A/N: Just a reminder, I'm working without a beta, and I'm sure I've made some mistakes, but I'm trying to get them fixed, promise.
jm-oc-ja: glad you're enjoying it. I've got sugar cookies, hope you enjoy them. =D
heatwave16: thanks! And I know, Emily/JJ in general just makes me happy.
Whiro: I'm glad you're enjoying it! And I'm working on getting more ready to publish.
I will say that Sam was almost completely unexpected when I was writing this. She sort of took more control of the story then I expected. But I like the role she's taken, so we're going with it. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy.
Since cookies aren't the best sort of bribery, apparently, I'll have to come up with something better, in the meantime, reviews are awesome!
Disclaimer: They aren't mine. But I wouldn't mind finding them beneath my Christmas tree.
XI.
Eight P.M. rolled around for the members of the BAU with no further word from Garcia. Instead they had a thousand theories and no answers. Sam, as unfamiliar with the team as she was, could easily see the frustration and exhaustion setting in. She knew there was no way they'd get any more work done that night, the trick was to convince the others of that, and she didn't think faking yawns or falling asleep at the conference table would work.
Hearing her own stomach rumble Sam sighed and gave in to her need for food. Looking around the room she caught JJ's eye and smiled tiredly. JJ looked at the other blonde with concern but Sam just shook her head before exiting the room. Emily looked up from the file in front of her and locked eyes with JJ. Without a word they both rose and went after the blonde detective.
They found Sam sitting on the floor next to a vending machine, eyes closed with her head tilted back against the wall, an opened Snickers in her hand with one bite missing. JJ slid down the wall next to Sam, sitting down and reaching out a hand tentatively to brush a stray hair off the detective's cheek. Startled by the touch Sam nearly leapt to her feet, bumping into the standing Emily and knocking her to the floor.
Emily hit the ground with a thud and looked up quizzically at the youngest of the three. "Sam? You alright?"
"Jesus Em, I'm sorry." Emily smiled inwardly at the use of the shortened version of her name, relishing the warm tingles it gave her. "It's okay, I'm fine. Just a little closer to the ground then I was before."
Sam sighed loudly, running her fingers through her hair. She tried to shake herself awake, "I'm sorry, I really am. I just wanted a few minutes rest, I didn't mean to fall asleep."
JJ frowned at the exasperation in Sam's voice and reached a hand out to her, she smiled when Sam almost unconsciously took her hand. JJ pulled Sam down to sit on the floor next to her. "It's okay, Emily and I are going to sit right here with you. Just close your eyes for a few minutes okay? We'll be right here."
Sam looked up at Emily, who just nodded back, before sliding down the wall and sitting on the other side of the detective. Sam closed her eyes and leaned into JJ, resting her head on the blonde woman's shoulder. JJ smiled up at Emily and slipped her arm around Sam's waist, holding her close and humming softly, trying to offer a source of support and comfort. Emily smiled a the picture the two made before taking one of Sam's hands in her own, caressing the back of her hand with a thumb lightly.
They sat like that for a long while, before Reid, in search of some form of sustenance found the three of them against the wall, holding each other and asleep. Morgan, who had been right behind Reid smiled at the sight of them. Stepping up next to Reid, Morgan smiled and patted him on the shoulder, "Maybe it is time we call it a night." Reid just nodded, finding a sense of comfort in having his friends nearby.
Sam cracked open her eyes and looked up at the two men. After a brief request she found out that two hours had passed since she'd first left the conference room, and that the men were planning on heading back to the B&B. Morgan looked down at the pile of women on the floor and smiled, hoping that for once, some happiness could be found among all the despair. "Stewart?" Sam looked up at Morgan, "Can you make sure these two get back to the B&B, or at least get some rest somewhere tonight?" Sam looked puzzled for a moment; she didn't know what was more confusing at the moment, her position between the two women, or Morgan and Reid's seemingly easy and willing acceptance of the situation. Either way, she wasn't looking a gift horse in the mouth, she nodded back at Morgan and watched the two men walk away, before turning to look at each of the other women for a few moments.
