Charity Work
Spoiler: S02E18 Jones
Pairing: Emily/JJ, slight JJ/Will
Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Criminal Minds or any of its contents.
Author's note: Thanks B for having the patience to beta this for me (and listening to my crazy "creative" ramblings). I actually had this done a long time ago, but with my lack of free time I winded up forgetting to post. I'll try to get the other one done (and posted!) as soon as possible; still got a lot to go with this story. Thank you everyone who reviewed, I hope you're all still interested and enjoy this one.
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It wasn't long after dawn that the two agents got into the private airplane. The few beer bottles they drank through the pool table matches replaced by large cups of coffee. The quick and cold showers they took before leaving the hotel helping to hide their all-nighter. The jokes and laughter of most of their night gave place to a comfortable silence after Emily walked to the pilot's cabin and told him they were ready to go.
When they landed in New Orleans it was too early to go to the police station, even though they knew most agents would still be there. They put their bags in the back seats and walked into the car.
"Would you mind passing by the hotel first?" Morgan sounded casual, deciding to make things easier for his friend. He had noticed the stares at the mobile phone increase its' frequency and meaning as the night progressed. He had to give it to her, though; if it wasn't his job to notice such things he probably wouldn't have seen. Those looks… if they were related to who he thought they were, than he had been wrong and Garcia was right all along; it wasn't just a good chemistry with a bit of attraction. He thought about the trouble it might cause, not only to the two of them but also to the team as a unit, and got worried. That didn't last long, though.
He watched the brunette woman smiling to herself as she read something from an old rugged book; and found himself hoping the technical analyst was right. His baby sister — because was how he felt about the blonde media liaison — needed something that, even though he knew what it was, he couldn't provide. If there was someone who could it seemed to be the brunette female, all bones and bandages attached.
"Sure" It was her only answer, knowing any more might give away her relief. The black agent had hinted off enough for her to go and be obvious to the point of suggesting that herself; anything to avoid personal conversations. Morgan looked at her, let out a chuckle and repeated her word mockingly before starting up the car.
"I'm just gonna leave my bag in the room and be here in a few" Emily said as they walked through the New Orleans' hotel front doors.
"Then you'll be here alone, darling. That quick shower wasn't nearly enough to cleanse this gorgeous body of mine. I'm gonna use all the time available" He put his trademark smirk and earned a scoff and a disgusted look from the brunette.
"I need to tell Garcia to slow down on the whole flattering thing, because it's so going way over your head" That only made his smirk grow larger, a comeback ready. "Don't! I can guess what you're going to say, so I'll just split before you actually have a reason to shower."
His hurt look was so perfect that if it wasn't Derek Morgan she was talking to, she might have bought it. They parted ways as she was the first to get the keys to her room. She had no idea whether the blond was in fact there or not, but nevertheless she opened the door carefully, as to not make a sound. The room was still a bit dark, the sun rays only starting to shine in. The sound of the air conditioner was predominant in the quiet room. Using her cell phone's lights she guided herself around the room, before her eyes adjusted to the lack of visibility. She slowly walked past the sleeping blond to put her bag beside her bed. She thought about following Morgan's example, but truth be told she'd only consider herself to have had a decent shower after at least an hour in her bathtub.
She was about to lie on the bed when she heard the blonde's whimpers. It was only then she really paid attention to the sleeping woman, and saw that though she looked peaceful at first she could see the movement underneath the eyelids and her hands clutched the pillow too tightly.
"I'm sorry" The blonde's hurting apology glided through the quiet room, making it impossible for Emily to mistaken it, and ignore. She was stunned, on the edge of the bed, confused about what to do. Each moment seemed to prolong itself as she sat there watching, waiting for something to change. That was the second time she found herself in that situation, the first one haven't gone so well.
They barely knew each other then, so she understood the other woman's anger when she found herself being awakened from a nightmare by the group's new agent. There was no doubt lots of things had happened since then, and that things between then had changed, but she didn't want to risk it.
"Please, I'm so sorry" The blond pleaded once more, and this time it didn't take a second for Emily to be kneeling by her side; her hand tentatively close to the blonde's, undecided whether to hold it or not.
When, for some reason the blond let go of the pillow, the dark-haired woman took her chance, and soon it was her hand being strangled by JJ's grip. She had to admit, though: that was one strong petite woman. Even so, Emily stroked her hand with her tone in a soothing way and hoped the blond would calm a bit. Emily only relaxed when the blond did so, but the calming gesture didn't help putting away her tiredness and soon she fell asleep as well.
