Title: Everything Else Seems So Small

Author: Salem Navy

Pairing: Jennifer Jareau and Emily Prentiss

Rating: T for now, but most likely some M content later

This is my first Criminal Minds fic, and I've taken a few creative licenses here and there. I'm still relatively new to the show, catching up on old episodes a few times a week so please forgive any mistakes and feel free to correct me. Whatever it takes to make my stories the best is appreciated.

Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Criminal Minds or the lovely women that appear on the screen, A.J. Cook and Paget Brewster. *sigh* Also, I'm not making any money off of this and yada yada... yada yada.

Read and review my lovelies!

LOVE Salem

"Fighting is essentially a masculine idea; a woman's weapon is her tongue."

-Hermione Gingold

For four days he'd been mercilessly trying to beat her into submission and for four days she'd been fighting against him. Unfortunately, she didn't know how much fight she had left in her. Her wrists were bloody from pulling against rope ties on day one. Her ribs were swollen and bruised from being kicked on day two. Her knees were caked with blood and dirt from being thrown across the barn floor on day three. And the clothes she wore were ripped and tattered, providing no comfort from the plummeting temperatures of the late night October air. She shivered inwardly, wrapping her arms tightly around her own body hoping to warm her nearly frozen core.

The creak of the barn door caused her head to snap up in the direction of the burly man that stepped through it. His left eye glared at her through a partly closed lid. She'd gotten one good shot in this morning before he'd shoved her into the wall, creating a gash over her perfectly sculpted brow. The sound of his boots echoed off of the solid ground as he marched towards her, chains in hand. She felt her heart speed up, but refused to let any fear be portrayed in her eyes. She'd seen what he'd done to the other women he'd kidnapped and she couldn't… wouldn't let that be her. She wasn't about to be another statistic.

"I'm done playing nice, blondie," the man chuckled, swinging the chains sadistically in his left hand.

She glowered at him while taking a few deep breaths, preparing herself for the fight that would ensue mere moments from now. She'd barely had time to gather her thoughts before he charged towards her. Her right foot connected with his gut, but that barely even caused him to stumble. She used every move she'd acquired in attempt to break free from the grizzly bear of a man that towered above her as he shoved her further into the corner.

As soon as she felt the heavy metal chains wrap around her neck, she knew she was done for. He pushed her body to the ground before ripping open the remaining four snaps on her white button-up, his eyes growing hungry as the buttons clattered across the concrete floor. Her hands scratched at his face, screams of rage and panic pouring from her lips as the edges of her world began to darken. The last thing she felt were his massive hands pulling down the zipper of her black-denim jeans.

She awoke to the sun shining through the top window of the barn. Her body trembled and ached as she tried desperately to yank her jeans back over her bruised hips. Visions of last night pulsed through her mind. She felt a shudder slink up her spine as she held back the urge to regurgitate, remembering what it felt like to have her captor inside of her.

Lifting herself up off the ground, she leaned against the wall as she assessed the damage to her pale skin. She gasped as she noticed a tell-tale hickey forming just above her right breast and deep purple finger prints surfacing on her abdomen. Taking a step away from the wall, she felt her knees buckle beneath her before catching herself with her hands. A slow sting burned through her wrists as she heard a low laugh emanate from somewhere in front of her.

She didn't need to look up, recognizing the menacing chuckle from the night before. Angling her head just slightly, she caught sight of the blade gripped in his hand; a sure sign that this would be a fight to the death.

The BAU vehicles came to a halt in front of a worn-down Victorian style home. Agent Prentiss jumped out of the SUV, weapon drawn, before following Hotch's instructions to begin canvassing the area. According to Garcia, there were three structures scattered along the property: the beaten-down house, an old storage shed and a decaying barn. Watching Morgan head in the direction of the shed, Emily made her way to the back of the estate en route to the barn. Keeping a steady eye, she followed the trail that wound only a few hundred feet before the ominous building with it's peeling red paint came into view. Her heart began to beat with a ferocity she was sure meant that it was going to come straight out of her chest. This had to be where the monster was imprisoning her.

