FF: What the Rain Washes Away 7/13 (Criminal Minds) JJ/Emily NC-17
Chapter Six…
Hold on, hold on to yourself
This is gonna hurt like hell…
Hold on, hold onto yourself
You know that only time will tell
"Agent Jareau?
JJ looked up from the case file in front of her and rubbed her eyes tiredly. "Yes?"
One of the deputy sheriffs - Blackwell, she thought - handed her a phone. "Ray Alvarez, KQMI news. He'd like a quote for the noon broadcast."
She rolled her eyes as she took the phone. Alvarez had been calling all morning for a quote and she hadn't had a chance to get back to him yet. She was still more than a little suspicious of how he'd managed to beat everyone else to the story and wondered just how many people within the state police he had on payroll. With two minutes to the noon broadcast JJ figured she'd pushed him off just as long as she could. "Right, thanks." JJ took a deep breath and let it out slowly, pushing away the exhaustion for the professional media façade she'd perfected after so many years. "This is Agent Jareau," she answered.
"Agent Jareau, this is Ray Alvarez, KQMI news. I was hoping you'd be willing to comment on the ongoing hostage crisis."
"There's nothing new I can really tell you, Mr. Alvarez, except that negotiations are continuing. We're making headway with the church leadership and we're hopeful for a positive outcome." It was the standard line, one she'd handed out to every other news agency that had come calling with a request.
Alvarez seemed satisfied enough with her answer. "Thanks a lot. Hey, do you think you'd be available for a live shot at six p.m.?"
"I can't commit to anything right now," JJ answered diplomatically, "but call back in a few hours and I'll see how things look then."
"Perfect. Thanks again Agent Jareau."
"Thank you, Mr. Alvarez." JJ hung up the phone and tossed it back to Blackwell. "Easy as pie."
She flipped the news feed onto her laptop while she picked at a turkey sandwich, half-heartedly listening to the news anchors introduce the noon segment, absently noting that Alvarez had gotten his local feed picked up by network and cable news.
"... And coming up, we'll join Ray Alvarez outside the Separatarian Sect compound where he has the latest information on the hostage crisis there, including breaking news regarding potential FBI hostages..."
JJ turned so fast she knocked over a cup of water reaching for her laptop. She pulled the video feed up full screen and turned up the volume, watching as Alvarez waited with his hand to his ear for the go-ahead from the networks to start his live stand-up. "Thanks, Tony and Angela. That's right, I have exclusive information regarding the Separatarian Sect and the three Colorado Child Services investigators..."
"I'm gonna kill that son of a bitch," she hissed, shoving away from the table to rush to the other side of the command area where Hotch, Rossi and Morgan were conferring.
Hotch looked up. "Ah, JJ, I need you to release a press statement saying we have absolutely no evidence the sexual allegations are true-"
"-You need to see this," she interrupted, ignoring him. Pulling his laptop over she brought up Alvarez's live feed. All three men gathered around as she turned up the volume.
"Now, well into its second day, the standoff at the Separatarian Sect ranch has now been taken over by the FBI. There was much speculation in regard to hostages but anonymous sources inside the state Attorney General's office have told us there is an undercover FBI agent currently being held inside the Separatarian Sect ranch. Hostage negotiators say they are making headway with the church leadership and are hopeful for a positive outcome. There is still no word on why an undercover FBI agent was sent in alone."
"God damn it," Morgan growled, "the one thing we had going for us was that Cyrus didn't know there was FBI in there!"
Hotch turned to Rossi, clearly upset. "What'll he do?"
"The last thing he said to me was 'trust is earned.' He'll think we've been playing him the entire time. Right now he knows there's at least one FBI agent, but it he figures out both Prentiss and Reid are undercover..." Rossi trailed off. No one else needed him to finish that statement.
Hotch turned to JJ only to find that the blonde was half-way down road and climbing into a deputy sheriff's pick up. "Where's she going?"
"My guess," Morgan said, "to go tear Alvarez a new asshole."
"Damn it, the last thing we need right now is JJ blowing this story up with Alvarez. Go after her."
