Chapter 5

Emily walked out of the kitchen and saw that JJ was on the phone. She was sat with her head forward and she was pinching her nose – a clear sign that she was in pain. She looked pale again, clearly drained by her conversations with Will and whoever she was talking to now. Leaving JJ to finish her call, she returned to the kitchen, prepared some lunch and collected painkillers for her friend. She left Henry in his playpen in the dining room, having already fed him.

When she returned to the front room JJ had finished her call and was sat with her head in her hands. Emily gently placed the tray she had been carrying on the table, sat next to the blonde agent and tucked JJ's hair behind her ear. JJ looked up and smiled weakly at her. Emily put an arm around her shoulders and said, "I've made some lunch so that you can take some more Advil, but I'm really thinking that maybe I should take you home and make you take some real painkillers – you look all in."

Emily could tell that she was on to a loser before JJ even spoke. The young agent pulled away from Emily and said, "I'm fine Emily. I really need to see everyone else today – I want this to be over. And anyway," she added lightly, "Garcia will kill me if I don't go to see her today."

"Garcia would understand," Emily said firmly. She raised her hand when JJ went to argue. "I know I'm not going to convince you Jayje, don't worry – I'm not going to push it. But you do need to at least eat a sandwich and take some more Advil before we pack the rest of your stuff. I've already got the diapers, food, travel cot and highchair ready to go. You'll just need to sort out some clothes for you and Henry."

"Em," JJ said, her voice full of emotion, "I really don't know how I would have coped with all of this without you."

"You would have been fine sweetheart. You know you would," said Emily as she rubbed JJ's back soothingly. "Now do me a favour – eat your food and take the tablets. Then we can finish the packing and go into work to see the others."

JJ gave in and did as Emily had requested. Emily couldn't decide whether it was because she had seen the sense in it or whether she just wanted to shut her up, but she didn't particularly care. When JJ had finished eating they took Henry upstairs and quickly finished the packing.

In the car, on their way to Quantico, Emily turned to JJ and asked, "Who were you talking to on the phone earlier?"

"Will's Mom," JJ answered. She responded to Emily's worried look by saying, "She's lovely. She just wanted to make sure I was OK with her."

"And are you?" queried Emily.

"Absolutely" affirmed JJ, "None of this is her fault – I just wanted her to know that."

Emily merely nodded and smiled; inwardly amazed that JJ could find it in herself to care about what this other woman was feeling.

When they arrived at Quantico Emily asked JJ where she wanted to go first. She wasn't surprised when JJ told her that she wanted to see Hotch and get the official bit out of the way before she went on to talk to the rest of the team. She had also asked Emily to be there with her.

Emily carried Henry up in the elevator with JJ stood next to her. As they walked through the bullpen she couldn't stop herself from putting a protective arm around JJ's shoulders, but even she couldn't fend off an extremely concerned Penelope Garcia, who caught up with them just as they reached Hotch's office. Garcia enveloped JJ in a powerful hug, causing her to wince slightly and causing Emily to say, "Careful Garcia – she's a bit bruised."

"Oh my angel," Garcia exclaimed, pulling back, "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." Emily could tell that the blond analyst had already taken in JJ's pale and bruised face and was really worried about her friend.

JJ smiled warmly at Garcia and said, "You didn't hurt me honey – I'm fine. Would you mind watching Henry for me while I talk to Hotch?"

Garcia took Henry from Emily's arms and replied happily, "I'm always ready to spend some time with my God-baby! I'll see you in my office as soon as you've finished with Hotch." She then finished with a mischievous, "and remember – I have eyes everywhere. I will know when you come out of the office, so no dawdling!"

Emily laughed as she watched Garcia walk away and then turned to lead JJ into Hotch's office. He stood up as they entered and walked around his desk towards them. He put his arm around JJ and led her to the comfy chairs in the corner of his office. He sat JJ down next to him and indicated an empty chair to Emily.

