CHAPTER FOURTEEN

5x21 Exit Wounds

"Alright, you know what? I don't even get you sometimes," JJ said. She wasn't quite angry - but there was a brashness to her voice. Emily noticed and sighed quietly.

They were walking down the sidewalk together looking for Garcia. Ladies night had taken a turn when Garcia had insisted on going into every single shop they passed. Emily volunteered herself to get coffee for the group and JJ tagged along, longing for some alone time with her.

"It's going to end badly," Emily insisted.

"You don't know that!" JJ argued, turning her head to look at her.

"I know Strauss," Emily continued.

"Okay, you know what? We can make it work." JJ turned back to face forward, "Oh, no." Emily followed JJ's gaze and saw Garcia weighed down by shopping bags making her way towards them. It was comical how flustered she was trying to explain why she had so many. She lightened the mood between them considerably. Emily grinned at her friend.

"Give me my coffee and no one's gonna get hurt."

Emily's brow furrowed, "Oh - uh - half-calf, extra shot venti, 2-pump nonfat, hold the whip, caramel macchiato."

"Mm-hm, next stop Xanadu!" Garcia sang happily.

JJ's cell phone chimed and she pulled it out, "Uh… Xana-don't. Time to go to the BAU ladies."

Emily looked over at JJ. She was still clearly unhappy. It wasn't until they got to the office that Emily was finally able to get JJ alone. Emily walked into JJ's office. JJ glanced up from her paperwork but looked right back down.

"I can't talk right now, I have to present this case in 15 minutes." JJ didn't mean for it to sound as dismissive as it did. But she was frustrated with Emily. This had been going on for weeks and she was getting sick of having the same fight with her. Emily watched JJ writing notes on a pad. She didn't know what to say so she just backed out of her girlfriend's office and made herself busy at her desk for the next 15 minutes.

"What's the matter, Princess?" Morgan said casually. He was leaning back in his chair in the conference room, sipping a coffee. Emily walked through the door and saw that Spencer, Garcia, and Hotch were already there too.

"Nothing," Emily muttered under her breath. Derek knew that tone. JJ entered the room right behind Emily and Derek shot a look at her but she looked just as dispondant. Derek sighed. This was happening more and more often.

He recently had been finding them around a corner in heated discussion only to stop abruptly once they noticed him. JJ had filled him in on what it was about. It was simple - she wanted to tell the team about their relationship, and Emily didn't. Derek was torn. He understood both sides of the arguement and he loved both women like family. More than anything, he wished they could come to some kind of compromise and stop fighting.

JJ sat down harshly next to Reid. He looked over at her, evidently realizing that something was wrong.

"Everything okay?" He inquired softly. JJ looked at her friend.

"Yeah... Spence. I'm fine."

David was the last to join them. "Whoa!" Emily exclaimed. Rossi was wearing a full tux with the bow tie untied and hanging around his neck.

"What are you working on, wife number four?" Morgan joked with a smile.

"I see you people, way too much," he answered, sitting down.

JJ approached Morgan and Garcia. They were talking at the far end of the cabin. She paused to give them space. Penelope was distraught and traumatized. Watching a man die in front of her was taking a toll on her psyche. She snapped at Derek when he tried to interview her. Derek tried to follow her but JJ stepped in.

"Derek, let her go."

He sighed, "Will you look after her please?"

"Yeah, of course," JJ whispered. She paused before adding, "Will you look after her?"

"Always," Derek said with a grim smile. He didn't need to ask who JJ was referring to. She gave him a polite smile and followed Garcia up the stairs.

It was after midnight when they apprehended the man on the boat. By the time the team returned to the cabin it was almost two o'clock. Everyone went straight to their rooms to get as much sleep as they possibly could before flying home the following day.

Once Emily was sure everyone had gone to bed, she cracked her door open and tip toed her way down the hall. Emily cautiously reached for the door. It wasn't locked. Emily sighed in relief. That meant JJ still wanted her to come in. Emily turned the handle and closed the door slowly and silently. She padded her way through the pitch black room. JJ was lying on her side when Emily slid under the blankets and pressed her body behind hers. JJ sighed happily. She pulled Emily's arm around her tightly, bringing her even closer.

No matter how frustrated she was with Emily she could never bring herself to lock her door. Especially after a case. Lying in Emily's arms seemed to be one of the only things that could make her feel safe.

"Hi," Emily whispered into JJ's neck.

"Hi," JJ answered. She smiled inspite of herself. She loved the way it felt when Emily held her. "Do you think Penelope will be okay?"

"Yeah, I do. With time."

JJ's eyes fluttered when Emily kissed her neck softly. Before long JJ had fallen asleep. But Emily hadn't. See continued to stare at the back of JJ's head, happy to just watch her breathe. She had been wrestling with something. Emily shook JJ very gently.

"Jay. Jay? Are you awake?" She said it in the smallest whisper. JJ never moved. Her breathing remained steady and slow. "I love you too." Emily whispered slowly. JJ didn't move. Her chest continued to rise and fall steadily. Emily tightened her grip around her slightly. It was terrifying to let someone in. To trust someone. To let someone have the power to break her. But, for the first time in her life, the desire to be with someone overpowered her fear of falling. It was JJ. It had been from the beginning.

Emily felt herself falling into a peaceful sleep. Soon they would have to get up and face the day. Soon they would have to pretend that they were nothing more than co-workers. But for the next couple of hours, Emily basked in the feeling of holding the woman she loved.