A/N: I've already written half of the next Chapter so I'm hoping to upload that in the next few weeks. I hope you like this chapter! Let me know in the comments of anything you liked, didn't like or any suggestions you may have!

*Trigger warning for Self harm and Sexual Assault!*

The café was warm and inviting, the scent of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the faint aroma of pastries. Emily tugged her jacket tighter around her as she and Nora approached the counter.

"Two coffees, please," Nora said with her clipped British accent, glancing at Emily with a playful smile. "Black for the Yank, flat white for me."

Emily smirked. "Still think your coffee's better, huh?"

"Oh, it's not even a debate," Nora shot back with a grin.

The barista handed over their drinks, and they found a cozy corner table by the window. Outside, the D.C. streets were just beginning to stir.

"This is nice," Nora said, stirring her drink idly. "Quiet mornings, no rushing about. Feels like a holiday."

Emily nodded, cradling her coffee in her hands. "I guess I don't slow down enough to notice."

"Well, you ought to," Nora said, her tone teasing but gentle. "Life's too short to be running yourself ragged."

Emily chuckled softly. "Actually, I've been thinking about that. The case is wrapped up now, so I'm considering sticking around for a bit. Take some time to enjoy things while I'm here."

Nora blinked, then raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Hold on. Did you just say 'take some time off'? Emily Prentiss, slowing down? I must've heard that wrong."

Emily laughed, shaking her head. "Believe it or not, it's true. It's been nice being back. I'm thinking of staying a little longer, maybe just... not rushing around for once."

Nora looked at her like she'd just grown another head. "Well, colour me shocked. I never thought I'd see the day." She took a long sip of her coffee. "Guess I'll just have to get used to this 'calm, relaxed Emily.'"

Emily smiled, the weight of the conversation lifting a little. "I know, it's a shocker. But, really, I think I could use a breather."

Nora smirked, clearly amused. "Alright, then. But don't get too comfortable. I only took a few days off myself. Got a ton of work waiting for me back in London." She paused, her expression shifting slightly. "Still, I'd love to stick around and meet the team before I head back. You know, see what all the fuss is about with your BAU friends."

Emily nodded, feeling a lightness to the exchange but also a tinge of hesitation. "They'll be happy to meet you. I've told them a little about you, but you'll get to see the real thing for yourself."

Nora leaned back in her seat, her voice casual but tinged with curiosity. "I bet they're just as busy as you. Must be quite the crew." She paused, eyes narrowing slightly as she changed the subject. "So, JJ... She came by last night. How's she doing? Everything alright?"

Emily hesitated for a moment, letting the weight of the question settle. "It's been a tough year for her. She and Will separated."

"Oh, that's awful." Nora's brow furrowed, her concern genuine. "I didn't realise things were so bad. I'm glad she has someone like you to lean on, though."

"She does," Emily replied quietly. "But she doesn't really let people in easily. I think she's been bottling a lot up."

Nora leaned in slightly, her tone still casual but now tinged with a bit of concern. "And you want to stay around to help her if she needs it?"

Emily shrugged, her gaze drifting to the window. "We've always had each other's backs. She's got others who are there for her, too."

Nora nodded, a small smile on her lips. "Well, you're a good friend, Emily. I hope she lets you be one."

Emily gave a faint smile in return, but the weight of her unspoken feelings for JJ lingered between them, even in the quiet moment that followed.

JJ stepped into the bullpen, the hum of ringing phones and rapid keystrokes filling the space around her. She barely had time to settle at her desk before the familiar sound of Emily's laughter cut through the noise, sending a shiver down her spine. She snapped her head up, looking all around for the woman she left frantically outside of her hotel room door just hours before.

There.

