Chapter 31

So I have started on a prequel for A New World. Once I have figured out a title I will start posting. I am now back at work. I will to try to update as much as I can. However, as most of you know I get very little signal on camp, so please bear with me.

JJ made her way downstairs putting the coffee machine on before rooting through the cupboards in search of something to eat. She had lived mostly on takeout these past few weeks, she had watched as Emily pushed the food around in a hope it made it look as though she had eaten something. Now enough was enough. She had lost too much weight, pushed her away so much, although now she wondered if she should have pushed in the first place instead of allowing her to wallow in self-pity

JJ wondered if it was truly self-pity or grief. Either one was turning her into a shell.

It had been a good hour before she heard movement from upstairs, she put the coffee machine back on making them both a fresh cup of coffee, and the soft patters came down the stairs. She turned looking at her for a moment.

"Feel better?" She asked.

Emily shrugged slightly. "I guess."

"Well your coffee is here and dinner is nearly ready, so sit down." JJ raised her eyebrow slightly as she waited for Emily to challenge her. However, to her amazement Emily did as she was asked.

"Right once you have eaten," JJ said giving her a pointed look. "We are going to talk and I mean it. I don't need you to tell me anything I just need you to let me in a little so I can help you." She said firmly.

Emily sighed slightly, as she shrugged. "I mean it Em."

She nodded slightly she knew that tone: it was the one she got when the media was driving her insane. The tone that said you do as I asked or you will get nothing out of me. Although Emily knew that was not the case. Could she truly let her in? It was too soon for her to mention what had gone on it that room. Could she talk about Stacy? That was the million-dollar question. It hurt so much and she missed her so much. She would admit having JJ around brought her some comfort but in a different way. Stacy would wrap her arms around her and hold her when things had become too much. She was the one thing that kept her grounded. The one thing that helped keep the compartments wound in so tightly.

"You remind me sometimes of Stacy." Emily mumbled as she looked at the blonde.

JJ turned the heat down on the stove before turning to face Emily. "How did you met?" JJ asked.

Emily couldn't help the half chuckled that escaped her lips. "This is going to sound so bad." She said softly.

"Why bad?"

"Eight years younger than me and I met her." Emily sighed slightly. "She was eighteen when I first met her, I was a TA and she had just started college." She paused slightly. "We became friends, that picture," Emily said as she pointed to the one where she was swinging on Emily's neck. "She had just graduated."

"When did you start dating?" JJ asked.

"We waited until she had left college, we had unofficially been together for nine years, but as far as my mother knows we've only been together four years." Emily began to pick at her nails slightly. "Not exactly the best conversation in the world."

"What with your Mom?" JJ asked slightly confused.

"Do you mind if I go and lie down?"

JJ couldn't help the slight sigh that left her lips. "I don't want you locking yourself up there Emily," JJ warned slightly, to which she gained a slight nod.

Once JJ had cleaned the pots up, she pulled out her phone, closing the door in the dining room so she couldn't be heard she dialled a very familiar number. "I'm not disturbing you am I?" JJ asked.

"No not at all, is everything okay?"

"I've been thinking about what you said before." JJ admitted.

"And what have you decided?"

"I need someone to talk to." She paused slightly. "I don't know what to do for the best Hotch. She starts to talk and then it is like she applies the breaks and goes running for the hills."

"I'll make a few calls" he paused slightly. "Has."

"Has what?" JJ asked.

He was debating if he should tell JJ, if he should in fact tell her what he knew, what he had seen. The professional side of him wanted to keep it to himself. Although the friend side of him wanted her to know everything. If she knew, she'd be able to help her more. On the other hand, he knew it could upset JJ more.

"Do you think she will talk to anyone?"

"About what happened?" JJ frowned slightly. "She goes to talk about Stacy, and within minutes she's shutting down again and disappearing into her bedroom." JJ said firmly. "Maybe it's because we are friends that she won't talk to me?" JJ asked slightly.

"I guess talking about Stacy is a start." He said kindly. "I doubt it has anything to do with you being friends JJ, if it was she wouldn't have agreed for you to stay with her," he pointed out kindly.

"True, I've not told her you've given me some time off yet" she admitted.

"As I said early, you need to look after yourself."

"How long do you think until they." She paused slightly. "Hotch is she going to need to testify?"

"I don't know, she may do. Although with the amount of evidence, I am hoping that he will try and make a deal"

"Hotch" she took a deep breath. "What evidence?"

"Our statements, the reports from the hospital."

"Even I know that isn't enough," JJ said warily.

"They are going for the death penalty; the deal would be for life in prison." He stated.

"Rather he got the death penalty," she mumbled slightly.

Even Hotch knew that wasn't like JJ, she had always seen the good in people. She even to a point had empathy for the unsubs, in all honesty he knew she generally opposed it. "We will have to deal with it when it comes," he said firmly.

"If she has to take the stand Hotch, I honestly think we will lose her," JJ admitted.

"It's too early to decide that, it could take months before it even gets to a judge, he is being held without bail"

"Okay, I'm just really worried about her Hotch,"

"I'll ring you once I've finished tomorrow, I'll make some phone calls and make you an appointment, and as for the other, we will cross that bridge when we get to it," he said carefully.