Coincidences (4?/)
Title: Coincidences
Author: carlyisnot and frenhu
Fandom: Criminal Minds
Pairing: Emily Prentiss/Jennifer Jareau
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: No, they are not mine….“Criminal Minds” belongs to CBS.
Summary: A/U. Emily and JJ are not profilers. They don't have anything to do with the FBI. They are just ordinary people: a translator and a soon-to-be-doctor. Their ways cross each other’s and we all know what that means: there are no coincidences.
Authors Note: So this is something entirely new to me. My first attempt to write a fanfic with another author who is - by the way - absolutely talented and a fantastic writer! carlyisnot , I adore you! You did some wonderful job here. Also, the dream part is like a little fic with its own plot in this piece! Basically, a fic in a fic. You will see.
A/N 2: I know you have waited and waited for this part but finally here it is, more than 6 pages long, so I hope you can forgive me. : ) Beta is by Carly.
Read and enjoy!
---------
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
---------
Wednesday
Emily was rattled, tensed and felt terrible. A few days has passed since she and Steven broke their relationship off and she was all alone, by herself again after 3 years. She was uneasy, she didn’t like the feeling that overwhelmed her most of the time, like something was ripped out of her core. She thought that her life was on track and this completely blew her off guard. Steven betrayed her and it stung. Badly.
Truth be told, she knew exactly that there were always two persons in a relationship, and she could be blamed just as much as Steven. She let this happen: she wasn’t committed enough and thus, she lost her last chance for any happiness. Because she had to face it, she won’t get any younger, she celebrated her 40th birthday this year for Christ’s sake!
Now, whenever she arrived home, there wasn’t anyone waiting for her, no. What welcomed her was pure mixture of emptiness and coldness, a hollow feeling that would not leave her. After spending the night at the hotel and now coming home, the whole house was quiet. Nobody was here. There wasn’t any life in her house which she loved before.
All alone again: she came back with a bitter feeling and she realized that she didn’t want to live here anymore, she didn’t want to remember the memories that this house gave her…she was seriously considering selling the house and moving into a smaller apartment in the city. The suburbs didn’t give her anymore those required and very much embraced quiet and love.
She didn’t need that much space either and it all sucked. She didn’t belong here. She wanted to be somewhere new, where she could start with a clean plate.
With that thought, the brunette moved to the kitchen and searched for something to drink. There was vodka, scotch, and a half bottle of red wine in the fridge. She took out the wine and poured herself a glass.. She was pathetic, she knew that, but she didn’t want to break down and cry. She’d done that more times than she wanted to admit, and that was enough.
She moved to the leather sofa, turned on the TV and just sat there, flipping through channels until she settled on a movie meanwhile sipping the bold and heavy alcohol.
A couple of hours, an empty wine and a half bottle of vodka later, she was numb enough to not think about anything at all, so she could concentrate only on the world spinning around her. Probably time to go to bed. To my double bed which lost its main purpose now. Fantastic!
But she didn’t want to torture herself more than necessary and stayed on the sofa, despite the fact that she knew her back and neck would hurt like hell in the morning. With that last thought she closed her eyes and forgot all about her problems for the night and escaped to her illuminated state of mind, to her dreams.
---------
I close my eyes, just for a moment, and shake off that creeping, suffocating feeling that reminds me of my childhood days. That feeling reminds me of the first day in a new school. People are staring, looking down on me. They do so tactfully and more graciously than the school yard children, but the unspoken message remains clear: You don't belong here.
As always, I fix a bright confident smile upon my face and hold my head high, pushing aside any visible trace of anxiety. That facade of confidence that often led people to conclude I was unapproachable and cold. I had practiced that mask so proficiently that I scarcely remember what it is like to smile genuinely.
He stands tall before me, equally confident and yet not a trace of a smile crosses his face. His expression betrays nothing. He is playing his cards close to his chest, as he searches me with his eyes. I feel almost violated under his intense scrutiny. And suddenly it feels like the most important thing, to earn his respect. And to prove myself worthy.
