"I'll do it for you."
JJ had never considered herself to be a vain sort. She wasn't naïve, she knew she was good looking—that people desired her—but it had never gone to her head before. She honestly didn't think much of her physical appearance beyond what it took to get ready for a night out. But ever since that horrible night where she'd been tortured in a warehouse just days ago, JJ's body had become her enemy.
She took a deep breath, gripping the edge of the counter in the master bathroom hard, trying to steady herself. JJ hadn't looked at the electrical burn on her abdomen since the doctor had covered it before they sent her home, but the bandages needed to be changed. She slowly lifted her gaze to stare at herself in the mirror. Her skin was sallow, almost ashen, her cheekbones more prominent than they usually were, which wasn't surprising considering she hadn't eaten in days. Her eyes were red-rimmed and haunted, even her normally voluminous hair was dull and lifeless.
Keeping eye contact with herself so she wouldn't look at her stomach, JJ carefully removed her t-shirt, wincing with the effort and dropped it to the floor. Left only in a black sports bra and pyjamma pants, she couldn't help but have her eye drawn to the large white bandage on her side. She hovered a shaking hand over it before choking back a sob and turning on the cold tap to splash some water on her face. Trying to stop the rush of tears, JJ leaned over the sink and sobbed, hoping the sound of the running water would mask the sounds of her strangled weeping.
A tentative knock at the door alerted her to the reality that she'd been heard. "Jayje?" Emily's hesitant voice was faint through the door but JJ could hear the concern in it.
She took several deep breaths, shutting off the water and wiping at her eyes. "I'm okay." JJ called back in a watery voice. She had told Emily she wanted to change the bandages on her own and Emily had gone to put Henry to bed in an effort to do her best to respect the blonde's wishes, but JJ knew the second she heard how shattered her own voice sounded that she would not be doing this alone.
"I'm coming in." Emily informed her unnecessarily, opening the door slowly as if not to frighten her.
Part of JJ was grateful for Emily's strong, understanding presence. But another part of her, the part that was still in shock, the part that was still in that warehouse with Tivon Askari, the part that had nearly tumbled off a building after Hastings, flinched at the thought of anyone really—but especially the brave, unflappable Emily Prentiss—seeing her in such a state. She'd always prided herself on being stronger than people gave her credit for, but right now? Right now she'd never felt weaker and she didn't want anyone seeing her like that.
JJ didn't look at Emily when she came into the bathroom, closing the door quietly behind herself; she just stared at the drain in the sink trying to keep herself from breaking down.
"It's okay to not be okay." Emily said softly after a moment of silence, placing a warm hand on JJ's back, causing her to startle and meet Emily's eyes with her own. She saw no condescending pity there, only support, compassion, and empathy. "You don't have to be strong right now, Jennifer." She promised. "It's okay."
As if she'd just needed the permission, JJ felt the dam burst and allowed herself to be pulled into the loose but comforting circle of Emily's arms and she broke down, her wailing smothered against Emily's shoulder.
"You did so good." Emily murmured, running her long fingers through JJ's hair. "I'm so proud of you…It's okay, let go…I'm here…"
They stood that way for a long time, with Emily repeating herself until JJ's sobbing quieted to broken hiccupping while she caught her breath and the tears subsided. "I still have to…" JJ whispered, taking a step back to gesture to the bandage on her side.
"I'll do it for you." Emily said tenderly, pressing her lips to JJ's forehead before setting about the task of cleaning the wound and re-bandaging it.
JJ tried not to look as Emily carefully pulled the medical tape holding the bandage away but her eyes were glued to the raw, angry, red skin as it was slowly revealed. Her mind disassociated from the pain of Emily gently cleaning the burn so she could put the prescribed antibiotic cream on it, running through what had happened to her. "I saw you." JJ blurted suddenly, her voice low and detached. "When I felt…when I felt like breaking." She didn't notice Emily's hands still for a second at the revelation. "I wanted to give up, but then I saw you, so I didn't…and then…you came for me…"
Emily stopped what she was going and righted herself, lifting JJ's chin slightly with an index finger to make eye contact. "I will always come for you." Emily's voice was just as hushed as JJ's had been, but there was a vehement conviction behind it.