Around the round table, her entire team stood, laughing and talking with Emily Prentiss, as well as a woman JJ didn't recognize, but as JJ's eyes continued to focus on the unknown woman, she noticed her hand gently placed on the small of Emily's lower back. Their shoulders pressed into one another as they talked and laughed with the rest of the team. The way Emily glanced at her while she spoke. Even if JJ wasn't a profiler, it was obvious that they were a couple. JJ swallowed hard, willing herself to look away, but her body wasn't cooperating. Her grip tightened around the strap of her bag as she forced herself to take a slow, steady breath. It didn't matter. It shouldn't matter. Emily was happy, and JJ had no right to feel the sting pressing against her ribs.

"Jennifer Jareau!"

JJ barely had time to process Emily and Nora before Garcia's voice rang through the bullpen, loud and dramatic as always. JJ turned just in time to see her standing in the doorway of the briefing room, hands on her hips, a wide grin plastered across her face.

"Get your butt in here right now!"

JJ huffed a small chuckle, shaking her head at Garcia's theatrics.

"Our marvelous friend has hopped the pond and graced us with her presence," Garcia announced, slipping into the exaggerated British accent she'd been perfecting ever since Emily moved to London. Then, dropping her voice to an excited whisper, she added, "And she brought her boo!"

JJ's smile didn't fade, but the tightness in her chest deepened. She had already known—every glance, every touch had told her the truth—but hearing it spoken aloud made it real. The woman at Emily's side wasn't just a friend. She was hers. The confirmation landed like a punch to the gut, but JJ barely had time to compose the reaction before Garcia disappeared back into the room, leaving her with no choice but to follow.

JJ forced her feet to move, each step feeling heavier the closer she got to the briefing room. She kept the fake smile plastered across her face as she stepped into the room surrounded by her friends.

"Emily," JJ said softly, the warmth in her voice effortless, natural—just like it had always been. The comfort of saying her name settled something in her chest, if only for a moment. She stepped forward, pulling Emily into an easy hug, the kind she'd given a hundred times before. When she pulled back, her smile stayed in place, though her gaze flickered—just for a second—to Nora before returning to Emily. As if nothing had changed. As if this didn't hurt."And this must be your 'boo' I've heard so much about." The words were meant to be light, teasing, but there was an edge she hadn't anticipated. She saw the flicker of recognition in Emily's eyes. Not quite understanding, but enough to say, You never told me about her!

"JJ, this is Nora. My 'boo,' as Penelope called her," Emily replied, her gaze never quite holding JJ's. Around them, the team laughed at Garcia's usual enthusiastic chatter, their voices blending into the background.

"I've also heard so many wonderful things about you," Nora spoke, her British accent proper and charming. Her hand outstretched and her dark brown eyes locking onto JJ's with quiet confidence.

JJ hesitated for the briefest moment before faking a smile and shaking Nora's hand. Her grip was firm, steady, like she had nothing to prove—but JJ wasn't sure she could say the same for herself.

Their hands separated and JJ backed up quickly next to Penelope. Her eyes avoided Emily and Nora, instead looking across the room at Spence who was already watching her. Quickly, JJ dropped her head to stare at the files on the round table. She knew that the others had most likely noticed the exchange, whatever micro expressions they read that she was unable to conceal, but she also knew that only one of them would confront her about it. Spence. He never let things go. One of the many reasons JJ loved him, but in this moment she avoided eye contact and hoped he would drop it.

Hotch's voice interrupted her thoughts as he announced that he was giving them all the day off. With no new cases in the last 24 hours, and the team having a few back to back cases where they didn't even return to DC, they deserved it.

"Ooo! Ooo! Ooo!" Garcia exclaimed as she bounced in place with her hand in the air like a child waiting for the teacher to pick on them.

"Yes, Garcia?" Rossi asked with a knowingly sarcastic tone.

"I propose that we have a family day together. Preferably at la casa de Rossi." Her fingers were intertwined as she waited for the team's reaction, her eyes darting back to Rossi every 5 seconds to make sure he'd say yes.

"Well…why not! It's not every day we are all together," Rossi replied, bringing his hands together for a clap of agreement. The group let out a few laughs and cheers.