He is calmly explaining that there has been a mistake, that there is no place for me on his team. It's the same story I've heard my lifetime over. No place that I belong. Determination rising, I find myself burning with desperation to prove to him that, yes, I do belong here. Yes, I have something to offer.
He remains skeptical, but I sense he is impressed at my determination. Still, he stares blankly not giving anything away. While it seems I've achieved my first victory, I'm still hesitant, still on trial. Still not wanted here, not deemed worthy or important. Not part of the team.
That's when I turn around, that's when I see your face across the crowded bullpen. You smile warmly, welcoming. I smile back. It was a reflex I had no control over, not the fake confident smile I frequently plastered on to fool the world.
Just like that, you put me at ease. Just like that, I belonged.
You offer your outstretched hand “Agent Jareau, call me JJ.”
“Agent Prentiss, call me Emily.” I answer you
That's when I felt connected. When I felt alive.
---------
Standing at the white board, dozens of men staring up expectantly, police, FBI, Agent Hotchner. Each and every one watching, waiting, wondering if I have the first idea what I'm talking about.
The words come easily. With confidence I rattle off facts, observations, my take on the current profile. The audience listens intently, furiously scribbling down my words. Looking to me for the answers, for salvation. And uncertainty creeps in. What if I'm wrong? What if the profile is wrong?
They question me, challenge me. “How do you know this?” “What makes you so sure about that?”
And I only smile, tapping my foot, and patiently explain the process that led me to these conclusions. I'm not sure if they are buying it. Uncertain faces stare back at me. And Agent Hotchner, as always, stares blankly.
But across the room I catch your eye. I often look up to find you watching me. And you are smiling. Brightly, reassuringly. Even in the midst of all this mayhem and chaos, you are smiling. Simply because you are looking at me. And once again, it's a reflex. I smile back. Not brightly and purely as you do. Hesitantly, awkwardly, but genuinely. And I wonder if you know that you are the first person in my life who has ever made me smile.
---------
It’s a late, strange afternoon when you approach me at my desk. Everything feels out of character and this makes me edgy because it’s like the calm before the storm. I can almost smell that typical scent of a thunderstorm heading my way.
You ask me if I have a moment to share and I know that something is up. Your tone betrays you. I only nod and expect you to announce whatever the bad news is. But you straighten your shoulders and ask me to follow you in your office.
The soft click as the door closes behind us echoes in my mind. Suddenly it’s so difficult to draw breath into my lungs, and there is no conceivable reason why. The office feels so small, you feel so close. And it makes my heart beat a little faster.
You're making polite conversation, asking me how I'm fitting in to the team and if there is anything you can do to help me feel at home? I can scarcely string two words together to formulate an answer. It seems like a crazy thing, but what I want to tell you is that this team is like family, this place is exactly like home. Instead I smile politely and tell you that I am enjoying the job very much and appreciate all your kindness.
You smile back at me. Not beaming radiantly as I've become accustomed to. Almost shyly.
You open your mouth to speak, but there is only silence. Somehow, it makes me afraid. Because I don't want to hear those words that you're having such difficulty verbalising. So smiling politely, I tell you I have to get going, and I reach for the door handle.
Before I have a chance to move, your hand is resting on mine. My skin is burning and I wonder if you feel it. My heart is pounding; I wonder if you hear it.
I turn to face you, curious. And our lips suddenly are touching. I have never been this close, to anyone. Never felt this insatiable need. More than I need to breath, I need to taste you. Hungrily, the kiss deepens, our lips intertwine and it feels like I cannot go on breathing without you near me. I have never felt so safe, so at home.
When you stop to take a breath, I step back, involuntarily, completely overwhelmed by the feelings stirring inside me and overtaken by deep desire. I feel dizzy, disoriented, as if my legs won’t hold me up one second longer, and I stumble backwards against the wall.
You cast your eyes down to the floor. Briefly I see shame, embarrassment, and regret cloud your gaze.
“JJ.” I breath your name, wanting desperately to tell you how I need to be close to you. But I have no words.
Hastily you find an excuse to leave the room, I can’t even catch the exact words you mutter before you've vanished.
