Frankie jolted awake to find JJ in the middle of a night terror. JJ was shaking in her sleep and crying out, Frankie propped herself up on her elbow and gently rubbed JJ's back until she finally woke up. The blonde rolled over with tears in her baby blue eyes and looked at Frankie. For a second she forgot where she was and wrapped her arms needly around Frankie's neck and pulled her close.
"Emily?"
"JJ, it's me Frankie."
JJ pulled away, embarrassed. Her face dropped into dismay as she sobbed into her hands. Frankie rubbed her back in an attempt to calm her. JJ shrugged off the offer of comfort, too ashamed she had, even if for a moment, though it had been Emily lying beside her. She curled into a ball and cried. Frankie took the hint and left her alone in the bed. They had only slept for three hours yet Frankie felt oddly awake.
She made her way downstairs and put on a fresh pot of coffee. Even if Emily had somehow managed to get a flight out of London nearly immediately it would still be hours before she arrived. Frankie sat at the kitchen table alone, listening to JJ sobbing in the distance. She wished she could help the blonde but she knew all too well what if felt like to be broken. Frankie had spent too many years sobbing into pillows after waking up in a cold sweat from panic attacks and night terrors. She hadn't been through the physical torture JJ had but she knew the mental anguish. How was she supposed to hold it together when she too was so damaged? Time slipped by and Frankie sipped her coffee in solitude until JJ finally made it downstairs.
"I'm sorry about that," JJ whispered.
"I know what it's like to have demons that haunt your dreams, Jennifer."
JJ shuddered. Emily was the only one who ever used her full name and to hear it fall so easily from her mirror image made her nearly lose herself again. Frankie immediately read JJ's expression and stood up, embracing her. JJ rested her head on Frankie's shoulder and let out an exasperated sigh. She had started the day with a simple trip to Emily's grave to clear her mind and suddenly she was standing in the kitchen with a woman who looked exactly like her ex lover in the midst of a whirlwind of emotion. It was an odd turn of events to say the least. JJ's phone rang from the other room bringing her back to reality.
"Jareau."
Frankie did her best not to eavesdrop but the echo of the empty house made it nearly impossible. From the side of the conversation she could hear it did not sound positive. JJ hung up the phone and reentered the kitchen frowning.
"I need to go pick up Henry," she stated. "That was Will he got called into work. I hope you don't mind, make yourself at home while I'm gone. There are fresh towels in the linen closet if you'd like to shower or take a hot bath. I'll only be gone an hour or so."
"Thanks, I may take you up on that offer," Frankie smiled as JJ grabbed her purse and headed out into the rain.
Frankie woke up to the sound of a phone ringing in the distance. She groggily reached for her cell which was usually located on her nightstand, to her surprise she managed to roll off the couch instead. She sat on the floor and blinked into the darkness as she tried to gather her thoughts. She remembered she was at JJ's and realized she had fallen asleep on the couch while waiting for Emily to arrive. Emily. Just the thought of her sister's name sent chills down her spine. This was the moment she had been waiting for, she was finally going to make her peace with Emily.
The ringing stopped and Frankie managed to get the lights turned on before searching for the phone. A bright flash of lightening, and roaring thunder startled her as she finally located JJ's cell phone on the kitchen counter. She must have left it when she left, Frankie shrugged. She was notorious for leaving her phone behind so she didn't think much of it. As she was holding the cell it rang again, her sister's face showing on caller ID.
"Hello?"
"JJ?"
"No, it's Frankie."
"Hey, I'm at the airport. Should I rent a car or..." Emily asked.
"Oh, well JJ went to pick up Henry," Frankie frowned and looked at the clock. "But that was hours ago. She left her phone behind but I could come and get you."
There was a pause as Emily thought over her options, "No, I don't want you to get lost in this weather. I'll rent a car and be there in about thirty minutes."
"Okay, sounds good."
"Frankie?" Emily added before hanging up, "Can you call me when JJ gets back?"
"Yeah, I'm sure it's nothing. I'll let you know when she gets back."
"Okay, I'll see you soon."
The line disconnected and Frankie looked around the house. JJ had mentioned she would only be gone an hour, two tops and now it was well past midnight. Frankie sat back on the couch and tried to take deep breaths and clear her mind, she was overreacting. There had to be some obvious explanation. Maybe JJ just waited for Will to get off work, that was it. Frankie sighed, she had spent the whole day waiting on her sister and she felt overwhelmed.
She went upstairs and found the towels in the linen closet, slipped off her clothes and jumped into the shower. The hot water felt relaxing against her tight muscles. She washed her hair and wrapped the towel around herself. Frankie wiped the fog from the mirror and brushed her hair with her fingers before putting her clothes back on. Just as she finished up getting redressed she heard the doorbell.
She took a deep breath, one last glance in the mirror, then made her way downstairs. She opened the door but instead of Emily she found herself looking at a tall blonde man with a detective badge around his neck. She felt sick as the man spoke to her. Her pulse was so loud in her ears she couldn't understand what he was saying. She shook her head and cleared her thoughts before asking the most obvious question.
"Sir, can I help you with something?" Frankie asked as she held the door protectively in front of her, only peaking through a crack.
"Sorry, my name is William LaMontagne. Will if you wish," he smiled and reached out his hand. Frankie opened the door and shook it firmly.
"JJ's husband?"
"Ex husband," Will corrected with a certain bitter tone. "You must be Emily's sister, Frankie?"
"I am but I have to ask, where's JJ?"
Will sighed before lowering his eyes, "Frankie, there's been an accident. I need you to come with me"