The density of the surrounding trees caused the sun to cast an eerie glow upon the rickety barn and Emily's heart jumped slightly as she saw a figure exiting it through a small door off to the right side. "FBI!" she shouted, her gun pointing suspiciously at the person walking towards her. She watched as the person raised their arms weakly in the air. Squinting and allowing her eyes to adjust, she breathed out a sigh of relief as she realized that it wasn't Mitchell Hagin, their unsub.

"I've found her. Head to the barn," she said, her shaky voice reverberating through her own earpiece.

"On my way princess," Morgan replied.

"Send a medic," Emily added before breaking into a dead sprint as she noticed blood oozing from one of the delirious woman's up-stretched arms. She made it to her just in time to catch the victim mid-stumble, her arms wrapping gently around the small woman's frame. "You're safe now."

"I knew you'd find me," the blonde said through raspy breaths before leaning up and pulling the agent that held her into a meek kiss that begged for solidification.

Disoriented and confused, Emily took a step back, still supporting the tiny woman's weight in the crook of her elbows. "I need to know where Hagin is," she whispered, a hint of desperation lingering in her voice as she took in the blonde's disgruntled appearance. Dirt and blood streaked her entire body while her torn shirt hung raggedly across her shoulders. Only one of her bra straps remained intact and Emily felt the ache in her heart begin to swell within her as she noted the missing button from the woman's jeans, her zipper pulled up only slightly. Averting her brown eyes, she cringed and held back tears, unwilling to imagine what kind of torture the woman before her had endured, before asking once again where Hagin was.

A sigh escaped parted lips as tired blue eyes stared up at Emily. "I stabbed him," JJ stated.

"It hurts to love someone and not be loved in return, but what is the most painful is to love someone and never find the courage to let the person know how you feel."

-Author Unknown

Emily readjusted herself in the vinyl hospital chair once again. Whoever designed those damn things must have had ulterior motives because after only one night of sleeping on one, you more than likely needed a hospital stay yourself. Cracking her back in one swift move, she turned her attention to the blonde that lay sleeping in the hospital bed next to her. JJ's small body was plastered with cuts and bruises, a steady of stream of antibiotics running through an IV and into her veins, protecting her against any possible infections. The doctor had informed the BAU team of her condition, letting them know that Agent Jareau's body had sustained multiple fractures, including one to her skull. Among the worst of her injuries was an oblique tear, a deep cut running the length of her left forearm, and substantial bruising to her inner thighs. Emily had winced, fighting against the brim of tears, when the team had been told that the rape kit on JJ had come back positive. She knew that they'd all assumed it, due to the comparison against Hagin's other victims, but having it confirmed caused looks of horror and anger to develop on all of their faces.

A short yell escaped JJ's lips before her crystal blue eyes jolted open. Emily was at her side in seconds, her hand resting softly on the younger woman's shoulder. "Jayje, everything's okay," Emily practically whispered. "You're in the hospital." JJ had been in and out of various stages of consciousness since they'd brought her in yesterday, and Emily couldn't be sure that the fair-haired liaison remembered being ushered in on a gurney at all.

Brown eyes searched blue for any sign of recollection. She almost spoke before the sound of JJ's groggy voice cut through her thoughts. "Did I lose a lot of blood… from this cut?" JJ questioned, looking down at the stitches lining her arm. "I remember it all, Em. I remember too much." It took everything Emily had in her to hold herself together as tears streamed down JJ's beautiful cheeks. Not knowing what to say or how to offer solace to her broken friend, Emily simply took JJ's hand in her own and squeezed.

After a few minutes, JJ's quiet sobs dissipated and she stared up into Emily's dark welcoming eyes. "I love you Emily," she admitted.

"I love you too, Jayje," Emily replied while forcing a smile. She knew platonic love was not what the younger agent had meant, but this really wasn't the time or the place to delve into the conversation. Hell, she couldn't imagine when the right time or where the right place would be.

