JJ woke with a start, she heard something but couldn't place it.

"Mom." Jaden said in a whisper.

"Hey bud what's up?" JJ sighed in relief it was just Jaden.

"Your phone has been ringing for an hour just answer the damn thing." He growled walking back out. JJ sighed and got up, her phone had found a new home in the kitchen at nights since she no longer fielded the cases but her number was still known by many cities. It was easier to leave it for them to hear she no longer was the case manager then answer and explain. Walking into the kitchen she answered her phone.

"Agent Jareau."

"Sorry to bother you so late agent but we have an issue."

"I am no longer the person to talk to about this."

"I know that but you could help still, our local high school is under a shooting threat."

"For how long?" JJ grabbed a notepad and a pen.

"We found out shortly after ten pm. We've canceled classes and started to trace the site the threat came from."

"Alright, why do you feel the need to call us in?"

"Last week the number '24' was painted all over the school and burned into the grass, the students who did this knocked out our cameras, and now 24 students received a text with only '24' on it all from differing numbers. All burner phones."

"Ok, we'll catch this one." JJ said hanging up. Walking back into the bedroom she went over to Emily pushing her shoulder. "Get up we have a case."

"No that's not your job anymore." Emily whined and JJ laughed.

"But it's still something I can do."

"JJ I don't want to get up."

"Alright, you can retire, I'll see you when I get home, have fun." JJ said walking into the bathroom.

"You never play fair, ever." Emily grumbled and got up, seeing the clock read one thirty am she groaned and flopped back down in bed.

"You better hurry I already sent up the bat signal." JJ said from the shower, Emily rolled her eyes with a grin on her face, she got up once again and joined her wife in the shower.

x-x-x

"Why are we getting up at two am to go to a damn school?" Derek asked setting his coffee down.

"Possible shooting." JJ said stealing his cup.

"It's too early." He whined and everyone nodded.

"Just rest we'll get caught up there." Hotch said as he dimmed the jet's cabin lights.

"You two don't get the couch this time." Derek said and JJ looked at him.

"But Derek…" She looked at him with huge sad eyes.

"Not gonna work baby girl."

"But Derek…how can I sleep sitting up?"

"Damn it!" Derek grabbed his coffee back and found a seat as Emily and JJ curled up on the couch.

"Big, tough agent Morgan lost to little small town Jennifer?" Rossi grinned and Derek glared at him.

"You know damn well she's the best shot."

"Children go to sleep." JJ said and Hotch laughed.

x-x-x

"Welcome, we set up at the high school, we have a kid in custody that we believe did this. We're being stretched far today, little help so we can't thank you enough."

"If you don't mind I'd like to send one of my team in there." Hotch said.

"I was just about to ask."

"How sure are you?"

"About 90 percent."

"Morgan you and Prentiss go in." Morgan looked at Emily who rolled her eyes and followed Morgan in the classroom.

"Hey James, I'm Derek Morgan, and that is Emily Prentiss. We're here to ask you a few questions."

"You aren't from around here." James said flatly looking both of them over.

"No, we're FBI BAU unit." Derek said as Emily watched James shift.

"FBI? This was just a prank between me and a friend, look at our facebook it's all the same shit." James jumped up and started pacing. "The texts didn't even say April, he got one why wouldn't we joke about it?"

"James, where do you want to go to college?" Emily spoke up.

"I got in to MIT, why?"

"Just wondering, do you have any issues with anyone here?"

"Besides our dumbass principal, no."

"What's wrong with him?"

"He'll try to take away our prom because all this, every year he finds something to throw hissy fits about and try taking it away."

"James, did you do this?"

"The statement on facebook, yes. I didn't send texts or spray paint the school. I wouldn't, I don't even hunt, I'm a vegan."

"How did you know about the texts saying May?"

"My friend and I got one…" Morgan looked at Emily then back at James.

"James, why didn't you ask for a lawyer?"

"I didn't do this." At this Emily stood up and was about to walk out. "Why are they wasting your time here when that woman died in the church parking lot?"

"What?" Emily asked and looked at James, stopping in her tracks.

"It's all over the radio, some woman was found dead in the church parking lot Monday morning." Both Emily and Derek walked out.

"Cut him loose sheriff, and tell us about this woman."

"She's not connected."

"Sir you don't know that." JJ stepped up seeing both agents angered at the small town cop.

"She has no connection with the school or anything."

"Let us see the file, no harm in that right?" JJ smiled and the man nodded.

"Well then you should join our men in the investigating another two bodies that showed up this morning."

"Two more?" JJ said shocked, she wasn't positive but she thought she remembered reading something about a very low crime rate.

"How often do you find bodies in this area?" Emily asked shocked.

"Not often, less than one a year."

"So the three bodies in three days just what? Didn't matter?"

"they aren't connected."

"Actually… I think they were practice." Reid said picking up his work. "I redad through the reports and put the images in a…"

"Spence just the point."

"They covered her, remorse, and back of the head shot, execution style, like a teen would use in killing someone they feel is 'guilty'."

"Ah hey Emily…" James said sticking his head out the door.

"Yes James."

"Can I go home?"

