Hotch began to shuffle the cards. He frowned, and muttered, “I wouldn’t blame you. I really just kinda want to pass out right now…” He was still really hot, even without his shirt, but he wasn’t going to take anything else off. “What do you want to play?”
It felt a thousand times hotter with her shirt on. Unfortunately it was acceptable for Hotch, but not so much for her sitting with her bra on. Clamping her lips together she smiled. “Anything, you choose” she flapped her shirt tied her hair back hoping that it would help the situation. “What happens if no one finds us?”
“Emily, if you’re hot, I don’t mind. Just…stop leaning over me,” Hotch said, his own face a little red. Sure, it was uncomfortable, but it gave him a valid excuse to take his own shirt off—which was exaxtky what he did. He wasn’t heatproof, after all. “And cards would be fine.”
“I’m fine and sorry. I didn’t realise.” she was now absolutely mortified and Hotch being so nice about it only made her feel so much more awkward. When Hotch removed his shirt she made sure to avert her eyes, it was awkward enough he had seen her practically topless. Passing the cards to him she turned away. Accidently leaning forward she heaved a little. “Ugh, I think I’m going to be sick”
“Uh…” Hotch muttered. His brain wasn’t functioning 100%, but he was still pretty sure that Prentiss had unbuttoned her entire shirt. “Well, what should we do?” he asked. “There’s no use in trying to pry the door open, and the trapdoor above is shut.” He pushed himself up. “No, no plans,” he said with a shrug. “And I swear that we’ll get out of here. And your shirt is unbuttoned.” He stiffened up and groaned; had he really just said that aloud?
Emily had her eyes closed and really wasn’t paying attention to what she had just done. All she could hear was her heavy breathing and smell sweat. It was making her feel even more nauseous. “Play cards? We can always do those case files” she joked lightly trying to relax a little. “I don’t think your positive attitude is going to help” His next words made her cheeks flush red. “God, I-I’m” fumbling Emily rushed to re-button her shirt, wrapping her arms around her chest that Hotch had clearly seen. “I apologize sir. It’s just the heat. and- I” she cut off stuttering again.
Hotch slid down to the ground, exhausted. He wiped some of the sweat off of his brow and muttered, “We’ll have to tell Strauss that there’s a problem with the elevator.” He almost added in something about if they actually got out of there, but he knew that that would only make Prentiss panic more. He sighed. “There’s nothing left to do but wait.”
“We can’t just give up Hotch, we need to get out” she screamed at his prone form. Dropping to her knees she unbuttoned the bottom of her shirt revealing her stomach, leaning beside Hotch she groaned. “Like we’re going to get out of here to tell her” she rolled her eyes. “I guess so, any plans? I swear this heat will be the death of us” she spoke cynically.
Frank Stockton and Batman- prefect, not my image!
Frank Stockton- Not my image!
JJ winced when Emily questioned her. She guessed it right, right on the money and to say that didn’t unnerve JJ would be a lie. It unnerved her greatly. Had Emily already known? If she had, did she just a turn a blind eye not wanting to deal with a problem girlfriend like JJ? She willed those thoughts to a halt, Emily wouldn’t do that to her. Yet, she couldn’t convince herself that was true. Not when she was trapped in her current mindset at least. She tried to open her voice, to object and insist nothing was wrong-that she was perfectly fine and not bleeding but she had no voice. That and everything she would’ve said would’ve been a lie and Emily would’ve known it too. Knowing the argument was coming to an end and that she was losing it, JJ closed her eyes. “Please,” she barely mumbled her last attempt at objecting. Her last attempt to get Emily to stop what she was doing. But part of her didn’t want Emily to stop, needed her to do this even. JJ only opened her eyes when she felt Emily’s fingers around her wrist. Her breath lodged in her throat and her entire body tensed. Everything was telling her to bolt, runaway but she kept her gaze locked on Emily. Her heartbeat quickened in anticipation. She tried to get herself to relax at Emily’s words but couldn’t. Emily was seconds away from knowing JJ’s darkest secret. As the material slid up her arm, JJ pulled back slightly. Not enough to get out of Emily’s grasp but enough to display she was afraid, embarrassed and ashamed even. She turned so her face was pressed into the pillow. She couldn’t bear to watch this unfold. There was a pause and JJ knew her sleeve was’t rolled up all the way. Barely turning her head, just enough so she could partially see Emily’s had gripping her sleeve, JJ placed hesitant fingers over Emily’s. They lingered perhaps a second before she helped Emily raise the sleeve higher. Arm exposed, the faint red lines were thicker, darker, and smeared. Not by a lot but enough. Apparently JJ’s nails were stronger than she thought and cut deeper into her skin than originally intended. The skin underneath was pink from scratching. The tracking marks were near a few of the scratches. They were old, only visible because of the irritation around them. Normally they weren’t noticeable, especially if JJ put makeup over them. Scratching helped dull the sensation and craving they produced for a short period of time before making the pain worse. JJ remained silent for a long time before forcing her gaze from her arm to Emily’s face, needing to see her girlfriend’s reaction. “I’m not…I’m not using,” she said in a tear-strained voice. She doubted Emily would believe her. Not that she could deny that she considered it-she had on several occasions. Even had a vial hidden for if she relapsed.
