Secret language
Few weeks have passed. Alex and I were seeing each other more and more now. We were kind of dating. It wasn’t anything official, but I think you can call it that.
Serial killers decided to take a break this week so I had plenty of free time. I was spending most of it with Emily, Alex and JJ.
I got the impression that JJ and Alex don’t like each other very much, so we don’t hang out all together often, but it happens.
Alex was spending the night at my place tonight. She was already asleep, but I couldn’t even close my eyes. I had too much energy. I decided to wake her up. I nudged her and she opened her eyes.
“How is it that when you make a bunch of sounds in a specific order people understand you, but if you make different sounds, suddenly it’s called a different language?” I asked her.
“Maya, it’s three am. Just go to sleep,” she said closing her eyes back shut.
I sighed and laid there for a few minutes. I took my phone and called JJ. I waited five second before she answered.
“Maya?” She said tiredly, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong, pretty girl. Did I wake you?” I asked.
“Yeah, but I’m awake so. What’s up?” She asked.
“I’m really sorry. Why is it that when you make a bunch of sounds in a specific order people understand you, but if you make them in different order they suddenly don’t because it’s a different language?” I asked her.
She was quiet for a few seconds before she spoke, “I don’t know, weird isn’t it? Like who even came up with that?”
“Right? Nuts if you ask me,” I said.
“Totally. Maybe we should come up with our own language,” she suggested.
“How cool would that be, huh? We could talk shit about people without them knowing,” I said.
“It’s a date,” she said.
“Perfect. Go back to sleep now, sorry for waking you again. Goodnight Jayje,” I said and ended the call.
After the call ended I managed to fall asleep in less than ten minutes. Next day Alex and I decided to go to the park to get some fresh air and chill a bit. We got coffee and some donuts on our way there. We picked a bench and sat down.
“I really love this place,” she said.
“You come here often?” I asked.
“Yeah, when I need to clear my head,” she said.
“I listen to true crime to clear my head,” I said.
She chuckled, “You don’t see enough of it at work?”
I shrugged with a smile, “You watch surgeries in your time off too.”
“True,” she smiled and leaned her head on my shoulder.
“When can I meet your team?” She asked.
“You wanna meet them?” I asked.
“Yeah. They’re important to you,” she said.
“Uh, I’ll think about it. It’s hard to get them all in one place after hours,” I said, “But you met JJ.”
“Yeah, but it wasn’t planned,” she said.
“We have time,” I said and she nodded.
“God I needed this day. Just sit here with nature,” she said and my phone rang.
“Give me a sec,” I said looking at my phone.
I didn’t recognize the number, but I answered anyway, “Agent Prentiss.”
“Which one?” I heard someone say.
“Maya. Who is this?” I asked.
“Uh, it’s Caroline,” she said.
“Caroline. Is something wrong?” I asked.
“I don’t know, uh, it’s JJ. She’s in bed, doesn’t wanna get up,” she said.
“Okay? Then let her stay in bed,” I said confused.
“Okay, but I tried everything. She’s not responding to anything I say and she’s just staring at one point of a wall, crying,” she said.
“Just give her some space, she’s probably having a bad day. Instead of forcing her to get out of bed maybe just ask her what she needs,” I said.
“I did, that’s why I’m calling. When I asked what she needed she said your name,” she said.
I sighed, “Okay, give me ten minutes. I’ll be there.”
I ended the call and finished my coffee quickly. I got up from the bench and started going back to the car. Alex followed and got in the passenger seat.
“What’s wrong?” She asked.
“I don’t know. Something with JJ,” I said starting the car.
“Right,” she sighed.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing,” she said, “So where are we going?”
“Uh, I’ll drop you off at mine? I’ll be back soon and Emily should be too,” I said.
“Okay,” she said.
We drove to my apartment and I dropped Alex off. When I saw she got inside safely I drove off to JJ’s apartment.
I parked my car and took the stairs to her floor. I used my key to get in and saw Caroline sitting on a couch with her hand on her forehead.
