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Emily had protested the entire way to the hospital. She had argued as they wheeled her into the er and had been nothing short of dismissive and hateful with every single nurse, doctor, and orderly that had dared cross the curtain.
Now, her arm had finally be placed into a soft cast and a sling, the wounds on her head had been tended to one stitched and one glued. JJ held a small stack of papers that instructed her on proper pain management and letting Emily sleep. She nodded gratefully at the doctor. Glancing down at the paper work only then did she realize that Emily had listed her middle name as Danger. She couldn’t help the smile that crept across her lips “Come on ‘Danger’ let’s get you home”
“Oh no ma’am we’re needed on that case. We’re going back” she waved dismissively at the nurse who had appeared with a wheel chair “No way”
“You know Hotch isn’t going to let you back out into the field”
“When have I ever listened to my boss?” Emily slid into the front seat with a wince. JJ glanced at her from the corner of her eye. “Fine. You call him and tell him you’re coming back and let me know what he has to say” She passed Emily her phone and watched curiously as she dialed Hotch.
“Hey, no I’m fine. Really it’s a few bumps and I’m fine. I’m coming back”
JJ couldn’t hear the other end of the conversation but Emily’s face told her all she needed to know.
“Hotch I’m fine!”
“What do you mean no?”
There was a long silence and Emily’s brow furrowed deeper as her lips turned into a sharp frown.
“Yeah, I love you too”
She tossed her phone to the floor with an exasperated sigh.
“Come on Danger I’ll buy you some ice cream” JJ smiled pulling onto the highway. Emily grumbled all the way to the pharmacy and all the way home. Shooting JJ daggers when she offered to help her inside.
“Sorry, I forgot you’re an independent contractor for bad assery” JJ laughed at her own joke and closed the garage door. She put their ice cream into the freezer and went to change.
When she re-appeared in the kitchen Emily had sat down at the bar still looking sullen. Her scowl softened when she saw JJ. Her hair in a messy bun, wearing her sweat pants and a tank top. “Oh, you’re smiling at me now?”
“You’re cute in my pants” Emily shrugged as if she had stated a verified fact.
JJ fluttered around the kitchen chopping vegetables and preparing dinner. She kept a close eye on Emily who seemed to have gone back to sulking. “Now that every thing is in the oven let me help you get changed?”
“I can do it”
“I’m not questioning your ability. I’m offering to help you” JJ put her hand on her hip and cocked her head to the side.
“Don’t look at me that way” Emily rolled her eyes.
“What way? I’m just waiting on you to accept my help”
JJ walked into their bedroom pulling out a pair of Emily’s leggings and an oversized t-shirt that had belonged to Hotch before she had claimed it as her own. She waited patiently for Emily to finally wander in. She immediately met her at the door. Pulling her blazer from her shoulders. “I can do it J” JJ sighed.
“Come on baby girl just let me take care of you”
Emily immediately softened “What?”
“Let me take care of you”
She carefully lifted the sling and unbuttoned Emily’s shirt carefully slipping it past the soft cast. She reached behind her and with zero ulterior motive and unclasped her bra. Emily’s cheeks flushed and she looked toward the floor. JJ wasted no time in catching her chin and tilting it upward to meet her eyes. “You’re so beautiful. Don’t ever hide from me” To say that Emily was taken aback was an understatement. She watched in awe as JJ lifted her confidence and completely redressed her before leaning up to softly kiss her lips.
“Let’s go check dinner beautiful girl” JJ led her by the hand back into the kitchen pulling out a stool for her at the bar.
She pulled dinner from the oven and made Emily’s plate. Setting the precut chicken and vegetables in front of her without a word. She cut hers and Hotches as well. “Hotch said he’d be home late” She covered the plate and sat it inside the microwave before sitting down across from Emily smiling softly.
They ate largely in silence. JJ occasionally glancing up at Emily with a soft smile. When they had finished JJ cleared their plates and wiped down the bar. “Movie?” She tried her best to sound casual as she checked the dosage on Emily’s pills before placing them into her hand leaving no room for argument.
“Sure” Emily headed toward the living room slightly limping as the soreness sat in. JJ put on Young Frankenstein and settled next to her. “You hate this movie” Emily looked confused as to why JJ would have chosen it. “You love it though” she shrugged lightly “I don’t mind it” She leaned into the corner of the couch in a position that Emily often took herself. Especially if JJ had a particularly rough day. “You don’t have to take care of me J” JJ shook her head and held her hands up in defense “Look I’m just sitting here. If you want to lay in my arms I’m not going to be upset at all. I’d actually really love it if you’d let me hold you. I’ve had a rough day” tears filled her eyes blurring the bright blue that Emily loved so much. “Oh baby girl” Emily immediately shifted into JJ’s arms her head resting against JJ’s chest “Tell me what’s wrong?” JJ’s breath stuttered slightly as she spoke “I almost lost you”
“You didn’t almost lose me J. He just got me in a blind spot.”
“No, he got you because you didn’t see him because you were trying to make sure you could see me and that he wasn’t anywhere near where I was sweeping the room”
Emily couldn’t argue. She knew JJ was right. Even now as she smoothed those long soft fingers through Emily’s hair her heart fluttered at the thought of what had happened. “I’m sorry, Jennifer.” JJ immediately stilled and looked down at Emily “Sometimes I do things to protect you and I don’t always realize I’m doing it. You’re capable and I need to let you do your job” JJ sniffled “You called me Jennifer..”
