JJ:
JJ groaned as she woke from the floor, her back and neck protesting her decision greatly but she could dwell on her decision later; she had to get to work. She stretched moaning as her back realigned itself in a painfully good way. She looked around her room and sighed before heading to her shower, she needed to clear her mind and prepare herself for Derek. She climbed into the shower and closed her eyes, allowing the water to wash over her and cleanse her. She sighed in relief that her mind was clear for the first time in the past 24 hours and she was glad for the respite she felt. She really needed the time to re-gather herself. She climbed out of the shower, ignoring her reflection in the mirror and headed straight into her room to decide what she was going to wear. She did not think she could handle seeing herself, because then she would notice how transparent she was right now. She needed to compose herself; she needed to be strong.
JJ pulled out a white blouse and a black pencil skirt to wear with her heels. She hoped that Hotch did not have a case for them to leave on, she did not think she could handle having to take on one of the monsters they face all the time. She needed to be home and have some peace, in other words, she needed more time for herself. She dressed herself and sighed, as she knew that she had to look herself in the mirror to check out how she looked. She closed her eyes before turning to face the mirror and see her reflection. She still looked relaxed and that bothered JJ; she should look harried and stressed, maybe have some stress lines around her eyes or even bags representing her exhaustion but no physical wear appeared in the mirror and JJ started to wonder if she was losing her mind.
She shook her head and before focusing on her appearance, turning front and back till she was satisfied with how she looked. She pulled on black heels before applying light make-up. She checked herself one last time before heading out to the kitchen. She was going to make herself coffee but she paused, remembering what happened between her and Morgan in the kitchen; it was then that JJ decided it would be better to go buy coffee. She grabbed her coat and bag before going out to her car to begin her drive to work trying to prepare herself for seeing Derek.
Derek:
Derek woke from his sleep and turned to find Clooney staring at him. Derek merely stared back at him until Clooney leaned forward and licked Derek's face in excitement. Derek tried to push Clooney away but his dog was persistent and soon Derek found himself rolling around with Clooney. Derek laughed in joy as Clooney tried to tackle him over and over again and he couldn't be more grateful that Clooney took his mind from things. "Clooney, cut it out, I have to go to work." Derek sighed when Clooney pulled back, understanding that his master had to leave now. "I promise we'll go running later." Clooney's tail started to wag like crazy and Derek chuckled, scratching his head one last time before walking away to shower and get ready for work.
Derek climbed into the shower and concentrated on his breathing, trying to bring himself to a center of calm, a place so that he could bury his turmoil and focus on the task at hand. Him and JJ had to talk, no doubt about it, but he would not pursue it at work unless she was willing to so he was going to follow her lead and hope that everything worked out for the best. He stayed under the hot water, allowing the warm water to wash over him. He sighed in relief before he climbed out and headed into his room to get ready. He glanced to see Clooney spread out on his bed and Derek shook his head in amusement. That dog owned his bed and slept in it more than he did. He headed to his closet and pulled out a pair of dark suit pants and a grey button up shirt. He pulled on his boxers before grabbing a pair of black socks and putting them on as well. He then pulled on the slacks before walking to his dresser and spraying cologne on his slightly damp torso. He looked at himself in the mirror and sighed, he didn't look tired but he felt it.
He turned away and pulled on the shirt buttoning it in the mirror so that he would not make a mistake. He looked all right but his appearance was of no importance to him. He turned back to see Clooney giving him a sleepy nod and he grinned at his dog before leaving and heading down to the kitchen. He quickly made himself some coffee before heading out to his car to go to work. He hoped that he and JJ could keep this to themselves for now because if there was one thing that Derek knew about working with a team of the world's best profilers: it was that there are no secrets.
JJ and Derek:
JJ walked in and held her breath; feeling like people were staring to long, looking right through her. She wished she could ignore the feeling of paranoia but it came with the territory when you work in the FBI and more when in you're in a team of the world's best profilers. She tried to make a beeline for her office but she was stopped by the voice of one of her best friends; Emily was calling her, "Hey JJ, slow down." JJ paused and closed her eyes for second wondering if God was really that cruel. She turned to face Em and watched as she came closer; waiting so she could lead them both back into her office. JJ sat down and tried to mentally compose herself when Em's voice startled her, "So what you and Derek do after the party?" JJ's eyes shot up to see a look of genuine curiosity on Emily's face and JJ tried to take a calming breath; afraid for a moment that Emily knew what happened.
She looked Em in the eyes before looking away, "Why do you ask?"
Em gave her a puzzled look as she recognized the signs of someone trying to avoid telling the truth. It was a shame really that JJ still felt the need to hide things especially from a profiler. Em shook her head in wry amusement before replying, "I ask because you two looked pretty chummy at the club the other night and to be honest, with no disrespect to Will of course, you two looked hot!" JJ blushed as her thoughts focused on her and Derek at the club but then her thoughts drifted to the night they shared and suddenly JJ was afraid that Em could read minds. Before she could answer her door flew open and there stood Elle and Garcia and JJ knew in this moment that she would not get out of this without them finding out what happened with Derek. This could not be happening.