But JJ wasn't going to let this be dropped. "I don't think you mean it the same way I do," JJ sighed, her voice cracking evidently. Emily started to interrupt, but was stopped abruptly as JJ's hand clutched tighter around her own. "Just listen for once," JJ pleaded as she took a deep breath, trying her best to organize her thoughts. "I was awake last night when you were crying. And it may be presumptuous to assume that those tears were for me, but I can't stop myself from thinking that they were. I've seen the way you look at me and it took me awhile to realize why the thoughts behind your breathtaking eyes seemed so familiar. It's the same way I look at you. You're all I think about, Emily. I've tried desperately to stop the ache I feel every time you walk out of the room and to prevent the butterflies in my stomach every time you brush against me, but I can't. Every day that I was trapped there and every time," she paused, fighting against painful memories, "every time I thought he was going to kill me just like he did those other women, the only thought I had was about how much I regretted not telling you how I feel. That I didn't have the courage to tell you how much you mean to me."

JJ stopped, not knowing how to continue or what else she could say that would help break down those famous Emily Prentiss walls. Tears shimmered in her bright blue eyes and she felt the sting of them as she willed them not to fall. Her efforts were to no avail as each one began to slip silently down her flawless skin, landing softly on the blanket across her lap. "Please say something," she whimpered.

Emily sat stone faced, her hand still clasped in JJ's as she wrestled with the turmoil of emotions that crashed like dangerous waves inside of her. She couldn't do this now; not here. She knew she loved Jennifer Jareau, but did she love her in that 'can't-eat, can't-sleep, reach for the stars, over-the-fence, World Series' kind of way? She'd spent so many years holding her feelings captive inside of her that she no longer knew what it truly meant to feel. She didn't know how to differentiate loving someone from being in love with someone.

She closed her chocolate brown eyes, hoping that she would be able to articulate what she needed to say and have it convey how she really felt about the woman that lay in front of her. But before she could even open her mouth there was a knock at the door, followed shortly by JJ's doctor peeking in and stepping through.

"Hello again Agent Prentiss," he said dryly as he checked a few things on the different monitors that surrounded JJ. He could tell by the lingering tension in the room that he'd interrupted something, but he was a busy man and JJ was the first name on a list of many. "If you don't mind, I have a few things to discuss with Jennifer."

Emily simply nodded before standing up and removing her hand from JJ's. "I could use some coffee anyway," she smiled, quickly exiting the room, not wanting to witness the disappointment she knew would be etched across every line of the younger woman's face.

"Most people have a harder time letting themselves love than finding someone to love them."

-Bill Russell

JJ could hear the papers stop shuffling as she walked into the bullpen. Exhaustion was portrayed across every inch of her face and her body ached from the numerous cuts and bruises. She knew that the team was staring at her as she began to ascend the stairs to her office, trying her best to ignore the looks and make it through her office door before Hotch knew that she was there.

"Agent Jareau!" Too late. She stopped mid-step before turning to face the BAU's Unit Chief. "You were just released from the hospital yesterday," Hotch stated, emphasizing the last word. "Obviously, you've yet to be cleared for work."

"There are just a few things I need to get from my office," JJ lied. In truth, she couldn't spend another minute sitting on her couch watching daytime TV or flipping through Cosmopolitan, all while simultaneously thinking about the object of her desire, Emily Prentiss.

"You have 30 minutes JJ. Otherwise, I'll personally have you escorted out of the building. Understand?" Hotch said, knowing that it wouldn't come to that. JJ was, if anything, a rule follower… most of the time at least.

The fair-haired agent nodded in frustration before continuing up the stairs and unlocking the door to her office. A few moments later, everyone noticed all the blinds being wrenched shut, a warning that they all knew too well; 'Don't even consider opening that damn door. I'm busy.'

JJ rested her head on one of the stacks of files that cluttered her infamously disorganized desk. She honestly didn't know why she'd left the comfort of her couch and come up to the BAU office. Stupidly, she'd assumed that seeing her long-tressed brunette co-worker would curve the itch she felt, but that now was just a fruitless thought. Blue eyes had locked with brown when she walked into the bullpen minutes earlier and she could easily feel the tension that lingered between them, having not spoken since the episode in JJ's hospital room.

