Hope for the Hopeless [Jemily]

Easy Come, Easy Go

tw! description of domestic violence (physical and verbal abuse)

I heard the door lock slide open, and there Jennifer stood. She smiled softly at me through dried streams of tears before collapsing into my arms.

"Jenny?" I wrapped my arms around her tightly. Her body started jerking up as silent sobs shook her up and down; no noise came out. I picked her up by the underside of her knees and supported her back, closing the door with my foot once we were inside. I walked over to her couch and sat down, keeping her in my lap as she held onto me for dear life. "Do you wanna talk about it?"

"I can't. I didn't want you to see me like this."

"Like what?"

"Weak."

"Jennifer, you're not weak. You're one of the strongest people I know."

"Then why did this happen to me? Why did he... Why did he do that?"

"It's not your fault." I lifted her up so I could look in her eyes and ask, "What did he do?"

She sniffled, "We were um, we were going out last night since I was leaving later in the evening. And he picked this like sports bar type place to go to where all his friends hang out. While I was getting ready to go and I was putting my outfit on, Will apparently didn't think the dress I chose was appropriate. It was just a black dress, Em. But he started going off about how 'you can't wear that out' and 'you just want attention from other guys' and 'you're such a slut' and just... stuff like that. Then I stupidly started talking back and I said that I could wear whatever I want, it's not like I needed his permission. He shoved me back against the wall, my head hit a glass picture frame and it broke over me. Then he... slapped me across the face and told me not to talk back to him. I picked something else to wear out and I guess he thought it was fine because he acted normal after that. As if nothing happened." My teeth were pressed tightly together as I could feel my whole body seething with anger. I moved Jennifer off of me and stood up, starting to walk toward the door before she anxiously squeaked, "Wh-Where are you going?"

"Well I gotta catch a flight to New Orleans so I can kill this asshole."

She kneeled up on the couch and pleaded, "Emily, stop, just... come back. Please? I... I need you." I turned around and gazed at her; seeing the genuine look of fear on her face was paralyzing. I nodded and stepped back over to the couch, reprising my spot next to her. She curled up next to me and snaked her arms around my waist. Her state of mind was too fragile for me to say anything now about how I felt— it wasn't the right time. I knew my role right now was to just help her get back on her feet. She sighed, "What should I do?"

"You can't stay with him if he hits you. That's not a sign of someone who cares."

She swallowed hard, "I'm scared. What if he comes after me?"

"I'll protect you. The team will protect you. We won't let anything happen, Jennifer, I promise." Suddenly her cellphone started to ring.

She shot up from my lap and looked around for it, mouthing to me, "It's Will," once she picked it up.

"Answer and put him on speaker." She nodded in compliance.

"Hey, Will."

"Hey there, darlin. Took you a while to answer, what's going on?"

"Nothing, n-nothing."

"You're sure?"

"Yeah. Uh, what's up?"

"Listen I was just calling to um... To say I was sorry for what happened last night. I shouldn't have lashed out on you like that." Jennifer looked at me as if she needed advice on her next move, clearly not knowing what she should do now. I didn't give a shit if he apologized, he never should've done that in the first place.

I said to her just barely above a whisper, "That's bullshit!"

Jennifer nodded and started to quietly talk into the phone, "Will I just, I—"

"Is someone else there? Who is that?"

"No one's here."

"It's some other guy, isn't it? You fucking someone else, Jennifer!? Listen to me, bitch, if you think you can—"

I snatched the phone from Jennifer and gritted into it, "No, you listen, asshole! You have no right to speak to her that way, and I know the shit you pulled last night too! Jennifer and I are both federal agents and you have some goddamn nerve treating her like that, or any other woman for that matter! Do me a favor and stay the hell away from her before I track you down and knee your balls through the roof of your mouth! Got it?!" I pressed the end call button and threw her cellphone onto a chair near us before anxiously running my fingers through my hair. I felt like ripping it all out. I stammered as I avoided eye contact with Jennifer, "S-Sorry I just uh, I uh... I couldn't listen to him talk to you like that it's just..."

"Emily, it's all right. I'm actually happy you did that."

"You are?"

"Yeah. Saved me the trouble." I smiled and sat back down next to her. She snuggled up against me, nuzzling her face under my neck and continuing to sniffle her last tears away.

I stroked her hair gently and asked, "You need anything? Or want anything?"

"What time is it?"

"Almost 6:30."

"Can you order Chinese?"

"Yeah? You ready to eat?"

"Mmhmm."

"Okay." I stood up and rummaged for a take out menu in Jennifer's kitchen before calling a nearby Chinese restaurant and ordering delivery. The food arrived within 20 minutes. We didn't bother with bowls or plates and just ate right out of the containers while sitting on Jennifer's couch. I worked hard to keep up a conversation about anything but Will so that she'd be distracted. We talked about recent movies, the Redskins since she was a big fan, whether we'd rather be deaf or blind, workplace gossip, and Paris. We always talked about Paris when we were together; we liked reminiscing on the good times. I cleaned up our boxes once we were all done and then joined her back on the couch for a little while longer.

At one point she asked me, "Can you stay here tonight? I just... It would make me feel better."

"Of course... You ready to go to bed?"

"Mmhmm." She nodded and stretched before standing up from the couch for the first time in three hours. Jennifer turned to head for her room and I turned the opposite way for the guest room. When she saw me walking the other way she got my attention, "Where are you going?"

I pointed to the guest room, "To bed?"

"No, can you... Can you come with me? In my room?" She asked with glossy, pleading eyes.

"You're sure?"

"Please? I want you to."

"As you wish." I shuffled over and followed her into her bedroom. Jennifer did her nightly routine while I changed out of my work clothes and into one of her oversized t-shirts that she let me borrow for the night. Then I climbed into her bed on the side that wasn't slept on. She walked out of the bathroom and sat on the edge of her bed with her back to me. I watched as JJ pulled off her sweatshirt, revealing a simple white tank top. There were small cuts and scrapes over the tops of her shoulders, likely from the shards of glass that fell over her head from the broken picture frame. A noticeable bruise formed on the side of her neck within a halo of redness— that's where he slapped her. I gently reached up with my hand and felt over the blemishes, causing Jennifer to jump briefly but then settle back down.

"Does it look bad?"

"Breaks my heart. But it'll heal. I... I'm so sorry this happened. You deserve so much better." She slowly turned around to look at me, lovingly smiling once we made eye contact. I breathed out, "You're still beautiful."

Jennifer blushed, "Thanks, Em... You ready for bed?" I nodded so we settled under the covers next to each other. I turned on my side, facing the middle of the bed, and Jennifer laid on her side to face away from me. I let my hands slowly rub down her back, grazing over the thin fabric of her top and relaxing her to rest. She hummed quietly, "That feels nice." It was the last thing I heard her say before she dozed off into sleep.