This chapter is pretty short, but I'll do my best to get the next one posted soon!
I do not own Criminal Minds
The movie ended and JJ looked over at Emily who was still leaning against her. Her eyes were closed and her breaths were even. JJ used the remote to turn off the TV and sat in the darkness, listening to Emily breathe. As happy as JJ was for Emily to be back, she couldn't keep pretending that everything was okay. She had known there was more to the story when Emily showed up on her front porch, more than just using vacation days, but she had convinced herself it was nothing.
JJ decided against waking Emily and instead put her arm around her shoulders and leaned back into the couch. She had walked in on something earlier; she could tell that Emily had been stuck in her own head. A memory, something she wasn't ready to share yet, but something that was causing her pain.
It happened to all of them. Certain cases stuck. They culminated in nightmares or insomnia, sometimes anger or fear or pain. It was the reason so many had left. It wasn't easy, it never had been. It never would be.
But Emily, she compartmentalized. She kept everything inside of her, afraid to share it with the team. Always feeling that it was her own to bear. JJ had seen it in her eyes.
Everyone handled the job differently, but that didn't mean they handled it well.
JJ knew what it was like to hold guilt. Hankel had shown her that. The guilt of the ones they couldn't save. She couldn't save.
She knew how terrible it felt to keep it locked inside. Whatever it was.
"JJ?"
JJ turned and saw that Emily's eyes were open.
"Emily."
"How long have I been asleep?"
"Not long," JJ said, "the movie just ended."
"Okay," Emily nodded as she sat up and yawned.
The living room was dark, "what happened in London?"
A minute passed, "nothing."
"Emily..."
"Honestly, Jayje. You know how it is, cases and everything. I'm just tired, things have been busy. I was just thinking about an old case, you startled me."
"A BAU case?" JJ asked.
"No, Interpol."
"What was the case?"
"It's late," Emily sighed, "we're both tired. It's not the time to discuss an old case."
"Okay," JJ said, but she didn't really feel that. "Just know that when you're ready to talk about it, I'm here. Right down the hall actually. I've had cases, ones that have stuck with me, that after all these years I still can't forget. But it helps to talk about them, really."
"Thanks," Emily said as she stood up, "goodnight." She walked down the hall and into the bedroom, closing the door behind her.
JJ sighed and leaned back, closing her eyes. Emily had never been one to talk about what she was thinking or feeling. But JJ wished she would. Because she had a feeling it was more than just an old case.
And she wanted to help, but didn't know how.