"Well, well, if it isn't my golden haired goddess that none of us could reach this weekend. What were you up to, hmm?" JJ tried to ignore the inquiring look that Pen put on her because the girl simply knew how to get the truth out of people with an uncanny that is unparalleled by others. JJ could see that all three of them were curious and it made her really nervous as the truth was bubbling to the surface. She was trying to fight the urge of blurting out the truth with all her worth but she needed to find a distraction; anything that would take her mind from her three inquisitive friends. She felt her control slipping but she got the distraction she desperately needed but not the one she truly wanted. JJ looked up into the hall and there staring at her with unwavering intensity was the illustrious Derek Morgan and she couldn't look away even if she wanted to. There was no other man that truly had this effect on her.
She wanted to know what he saw when he stared at her like that. Did he feel like she took advantage of him or did he feel like he took advantage of her? Was he angry with her? Would he give them the chance to work this out? Could their friendship survive this? Did he still want her? Did he want more from her? All of sudden JJ's thoughts were changed to her and Derek being together again and with those thoughts in her mind his eyes darkened and JJ wondered if he could read her mind. She knew that look; it was the same one that he gave her in the kitchen before he embraced her in a passion that left her in a deep haze of confusion and desire. She felt her body coming alive and now she wished she hadn't noticed Derek in the first place because her body was reacting in very inappropriate way and JJ started to wonder if Derek could bring her pleasure to it's peak by just staring at her. She was saved from finding out when Pen appeared in her vision breaking her staring contest with Derek Morgan.
"JJ what was that?" JJ shook her head of the cobwebs and tried to remember what they were talking about.
Elle finally spoke up and asked, "Hey you alright? You looked like you zoned out." Elle glanced with Em and shared a knowing look as they both noticed that it was Derek down the hall that held JJ's attention. They noticed the flushed look that started to appear on JJ and the heavier breathing. Whatever happened between JJ and Derek was huge and to be honest Elle and Em knew it would only be a matter of time before something happened between the two. For the past couple of years the thick wall of professionalism between them was crumbling; it looked like it might've just broken down completely. Unfortunately they would have to wait to let the cyber-goddess know because JJ would need to admit to herself that something happened between her and Derek before Pen got involved.
JJ looked at Elle and she couldn't shake the feeling that she knew something happened and if she knew then Em knew, it was like they had a psychic link, literally it was like they both shared the same brain. Most times this thought would amuse her but right now it made her nervous as hell. She had a feeling that both of them must have noticed that it was Derek that held her attention and she wished with all her might that she were somewhere else. "Yea, sorry about that, long weekend." JJ could have smacked herself for the last part of her statement and she wondered if fate was trying to make things hard for her.
She saw Pen's eyes light up in remembrance of their conversation topic but she was saved from the barrage of questions when Hotch's head poked into her office and he said, "Need you in the conference room. We have a case."
JJ leapt up and quickly followed Hotch glad for the escape, but she could still hear Pen's parting words, "This isn't over blondie!"
JJ shook her head continuing to follow Hotch but she paused when he turned to say, "Hey could you get Morgan, I keep forgetting he's no longer in the bull pen." JJ nodded with a slight smile but inside she was scared because her and Derek alone in an enclosed space was beyond dangerous. Regardless of her thoughts she had to make it seem like everything was normal and she usually was the one that informed Derek of the new cases. She walked to his office and paused as she watched him stare at the opposing wall in his office. She knocked gently before entering.
Derek turned to face her, surprise in his eyes and it made JJ wonder whom else he would be expecting. JJ squashed the thought of jealously that rose within her and put it aside so she could analyze it later. He rose slowly from his chair and walked toward her and before JJ knew it she completely forgot what it was she came to tell him. "What is it, JJ?" His baritone washed over her and she felt at peace for the first since they were together two days ago. She looked up to see him staring at her and the feelings that JJ felt before came back in full force. Derek and her were alone; in his office and she knew if something didn't break the tension between them now they would fall back into the passion that they experienced before. She shivered when his hands came to rest on her shoulders before pulling her closer. She glanced at his lips and wanted for nothing more but for his lips to be against hers.
It was if he followed his train of thought and started to lean toward her. He was so close, so close but they jumped apart when they heard clicking heels alerting them to the presence of another down the hall. JJ wanted to smack herself, upset that she allowed this to happen. She looked to see Derek staring past her to the door but his hands had remained on her shoulders. She blinked in confusion, sure that they had pulled apart completely. She cleared her throat and watched as he slowly brought his hands to his side and glanced at her before he moved away. "We have a case. We should go." His voice was hollow and JJ was afraid she had done something wrong, that she had upset him somehow. She nodded and followed him to the BAU room and sat down in the seat across from him; usually she would it next to him but right now she needed as much space as possible.
She ignored the glances sent her way by Em and Elle, but she knew it would not be long before they came after her with questions. She just hoped that it was long enough for her and Derek to work out whatever this was. Unfortunately for her, the way her luck was going, it did not seem fate was on her side.
A/N: Sorry for the wait but I had more than one version of this chapter and I had to choose the right one that would carry on the spirit of this story. Hope you guys like it, the next chapter shouldn't take so long.