……………………….
Emily had fallen asleep a while ago, but JJ was lying completely awake in her bed. She knew there was no chance of getting any sleep so she just stayed there staring at the ceiling.
She heard her phone ding in her nightstand. It was midnight who could possibly be texting her; if it was hotch than Emily would have gotten it too.
She grabbed her phone, squinting her eyes at the sudden light and saw it was from Luke. Luke had been JJ best friend since they were born, their houses were right next to each other growing up so they were always around each other.
The text read, (come outside, your gonna want good shoes)
JJ immediately got up and as quickly and as quietly as she could changed into a pair of jeans and a flannel, she wasn't sure why he told her to go outside but JJ trusted him. Pulling on a pair of boots, she grabbed a backpack she always took on the jet with her, before she left the room she wrote Emily a short note reading (I'm fine, I'll be back at the station by 9:00) and with that she silently left her room.
She tip toed through the house and out the door into the cold winter air. She felt like a teenager sneaking out again.
"I knew you'd come" a familiar voice said startling JJ
JJ whipped her head around to see a figure standing by a bench "Luke!!!" She shouted and broke out in a run towards him.
Luke caught JJ in a hug and picked her up spinning her around.
"Your here, I can feel you" JJ said shocked. JJ hadn't seen Luke in over two years, sure they talked everyday, but there's nothing like seeing someone in person.
"I am, I heard you were here and knew I had to come" he said with one hand on JJs shoulder
"Wait a second, how did you know I was here" she questioned "I got here like, 6 hours ago and you live 5 hours away"
"Well I got the news through the grape vine almost the second you got here, so I got changed, packed a small bag and hopped in the car" he explained
"You didn't have to come back" JJs voice was suddenly quiet
"Your not going through this alone" Luke assured, pulling JJ in for another hug.
"I've missed you" the blonde agent said. "I really did"
"Ditto"
JJ wasn't sure how long they stood there, it couldn't have been too long because after a while Luke's stomach growled out loud causing both of them to pull away and laugh.
"I guess we should go get some food" JJ said chuckling "and you know what's right here" she suggested with a smirk
"I like your thinking, lead the way" Luke said matching her smirk.
JJ grabbed Luke's hand out of habit and they started walking along a sidewalk next to a fence that separated woods from town, it went on for as for as the eye could see. They continued walking for a while, and stopped when they reached a streetlight whose light was out. In fact it hadn't been on since JJ and Luke were in 2nd grade.
"You think I can still do it" Luke asked
"I'm sure you can after how much we used to do it, at this point it's probably muscle memory" JJ said climbing on top of the base of the streetlight. "I'm gonna do it"
JJ grabbed a small bar sticking out the side of the streetlight, and hoisted herself self up so one foot was standing on the bar. Taking a deep breath she jumped off towards the fence catching a branch and swinging on it and successfully getting herself over the fence before landing in the dirt.
"You good" asked Luke from the other side of the fence
"Yup, it's your turn by the way the branch I grabbed is pretty strong so you should be fine" JJ examined her hands, there was a sharpe piece of bark that had unfortunately cut her hand up pretty deep. Fortunately for Luke it had also stuck itself in JJs hand which meant he wouldn't get cut on it.
Half a moment later Luke landed next to JJ with a thud, he then noticed the blood on JJs hand.
"Hold on let me grab the first ad kit" he said digging through his own backpack. He pulled out a small box and pulled the wood of JJs hand. JJ winced at the pain of the wood being pulled out of her, but Luke continue.
They got injured a lot together so Luke knew how to fix JJs hand with as little pain as possible, but she also knew JJ absolutely hates when he uses alcohol wipes, so when he pulled one out of the kit he had to hold JJs arm so she didn't flinch away.
He used the wipe, much to JJs dismay, and wrapped the hand up in Cotten and gauze.
"Did you really have to use the wipes" JJ complained when he was done
"Would you like it to get infected, then you would have to go to the hospital" Luke reminded her.
"Fine, you can use the wipe, it's better then the ER anyway."
Luke put away the kit, and the two started walking again, this time away from the fence. They pushed branches and leaves out of the way, they hadn't done this in many years but they still knew exactly where to go.
After walking for probably 20 minutes, and crossing a small Stream, they reached the end of the woods. Off in the distance was a small old rundown building, there was nothing else around it except the parking lot and a busy road.
As they approached the side they heard music playing, and saw the parking lot was almost full, it hadn't changed at all.
They when around the front of the building, and saw a sign that said open 24 hours a day.
JJ opened the door hearing a ding, Luke was right behind her. Her nostrils filled with the familiar scent of greasy food and beer, she loved it. The place had a counter in the back with a older redheaded lady behind it shout out order numbers. There were many tables and booths along with a two pool tables and several dart boards. The people inside were mainly truckers and bikers. You could also see a few children probably between 12-18 running around delivering food to various tables.
Luke grabbed JJs hand and led her to the bar in the back dodging many people on the way where the redheaded lady had turned around to say something to the kitchen.
Luke and JJ each sat on one of the bar stools and waited for the lady to turn back around. And as soon as she did she her eyes widened
"Gerbil! And sunny!" She shouted and ran around the to end of the bar so she could come in front of it and nearly tackled them both to the ground with hugs.