"What's going on JJ?" Hotch asked, the worry evident in his voice.

Emily sat down and, literally and figuratively, held JJ's hand as her friend told Hotch exactly what had happened between her and Will. Despite the fact that JJ was clearly trying to appear in control in front of her boss, Emily could hear the pain and exhaustion in her voice and could tell that Hotch wasn't fooled either.

As JJ finished describing this morning's conversation with Will, Hotch took her hand and said, "JJ, I want you to take as much time as you need. I think you should take a few weeks – really get things sorted out in your head."

JJ turned to him with a surprisingly determined look on her face and said sharply, "Hotch, thank you for being so understanding, but please don't pull that profiler shit on me. I'm not an idiot. I know that I look like hell. I am exhausted and I am in pain, but I am not a victim and I don't need 'a few weeks' to 'process' this – it's already processed. I'm not going to deny that I need a few days to heal, but I refuse to sit at home moping for weeks, only to come back here to be treated like a china doll."

As JJ paused Emile felt herself smiling ruefully – Hotch had clearly underestimated JJ's ability to look after herself. A mistake she'd like to bet he wouldn't make again.

"I'm sorry JJ," he said. "You're right. I should have known that you would be able to deal with this alone."

"Not alone," JJ replied, squeezing Emily's hand. "Emily has been amazing. She has really looked after me." She felt herself blushing at the praise.

"I'm glad to hear it." Hotch said, turning to smile at her. "JJ, you can decide when you want to come back in. I know I can trust you to make a sensible decision. I promise not to treat you any differently when you do come back, although I can't make the same promise about the rest of the team – Morgan is going to be furious."

At this reminder Emily turned to JJ to ask her what she wanted to do about telling the rest of the team. JJ looked thoughtful, then answered, "You were right earlier Em. I really don't think I'm up to telling the rest of the guys today. Would you mind telling them while I go and talk to Garcia?"

"No problem" Emily replied. "I'll make sure I'll tell Morgan that he doesn't need to break any bones as well." She said, referring to a conversation her and JJ had had in the car earlier.

Hotch stood up at this point, hugged JJ and went back to his desk. "I'll see you back here when you're ready JJ" he said formally.

Emily and JJ took the hint and made their way out of his office. JJ made her way quickly to Garcia's "office of unfettered omniscience" whilst Emily effectively prevented Morgan, Reid and Rossi from intercepting her.

"What's up with JJ – was that a black eye?" Reid asked, clearly very worried.

Emily drew them into the briefing room and said, "We'll talk in here, away from the rest of the office. They don't need to hear this."

Morgan bristled; "Now you've got me worried Prentiss. What's going on?"

Emily took a deep breath and started talking; "JJ split up with Will last night."

"And he gave her a black eye?" Morgan exploded.

"Along with a few more bruises and a mild concussion, yes." Emily responded.

Morgan started pacing the room. He looked furious. "I'm going to kill him" he growled. Rossi looked just as ready for a fight and, although he was naturally calmer, Reid was obviously upset as well.

"Let me finish" warned Emily. "I promised JJ I would make you all understand that, as much as she would appreciate your support, she has dealt with this herself and she doesn't need, or want, any of you getting all macho over it."

Rossi asked Emily what she had meant by JJ having dealt with it herself. Emily quickly summarised the full story for them, explaining what JJ had said and done in response. When she had reached the end of the story all three men looked calmer.

"JJ was going to talk to you herself," Emily finished, "but she really isn't feeling up to it. It's taken me all day to get her to admit it, but she is exhausted and in quite a bit of pain – mainly her head I think."

"Where is she now?" asked Reid.

"She's with Garcia." Emily stood up as she spoke, readying herself to take JJ home. "I'm sure she'll talk to you all when she comes back to work in a few days"

As Emily walked away she heard Reid call, "Give her my love Em?" followed by Rossi and Morgan's "Mine too."