A/N: This chapter is a series of flashbacks prior to Emily's abduction.
JJ: Are you coming over?
Emily: Sure. Is Henry there?
JJ: Garcia wanted to spend time with him, so it's just you and me ;)
Emily: Alright see you
JJ couldn't stop smiling at her phone screen. She and Emily had been having a casual relationship for almost a year now. How a group of profilers haven't figured out yet, no one knows. They just thought Emily and JJ were always close, though, there had been some bets being placed on who would come out first.
This "thing" going on between the two had been going pretty well for a while now, or so they think.
It all began a little over a year after Henry was born and JJ had broken up with Will. In fact, it had all begun when Emily and JJ were rooming together in the cabin during their case in Alaska. Emily was cold under her blanket and JJ offered to help warm her up. Emily thought they would just (platonically) cuddle with each other, you know, with their clothes on. But then, they ended up stripping down, which led to another thing, which led them here. Things were awkward at first after that time, but a hard case came onto them and they decided to make it a casual thing from that point on.
The doorbell rang and JJ practically bounced to the door, opening it with a mischievous smirk on her face. Emily was standing on her porch with a plastic bag, presumably of food. She was quickly pulled inside and JJ pushed the door close, pinning her against it. She kissed Emily and ran her fingers underneath her shirt, nails lightly scratching the skin there.
"Great to see you, too," Emily chuckled, shivering a little from JJ's cold fingers over her smooth abdomen. "I got us dinner, but it seems like you have other plans."
"Mhm," JJ only trailed kisses up her neck and pulled at the bottom of Emily's leather jacket. She began to lead her into the hallway, setting the bag of food down on the kitchen table as they passed. "Leave it. We'll eat later."
"Shit," Emily whimpered as one hand searched for the sheets beneath her to grasp at while the other rested on the back of JJ's head. Her hips moved at a rhythmic pace a few more times against JJ's face until she cut herself off with a sharp grunt, stopping her movements. She felt two hands grip her thighs as she rode out her orgasm. A light touch of a tongue flicked her clit a few more times. Emily rolled her eyes, knowing JJ was teasing her again, and pulled her up to kiss her.
"What brought that on? Not that I'm complaining." Emily panted out, laying her head back into one of JJ's pillows.
JJ rolled over to her side and pulled the covers up to their chests, snuggling into her body with an arm around Emily's stomach. She replied with a lazy shrug before smirking, "I don't know. I guess you inspire me."
"Oh? And how did I 'inspire' you?" Emily cocked an eyebrow at her.
"By being your hot self," JJ winked and leaned up to kiss her. Running her fingers up and down Emily's thigh, her hand made her way back in between her legs. Emily gasped into her mouth and JJ smiled again.
Emily's phone buzzed on the nightstand and JJ murmured against her lips. "Mm-mm, no. Leave it."
"It might be important, JJ," Emily said, untangling herself from her body and reaching for her phone.
JJ frowned but nodded. "Ok. I'll just use the bathroom for a sec." Standing up and going to the bathroom, she left Emily alone in the bed.
As she was using the toilet, she couldn't help but listen to Emily's conversation on the phone. She can't really make out what exactly she was saying, but she only got bits of it. She heard somebody by the name of Tsia. Who was that?
Washing her hands and drying them, JJ finally exited the bathroom and saw Emily's bare back facing her. She was whispering conspiratorially into the phone.
"Lauren Reynolds is dead." Emily said, almost monotone. She glanced back over her shoulder to find JJ standing there. "I gotta go. Just be careful, and give Jeremy my love." Then, she hung up with a sigh.
"Who's Lauren?" JJ softly asked. "Who was that on the phone calling about her?" All of a sudden, she felt her heart clench at the thought of Emily secretly seeing someone that wasn't her. Then again, it's not like they were dating or anything. They were just friends. Friends who occasionally sleep with each other.
Emily quickly put her phone back on the nightstand, turning to face her again, and shook her head. "Just a friend of mine."
JJ slowly nods and furrows her eyebrows. "What happened?"
"Lauren Reynolds died in a car accident."
JJ frowns and sits back next to her. "Oh. I'm sorry, Emily." She placed her hand on Emily's thigh that was covered by the blanket to comfort her. "She meant a lot to you?"
Emily swallowed nervously and avoided her eyes. "You have no idea."