“Hey,” I said.
“Hi, Agent Prentiss,” she said.
“Just call me Maya,” I said, “So what’s wrong?”
“Right, Maya. I don’t know. She said I don’t understand and I know I don’t, but she doesn’t even want me in the room,” she said.
“Look,” I sighed, “It’s not you, okay? There’s just some things we can’t really bring home. I’ve got her.”
She nodded and I patted her shoulder before finding my way to JJ’s bedroom. I knocked on the door gently and opened it. She was facing away from the door and didn’t bother to look.
I went inside closing the door behind me and sat on the bed behind her. I put my hand on her back and leaned against the headboard.
“Hey, it’s me,” I said quietly.
“Hi,” she whispered.
“What do you need?” I asked softly.
She turned around and looked at me. I gave her a little smile and wiped a tear from her cheek with my finger. I lowered myself on the bed so we were face to face.
“Have I ever told you, uh, when I was, when Askari took me,” she said taking a deep breath, “I saw you.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I was in so much pain and so exhausted,” she said with a shaky voice, “I had a hallucination, that you found me and came to take me back.”
“You did?” I asked genuinely surprised.
“Yeah,” she whispered, “And then you did.”
“I did,” I whispered nodding.
She moved to lay on her back and covered her face with her hands. She took a few deep breaths with tears falling down her cheeks.
“You’re having flashbacks?” I asked.
“I don’t know. It’s all I’ve been thinking about since I woke up. I couldn’t even move for a while,” she said.
“You’re safe now,” I said, “We’re here and he’s gone. He can’t hurt you anymore. I’ve got you. I promise.”
“I know,” she whispered, “Thank you for coming.”
“Thank you for letting me in,” I said, “Come here, pretty girl,” I told her opening my arms.
She turned on her side and put her head on my chest. I wrapped my arm around her and we laid in bed for another thirty minutes with gentle kisses on her head and comforting words from time to time.
“How do you do that?” She asked.
“Do what?” I asked.
“Make it better,” she whispered, “If I didn’t hold onto that hallucination of you, I don’t know if I would’ve made it. And now, you’re here and suddenly it’s not all that bad.”
“I don’t know, but I’m happy I can help,” I said running my fingers through her hair, “And you would have made it. Maybe the hallucination was about me, but you made it because you’re strong and you fought.”
“I’m glad we’re not fighting anymore,” she said.
“Me too, JJ. Me too,” I whispered.
When she was better we got up and JJ decided to take a shower to get this off of her and I waited in her room. After she came out we both went to the living room where Caroline was waiting.
“Hey,” JJ said, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I get it,” Caroline said.
“Okay, well I think it’s my cue,” I said with a small smile.
“Thank you,” Caroline said.
“Yeah,” I said and they walked me to the door.
Caroline gave me a quick goodbye hug, then JJ hugged me around my waist and I wrapped my arms around her shoulders for about two minutes.
“Call me if you need anything, alright?” I asked.
“You too,” she said smiling.
I went back to my car and drove to my apartment. I took the elevator to my floor and walked in, locking the door behind me.
I saw Emily and Alex playing video games on our tv and I joined them on the couch. Emily was winning so that means we’re gonna have a nice evening, without her whining and making up excuses as to why she lost.
“Hey,” I said giving Alex a quick kiss.
“Hi baby,” she smiled, “How’s JJ?”
“Good,” I said, “But I see you need to step up your game. Emily is crushing you.”
She chuckled, “That’s because she lost the first two times and now I’m tired.”
“Why wouldn’t JJ be good?” Emily asked.
“Bad day,” I said.
“Askari?” She asked.
“Yeah,” I said going to the kitchen, “Coffee Alex?”
“Please,” she said, “Who’s Askari?”
“A son of a bitch that is no longer alive,” Emily said, “And I’d like a coffee too, Maya. Thanks for asking.”
“That’ll do,” Alex said.
I chuckled, “Coffee for three. Got it.”
