"Which desk?" Emily was the designated driver for the team's exodus. She was going to be risking her sanity by spending the following day with her mother and was quietly praying to any deity that might be listening that there wasn't a prospective husband there as part of the event. Running her friends to the airport was a small thing but it put off going over that little longer.
"United." Morgan replied from the seat next to her, which he'd claimed by casually throwing JJ's purse into the backseat. "Chicago flight leaves in a couple of hours so we've got plenty of time."
"Chicago?" Reid practically squeaked from where he sat behind her but went without comment from the older agent.
"Are you sure you're OK to pick us up on Sunday? It's not that big a deal we can grab a cab back to the office to pick up my car."
Emily rolled her eyes. "If I had a problem with it I wouldn't have offered. Besides it gives me another excuse to get away from my mother."
"Why did you agree to go?" JJ asked, collecting her things together so she could switch to the front when they dropped the men off.
Emily considered how to explain the relationship with her mother in a way that would be understandable to the others. Bottom line was when the Ambassador told you that you weren't going to get out of the family dinner you gave in gracefully or not but you were there. "For a quiet life, which is odd when you consider there will be so many people there. I get to talk politics for a day, eat some fantastic food and hope that I get out of all but Christmas brunch. It will be fine, I just need to know that I've got an out if I need it."
She pulled up in front of the door next to the United sign. "Stop one, everyone out who's going to Chicago." All the doors apart from hers opened. There was a yelp from Morgan as he was smacked round the head with JJ's purse before she climbed into the front. At the bang on the trunk they pulled away waving at the guys as they went.
"So we go grab a coffee before coming back to drop you off?" Emily knew that JJ had at least another hour after the guys' flight to wait and didn't want to leave her newish friend kicking around an airport alone.
"Sounds like a plan." The smile she got from the other woman was worth the extra mileage and time.
They drove in silence for a few minutes before JJ broke the silence. "Is it just me or did it sound like Spence didn't know where they were going?"
"I think it's sweet that Morgan is taking him home to meet his family. Maybe he'll admit that he's in love with Reid and move things along."
"What!" This time it was JJ's turn to squeak.
"Oh come on, you must have noticed. If anyone so much as talks to Reid then Morgan is lurking over his shoulder. He damn near growled at that redhead the other week! He's in love and marking his territory. Reid's just lucky he isn't getting... well let's just say that wouldn't be pleasant!"
"Morgan's protective he isn't in love!" JJ seemed to need to argue the point. Considering she was flying down to visit with that detective they'd met in New Orleans it couldn't be jealousy over either of the two men.
"It's more than that. I bet you, I don't know, ten bucks, that the next time we go out if someone so much as looks like they are about to hit on Reid that Morgan chases them off. Or," she held up a hand. "Gets one of us to do it for him."
She glanced over. "Come on, you've been told to go get him for a game of darts, taking him away from that college student."
JJ nearly huffed. "That girl was far too young for Reid!"
"She was about six months younger than him! And studying something at postgrad. So, pretty, smart and about the same age, what precisely was there to complain about?"
"If she was perfect for him why did he come away with me then?"
Emily was amazed that the other woman hadn't joined all the pieces together. "Reid has a huge crush on Morgan! He came over and stood next to him for the rest of the evening, and Morgan took him home rather than picking up some meat at the bar."
JJ was quiet for the rest of the drive to the coffee place. "So why is it a crush on Reid's side but love on Morgan's?"
Emily shrugged. "Morgan's a player. Taking home a different woman every time we go out, and have you noticed that he only manages 'first' dates? Then with what came out earlier this year I think Reid's holding back so he doesn't get hurt. Morgan needs to step up and do something. Or he will lose him. Because, as much as it pains me to say this and I cannot stress enough that I'm not interested, Reid is hot and a fantastic catch. Someone will snap him up."
"He's a lousy date though. We went out once and well it didn't go well."
"Oh yes?" Emily linked her arm through JJ's and pulled her towards the door. "You can tell me all about that while we drink our coffee."
AN: Chapter randomly dedicated to capricusp who wanted to know how Emily and JJ knew about Morgan...
