Chapter 6

As JJ walked into Garcia's office, she was met with a beautiful sight. Her rather eccentric friend was sat at her desk, typing away, with a sleeping Henry lying peacefully against her shoulder. She quietly pulled a chair up beside Garcia and, not wanting to wake her sleeping son, spoke in a low tone.

"Hey," she said, "How's he been?"

"Absolutely fine kitten. I figured it was time for his afternoon nap and he was obviously tired – it didn't take long for him to drop off" Garcia replied quietly, turning to look at JJ. "Now, as important as my God-baby is, I'm more worried about you. Tell me what's going on. I'm guessing that Will didn't take too well to you ending it."

JJ had told Garcia that she was leaving Will when she had picked up Henry on the previous evening. She smiled ruefully at her friend and quickly brought her up to date with everything that had happened. Garcia's anger at Will and her sympathy for JJ was blindingly evident throughout and JJ found herself thinking that, as much as she loved Garcia and appreciated the passion in her reactions, she had been right to go to Emily first. Emily's even response had been a life saver at the time – she would have been an emotional wreck if it had been Garcia's front door she had turned up at last night. Not that she wasn't far from that now, but at least she could make it through the story without crying like a baby.

As she finished her story Garcia asked meaningfully, "And how is Emily looking after you and my pumpkin?"

JJ could hear the slight reproach in her friend's voice, despite the fact that she had tried to keep the question light.

"She's been brilliant Garcia. I'm going to stay with her until Will goes back to New Orleans" she said truthfully. She continued carefully, looking Garcia in the eye as she said, "Before you say anything, I do know that I could have come to you and that you would have been brilliant too, but I knew you had plans with Kevin last night. Your relationship with him is so new that I really didn't want to interrupt that."

"You know that I would have sent him straight home, don't you Jayje?" Garcia asked, sounding like she was beginning to accept JJ's decision.

"That's exactly why I didn't come over" JJ replied with a smile.

"OK angel – I'll forgive you – if you tell me honestly how you are feeling right now" Garcia wheedled.

JJ smiled sardonically. She had been played. "I'd tell you that I'm fine," she replied, "but I know you're not going to believe that." Knowing that she couldn't fool Garcia meant that JJ almost relaxed as she answered truthfully; "I feel like death Garcia. I'm completely drained and my head is pounding. Emily tried to convince me earlier that I should have left all of this until tomorrow and gone home to sleep. She was right. I think I'm still suffering with the concussion and talking to Will this morning really took it out of me. I just want to go back to Em's place now, take some serious painkillers and crash!" She paused before continuing with a hint of humour; "Emily doesn't need to know that she was right though – I'll never hear the end of it."

"Your secret is safe with me" laughed Garcia.

"I heard that."

Both JJ and Garcia jumped as Emily walked into the office with a smile on her face.

"Damn it," joked Garcia, "she'll be unbearable now."

JJ smiled at her friends before looking at her watch and saying, "are you OK if we go home now Em? We'll be home by 3 and I should be able to get in some good napping in before dinner."

"That's fine Jayje. I'm ready when you are. How about you take the Vicodin now?" she suggested determinedly, "It should kick in by the time we get home."

JJ realised that she would need the painkiller to be able to get some sleep and meekly did as Emily had recommended. She stood up and walked to the door, watching as Emily stooped to take Henry from Garcia's arms. She heard her say, "Why don't you join us for dinner tonight Garcia? About 8 o'clock?"

Garcia's face brightened as she replied affirmatively.

JJ said goodbye to Garcia and followed Emily down to her car. She sat in the passenger seat as Emily loaded Henry into the back. She could feel the drug beginning to work as she started to feel drowsy. She jerked awake as Emily got into the car, but quickly drowsed off again and knew nothing more until they had arrived at Emily's apartment.

The first thing she was aware of was Emily gently calling her name and shaking her shoulder from the seat next to her.

"Jayje sweetheart, we're home" she heard as she slowly, but not completely, regained consciousness. She sleepily got out of the car and made her way up to the apartment, Emily practically having to carry her as well as her son.

Emily led her into the spare room and pulled back the covers on the bed. She thankfully fell onto the bed, still fully dressed in Emily's sweatpants and t-shirt, and fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.