Heal Me

Sometimes, to fix the broken, you have to break the rules.

. . .

Author Note:

Thank you all so much for the reviews and Author/Story subscriptions n_n
I'm so glad that you are enjoying the story.
Just so you all know I've got the entire story planned out now :D
So chapters will be uploaded at a quicker rate :D
Have a beautiful day everyone :)
Please don't hesitate to leave a review :)

Chapter 4

Williamsburg, Ohio

Sophie Lansdowne flicked open a Stanley knife and quickly cut open the cardboard box. She examined the contents of the box with semi-interest. Bags upon bags of coffee just lying neatly inside the brown cardboard. She closed the knife and pocketed it, beginning to stack the coffee upon the shelf for the barista, Melanie, to access. As she worked Sophie whistled a happy tune, and tapped her foot. Her mahogany locks were brushed back out of her face, leaving it shiny and full.

As she finished stacking the coffee Sophie glanced across the floor of the café, Wild Beanz, and caught the eye of the handsome man sitting in the corner with his short black. His greying hair was receding yet his blue eyes sparkled in the late afternoon sun that was filtering through the open windows. He beckoned her over. She obliged quickly and flashed him a shy smile, in awe of his good looks and commanding presence.

"Could I get a blueberry muffin to go please?" he asked her, a heavy foreign accent lilting his voice.

Sophie nodded. "Would you like me to warm up for you?" she asked politely, looking at him from under her lashes.

"No that's fine" he replied, turning to look directly at her. "What I would like to know though is when this beautiful woman in front of me gets off?"

Sophie giggled nervously. "In half an hour"

"I'll be waiting" he replied softly and smiled at her.

Sophie nodded and turned away, walking back to the corner with a spring in her step. A wide, cheesy grin was spreading over her face as she picked out the biggest, freshest blueberry muffin she could find and put it in a brown paper bag. She might have a date for her father's stupid work gala after all.

. . .

Emily Prentiss, now effectively known as Julie Hanley, ran her fingers through her hair and pulled it up into a tight ponytail. It was warm inside Martha's Books, the large bookshop where she now worked. They were a crew of about four or five, including Martha, an elderly woman who had ran the place since she was twenty one. Emily had loved the shop on sight and loved Martha even more. The older woman was great to talk to and had many stories that Emily could just listen to for hours on end.

"Hey Jules" her friend Alice called.

"Hi Alice" Emily replied swiftly, turning to smile at the blonde.

Alice was her first "friend" in her new home. She worked in the bank across the road, and ducked into the shop once week scanning the shelves for a new read. The last time she had been in Emily had recommended her a book by Paul Carson, a crime novel called Cold Steel which she herself had thoroughly enjoyed.

"How'd you like Cold Steel?" Emily asked, walking over to where Alice stood examining the new releases.

"Loved it" Alice replied chirpily, always happy Alice was. "Good suggestion thanks Jules"

Emily smiled. "Need another one?"

Alice cocked her head. "Hmmm" she paused "No I know what I want this week"

She caught up a copy of Jodi Picoult's new novel and they walked over to the counter where Emily scanned the book into the computer. Alice drummed her fingers on the countertop and sighed emphatically.

"What's that for?" Emily asked.

"Nothing" Alice replied. "It's just you. I've known you for five months and you have not once been out on a date – even with that fucking sexy guy who came up to us when we were out at the bar"

Emily laughed. "Alice you crack me up" she said.

"I'm being serious here girl. You need a good shag!"

"Gee thanks" Emily rolled her eyes as she accepted Alice's money.

"No offense girl. But aren't you kind of lonely?" Alice asked, taking the bag from Emily.

Emily shook her head. "Not really. There's a man waiting for me back in Virginia" she admitted.

As soon as the words left her mouth Emily mentally slapped herself. What was she thinking! If someone found out who she was they could torture Alice for information about her, and that could put Dave in danger. But it was too late to take it back now. Emily sighed inwardly as she saw Alice's expression light up like a candle.

"Do share" she whispered.

"He's older than me by a few years, speaks fluent Italian and –"

"Is he a good fuck?"

"Alice!"

"What?" Alice asked innocently. "I'm just looking out for your needs here Julie"

Emily rolled her eyes. "Sure you are" she said and smiled. "Now get back to work"

"Yes bossy boots" Alice teased and turned to leave before turning back. "We still on for clubbing Thursday night?"

"Sure" Emily replied happily.

The bell jingled behind Alice as she left the shop. Emily folded her arms and leant across the counter. Six months. In any other life this would be her and Dave's six month anniversary. If their relationship had even made it that far. Emily shook her head. There was no doubt in her mind that, now knowing how Dave felt about her, that they would last for a long time. A small smile graced her lips as she remembered how after they had slept together they had stayed up for another hour talking quietly, just enjoying each other's presence.

"So you have a weakness for lasagne?" Dave had asked.

"You're telling me you don't?" she said, shocked.

He had chuckled. "My Nonna would have flayed me alive if I didn't" he admitted, winking at her.

A sharp arrow of pain arrowed through Emily's chest, and she hissed in pain her hand moving to cover the scar that Doyle had left on her. The four leaf clover, marking her as his 'property'. Emily felt tears biting at her eyes. She did not belong to Doyle! The only man that had a claim of sorts was David Rossi. Not some punk ass Irish terrorist who was hell bent on destroying her life.

"What are you thinking about dear?" Martha asked, as she came around the corner carrying a large box of books.

"Hm? Oh it's nothing" Emily brushed off and took the box from her.

Martha smiled her twinkling smile at her and Emily laughed. "It's really nothing Martha" she reinforced. Martha patted her shoulder in a motherly way and Emily leaned into the touch.

"That sort of silly smiling only comes when you're thinking about a man" Martha said knowingly.

"Martha there is no man, remember?" Emily replied.

"I find that difficult to believe in a woman such as you, with your beauty and wonderful personality dear"

"Thanks Martha" Emily replied. "Who knows – maybe the one I'm meant to be with is hiding just out of reach?"

"I hope so" Martha said and gave Emily a warm smile.

Emily and Martha stood side by side stacking the books on the shelf, a comfortable silence hanging between them. Out of the corner of her eye Emily could see that Martha was moving slower than normal. A pit of worry opened in her stomach and she felt an urge to throw up. Martha winced softly and Emily turned gripping her forearm.

"Martha?" she whispered "Are you alright?"

"Oh my dear" she said "I'm fine – just my old age"

Emily sighed. "Come on Martha its more than that and I know that" she said.

Martha looked steadily into her eyes. "Julie" she whispered. "It's terminal"

"Terminal?" Emily asked. "The only thing that could be terminal is – cancer"

Martha nodded. Emily felt a world of pain pushing down on her shoulders, this was not happening. Martha couldn't have cancer! But the look in the old woman's eyes told her it was not so. Emily blinked and turned away as Martha hurried away into the back room to cry on her own.

Julie Hanley, Emily Prentiss. Did it matter who she was? Everywhere she went she was meeting people who were suffering. Except the pain that Dave was feeling she had caused. The pain that Morgan felt. The pain that Spencer felt. Ashleigh. Hotch. God, Garcia too. All of them, aching and she was the fault.

. . . .

Author Note:

Chapter 4 finished.
There is a point to this story and it will be shown next chapter.
Can you believe it? They resigned Paget to the show! I'm so happy :D
Hopefully her return will be a great episode!
Anyway reviews are appreciated :) xx