After the BAU busts the conversion camp, JJ realizes it affected her more than she originally thought.
TW for: mention of homophobia & conversion therapy, drugs/drugging, rape, violence, just a lot of the stuff that happened in 8x15 will be mentioned here, so just a big tw in general. it's not heavily detailed, and none of them are described- its mainly just mentions of certain things and recapping what happened.
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āAre you ignoring me?ā
JJ looked up from the file in her lap and made eye contact with Spencer, his expression full of uncertainty.
Her eyes flitted back down to the file, her gaze tracing the outline of the writing. She wasnāt mad at Spencer. She wasnāt mad at anyone, really. Wellā thatās a lie. She was mad at herself. The case today had only dredged up old feelings sheād sworn sheād buried away years ago.
The camp made her sick. The mere image of those teenagers hooked up to the IV drips was enough to unsettle her stomach, and it didnāt help the year old feelings sheād been trying so hard to ignore.
Everything was complicated. Everything was difficult. Sheād been married for years. How could she just give that up? She loved Will. Even if it wasnāt romantically, she still cared for him and loved him as a friend. She didnāt know how she could break his heart. Or her sonās.
It was too much. She loved her son; she couldnāt turn his world upside down. It wasnāt fair.
āIām not mad at you, Spencer.ā JJ sat back in her seat on the jet, knowing her friend wouldnāt leave until she told him what was on her mind. The agent sighed, closing her eyes as she chose her next words very carefully. āIāmā¦ā She looked around, searching for the right word to describe what exactly she was feeling. Upset? Angry? Confused? No word seemed to fit her emotions quite right; everything felt too small. No singular word could sum up her feelings, much less the ones sheād been hiding for six years.
āIām just tired, Spence. Exhausted, really. This caseā¦ā The profiler trailed off, once again being particular in her word choices. āIt just got to me. I mean, they⦠they were kids, Spence.ā Her voice wavered, and she felt six years worth of tears threatening to spill. āAnd their parents⦠they endorsed it.ā She felt sick. Everything was becoming too much. āTheir own kids⦠were in love,ā she choked on the word, feeling her face start to dampen. āAnd they punished them for it. For being in love. For having feelings they couldnāt control, for being brave enough to share their truth, toāā
Sheād never been brave enough.
āThey were brave⦠and their parents took it and threw it right back in their faces.ā
The words felt bitter on her tongue. She didnāt know those kids. She had no reason to feel such a connection to them.
She knew why it affected her so much.
JJ closed her eyes and felt her head drop as more tears fell, her body overcome with the stress and frustrations of hidingā hiding for much, much longer than six years. āThey were brave,ā she whispered.
Spencer watched as his friend cried, not completely understanding why she was taking this case so personally. She seemed so⦠fragile. Broken.
He knew there was something more. JJ was a trained profiler; there was no way she would react to a case like this unless there was something else seriously eating at her. Something deeper. Jennifer Jareau was the strong one, the one who took no bullshit and knew how to get what she wanted. She might not be as good at compartmentalizing as Emily, but she was a hell of a lot better than most agents. Stronger.
Spencer wasnāt used to seeing JJ like this. It scared him.
āPlease donāt, Spencer.ā JJ kept her eyes shut, her lips twisting into a painful smile. āI know you want to help, and I- I appreciate it, I really do.ā Another sigh. āI just⦠need to be alone right now.ā
JJās voice continued to go in and out as she spoke, and Spencer couldnāt bear to watch it anymore. Deciding to give his friend some space, he got up and moved to sit with Alex, who immediately took interest in the state of the younger team member.
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āAre you sure she would want this, Spencer? I mean, I know you want to help, but this seems a bit extreme.ā
Spencer looked over at Alex as he brought his phone out of his pocket, his fingers gliding across the screen.
āItās already done, Alex. Sorry.ā He gave a mischievous smile that didnāt quite reach his eyes, nerves still having a hold on him.
āHow far away are we from Quantico?ā The older woman asked.
āAbout three hours,ā came the reply.