"Hotch, you want to go try and stop JJ, be my guest, but I'd like to keep my head and other appendages attached if you know what I'm sayin'."
Hotch looked at Rossi who simply shrugged in agreement.
*
The half-mile drive outside the FBI controlled area was lost in a plume of smoke and red haze as JJ floored the gas and raced the pick-up down to the KQMI news van. She slammed the door just as Alvarez finished his wrap up, some inner sense of self-preservation pushing him to hurry it up and stop the cameras as he spotted JJ stalking toward him.
"Agent Jareau, it's a pleasure to see you-"
"Are you stupid or are you trying to get someone killed?"
"I see you saw the broadcast," Alvarez smiled. "I hope you understand why I didn't give you a heads up-"
"And I hope you understand why I'm going to have criminal charges filed against you as soon as this is over."
"You can't do that," Alvarez sputtered, "I have the right as a member of the press to report on-"
"-You don't have the right to put people's lives in imminent danger, which is exactly what you just did with your little Inside Edition scoop. Of all the foolish and reckless things I've seen people do in the media over the years, this by far is the worst."
"It was not my intent to put anyone in danger, I was simply-"
"-Reporting the news," JJ spat out. "And getting picked up live by every major network and cable news station." She smiled viciously at him. "I've made a lot of contacts over the years, given a lot of interviews. You think there's a network that's going to pick you up when they find out you risked the life of an FBI agent to get a scoop? You think there's anyone in the DOJ, Homeland Security, hell - the Post Master General's office! - that's going to give you one interview after they find out what you've done?"
"You wouldn't dare," Alvarez smirked.
JJ stepped closer, her slighter height doing nothing to ease the deadliness of her glare. "Watch me," she hissed, taking more than a little pleasure in the way his face went white when he realized just how serious she was. She stepped back and started walking away, tossing out over her shoulder, "Oh, and by the way, do me a favor when the deputies come down to move you back another half-mile? Resist. I haven't seen anyone get tasered in a while."
Alvarez just swallowed hard and watched her get back into the truck and drive a way, what was left of his career going with her.
*
"Let's go."
Emily looked up from her lunch - leftover soup from the night before - and found Cole glaring back down at her. "Is there a problem?"
"Cyrus wants you both moved down to the basement."
"Can we finish our lunch," Reid asked, trying to judge Cole's tone.
"Cyrus says now."
Reid looked at Emily, both of them warily setting their bowls aside and following Cole back down to the basement. They didn't speak and didn't dare look at each other too much under Cole's watchful stare. As Cyrus' second-in-command, Cole was constantly watching them and had been from the start, just as he'd been watching the other members of the church, trying to decipher loyalty from fear.
She caught Reid's eye as they sat down, and waited for Cole to turn before nodding toward the boxes of medical supplies they'd seen Rossi bring up that morning. If they were following HRT protocols, and Emily was certain they were, then there were listening devices implanted in the boxes and bags somewhere. Powerful, but short lived, they'd get maybe two days worth of listening in before the batteries died out. Reid nodded in acknowledgement. They needed to get Cyrus talking and fast.
Emily ran a hand through her hair, trying to ease out some of the knots with her fingers. A night spent on the floor wasn't nearly so bad as a morning spent trying to tame her hair without a brush. Boots tromped down the stairs making her look up; Cyrus started talking as soon as he stepped into the basement. "Which one of you is it?" He walked between them, opening his shirt just enough to pull out the large handgun in his waistband. "Which one of you is the FBI agent?"
"Why do you think one of us is an FBI agent," Reid asked, not quite hiding the tremor in his voice.
Cyrus cocked the gun and pointed it directly at Reid, far too calmly. Emily stared back and forth, her mind racing as she tried to process everything at once. "God will forgive me for what I must do."
"I-I don't know what you're talking about."
"One of you does," Cyrus said, keeping his eyes on Reid, the gun inches away from his face. Only one of them, Prentiss realized. Cyrus only knew one of them was an FBI agent. He'd been too quick to draw on Reid, had been looking for betrayal from the one person who had reached out and tried to make a connection. He would kill him and feel justified, yet another sign from God that he'd been right not to trust outsiders. "Who is it?"
