A/N: This chapter contains more spoilers from Annihilator, but hopefully you've all seen that episode! I did use part of the phone conversation between JJ, Reid, and Emily, but everything else is between the scenes of the episode and directly after. I hope y'all enjoy! Let me know what you think. The next chapter will take place during Last Gasp, so catch up if you haven't yet!

Spencer and Emily called JJ together to find out how the case was going. Emily assumed Reid had told JJ about her moment of weakness in wanting to run and figured this call was also to let her know everything was okay again.

Reid and JJ talked the case and the best strategy to take down the unsub. JJ told them the team's plan and Emily just had to ask what Barnes thought about her ideas. JJ said something about Barnes just wanting the case to be solved quickly, but Emily focused more on what she said next.

"Glad to hear your voice, Emily."

Emily couldn't help the smile that lit up her face as she glanced at Reid and he gave her a knowing nod.

"Even though you're not really there," JJ added.

"It's great to be heard, even though I'm not really here," Emily replied.

JJ had to get off the phone then, before Barnes caught her talking to them. Emily and Reid went back to unpacking the boxes while Emily thought about what she should order them to eat for dinner. Pizza? Chinese? Reid had been quiet for awhile and she was a little afraid of what could be going through that brain of his.

"I didn't want to ask," he finally said.

"Then don't, Reid. I don't want to lie to you and I don't think you want to know the truth." Emily sighed, knowing the inevitability of this happening at some point.

"Given your response, I don't think I need to ask."

Emily stayed quiet. She trusted Reid, but this wasn't just about her. JJ had so much more to lose.

"Why doesn't she leave Will?" Reid asked.

"It's not that simple." Emily really didn't want to talk about it.

"Isn't it, though?" Reid argued. "She's in love with you. She has been for a long time. And you're in love with her, too. Aren't you?"

"Love doesn't always conquer everything." Emily knew she needed to end this conversation before she had a breakdown. As if what Reid was saying was anything new. She'd had this talk with JJ many times. Derek had tried to have it with her. It was useless to keep talking in circles.

"If you don't believe that, then you two have to stop whatever it is you're doing." Reid crossed the room to stand in front of her. His tone was kind, but his words, even if she'd said them to herself a thousand times, were so very painful. "I can see how happy you make each other, but I don't miss how broken you both are because of this. She's not as strong as you are, Emily. She's not going to make a choice if she doesn't have to. You have to fight for her or you have to let her go."

Emily knew he was right, but that didn't stop her eyes from filling with tears and her walls from coming up between them. "I can't do this right now," she whispered. She went to her bedroom and shut the door, hoping he would get the hint and leave.

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Spencer finished unpacking and breaking down the boxes before he left Emily's. She was grateful, and sorry for the way she'd talked to him and stormed out, so she called to tell him so. He thanked her for the apology and updated her on what had happened with the case, with Barnes putting a young woman in danger and chalking it up to the team taking too long to wrap up the case. The team was on their way back now and Reid suggested he and Emily go meet them. She was good with that, but she needed to talk to JJ first. After a few days of not responding to JJ's texts and then knowing Reid told her about Emily's plans to go back to London, there was some air that needed to be cleared before they saw each other again. She hung up with Reid and sent a text.

Em: Hey. I'm sorry I've been MIA. I had a moment, but it's gone.

JJ: Hi! I've missed you so much. What kind of moment?

Em: I know Reid talked to you. I'm sorry that I didn't. I wouldn't have left without talking to you first. I hope you know that

JJ: I was pretty worried, honestly. Please don't leave me.

Em: I'm not going anywhere. I promise. It was just a moment.

JJ: Are we ok?

Em: Honestly?

JJ: Of course

Em: We're a little broken. But we'll always be ok

JJ: I'm going to fix this. We need to talk about things

Em: Tonight?

JJ: I told Will we won't be back til tomorrow

Em: you don't think he will find out?

