Hey! Look who's back. Life is not fan fiction writing friendly sometimes.

The inspiration from this came from a Jemily story that I read forever ago. I don't remember what it was called. If you know let me know.

Hope you all enjoy this.


For the Love of Head Injuries

Derek takes point as he busts through the front door of the house, gun at the ready, with Emily and Reid and a SWAT crew behind him. Simultaneously, Hotch takes Rossi and JJ, along with another team of SWAT agents, through the back door of the house.

The teams clear the first floor of the two-story rural home quickly. Derek leads his team upstairs. Emily breaks from the team to check the first room on the right.

Barely two steps into the room, she's slammed into. Picked up and tackled into the far wall. Her gun drops from her hands and slides across the floor.

Their 300-pound UnSub, Richard Farmer, uses all of his weight to pin Emily to the wall. He has time to grab her head and slam it into the wall twice before he himself is tackled by a SWAT member and subdued with the help of two others as he tries to fight them off. Emily collapses to the floor when Farmer's body is no longer on hers.

Reid rushes over to her. "Emily."

Emily waves him off as she puts one hand to a knee and pushes herself up. "I'm fine."

She vaguely hears someone reading Farmer his rights.

"You sure?" Reid asks.

Emily takes a step forward. "Yeah. Just a bit stunned." Emily walks to her fallen gun. As she bends down to pick it up, her hand swipes at it and misses. Emily crumbles to the floor.

Emily knows opening her eyes isn't supposed to be this painful. All she could make out from the sliver of space between her eyelids, before she was forced to close them, was brightness. And from the smell around her, she could only be in one place.

The hospital.

Rachel is going to kill her. She has to get on her feet.

But first she has to open her eyes. Emily pushes through the brightness of her surroundings and opens her eyes. She makes out a shadow at the side of her bed.

As her vision clears, she realizes who it is.

"Jay-" Emily clears her scratchy throat. "JJ."

"Emily, hey." JJ pushes forward in her seat. "Hold on," she reaches over to the side table and picks up the cup of water. The blonde positions the straw for Emily. "Take a drink."

Emily follows JJ's instructions. With her throat properly lubricated, Emily addresses the blonde again.

"What happened? How long was I out?" Emily sits up fully. She sways momentarily before composing herself. "You didn't call Rachel, did you?" Emily tries to removes the finger monitor from her left index finger, but JJ stops her. "Where's my ring?" She asks as she moves onto removing the tape holding the intravenous line in place on her arm.

"Whoa, whoa." JJ moves Emily's hand away. "Relax, Em. What are you talking about?"

Emily feels around her neck. "Where's my necklace?"

"Emily, just take a -"

"Where's my stuff, JJ?" Emily panics. "They can't know I lost it. Rachel can't know."

"Okay, okay. I'll get someone just stay in bed." JJ back pedals to the door watching Emily for a second before leaving the room.

Emily's eyes dart around the room trying to find her missing items.

The door opens and JJ enters with a tall, female, brunette in a lab coat in tow.

"Where's my ring and necklace?" Emily demands before the door can even close.

"Hi, Agent Prentiss. I'm Dr. Lorenzo. I'm just going to ask you a few-" the brunette in the lab coat tries.

"No. I'm fine. I just need my stuff and I can be out of your hair."

"You're not fine," the doctor with authority. "You've been unconscious for six hours and-"

Emily interrupts the doctor again to address her friend. "Six hours? And you didn't call Rach? Why? You know how she gets? What time is it?"Emily pulls the heart monitor from her finger.

"Emily, calm down," JJ says as she approaches the bed to stop her from pulling off the IV tape.

Dr. Lorenzo opens the room door and calls out to a nearby nurse before focusing on the two women now on the hospital bed.

JJ sits in front of Emily on the bed. Both of Emily's hands are in JJ's. "Emily, stop. Calm down."

"I need to call her."

"I know, but we need to find out if anything is wrong first. I didn't want to call until we had information. Stop being stubborn. Answer the doctor's questions and then we'll call Rach," Jj explains.

"I'm not being stubborn," Emily counters.

