Fifty Ways to Love You - Emily Prentiss x OC

29. one condition

[tw: drug use/relapse mention]

After a couple weeks, it was just the night before Dmitri was going to rehab. I was doing what he needed my parents to do so long ago. He needed help.

"You gonna be okay tomorrow? I'll go with you if you want,"

"Thanks, baby, but I think it's better if I go alone,"

"Alright." Emily kissed my forehead. "I love you, sweet girl. You're such a good sister to them, Galina,"

"I love you, Ems. I'm so lucky to have you." I rolled over so she'd spoon me.

"It's me who's lucky," she murmured against the back of my head and neck.

In the morning we made sure we were up early so I could get things in order. I felt Emily's eyes check up on me as I made breakfast. I pretended I didn't notice. She just wanted to know I was holding up alright.

"I'll be here when you get home, okay, baby? Unless you'd rather be alone. Which I completely understand,"

"You can stay. I'll be fine either way. Love you." Normally I loved Sundays. I always spent them with Emily.

Dmitri was still reluctant to go. I got him to get in the car, though, and we didn't say much. It was an hour drive each way. I had the radio turned on so we weren't in silence.

Dmitri didn't want to leave me. It killed me to see him so hurt. But the drive home was shorter without my dejected brother in the passenger seat.

It was eleven when I got home, and Emily was finishing her second cup of coffee — she often drank them slowly at home. "Hey," she welcomed me. I acknowledged her with a small smile. "How're you feeling?"

"Mm,"

"Oh, I know...come sit with me, love." Without even asking, I laid my head in her lap. Emily scratched my scalp and carefully played with my hair. "Is this good?" she asked in a soft voice. I nodded a little. "Alright."

I didn't really care to watch TV at the moment. I wanted Emily. She made loose braids in my hair and then took them out, starting anew every couple of minutes.

"I love you," I whispered. I didn't know what to say.

"I love you, sunshine. Don't feel like you have to talk, or stay quiet. You can do whatever you want to. I know today's a hard day, love." I nodded again.

"Love you."

I relaxed for the first time in a week. It was slowly tearing me apart, all of this. "I have to call my brother," I mumbled. I'd almost fallen asleep in Emily's lap.

"Huh?"

"Max, I have to call Max and let him know what's going on with Dima,"

"Lina, you should rest. For a little while, at least, baby,"

"No, I have to call Max,"

"You look so tired..."

"Em, I just gotta do this one more thing, then it's over,"

"O-okay, love. Do you want some privacy?" she asked. I softened.

"Whatever you want. I don't really mind." She nodded and made herself busy, doing the few dishes that were in the sink.

I called my baby brother. "Привет, Максимка,"

"Галина Анатольевна!" Ah, shit. I'd recognize that voice anywhere.

"Мама!" I heard Max say. We were both in trouble. "Sorry, Galya." My mother yelled at him in Russian in the background. Tears sprang into my eyes and my hand was over my mouth as I listened. "What's up?"

"Um, D-Dmitri...he, he's in rehab. I—I was just calling to explain everything. I...I should go,"

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"I'm sorry, too," I said. Hopefully he couldn't hear how upset I was. "Call me,"

"Yeah, I will. Bye,"

"Bye."

Emily looked over at me, and did a double-take when she saw the state I was in. "Galina, what happened?" She shut the faucet off and dried her hands on a kitchen towel.

"My mother..." I said, my voice hollow as a log. "I..." Her face fell. Emily knew much about my problems with my parents.

"Oh, shh, sweetheart, it's okay,"

"It's not. My brothers...why can't I keep my brothers safe?"

Emily rushed over to me. She helped me back to the couch and had me lay in her lap again. I cried and let her continue to play with my hair.

"Galina, my little sunshine, this is not your burden to carry. You want to help them, I know that, love, but you can't handle everything by yourself,"

"I have you." I felt her demeanor shift even though I couldn't see her face.

"Of course you do. Always, my love. I just mean, you don't shoulder the burden of keeping your brothers from all harm. They will be okay. You're a very, very good sister. I see how much you care for them, and they love you. Give yourself a break, angel."

"I'm in love with you, my Emily," I wept.

"I'm in love with you too, my Galina. Can we go take a nap? I think you might feel a little bit better after a nap, my love,"

"Like I'm three?" I laughed. Secretly I loved when she treated me like this. "On one condition,"

"Anything, my love," she agreed with a smile.

"Keep playing with my hair?"

"If it makes you this happy, sweetheart, then absolutely I'll do that."

In my bed I curled into a ball under the blankets and my girlfriend kissed my head before her fingers tangled in my hair. I slept like a rock curled up next to her. She would protect me.