TITLE: Criminal Minds – "Darkest Days" (A sequel to Behind the Mask)

AUTHOR: D M Harper

SUMMARY: Agent Prentiss is forced to face her secretive past when it threatens the safety of her BAU colleagues and her beloved family.

RATING: For Mature Readers.

DISCLAIMER: This story was conjured up for reading entertainment only. No money has exchanged hands or bank accounts. There is no profit gained, just fancy flights of imagination. There is no intention to infringe on the copyright of CBS Television Studios or creator Jeff Davis. This writing does feature consensual sexual interaction between two females, so if you are underage or unable to view due to restrictions in your part of the world, be gone and take my sympathy with you. If you find such material offensive, too bad, so sad, you chose to enter this web site of your own free will; hence you have no one to whine to except yourself or a parent if you are caught, so bugger off!

A/N: Please find them time to review and feed the Muse. Much appreciation to those who review on a regular basis and to guests.


Chapter 43

Jillian was startled awake as she experienced an all-consuming stab of pain to her mid-section. Unbeknown to her, it was in direct result of Jarrod's knees slamming into her stomach. Emily had tried in vain to stop his progress as she ran from the doorway, but failed miserably as he swan dived off the mattress onto his mother.

Without thought, Jillian prised open her eyes and angrily reacted, "Holy fuck, what the hell?" As her tear filled orbs focused on her giggling son climbing up her chest, she remonstrated loudly, "Jarrod, you hurt me. How many times do you have to be told not to jump on me?"

In response, the toddler threw his arms around her neck and smooched her chin, "Sorry mommy, love you."

The apology did nothing to ease the excruciating flames of agony overpowering Jillian and she was unable to form any words in reply.

Gathering up the youngster, Emily was the next to be remorseful, "Sorry honey, he took off from the bathroom while I was drying Samantha's hair."

The blonde bundle of energy in her arms wiggled and protested vehemently, "No mama. Wanna play with mommy now!"

"No," responded Emily sternly as she watched her wife clutch at her belly while struggling off the bed. She hobbled into the ensuite and Emily addressed Jarrod's poor judgement, "You really hurt mommy Little Man; you have to be careful."

The sound of Jillian's crying filtered out from underneath the gap at the bottom of the door and Jarrod struck out and made contact with the side of Emily's head, "Play now mama. You bad."

Shocked by his outburst and physicality combined with her concern for Jillian, Emily berated the toddler, "That is very naughty and has earned you a time out in your room."

His reply was delivered as a scream, "NO MAMA, NO."

Grabbing his left hand in mid-flight before it hit her again, Emily calmly stated, "Stop Jarrod, bad behaviour is not allowed."

Maureen rushed into the room to investigate the yelling and Emily swiftly apprised her of the situation. "I'll take him to the bedroom Emily; you go check on Jill," she recommended.

"No Nana, wanna play," demanded Jarrod once more.

"Play is over for the day Young Man," advised Maureen prior to taking hold of the pouting and squirming child.

With his legs now kicking out, he connected with his grandmother's belly and she was not impressed, "That's enough, behave."

He was still striking out when Emily opened the bathroom door. Her heart broke into millions of pieces at the sight of Jillian curled up into a foetal position on the floor mat and whimpering. Kneeling by her wife's head, Emily kept the panic at bay, "I'm calling for an ambulance honey."

The reply was a mere whisper, "Please hurry Em, it hurts so bad."

Running to the bedside landline, Emily pressed in the emergency number and exhaled with relief when her call was instantly answered. After a brief conversation with the operator, she hung up and returned to Jillian.

"Ambo is on the way and will be here in three minutes. Is there anything I can do?"

Through gritted teeth, Jillian spoke, "Ask mom to stay here with the kids."

"I will and I'll contact Derek and cancel dinner."

Maureen rushed into the room and gasped, "Oh my god Jill."