And here I stand, where you left me.
Speechless.
Breathless.
Utterly alone.
And with the sweet taste of you still lingering on my tongue.
---------
There is a palpable sense of urgency in the air. Police, FBI, lights, sirens. There is you, and me, and our team. It feels so natural, the kevlar feels like second skin. The cool metal of the gun seems to fit in my hand as if it were made for me.
We're waiting for further orders. There is an overwhelming sense of importance in the air, the lives at stake, the feeling that we are making a difference, changing history.
Weapons poised, I subtly move ahead of you, so that I will be the one to enter the building first. It's not that I don't have faith in your abilities. It's just that faith is overshadowed by the strongest desire to protect you.
A deep sense of fear overwhelms me. So foreign that I almost can't recognize it. Not fear for my own life. Not even for the victims trapped in the building. It's you, JJ. Fear of something happening to you, fear of losing you.
It's a fear more intense than I've ever felt in my life. Never before have I had someone like you in my life. Someone worth everything to me, worth dying for.
And then, the deafening sound of a gun shot...
That was when Emily suddenly bolted up from her dream, all sweaty and breathing heavily, searching for any damage on her body. It was just a dream, it was just a dream! She had to repeat herself when she found no harm, otherwise she couldn’t believe it. The dream was so vivid, so alive and overwhelming. Like she was really in it, like it really happened.
That gun shot…and the thoughts about Jennifer. JJ. How she felt about her in her dream…they were FBI agents? JJ kissed her? She kissed JJ back? And had feelings for the blonde woman?
You shouldn’t drink that much and pass out on the couch Emily.
Nice move.
---------
Friday
The two women walked down the streets in the chilly wind. They didn’t care though, the dinner was excellent, conversation flowed freely and it was a pleasant Friday night so far.
When they arrived at a big, white, two-storey building, the brunette slowly stopped, looked up, pointed to the house and said, “This is me….umm…do you want to come up for a coffee?”
The blonde looked into the brunette’s eyes, she saw nothing but sincerity in them and the potential outcome of this night because she was sure it would end up somewhere around the bedroom. JJ really wanted to accept this invitation, she needed to do this, for her sake. If she was honest, she found instantly attractive the other woman who she just met a few days ago.
However, she knew that she has to decline this offer and she was absolutely sure as well that she would regret this later. “I really would love to…but I have to say no.”
The surprise was evident on the brunette’s face, she thought that the night went so well and JJ wanted to continue this too, but it seemed she couldn’t be any more wrong.
“No? You sure? What would convince you to come up? I have probably the best Arabic coffee you can buy in this city and maybe, just maybe, I can find some orange juice as well for later.”
JJ couldn’t help but smile at the brunette’s playful and flirty mood, she sure was hard to say no to. And orange juice? It could mean only one thing: breakfast together. “Yeah, I bet you would take good care of me”, And maybe you could even leave that nurse uniform on…JJ had to mentally shakeherself after these thoughts entered her mind. She knew she had to focus on something else, however as JJ finished her last sentence, the brunette moved closer, stepped into her personal space and gently kissed her on the lips.
“Catherine…”, the blonde inhaled and let out a small breath, broke the kiss, stepped a little back and continued, “This was nice. Really nice. And…and I’m glad you asked me out and invited me to your apartment. Believe me, a few days ago, I would have gladly accepted the offer and enjoyed the rest of the night but now…I just can’t. I thought I could but obviously I can’t. I’m sorry.”
“You’ve met someone, right?” It wasn’t really a question, Catherine was familiar with the look JJ was giving her.
“Sort of...um, as always, it’s complicated. And I know I will regret this later but right now I can’t go up there with you.”
The brunette held JJ’s eyes for a few more moments. She stepped closer again to the young doctor but this time she whispered in JJ’s ear instead of kissing her, “Fair enough. If that other thing doesn’t work out for you, you know where to find me. Goodnight JJ and see you at work!” Catherine gave a last wink towards JJ and started for her door.