JJ: Something we need to talk about

JJ: I completely went off on Barnes. Sorta terrifying, but empowering

Em: Sounds hot. So sad I missed it

JJ: I'll reenact it for you later ;)

Em: Don't tease. Love you

JJ: Love you Em

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The team was so thrilled to reunite that evening at the BAU, but then AD Barnes came in and crushed their hopes of staying together. She had gone to talk to the Director before JJ got a chance to tell her side, resulting in most of them being split up. Emily's suspension was lifted, but she would be reassigned, along with Tara and Garcia. Rossi was forced into retirement and Reid was made a full time professor. JJ would remain Unit Chief of the BAU, albeit conditionally, and Luke and Matt would be the only remaining members of the team.

Not wanting to separate before they had to, the eight agents carried on with their plans to go out to the bar, but the purpose went from being a celebration to feeling like a funeral. No one laughed or danced or played pool or darts. They didn't talk much, other than to go over what had happened in St. Louis and vent about how awful Barnes was and voice their hopes that this wouldn't be permanent. As the good guys, they were used to winning, though not always right away. They tried to keep the faith that this was just another one of those times and everything would come together to work out in the end.

No one stayed very long. They weren't in the partying mood, but they did drink. JJ drank a lot. She was beyond stressed about what would happen now that she was running the team and even more worried about what she would do without having Emily by her side all the time. She'd had to deal without Emily before, but not like this. Things were different now. She went from stressed and scared to sad and tired and asked Emily if they could go home. Emily obliged and they hugged their friends, the members of their former team, goodbye. No one could get the thought out of their minds that things may never be the same again.

Emily had only had one drink, so she drove them back to her apartment. JJ was silent on the ride and Emily worried about her, drunk and thinking too much. Tonight wasn't going to be exactly like she'd hoped. She'd be lucky if JJ didn't fall asleep the second they got inside.

"Do you want anything to eat?" Emily asked JJ once in the apartment, handing her a bottle of water. She was hoping to soak up some of that alcohol.

JJ shook her head and took a small sip. "I'll be fine." She knew what Emily was doing.

"Bedroom or living room?"

"Bedroom, please. I promise I won't go to sleep."

"I'm sure you're tired, Jayje. You can sleep." Emily propped pillows up against the headboard, turned down the comforter, and stripped down to her underwear.

"I want to talk." JJ spoke so softly that Emily barely heard her.

Emily crossed the room in time to take the brunt of the breakdown. JJ was an incredibly strong woman who had been through hell and back more than once. She didn't vent or cry or fall apart anywhere outside of Emily's bedroom and even then, it was rare. Emily knew the signs and always got her through it. The only place JJ could be broken and then put back together was in Emily's arms.

Emily opened her strong arms to her beautiful girl and collapsed onto the bed with her. JJ sobbed until she was too exhausted to cry anymore. Emily held her tight and got her through it and when she finished, she helped her best friend change into a T-shirt and pajama pants and got some for herself. They snuggled into bed, JJ against Emily's chest.

"You really were going to leave me," JJ finally whispered.

Emily struggled with her emotions, trying to stay calm. If she started crying, JJ would all over again. "I will never leave you. No matter where I am, you're my first priority. If you ask me to stay, I'll stay. If you ask me to come, I'll come. Whether I'm hurt or angry or frustrated with everything, I belong to you."

"That's way you wouldn't talk to me," JJ realized.

"I needed to feel like I could control something, if only for a moment. I knew the second I heard your voice that I wouldn't be able to leave. I knew there was no chance I could go through with it. The power you have over me is greater than my own strength."

JJ sat up and took Emily's face in her hands, kissing her. "I'm so sorry I do this to you. I'm going to make it right."

"How?" Emily asked. She was so beyond fed up, but she kissed JJ back anyway. She had never had an easy time in love and didn't expect that to change anytime soon.

"I'm going to tell Will." JJ took Emily's hands in hers and held them in her lap.

"About us?" Emily was in complete shock.

"Eventually, but just about me at first. He already knows something's up. He's got Henry questioning me now. I have to end things with him, and soon, but I want to wait to tell anyone about me and you. I don't want Will, or anyone else, to blame you for the end of my marriage when this is all on me. Is that okay?"

Emily nodded and kissed her again. This was what she'd been hoping for for so long, but she couldn't let herself believe it was really happening. Not before it did. "It's okay if you want to wait, JJ, and you know I support you leaving Will and I will help you in every way."

JJ heard the hesitation. "But?"

Emily couldn't meet her eyes. "But I think we should take a break."