As the room filled with chatter once more, JJ allowed herself to slip out undetected, grabbing her purse from her desk and heading toward the elevators. She anxiously squeezed her left bicep and tapped her foot, waiting for the elevator doors to open. The sooner they opened, the sooner she could leave and avoid the awkwardness of hanging out with Emily and her girlfriend, not to mention avoiding Spencer's worried looks and possible confrontation about what he has noticed. Finally, the ding of the elevator arriving to the floor of the BAU sounds off and the doors begin to open. JJ steps in, presses the button for the Lobby and the Close Doors as quickly as she can, but before the doors fully shut, Spencer runs into the elevator. The doors shut behind him, leaving them alone.

"I know something's up. This isn't just about your torture a year ago," Spencer states. His voice was firm, steady even though his eyes showed immense worry while looking into JJ's.

"Spence…" JJ sighs, avoiding eye contact and shaking her head.

Spencer exhales sharply, pressing his lips together. He watches her for a beat, as if weighing his words or deciding whether to say what she isn't ready to admit. "JJ…I know you." His voice is softer now, but no less certain. "I know that when things get too real or uncomfortable, you run." He hesitates, searching her face, giving her a chance to stop him, to deny it. But she doesn't. Spencer swallows, before finally speaking the truth JJ was too afraid to admit. "I know that you are avoiding Emily… just like I've alway known about your feelings for her."

The words hit like a punch to the gut, JJ's breath stutters, her heart pounding so hard she hears it in her ears. She lifts her gaze to meet Spencer's, her lips parting, but no words come out. It's like her voice has abandoned her. Tears prick at the corners of her eyes, hot and unrelenting. She blinks rapidly, refusing to let them spill, refusing to give them power.

You could adjust the line where JJ says, "I don't—It's not like that, Spence." It could be more of an internal struggle to indicate her hesitation before she speaks, perhaps something like: "That's not—" She pauses, biting her lip, trying to find the words, but failing. "I don't... It's not like that, Spence."

Spencer gives her a knowing look, unimpressed. "JJ."

"I mean it," she insists, but her voice lacks conviction.

Spencer sighs, tilting his head. "If you really believed that, you wouldn't be running right now."

JJ parts her lips once more, attempting to continue her denial efforts, but she was caught. Spencer was right. Why was she running?

JJ's breath hitched. She opened her mouth, ready to argue, to deny it again, but nothing came out. The words were right there—excuses, justifications, deflections—but for once, she had none. Because Spencer was right.

She swallowed hard, blinking quickly to push back the tears threatening to spill over. "Spence, I just…" she trailed off, shaking her head.

Spencer softened, his voice no longer pressing but steady. "You know I'm right and if you don't show up tonight, it'll be obvious to the team too. You know that."

JJ exhaled sharply, her arms folding tightly across her chest, her right hand instinctively moving to grip her left bicep once more. She hated how well he knew her. Hated even more that he wasn't wrong.

"They're your family, JJ," he added. "No matter what's going on inside your head, you belong with them. With us."

Her eyes dropped to the floor for a moment, shoulders slumping in defeat. After a long pause, she sighed. "Fine. I'll come. But don't expect me to stay long."

Spencer didn't push further—he just nodded, accepting her terms. The elevator doors slid open behind him, but instead of stepping out, JJ hesitated, her eyes briefly flickering with something unreadable. She felt the weight of the moment: the soft pull of Spencer's understanding, the reluctant truth she couldn't shake, and the fear that still held her back.

With a quick glance back at Spencer, her lips curled into a hesitant smile—small, but there. It wasn't much, but it was enough to show her gratitude, even if it didn't feel like enough to fix what was broken inside her. Spencer returned the smile, his eyes a little less worried now, but still filled with the quiet concern that he always wore around her.

She pressed the button to the BAU floor, letting the doors shut again, the elevator humming as it began its ascent. It was time to face whatever came next.