He wouldn't be expecting someone else... "Me," Prentiss answered quickly, "It's me." She sighed in both relief and reluctance as the charade came to an end and Cyrus slowly lowered the gun and safetied it. If they had any luck in the world at all, the others had heard her admit to being the FBI agent and they'd be able to protect Reid just a little longer.
The question now was how much they could protect her.
The answer came a moment later: Not at all.
Cyrus reached out, grabbing her hair and yanking her back, dragging her down to the floor and with him. It hurt like hell, forcing her to move with him or have her hair literally ripped out by the root. There was a brief second as she backpedaled and struggled to move where she caught Reid's stare, their eyes locking, and in that moment she hoped he understood everything she couldn't say. Don't fight… stay calm… I'll be okay…
Cyrus dragged her into a side room the church used for storage, cans of food and supplies lining the shelves. "I told you not to put me in this position," he yelled, throwing her down just long enough to get a better angle before backhanding her hard across the face. Prentiss fell to the side, groaning, blood already dripping from a busted lip. She tried to stand and move away but Cyrus stepped in again, kneeing her viciously in the ribs; fire radiated up and down her side and she fell back again.
The pain triggered in her mind, shutting down everything but the basics. Fight or flight was so deeply ingrained, but she could do neither here. There was no escaping Cyrus and even if she did fight him, and win, she couldn't beat the fifteen other men with guns waiting for her.
"Get up!"
He dragged her to her feet again, waiting for her to look at him before slapping her hard enough to spin around and fall into a mirror. The glass shattered, cutting her face and hands as he slammed her into the wall again. Disoriented, everything spun around her, the pain shooting through her body, the blood dripping down her face. Cyrus grabbed her from behind, shoving her roughly into the wall and pinning her face there against the glass.
Think, she ordered herself, fighting through the pain. Think.
"Proverbs 20:30 tells us 'blows and wounds cleanse away evil."
Cyrus spun her around again, shifting his weight to throw her full force against the other wall, Prentiss' head slamming hard into the concrete.
Hotch's words came back to her, ironic and true: This isn't Montana...
Emily looked up at Cyrus, realizing just how right Hotch had been. This wasn't Montana. She had an entire team with her, helping her, wanting to rescue her. They wouldn't sit idly by and let her nearly bleed out and die. Morgan would tear the temple down brick by brick to get to her and Reid. And that was the problem... her team would come for her, an agent, a friend in trouble, and in doing so, would risk their lives and everyone else's.
The siege would end violent and bloody with only God knew how many people still standing, including her own.
She stumbled to her feet, meeting Cyrus' eyes, for the first time seeing the rage he kept carefully hidden. "I can take it."
He smirked, "Oh, you can take it?"
Cyrus slapped her again, knocking her back into the shelves. She held onto them, waiting for the world to right itself before turning and meeting his stare once more. Her team was waiting, listening. This wasn't Montana and it was time to prove it.
"I can take it," she ground out, her eyes never leaving Cyrus', challenging him. She prayed Hotch and Morgan could hear her, that they would understand.
"Pride comes before the fall." He stepped in, driving his fist into her stomach; she heard ribs crack and doubled over in pain, all the breath shoved out of her body. He threw her down for good measure, letting her head bounce off the concrete floor as she gasped for air, automatically curling into herself.
Her body started to shake, shock taking over, her lungs still gasping, trying to regulate oxygen in and out of her system. The world twisted and spun, her eyes fluttering shut in pain with each breath, the blood dripping from her nose and mouth. She heard Cyrus say something behind her but couldn't process it through the fog of pain. He'd done what she wanted - gotten angry and gotten physical. With a gun he was too calm, too able to control himself and what he was about to do. She'd shaken his foundation and bought them all a little more time and all it had cost was one hell of a beating.
Only time would tell if it was worth the price.
*
Four Months Earlier...
JJ opened the door and forced a smile as Emily walked in and dropped a quick kiss on her cheek. "Please, God, tell me you have some Scotch left, because after that case? I need a drink."