"Sure."

JJ and Emily look up to the doctor and notice a female nurse has accompanied them in the room.

"Let's get these questions over with," Emily says.

"All right. Let's start with your name," the brunette doctor begins.

"Emily Prentiss."

"Middle name?"

"Not answering."

"So, you have one and you remember it?"

"Yup," Emily says cheekily.

"All right. I'll take it." The doctor concedes. "Date of birth?"

"October 12, 1970"

"What day is it?"

"I guess if I've been out six hours, it's early Thursday."

"Married?"

"Yes."

"To whom?"

"Rachel Montgomery Prentiss."

"Kids?"

"One."

"Do you remember what happened?"

"We were raiding the UnSub's house, the UnSub tackled me and slammed me against the wall."

"Is that all you remember?" The doctor asks.

"Am I supposed to remember more?"

"Do you remember anything else?"

"That's pretty much what I remember happening."

"Okay." The doctor scribbles a few more notes.

"So, when can I leave?" Emily asks. "And get my ring and necklace?"

"I want to run a couple more tests. Just to make sure nothing has changed." Dr. Lorenzo turns to her nurse. "Can you put her in for a CT?"

The nurse leaves with an "of course."

"Tiffany will be back to take you for the scan. In the meantime, I'm gonna update your superior and find where your personal effects have been stored."

"Thank you," Emily says.

The doctor nods. "Agent Jareau."

The doctor and blonde agent leave the room. Emily gives a frustrated sigh as the door closes. More waiting.

JJ and Dr. Lorenzo enter the waiting room where the rest of the team has been waiting. The team members jump to their feet at the entrance of the two women.

"How is she?" Derek asks.

"Fine, except she thinks she's married with a kid," JJ answers before the doctor can.

"Emily has a condition we call confabulation," Dr. Lorenzo takes over. "In this case, her memory has concocted the memory of her being married."

"To whom?" Reid asks.

"Rachel," JJ answers sadly. Everyone pauses at the revelation.

"So," Hotch asks being the first to recover, "what do you suggest we do?" Hotch addresses the doctor.

"We've taken her in for a CT scan to make sure there isn't anything happening in her brain. But that's as much as we can do medically at this point."

"The actual cause of confabulation is unknown. And effects can be either temporary or long term," Reid explains.

"Exactly," the brunette doctor cosigns.

"So should we tell her about Rachel?" Derek asks.

"I'll leave you guys to discuss this alone. I'm going to see about the scans. I'll keep you updated."

"Thank you, Doctor," Rossi replies.

The doctor exits the room.

"Baby girl, you're on speaker," Derek says into his phone and places it on the table.

The team gathers around the table in the room. Rossi relays the situation to Penelope.

"Have we told Rachel yet?" Penelope asks when Rossi is done.

"I don't know if we should," JJ answers.

"Like it or not, she's a part of this," Derek adds.

"They haven't been together for a month and a half. If this is temporary, is it worth it to open those wounds?"

"I think she should get a say in this," Garcia interjects. "If this is permanent, it affects her too."

"But we don't know if it is permanent," Rossi says.

"We also don't know if it's temporary," Hotch adds.

"Or, if it is temporary, how long it will take to fade." Reid says.

"There's no right answer here, is there?" JJ questions. She looks around at the team. "I'll call her."

Rachel's Apartment

"Hello?" Rachel answers as she rolls onto her back on her bed, eyes still closed.

"Hey, it's JJ."

"Something happened." Rachel sits up with her back against her headboard. "Is she okay?"

"It's a bit complicated," JJ begins before relaying the details of Emily's injury.

Her ex-girlfriend was body slammed and now believes them to be married, and with a kid, no less. Without the obvious trauma to Emily, it's a situation Rachel's let herself indulge in when her brain got extremely romantic and a million steps ahead of where they were as she was swept up in the new romance. But this situation, like everything with herself and Emily was, as JJ said, "a bit complicated". Well, maybe more than a bit. Especially with how the two had left things.

"What can I do?" Rachel asks when JJ is done.