"An ambulance is on the way," explained Emily through a curtain of tears.

"I'll go wait at the front door," suggested a clearly distraught Maureen. "Jarrod is on his bed sulking and Samantha is downstairs playing. I'll call Grace over to the house."

"No mom," protested Jillian. "You stay please. Grace is going out on a date."

"Okay dear," consented the older woman before running out of the room.

Emily ran a hand over Jillian's wet brow, "My darling, I'm so sorry."

"Not … your … fault," panted out Jillian forcefully. "Crap … going to … pass out."

Shouting, Emily tried to rouse her wife, "PLEASE HONEY, WAKE UP." Frantically searching for a neck pulse, she let out a sigh when she detected a steady beat.

There was a commotion outside the bedroom door as Maureen ushered two Paramedics inside.

-o-

Grace had rushed into the building once she heard the siren stop outside the main house. Climbing the staircase, she observed a gurney being pushed by a Paramedic disappear into the master bedroom and immediately followed.

Maureen noticed her arrival and the worry engraved on her face, "It's Jill. Jarrod must have damaged something by leaping onto her."

A hand rose to Grace's gaping mouth, "Oh goodness, is there anything I can do?"

"Can you keep an eye on Samantha? She is down in the Entertainment Room and Jarrod is in his room."

"No worries and I'll call Charlie and cancel our date," countered Grace while heading for the exit.

"Thank you," called Maureen while waiting outside the bathroom door. She stepped out of the way as her daughter was wheeled out of the room.

An ashen faced Emily had regained some semblance of composure as she reached for Maureen's hand, "She is haemorrhaging internally; I'll go with her in the ambulance."

"Damn it," cursed the older woman. "Grace was just here and is aware of the situation. She offered to stay with the children and I'll follow in your car."

-o-

Emily was pacing outside the drawn curtain cubicle when Maureen joined her. "I gather you were made to leave," she speculated with a frown.

Without stopping, Emily answered, "Yes. She was still unconscious when I was herded out by a Nurse."

"I called Penny and she and Derek are on their way."

"Thank you, I totally forgot to phone them."

The light blue drape was pulled back and an ER Doctor waved to Emily, "We are taking her to theatre. There is a tear in her liver and several internal sutures in her abdominal wall have come apart. Your wife is going to the fourth floor; you can wait up there."

Although panicked, Emily's voice remained sound, "Is Jillian awake, can I see her?"

"She is conscious, but make it quick please."

Grabbing Maureen's hand, Emily went to her spouse. Jillian was a ghostly shade of grey and crying, "I hate hospitals."

Taking her hand, Emily leaned down and kissed her, "I can understand why my darling. I love you and will see you soon."

"I love you too and mom, please take care of Em for me."

Pecking her child's temple, Maureen promised, "She is in good hands as are you, love you."

As the pre-op meds kicked in, Jillian smiled through the tears, "Love you mom and jumping is officially frigging banned in the house."

Both Emily and Maureen shook their heads as a Nurse unlocked the bed brakes and began to move Jillian forward.

"We'll meet you upstairs," instructed the Doctor.

"Let's go," suggested Emily as teardrops flooded her eyes. "What a bloody nightmare for Jill."

Her mother in-law was too upset to reply.

-o-

Penelope was the first to hug Emily then Maureen when she entered the surgical waiting room forty minutes later. Derek moved behind her and asked, "What's the damage?"

Returning his embrace, Emily answered, "Her liver and stomach are bleeding."

"Oh my god," muttered Penelope. "Jill won't be happy about that."

"I wouldn't blame her," admitted Maureen while retaking her seat.

Sitting beside her, Emily added, "Jarrod and Samantha just don't understand they can't pounce on Jill. It's not their fault; they are too young to grasp the circumstances and we are definitely going to have to reassess them being close to her."

"I don't envy you Prentiss," sympathised Derek as he and Penelope took a chair.