Garcia had offered to drive JJ home after she'd been released the day before, later informing her young friend that she would be setting up camp in her guestroom. Too tired to argue, JJ had simply let her head rest against the couch cushions, no longer fighting the tears that fell in a steady rhythm down her cheeks. Penelope had tried her damnedest to comfort her best friend, but she didn't realize that JJ's tears had nothing to do with Hagin and everything to do with Emily.

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Agent Jareau heard a knock on her office door. "You've got to be kidding," she thought. Was Hotch really coming up her to have her escorted out? "It's only been 10 minutes!" she yelled through the closed door as she shuffled papers around, trying to sound busy. A few moments later she heard a click before one of her co-workers stepped into her muddled office. Not even glancing up from the file in her hand, JJ sighed, "I'm going to be leaving soon. What do you need?"

"I knew you wouldn't be able to stay away." JJ's breath hitched in her throat as the sultry silken voice floated through the room. She looked up as the raven-haired beauty took the seat on the opposite side of her desk. "Jayje, you haven't even been cleared for desk work yet," Emily said, her words full of concern.

"I couldn't handle another minute of Days of Our Lives or Ellen, which is surprising because I love Ellen." JJ's voice held a casual tone, but Emily could tell that the blonde was full of nerves as she watched her search aimlessly through the copious amount of papers and files littering her desk.

The older woman was about to say something before being snapped from the words that were forming in her mind as a pile of folders fell to the floor alongside JJ's desk.

"Shit," JJ muttered as she struggled with her injuries, trying to clean up the mess.

"Let me help you," Emily said as she knelt on the carpet beside JJ to swoop up the pile.

"Emily, just stop!" JJ cried in exasperation. "What are you even doing in here?" Her voice leveled out as she sat back on her heels.

Not knowing what to say, the Emily simply leaned forward and captured the younger woman's plush lips with her own.

Garcia spun around in her office chair, surrounded by all of her babies, as she daydreamed about her dinner with Kevin that would be taking place later that evening. A smile formed on her face before she halted her chair mid-spin, the grin turning into a look of shock. The monitor in front of her showed the feed from JJ's office and she had to clean off her quirky glasses in order to make sure that what she was seeing was real. A smirk replaced the look of alarm as she watched Emily and JJ kiss, their hands tangling in each other's hair. "Ah, young love," she giggled to herself before she was alerted by something in her peripheral vision. "Oh sugar."

"Some women can't say the word lesbian… even when their mouth is full of one."

-Kate Clinton

JJ's fingers were fumbling with the buttons on Emily's shirt as the older woman's hands snaked up JJ's skirt and caressed her thighs. JJ moaned as Emily's lips trailed kisses along her neckline, "Mmm… Em." The desire between them was unmistakable as hands and lips continued to roam over one another's bodies. JJ was yanked out of her reverie a few seconds after Emily's teeth nipped at the pulse point along her neck by the ringing of her phone. The women split apart as if they'd been struck by lightening before JJ stood up and straightened her deep purple pencil skirt.

"Jareau," she breathed into the phone, trying to steady her voice.

"Listen up Goldilocks," Garcia started, "I'll berate you later for not telling me about the love affair between you and Agent Legs in there, but I called to let you know that Papa Bear is on his way up for a visit." JJ's eyes grew wide as she realized how stupid she and Emily had been to forget about the security cameras. "Thank me later gorgeous. And tell Emily I like her bra. Garcia out."

JJ frantically began to tidy up her office and herself as she told Emily that Hotch would be up any second. "Button up your top," she husked to the brunette as she tried to calm the desire that burned inside of her. She couldn't remember ever wanting anyone as much as she wanted Emily.

The frenzied pair finished straightening up just in time. They each sat in the chairs they'd inhabited earlier as they heard a rap on the door. "Come in," JJ said calmly while motioning for Emily to fix her hair.

