The case was over and the whole team was in different stages of closing it up. Emily was sitting in the open trunkbed of the black suv they'd arrived in, calming a racing pulse. JJ exited a second black suv, arriving at the scene just now but already prepping herself internally for the questions she was going to answer shortly from excited reporters. She saw Emily, alone and after a short look around went over to her.
"Hey, Hotch just told me, said you tackled the guy?" She tried to sound easy-going, proud when a minute earlier when their boss had told her what had happened, the risk Emily had taken to take the perp down, her stomach had plummeted in fear for the other woman.
"He was about to open fire on everyone, I was closest," Emily said and stood from her seat, standing strong and trying not to let JJ see how scared she'd been and maybe still was. But she didn't even need saying anything, JJ knew and she could see everything she needed to know in Emily's dark eyes.
They looked at each other for a long moment and it could have easily been cut short by any of their colleagues and friends. But the guys had learned long ago that JJ was the person who would calm you down when something went off-script - so off-script that you would have liked to cry if crying was your thing, which it was not for these people. But JJ's presence always calmed their respective nerves, her smile, her loveliness, her charm and humor. She of all people had the power to bring them all back because she was one of those people each member of the team did for what they did.
And now the team knew that Emily needed JJ most. They didn't know how much she needed JJ, or how much JJ needed to be sure that Emily was all right. Which she was through some small wonder. Thanks to the heroic brunette not a single shot had been fired, not a single hostage in that house had lost their life, neither had any of the police or agents… yet it had been close and they both knew it.
JJ smiled but even only looking at Emily had shaken her and she blinked away tears.
"You know what's working for me?" she asked.
Emily laughed at the question, so unexpected from the sweet blonde.
"What does?" she asked, humoring her partner.
"The vest," JJ answered and swiftly loosened one of the velcro strips of Emily's bulletproof vest. The dark-haired agent laughed again, finally releasing some of the tension that had build up inside her since they had prepared for entering the house to arrest their unsub.
"Really? Hmmmm…," Emily unfastened the piece of light body armour, smirking sexily now. "Well, I think there's a tear at one of the straps here. I should probably take it home and sew it back on proper."
"You can sew?" JJ asked. They looked into each other's eyes and then JJ wiggled her eyebrows. She leaned into Emily a little as she whispered: "That's so hot." Then she walked off in the direction of some reporters who were waiting to be briefed on the latest. Emily stayed back, smiling, looking after JJ and admiring the little sway that she knew was for her benefit only. She felt better now and she knew JJ would make sure she felt fantastic before the day was over.