āAnd how far is she?ā
Spencerās eyes glinted as he smiled. āTwo.ā
Alex narrowed her eyes at the doctor, silently urging him to go on. āCome on, did you really not notice how checked out JJ was this whole time? Frankly, Iām surprised no one called Emily before I did.ā
Alex nodded, following his story. āUh-huh, and when did you call her?ā
Spencerās grin faltered, a guilty expression escaping him. āLast night.ā
Alex sighed as she looked at him. āSpencerā¦ā
āI know, I know. Emily has a life in London and we should respect thatā I get it. But JJ⦠she was worrying me, Alex. And Emily⦠I donāt know. She always just seems to know how to make things better.ā
āAs long as youāre sure itāll help,ā Alex surrendered.
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JJās head throbbed as she walked back into Quantico, trailing a bit behind the other team members. She needed a nap.
A collective sigh of relief came when the team was dismissed, everyone eager to get back to the beds in the comfort of their own homes.
JJ turned her head to Spencer, making eye contact with the taller man. āHm?ā
āHotch asked me to tell you he wants to see you in his office.ā
JJās eyes narrowed as she considered the multitude of possible meanings behind that sentence. āWhy?ā
āUm, donāt take it personally,ā Spencer started, fiddling with the zipper of his jacket. āBut we all kinda noticed how⦠zoned out you were. I think he's just worried.ā
JJ stood silent, staring at him. She needed to play her cards carefully, not give anything away. āOkay,ā she said with a nod. āThanks.ā She added a smile, hoping it came across as genuine.
Spencer nodded, smiling before turning around to leave.
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JJ let out a long sigh as she walked up the steps to Hotchās office, already curating a story to explain her odd behavior. She knew theyād noticed her off demeanor, but she didnāt know to what extent, which was what scared her. She could lie, easily, but not if they know more than she does.
Taking one last deep breath, JJ reached her arm out and pushed the door open, stepping into her unit chiefās office.
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JJās heart dropped and her mouth went dry. It was as if her mind went completely blank and sheād forgotten everything sheād ever learned.
JJ looked at the woman in front of her, still taller than her, and still just as beautiful as the last time sheād seen her.
Emily gave her a soft smile. āHey.ā
JJ just stared at her as she stood, not quite processing the fact that Emily was actually there. In person. They stood in silence for a few moments, Emily observing her younger friend as she collected her thoughts.
āYouāre here,ā JJ said, more relieved than she meant to sound.
āOf course Iām here, JJ.ā Emily looked over to her side for one second as she walked over to Hotchās desk, perching herself on the top of it. āSpencer told me about the case.ā JJ looked up to meet her eyes. āAnd you.ā
JJās breath hitched in the back of her throat. Suddenly, reality came crashing down on JJ like a large bucket of ice water. Emily was really here, right in front of her. In Quantico. Not London.
She took a gasp for air as her eyes once again teared up at the sight of her old team member, the woman sheād secretly loved for the past six years.
JJās voice cracked as she launched herself at the older woman, wrapping her arms around her neck and burying her face in her shoulder. Her body shook as sobs wracked through her, heavy and filled with anguish. She cried as Emily comforted her, slowly rubbing her back to soothe the younger woman.
When JJ pulled away, her eyes were red and puffy, her face stained with tears and smeared mascara. āItāā she hiccuped. āWas horrible.ā Her voice shook as she opened up, taking various pauses here and there to control her breathing.
āThey were⦠drugging them and raping them andāā her voice caught in her throat, unable to speak clearly about the horrors she witnessed at the camp.
āOkay, JJ, I need you to breathe,ā Emily said, her gaze fixated on the younger woman. āAlright?ā She took a deep breath in, demonstrating for her. āYeah?ā JJ nodded. The younger woman followed her movements, taking in a few deep breaths before continuing.
āThey had them hooked up to these IVs in this giant room, and they⦠they had these huge screens and for hours they just had them there, watchingā¦ā She couldnāt bring herself to voice the acts sheād witnessed. She shook her head as she recalled the encounter, suddenly feeling extremely nauseous. Her vision clouded as the images bombarded her, overwhelming her senses.