She nervously watched JJ hating the fact she had no idea what was going through her head, Emily knew that she was most likely thinking the worst of herself and her situation. Whatever had happened she was not to blame, no matter what Emily was going to stay even if she had to hold her hand through withdrawal, she had assumed that her lack of answer meant that she was using drugs. JJ hadn’t even tried to come with her and now it was so much worse because she wasn’t even explaining it. Emily hadn’t been there and she had failed the one person she promises to be there for. Through anything and she had missed it ignored her pain. How had she been so blind? “I have to see” she said in reply. She had to see her failure with her own eyes and then fix the mess she had made. Emily was so aware of her that she could almost hear both of their hearts beating, when she pulled back it just made her more determined to see, her heart heavy already aware of the marks she was more than likely to find. No wonder why JJ didn’t want her anywhere near her. She had ignored her pain, for so long she had allowed her to pretend and god did she hate herself for it. JJ needed this Emily had to recognise what was going on with her and when she turned away she pressed her lips to JJ’s arm lightly. The skin was raw and it pained her, fighting back tears she ran her fingers gently over the tracking marks. Some were old, and that started her whirlpool of thoughts, how long had they left JJ like this? breathing laboured the marks looked so fresh so real a solitary tear escape and hit the area. “Oh JJ, but the marks…Oh god, why didn’t you tell me? I would have done anything to help you. Why?” she begged, the reasons and answers evaded her. “I don’t need you to lie to me, what would have happened if I hadn’t stayed, would you have used?” Emily was trying not to sound judgemental or mad but it was so hard to comprehend that JJ of all people was doing this. “I’m not mad. I just, I don’t know why I can’t understand” no matter how hopeless Emily wouldn’t give up because they had each other and now she didn’t know if that was enough. She knew she was probably over thinking, that it wasn’t as bad as she was making it out to be. But she couldn’t be calm, not when she cared for her so much. Blowing out air from her lips she pulled her into a tight hug. “When did this happen JJ? I need to know what the hell is or has happened. Please I deserve that much”
What has television become?
“You look absolutely stunning.” Derek told her truthfully, snaking his arms around her waist. “I think you’re going to like it if I planned everything correctly.” Morgan chuckled.
“That is all you are giving me? Seriously? After I went to all this effort” she sent him a disapproving look. Leaning into him, smelling his cologne and enjoying the sweet embrace. Damn he made it so hard to stay mad at him. “It better be good or else” Emily warned.
Hotch got himself up and said, “If we push together, it’ll be easier.” He rolled down his sleeves and looked back at her. He couldn’t help but feel a little guilty, maybe if he had just helped her pick up those darned files she wouldn’t have left, therefore causing him to leave. He began to push at it the door with what little might he had left.
“Okay come here” Emily pushed him in front of her leaning a little close for comfort. Stationing herself behind him she pushed as hard as she could, the heat making her overworked mind more focused on getting out that her decency. “I think it’s stuck” she sighed frustrated. What was up with this day?