JJ just stood there, like her feet were rooted in the ground. She felt stupid enough. How could she have turned down the nurse’s invitation? Why another certain brunette woman stopped her from going up? For God’s Sake, Emily was straight, just broke up with her boyfriend and she couldn’t help but wonder why the brunette previously cancelled their meeting today.. She knew something was off, Emily’s edginess, her weak, nervous voice betrayed her on the phone. That’s why she accepted the nurse, Catherine’s, date offer-because she had nothing to lose.
Still, JJ was ready to risk something good happening to her. Catherine was here, ready to be with her, with a woman none the less and she showed heavy interest towards the blonde. Fuck this! She thought and before she knew it, she made up her mind.
She saw that the brunette was now opening her door so she shouted at the last minute, “Catherine, hey wait, do you still want me to come up?”
---------
Thursday
Emily was buried in work at her office but she could hardly concentrate on anything but her dream the previous night. Her thoughts were interrupted by the phone buzzing on her desk. Emily picked it up without looking at the caller ID.
“Emily Prentiss.”
“Emily? Hey, it’s Jennifer. How are you?”
“Jennifer? Oh, hey, I’m…I’m okay considering the circumstances…um, what’s up?”
“Well, I was calling about tomorrow. You know I mentioned that I have the night off and we could meet. Are you still up to that?”
“Tomorrow? Right! Listen, I would love to go but some work came up and it seems I can’t make it.” Emily just lied to the doctor…she hoped Jennifer didn’t pick up her nervousness and agitated voice, she didn’t want to expose her true reason about calling the night off.
“Oh, okay, it’s okay. I guess next time then. When are you free next week?”
“Um, I…I don’t know yet. Look, I will call you when I free up, okay? I gotta go now. Bye."
That was really awkward and the blonde woman sounded disappointed. She knew she shouldn’t have lied to JJ but she was confused. Disturbed. Why did you do this? Right, the dream. It shouldn’t freak you out like that! Get a grip, Prentiss!
As she stared at her phone questioningly, Peter’s voice startled her and when she looked up, she could see her colleague leaning to the door.
“Hey, what’s up with the long face? I mean…I didn’t…damn…I feel stupid. I’m so sorry.”
‘Peter, please don’t. I’ll be okay…eventually…and don’t apologize, you did nothing wrong.”
“Yeah, I know, but I feel useless. Let me do something for you at least, can I take out you for dinner tonight?”
“I…um, actually I wanted to talk about something. I had this dream last night and I’m kind of…lost.”
“Oh, how so?”
“You remember Jennifer, the resident from the hospital, right?”
Peter nodded, encouraging to go on. “Well, we were supposed to go out tomorrow but I cancelled. God….she was in my dream. We were some kind of FBI agents, in a team, tracking down a serial killer, I think. The last thing I remember is that there was a gun shot and I was so afraid. But this is not the part I am confused about. JJ and me, well, we kind of... liked each other.”
“Ummm…so? Of course you like each other, you two were hitting it off from the start.”
“Yeah, well that’s not what I’m talking about…she kissed me. In my dream, I mean.”
“Oh…OH! I see! Well, you shouldn’t feel bad about that. It’s not that awful to be kissed by a beautiful woman...”
“From your point of view, I bet it isn’t.”
“Why? Come on now! It’s kinda hot actually! Didn’t you think about it before?”
“What? NO! You are impossible!”
“I don’t know why you are so freaked out about this. You shouldn’t be, it was just a dream, nothing else.”
“You don’t understand why I am so freaked out? Hmm…let me ask you something: did you ever dream about one of your male friends like that?”
“Yuck, no way! Gah, no….oh, okay, I got your point…But you don’t have to be confused about it, dreams are completely normal and let’s face it, they are just dreams. You don’t have to read anything into them. You dreamt about one of your friends you like and that’s all. Don’t worry about it too much. ”
“You think?”
“Of course! So let’s go back to my dinner offer to make you feel better! Be ready by 7pm!”
“Alright, alright. And Peter? Thanks, this meant a lot.”
Peter smiled and left the room. Emily felt a little better and all the tension what that dream caused her seemed to dissipate. After all, she had nothing to worry about, right?