A stray strand of hair had fallen across Emily's cheek and JJ was turning into a deformed pretzel with the way she was sleeping. Sam brushed her fingers across Emily's cheek, rousing her from her slumber slowly. Dark eyes opened, blinking sleepily until locking upon Sam. Without a second though Sam leaned over and pressed a gentle kiss to Emily's forehead. "Come on Princess, it's time to wake Sleeping Beauty," Sam just nodded towards JJ.
When Sam tried to nudge JJ awake, JJ only mumbled softly in her sleep and snuggled closer, ending up with her head in Sam's lap. Emily looked down at the sleeping blonde and then back up at the detective next to her and just smiled, reaching a hand down to stroke JJ's cheek gently. Sam watched the interaction between them silently, finding peace in the yet undefined connection that existed between the three women.
Sam looked up at Emily and smiled, the traces of an idea lighting up her eyes. Emily watched as Sam leant over and whispered something in JJ's ear. A half second later JJ was on her feet, alert and looking around frantically, "No more coffee?"
Sam and Emily looked at each other before they burst out in laughter, dragging themselves to their feet.
"I'm sorry JJ…but you needed to wake up."
JJ couldn't help the pout that crossed her features, but it faded when Emily wrapped her arms around her for a gentle hug.
"The guys have left already, Morgan and Reid were down here earlier looking for the two of you. Morgan asked if I'd make sure you guys got back to the B&B, or something for the night. I said I'd take care of you. And I was thinking, I know we're all tired, but," Sam paused, her nervousness apparent as she rushed into the rest of what she was attempting to say. "maybe you'd like some dinner first? I'm really not a bad cook and I've got everything needed to put together a quick meal and then I promise to get you back to your team. I mean if you really wanted to you could stay at my house tonight, I have room and I wouldn't mind the company, and who knows maybe we'll break the case over dinner, or breakfast or something...," JJ and Emily just stood in silence for a moment. The Sam they had met and gotten to know so far that day always seemed confident and, aside from a moment or two, always in control. This babbling Sam was a different entity, but a rather adorable one at the same time.
"Sam," the blonde looked up at Emily's interruption of her babble mode, "we'd love dinner."
"Really?"
JJ smiled, "Really… and you know, you're pretty cute when you get all rambly like that." Emily just laughed at the red tint that quickly took over Sam's face.
Less than ten minutes later the three women had gathered their bags and anything else they needed for the night before making their way to Sam's jeep. It was ten minutes after that that the jeep pulled down the long drive at Sam's home. As the headlights caught the house and illuminated the yard, Emily and JJ took in the sight of the simple, weathered farmhouse. Sam parked in front of the house, ignoring the garage in the nice weather, and grabbed her guests bags before leading them to the house.
"Please forgive the minor bits of mess, I wasn't originally planning on having company tonight." Sam smiled at the other women before unlocking the door and stopping inside to key in her security code.
Emily and JJ stepped into the house, eyeing the simple décor and the well broken in furniture, that still managed to fit the feel of the house, despite the years of use. The majority of the first floor was a wide open area that flowed almost imperceptibly into different areas. Emily looked around, noting the combination of living and work space that made up the majority of the floor. JJ noticed different details, the framed photographs that hung beside the fireplace and the artwork that decorated the rest of the walls.
"I'm sure the two of you are beat, but would you like something to drink? A shower? A chance to relax or anything while I make a quick something to eat?"
Emily couldn't help the groan that rose from her throat, "A shower would be divine."
Sam happily led Emily up a set of stairs and to a restroom upstairs, complete with a full shower and claw foot tub. Stopping at the door the two women smiled at each other, "Take your time, it'll be a little bit on dinner."
