The breeze took enough of the edge off of the heat, and as her feet sank into the sand, JJ closed her eyes, letting the waves crash around her ankles. The case was done, but there was a storm over D.C., and they wouldn't be able to catch a flight until morning.
"You okay?"
She started slightly, turning to see Derek coming up to stand beside her. He was barefoot as well, the water soaking the bottoms of his pants.
"I'm fine," she said quietly, twisting her mouth into a small smile.
"C'mon, Jayje..."
"You profiling me?"
He shook his head. "I'm your friend," he said firmly. "I can tell when something's wrong."
She nodded, hearing the truth in his words. Crossing her arms, she looked back out over the ocean. "Will left."
The shock was plain on his face. "What? Why?"
JJ shrugged. "A lot of reasons, I guess. But...he said some things...right before he walked out..." She shook her head. "I can't get the words out of my head."
"What did he say?" Derek asked gently.
Her mouth trembled, but she didn't turn. "That I'm cold," she whispered. "Unloving. That I don't ever give. He said it was impossible to love someone like me."
"Jayje..." He reached out resting a hand on her shoulder and turning her to face him. The other hand came up just under her chin. "He's wrong."
"Is he?"
"Short of one Miss Penelope Garcia, you are the warmest person I have ever met. You give more of yourself to the victims and the families than anyone else on this team. You feel for every single one of them. You love without boundaries. I've seen it."
"But Will..."
"Maybe you just didn't love him," he said quietly. "Not the way he wanted you to."
She wanted to argue, but it was hard to argue with facts. Nodding slowly, she turned back to look at the water, breathing a little deeper, a little easier.
He stayed with her.