Chapter Text
Quiet. That was all JJ wanted, just then. Quiet in her own bedroom. Away from people. Why? She really needed to sort out her life priorities. And how.
The most recent case had seen the temporary vanishing of a young family. Baby Luna had been recovered first, found by JJ. Asleep. Tucked in to a cardboard box, no one had seen it get deposited on the station's foyer bench. All that mattered was that Luna was completely unharmed.
She also had all the trust in the world in JJ, imprinted on her. JJ returned the affection. Especially after being tasked with looking after Luna until her parents' return. Both people bonded fast. And JJ did so with reluctance.
She loved children. Truly. Motherhood was definitely a major want of hers. But... Her new boyfriend in zero ways come across as 'parenthood' material. Baylor had been kind and good. To start. He had held JJ's kickboxing bag steady for her, that night at the gym. Even offered a listening ear after JJ vented about her freshly-ended relationship.
How her night with Baylor end? After two very satisfying rounds of sex were had at her apartment. It had been wonderful to clear her system so. Did it take long for them to become friends with benefits? No. It was amazing. Every bit. And it also didn't take long for them to start dating. Officially.
Everything was fine. Until it wasn't.
Much to JJ's horror, Baylor McMath was an abuser of the physical kind. Never in a million years had she expected herself to be at the mercy of someone like him. Not ever. But now she was. And she hadn't any idea of how to end it. Or... Of whom to tell. Even that was gnawing at her. Baylor chose to take out his anger about things going south at his law firm by striking JJ. And in places that were always covered by clothes. All JJ knew? It was happening more often.
But then had come the true wake-up call. Discovery of a pregnancy. JJ had only just begun to tell Baylor before getting the call that would them to Oregon. He had not taken it well.
So... JJ had put all her energy into looking after Luna and being her person. It was a distraction. She and Baylor didn't live together. But he would turn up on her first night home from cases. Why? For sex. And nothing else. That had been fun... Right up until it wasn't.
Now it was time to face the music. Again.
Sure enough...
JJ didn't have to get past her foyer to know that Baylor was there. And waiting. Even despite it pushing ten o'clock. His coat was hung up, his shoes were put away. The TV was on. Ever thankful that Baylor didn't have the combination to her gun safe, JJ put it away securely before taking as long as she dared with putting the rest of her things away. But she was also stalling because she'd felt pregnancy-related nausea. Last thing she needed was to accidentally vomit at Baylor's feet.
After her things had been put away, JJ greeted Baylor as she entered, the living room. "Hey. I'm back."
The man switched off the TV and rose to face JJ. "You're late. JJ, how can you be on time to work when you get calls at random hours, but you can't make it back for us to spend time together at a decent time?"
JJ protested, "You knew going in to this that odd hours are a factor. Just like you know that I keep quite a different schedule from the others. How are you protesting now?"
"Because," Baylor fired back. "Part of being in a relationship is making time for the other person. And something like that is hard to do if the other person is jet-setting all the time. I think the least that you could do is make it home on time!"
"But," JJ felt the exhaustion of pregnancy combined with a lack of sleep from looking after Luna seeping into her bones. "We are at my place. Not yours."
Baylor heard JJ. Very clearly. But... Quite the evil grin had crept across his face. JJ had opened a door. Inadvertently. Now he'd get to enjoy himself. And with pleasure.
"I'm sorry!" JJ immediately began to backpedal while her heart sank like a stone. "Work was more difficult than usual, and I slipped! Please don't make me..."
But Baylor was already unbuckling his belt. "Uh-uh. Being tired is not a free pass. You know just what to do."
And so JJ found herself, laying on her back. Baylor moved inside her. Quite at his own leisure. He was able to really take his time tonight because he wasn't wasted. JJ tried not to remember that while there were definitely times where they enjoyed sex together, Baylor had recently started using it as a form of punishment if she did or said something he didn't like. JJ felt crazy.
But she held back tears as she began to realize that she would be very sore by the time he was done tonight. And because JJ felt so defeated, her team would figure it out. Swiftly. And her secret would be revealed.
How did JJ feel? Broken. Completely.
Baylor spent himself in JJ twice before going off to shower. The agent's tears fell down her face hot, fast. She knew she didn't deserve this. Nor did the innocent life inside her. This was not the end. It couldn't be. There was more. Even if she couldn't see it. So far.
JJ lay on the couch, catching her breath and trying as quickly as she could to center herself so she could think. Preferably without Baylor. He made her feel crazy all by himself.
Upon running through an internal roster of whom to call, JJ landed on Emily. Eventually. Her friend was kind, smart, loyal, protective, gentle. She even made her feel very loved. All JJ wanted was to be around someone who'd let her sleep in peace. And back her ultimate choice about her her child. Emily would do both. For sure.