It was leaning on the bed with her head on the mattress near their joined hands that JJ saw the brunette, as she slowly opened her eyes. The room was considerably lighter than before, even though it hadn't been over half an hour since Emily had walked into the room. She didn't even try to resist the urge to stroke the brunette's raven hair, knowing there was little chance she'd wake up, while she thought of her nightmare.
Elle had mentioned it once that she talked in her sleep, but she didn't get much concerned about it. Her sleeping hours and Elle's hardly ever matched during their trips and bothering someone with sleep talking is hardly a single woman's worry. Only when she was woken up by the sleeping female currently near her that incommoded her. Elle had never bothered to wake her, or even do more than mention it nonchalantly that one time. Something JJ appreciated.
She felt embarrassed. She made enough effort not to show weaknesses in front of the team of profilers to screw it up like that; in front of the new agent, to make it worse. She never spoke a word about it, and gladly, neither did Emily, thought she never hid her worry. It was after that day that JJ started paying more attention to the brunette's eyes; she never mentioned but her eyes showed that she cared. They barely knew each other, but the blonde could tell her worry was sincere. From then on, as they got closer, the brunette only proved her right.
She slipped her hand out of Emily's and carefully got out of bed. The brunette barely moved. JJ walked to the brunette's bag and retrieved the sheet she knew Emily always brought to the trips, in case they were put in a not-so-stellar hotel. She covered the other woman and went to the bathroom, hoping she'd have some time for breakfast.
Morgan was still dripping all over the floor when his phone started to ring. He ran all the way to the other side of the room, being careful not to slip, knowing it was probably the unit chief.
"Morgan. Good morning to you too, Hotch." He said sarcastically over the phone "It's not even…Ok. I can get them; we'll be there in a few…" He stared at the phone as he heard the line go dead and mumbled, smiling at his bosses' antics, "Bye"
There went his hope for a calm and descent breakfast; god knows the only things his stomach had seen for a long time were beer, peanuts and coffee. He didn't take long to get dressed and go out of the room, sparing only a look at Reid's untouched bed. He was about to knock on the women's door when it was pulled open and he found himself face to face with the blonde media liaison. He looked behind her, into the room, and saw the female profiler leaning on what he knew it was the blonde's bed, as it was the one closer to the door. He looked back at JJ, a questioningly look on his face. She did her best to look oblivious, but that was Derek Morgan after all.
"Don't" She warned, but it was too late.
"Oh, the images…" He looked up with a dirty smile, his imagination on overdrive. She stared at him, waiting for him to notice she wasn't reacting, which didn't take long. "What? Not even a half-hearted slap?"
"Why would I? I have no idea what you're going on about there." She surprised herself by not even cracking a bit when saying that. Morgan narrowed his eyes mockingly and said, "You're good"
"Takes practice" She smirked proudly, "What's up, Derek?"
"Hotch called. You, sleeping beauty over there and I gotta get to the station. Reid hasn't shown up and I think Hotch needs someone to take LaMontagne out of his ass" The profiler explained.
JJ groaned at the image and the mention of the detective's name. She had to admit she liked his forwardness, but it could get inconvenient after sometime, especially when he went back to the lost puppy routine. Something she'd never admit to Emily. Then something Morgan said caught her attention, "Reid didn't show yet?"
"No, and it doesn't look like he's been in the room either" He told her, not hiding his discontent.
"Shouldn't we be worried?" She asked.
"He'll show." The man stated "Want to go eat breakfast? I can wake up Prentiss if you want"
Morgan received a skeptic look from the blonde, "I want to see you try. I bet 10 bucks you'll give up as soon as you realize the only response you'll get is a nice and grumpy 'Fuck off'"
"Familiar with the bed habits already?" He couldn't stop the teasing remark from coming out and got a light slap from the blonde.
"Yeah, you wish" She joked.
"Gotta say, I wouldn't mind" He admitted, watching closely for the blonde's reaction. She didn't take long to push him away, lacking the lightness from a few moments before.
"You should go have breakfast or we'll be late" She said hastily.
"I think I hit a nerve there" He's smirk turned into a full blown laughter when the media liaison glared at him. He walked backwards to the elevator, hands up in mock surrender. "Going, going"