First of all, thank you for the reviews, favorites, and follows! Secondly, here are a few things I forgot to mention in the last chapter (and thank you to the reviewer who reminded me!), this fic takes place after Tribute in Season 11 and is AU without Will, Henry, or Michael.
This chapter is a little short, but I plan on posting multiple times a week (most weeks) so hopefully that makes up for that. I hope you enjoy!
JJ stood there frozen on her driveway. She almost couldn't believe what she was seeing, there was no way it could be real. JJ took a step forward, her bag still gripped in her right hand. The fog didn't lift until she saw the woman stand.
Emily struggled to her feet. She gripped the cane beside her for support, but her eyes didn't leave JJ once.
Finally JJ got her senses back and she half ran up the driveway. "Emily!" She exclaimed when she reached the other woman.
"JJ," Emily replied, a smile spreading across her face.
JJ then looked over to the cane and the way Emily gripped onto it. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine," Emily said. "Are you going to invite me in?" She raised a brow.
"Oh, of course," JJ hurried past her and unlocked the front door. Emily seemed to struggle with her duffle bag, but didn't give it up when JJ offered.
"I was just going to reheat some pasta for dinner," JJ said once they were both in the kitchen.
Emily sat her bag down, "sounds great, do you need any help?"
"Well, I do have to put the pasta in the microwave, and then start the microwave, and then take it out of the microwave. I'm not sure if I can handle that," JJ faked exhaustion.
Emily put up her hands in surrender, but laughed, "then I guess I'll just sit down and let you do all the work." Emily sat behind the counter and looked around JJ's house. Being back here, somehow it felt like she had never left, but also like she had been gone for ages.
JJ turned and opened the fridge to pull out the leftovers. She couldn't keep the grin off of her face. It still didn't feel real. How could Emily Prentiss be sitting in her kitchen right now? Just minutes ago JJ had been convinced she would never see her again. And now she was here. Emily was here.
"I have about a million questions," JJ said after putting the container of pasta in the microwave to heat up.
"It's probably best to start with one," Emily replied.
"What happened to your leg?"
Emily shook her head, "it's embarrassing, really."
"I won't laugh," JJ promised.
Emily sighed, "I was at the Interpol training center and I landed wrong on my leg. It's nothing bad, but now I need this damn cane to get around."
"Okay, second question. What are you doing in the US?"
"Trying to get rid of me already?" Emily teased.
"Of course not! I just... I haven't heard from you in months and now here you are."
"I know, and I'm sorry about that. Things have just been really busy at the London office. But I had some accrued vacation time that I was apt to lose if I didn't actually use it. I wanted to come see you. Everyone."
"And how long?"
Emily shrugged, "two weeks hopefully. But you know how it is, if they call me back early..."
"Of course," JJ said, their conversation cut off by the beeping of the microwave. She went over and finished preparing the food, then brought two plates to the kitchen counter and sat next to Emily.
"Now enough about me," Emily said, "how are you?"
"I'm good," JJ said, "we've been busy at the BAU too, we just got off our fifth case without a day off."
"Sounds like we could both use a break."
"You can say that again."
They both ate their pasta and JJ kept glancing at Emily out of the corner of her eye. It felt so good to see her best friend again.
When they were both finished eating, JJ took their plates and set them in the sink. She turned, looking back at Emily, and bit her lip. Emily wasn't looking at her, but JJ could see her dark eyes gazing off into the distance.
"Why don't you stay here?" JJ blurted out before she lost her nerve.
"What?" Emily turned to look at her, blinking quickly.
"I have a guest room and I've really missed you Em, why don't you stay here?"
"I wouldn't want to intrude."
"You wouldn't be, I promise."
"Only if you're sure," Emily said, but then she smiled.
XXX
Emily stood in JJ's guest room, supporting herself with her cane. After they had finished dinner, JJ had shown her everything in the bathroom and kitchen and told her to make herself at home.
When Emily was alone in the guest room she set her bag on the bed and pulled out a pair of pajamas. She slipped off her shirt and pants and looked down at her left thigh. The cut stretched up her leg from the top of her knee to just below her hip. There were over two dozen stitches. She examined it carefully and touched the wound tenderly, flinching in response.
She stepped into her pair of flannel pants and slipped an oversized Yale t-shirt over her head. She eased herself onto the bed.
She laid back. She was tired. She was just so tired.