"We're not sure yet. But if nothing else is medically wrong with her she may be discharged later today and we'll all be flying back."

"Ok," Rachel sighs. "Will you keep me posted?"

"Of course."

"Thanks."

The two say their goodbyes and disconnect the call. Rachel flops back down on her bed with a sharp exhale. Is this another chapter in what Ashley previously called the Emily and Rachel saga?


Several hours later, all brain activity on Emily scans is normal. Derek jokingly asks for a second opinion when Emily doesn't protest about having to leave by wheelchair.

JJ gives Emily a concerned glance when the brunette hasn't said more than a few basic words in the SUV heading for the airport.

Derek and JJ share a look when Emily turns down a Scrabble game against Reid as she opts to stare out of the plane window from a seat more secluded than her normal one.

As they all exit the plane, Emily insists that she is fine to drive home herself. That plan does not hold for any members of the team. In a compromise, as she turns down rides by each BAU member, Emily takes a cab home with the promise to let them know when she gets to her apartment.

When the cab pulls up to Emily's apartment, Emily sighs and takes her time paying the driver. Anything to delay the meeting between herself and the person pacing outside of her apartment building.

"Thanks," Emily says to the cab driver as she exits the vehicle.

Rachel stops pacing with the sound of the cab door closing.

"Emily," she breathes out with a smile when she sees the brunette. "How are you feeling?"

"JJ called you, didn't she?" Emily asks as she approaches her apartment building and her ex.

"Yeah. She just…," Rachel trails off and fidgets.

Emily sidesteps Rachel to unlock the door. "Told you everything just in case my brain was irreparably damaged and I kept insisting you and I were married."

"Well, yeah. And because you were asking her to." Rachel stuffs her hands into her jacket pocket. Emily turns from the door to face her.

"Well, don't worry about it. I know we're not married and we don't have a kid. We're not even together anymore. My head's all straightened out."

"Oh." Rachel didn't plan this. "Um, do you mind if I come up anyway? To talk?

Emily sighs in annoyance and avoids eye contact with the author. "What's there to talk about Rachel?"

"Emily," Rachel pleads softly.

Emily is on the verge of protesting again, but her resolve crumbles when she finally looks at Rachel.

"Fine. Come on." Emily pushes the door open and holds it open for Rachel.

The walk to the building elevator was silent; the elevator ride was silent; the walk to Emily's apartment door was silent.

Once in the apartment, Rachel stands near the breakfast bar as she watches Emily discard both her jacket and go-bag.

Ever the polite Ambassador's daughter and also apt at stalling an unwanted conversation, "Want anything to drink?"

"No, I'm fine," Rachel answers.

"Right." Emily nods her head sharply. She goes to the fridge and takes out a bottle of water. She leans back against the kitchen counter farthest away from Rachel and opens the bottle.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Emily says as she turns her back to Rachel as she pulls open a drawer.

"You just seem a bit hostile," Rachel says carefully.

"I'm fine." Emily rummages in the drawer.

"And you won't even look at me," Rachel says a bit hostile herself. "What is wrong with you? You say you're fine but you're not acting like it. Are they sure your head's fine?"

Emily turns around and uncaps a pill bottle. She pops a pill into her mouth and washes it down with the water.

"I'm fine," she repeats. "What did you want to talk about?" Emily leans against the counter again, her arms crossed over her chest.

Rachel stands straighter with her hands in her jacket pockets again. "I've been thinking about us. I miss you and I-"

"No," Emily cuts her off. "We are not doing this."

"Emily, let me finish."

"No." Emily shakes her head. She heads toward the door. "God, why didn't JJ tell me she called you," she mutters.

"Emily, please."

Emily whirls back toward Rachel. "I don't need your pity."

"That's not what this is."

"Isn't it? The first time we talk in almost two months is after I have a weird head injury, and you're saying you want to get back together."

"Yes," Rachel says with conviction. "I miss you."

Emily takes a few steps backward to lean her back on the door. Her arms come up again to cross at her chest. "It doesn't matter." Emily shakes her head. "It was a whirlwind romance and it's time to let it go.