Author: carlyisnot and frenhu
Fandom: Criminal Minds
Pairing: Emily Prentiss/Jennifer Jareau
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: No, they are not mine….“Criminal Minds” belongs to CBS.
Summary: A/U. Emily and JJ are not profilers. They don't have anything to do with the FBI. They are just ordinary people: a translator and a soon-to-be-doctor. Their ways cross each other’s and we all know what that means: there are no coincidences.
Authors Note: So this is something entirely new to me. My first attempt to write a fanfic with another author who is - by the way - absolutely talented and a fantastic writer! carlyisnot , I adore you! You did some wonderful job here. Also, the dream part is like a little fic with its own plot in this piece! Basically, a fic in a fic. You will see.
A/N 2: I know you have waited and waited for this part but finally here it is, more than 6 pages long, so I hope you can forgive me. : ) Beta is by Carly.
Read and enjoy!
---------
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
---------
Wednesday
Emily was rattled, tensed and felt terrible. A few days has passed since she and Steven broke their relationship off and she was all alone, by herself again after 3 years. She was uneasy, she didn’t like the feeling that overwhelmed her most of the time, like something was ripped out of her core. She thought that her life was on track and this completely blew her off guard. Steven betrayed her and it stung. Badly.
Truth be told, she knew exactly that there were always two persons in a relationship, and she could be blamed just as much as Steven. She let this happen: she wasn’t committed enough and thus, she lost her last chance for any happiness. Because she had to face it, she won’t get any younger, she celebrated her 40th birthday this year for Christ’s sake!
Now, whenever she arrived home, there wasn’t anyone waiting for her, no. What welcomed her was pure mixture of emptiness and coldness, a hollow feeling that would not leave her. After spending the night at the hotel and now coming home, the whole house was quiet. Nobody was here. There wasn’t any life in her house which she loved before.
All alone again: she came back with a bitter feeling and she realized that she didn’t want to live here anymore, she didn’t want to remember the memories that this house gave her…she was seriously considering selling the house and moving into a smaller apartment in the city. The suburbs didn’t give her anymore those required and very much embraced quiet and love.
She didn’t need that much space either and it all sucked. She didn’t belong here. She wanted to be somewhere new, where she could start with a clean plate.
With that thought, the brunette moved to the kitchen and searched for something to drink. There was vodka, scotch, and a half bottle of red wine in the fridge. She took out the wine and poured herself a glass.. She was pathetic, she knew that, but she didn’t want to break down and cry. She’d done that more times than she wanted to admit, and that was enough.
She moved to the leather sofa, turned on the TV and just sat there, flipping through channels until she settled on a movie meanwhile sipping the bold and heavy alcohol.
A couple of hours, an empty wine and a half bottle of vodka later, she was numb enough to not think about anything at all, so she could concentrate only on the world spinning around her. Probably time to go to bed. To my double bed which lost its main purpose now. Fantastic!
But she didn’t want to torture herself more than necessary and stayed on the sofa, despite the fact that she knew her back and neck would hurt like hell in the morning. With that last thought she closed her eyes and forgot all about her problems for the night and escaped to her illuminated state of mind, to her dreams.
---------
I close my eyes, just for a moment, and shake off that creeping, suffocating feeling that reminds me of my childhood days. That feeling reminds me of the first day in a new school. People are staring, looking down on me. They do so tactfully and more graciously than the school yard children, but the unspoken message remains clear: You don't belong here.
As always, I fix a bright confident smile upon my face and hold my head high, pushing aside any visible trace of anxiety. That facade of confidence that often led people to conclude I was unapproachable and cold. I had practiced that mask so proficiently that I scarcely remember what it is like to smile genuinely.
He stands tall before me, equally confident and yet not a trace of a smile crosses his face. His expression betrays nothing. He is playing his cards close to his chest, as he searches me with his eyes. I feel almost violated under his intense scrutiny. And suddenly it feels like the most important thing, to earn his respect. And to prove myself worthy.