JJ hesitated at the threshold of Rossi's house, her hand hovering over the doorknob. The soft hum of voices from inside seemed to grow louder with each passing second, the laughter and chatter tugging at her, urging her to step inside.

You're almost there, right? Everyone's waiting for you!

Spencer's text flashed across her phone again, a reminder that she couldn't keep stalling forever.

Taking a deep breath, JJ pushed the door open, stepping into the warmth of the house. The familiar scent of garlic, roast chicken, and something sweet immediately hit her, but it only deepened the knot in her stomach. She tried to shake it off, offering herself a small nod of reassurance before glancing down at her phone again.

The door closed behind her with a soft click, and before she could take another step, Rossi appeared, holding out a wine glass in one hand and a bottle of red wine in the other. "Well, look who decided to show up," he said with a grin, his voice warm and welcoming. "You've got a lot of catching up to do." Without waiting for her response, he popped the cork and poured a generous amount into the glass, handing it to her with a smile. "Here, a little something to get you started."

JJ took the glass from him, her fingers curling around the stem. "Thanks, Rossi," she said, her smile small but genuine. The weight of the glass felt comforting in her hand, a temporary anchor for the swirling thoughts in her mind. She took a sip, savoring the warmth of the wine as it slid down her throat, but it didn't do much to calm the nervous energy that buzzed in her chest.

Rossi motioned toward the living room, his eyes twinkling. "Come on in, the party's just getting started."

JJ nodded and followed him into the next room, where the familiar faces of the team were gathered. Emily, Nora, Penelope, Derek, Savannah, Kate, Chris, Hotch and Spencer were scattered around, chatting easily with one another. Laughter filled the air, light and carefree, and for a brief moment, JJ wished she could feel the same way.

As she stepped into the room, JJ's gaze immediately flicked to Emily. Their eyes met, and JJ's heart skipped a beat. Emily's expression softened when she saw her, lips curving into a small, closed-lip smile. JJ felt the weight of that smile press into her, but she quickly looked away, her chest tightening. She didn't know why it made her feel like this—like she was drowning in something she didn't want to face. She hated how vulnerable it made her feel, but she couldn't shut it down.

Rossi's voice broke through her spiraling thoughts. "Now the party has officially begun!" He pressed a button on a nearby stereo, and the room was suddenly filled with the upbeat sound of jazz—lively and full of energy. The kind of song that begged to be danced to, or at the very least, enjoyed. JJ gave a small, relieved sigh. The music was a welcome distraction, even if it couldn't entirely ease the tension still coiling inside her.

She made her way to the couch where Spencer was sitting, offering a soft smile when their eyes met. He gave her a knowing grin, the kind that said he was just happy she was here, that everything was going to be okay, even if she didn't believe it herself.

As she sat next to him, JJ took a moment to breathe, letting the noise of the room fill the space around her. She tried to join in on the conversation, offering a comment here and there, but her mind kept drifting. Her eyes wandered back to Emily and Nora, who were standing together, while talking with Penelope, Derek and Savannah, laughing softly. There was something about the way they looked at each other, the easy closeness they shared, that tightened the knot in JJ's stomach.

She looked away, desperate for some space to breathe. Her glass was empty.

JJ wandered back into the kitchen, her mind still a mess of thoughts she wasn't ready to confront. She grabbed the bottle of red wine from the counter and, without hesitation, uncorked it, her fingers gripping the neck of the bottle as if it might somehow anchor her. She poured herself a generous glass, the deep red liquid swirling around in the glass, a temporary escape from the chaos in her chest. Just as she was about to take another sip, she heard footsteps behind her. She didn't need to look to know it was Emily—she felt the air shift, the quiet tension that always seemed to linger between them now heavier than ever. JJ steeled herself, keeping her gaze on the wine bottle in her hand.