Emily watched as Penelope placed her left hand on Derek's right leg then she looked to her partner and a huge smile broke out, "Now I understand what Jill meant when she told me you had itchy feet."

Morgan's grin matched his friend's, "Yeah, keep the twenty sixth of January free because my beautiful Baby Girl accepted my proposal last night."

Jumping up, Emily wrapped her arms around his neck, "Congratulations Derek. I'm so happy for you both."

In response, Penelope burst into tears, "We picked a rotten time for you to find out."

Pulling her into the embrace, Emily put her mind to rest, "You had no idea this was going to happen."

"No, but shoot, it's hard to be ecstatic while Jill is in surgery."

Maureen interrupted with hugs of her own, "Jill would see the funny side of it and let me take a look at your ring."

Releasing her hold, Penelope presented her diamond encrusted band, "I am sending positive vibes to Jill and my Chocolate Thunder has excellent taste."

"Of course I do baby, I have you," snuck in a beaming Derek.

"It's gorgeous Penny," remarked Maureen favourably before the others laughed at the previous comment. "You chose well Derek."

"Thanks and I sent a text to the rest of the Team and Strauss, so don't be surprised if a couple of them show up."

Busy inspecting her friend's serious chunk of jewellery, Emily gushed, "It's beautiful Pen and Aaron is in New York with Beth and Jack, so I don't expect them. J.J. and Will took Henry to see his relatives in New Orleans and they will all be returning Sunday."

No sooner did she finish talking than her phone rang with Hotch's number. She excused herself and informed him of the situation. In turn, he gave her and Jill his, Beth's and Jack's love. She'd only just hung up and dried her eyes when Jennifer called.

As she ended the conversation, Ashley, her girlfriend Teresa, Spencer and Alex arrived. Overwhelmed by the concern and support from her friends, Emily turned into a blubbering mess.

-o-

Over the subsequent three hours, news of Penelope and Derek's engagement was discussed along with various wedding plans. Maureen and Alex organised something to eat and drink and everyone held their breath when a tall blonde woman in her late thirties dressed in dark purple scrubs entered the room.

"Hello, I'm Doctor Reece and I assume you are all anxious for an update on Agent Rolston."

There was a collective affirmation as everyone stood.

"I'm Emily, Jillian's wife. How is she?"

A smile broke out on the Surgeon's lips, "I'm pleased to announce she is doing extremely well in recovery. I re-sutured her abdominal wall and muscle as well as re-sectioning her traumatised liver. I expect this surgery, so shortly after the procedures in Boston to set Agent Rolston's recovery back at least two weeks and before you ask; I want to keep her here for that time. Medically, she won't be able to tolerate any more damage without lifelong complications."

Maureen gripped Emily's hand, "Jill will hate that idea."

Nodding, Emily presented her right hand to the Doctor, "Thank you so much and I'll do all I can to alleviate the opposition Jillian is she to have."

Reece shook the offered hand, "Your wife and I have already had that discussion and she was most agreeable."

"Holy crap Batman," gushed Penelope. "That does not sound like our Blonde Bombshell at all."

"It could be the drugs," pointed out Spencer deadpan.

The room filled with laughter then Doctor Reece told the group to make their way down the corridor to the Ward's Waiting Room.

-o-

Jillian was asleep when wheeled into her room, so after goodbyes, Emily and Maureen were left alone with the patient. Maureen started to yawn around ten and Emily advised her to go home to bed.

"I'll pack a bag for you and Jill and see you both in the morning."

"Thanks mom," returned Emily from her position sitting to Jillian's left.

Bending, Maureen pecked the top of her head, "If you need anything before then, don't hesitate to call."

"I will, love you."

"I love you too Emily and I really hope this is the last of hospitals for a while."

With a heavy sigh, Emily agreed, "That would be nice."

Moving to the other side of the bed, Maureen leaned in and kissed Jillian's cheek, "I love you, bye."