He is calmly explaining that there has been a mistake, that there is no place for me on his team. It's the same story I've heard my lifetime over. No place that I belong. Determination rising, I find myself burning with desperation to prove to him that, yes, I do belong here. Yes, I have something to offer.
He remains skeptical, but I sense he is impressed at my determination. Still, he stares blankly not giving anything away. While it seems I've achieved my first victory, I'm still hesitant, still on trial. Still not wanted here, not deemed worthy or important. Not part of the team.
That's when I turn around, that's when I see your face across the crowded bullpen. You smile warmly, welcoming. I smile back. It was a reflex I had no control over, not the fake confident smile I frequently plastered on to fool the world.
Just like that, you put me at ease. Just like that, I belonged.
You offer your outstretched hand “Agent Jareau, call me JJ.”
“Agent Prentiss, call me Emily.” I answer you
That's when I felt connected. When I felt alive.
---------
Standing at the white board, dozens of men staring up expectantly, police, FBI, Agent Hotchner. Each and every one watching, waiting, wondering if I have the first idea what I'm talking about.
The words come easily. With confidence I rattle off facts, observations, my take on the current profile. The audience listens intently, furiously scribbling down my words. Looking to me for the answers, for salvation. And uncertainty creeps in. What if I'm wrong? What if the profile is wrong?
They question me, challenge me. “How do you know this?” “What makes you so sure about that?”
And I only smile, tapping my foot, and patiently explain the process that led me to these conclusions. I'm not sure if they are buying it. Uncertain faces stare back at me. And Agent Hotchner, as always, stares blankly.
But across the room I catch your eye. I often look up to find you watching me. And you are smiling. Brightly, reassuringly. Even in the midst of all this mayhem and chaos, you are smiling. Simply because you are looking at me. And once again, it's a reflex. I smile back. Not brightly and purely as you do. Hesitantly, awkwardly, but genuinely. And I wonder if you know that you are the first person in my life who has ever made me smile.
---------
It’s a late, strange afternoon when you approach me at my desk. Everything feels out of character and this makes me edgy because it’s like the calm before the storm. I can almost smell that typical scent of a thunderstorm heading my way.
You ask me if I have a moment to share and I know that something is up. Your tone betrays you. I only nod and expect you to announce whatever the bad news is. But you straighten your shoulders and ask me to follow you in your office.
The soft click as the door closes behind us echoes in my mind. Suddenly it’s so difficult to draw breath into my lungs, and there is no conceivable reason why. The office feels so small, you feel so close. And it makes my heart beat a little faster.
You're making polite conversation, asking me how I'm fitting in to the team and if there is anything you can do to help me feel at home? I can scarcely string two words together to formulate an answer. It seems like a crazy thing, but what I want to tell you is that this team is like family, this place is exactly like home. Instead I smile politely and tell you that I am enjoying the job very much and appreciate all your kindness.
You smile back at me. Not beaming radiantly as I've become accustomed to. Almost shyly.
You open your mouth to speak, but there is only silence. Somehow, it makes me afraid. Because I don't want to hear those words that you're having such difficulty verbalising. So smiling politely, I tell you I have to get going, and I reach for the door handle.
Before I have a chance to move, your hand is resting on mine. My skin is burning and I wonder if you feel it. My heart is pounding; I wonder if you hear it.
I turn to face you, curious. And our lips suddenly are touching. I have never been this close, to anyone. Never felt this insatiable need. More than I need to breath, I need to taste you. Hungrily, the kiss deepens, our lips intertwine and it feels like I cannot go on breathing without you near me. I have never felt so safe, so at home.
When you stop to take a breath, I step back, involuntarily, completely overwhelmed by the feelings stirring inside me and overtaken by deep desire. I feel dizzy, disoriented, as if my legs won’t hold me up one second longer, and I stumble backwards against the wall.
You cast your eyes down to the floor. Briefly I see shame, embarrassment, and regret cloud your gaze.
“JJ.” I breath your name, wanting desperately to tell you how I need to be close to you. But I have no words.
Hastily you find an excuse to leave the room, I can’t even catch the exact words you mutter before you've vanished.
