I Intend to be Your Last (Jemily)

73.

Emily sat in the far corner of the car, pressed up against the cold window as played JJ's heartbeat again and again in her head. As Elle drove around the city, Emily wondered where she was taking them but she didn't bother to ask so she stared out the window until she dozed off. Elle didn't actually have a plan to take them anywhere. She just wanted to keep Emily out of the house for a little while for that she wouldn't have to deal with the pain of stepping into the house without JJ.

Elle eventually circled back and brought Emily home and as she sat in front of the car, she could already imagine what the pain could feel like if Emily walked in alone. Luckily she was still asleep, which allowed Derek to carry her in. He pulled her out slowly and carried her up the porch as Elle and Spencer helped him inside. He quickly and quietly walked up the stairs and laid her in bed while Spencer and Elle joined Penelope, Amelia and Eli, in the guest room, who got there a little while before them. They waited as Derek finally made his way across the hall.

"How is she?" Amelia asked as she sipped her tea.
"Asleep in her room. We didn't want to wake her..."
"Where did you guys go?" Penelope questioned.
"Yeah, what took so long?" Eli added.
"Elle drove around the city for a little bit because she didn't want Emily to be awake when she came back here." Derek answered the two.
"I just didn't want her to start looking at everything and ball up on the floor crying alone," Elle whispered as she laid back on Spencer's chest.
"She wouldn't have been alone..." Spencer said, wrapping his arms around Elle.
"Your point, Spencer? She'd still be crying... that's what we're trying to avoid."
"You know for a genius, you're kind of stupid..." Eli scoffed.
"He's my stupid genius," Elle playfully pouted.
"Would you look at that? Your girlfriend came to defend you," Derek laughed.
"Shut up. I don't see your girlfriend anywhere protecting you. Oh right... sorry, you don't have one."
"Hey. I don't need one. I got my babygirl, right?" He said looking at Penelope.
"Mm, wrong. I love you Derek but- "
"But what? You got someone else?" He said, looking offended.
"Ms. Amelia Shepherd here has my heart," She said as she and Amelia teased him while they cuddled up in the corner.

The six stayed up and talked for a little bit to lighten the mood as they told cute and funny stories they had of JJ. And of course, the night ended with tears as they all started to feel the grief hit them as the stories went on and on.

"I miss her already..." Penelope sniffled as Amelia and Derek comforted her.
"I know. Me too," Elle whispered as Spencer squeezed her tight in his arm.
"Oh god!" Penelope loudly whispered.
"What is it Pen?" Amelia asked.
"We're all sad now but imagine how Emily's going to feel when she wakes up."
"She going to be crushed," Eli said softly.
"We're taking shifts tomorrow, to keep and eye on her," Elle suggested.
"Shifts? For what?" Derek asked.
"To keep her alive. We know she's not going to get up and get food or water by herself so, we'll help her. We'll leave her alone the whole day because I know she's not going to cry and grieve, which she needs to do, if we're all up in her face so we'll stay here or downstairs. But every hour or two, we'll bring her a snack or a drink," She planned.
"That's actually pretty good," Derek said impressed.
"Alright, sounds good. Now, who's sleeping where?" She clapped.
"Girls up here, boys downstairs?" Penelope asked.
"Why do you ladies get the comfortable and warm bed?" Derek asked.
"Emily is up here..."
"Okay makes sense. Nevermind, you guys can have it."
The six split up and went straight to bed but not before checking on Emily.
She hadn't moved from spot since Derek had put her down. She remained on her side of the bed with her hand laying where JJ's stomach would've been. The girls seeing this cried again as they went off to bed while the boys quietly walked downstairs and slept on the couch.
Throughout the night, Emily's night terrors got worse and the only thing making it absolutely horrific is when she tried to wake up but her body didn't allow it. She suffered through the terrors alone  because no one was there with her and no one could hear her. She's usually be woken up by JJ but now she didn't have that. She waited for JJ to shake her awake but she never came. Emily called out her name as her unconscious mind tortured her with memories of JJ, but only the bad ones. Desperately trying to wake her self up, she felt hot tears streaming down her cheeks. But there was no use trying because she didn't allow herself to get up.