Emily hopped off the desk to stand in front of the younger woman, noticing the sudden change in her demeanor. āHey, JJ, are you okay?ā She brought her hands to JJās shoulders, steadying her as she swayed. āJJ, you need to sit downāā
Emily was taken aback at JJās harsh tone. She rarely heard this tone from JJ; it was almost always reserved for the unsubs who pushed too many of her buttons. JJ had never used this tone with her before, and now Emily was confused.
āI needā¦ā JJ took a deep breath, stepping back to look at the woman in front of her. āI need to tell you something.ā
Emily nodded, trying to follow her friendās words.āAnything, JJ.ā She looked at her with so much sincerity that JJ could almost cry. She didnāt deserve her.
JJ took a deep breath as she thought about how to phrase it. She needed to confess; she knew she couldnāt hold it in any longer. Six years was hard enough, but now with this case? JJ knew it was only a matter of time before it all came crashing down. She always knew.
āI never wanted Will,ā she blurted out.
Emily immediately cocked her head to the side, confused and concerned as to what brought out that confession. Of all things she expected JJ to say, this definitely wasnāt one of them.
āI never wanted him,ā JJ said, staying solid in her words. āAt first, I blew him off every chance I got. I only agreed to go on dates with him because I was bored, Emily. And I was tired. Everything was so complicated, and Willā¦ā JJ hesitated, not wanting to sound rude. āā¦wasnāt.ā She shrugged. āHe was easy; everything was easy. We never fought, and at first I thought that was a good thing, but then I realized it was just because I didnāt care enough to fight with him.ā
āJJ, I donāt understāā
āI never wanted him, Emily.ā JJ interrupted her, her voice once again low and sharp. āI went on a few dates with him, sure, but that was only to please him. I was bored, and I thought heād eventually leave me alone. I didnāt want him. I never wanted him, Emily.ā
JJ looked up at her, meeting her gaze before quickly looking away. She took a shaky breath before speaking, her voice cracking with the weight of her words.
Emily felt like sheād just gotten the wind knocked out of her. āWhat?ā She whispered.
āEmily, Iāve been in love with you since the day I met you.ā JJās voice cracked again, and Emilyās heart broke at the desperation in her voice. āI tried to make it known, to show you. But I⦠I wasnāt brave enough to tell you, so I just settled on giving you subtle signs.ā She sniffled a bit before continuing. āBut then you encouraged me to go for Will, andā¦ā
JJās expression changed. She was hurt before, but this⦠this was different. She looked devastated. āAnd I was so confused. Because I⦠Iād gotten it into my head that maybe you liked me too. I misread the signals you sent me, foolishly hoping you felt the same, but then you.. You told me to go after him.ā JJ stared at Emily, her eyes full of hurt and anguish.
āWhy did you tell me to go after him? I didnāt want him. I never wanted him. He was my friend, I liked him, but I didnāt love him, not like that, Iāā she took a deep breath, attempting to calm herself down. āIām sorry.ā Another breath. āIām sorry. Itās not your fault. I chose to go after him; you saw us getting along and you encouraged me as a friend, I know, butā¦ā She closed her eyes before she spoke again, feeling like she was back in the same spot she was where they had the conversation. āBut it fucking hurt.ā JJās voice was low, laced with emotion. āIt hurt way more than any other breakup did, and that⦠broke me,ā JJ whispered. āBecause I loved you. And I still love you.ā
Emily held her gaze, trying to wordlessly communicate her feelings. She knew she couldnāt interrupt the woman, not when sheās so emotionally charged, but she wished there was something she could do to soothe the womanās feelings.
āBut I wasnāt brave enough to tell you. God, can you believe that?ā She looked up at the ceiling, chuckling bitterly. āThose kids were brave enough to live their truth, and they were teenagers. What does that say about me? I mean, how pathetic could I be, reallyā¦ā She trailed off, no longer having a specific goal in mind.