“What’s the worst thing you saw on the job?” Alex asked.
“Getting murdered,” Emily said.
“Watching my sister get murdered,” I said.
She opened her mouth and stayed like that for a minute, “I’m sorry what? Did I hear that correctly?”
“You most certainly did. It’s a long story though,” Emily said.
“Long and crazy,” I added.
“Another one would be Maya not becoming chief because of that. She was so messed up after I died that they didn’t give her the job,” Emily chuckled.
“I’m glad that at least someone finds it funny,” I chuckled, “Because it sure wasn’t fun for me.”
“You can make jokes about it now, so it’s fine,” Emily said.
“Yeah that’s a good point,” I said.
“I don’t know if this is healthy,” Alex said.
“Nobody said it had to be,” Emily shrugged.
Next day we were all at work. There was still no case and Hotch was gone for the next couple days. I went to hang out with Penelope and soon everyone else joined us.
She was freaking out because she was scared we’d ruin her special, expensive equipment so she was bossing us around. We were to sit in one place and not move one bit.
I was sitting on a desk by the wall with Emily, JJ, Spencer and Derek on the couch while David was standing next to them.
“You were late again today, little Prentiss,” David said.
“Would that be a problem? Because I can just turn around and leave,” I said.
“Just forget it,” he said shaking his head with a smile.
“So did anyone else get instructions from Hotch, or is it just me?” JJ asked.
“Everyone got them,” Rossi confirmed.
“Yeah. Mine says Maya no,” I said nodding.
“What does that even mean?” Spencer asked.
“It means that she’s not allowed to do anything, sweet cheeks,” Penelope told him.
“Pretty much. It’s says below to apply it to every situation,” I said.
JJ chuckled, “He has so much faith in you. Honestly, it’s inspiring.”
“Right?” I laughed.
“What possibly could you do?” Reid asked.
“Have you met her, kid?” David asked.
“I don’t know,” Derek shrugged, “Murder?”
“First of all don’t joke about murder,” Emily said, “I was murdered once and it offends me.”
“You heard her. Don’t offend my sister,” I told him.
“Or what?” He asked.
I smirked, “You answer that yourself.”
“I will stop talking now,” Derek said.
“Good choice, buddy,” JJ told him patting his back.
“Hotch is wrong though. I’m a perfectly responsible adult,” I said.
JJ raised her eyebrows, “Are you now?”
“I’m an adult?” I said hesitantly.
“Well, maybe on paper,” she said.
“Okay I’m not arguing with an unbelievably attractive woman. Whatever you say, honey,” I said.
Her cheeks turned a little pink, but she hid it under her hair, “Couldn’t you have come to that conclusion months ago?”
“I could’ve, but where’s the fun in that?” I asked.
“Valid,” she nodded.
After work we all hang out at Derek’s for a few hours and then everyone went back home. JJ went to mine given she didn’t get sleep last night because of the flashbacks.
I took a shower and went to bed, Jennifer doing the same after. She took my shirt and shorts and put them on. She got in bed beside me and cuddled into me. In no time we were both sound asleep.
It was all working out pretty good. She was getting better if you don’t consider the bad days from time to time, but they’re just exceptions that prove the rule. I still wasn’t sure by what Emily meant when she said I’m hurting myself either way. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since she said that.
Next morning Emily made breakfast for all of us and brought it to my room. She woke me up and told me to wake JJ so I did. She gave us our breakfast and coffee and sat at the edge of the bed.
“We have a case today,” she said, “Local so there’s no rush, but I figured you should wake up earlier.”
“What’s the case?” I asked.
“Shooter on a spree,” Emily said.
“Damn. I wasn’t looking forward to that,” I said.
“What do we say when life disappoints us?” JJ asked.
“Called it,” Emily and I said at the same time.
“What? No,” JJ said, “You two are so messed up.”
“But you love that,” Emily said, “Right? Say yes.”
I chuckled, “Of course she does. She spends more time at our apartment than her own.”
“Maybe a little,” JJ smirked.