And here I stand, where you left me.
Speechless.
Breathless.
Utterly alone.
And with the sweet taste of you still lingering on my tongue.
---------
There is a palpable sense of urgency in the air. Police, FBI, lights, sirens. There is you, and me, and our team. It feels so natural, the kevlar feels like second skin. The cool metal of the gun seems to fit in my hand as if it were made for me.
We're waiting for further orders. There is an overwhelming sense of importance in the air, the lives at stake, the feeling that we are making a difference, changing history.
Weapons poised, I subtly move ahead of you, so that I will be the one to enter the building first. It's not that I don't have faith in your abilities. It's just that faith is overshadowed by the strongest desire to protect you.
A deep sense of fear overwhelms me. So foreign that I almost can't recognize it. Not fear for my own life. Not even for the victims trapped in the building. It's you, JJ. Fear of something happening to you, fear of losing you.
It's a fear more intense than I've ever felt in my life. Never before have I had someone like you in my life. Someone worth everything to me, worth dying for.
And then, the deafening sound of a gun shot...
That was when Emily suddenly bolted up from her dream, all sweaty and breathing heavily, searching for any damage on her body. It was just a dream, it was just a dream! She had to repeat herself when she found no harm, otherwise she couldn’t believe it. The dream was so vivid, so alive and overwhelming. Like she was really in it, like it really happened.
That gun shot…and the thoughts about Jennifer. JJ. How she felt about her in her dream…they were FBI agents? JJ kissed her? She kissed JJ back? And had feelings for the blonde woman?
You shouldn’t drink that much and pass out on the couch Emily.
Nice move.
---------
Friday
The two women walked down the streets in the chilly wind. They didn’t care though, the dinner was excellent, conversation flowed freely and it was a pleasant Friday night so far.
When they arrived at a big, white, two-storey building, the brunette slowly stopped, looked up, pointed to the house and said, “This is me….umm…do you want to come up for a coffee?”
The blonde looked into the brunette’s eyes, she saw nothing but sincerity in them and the potential outcome of this night because she was sure it would end up somewhere around the bedroom. JJ really wanted to accept this invitation, she needed to do this, for her sake. If she was honest, she found instantly attractive the other woman who she just met a few days ago.
However, she knew that she has to decline this offer and she was absolutely sure as well that she would regret this later. “I really would love to…but I have to say no.”
The surprise was evident on the brunette’s face, she thought that the night went so well and JJ wanted to continue this too, but it seemed she couldn’t be any more wrong.
“No? You sure? What would convince you to come up? I have probably the best Arabic coffee you can buy in this city and maybe, just maybe, I can find some orange juice as well for later.”
JJ couldn’t help but smile at the brunette’s playful and flirty mood, she sure was hard to say no to. And orange juice? It could mean only one thing: breakfast together. “Yeah, I bet you would take good care of me”, And maybe you could even leave that nurse uniform on…JJ had to mentally shakeherself after these thoughts entered her mind. She knew she had to focus on something else, however as JJ finished her last sentence, the brunette moved closer, stepped into her personal space and gently kissed her on the lips.
“Catherine…”, the blonde inhaled and let out a small breath, broke the kiss, stepped a little back and continued, “This was nice. Really nice. And…and I’m glad you asked me out and invited me to your apartment. Believe me, a few days ago, I would have gladly accepted the offer and enjoyed the rest of the night but now…I just can’t. I thought I could but obviously I can’t. I’m sorry.”
“You’ve met someone, right?” It wasn’t really a question, Catherine was familiar with the look JJ was giving her.
“Sort of...um, as always, it’s complicated. And I know I will regret this later but right now I can’t go up there with you.”
The brunette held JJ’s eyes for a few more moments. She stepped closer again to the young doctor but this time she whispered in JJ’s ear instead of kissing her, “Fair enough. If that other thing doesn’t work out for you, you know where to find me. Goodnight JJ and see you at work!” Catherine gave a last wink towards JJ and started for her door.