"Yeah I'll take you."

"Shouldn't you work on the case?" The sheriff asked.

"I'll tell my agents how to work." Hotch spoke up as he stepped behind JJ. "Also you need to call in drug, bomb and firearm dogs." Hotch said, then smiled. "We're tearing this place apart. JJ go with Emily and James, get him some food, he missed lunch."

"Alright sir." JJ and Emily walked James out to the car.

"Next time I say I'm not getting out of bed, I'm not getting out of bed." Emily said, turning the truck on.

"James where is a good place for food?" JJ asked ignoring her wife.

"Here? Good luck." James scoffed. "We have an ok Mexican place but that's it unless you want fast food."

"Let's just get take out from there then." Emily said and JJ nodded.

"Can I ask you guys something?" James asked shyly.

"Anything."

"Do you think… this is real? I mean we grew up with bomb threats and stupid jokes but this is new."

"Honestly if we could answer your question truthfully we would, but we can't. We really have no clue." Emily said as she turned into the restaurant parking lot. Walking in JJ squeezed James' shoulder.

"Don't worry James, we'll get this guy, I promise. We never walk away from a case do we Em?"

"Never, never ever ever. Trust me, we've had some pretty long ass cases."

"Try a month in Montana, in the dead of winter." JJ said smiling and James nodded.

"Hey James, taking full advantage of the day off I see." The hostess smiled at them as they walked in.

"Yeah Sarah, guess you could say that."

"Who are your friends?" She asked.

"Emily and Jennifer, from the FBI, apparently I was connected to the 'day off'." He said and the girl looked at him wide eyed.

"You're kidding."

"Sarah, just get us a table ok? And honestly I'm shocked darling, haven't checked your facebook lately? I'm all over it." James snapped and Emily elbowed him. Sarah grabbed menus and found them a table quickly before walking away, not out of sight though, she stood with a bunch of girls talking and every once in a while looking over at the group.

"Small town." James said and JJ gave a weak smile.

"I know, I'm from one." She said and he looked up at her.

"What about you Emily?"

"Nope, my mother… wasn't the settling type, I lived mainly overseas growing up."

"That had to be amazing."

"Think again, you have no friends because you move every few years, you learn a new language and a new culture. You wouldn't believe how many times I would've killed for a normal burger." Emily said and then looked at James, "Sorry."

"Don't worry just because I don't eat animal products doesn't mean I think everyone shouldn't I just… have you seen their faces…"

"James, it true what everyone is saying how you killed that chick and… who are you?" a young man James age sat down next to James across from JJ and Emily.

"Eric, meet Emily and Jennifer from the FBI and no it's not true."

"FBI?"

"Why does everyone do that?" James asked looking at Emily.

"Believe me, every single person you tell will do it. Hell even Hotch did it to me the first day I joined the team."

"Aw but Em you can't blame him, last time he saw you, you were running around like the reckless teenager you were. Smoking and getting tattoos."

"You have a tattoo? That makes you ten times hotter." Eric said.

"Can we leave?" Emily asked JJ who laughed shaking her head. "My son is older than you, and he's my youngest." Emily said and Eric's jaw dropped.

"Musta had kids young." He said and James pushed him away from the table.

"Hassel me tomorrow in math, now get lost man." James said and Eric took off.

"James when did the police take you in last night?"

"About ten." James said and JJ nodded, the boy was in dire need of sleep. Before JJ had a chance to offer they just got take out the room turned into a warzone. Bullets were flying through the front windows causing mass chaos. Emily went across the table throwing James to the ground as JJ drew her gun.

"Get down!" Emily yelled drawing her gun following JJ out the broken window and onto the sidewalk, the gunfire had stopped.

"Do you see anything?" JJ asked still crouched down gun up.

"Nothing." She grabbed her phone and dialed Hotch. "Sir we've just been involved in a… well in a drive by."

"Is anyone hurt?"

"Not that I know of, we're at the local cantina."

"We'll be right there." Emily hung up and looked at JJ. "You ok?"

"Yeah, just a scratch." JJ said holding a napkin to her arm, Emily walked up to her and pulled her hand away showing off the gash in her wife's arm.

"Scratch…" Emily said looking at JJ, eyebrow raised.

"Well I couldn't say pin-prick now could I?" JJ asked laughing and Emily kissed her forehead as she walked back into the restaurant, this time through the door.

"Is anyone hurt?" She asked, everyone by this time had huddled in the back in a very large group.

"We're ok, did you get him?" Sarah asked.

"No, sadly we couldn't see anything either."

"It was Carl Cavanaugh, I'd recognize the truck any time." Eric said and many others nodded in agreement.

"We might be in the sticks but he takes it to an extreme, lifting it and having the confederate flag on it." James said. "He was always an odd guy." Emily wasted no time, she grabbed her phone and called Garcia.

"Pen's house of worldly knowledge, no nonsense."

"Hey PG, I need you to run a check on Carl Cavanaugh."

"Righty missy, now go catch the bad boys!" Pen said and Emily smiled. Looking up Emily saw JJ walking in with Hotch and the team.

"Emily take JJ to a doctor, get her all cleaned up before meeting us at the station tonight." Rossi said and Emily walked JJ out to their truck.