"It's in the cabinet," JJ answered, shutting the door.
Emily dropped her bag by the couch and made a bee-line for kitchen and the alcohol. "You heard what happened?"
"Uh, yeah... it was the husband right?"
"Idiot tried to take Morgan and me out with his car when we went to arrest him. We had to pull him out through the window - I thought Morgan was going to seriously bitch-slap him," Prentiss said with a laugh as she poured the Scotch. "Hey, you want one?"
"No, thanks."
"Okay." Emily put the bottle away and took a long drink as she walked back into the living room. JJ was standing there waiting for her. "Two women that guy killed just to cover up killing his wife for the insurance money. I swear, someday I understand pedophiles and sociopaths more than I understand the average, every day, greedy male." She walked toward JJ, finally winding down, a calm settling over her now that she was in the other woman's presence. From the beginning, Emily realized, JJ had always made the day more bearable no matter how terrible the case had been. She kissed the blonde lightly, brow furrowing as JJ pulled away. "You feeling better?"
"Yeah, yeah I am."
Emily reached for her, smiling. "Then don't worry about me catching it. If I haven't by now, I'm sure I'm fine." JJ stepped back again. Emily put down her drink. She'd assumed when she'd gotten JJ's text earlier that day asking her to come over no matter how late the team got home that JJ simply had wanted to see her. That three days apart was three days too long. God knew that's what Emily had been thinking. Now she knew it had meant something much different. "What's wrong?"
There was no easy way to say it, so JJ didn't even try. "I'm pregnant."
Prentiss just looked at her, slowly considering. "Well... I'm pretty sure it's not mine."
"Don't joke…"
"I'm not," Emily ground out. "I thought you broke up with Will. You told me you broke up with Will."
"I did," JJ answered quickly. "After that first weekend, I called him and told him we couldn't see each other anymore. I told him I was with someone else-"
"-Then how?"
"It happened before. The doctor says I'm two months along."
"Oh..." There was only the tiniest bit of comfort knowing JJ hadn't cheated on her, and then, another thought occurred. "You're keeping it, aren't you?"
JJ just nodded.
Of course she was keeping it, Emily realized. It wasn't even a question. "What did Will say?"
"He was as confused as I was, actually. We were both using protection. The doctor says it's that point-one-perfect fluke the ads warn you about. But he's happy too."
Prentiss sighed. "Okay, well that's good at least." She picked up her Scotch and took another long drink. JJ was pregnant, but she hadn't betrayed Emily, hadn't cheated… they could work this out. She just needed to stay calm and focused. Take things one step at a time. "So, we'll just have to figure something out as far as visitation. Maybe a weekend a month to New Orleans? Or... or..." In the dim light it took her a moment to see the unshed tears in JJ's eyes, the look of dread at what she was about to do. "You're breaking up with me." It seemed an odd thing to say given that they had never actually defined themselves as being in a relationship. They were just... Emily and JJ. One day they were friends and the next day they were more. JJ hadn't wanted to put a name to it and Emily hadn't pressed. It was enough they were together, that JJ had broken things off with Will immediately, that they spent every free night together. Emily hadn't needed anything more. "You and Will?"
"We both know what it's like to grow up in a broken home…. We care about each other... and I think we owe it to this baby to at least try, you know? Try and make it work."
Emily nodded, rationally understanding even as she felt her heart break to pieces. "Right. Of course. You at least need to try."
"Emily... I'm so sorry..."
"No, no," Prentiss waved off, schooling her features into careful neutrality. "You didn't do it on purpose, right? It just happened... and, uh... you've got to do what's best." She took a quick breath, feeling everything inside her start to shut down. "I should go." She grabbed her bag and walked to the door, taking one last look back as she opened it to find JJ staring after her, the regret clear on her face, the tears falling slowly now. "Congratulations, JJ. You're going to be a great mother," Emily said sincerely. The door closed softly behind her.
JJ picked up Emily's half-drunk glass of Scotch and poured it down the sink.
Chapter Seven