Emily squeezed her wife's hand as Maureen departed, only to be replaced by a Nurse.

"Evening Emily, I'm Nancy and will now be taking over for Nurse Williams. I'll just check Jillian's vitals then be on my way."

"Thank you," returned Emily while observing. "How is she doing?"

"Everything is stable and Doctor Reece will be here soon to check in."

"Okay and thanks again."

"You are welcome."

Once Nancy left, Emily took a deep breath and swore, "Shit, I forgot to phone mother." Figuring the time difference in Rome, she threw caution to the wind and retrieved her cell from the pocket of her jeans. The call was answered after four rings.

"Hello Emily dear, is everything okay?"

Bringing her mother up to speed, Emily then apologised for phoning so late.

"Don't be silly; I'm glad you called and what is Jillian's room number?"

"It's 438, why?"

"I'd like to send my favourite daughter in-law an extravagant bouquet of flowers of course."

Tittering, Emily joked, "You almost sound guilty."

"To tell you the truth, I do."

"You better explain that comment."

"I remember my mother telling me on my sixteenth birthday that I was a horrible two year old who ran amuck all through the house and terrorised my father endlessly."

There was a gasp of shock, "So my children's current misbehaving does come from my side of the family?"

"I'm afraid so dear."

Emily let out a small chuckle, "Jill will be so appeased to learn that snippet of information."

"Do tell her to be kind to me, won't you."

"I will and I better let you get back to sleep."

"All right and I'll visit as soon as I can sweetheart."

"Good and maybe you could sort out your demon grandkids."

Elizabeth chortled down the line, "Emily, I can do many things including resolving diplomatic affairs with warring nations, but taming unruly children is way out of my league."

Laughing again, Emily retorted, "That's too bad, goodnight mother."

"Goodnight, love you."

"Love you too, bye."

-o-

Emily was still in the same spot when Doctor Reece ambled into the room. Picking up the chart from the base of the bed, she perused the data then read the monitors. "Everything looks promising," she proclaimed while making notations. "Jillian will probably sleep through until the morning if you'd like to stretch your legs or grab a drink."

Standing, Emily kissed Jillian's lips, "I'll be right back honey."

Walking out with the Doctor, Emily asked, "Could you direct me to a good cup of tea?"

"Follow me; I'm on my way to the beverage cart on the ground level. Macey has the best pastries and "pick me up" coffee. My husband says I drink way too much of it, but I need a fix ahead of my next surgery."

"I can relate. I actually gave up java a couple of years ago. I used to run on the stuff."

Stepping out of the elevator, Reece ushered Emily over to the stall, "I recommend the blueberry Danish; it's my favourite."

"I'll give it a go."

The two women ordered then sat at a nearby bench and chatted about their families.

-o-

Three hours passed and Emily was reclining on the couch situated in the corner of the room and sleeping. She was awoken by the sound of Jillian calling her name. Opening her eyelids, she tossed back the blanket Nancy had given her earlier and raced to her wife, "Hey beautiful, how are you feeling?"

A goofy grin formed on Jillian's lips and her words were slurred, "A lot better baby … god, you look so sexy."

Running fingers over Jillian's forehead, Emily smiled down at her wife, "And you are high my darling."

"Yeah," replied Jillian. "I have to stay here for a very, berry, merry long time."

Giggling, Emily nodded, "Yes, for two weeks."

"I just told you that," countered Jillian with a scrunched up nose.

"Yes you did. Everyone sends their love and will visit soon."

"Mmm, nice … want to get naked?"

"I don't think so honey; you are in a hospital bed and are recovering from surgery."

Blonde eyebrows twisted in confusion accompanied by a yawn, "I am … what happened?"

"We can talk about that later, but for now, you need to rest. It's still early morning my darling."

"Okay, love you Em, Em."

"I love you too my drugged up wife."

-o-

Up next: The Terrible Twos continues and hello frustration.