Hello! I'm sorry this chapter is so short, I will try to get the next one posted soon.
I do not own Criminal Minds
JJ didn't remember falling back asleep but when she opened her eyes again the sun was up. She looked over and saw that she was alone in bed, which didn't surprise her because she doubted Emily had fallen back asleep. JJ was just sitting up when Emily walked into the doorway. She was still wearing her pajamas and her hair hung loose around her face.
"Good morning," Emily smiled.
"Good morn-" JJ's reply was interrupted with a yawn, "-ing," she finished.
Emily chuckled, "I've got a pot of coffee brewing as we speak."
"Thank you," JJ said gratefully.
"What time do you have to be in the office?" Emily asked.
JJ looked at her clock, it was nearing eight. But then she remembered her call to Hotch last night, "I actually have the day off."
"Really?" Emily asked, skeptically.
"Yup, so we've got all day together," JJ smiled.
Emily's eyes narrowed, "is this because of last night? Because I promise I'm okay."
JJ stood up and walked across the room, "you're stuck with me," she said and then kissed Emily on the cheek.
"I guess I can't really complain."
XXX
Emily had convinced JJ repeatedly that her leg was okay to walk. The evening was beautiful and they had driven to a nearby lake. Emily held JJ's hand in one hand and her cane in the other as they walked down the trail from the parking lot to the lake.
And even though Emily had told JJ over and over again that she would be okay, that her leg was fine, that she could walk down the trail, she didn't know how much farther she could manage.
It should have been getting better. And it had, for a while, for a few days. But now the ache rarely went away and if she spent too much time walking, the ache turned into a sharp pain. So she was grateful when JJ pointed out a bench and asked if she wanted to sit.
Tall, beautiful trees surrounded them. The sun was low in the sky and casted a golden hue.
"Have you ever thought about coming out to the team?" JJ asked.
Emily thought for a moment, "I think I went for so long not saying anything about how I felt to anyone, that I never really considered that I could. What about you?"
"Yeah," JJ said.
"No one on the team will think any differently of you," Emily told her.
"Part of me knows that, but part of me is still afraid."
"I don't want you to ever be afraid," Emily took her hand out of JJ's and wrapped it around her shoulder, "and if anyone ever hurts you, I swear to god, they'll have to deal with me."
"I don't doubt that," JJ smiled, "and same goes for you. I've got your back. Always." JJ turned her head and kissed Emily's cheek, "so now that we're, uh, I don't know... dating?"
"Dating," Emily confirmed.
JJ grinned, "now that we're dating, what do you want to do about the team?"
"That's your call," Emily said. "I don't work for the FBI anymore, but you do. Whatever you want to do, I'm with you 100 percent."
JJ took some time to think about it. She had thought about it in the past, but it had always seemed too daunting. But this time she wasn't alone, she had Emily with her.
"I need to tell Penelope," JJ said, "and after that... we can see what happens and go from there."
"Sounds like a plan," Emily said before slipping her hand back into JJ's hand.