Emily smiled at the shorter woman, before leaning down to catch the detectives lips in a quick but soothing kiss. "Ok." Emily smiled and entered the bathroom, shutting the door back again before Sam even had a chance to regain coherency.
Sam made her way back down the stairs, her mind replaying the feel of Emily's lips on hers, over and over. JJ looked up from the photos she was examining when she heard Sam's feet on the stairs. A flash of concern crossed her face and JJ made her way quickly across the room, "Sam? You okay?" Sam nodded as JJ stretched out a hand, brushing her fingers over Sam's cheek before resting on her shoulder.
Sam smiled at the contact, finally raising her eyes to meet JJ's. JJ's hand shifted and her thumb was left lightly stroking Sam's collarbone. Same relished in the feeling and in the close contact with the other blonde. JJ herself was mesmerized by the softness of the skin beneath her touch and the increasing beat beneath her fingers.
Sam sank her teeth into her bottom lip, catching JJ's hand in her own as she stepped back, "You wanna grab a shower while I fix dinner?" Sam hated to pull away from JJ – and thinking about her in the shower only made it worse, especially when she knew Emily was already in one shower.
JJ squeezed Sam's hand softly, "A shower would be nice." Really a shower was the last thing on JJ's mind, but she knew, as did Emily and Sam that distance was necessary if the trio were going to make it through dinner and have the conversation that had become so necessary to the continued development of whatever was between them.
XII.
Sam had encouraged the two women to take their time in their respective showers, and knowing that they had had a long and stressful couple of weeks, she wagered she had at least half an hour before they began making appearances back downstairs.
Ten minutes later, Sam had rushed through a shower and back down to the kitchen, eternally grateful for the remodels she'd done on her home and the additional bathrooms that had come with the work. It was another forty minutes before Emily made her way back down to the main floor, her heart warmed at the sight of Sam standing barefoot in the kitchen wearing a pair of loose flowing gray pajama pants and a white tank top, her hair, still wet from the shower, was pulled back in a pony tail. Emily just stood at the foot of the steps watching Sam as she made dinner. Emily nearly jumped out of her skin when JJ came down the stairs and rested her hand on Emily's shoulder. Together the two stood and watched the oblivious detective as she tossed together a salad while singing along quietly to the soft tones of Sinatra.
Sam looked up from her preparations to spot the two agents watching her. Blushing profusely she still took the time to eye the other two women appreciatively. Emily in her red tank top and black pajama pants, and JJ in her soccer tee shirt and red shorts. Sam's eyes lit up as JJ and Emily walked over to her, leaning against the kitchen counter side by side.
"Is there anything you need us to do?" JJ smiled, charmingly at the other blonde.
Sam pulled a corkscrew and a lighter out of a drawer, "If one of you would open the wine? And maybe light some of the candles?"
Emily took the offered corkscrew and JJ the lighter. Sam smiled fondly as the two women made themselves comfortable in her kitchen and in her heart. Sam served the salad and the fettuccini alfredo and carried the plates to the table. With the meal served the three women settled down to dine together. There were content and comfortable in silence as they ate. Finishing the meal they cleaned up in silence before moving into the living area.
Emily stretched out on the worn couch, propping her head up on one hand so she could see the others. JJ settled into one of the arm chairs, swinging her legs up and over the arm. Sam crouched in front of the fireplace, lighting a fire. Emily and JJ exchanged a look and smiled at the hint of tattoo that was revealed when Sam's tank top rode up. Content with the beginnings of the fire, Sam moved to sink into the other arm chair before catching a mischievous look between the other two women.
"What?" Sam couldn't help but question her guests.
JJ looked over at Sam innocently, "Was that a tattoo we spotted?"
Sam smiled at the obviously curious women, "It was… one of them anyway." Emily and JJ visibly perked up at the mention of more ink on the young detective. "But that's probably information best served for later. I guess there are other things we need to discuss-" Emily noticed the edges of fear sneaking into Sam's voice and her heart ached to chase the fear and worries away, but she knew the best way to do that was to actually carry through with the conversation they needed to have.