JJ just stood there, like her feet were rooted in the ground. She felt stupid enough. How could she have turned down the nurse’s invitation? Why another certain brunette woman stopped her from going up? For God’s Sake, Emily was straight, just broke up with her boyfriend and she couldn’t help but wonder why the brunette previously cancelled their meeting today.. She knew something was off, Emily’s edginess, her weak, nervous voice betrayed her on the phone. That’s why she accepted the nurse, Catherine’s, date offer-because she had nothing to lose.
Still, JJ was ready to risk something good happening to her. Catherine was here, ready to be with her, with a woman none the less and she showed heavy interest towards the blonde. Fuck this! She thought and before she knew it, she made up her mind.
She saw that the brunette was now opening her door so she shouted at the last minute, “Catherine, hey wait, do you still want me to come up?”
---------
Thursday
Emily was buried in work at her office but she could hardly concentrate on anything but her dream the previous night. Her thoughts were interrupted by the phone buzzing on her desk. Emily picked it up without looking at the caller ID.
“Emily Prentiss.”
“Emily? Hey, it’s Jennifer. How are you?”
“Jennifer? Oh, hey, I’m…I’m okay considering the circumstances…um, what’s up?”
“Well, I was calling about tomorrow. You know I mentioned that I have the night off and we could meet. Are you still up to that?”
“Tomorrow? Right! Listen, I would love to go but some work came up and it seems I can’t make it.” Emily just lied to the doctor…she hoped Jennifer didn’t pick up her nervousness and agitated voice, she didn’t want to expose her true reason about calling the night off.
“Oh, okay, it’s okay. I guess next time then. When are you free next week?”
“Um, I…I don’t know yet. Look, I will call you when I free up, okay? I gotta go now. Bye."
That was really awkward and the blonde woman sounded disappointed. She knew she shouldn’t have lied to JJ but she was confused. Disturbed. Why did you do this? Right, the dream. It shouldn’t freak you out like that! Get a grip, Prentiss!
As she stared at her phone questioningly, Peter’s voice startled her and when she looked up, she could see her colleague leaning to the door.
“Hey, what’s up with the long face? I mean…I didn’t…damn…I feel stupid. I’m so sorry.”
‘Peter, please don’t. I’ll be okay…eventually…and don’t apologize, you did nothing wrong.”
“Yeah, I know, but I feel useless. Let me do something for you at least, can I take out you for dinner tonight?”
“I…um, actually I wanted to talk about something. I had this dream last night and I’m kind of…lost.”
“Oh, how so?”
“You remember Jennifer, the resident from the hospital, right?”
Peter nodded, encouraging to go on. “Well, we were supposed to go out tomorrow but I cancelled. God….she was in my dream. We were some kind of FBI agents, in a team, tracking down a serial killer, I think. The last thing I remember is that there was a gun shot and I was so afraid. But this is not the part I am confused about. JJ and me, well, we kind of... liked each other.”
“Ummm…so? Of course you like each other, you two were hitting it off from the start.”
“Yeah, well that’s not what I’m talking about…she kissed me. In my dream, I mean.”
“Oh…OH! I see! Well, you shouldn’t feel bad about that. It’s not that awful to be kissed by a beautiful woman...”
“From your point of view, I bet it isn’t.”
“Why? Come on now! It’s kinda hot actually! Didn’t you think about it before?”
“What? NO! You are impossible!”
“I don’t know why you are so freaked out about this. You shouldn’t be, it was just a dream, nothing else.”
“You don’t understand why I am so freaked out? Hmm…let me ask you something: did you ever dream about one of your male friends like that?”
“Yuck, no way! Gah, no….oh, okay, I got your point…But you don’t have to be confused about it, dreams are completely normal and let’s face it, they are just dreams. You don’t have to read anything into them. You dreamt about one of your friends you like and that’s all. Don’t worry about it too much. ”
“You think?”
“Of course! So let’s go back to my dinner offer to make you feel better! Be ready by 7pm!”
“Alright, alright. And Peter? Thanks, this meant a lot.”
Peter smiled and left the room. Emily felt a little better and all the tension what that dream caused her seemed to dissipate. After all, she had nothing to worry about, right?