The next morning, Emily stops by JJ's desk with coffee. She feels a lot less vulnerable at BAU headquarters, in her element and on her terms. JJ looks beautiful though, in a baby blue button-down and gray slacks that look soft. Emily wants to touch them. To run her hands up JJ's thighs. To tug back her high ponytail and kiss her neck. To–
"Em?"
Emily blinks away her thoughts and sees JJ is standing in front of her now, their faces inches apart. Apparently, she's a little more distracted than she thought. "Hi." It's all she can say because her mouth is dry and her heart is pounding.
"You okay?" JJ reaches out and touches her arm.
It's no different than the way they've touched each other for years, but it feels very different. Emily nods, attempting to pull herself together. "I'm good. I got you a coffee."
JJ gives her a grateful smile and takes the cup. She doesn't take her eyes off Emily's face. More specifically, her lips. "I really like that shade."
"Hmm?" Emily muses, losing herself again in those blue eyes.
"Your lipstick. I like it." JJ leans even closer and lowers her voice. "A lot."
"Would you like to try it on?" Emily's over playing it cool. Last night happened. They are happening. Finally.
"I really would." JJ bites her own lip. "Can we go to your office?"
"Garcia is waiting for us in the conference room. We have a new case."
Disappointment crosses JJ's eyes, but she recovers quickly. "Walk with me?"
"Of course." Emily smiles and puts her hand to the small of JJ's back. She doesn't move it away until they enter the conference room.
Spencer Reid is steps behind them. He saw the whole exchange. He's grinning. He can't wait to get JJ alone to congratulate her on finally making her move.
"Good, the gang's all here," Garcia says as the three stragglers find seats at the table, joining Luke, Matt, Tara, and Dave.
"Take it away, PG," Emily tells her with a nod.
"The Avengers are being requested to assist with a series of child abductions in the great big city of Greencastle, Indiana. Three boys, between the ages of seven and ten, have been taken from a local school in the past two weeks. The school has a summer program for the kids who need extra help or free childcare during the off months. Deacon Coburn, age nine, was taken last week from the playground in the middle of the day. Seven-year-old Dakota Hawkins was picked up early from the school the next day by a white male, mid-forties, wearing a Carhartt jacket. The secretary said he told her he was the boy's uncle and was sent to pick him up because of a family emergency. Ten-year-old Rylan Holt was picked up by a man matching the same description from the pick-up line on Monday, claiming again to be an uncle."
"Sounds like the school has a major security problem," Tara says.
"I'll say," Matt adds. "I have to show ID and scan a barcode with a password-protected app to pick up my own kids from school."
"Me too," JJ says.
"As it should be," Garcia says, "but apparently they have loosened security protocols for the summer program."
"He's targeting kids with vulnerabilities or hardships," Dave notes.
"Does local PD have any leads?" Emily asks.
"They have a few names, but they called us desperate for help. A fourth boy, twelve-year-old Henry Gibbs, was approached in broad daylight this morning while playing at a park with his friends. He's not a part of the summer program and the park is two miles away from the school, but witnesses describe the same man. His friends say he left with the guy," Garcia explains.
JJ pales at the mention of her son's first name and age. Emily moves her chair closer and reaches for her hand. She can feel JJ start to relax as their fingers intertwine.
"The boy just walked away with him?" Luke asks.
Reid speaks up. "Studies show it's becoming quite common for a child to go with a stranger because as the world becomes more connected through technology, such as social media, kids are having trouble recognizing whether they actually know someone. People are putting their entire lives on the internet, so it wouldn't take much research for an abductor to gather the child's name, parents' names, school, address, age, sports teams… All of this information is available to anyone with just a few clicks."
JJ shudders and meets Matt's eyes across the table. As the two team members with young children, they share a lot of the same fears. Her feelings are reflected in his face.
"Well, let's get to Indiana and get those boys home safe," Emily says, trying to sound confident for her shaken agents. "Wheels up in thirty."
JJ and Emily both stay seated as everyone else gets up to leave the conference room. Emily doesn't let go of JJ's hand, not bothered with whether anyone else sees. She's held JJ's hand to comfort her before and no one but them knew this time was different. When everyone else is gone, Emily finally meets JJ's eyes. "Are you okay?"
JJ nods and manages a smile. "It's always hard when it's kids. But at least they still have a chance."
"Have I ever told you how brave I think you are? Being able to do this job while also being a mom cannot be easy. You're incredible, JJ."
"Remember when I told you I thought you having kids was a good idea?"
Emily nods. "God, that was a long time ago. I still think about it sometimes."
"For what it's worth, I still think it's a good idea. You would be amazing." JJ turns around in her chair until their knees are touching. "If it's something you want."
"I'm beginning to think I might." Emily takes their closeness as an opportunity to run her fingers over JJ's knee and finds out her pants are just as soft as they look.
"Really? You want to have a baby?"
Emily laughs. "JJ, I'm turning fifty this year."
"You're still young," JJ argued. "You can do anything you want."
Emily shakes her head. "A baby isn't in the cards for me. But I've been thinking maybe if something were to happen where I could be a mom to kids who are already on this planet… I might want that."
"Like adoption?" JJ asks.
"Something like that."
JJ leans forward, hands gripping Emily's thighs, and kisses her lips. It's chaste, and only lasts a few seconds, but it feels monumental. It was one thing to kiss in the dark, late at night, after a perfect evening and a few glasses of wine. It was something entirely different to keep kissing the next morning, at work, where anyone could have walked by and seen. Whatever is happening, Emily likes it. A lot.
"I hope you get everything you want," JJ says softly.
What Emily wants is to tell JJ everything she wants, with her, right now. But they have to get to the jet.
