Chapter 3: Cell 36B
"You're in cell 36B," a female officer instructed while handing her a bed mat and a skimpy woven blanket. JJ walked through the open doors and into the jail pod as the same female officer spoke again. "Somebody show her where her cell is."
A familiar face with pearly white teeth stepped forward, "I'll do it."
JJ forced herself to hold back the smile tugging at the corner of her lips while her eyes shifted around her new environment. The female officer didn't pay any more attention to them as Morgan strode off and JJ followed. She stayed behind him just a bit, in here they didn't know each other and she didn't need to draw any extra attention to herself within the first 30 seconds of being there.
"Took you long enough, I was starting to get worried," Morgan mumbled under his breath.
JJ bit her lip, unsure of how to respond to that comment with the recent memories burning into her mind.
She shook her head and cringed. "Yeah… never thought I'd say this, but thank God I'm here now."
Morgan paused, but only barely, then turned up the staircase.
"What do you mean? Did something happen?"
JJ fell silent as the two passed a few inmates heading downstairs that didn't bother to hide their leers toward JJ.
"Just an inappropriate officer that thinks he can do whatever he wants," JJ finally muttered.
"He?" Morgan seethed.
"It's fine, I'll have his badge when I'm out of here." The words came out grimly but JJ winced because she could still smell the dim room and his clammy hands on her back. She wasn't willing to admit to Morgan how much the experience rattled her, not when she had so much to prove.
Each door they started to pass had bold markings with ascending numbers followed by the letter 'B'. Morgan slowed his jaunt as they started to get closer to 36.
"What did he do? Did he touch you? I swear JJ-" Morgan shook his head. "I told you this wasn't a good idea. We should just pull you right now."
They arrived at JJ's cell and Morgan pulled out his keys to open the metal door. Making sure to take as much time as he could without being suspicious. He gripped the door handle with white knuckles as the door clicked open, but he didn't open it. She could see the trepidation in his stance, the protectiveness washing over his body as he really took in what she said.
"Derek," JJ whispered. "It is too late now, but I promise I'm fine."
He pulled the door open but JJ could see he wasn't convinced. "Could this be who we're looking for?"
JJ walked into the cell and faintly shrugged. "As far as I know he only works in intake, that doesn't give him much access to the inmates. And according to inmate statements, whatever this is, it goes deeper than that."
Morgan nodded his head in agreement and pressed his lips into a firm line.
JJ put the mat and blanket down on the bare metal bunk bed and turned back to Morgan, knowing it might be a while before she got to talk to him again.
"I will make him regret ever putting his hands on you."
JJ wavered while struggling to find the words. She knew Morgan had been and always would be there for her. And right now, she needed him more than ever.
"I know," JJ whispered.
"You don't have a cellmate for now, but that could change at any time."
JJ nodded and smiled somberly as the metal swung shut. Just as the door closed she moved right next to it, peering out of the small-scale window about the size of her face in width and only a foot in length.
She watched Morgan as he strolled away and felt her heart hitch in her chest.
Her eyes burned as she turned back towards the diminutive room. She closed her eyes for a few seconds before inspecting the cell around her. Adjacent to the bunk bed a matching metal toilet and sink stood out. Up in the corner she found the camera Hotch had mentioned and she meekly smiled at whichever person on her team was watching her then moved to sit on the bed.
I can do this.
After a few measly hours of sleep JJ finally sat up in her bed in a fit of frustration. But as she woke up and moved off the bed to start some sort of morning routine, it dawned on her that she didn't have a spare change of clothes. She also didn't have a bra or any underwear. She hadn't been overly concerned with this yesterday after finishing intake as she apparently became preoccupied with trying to get away from Officer Pervert.
JJ fidgeted and paced for too long before the cell door swung open with a call from downstairs that it was time for breakfast. She stood up to move out of her cell with varying hesitation. She scanned the pod to see all the cell doors had opened and other inmates were leaving and walking towards the cafeteria. One of them bumped into her and she couldn't tell if it had been an accident or on purpose.
"Watch where you're going, blondie." The woman threatened, her large hips swaying back and forth as JJ rubbed her forehead in exhaustion and continued to follow the rest of them. Instead of getting in line for food, she went straight to the nearest female guard. This one had a small waist and shoulder-length hair but her hard facial features oozed an insane lack of empathy. Immediately JJ recognized this guard, this was the guard in charge of B block.
Her name… her name was Richins? Richards? Something like that.
