Forever & Always

Chapter 10

Date: December 24, 201q
Location: Hospital

JJ's POV

Emily was starting to go stir crazy being in the hospital, luckily for her, she was getting released today.

"Ok go in the bathroom and get dressed while I go call Rossi so he can come to get you," I say, handing her clothes.

"I was hoping to go home with you but only if you want me there." She said nervously.

"Of course I want you there. I just didn't know if you were ready. Oh but warning... my mom comes over a lot now so don't be surprised if she just walks in the house." We both laugh.

"Ok. Let me go get changed, I'll yell if I need you." She gets up and makes it into the bathroom. I was packing Emily's things when Emily came out of the bathroom in her typical sweatpants and sweatshirt.

"Come on, let's take you home." I pick up the bag with all our things. She walks to the room first I follow close behind her just in case she stumbles or anything. It took a while but we finally made it to the car I helped her in then put her bag in the backseat. I got in the car and drove home, the car ride was silent but not in a bad way, it was a comfortable silence.

I pull into the driveway, turn off the car, she makes her way to the front door as I grab the rest of the stuff. I open the door for her, then look around to see if anyone is home as she gets comfortable on the couch. "No one is home so that gives us time to talk but first let me put all this stuff in the washer." She nods and I go to put the stuff in the washer.

I put our clothes in the washer and added detergent then started it. Honestly, I didn't know where to start the conversation with Emily but I couldn't keep putting it off so now had to be the time. I walk back to the living room to see her picking at her nails. I smiled, even though I hated when she did I grew to miss it over the couple of months where she was "dead" and in a coma.

I sit next to her and put my hands over hers causing her to look at me. "Are you ok?" I say so quietly I could barely hear myself.

"Yeah, I'm fine why?" She was lying. I know all Emily's tell signs, "I'm fine." is never good. She just says it because she thinks that's what everyone wants her to say.

"Emily look at me." Our eyes slowly met as she looked at me. "Your mom just came to see you after 20 years of not talking, she disowned you and acted like she didn't have a child. Now she's back and wants to be in your life. You think you're fine after all that?" She shrugged. "How about the part where you went off on her then had a full mental breakdown in the rain?"

"I'm fine now. I swear that day was a lot. I was just getting better after rejecting all my meds, I was exhausted, and unstable. Now I'm good." She said trying to brush off everything that happened.

"Promise me that you'll talk to me when you stop feeling fine." She nods. "Emily, you have to promise me," I say with a stern voice.

"I swear I will." She didn't promise, I knew she wasn't going to talk to me because she didn't say the exact words. I huffed. "What?" She asks, confused.

"Say you promise?"

She looks down at her hands. "I'll try."

That's better than nothing so I took it. I was about to set up the couch so we can lay down when I hear the front door open and little giggles. I tell Emily I'll be right back then I get up and walk to the door to see bags of stuff in my mom's hands and Henry struggling to take off his coat.

"What is all that?" I ask my mom while helping Henry take his coat off.

"We went Christmas shopping!" She squeals.