Hello! I posted chapter 18 a few days ago, but I don't think it sent out an email notification. So you might want to make sure you've read that one (it features Garcia). I hope you all have a good weekend!
Update: I'm going to try posting this again to see if it sends out an alert. Fingers crossed!
A weight seemed to have lifted off of JJ after telling Garcia, and Emily was happy. It made her happy to see JJ getting more comfortable with herself, with them.
But despite all of that, she was tired. When she woke up in the morning, she was more tired than when she had fallen asleep the night before. The pain in her leg was sharp. It seemed to radiate out. But she said nothing, just relied on her cane a little more, slept a little longer, she didn't want to ruin this moment. This moment she had waited years for.
The evening after telling Garcia about them, JJ and Emily sat down to talk about the team. Garcia had promised not to say anything until they were ready, but despite her best intentions, it was unlikely she would be able to keep it to herself for long.
"The team won't think any differently of you," Emily promised, "and if they do, I'll come beat them up myself."
JJ laughed, but a nervous laugh, "I know you're right."
"Of course I am," Emily smiled.
"But I still worry."
"I know," Emily reached out and took JJ's hand, "it's hard, I wish it wasn't, but it's so damn hard. And you know that whatever you choose to do, I love you."
"I love you too," JJ smiled.
"I can come with if you want, or you can tell them, or we can just not tell them anything, your call."
"I think," JJ sighed, "I need to tell them."
Emily nodded.
"Why don't... you can say no to this, because this isn't only about me, it's about you too..."
"JJ," Emily said, "just tell me."
"I'll tell the team tomorrow. Would, would you talk to Derek?"
"Of course," Emily smiled. "He called earlier to see if I wanted to get drinks tonight. I could tell him then, or I could stay here, wait until tomorrow."
"You should go tonight, if you want," JJ added quickly, squeezing her hand.
"I'll give him a call."
Emily stood up and took her phone out of her pocket and called Derek back. When she put her phone away JJ stood up and kissed her on the cheek.
"I love you," JJ said.
"I love you too."
XXX
Emily relied heavily on her cane as she walked into the bar. She tried not to grimace as each step sent a shot of pain up and down her leg. Derek was already there, sitting at the bar with a beer in his hand, and he looked over when Emily walked in. She smiled, hoping it didn't look pained, and walked as normally as she could over to him. She heaved herself into the raised seat and bit back a curse.
"Hey there Prentiss, I was afraid you were going to hop a flight right out of here before I got a chance to see you again."
"Not a chance" Emily laughed, "I've got at least a few more days here."
Something her and JJ hadn't yet talked about was the fact that Emily wasn't here permanently. At the present it was easier to ignore that, be happy while they could, and deal with the rest later.
"How's your vacation been?" Derek asked.
"Oh, you know, pretty exciting," Emily laughed, "lots of reading, some TV, and now I'm almost done with a puzzle."
"That is pretty exciting," Derek grinned.
"How are Hank and Savannah?"
Derek couldn't keep the grin off his face as he told her about them and his excitement was infectious.
"I'm so happy for you, Derek, I really am."
"You ever think about it? Starting a family?"
Emily hesitated, now was her time, the perfect chance to tell him, "well..."
Derek raised his eyebrows, "so there is someone!"
"That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about."
"Okay, I'm listening." He sensed the caution in her voice.
"I'm with someone."
Derek's eyes brightened, but he said nothing, waiting for Emily to continue.
"It's JJ."
"Well it's about damn time!" Derek grinned.
"Wait, you mean, you knew?"
"That you were gay or that you were hopelessly in love with JJ?" He asked.
Emily's look of shock and confusion made him laugh.
"Emily, you were my partner for years. Of course I knew. Even if you weren't ready to tell me."
Emily grinned sheepishly, "was it that obvious?"
"I wouldn't say obvious, not if someone didn't know you. But I saw the way you looked at her, and I saw the way she looked back. I just can't believe it took this long!"
Emily laughed, relieved. They continued to talk. Emily enjoyed being able to talk about JJ, not having to hide anymore. Their conversation helped keep Emily's mind off the pain in her leg, but it got worse as the night progressed. By the time they parted ways, Emily could barely walk without a grunt of pain escaping her lips.
XXX
Emily tossed and turned all night, finally falling into a fitful sleep just as the sun was beginning the rise. By the time she woke, the sun was high in the sky and JJ was gone. Sweat dripped down her face and the pain was bad. It almost felt as though the shrapnel had just been pulled from her leg again.
Emily cringed as she sat up and pulled the blankets away.
A small cry escaped her when she rolled up her pajama pants. The wound across her thigh, held together by stitches, was red. Her leg felt hot, her whole body did. She stood, but her leg immediately collapsed beneath her and she fell to the bedroom floor. The landing caused a whole new round of pain and tears came to her eyes.
She scooted back against the side of the bed and looked down at her leg. She knew she was supposed to go to the doctors before this, but the thought... the thought of being back there. She cringed.
Emily balled up her fists in frustration and let out a grunt. After a minute she made herself calm down. And after yet again trying to stand she knew that her leg wouldn't be able to support her weight. Emily reached over her head, blindly searching for her cellphone. In the process she knocked over a box of tissues and a clock, but finally her hand wrapped around her phone. She dialed and pressed call, holding up the phone to her ear.
"Emily," JJ said, a smile in her voice, "what's up? I only have a minute to talk, I'm headed to the bullpen to talk to the team."
"JJ..."
"What is it?" JJ noticed her tone immediately.
Emily bit her lip and squeezed her eyes shut, "I need your help, I'm not sure it can wait."
"Are you okay?" Emily could hear JJ gathering her stuff in the background, "I'll be there in fifteen minutes."
"I'm... no, I guess I'm not."
"Emily, talk to me, what happened?"
"I just... I'll see you soon," Emily dropped the phone. She leaned her head back against the bed. A shiver ran through her and suddenly she felt cold. She looked down at her leg and cursed. It stung, but she rolled her pant leg down while gritting her teeth. Then she leaned back again.
XXX
JJ left her office without closing the door, her bag slung over her shoulder she ran down the stairs and nearly knocked Reid over as she ran across the bullpen. She heard him call after her, but she didn't stop. Once she got to her car she sped back to her house, terrified of what she might find. Imagining all of the worst case scenarios her mind could come up with.
Finally she pulled into the driveway and jumped out of the car, running up to her house.
"Emily?" She called when she walked in, but the house was silent. Then as she crossed the kitchen she heard something.
"No, get out," it was Emily's voice, but it was strained, "get out."
JJ immediately reached for her gun and held it ahead of her as she approached the bedroom door.
"It's a trap, get out!"
JJ threw open the door, expecting to see someone else in the room, but it was only Emily. She was slumped down on the floor, her face red and sweaty. JJ holstered her weapon and ran to her, kneeling down beside Emily.
"Em," she put her hand on Emily's cheek and it was clammy, "what happened?"
"We have to get out, it's a trap, we have to go," Emily seemed to talk in a daze, she wasn't looking at JJ. She didn't seem to be looking at anything, her eyes were unfocused and darting back and forth.
"Emily, look at me," JJ said, "what happened?"
"I can't let them die," Emily said before her eyes rolled back and her body slumped over.