"Excuse me, I was never given a change of clothes. And I don't have a bra or underwear." JJ tried to make eye contact but the guard was at least half a foot taller than her and couldn't care less about what JJ was saying.
"Excuse me."
This got the woman's attention and she whipped her gaze to JJ's icy blue eyes then bent down just enough to scowl at JJ.
"I'll get you some clothes when I get a chance."
JJ's eyebrows furrowed at the statement but she refused to break eye contact.
The words could have sounded considerate but somehow, through her lips, it sounded like a warning. She started to trudge away but JJ called out again.
"Officer Richards-"
She spun around with a glare. "It's Richins."
Richins, right.
"Officer Richins, you're not going to ask for my cell number? So you can get me the clothes?"
She scoffed and turned away. "If you don't get in line for your food, you won't get any. I'd hurry if I were you."
JJ bit the inside of her cheek and turned the opposite way to get in line for breakfast. She saw Morgan on the other side of the pod and instantly realized he had been watching her the whole time. She forced a brisk smile then dropped her eyes. It wasn't long until she reached the front of the line and grabbed the plastic tray. The dull red tray held a banana, yogurt, and a piece of bread that had definitely seen better days. JJ sat down at the nearest empty table and studied her surroundings, trying to figure out the dynamics and roles of the inmates around her. JJ lazily took a bite of her banana as a loud cackle sounded from a few tables away. JJ examined the black woman as she laughed loudly and made remarks back and forth with the other women at her table. Her features looked familiar and finally, JJ recognized her as the same woman that had bumped into her on the way down for food.
Hips
The recognition across her face must have been noticeable because Hips returned her own heartless gaze to JJ while letting the grin sink from her face. She muttered something to the younger girl sitting next to her and then stood from the bench to move towards JJ.
JJ put her banana back on the tray and hardened her stare as Hips sat down across from her.
"You're new. What's your name?"
JJ smiled but it was nothing short of her forced media smile.
The Jareau Special.
"Jennifer. Yours?"
JJ didn't expect the resounding chuckle that escaped Hips mouth, bringing the attention of the entire table she had just left.
"Very pretty. Tell me, Jennifer, what's a pretty girl like you doing in a place like this?"
"You never told me your name," JJ countered.
She paused but ultimately spoke again. "You can call me Paija."
Hips suits her better.
Paija rested her arms on the table and leaned forward. "But something you need to learn real quick is that there is a pecking order in here and you are at the very bottom."
"And you're at the top?" JJ jabbed, an evident bite to her words.
Paija offered a smug grin that made JJ squirm. "Watch your tongue or it will get you in trouble."
Paija stood from the table and moved back to the one she started at. She consumed her food but kept glancing in JJ's direction. Each time JJ made sure to return the stare with an equal amount of disdain.
Typically JJ was empathetic, something about her made everyone around her feel important. This part of her was kind and often led to a savior complex she'd rather not think about. But in here she moved like a different person, acted like somebody she didn't know. She had created this persona that exuded a toughness she didn't always sport. Occasionally she did in her line of work. Her mother had always made comments about the "JJ sneer", but the passive-aggressive comments struck a chord with JJ she didn't like.
So this persona was not foreign to JJ but it wasn't entirely comfortable either.
Morgan placed his hands on the BAU round table and looked JJ square in the eyes. Hotch had just left his office after briefing the two of them and now here they were, in some sort of stand-off. His apprehension towards the undercover proposal might as well have been broadcasted on live TV.
"Listen, in there it's going to be rough. You've got to stand your ground and make sure everyone around you knows that you won't take shit," Morgan instructed.
JJ scoffed. "You think I don't do that already?"
Morgan tilted his head. "Sure, you hold your ground and won't take shit out here but it's… it's in a nice way. You can't be nice."
"Have you been to jail or something?"
Morgan dismissed her joke. "You've got to blend in. Look and act like one of them. No one else in there is going to be nice, so you can't either."
"Okay, okay. I won't be nice."
Morgan took a deep breath. "You're just making jokes so you don't have to think about the reality of what you just agreed to."
JJ gaped at his words. "Are you serious?"
"You know I don't think this is a good idea. And I'm trying to help you so you don't get stabbed to death like the last one but here you are with all your funny jokes."
"Lay off, Derek." JJ rasped. "There's no reason I'm not capable of doing this."
"I'm not questioning that-"
"But you are. That's why we're doing this right?" JJ sneered and crossed her arms. "Maybe I wouldn't have agreed so fast if you wouldn't have treated me like a little puppy dog in there."