Hotch stepped through the door to JJ's office with a serious look on his face. He didn't appear at all concerned with the fact that Emily was sitting there looking slightly guilty. "JJ, it's been 30 minutes. You really need to go home. Your evals are Monday so you only have a few days to rest up," the Unit Chief said matter-of-factly. "Emily, I need you downstairs. Everyone's paperwork has to be finished before we're all free to go home for an extended weekend."

"Yes sir," Emily responded before standing to leave the too-crowded office. "See ya later Jayje."

Hotch glared at JJ as she ruffled through some things on her desk. "Agent Jareau," he said in a threatening manner.

The blonde stared up at him with stunning blue eyes and smiled, "Five more minutes?"

The man's demeanor softened as he took in JJ's light-hearted request. "We got everything we needed from you yesterday. Don't make me send up escorts," Hotch said with a grin that tugged at the corners of his eyes. "Five more minutes."

Ten minutes later, JJ was walking down the stairs toward the bullpen after locking up her office. Her mind was racing with thoughts of what had just transpired with Emily. She bit her bottom lip, savoring the way the brunette's mouth had felt against her own. Her legs trembled, remembering the way Emily's delicate fingers had danced along her skin. Once again, her cell phone yanked her back to reality. "Jareau," she snapped in annoyance.

"Get your sexy blonde butt in here, stat," Garcia's bubbly voice poured out of the phone.

"Pen, I have been ordered to leave the building."

"Lies. All lies. You've been informed that you weren't yet cleared for work. My chocolate Adonis gave me the skinny. And don't worry… your indiscretion with our older co-worker is safe with me."

Emily noticed JJ roll her eyes as she hung up her cell phone. Those eyes, those sapphire orbs, were mesmerizing. She felt her heart clench in her chest as her thoughts traveled back to the way JJ's eyes had fluttered open and closed as Emily's tongue traced the length of her collarbone. She loved knowing how JJ's mouth tasted and her desire to taste more of the young blonde was insatiable. She wanted to memorize every scent, every flavor, every inch of JJ's skin…

"You okay over there, princess?" Morgan's voice caught Emily's attention as she came hurtling back to the here-and-now. "Thinking about JJ?" he asked. If Morgan noticed the way Emily's eyes widened, he didn't say anything. "I hate the fact that Hagin survived after what he did to JJ as much as you do, but he'll spend the rest of his life rotting behind bars. So don't spend too much time worrying about it. She's tough."

Emily just nodded, relief playing across her features when she realized that she'd dodged a bullet with Derek.

JJ walked into Garcia's office, plopping down on the desk in front of her best friend.

"Careful!" the technical analyst scolded. "You almost knocked that gorgeous butt into my baby here. Do you think perhaps you'd prefer a chair?"

"No thanks," JJ said before scooting a few inches away from the monitor that was in front of Garcia. She crossed her legs before resting her elbow on her knee and her chin in her hand. A puff of air escaped her mouth, blowing a few strands of hair out of her face.

"Alright, spill," Garcia said with an all-knowing look on her face.

JJ knew there was no getting out of this. With her best friend being the 'oracle of knowledge' that she was, she'd figure it all out eventually. "I don't even know where to start," JJ whined, running a hand through her silken hair.

"Try the beginning," Penelope encouraged.

After JJ had walked Garcia through the whole story, all the way up to Emily just coming into her office and laying one on her, the eccentric blonde let out a squeal and clapped her hands together, "I'm surprised that our excellent team of profilers hasn't caught on to any signs yet. Not even I, the all-knowing goddess, saw this beautiful love affair blooming on the horizon.

"How can you be sure no one knows anything?" JJ questioned.

"Puh-lease darling," Garcia dragged out the words. "My hunky dark-skinned Jason Bourne can't keep anything from me. If he knew, I'd know. The only question now is, what are you going to do about Ms. Prentiss?"

"You block your dreams when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith."

-Mary Manin Morrissey