Someone Like You

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the ideas.

. . .

I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited,
But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it,
I had hoped you'd see my face,
And that you'd be reminded that for me it isn't over,

. . .

Sitting in silent solitude, Emily reprimanded herself for being so reckless. What had overcome her? It had been ten long years until she had seen any of the team. Most believed she was dead. Yet here she sat in a crumby room, in a cheap hotel, minutes away from the people that mattered the most to her. The people she had sacrifice everything for.

Taking another swig directly from the bottle of Jack in her hand, Emily swore she wasn't going to leave the room until she had to make her way to the airport, for her return flight. That way she wouldn't do something she'd regret.

Emily couldn't make sense of her muddled emotions, normally she could sort and file them until she could see clearly, but today the more she thought about it, the more confused she became. Why? The question kept repeating in her mind, driving her insane.

If there was a God, and she had plenty of reasons to doubt there was, but if there was the slightest possibility, then please help, she prayed. As she sat trying to figure if there was any possible way she could return, she needed all the help she could get, divine or not. However sitting alone, in the dark room, all she could see in the future was carnage, as potentially her friends feelings were tossed around by her actions, yet again.

. . .

JJ gave Hotch's sleeve a gentle tug as the friends started to disperse from the restaurant. He shot her a questioning look, but the expression on her face was enough to let him know not to protest. Silently they slipped away from the group to somewhere they couldn't be heard.

"JJ?" he questioned quickly.

"Em called me tonight."

JJ paused, letting the information sink in. Hotch was the only person from the team who had shared the secret of Emily going into hiding. He was the only one who knew she was alive.

"And?" Hotch said mater of factly.

"She wanted to talk," JJ didn't know what about, but she had a bad feeling about the call.

"Call her back, find out what she wants and let me know. She may need our help. It was never established if Doyle had put out a bounty for her. If he suspected she was alive he would have let anyone and everyone know; in the hope of someone finding her. Just because he is dead, doesn't mean she is one hundred percent safe. Killing her would really up someone's status in Doyle's circle of acquaintances."

JJ nodded and made her way back to Will.

Hotch paused. JJ said that Emily had been certain that she would never return, so what had made her call out of the blue?

. . .

In her now drunken state, the constant ringing of her phone was really starting to bug Emily. Looking at the screen she cursed. JJ, yet again. She threw the phone across the room, hoping the impact would shut it up. It didn't. So she threw the near empty bottle of Jack after it. The loud bang, before it shattered, earned Emily an annoyed shout from her current neighbour, she heard every word of his rant clearly, through the paper thin walls.

Emily just laughed.

Staggering to collect the phone from the floor, she swore loudly as she cut her hand scooping up the devise from the carpet.

Submitting, she answered the phone as she rested back against the foot of the bed.

"Yeah?"

"Em, its JJ, you OK?"

Emily could hear the concern in her old friend's voice. She couldn't help but snigger as she squeezed her hand, watching the deep burgundy drops as they fell.

"Em?" JJ questioned, increasingly uneasy at the way the conversation was failing to develop.

"Yeah JJ," she slurred, "I'm fine. I was just in town and was wondering if you wanted to catch up over a drink. You know share stories of the good ol' days and all."

"EM!" JJ couldn't believe what she was hearing. Emily had returned, unprepared, after all this time. JJ had long ago given up on seeing Emily again. She hadn't given up on Emily, just that she would ever be part of her life again.

"Look JJ, I know I have screwed up, I shouldn't have come, but I . . ."

But what? Emily thought. She couldn't explain her actions to herself, let alone anyone else.

JJ could swear she could hear Emily sob, she knew she was a mess.

"Em, tell me where you are, I'm coming to see you."

"It's the middle of the night, Jay. I'll be fine, I always am. Just forget about me, please."

"You know that's not going to happen, so tell me before I waste the night searching. Don't forget I know your identities," JJ tone was forceful.

. . .

Within half an hour of putting the phone down, JJ was knocking softly on the door of Emily's hotel room.

Emily got up slowly and made her way over to the door, she opened it a crack. Her eyes meeting her friends for the first time since the day she had told her Doyle was dead and that she could come home.

"Can I come in?" JJ asked gently.

Em nodded and opened the door, turning, she head back towards her bed.

JJ's eyes struggled to focus in the dark room.

"Mind the glass," Emily added casually.

"Sorry," JJ said, surprised.

"The broken glass, on the floor, over there," she gave by way of an explanation, as she waved her hand vaguely in the direction of the broken bottle.

"Em . . ." JJ started, but words failed her. She had no idea what Emily had gone through in the last ten years, and to be honest, she was glad she couldn't imagine that level of loneliness, but now she could clearly see it had taken its toll on her.

"Em," she started again, "Talk to me, please. I hate seeing you like this."

Emily snorted.

"You hate it," she hissed.

Emily's tone scared JJ, enough for her to take a step back, but she was determined she would see this out. She had come to help her friend, no matter what.

"Em, I didn't mean it like that. I can't imagine how you feel and I doubt you want my pity. Right now I am scared, not just for my own safety. I am not leaving until I know you are safe."

Emily stared at her younger ex-colleague.

JJ matched her.

"Well, in that case make yourself comfy," Emily said in her characteristic sarcastic tone, as she flopped onto the creaking bed.

JJ sat tentively at the bottom of the bed. She wanted to reach out to her friend, to draw her in, but where did she start? As she sat there her eyes scanned the grubby room. The faint light from the bedside lamp shone enough to give her a taste of Emily's accommodation. She could now make out the slight glisten of the broken glass at the foot of the bed.

"Em, how can I help?" she started, "Have you run out of money, I can arrange things."

As she watched Emily, waiting for a reaction, she could see how much weight she had lost, she looked so frail, JJ also noticed something wrapped around Emily's hand. Even in the dark it was evident there was blood.

Slowly Emily opened her eyes.

JJ felt them pierce into her.

"What is it Emily? Talk to me," she begged.

"I don't know," Emily whispered, her eyes dropping as she sat herself up, pulling her knees into her chest "I don't know, but I couldn't stay away any longer, I couldn't fight it. I thought I would be OK, that I could make it, but I can't, not any longer."

JJ moved forward, pulling Emily into a hug. She couldn't say anything.

"Jay, I'm scared, I can't do this any longer. I can't be alone. I need someone. Him."

JJ could feel her sobbing. She could not remember seeing Emily like this, but she didn't know what to say. She had to speak to Hotch. Emily had been away so long; surely she didn't expect the team to just let her walk back in as if nothing had happened. JJ stroked her long hair, trying to sooth her, as she held her tight.

"This . . . isn't . . . over . . .for me, JJ," Emily sobbed looking up, "Emily . . . Prentiss . . . isn't . . .dead . . . I'm alive. . . I'm alive."

JJ was lost for words, what could she say?

"Let me call Will, I'll stay tonight, and tomorrow we'll talk to Hotch."

Emily nodded, releasing JJ, so she could make the call.

When JJ let herself back into the room, Emily was a sleep. She tiptoed over and lay down, closing her eyes. Her mind raced. Will had been very understanding, he knew. Hotch however had struggled with what she had told him. She wasn't looking forward to tomorrow.

. . .

Sorry that was a bit heavy JJ/Emily – but necessary I think. What do you think? Please let me know.