"Hey, are you feeling ok? You've been acting a little… off during this whole case. Is everything ok?" JJ quietly asked. They were paired up for a case, but JJ couldn't help but notice Emily's strange behavior, so she chose to drive the car while keeping an eye on her.
Emily's eyes shift to take a glance at the blonde before landing on her lap, where she begins picking her fingernails. "Yeah, I'm good," she nodded in assurance.
JJ glanced down at Emily's hands. "You sure? You've been picking your nails again."
Emily nervously chuckled and waved her hands. "Sorry. Bad habit."
"Does it have anything to do with this Lauren person?" JJ asked.
At the mention of the name, Emily's body tensed before she quickly recovers with a short answer. "No. It's nothing, I promise." She still looks down at her hands in her lap, not wanting to make eye contact with the other agent.
JJ nodded. Knowing she wouldn't want to push her into answering any further, she wrapped one hand around Emily's, holding it and rubbing her knuckles. Emily looked at her in question.
"So you feel better," JJ answered the silent question and continued driving with one hand on the steering wheel. "Whatever it is, you can tell me and I'll be all ears."
Emily's eyes go down to their joined hands. For once during this whole situation resurfacing from her past and hypervigilance recently, Emily felt safe. If only she could tell her.
She squeezed JJ's hand, and if it weren't for JJ's eyes on the road, she could've seen a hint of a smile on the blonde's lips.
"This guy took two in the chest. He went quickly. One straight to the forehead. The holes were made by a .45," Derek said. "So, she comes to the door, and he shoots her. She didn't stand a chance. This has to be the work of our guy. She might be on our list. We should run her prints."
He walked over to Emily, who only stared blankly at the body of a woman in front of her, but this wasn't any woman. The identified woman they were looking at was one of Emily's former colleagues, Tsia Mosely. She had found out Tsia had been shot, and it was a lot for Emily to process all at once. She excused herself and made her way out of the apartment, passing by JJ, who asked Derek what was wrong with Emily.
JJ decided to go downstairs to check on her. Once she was outside, she spotted Emily bent over near the gate of the building. JJ got closer, and heard coughing noises and saw vomit all over Emily's boots. She carefully held Emily's hair back and rubbed her back.
"You ok?" JJ asked, seeing Emily jump at her sudden presence behind her.
Emily cleared her throat and wiped her mouth before turning to face her. "Yeah, I just feel a little sick is all," she lied.
"You need anything? I can get you some water, if you want," JJ offered.
Emily shook her head. "You know what, my apartment's about 10 minutes from here. I'll just go change. I think I got some on my pants," she said and began to leave.
"You don't want me to go with you?" JJ asked. "I can tell Hotch and Morgan-"
"No, it's fine. I got it. I'll be quick, I promise." With that, she walked away from the blonde.
JJ watched her leave and wondered why Emily was acting weird the past couple of weeks. It had been happening ever since Emily received a call about Lauren Reynolds' death, and now, she had just witnessed the older woman uncharacteristically throwing up outside of a crime scene.
JJ couldn't take it anymore. She's worried about Emily and her well-being. She decided to go to Emily's place and help her, whether she liked it or not.
Emily made her way up to her apartment and began searching for her things. She needed to get out of there and face this herself. A moment later, a knock was heard at the door and she opened it with caution. Getting her gun out, she held it steady in front of her and slowly opened the door. She was then met with a startled blonde telling her to put the gun down and identifying herself. Emily exhaled in relief and put her gun away.
"JJ, what are you doing here?" Emily asked. "I told you I was only going to be quick."
JJ decided to get straight to the point, instead of holding back any longer. "Emily, what's going on with you? You haven't been yourself the past two weeks, and I'm getting a little worried." Emily's back was turned away from her as she started gathering her things in her room. JJ sighed and followed her. "Emily, will you please tell me what's going on?"
Emily scoffed. "Why do you care? It's not like you're my girlfriend or anything."
JJ became hurt from the sharp tone in her voice. Yes, she knew she wasn't her girlfriend, but that still hurt. Swallowing that feeling down her throat, she quietly replied. "I'm still your friend. Of course, I care."
"Look, JJ. It's none of your business, so please don't ask me any more questions." She didn't mean to snap at JJ. She just didn't want her to get involved.
