Sorry for the mahoossive delay on the update. It's just a short one, and rather wordy, just to see if you are still here for this. Just picked this up again and trying to get back into it.
*My apologies for any language or cultural differences, I am not from the US and I do not own Criminal Minds…..blah….blah!
I will be ignoring JJs confession in the last ep of season 14. As should the world. As much as I love JJ, Reid deserves better than that storyline.
I will also not be including much, if anything, from season 15.
Guest reviewer: I know the Prentiss/JJ rescue was off. I have never written a scene like that or really know much about it. My apologies. And I am just posting as I write so I am not allowing for research or rewrites and if JJ can fuck up like that in the first episode of s15…who knows!
...
The four women of the BAU sat in relative silence on the drive back from Sierra Sullivan's funeral. Emily was driving with Tara in the passenger seat and the 2 blondes in the back. The guys had took the jet back to Quantico on Saturday. It was now Monday afternoon and the female agents had opted to stay on for the service and, with the exception of Agent Prentiss, had finished up their official case business 2 days ago. They were all glad they had stayed. It was an amazing service for a seemingly wonderful woman.
Emily had been confined to the makeshift office to finish up the case report and give her statements regarding the internal investigation brought against Officer Maddox. He was on the mend but would never be a police officer again.
Garcia, Tara and JJ had taken Marjory Banks up on her offer of being their official tour guide for the weekend. The 3 agents had even stayed over at her house. When Marjory had suggested it both Garcia and Tara had politely refused but JJ thought it was a great idea and talked them round. Tara had found this very out of character for Agent Jareau but she believed she knew why she didn't want to stay at the hotel.
Tara had observed Emily and JJ quite carefully since they emerged from apartment that Matt had shot Tasker Mackenzie in through the window. They had appeared definitely closer than ever before, standing or sitting beside each other at every opportunity and Tara had witnessed on more than one occasion the dopey grins and glances they gave each other and the sly wandering hands over arms and around waists. Add this to the fact both of them actively avoided being alone together without another member of the team present, Tara knew she had two friends struggling to keep their feelings for each other at bay and both of them knew how each other felt. But professionalism and apprehension was at the forefront just now.
"How is the Maddox paperwork going boss lady?" Garcia broke Tara's thoughts and the silence from the back.
Emily let out a small sigh from the drivers seat and gave a slight turn of her head to acknowledge her friend and colleague "It's was a lot of work but its been made easier by the fact Maddox is complying and taking full responsibility for his actions….or lack thereof" She shrugged her shoulders "He's a good guy who just fucked up badly….he will get the book thrown at him…but it will be a light and fluffy book….probably compulsory early retirement on half pension"
"That seems a bit light considering he possibly could have prevented a lot of what happened here if he was a better cop" JJ spat out.
Tara joined in "Yeah….but I'm guessing there are a lot of men with a lot of money invested in this place for it to be any bigger than that. No scandal here".
"Yup" Was all Emily could say to that and silence descended over the friends once more.
Garcia slid across the back seat and leaned in on JJ who instinctively raised her arm and wrapped it around her shoulders.
The tech geek was sobbing lightly "I can't stop thinking about the way these women died. Their last thoughts. And the pain. And the fear. And the agony. And the fear. And the..."
"Pen...honey...don't do that…uh uh" Tara cut Garcia off as she was starting to ramble through her tears. "Come back to the light...we ain't losing you to that bastard too" Tara spoke with genuine concern.
"I know…I know….I'm not going anywhere…but still…it's a horrible way to go ain't it?" Garcia sat up from the side of JJ "When I get off this merry-go-round we call life I hope it's a lot easier than that….peaceful you know?"
The other three agents nodded in agreement but stayed silent.
'Nope' Tara thought to herself 'This is a nope' She didn't want her friends to go down this road just now. "I don't think there is a good way to get off Garcia…...unless you know...…it's in the shower at work…. that right Emily?"
Two simultaneous sharp intakes of breath came from the back seat, then silence.
It took all Emily's resolve not to slam down hard on the brakes. Her face shot scarlet and she was expelling air from her wide grin trying to keep as calm as possible. "Penelope Garcia…I….I….I am going to kiiiiilllll you. Do you understand this. And it wont be peaceful….you have my word on that" The Unit Chief was laughing all through her words.
