I checked - still don't own Criminal Minds and still not getting paid for writing this. Oh well, c'est la vie.
Happy reading and enjoy :D
"Will, why are we stopping here?" JJ asked as she glanced up at the liquor store they were parked in front of.
"If we're going to have the conversation I think we're going to … well cher, a little liquid courage will sure help me." Will replied, scrubbing his hand through his hair as he tried to imagine how this conversation was going to go. His parents had raised him to an honest man, but sometimes it was scary as hell. He turned to look at her in the passenger seat. "I'll be right back." he said and then climbed out of the truck.
JJ picked up the glass of bourbon Will had poured for her as soon as he finished talking about his conflicting emotions regarding his partner and best friend Charlie. Her eyes burned as the amber liquid slid down her throat in one long swallow. Will had been right when he said that they'd need liquid courage for this conversation.
It turned out that Will and Charlie had an encounter about a week ago that led to something. Will hadn't gone into details, but he had described it as being something that he would have never seen happening in a million years. He also would never have expected to enjoy it like he did.
"So then what did he say afterwards?" JJ asked.
"He said 'it was probably best we pretend it never happened'" Will replied shaking his head as he finished his third glass of bourbon. He sat his glass down on the coffee table and proceeded to pour his fourth glass.
JJ nodded. "That's why you've been so quiet isn't it?"
Will nodded solemnly.
"Oh my god!" JJ exclaimed "Why did you agree to us going out with Charlie and Allison. Sitting there with him and pretending like nothing happened must have been incredibly awkward for you."
Will shrugged. "I thought it'd make things more awkward and weird if it seemed like I had a problem hanging out with Charlie and his girlfriend. That 'n no matter what happened; he's still my best friend."
JJ nodded and then took a slow sip from the low ball glass full of ice and alcohol in her hand. "And it doesn't bother you that after what happened between the two of you, instead of discussing it, figuring out what it means, and if the two of you should be together; he wants you to hang out with him and his girlfriend on a double date?"
"Yeah, can we talk about something else? Anything else… I… I just ain't ready to figure out how I feel about everything… "Will said sadly as he slumped back against the couch and turned to look at JJ.
"What do you want to talk about?" JJ asked as she picked up the bottle of bourbon off of the table and filled her glass and then leaned back against the couch next to Will.
"So wait, le' me ge' this ri'" Will slurred drunkenly as he sat up and poured himself another glass of bourbon and topped off JJ's glass for her. "Y'all wen' to a football game on a date an' then you spent the next year an' a half flirting with each other? Sounds ta me like I ain't the only one with an attraction to my co-worker an' best friend." Will said and then hiccupped.
JJ giggled drunkenly at Will hiccupping. "Yeah… we just couldn't seem to get our timing right. Then… well then something really bad happened on a case. Besides, he's a genius why would he want to be with someone like me anyway?" JJ replied with a sigh and then finished her glass of bourbon.
Will looked her up and down. "First of all cher, have you seen you? Unless the man is gay or dead why wouldn't he want to be with you? Hell, turns out I might be gay… but I was interested in you. Second of all, sounds to me like he's smitten with you just like you are with him. Far as I can tell it sounds to me like you might be just right for each other."
Will once again picked up the bottle of bourbon and topped off their glasses and watched as the last drops dripped out into JJ's glass. "Oh hell, we're both gonna be a right mess tomorrow cher."
"Why's 'at?" JJ asked.
"Cause we drank the whole bottle!" Will said holding up the now empty bottle of bourbon up to his eye and looking at JJ through opening and down the length of the bottle.
JJ for some reason found this absolutely hysterical and began to laugh. "You… you… you look like a pirate when you do that." She said as she struggled to catch her breath as she was laughing so hard that she had tears running down her face.
"RRRR do I now?" Will asked squinting at JJ and causing her to laugh even harder.
"So cher, I expect that the next time you come to visit, you'll be bringing that genius of yours with. After all, I'd like to think that he and I'll be friends." Will said as he hugged JJ in the drop off zone at the airport.
A grin spread across JJ's face at the thought of Will and Spence being friends. "I'd like that." JJ replied, adjusting he sunglasses on her face as she prepared to walk into the airport. She'd be keeping the sunglasses on when she got inside. She had a killer headache from all of the bourbon the night before. "Talk to you soon. Promise me you'll call if you need to talk?"
Will nodded. "I promise." he replied softly.
JJ nodded and then turned to head into the airport. She wondered what the next week at work would bring. Hopefully things would be slow and she'd have a chance to ask Spence out to dinner like Will had managed to talk her into last night.