JJ took a deep breath before continuing, knowing she had to finish her testimony at some point. āThose kids were brave enough to be themselves and they almost died, Emily. And when I was in there⦠All I could think about was you. And me. Because Iāve been in love with you for as long as I can remember, and Iām tired of pretending Iām not. Itās exhausting, Emily. Iām so⦠Iām so tired. Iām tired of living a life thatās not real. I love you, and I physically cannot keep hiding it any longer and Iām sorry if you donāt feel the same way because I probably just ruined whatever friendship we ever had but I just couldnāt go any longer without admitting that I am absolutely crazy about you and I-ā
āIāve dreamed about being with you for years.ā
Emily barely got the words out before reaching forward and taking JJās head in her hands, connecting their lips with more urgency than sheād ever felt before. Her stomach did twists and turns as they kissed, and she felt her face heat up as JJ smiled.
JJās heart was soaring. She felt like it was about to beat out of her chest, and she was terrified that Emily could feel it leaping and bounding all over the place. Her brain wasnāt doing her any favors, either, and all she could process was the fluttery feeling in her stomach and the soft lips on her own.
JJ grinned as she leaned farther into the kiss, gripping onto the sides of Emilyās jacket and bringing her closer. She felt her stomach flip when Emilyās tongue danced across her bottom lip, and she instantly opened her mouth, welcoming anything and everything the older woman was willing to give her.
JJ gasped and stepped back when she felt a moan slip, embarrassed at her lack of composure. Her eyes snapped up to meet Emilyās, whose pupils had expanded nearly tenfold. āIām sorry,ā she whispered, worrying that sheād ruined their moment.
Emily just smiled before leaning in for another kiss. āDonāt apologize.ā
JJ smiled in relief, sighing into the kiss as Emily caressed her back. āI love you so much,ā she said. āI canāt believe I hid it for six years,ā she said quietly, guilt creeping up inside her.
āJJ,ā Emily started, gaze softening at the woman in front of her. āListen to me.ā JJ stared at her, swallowing lightly. āYou werenāt ready. Thereās no shame in that.ā
JJ felt as if thirty pounds were lifted off her shoulders. āOh my God, you donāt know how happy I am to hear you say that,ā she breathed out.
āEveryone⦠accepts themselves at different times, JJ. Iām proud of you, no matter how long it took.ā
JJ looked at her, her eyes glossing over once more. āI just feel like we missed out on so muchā¦ā
Emily shook her head as she stared at the woman in front of her, tenderly taking her hand in her own. āWe have the whole future, JJ. We have so much timeā¦ā
āWhat about Will?ā JJ asked, her voice quivering.
Emilyās smile faltered. āTo be honest, JJā¦ā She looked at JJās expression, trying to decipher the meaning. āI only encouraged you to go for him because I thought you wouldnāt feel the same way about me⦠the way I felt about you.ā
JJ felt her blood freeze. āAre you fucking kidding me?ā
Emilyās eyes widened. āWhat?ā She questioned.
JJ stood up straighter and took a step closer to Emily. āYou were in love with me this whole time?ā
Emily just blinked, as if it were the most obvious fact in the world. āWell, yeahā¦ā
Nothing, save for a quiet āwhat the hell,ā was muttered from JJ as she took Emilyās face in her hands and crashed their lips together, initiating a much faster, and much deeper kiss than before.
Emily felt a familiar sensation build up in her stomach as she reciprocated the kiss, moaning as six years of feelings bubbled up and over into one moment.
The kiss only got more heated over time, and Emily was beginning to get nervous that they were approaching a point of no return. As it progressed, Emily let out a short gasp at JJ, staring at her in shock after the blonde bit down on her bottom lip, a moan escaping the taller womanās mouth.
āThatās for telling me to go after Will.ā
Emily scoffed and laughed slightly as JJ came closer, taking her lips once again and reaching her arm around to slightly pull on the older agentās ponytail, smirking to herself as Emily let out another short moan.
āAnd thatās for taking six years to confess.ā