If I can just get out before Baylor's done in the shower, I will be safe, JJ thought.
Her hand was almost on the doorknob when...
"Just where," drawled Baylor's voice from behind her. "Do you think you're going? We need to finish that chat started before you left for Oregon. Made a choice yet?"
JJ had a moment of pause. Up until meeting baby Luna, she'd been set on having an abortion. But only because she wasn't sure if she would have been able to handle carrying the child of someone who despised her. Luna had changed her mind. One hundred percent.
And... JJ had been glad to use taking care of Luna a solid excuse to not go in to the field for that case. Instead, she'd spent every day holding her, snuggling skin-to-skin, playing with her, giving her her bottles. Luna had been exposed to the elements for an untold amount of time, so she was very cold. But the little one also refused to settle for anyone but JJ. Did JJ mind by that point? No. The baby's trust humbled her. It also allowed JJ to broaden her horizons.
But... Now her decision about going through on an abortion was wavering.
"No." JJ finally said to Baylor. "I have not chosen anything."
Baylor thought fast. "I can give you money to get rid of it. But don't take forever. We we can't have this kind of inconvenience ruining our life together."
"I said that I don't know, not that I am having a termination done: there's a difference!" JJ snapped. "Who knows? I might even keep this kid. What I need is time to figure out!"
JJ sneered, "Then where were you leaving for? Off to your precious Emily?"
And the color drained from JJ's face. "How do you know that name?"
Baylor at once rolled his eyes. "Are you kidding? JJ... You say her name in your sleep all the time."
"I do?" JJ said blankly.
"Mhm." Baylor nodded. "Please don't tell me that you swing both ways!"
JJ had another moment of pause. She actually was bisexual. During the relationship before this one, she had been with a woman. But things ended peacefully when it did fizzle out. The wildest thing? That had all been a few months before Emily had crossed her path.
But JJ was then brought back to reality with rather a hard smack. Baylor had sucker-punched her across the cheek. Had he warned her? No.
"Baylor," JJ gasped as her eyes watered and she righted herself. "What the hell was that for?!"
"Because you talked about a woman in your sleep!" he struck her again. "The two of us are done!"
JJ muttered as Baylor walked away, "Good riddance."
But Baylor heard her. Out of rage, he threw her against a nearby bookcase. It didn't fall over. That being said, some of the heavier books dislodged. Fell on her left arm. JJ also felt something break. She almost passed out in shock when she saw that her arm was now at an angle most unnatural. Did she puke? No. That, in and of itself was a miracle.
JJ let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding in until she heard the front door shut. Baylor was gone. He had actually shown himself out. Summoning all her strength to stay conscious now, she moved towards her go bag. Where her phone was. Time to call Emily. Now.
Aemiliana 'Emily' Prentiss was over the moon just then. Why? She had received the best news of her life. And there was only one person she wanted to tell. No one else. How did she react when that person called? By jumping out of her skin. Almost.
Still, her voice exuded delight at the thought of her friend. "JJ! You're exactly who I want to talk to because I just got news I know you're going to love!"
But JJ's heart fell when she heard Emily's joy. Perhaps she'd made a mistake. Why should someone get feel happiness when she'd just been through hell?
Concerned at once, Emily said, "JJ? Are you still there?"
"Uh-huh." JJ's tone was very dull. "But I made a mistake. Sorry to bother you."
"Calling me was not a mistake." Emily felt alarmed. "I'm already in my car. And I'm not far from your street. JJ? Are you at home?"
"I am." JJ winced when a pain spasm rippled through her. "But I'm really scared. I need you. Aemiliana, please? You were my first thought. And it took five minutes just to get to the phone..."
Emily's heart jumped. She and JJ had grown very close during her short time at the BAU. Outsiders occasionally often mistook them for a couple. Both women also cared for each other. But... The only way they could accurately describe it was 'between best friends and lovers.' Emily was touched that JJ would think of her while in just distress. Except she only felt sheer alarm just then.
"Keep talking to me, sweetheart, and do not go to sleep!" Emily urged. "I will come get you!"
So the whole story came tumbling out. Emily listened in mounting horror to every word. But she made in to JJ's apartment before JJ could tell her about the injury. Or her broken arm. But at least she had the presence of mind to make sure they ended their calls. And put the phones away.
"Sweetheart," Emily immediately sat with JJ on the floor. "Did he break your arm?"
"Yes," JJ said blandly. "But... I'm also pregnant."
Her visitor spoke with caution. "JJ? Is this a good thing?"
But the younger woman shrugged. "No clue. Honestly... Up until Oregon, I seriously been considering an abortion…"
JJ's thoughts petered out in mid-sentence. Pain from her injury had grown so crippling that she was about to pass out. Emily scrambled to keep her awake. And call 911 before anything more happened. Tonight would be long.