“I’m sorry baby girl” Emily reached up to gently touch her cheek.
JJ turned her focus back to the tv prompting Emily to do the same and letting her know that she didn’t care to discuss it any further.
When Hotch came in tossing his keys on the table and leaving his shoes by the door he found them in the same position. Emily tucked against JJ’s chest as she stared blankly at the dvd menu.
“Hey, princess” he laid a gentle hand on her shoulder “How’s our prized fighter doing?” He attempted to lighten the mood.
JJ glared at him “She has a concussion, a broken wrist, 5 stitches and some glue on her head, and bruised ribs.” JJ’s expression softened as she recounted the injuries. Hotch gently caressed Emily’s cheek “My darling girl” he lowered himself onto the couch next to them. JJ cleared her throat and straightened her back “I made dinner. You have a plate in the microwave” She tightened her grip on Emily lowering her cheek to rest against Emily’s hair.
“We need to talk” He leaned back eyeing her cautiously.
“About what?” She didn’t move to look at him but instead placed a soft kiss to Emily’s hair.
“You’re clearly upset”
This time she looked up. Fire dancing behind her eyes “Ya fucking think?” She clenched her jaw. “The woman I love was once again brutally attacked and once again could have died. She didn’t ,thank God for small favors, but you know what, Hotch? I’m sick of watching the people I love get hurt. I’m sick of not being able to keep them safe”
There it was. JJ blamed herself. His expression softened immediately. “You know that this wasn’t your fault?” JJ still refused to meet his eyes.
“Can you carry her to bed for me?” Hotch could tell she didn’t want to ask. That having to admit that she couldn’t get Emily there herself was destroying her. He simply nodded. Scooping Emily up bridal style and carrying her toward their bedroom.
JJ followed closely behind him almost looking over his shoulder as he placed her gently onto the mattress. “Thank you” Her tone was short and to the point. He lingered in the door way watching her fuss over the sleeping brunette. Tucking a pillow under her arm and covering her with her favorite blanket even though Emily refused to admit that she had a favorite. Finally she curled up next to her side softly stroking Emily’s hair and closing her own eyes.
Hotch loosened his tie and tossed it toward the couch. He quietly stripped down to his boxers and undershirt not daring to go back into their bedroom. He microwaved his dinner and ate silently at the bar. Intermittently sighing as he replayed the days events.
After placing his plate in the dishwasher. He grabbed a bottle of water and picked up the stack of discharge papers sitting down again. He carefully poured over the information laughing loudly when he saw Emily’s name. He recounted every injury, internally kicking himself with each page he turned. Finally with tears clouding his vision he lightly traced JJ’s signature. Of course she had signed to be responsible for Emily. They wouldn’t have let her leave on her own merit with a head injury.
He rubbed his face dismissing the tears. He had failed them again. This time it had been Emily. Before that JJ. Then there had been Haley. He quickly shook his head and went about checking all the doors and windows, arming the alarm, and grabbing his gun before heading toward the bedroom. He stopped just outside the door composing himself before stepping inside, shutting the door, and locking it. He caught JJ jumping up from the corner of his eye “It’s just me” She nodded softly lowering herself back to the pillow. Only once he stepped closer did he catch the glint of her gun laying next to her.
“Baby girl..”
“No” She blinked against the tears
“Jayje” He could see that she was swallowing hard and clenching her jaw shaking her head again.
“Baby..” He sat down on the edge of their bed and slowly picked up her gun “You’re safe. Emily is safe” JJ glared at him “You sure about that? You going to protect us? Protect her?” Hotch wasn’t prepared for the venom that laced her words. “Jennifer. I would die without hesitation for either of you. I’m sorry I wasn’t in that house. I’m sorry Dave and I went around the back. I’m sorry Morgan and Reid weren’t in that basement. All I can do is apologize. All I can do is tell you that she didn’t die because you acted. You called for back up. You took down the Unsub. You followed protocol and she lived because of your actions”
“No” JJ furiously shook her head “I didn’t follow protocol”
“What happened?”
“We cleared the hallway, we cleared the stairs, when we got into the basement we missed the bottom of the stairs. He ambushed us from behind” Her breath shuddered “He hit Em. I couldn’t see. It was too dark so I just charged. He had a board. I grabbed it and I hit him over and over. When I thought he was down I called for back up. I checked Em. I was so scared” She finally broke sobbing openly.
Emily looked up at Hotch not moving from the position she was in but watching intently as he reached for the blonde. “No!” She gently shoved him away fighting as he pulled her into his arms “Shhhh come here.” She finally collapsed against his chest sobbing openly and prompting Emily to lean up to rub soft circles on her back “Shhh it’s okay baby” JJ almost jumped at the sound of her voice. Immediately turning to wiggle into her embrace “I wouldn’t leave you for anything”
“You did. You left me”
Emily’s eyes closed. She had walked into it. “J you know I didn’t want to”
“What makes the next time any different?”
“I won’t leave you and you just have to take my word for it”
JJ sniffled softly Emily’s shirt balled into her fist. “You didn’t want to leave then either” Emily sighed softly “I didn’t. But I need you to trust that if I have to leave again I’ll be taking you with me. That’s it.”