Morgan's face contorted into something akin to confusion. "That's why you agreed? Because I was concerned?"
JJ shook her head. "No, that's not- that didn't come out right."
The room fell silent and JJ couldn't find the words that would make any of this better or help subside her indignation towards Morgan.
"I just want to prove myself. I want to show that I can do this like any of you can."
Morgan hesitated. "I know you can and Hotch knows you can, otherwise he wouldn't have even considered this... but what if something happens and I'm not there? I could never forgive myself for that."
"You're still not getting it." JJ scoffed with an emphatic shake of her head. "I can take care of myself. When are you going to believe me?"
Morgan conceded, the guilt spread across his face. "You're right. I'm sorry- I never meant to question that. I- I don't want to see you hurt. And we both know this is going to be dangerous."
JJ exhaled. "Now it's your turn to listen. You're the one that taught me how to roundhouse kick like nobody's business And you're the one helping me create Prison JJ. But you've got to trust that I can do it. I'll be safe."
Prison JJ kept her head down and her glare hard. She didn't trust anyone. She didn't smile and she wasn't nice. But most importantly she could roundhouse kick anyone who crossed her.
Day one entailed meeting Officer Pervert and getting into her cell six hours later. On day two she met Paija and a couple of other inmates, none of whom she felt confident about getting information from. Now it was day three and Officer Richins still hadn't brought her any clothes.
JJ grabbed her breakfast and sat at a table with an inmate named Megan she had just met. Megan was tall like Richins but her hardened exterior differed from the arrogant officer. Her hard exterior came from being in jail for far too long. Megan must have seen JJ glaring at Richins because she snorted and made a snide remark.
"Richins? Yeah, she's the worst. No one likes her."
JJ dropped her spoon. "It's been three days and she still hasn't brought me an extra set of clothes. This is all I've got." JJ gestured to her purple shirt then grabbed her spoon again for a tasteless bite of the oatmeal on her tray.
"Oh, so that's what I smell."
JJ rolled her eyes and took another bite.
"Okay so you're really good at taking jokes, I'll just jot that down," Megan responded sarcastically. "Um, you can try asking her again. Good luck, sis."
"Is there no one else that can get them for me?"
Megan shook her head. "She's the officer in charge of B block, she's the one you go to for this stuff. I dunno, I don't make the rules."
JJ huffed and stood up from the table to meet Richins between herself and the stairs. In only a few strides she stood face to face with the woman denying her a basic human right. This time JJ noticed the divot at the bottom of her nose, the divot that sort of resembled Emily's nose but the woman standing in front of her couldn't be further from the Emily JJ knew.
"It's been three days. I don't have any other clothes and these ones haven't been washed."
"Yesterday was wash day. Every Tuesday and Friday you leave your clothes in the bin so they can be washed. That's not my problem."
"How was I supposed to know that? And how am I supposed to leave these out to be washed when I don't have anything else to wear?" JJ was seething as she teetered a very fine line, but she refused to hold back anymore.
Richins glared back at JJ.
"Let's go." She turned back toward the staircase with an unspoken command for JJ to follow. JJ did before looking back at Megan confused, but Megan only gave JJ a shrug.
A few moments later they arrived at JJ's cell. "Wha-" JJ started but Richins cut her off.
"I have to put in an order for clothes. When I get them I'll bring them to you. Like I said I would." Richins grimaced and opened JJ's cell door. JJ stood there for a moment until Richins raised her eyebrows and motioned for JJ to go inside.
JJ complied then turned back to meet her eyes.
"Give me your clothes and I'll get them washed for you."
JJ's mouth fell open. She didn't know how to respond.
"And I'm just supposed to sit here- naked?"
Richins exhaled. "Look, I'm trying to do you a favor. Do you want your clothes washed, yes or no?"
JJ bit the inside of her lip and clenched her jaw.
"Yes," JJ responded through gritted teeth.
"Great. Give me your clothes and I'll bring them back. I'll getchyou the new ones as soon as I get them."
Somehow, JJ doubted that.
Richins turned her head and JJ stepped towards the back of her cell so no one from below could see her. She pulled off the purple baggy pants and shirt that spelled out MCSO on the back. JJ reached over and grabbed the negligible blanket from her bed and held it up over her as she handed over her clothes.
Richins took them and closed the door behind her, but JJ could have sworn she saw a smirk on the woman's face.
A/N: Wouldn't be an update from me without me feeling like shit about the chapter :) I hope you guys are still interested in this story hahhahaha