"Emily," JJ said and reached for her arm to get her attention. The other woman turned around and saw a soft and questioning expression on JJ's face. JJ was such an understanding person, and she wished she could tell her why she's been acting the way she was, but she couldn't.
Taking a deep breath, she decided she needed to be straight and direct with JJ, whatever the consequences may be.
"I don't think I can do this anymore."
"What are you talking about?"
Emily gestured to the distance between them. "This. Us. I can't sneak around with you anymore."
JJ blinked at her as her heart began to break. "Is this about what happened earlier? Look, I'm really sorry, if I-"
Emily shook her head. "It's not your fault. It just doesn't seem fair for everyone. Especially Henry." There was a double meaning in that response, but only Emily knew that. She bowed her head apologetically, choosing not to meet dejected blue eyes. "I'm sorry," she whispers.
JJ stood there in silence and in shock. She thought she and Emily had a good thing going between them. It's complicated, yes, both women wouldn't like to admit that out loud, but it seemed to work between them. Now, Emily wants to break it off, but JJ wants to understand why. They may have had a sexual relationship with each other, but they were still friends first. She wanted to try and help Emily with whatever was going on lately.
"You need to leave, JJ," Emily's voice broke through her train of thought.
"Emily-"
"Please," Emily begged softly yet desperately.
Taking in the pleading look and tone, JJ nodded in surrender and walked out the door without a word, closing it behind her. Now alone in her apartment, Emily sighed to herself and thought about what had happened just a moment ago. She hated having to do that to JJ. She trusted her out of everyone in the team, but she couldn't let her get hurt because of her past. She had already just lost someone she cared about, and she didn't want the same happening to JJ. As much as it hurts Emily, it was for JJ's own good.
That was the last time they had talked to each other. Right before Emily left the BAU to take matters into her own hands.
JJ and Rossi were sent to investigate Emily's apartment right after Emily's sudden disappearance. After JJ had gotten information from a contact in the State Department, she still felt confused and hurt because Emily didn't tell her.
"She asked you to stop here, JJ?" Rossi asked as he checked Emily's bookshelves.
JJ shook her head. "No. I figured something was up when she went back home by herself, so I followed after her to see what's wrong. All I remember was her needing to change her clothes."
"Did she say anything about you following her?"
JJ sighed and looked at her hands. "Yeah. She, uh… we had a little argument because of it. She didn't want me getting involved, so I stopped trying."
Rossi noted the last words of her sentence and turned back to her. "What do you mean, 'stopped trying'?"
JJ's lips formed a tight line before she nervously chewed on the bottom one. "I've been noticing how strange Emily's been acting for the past two weeks, then, I tried asking her what's wrong, but she wouldn't say." She slumped her shoulders and frowned to herself. "I don't know. I just thought that maybe she would trust telling me about this. I probably shouldn't have pushed her…"
"She was trying to protect you," Rossi said in a softer tone. "She didn't want you knowing because she didn't want you to get hurt."
JJ nodded and bit her lip. "Yeah." That's the one thing JJ loves and hates about Emily Prentiss. How selfless she was when it came to the people she cares about, even if it meant putting her own life to risk.
Emily was sitting in a car, waiting outside of The Black Shamrock for Doyle and his men. She checked to see if her phone was off, coming across a notification on her screen.
Voice mail from Jennifer Jareau.
With a bit of hesitance, she decided to listen to the voicemail.
"Emily, hey. It's me," JJ's voice came through clearly. "Um, Garcia gave me a whole list of numbers to try. Seems like this one worked. Listen, uh, I've been worried sick about you. The whole team has. Emily, please just know that you are not alone, ok? We are here for you." A sigh came through the message. "Look, I know we're not talking and all, and there's a whole lot I want to say. God, I don't even know what to say. But for now, I just want you to be safe, Emily. Please do that for me. Um, and Henry… little guy misses you. Please, please be safe. I miss you." She heard JJ's voice crack at the end of her voicemail before it cuts off with a beep.
Throughout the whole message, Emily was in tears. Her heart shattered when JJ's soft voice pleaded for her to come back safely. She finally pulled herself together and tilted her head back, wiping her tears away with a small sniffle. Emily needed to do this; she needed to handle this by herself. This is my mess, not theirs, she thought as she was preparing her weapons and looking out the window for Doyle.
It was best to keep her team safe. Henry and JJ, too.