"oh..oh...oh...I'm sorry...I'm sorry" Garcia was feigning agitation in the back seat. Her arms animated in the air and trying not to laugh "I was just concerned about JJs new phone...honest boss"
JJ started to sink down the faux leather seat beside her. Her hands going up to cover her face. She was mortified.
"If I didnt love you Penelope Garcia I would fire you. That's a privacy breach you know" Emily was trying to be as serious as possible even although her face was burning and her elevated heartbeat was causing her breathing to be a bit erratic from sheer embarrassment. All the while trying to concentrate on the road. "And you! Lewis...dont think I'm finished with you either" She said with a side glance at her friend.
"Hahahaha...bring it Prentiss...I..." Tara replied and was then cut short by some mumbling from the back seat "What was that JJ?" She said after she couldn't make out what the blonde said.
"Technsidlitsnotshskspsosidusyshmfitshmhmhmphpnf" Came the response.
"Ummm...could you say that again but maybe take your hands away from your face" Tara asked as she turned as far around as she could in the front seat.
JJ sighed and removed her hands. "I said technically its not a privacy breach as its a works phone".
Tara and Garcia laughed and JJ joined them.
"Oh well that's fucking lovely Jareau" Emily huffed. "You are aware they read both our messages right? Who's side are you on?...and we are here….so enough" She turned off the SUV engine and got out slamming the door and just stood pretending to stretch her legs.
The 3 other women just looked from one and other. "Is she actually mad at us?" Penelope asked meekly.
"Not sure" Tara replied "let's go"
The 3 colleagues exited the vehicle and went to gather beside their Unit Chief.
Emily hadnt intended on slamming the door. She hadnt intended on snapping at them either. It had been an emotional day and her anxiety had taken over. She had known Tara and Garcia meant no harm. It was a bit fun and she didnt mind the fact they read her messages or know the content. But when she heard JJs voice she panicked at the thought of her being embarrassed about it. Her stomach had dropped at the sudden thought of JJ regretting their little text exchange. And in the blink of an eye that had snowballed in her mind to having imagined everything and the beautiful blonde wasnt embarrassed at all and just mock flirting as always. Just playing with her. The exact moment you believe, real or imagined, the people around you are laughing at you and not with you, can suck the air from your lungs. And she needed to breathe again. She began to walk towards the police station entrance without waiting on the rest.
"Guess she is mad huh?" Garcia said as they watched her go.
...
Tara and JJ were helping Garcia dismantle her workstations. All four of them. And by helping Garcia thought that they actually weren't.
"Look...ladies...I've got this. No touchy the goods please" Garcia had her arms in the air again waving cables in their faces. "Go...shoo"
They were all slightly on edge from the way the car ride ended and they hadn't seen Emily again since they entered the building.
"Fine Pen...but we have to be at the airport in 2 hours" JJ ran her hands through her hair "get a move on".
Tara leaned back on the desk as she placed some equipment down. "So...I guess Emily is finishing up her paperwork then" She looked up sheepishly at JJ who was standing with her arms across her chest holding herself "I'm sorry Jayj. I never meant to...do...whatever it was I did. Just tried to lighten the mood"
"I know...I know. I don't know what that was about" JJ replied.
Garcia stopped faffing and turned to the other blonde agent "Oh...I think you doooo..miss Jeauroooo...Me and LewLew here are completely down with what's happening between you and the Dark One. Honestly...we are...but if you want to be with her you need to be..." Garcia held out her hand to count on her fingers "honest, direct, open, forthright and dominant..." she held up a finger as she saw JJ was going to speak "but...you also need to be discreet, submissive, stoic, reserved and...tactful. She is a complicated lady. I hope you can herd jellyfish"
"What?" JJ looked from Tara to Garcia and back again.
"You know what I mean Jennifer" Garcia stood with her hand now on her hips.
"Wow...Jennifer is it?" JJ smiled "but yeah...I do"
"Don't let her run away Jayj" Tara added
"I wont...and thanks guys" JJ scooped Garcia into a hug "we really should be heading to the airport soon you know".
...
Sorry about the length….Should I continue?