Criminal Minds One-Shots

Fragile Lines

Summary: In the wake of a tragic accident, the lives of JJ, Will, and their two sons are irrevocably changed. As they grapple with their loss, the family must navigate the depths of grief and find a way to heal.

TW: Guns, accidental shooting, death, angst, trauma, depression

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The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the shooting range, its rays filtering through the trees lining the perimeter. Y/N, a bright-eyed seventeen-year-old with a quick smile and an adventurous spirit, stood next to her friend, Emma. They had spent countless weekends at the range, learning safety rules, mastering their aim, and having fun. But today felt different.

"Come on, Y/N! Just hold it like this! It'll be fun!" Emma exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over.

"Emma, stop!" Y/N urged, her heart racing. "You know that's not safe!"

But the allure of the old Western movies was too much for Emma, who continued to twist and turn the gun in her hands, ignoring Y/N's pleas. In a tragic moment, the gun discharged, a loud crack breaking through the peaceful sounds of the outdoors. Y/N fell to the ground, the world blurring around her as pain lanced through her side.

At the hospital, JJ paced the waiting room, her heart racing with every tick of the clock. Will held her tightly, trying to ground her amidst the chaos. Their family had always been their anchor, but now it felt like their world was crumbling.

"Will, I can't lose her," JJ whispered, tears streaming down her face.

"You won't," Will replied, his voice steady though his heart was anything but. "She's a fighter. Just like you."

But as the hours dragged on, a sinking feeling settled in their chests. Henry and Michael sat in the corner, silence enveloping them like a heavy blanket. They were too young to fully grasp what was happening but old enough to sense the storm brewing around them.

When the doctor finally emerged, the somber look on his face stole the breath from JJ's lungs.

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice soft but firm. "We did everything we could, but she lost too much blood."

The word "sorry" echoed in JJ's mind as she fell to her knees, the weight of the moment crashing down like a tidal wave. Will knelt beside her, his own tears falling silently as they grappled with the unthinkable reality.

In the following days, the house felt eerily quiet. The laughter that once filled the halls was replaced by a heavy silence, punctuated only by the muffled sobs of a family in mourning. Henry and Michael wandered through the rooms, searching for their sister in places where she had once brought joy.

JJ struggled to pull herself out of bed each morning. The sun streamed through the window, but it felt cold and distant. Will tried to be strong, shouldering the weight of their grief while offering comfort to his sons, but he too was unraveling beneath the surface.

"Mom, can we go to the park?" Henry asked one evening, his voice small. "Y/N liked it there."

JJ's heart broke at the mention of her daughter's name. "Not today, sweetheart. Maybe later," she replied, her voice cracking.

Michael sat on the floor, staring at a picture of him and Y/N on Will's phone, her smile radiating joy. "I miss her," he whispered, his innocence shattered.

"I know, buddy," Will said, kneeling beside him. "We all do."

As the days turned into weeks, JJ sought solace in her work, throwing herself into cases to distract from the ache in her heart. She found herself in the familiar patterns of her job, but each phone call and briefing felt hollow. The faces of victims reminded her of Y/N, and every success felt like a betrayal.

Will tried to reach her, to pull her back from the edge. "JJ, you need to talk to someone. We can't keep doing this," he urged one night, as they sat in the dim light of their kitchen.

"I'm fine," JJ insisted, though the tremor in her voice betrayed her.

"You're not fine. We lost our daughter, JJ. We need to grieve together," Will replied, frustration lacing his words.

For the first time, JJ let her walls crumble. "I don't know how to do this. I feel lost. I feel—"

"Me too," he interrupted gently. "But we have to be there for each other. For Henry and Michael."

Slowly, they began to find small ways to remember Y/N, sharing stories and memories during family dinners. They created a scrapbook filled with photos, each page a testament to her life. In those moments, they found fragments of healing, learning to embrace the love they shared, even amidst the pain.

As autumn approached, JJ, Will, Henry, and Michael stood at Y/N's favorite spot in the park. They released a handful of balloons into the sky, each one carrying a message for their beloved daughter.

"I love you, Y/N," JJ whispered, her heart aching but full. "We will always remember you."

And as the balloons drifted away, the family felt a sense of unity, a fragile line connecting them through their grief and love. They would always miss Y/N, but they were determined to carry her spirit with them, finding strength in each other as they moved forward—together.