(A/N: I'm not sure how ER procedure works in this case, although I have a general idea. However, it's true that when people who self-harm seek medical attention for their injuries, they're often mistreated: put at the bottom of the waiting line for treatment, being treated like a waste of time, not getting any understanding or follow-up, or even being denied anesthetic for stitches. I think Garcia will help fight this here, but for many people, it's an unfortunate reality. If this ever happens to you or someone else, be prepared to advocate/argue.)
JJ and Garcia looked at Prentiss, stunned that she lied. In the space of a few seconds, they looked at each other, and JJ shook her head ever so slightly. Garcia opened her mouth as if to say something, then shut it again. JJ looked back at Prentiss, thinking Ifyou'regoingtolie…you'reonyourownhere. IsaidI'dhelpyou,notcoverforyou.
"Accident, then?" the intake nurse said. "Are you sure? Did you really fall?"
"Yes, I'm sure," Prentiss weakly protested. "I told you, I fell off my bike."
She eyed the dark-haired, pale girl suspiciously. "Hmm, all right then. It's December, isn't it cold for that? But remember, we can't help you as well here if you're not being truthful. I'll just take down the rest of your information, then, and then you should have a seat and wait-"
"How long will that take?" Garcia interrupted. "Emily's already lost a lot of blood, does she have to be unconscious for you to see her right away?"
The nurse scowled. "Everyone has to spend some time waiting, do you think our doctors just sit around? They're busy. We'll get to her when we can."
That turned out to be about an hour and a half later, despite Garcia's going up twice more to argue. "I'm sorry, hon, they're just being insensitive jerks who obviously don't appreciate the seriousness of what's going on!" she snapped. Just then, a resident in scrubs asked for Prentiss.
This started a small argument between her and JJ. Prentiss knew what was coming; she would be examined, poked, prodded, all her scars exposed. The shame was so heavy, dark; she didn't want JJ to see, and she also wanted to shield her. IfshesawwhatIreallywas,she'drunaway,leaveforsure. "You're not coming with me," Prentiss hissed through clenched teeth. She was biting her tongue to keep herself in control, keep from crying or losing it here.
"You can barely walk!" JJ hissed back. "I'm going to help you, and you're just going to have to deal with it. Besides, they're treating you like dirt here. You need someone who can stand up for you. Now, here-" the blond stood up. "-get up, take my arm, just lean on me. That's it. I'm coming whether you like it or not. Garcia, we'll see you after the procedure, okay?"
The doctor led them back to a small curtained cubicle, where Prentiss half-collapsed on the exam table. Her demeanor seemed to soften as her energy drained. She looked at JJ for a second, and the blond was shocked at the pure terror in her eyes. "Hold my hand. Stay close," she whispered.
"You already heard. I'm not leaving. Here-" she awkwardly crammed herself into an extra folding chair on one side of Prentiss, as near as she could put herself.
"Don't let go."
"I won't. I promise."
Prentiss's hand was like a vice on her friend's, and JJ could feel her shaking.
"All right," the doctor, a short, dark-haired man not ten years older than JJ or Prentiss, with a clipped Indian accent, said quietly. "Let's see what's going on here."
This was the moment Prentiss was dreading. She moved the large wad of paper towels away from her bleeding thigh, then awkwardly, grimacing, slid her injured leg out of her jeans. She could hardly even see the wound any more, because there was so much blood. JJ bit her tongue to stifle a gasp. Aside from the one deep gash, that whole area of Prentiss's leg was a spiderweb of scars in various stages of healing. With a sigh of relief, JJ noticed that all of them except the latest were at least semi-healed.
"Don't look," Prentiss said to JJ. "It's disgusting." She'sgoingtoleaveme.Ican'taskhertohandlethis.I'ma…mutant.Whocouldlovethisoncethey'veseenit?
"It's okay," the doctor said as he set out the equipment. "We're used to seeing blood. I'm just going to start cleaning this up. It won't hurt. I do have to check the depth though." Prentiss's grip tightened on JJ as he pried, then relaxed minimally as the cut was cleaned. Then, his face changed to a puzzled scowl as he saw the other scars.
"How did this…are you doing this to yourself?" Prentiss didn't answer, turning instead to stare at the ceiling. The lights above were so harsh.
JJ took this as her chance. Making sure Prentiss wasn't looking at her, she nodded at the doctor.
He didn't say anything, just continued to work on her until she was stitched, thankfully, JJ noted, using anesthetic. It seemed to take forever, but finally he was carefully sticking a large gauze pad over the whole mess. Prentiss slid back into her jeans as soon as possible.
"Now don't run or jump or anything like that until the stitches come out, you might reopen it. Come back in about a week, then someone here can take them back out. When did you last get a tetanus shot? I also want to just get your vitals to make sure you're okay. And you have to speak to our psychologist on call before we let you leave. Standard procedure for anyone who comes in with a self-inflicted injury, which this, and, er…the other scars clearly are."
"I can't remember. Do I have to talk to someone?" Prentiss mumbled. A wave of anxiety and exhaustion flooded her.
"She's already seeing someone for this," JJ said. "Can't we just get out of here?"
The doctor shrugged. "I'm afraid rules are rules. If you can't remember the last time you had a tetanus shot, I'm going to give you one just to be on the safe side." He did that, and again Prentiss squeezed JJ's hand. She hated needles. After taking Prentiss's pulse, blood pressure, and shining a penlight into her eyes, he concluded, "The good news is you didn't need a blood transfusion, but you're dehydrated from…did you drink and eat much today? That combined with blood loss probably caused it."
"It's finals, I was so stressed that I felt sick all day," Prentiss admitted. "I couldn't have anything."
"I just want to keep you here a little bit longer, all right? I'm going to give you some IV fluids, and you have to stay until the bag's empty. But it's just as well, you have to stay and talk to who's on call now anyway."
Guilt hit JJ. She had been too encompassed in finishing her paper; she hadn't realized Prentiss was having such a hard time. After Prentiss's IV got started, there was nothing to do but wait.
"I'm sorry," Prentiss said under her breath. "I didn't mean for this to happen. I bet you want to leave me now."
"Don't say that!" JJ scolded. "I won't leave because of this. I knew you were dealing with this when I decided to date you. It was part of the deal. I'm staying. I'm here."
Prentiss blinked rapidly, trying not to cry, but she couldn't stop the tears. She tried to choke them back, couldn't breathe.
"Shh, Emily. Shhhh. I'm not leaving." She stood up, trying to hold her, stroking her dark hair out of her face. "Just calm down, all right?" And JJ was telling the truth. She stayed with her through the follow-up, going home, through the rest of the day. They slept together that night, Prentiss's lanky body curled up in the blond's.