Rachel pulls her hands from her pockets as she starts toward Emily. She catches herself and stands next to the bar. "It was a whirlwind, you're right, but that doesn't make it any less real."

Emily says nothing. She just looks past Rachel's shoulder.

Rachel takes the opportunity to take two more steps toward her ex-girlfriend. Two cautious steps ends with Rachel standing in the entrance to the galley kitchen. "I don't want to let it go, Emily. You don't either. Your brain and heart have spoken," Rachel ends with a smile.

The pair's eyes lock as Emily responds with a smirk. "Using my brain as evidence on this isn't a very sound tactic right now.

Rachel laughs. "Maybe. But you thought of us together for a reason." Two more steps closer to Emily. Emily's eyes drag away from Rachel's face to lock back on the window and skyline beyond Rachel's shoulder.

"It doesn't matter."

"Why not?"

Emily shakes her head. "Rachel, please."

"I'm not leaving here until I get a real answer from you. I…" Rachel crosses her arms in front of her body as she trails off.

The two square off. Identical poses for different reasons. One holding herself back. And the other preparing her defenses for the unknown.

After a prolonged silence, Emily gives up with a shrug and a whisper. "You can do better than me."

"Is that what you really think or are you punishing yourself for what happened? The bank wasn't your fault."

"Sure, fine," Emily concedes hastily. "But kissing Meg was."

Rachel takes a step back at this.

Emily continues, "No matter what was going on in my head, it shouldn't have happened. Are you saying you're fine with that?"

"I was furious with you. And hurt. Still am."

With a well-made point, Emily takes a few confident steps toward Rachel. "Exactly. You shouldn't have to ever go through that again."

"Would it happen again if we were back together? You kissing someone else. Would you cheat on me?"

"No."

"Exactly. I want you; you want me. And yet something's still holding you back." Rachel gives up baby steps and moves to stand right in front of Emily. "It's simple. Yes or no. No bank, no kiss. Do you want to be with me?" Rachel demands.

Emily looks at Rachel so close. Her milk chocolate eyes, her tiny nose, her pink lips shining with a thin layer of gloss. Emily licks her own lips slightly before pulling them into her mouth lest she do something crazy like listen to her hammering heart and kiss this woman in front of her. She opts for a hesitant nod in response to Rachel's question.

Rachel unfolds Emily's arms and takes her hands into her own. With a smug smile, Rachel counters, "Words, Agent Prentiss. Do you want to be with me?"

Emily swallows the lump in her throat. "Yes," she croaks.

"Then it's settled."

"But -,"

Rachel groans. "Emily, stop trying to protect me!" Rachel takes a breath. "Listen, there's no reason for us to not be together. Yes, you kissed Meg. Yes, it hurt me. But you didn't hide it. Unless, it wasn't a one-time thing and there've been others?"

"No. Of course not.

"So, we can get past this. I want to get past it." Rachel squeezes Emily's hands. "I trust you. I trusted you before the bank. I trusted you in the bank. And I trust you now. Okay?"

Silence surrounds the two for several breaths before Emily responds. "Okay."

Rachel smiles. "Good." Rachel looks to Emily's lips.

Emily smiles for the first time that day.

"I'm going to kiss you now," Rachel says. She leans in and is happily met halfway by lips she hasn't touched in too long.


So the two are back together (Finally, I know!). So what did you think?

Let's talk business: I have a poll up on my profile! What would you guys like to see next: A stand alone chapter(not created yet) or the Start of the Doyle saga(first part kinda written). I gotta say I'm super excited for the Doyle saga but I know I killed some of you guys with the team learning about Rachel and the Aftermath lol. Tell me what you want to see next!

Sappy AN: Just wanted to say I really love and appreciate all that have stuck with this story and reviewed, followed, or added it to your favorites. And the handful of you who sent me PMs to talk about everything that happens and encouraging me to continue with this story even after long breaks. I love interacting with you guys, so thanks! Never hesitate to talk to me about any of my stories. (okay. Sappiness over.)

Let me know what you think! (Can't wait to wake up to you guys reaction!)

TVCrazed.