written up as soon as possible" JJ said as she handed Emily a mug of de-caff "Thanks" Emily said as though the wind had been knocked out of her. "Besides you have a few more consults to do" JJ said as she looked at the files she had placed on Emily's desk before the last case.
Morgan had come in to the bullpen, his eyes scanned for Emily, he smiled seeing her concentrating on the file in front of her, he slowly made his way over to her. "You okay Prentiss?" he asked giving a gentle smile, she nodded before she looked at him "Are we okay?" she asked, he smiled at her. "As far as I know or did I miss something" he said before taking a seat at his own desk. "Emily quit beating yourself up" he said as he pulled out the first case file. "Not that easy" Emily mumbled as she turned her attention back to the file in front of her.
Reid finally made his way in; he seemed to shy away from Emily not even looking at her as he place his brown satchel under his desk. "You okay kiddo?" Morgan asked Reid nodded before he pulled the form out so he could write his report up. He still hadn't acknowledged Emily, he was confused and part of him was hurt. How could she have done such things he thought he knew her, but just like when they found out about Ian Doyle he felt betrayed as though he had been shut out yet again. He couldn't trust her; she had kept this hidden from them all she had kept each one in the dark as though she could no longer trust them. How could a mother do that to a child let alone all the children she had smuggled in trapping them in cages as though they were wild animals each one chained unable to move fully.
Emily looked over at him, she could see the hurt in his face, she closed her eyes slightly before looking back at the consult, Morgan may be okay with her but she knew Reid was hurt maybe he blamed her and that was fine to Emily because she blamed herself as well. If Reid wanted to freeze her out that was fine as well. He was allowing her to submit to the guilt she felt inside. Nothing was going to be the same between them now.
