FIC: Let Me Prove It To You (10/?)
Title: Let Me Prove It To You 10/?
Pairing: JJ/Emily
Summary: It’s been months since Emily Prentiss left the BAU and the US for that matter. It’s also been months since she last saw Jennifer Jareau. But what happens when Emily gets a call that JJ has been in an accident?
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don’t own Criminal Minds or its characters. I wish I did, though.
Chapter 10
“So how is she doing?” Emily asked Tom, JJ’s physical therapist, when she came to pick up JJ after her physical therapy. Tom was a handsome young guy, not more than 25 years old, but he seemed to know his stuff, so Emily was confident that JJ was in good hands.
“She’s actually doing fantastic.” Tom told Emily. “Only two weeks of therapy and she seems to be making a lot of progress. Her muscles are working properly, she’s regaining a lot of the motor function in her arm, so it shouldn’t be long until she’s as good as knew.” He stopped for a moment and then continued. “Of course coming back to work in full capacity might be a whole different story, and she’d probably need to go through some additional tests, but she should be able to do all the regular things people do pretty soon.” He smiled. “She seems to be well taken care of.”
“Well, we try.” Emily said, but somehow she had a feeling that Tom might have only meant her. After all, she was the one who usually drove JJ to and from physical therapy, with Garcia filling in once or twice whenever she could. Not that it really mattered who or what Tom really meant. The most important thing was that JJ was making progress in her therapy.
“Hey.” Emily heard JJ’s voice and saw the blonde coming towards her.
“Ready?”
“Yeah.” JJ smiled and the two made her way towards the parking lot.
“So I’ve been talking to Tom,” Emily started, “and I found out how well you’re doing in your therapy.”
“I seem to be doing OK. My hand feels better.” JJ admitted. “I can even move my fingers now.” JJ said proudly as she demonstrated.
“Well look at you.” Emily grinned. “Congratulations. I think that calls for a celebration.”
“What are you proposing?” JJ inquired curious.
“I know it’s pretty early, but how about I take you out for a nice lunch in a fancy restaurant?” Emily proposed.
“Sounds like a plan.” JJ smiled and they got into the car. And both wished that this could be a real date.
***
When they got back home, it was around 4pm and they were both very content with how their day had gone so far. The lunch had gone really well and they had spent a very nice early afternoon.
“Thank you, Emily.” JJ said as they got into the living room.
“For what?” Emily asked, slightly confused.
“For today.” JJ smiled. “The lunch and everything. It was very… nice.” This wasn’t exactly the word she was looking for, but she figured it would have to do.
“Well, like I said, it was a celebration.” Emily mirrored JJ’s smiled. “Plus I’m glad you’re happy with me right now, because I did something that might make me slightly less popular.” She admitted hesitantly.
“What?” JJ asked, looking at Emily curiously.
“You have to promise you won’t be mad.” Emily begged, but JJ only looked at her with a meaningful expression on her face.
“Emily?”
“OK, OK.” She sighed and after a moment she revealed her plan, “I invited the team for dinner. I know I should have asked you first, but I wanted it to be a surprise. I’m telling you now in case you hate the idea, so that I have enough time to tell them not to come.” Emily said and looked at JJ questioningly.
“No, it’s OK.” JJ smiled at the thought of people she considered her family. “I haven’t seen them for a couple of days, so it will be nice. Thank you.”
“I’m glad you don’t hate me.”
“I could never hate you, Emily.” JJ said and realized that the conversation was becoming a little more serious, so she decided to lighten up the mood by asking, “You’re cooking of course?” She grinned.
“Of course.” Emily sighed with a gentle smile. “Although you’re not as helpless as you used to be, aren’t you, agent Jareau? Don’t forget I have your therapist’s phone number, so I will know exactly what progress you’re making. Don’t think I’ll be cooking for you for the rest of my life.” Emily meant it as a joke, but she realized this was the farthest thing from a joke. She knew she would gladly cook for JJ for the rest of her life if only things hadn’t gotten so messed up between the two of them. JJ was apparently thinking a similar thing, because the expression on her face got a little more serious and she became somewhat withdrawn for a moment. For the umpteenth time, she couldn’t stop thinking about how living with Emily, even for those short couple of weeks, had been a dream come true and how much she would give to make that dream a reality.
***
“So we’ve heard you’re doing well in your physical therapy?” Derek asked as the entire team was sat at a table in JJ’s living room and enjoying their meal. They were all very happy for JJ and excited that things were going really well for her health-wise.
“Yeah, it’s been going OK.” JJ admitted. “It’s really a nice feeling when your hand start listening to your brain again.” JJ laughed as she waved her hand to demonstrate how well the hand was behaving.
“That’s just great, JJ. It’s really great.” Garcia said excitedly. “So when are you coming back to work?”
“That I really don’t know, ‘cause it’s slightly more complicated.” JJ sighed, as she really did miss the job and couldn’t wait to get back. “But at least I can make myself a sandwich now.” She added with a laugh and Garcia couldn’t help but laugh as well.
“It’s interesting how the simplest things can make us so happy.” Reid chimed in and the expression on JJ’s face was a clear indication that she indeed agreed with him.
“So how about a little toast?” Garcia finally suggested raising her wine glass.
“What are we drinking to?” JJ asked.
“You, of course, silly.” Garcia smiled at her sweetly and turned to the rest of the team. “Let’s drink to JJ and her light speed recovery. By the way JJ, you’re no longer on pain meds, are you?”
“Thank God no!” JJ grinned as she took her own wine glass and raised it as well. After all, how could she not drink in honor of herself?
“We miss you over at the BAU, JJ.” Hotch finally admitted and the rest agreed with him.
“I miss you too guys. And I miss the job.”
“Yeah, I heard you’ve been going through more cases at home to help out than you did when you were actually working.” Derek joked. The rest couldn’t help but laugh.
“Well like I said, I really miss the job.” She chuckled. “But it’s gonna take a while until I come back.” She sighed and added after a moment. “But feel free to drop in on me anytime. The door’s always open.”
“Yeah, she’s gonna need some company once I’m gone.” Emily said suddenly, and JJ realized something she desperately tried to avoid thinking about. She had been pushing those thoughts further and further back into her mind in the last couple of days, but she knew she was going to have to face them eventually. The truth was that she was getting better and she didn’t really need anyone to help her out anymore. But she did need Emily. She needed Emily in her life and the thought of Emily leaving and never coming back absolutely terrified her.