"You sure that's enough wine?" Emily's voice was light, teasing, but there was something else behind it, something softer, like she was trying to break through the wall JJ had carefully constructed around herself. Emily's eyes glinted with that familiar concern, but JJ wasn't ready to face it. Not yet.

JJ snorted, looking up just enough to meet Emily's eyes. "Oh, yeah. Definitely enough. You know me, Emily. I'm a light drinker." Her voice was laced with sarcasm, the sharp edge making it clear she wasn't in the mood for small talk or sympathy. She took another long sip, feeling the burn of the wine as it slid down her throat.

Emily didn't let up. "JJ," she said softly, stepping closer, her eyes searching JJ's face for any sign of what was really going on. She tilted her head slightly, a frown pulling at the corners of her lips. "We need to talk."

JJ's grip tightened on the glass, but she didn't break eye contact. She offered a tight smile, one that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Oh, do we?" Oh, do we?" JJ's voice was sharp, the mock sweetness slipping into something darker. "What is there to talk about? I'm fine. Really." Her words felt hollow in the air, like they weren't even convincing to herself. Her voice was too casual, too unaffected. She took another exaggerated sip of wine, the glass emptying faster than it should have. She was going to need more to keep up the act, to keep the cracks from showing.

Emily wasn't fooled. She didn't move, her gaze unwavering. "JJ, please. You don't have to pretend. I know you're upset." Her voice was soft, almost pleading, but there was a quiet frustration underlying it, the kind that had been building ever since JJ walked in tonight.

But JJ just shook her head, her lips curling into a small, tight smile that didn't even come close to matching the storm raging behind her eyes. "I'm fine," she repeated, as if saying it enough times would make it true. "Really." Without another word, she turned away from Emily, her footsteps sharp and quick as she walked back into the living room, the sound of her heels clicking against the hardwood floor.

As she reentered the living room, the laughter and chatter of her friends filled her ears. She could feel Emily's eyes on her, watching her walk away. JJ knew she shouldn't have reacted the way she did, but her emotions were overwhelming her mind, and the alcohol was making it hard for her to filter herself. JJ raised the glass to her lips and tipped it back, allowing the wine to creep down her throat, creating a burning sensation that allowed a temporary moment of relief from her worries. JJ entered into a conversation between Kate, her husband, Chris and Hotch, while Emily reentered the room, joining Nora who was still in deep conversation with Penelope. Her fingers tightened around the stem of the glass as she watched Emily's hand caress the small of Nora's back, to which Nora responded with a gentle kiss to her cheek. Her eyes flicked away from them as she tried to refocus herself and engage in conversation.

As the night progressed, JJ continued to notice all the little intimate moments Emily and Nora were having, from holding hands to a small kiss, it all was stirring up a heaviness within JJ's body. She raised her glass up to her lips once more, taking the final gulp out of the glass. She knew if she went for more wine, the others would start to notice even more than they probably already did, and JJ knew she wouldn't be able to hold back her reactions with any more alcohol in her system. Setting down the glass, JJ crossed her arms, and squeezed her left bicep to induce the pain from the fresh burns she inflicted on herself the night before.

As the night progressed, JJ continued to notice all the little intimate moments between Emily and Nora—the hand-holding, the small kisses. Each one stirred a heaviness inside her. She squeezed her left bicep, pressing against the fresh burns she inflicted on herself the night before.

A sudden, sharp sensation triggered a flood of memories. The pressure of the chains, the needle entering her arm, the suffocating rag over her face. Hastings' voice. His hands.

JJ's breath caught. She needed more pain to ground herself. "I'm going to the bathroom," she muttered to Spencer, then slipped out the front door instead.

Once outside, she struggled for air. Her mind spun with his voice, his touch, the unbearable weight of his presence even in memory.

"What's wrong Jennifer? Am I not your type?" Matt Hastings' laugh echoed in her mind.

JJ shook her head, trying to stop the memories from flooding in. She started toward her car, but the mix of alcohol and emotions made her steps unsteady.