"Here's the thing," Sam began, out of her chair in a flash, pacing back in forth in front of the fire, obviously hesitant to look at either of the other women, "I don't know you. I mean – we just met this morning. I was expecting these big bad FBI agents, and the first faces I saw were yours. And really, all I could think was that here were two of the most beautiful women I'd ever seen. And then we started talking – and it was like there was this click in my heart that said I needed you … both of you. And I started watching you – and the way you are together and I thought I had no chance." Sam stopped pacing and looked at JJ and Emily, finding their eyes and trying to convey what she had felt building all day, "And then Emily kissed me."
"Wait, wait a second," JJ looked between Emily and Sam, "You kissed her?" JJ's face had turned to Emily, who simply nodded, "Twice."
Sam smiled softly, "Jealous JJ?"
"Of course I am," turning to Emily, "You-, I've been wanting to kiss you since the day we met. There you were striding into the BAU like you knew it was exactly where you were meant to be. You swaggered in all tall, dark and dangerous and I swooned. Literally. Every day since I've been wondering what your lips would feel like, how you would feel against me."
Emily's mind finally caught up to what JJ was saying, "You swooned?"
JJ nodded, "I was in my office talking to Penelope when you first walked through the doors – and I saw you, and I swooned." JJ shrugged, trying to hide her blush.
Emily smiled at JJ, "I felt the same way you know? Hell JJ, you've been filling my dreams for months. Even on the worst cases a smile from you makes it all go away. Having you around even makes my mother more tolerable." Emily paused, her eyes locked on the liaison's, rising from the couch she made her way to JJ, sinking to her knees in front of the chair, she reached a hand up to brush a strand of hair off JJ's face.
"Em-" JJ's voice nearly cracked, breaking the silence that was building between them.
Whispered, softly, barely audible in the air. "Yes Jayje?"
"Kiss me."
Emily leaned forward, brushing her lips ever so lightly against JJ's, allowing her fingers to freely roam over JJ's face, through her hair, and lightly across her neck. JJ let out a soft whimper before delving into the kiss, pulling the brunette closer to her. In the midst of their embrace, neither woman noticed the pained look on the departing detective's face.
Minutes or hours later, neither knew for sure, Emily and JJ pulled apart, slightly out of breathe and smiling. Emily was the first to notice Sam was no longer in the room, just then they heard the sounds of the Jeep starting outside. Looking at each other, Emily crossed the room, looking out the window to see the Jeep was no longer parked in front of the house, turning to look at JJ, Emily shook her head, sighing softly. Together the two agents sat on the couch, pressed close, fingers entwined, and waiting for the blonde detective to return.
JJ looked down at their interlocked fingers and then back up at Emily, "Why didn't you tell me? That you felt that way about me?"
"Honestly? I never thought I'd have a chance of you feeling the same. And there were the trust issues when I joined the team. And then we started building this friendship, and I didn't want to risk losing you as a friend and a potential something more. Why didn't you tell me?"
"Some of the same reasons I guess. And really, I was scared. I'd never felt this way about another woman before. And I'm sure that sounds, in some way cliché, but I never thought I could, and then … you made me swoon. So mostly I was working through it, not chasing it away, but accepting that it was okay for me to feel this way."
Emily leaned over and kissed JJ again, quickly and softly. "I'm glad we finally figured this out."
"You should thank Tasha, she helped me see some things today. And Sam – she reminded me so much of you when she came swaggering into the department this morning…" JJ looked up, a frown crossing her face, "Any idea's on where or why she ran?'
"I don't know Jayje, I really don't know. I'm not going to profile her, I won't cross that line."
"What should we do?"
"We'll wait. She has to come back eventually. And we are in her house."
JJ nodded at Emily and leaned against the taller woman. Wrapped up together, fingers still entwined they waited for the return of their missing piece.
