CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

11x08 Awake

JJ leaned her head against the side of the elevator. How on Earth was she going to stay awake for an entire shift? Derek and Tara Lewis entered the elevator together and JJ lifted her head up slightly.

"Ohh. Good morning, JJ," Derek said with his signature smile. "What's goin' on, a little morning-after blues? Wait, let me guess. Let me guess. Date night. Romantic dinner and a movie." JJ kept her eyes closed. If she wasn't so tired, she would've laughed.

"Derek, I don't think that's what it is," Tara said interrupting him.

"Come on, come on, come on. There was probably a little wine involved to set the mood and then you finished it off with a little hanky panky." Derek glanced back and forth between the two women. JJ smiled at him tiredly. "I'm way off, aren't I?"

"You're cute. But the only action happening at our house at 3am is a colicky baby."

"Colicky. I knew that. I knew that." The doors opened and they all stepped off together.

"Hi, I'm Tara Lewis. It's great to officially meet you."

"Same here. I've heard so much about you." Emily had told her a little about their new colleague - she was bright and capable and resourceful.

"So, I'm assuming sleep is a thing of the past at your house?"

"Uh, you know, everyone said that twins were a handful. We were expecting double the work, but wow."

Before she knew it, one shift turned into a double. She let out a sigh as she boarded the jet. JJ didn't realize how much she would miss her family. Emily had been coming in three days a week for about a month, but this was the first time for JJ. And she missed them. Derek glanced in her direction.

"Hey. Uh, did you want a cup?" JJ's eyes zoned back in and she let out a frustrated groan. He looked down, "Oh. Right, right. The whole, um… yeah."

"Yeah. I'm still nursing. That's ok. Only forty-five days, three hours, and six minutes left, but who's counting?"

"You're really not messing around," he said with an amused twinkle in his eyes.

"No, you don't stand between a woman and her caffeine."

"Well, listen, when your sentence is up, first cup's on me."

"Deal."

JJ yawned loudly from her seat on the jet, causing both David and Derek to glance in her direction.

"Oh, sorry."

"Wow. Kids really are game-changers, aren't they?"

"Yeah, how is it that I wake up more exhausted than when I went to bed?"

"Why don't you try to get some shut-eye before we land?" Dave suggested.

"Oh, trust me, I've tried, it's not happening." She glanced back down at her phone. Emily had just put the boys to bed. JJ knew Emily would likely be calling her in a matter of minutes. But it was Dave who picked up the phone when Emily called. He stood and walked to the back of the jet.

"Hey, Emily," he said softly.

"Dave? Where's JJ?"

"She's fine. She's finally sleeping."

Emily smiled to herself. Good. JJ needed to sleep. "How close are you guys?"

"It's gonna be another 45 minutes before we land," Dave said, glancing out the window into the darkness.

"Okay, thank you." Dave almost put down the phone when Emily quickly asked, "Hey, Dave? How was she today?"

Rossi smiled a little at Emily's concern. He glanced over at JJ and Derek. The former was still sleeping soundly. The ladder, listening to music. "Tired - but good. She missed you guys."

Emily smiled. She missed her too. In the distance she heard a cry. So did Dave. Emily sighed a little.

"I'm guessing you have to take that?" Dave asked with a smirk.

"Yeah…" Emily breathed back into the phone. Emily said goodbye quickly and hung up. She walked down the dark hallway back into the room she had just left. She knew it was too good to be true that they both fell asleep that quickly. She leaned over and picked up Henry, laying his head on her chest and swaying gently.

He really did look like his mother. Even at such a young age, Emily could see it. He had her beautiful blonde hair. And her blue eyes. Michael's hair, on the other hand, was dark. Something that JJ loved. His coloring was more akin to Emily's. His dark hair and dark eyes reminded JJ of her wife. He didn't have Emily's pale skin though. His olive skin brought out his eyes. Not nearly as dark as Emily's - they were a lighter brown. A warm brown. They were heartbreakers.

Emily walked over to the rocking recliner in the corner of the room. Henry was still fussing a little, though the comfort of his mother was calming him down. It was hard for Emily to watch him suffer. She brought a gentle hand to his back and rubbed it comfortingly.

"Shh, shh." Emily leaned her cheek against the top of his head briefly. "It's gonna be okay." Emily closed her eyes. They were so tired they hurt. Henry's distressed breathing fell on her skin. Emily rocked the chair back and forth a little.

JJ glided up the stairs and glanced into her bedroom. It was dark, but the moon was bright enough to illuminate her bed. Her empty bed. JJ turned and walked down the hall. Nothing prepared her for the sight she saw when she rounded the corner. The room was dark and quiet except for a nightlight casting soft shadows across the room. She spotted Emily laying in the recliner in the corner of the room. Both arms were protectively wrapped around the little boy on her chest. They were both fast asleep. JJ stopped to watch for a moment. She wanted to freeze time. She wished she could live in this moment.

She crossed the room and kneed next to the chair. She gently brushed Emily's bangs back and ran a hand down one of her arms. Emily shifted slightly and opened her eyes. JJ smiled. Emily looked about as exhausted as she felt.

"Hey," Emily whispered. JJ continued to stroke her forehead, slowly. Emily lifted her arm to look at her watch. "What time is it?"

"11:30," JJ answered. "I just got home." Emily watched JJ's eyes travel to Henry. His breathing was deep and slow. His mouth slightly open, drooling on his mother's shoulder. JJ chuckled, amused.

She stood and Emily followed. JJ checked on Michael while Emily gently put Henry in his crib. She lingered for a moment, content to just watch Henry breathe for a little while. JJ reached for her hand, pulling Emily's attention back to her.

"Come to bed with me," she whispered, leaning down to kiss Emily's shoulder.