"Since you've been so very helpful, I'll return the favor," His voice sinister, callous. "You know I really didn't mean to kill your baby, right?" The look on his face was pure evil. Hastings' breath was thick with cigarettes and booze, the smell filling her nostrils.

JJ turned her head away in disgust, trying anything to escape the situation she was in. The room was cold, but her skin burned. Everything burned.

Hastings straddled JJ, on the bare mattress one room over from where Matt was bleeding out, from where they had both been tortured. Releasing his hands from her hips, he moved to the zipper of her pants. Feeling the pull of the zipper, she tried to buck her hips, hoping she had enough energy to push him off of her, but she was too weak and he just laughed.

Burning.

Pushing his weight down on JJ, he gripped her face forcing her to look at him."Do you know how long I've been waiting for this?" Hastings asked. Lifting his body slightly off of her, he slid her pant's and underwear off as well as his own.

Burning.

JJ shut her eyes tightly letting out a whimper with every touch to her body. His hands caressed her inner thighs, as he placed himself between them and forced himself inside of her.

Burning.

Her mind fractured between then and now. The pain intensified, spreading from her arm, scorching her skin. The mattress under her back dissolved. The chains on her wrists were gone.

JJ blinked, her breath hitching in her throat as her surroundings rushed in—the dashboard, the gear shift, the cigarette pressed hard against her right bicep, the untouched side of her body, to this awful vice, no more.

She yanked the cigarette away, her hand shaking as she put it out on her dashboard. Smoke curled from the fresh wound, her skin red and raw. The memory still clings to her, but the present was undeniable. Real. Immediate. Resting her head on the back of the seat, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, finally allowing her body to rest even just for a moment.

A soft knock on the window made her jump.

Slowly, she turned her head.

Emily.

Her heart dropped into her stomach. Emily had tears silently falling down her cheeks as she just stared at JJ.

JJ took a deep breath, her own tears forming in her eyes once more, and opened the car door. "Emily…" JJ's voice trembled, a million thoughts swirling in her mind, but no words coming out. "It's… It's not… I was going to…" She cut herself off, her breath coming in sharp gasps as she fought to steady herself. How could she let this happen? How could she have been so stupid?

Emily didn't say anything at first. Instead, she stepped forward, slowly, cautiously, as though approaching a fragile animal that might bolt at any moment. The tears on her cheeks shimmered in the faint light of the car's interior, but she never took her eyes off JJ. The pain, the worry, the love—all of it reflected in her gaze.

"JJ," Emily whispered, her voice breaking slightly as she knelt beside the car, her hand resting gently on JJ's. "How long?" Emily's voice cracked. "How long have you been…" She swallowed hard. "Been burning yourself?"

JJ lowered her gaze, fingers digging into her arms. "Almost a year." She heard Emily let out a small whimper at the answer, and could no longer hold back her tears. "I'm so sorry you had to see that, Em. I'm so so sorry. I'm…I'm not okay…I wanted to tell you…I really did…but…" JJ trailed off as she began to sob into her hands.

Emily inhaled deeply, closing her eyes for a moment, taking in all of the new information that had just come to light. Without speaking, she stepped closer to JJ, waiting for JJ to give her a sign that she should back away, but she didn't. Emily opened her arms and pulled JJ into them, holding the back of her head as JJ sobbed into her shoulder. "You don't have to carry this on your own. I'm here for you. Always."

JJ continued to sob against Emily's shoulder, the sound of her heartbreak filling the quiet night. Emily's arms tightened around her, grounding her, making her feel as though for the first time in a long while, she wasn't alone in this fight. But even as the comfort of Emily's embrace offered some solace, JJ couldn't help but feel the lingering weight of the past, a gnawing ache in her chest. She knew it wasn't going to be easy to heal, that the road ahead would be long and painful. But at this moment, with Emily holding her, it didn't seem quite so impossible.

For the first time in what felt like forever, JJ allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, things could get better.