"You alright, really?"

"It's just a little…"

"Don't even try that with me." Emily warned and JJ smiled, she leaned over and kissed Emily.

"I am completely fine love, trust me it wasn't my first gun fight, won't be my last." JJ smiled and Emily rolled her eyes.

x-x-x

Six hours later the team walked out of the high school ending their long day.

"So we'll meet at ihop at 6am sound ok?" Hotch asked.

"Why so early?" Morgan groaned.

"I want to be at the school when the students get there, scare them." Hotch said and every team member glared at their leader.

"Fine." Morgan said, throwing his bag into the back of the truck. Emily and JJ climbed in back leaving Morgan alone up front as Rossi, Reid and Hotch take the other truck. "So momma bear you are ok right?"

"Yes Derek I swear I am ok." JJ said leaning into Emily. "I just want a warm shower and a warmer bed to crawl into and sleep."

"I agree with that, now let's get back to the hotel." Morgan drove behind Hotch to the hotel, when they got there he grabbed JJ's bag from Emily following them up to their room, he tossed it on the bed before hugging Emily. "Night girls." He smiled shutting the door behind him. JJ flopped down on the bed, not even bothering to take her shoes off. Emily walked over to her and pulled the younger woman's shoes off, standing her up she pulled her shirt off carefully so as not to bother the cut.

"You still want a shower?"

"Better than taking one in the morning." JJ mumbled and Emily laughed undressing JJ the rest of the way before pushing her toward the bathroom, she followed her leaving a trail of clothes behind her.

"You catch any word of James when we got back?" Emily asked wrapping her arms around JJ resting her head on her shoulder as the shower heated up.

"Reid and Morgan took him home, poor Derek had to carry him up to his room cause he had fallen asleep." JJ said and Emily chuckled.

"I was expecting that, he was up for more than twenty-four hours in a row and he isn't use to it."

"Emily, just shhh, ok? For now I just want to think about being in your arms and a good nights sleep before having to wake up and connect all these pieces…" JJ sounded defeated, Emily kissed her neck.

"Ok love, I agree." Emily ran her hands up and down JJ's arms. "By the way, you need to stop getting shot in the arm, this is what the third time?"

"Yeah that sounds about right." JJ smiled and kissed Emily. "I say that's a fair deal." Emily stepped back pulling JJ under the stream of warm water. JJ turned and rested against Emily letting her wash her hair.

"What do you say we rent a movie and curl up in bed finishing this day off right?"

"Well besides the fact I have shampoo in my hair still," Emily cut her off by nipping her neck. "well if that is your plan get out." JJ smiled and Emily laughed.

"When we're home, in our own clean bed." Emily said washing out JJ's hair she turned the water off and grabbed a fresh towel. They both changed into pajama's and curled up in the small hotel bed.

"What do you wanna watch?" Emily asked looking at JJ who laid in her arms.

"Find something cute and pathetic on the tv and lets just fall asleep?"

"That sounds great." Emily kissed the top of JJ's head.

x-x-x

Emily walked down the hall with two coffee carriers full of steaming cups. James was walking with her drinking his own cup.

"I don't see why I couldn't go back to school today."

"Questions haven't been answered…"

"Oh shut up." James said smiling.

"Come on you can't deny liking not having to go."

"Well… I'd rather be there than here all day again, plus they have better food."

"You are in luck my friend, we just picked you up so we could get you breakfast." Emily said opening the joining door to Ihop.

"Well look who found us, oh and brought real coffee." Derek grinned grabbing his cup from Emily. JJ was quick to grab her cup before stepping aside for everyone else, as soon as they all had coffee JJ leaned over to Emily and kissed her.

"Well good morning to you too." Emily grinned.

"You were gone when I woke."

"I had to get the young boy."

"Oh so that's your excuse for not waking up your wife who worried about where you were the whole morning."

"Oh don't you start, I left you a note on the pillow."

"Are they always like this?" James leaned over to Derek.

"Yes James, sadly they are."

"We are not." JJ said grabbing the menu from the table she sat next to Emily with a huff.

"Always." Rossi said making James laugh, he stopped when JJ shot him a look.

Breakfast went by fast, filled with the chatter of the team joking around and relaxing before returning to what was no doubt going to be a stressful day. James got back into the swing of his classes while the team learned how they would be set up in the halls to watch the students.

"You're case just got a whole lot worse." James walked up to Emily.

"Why is that?"

"Two more bodies found on the freeway."

"How would you know this before us?"

"Small town, we all have to travel on same streets, one of us sees something, all of us see something." James said before turning around in the crowd to go to his next class. Emily walked over to where Hotch was standing watching the students.

"You hear two more bodies showed up?"

"Nope, but the locals got Carl this morning, covered in blood."

"What?" Emily said shocked.

"Carl killed a three of his neighbor's sheep…"

"He's not the guy we're looking for, he did the drive by but he is not the killer."

"I couldn't agree more, but I must say I'm nearly certain that the teacher, Mr. Kay, right across from us is our killer." Hotch said and Emily took a quick look. "His class is all the way down the hall yet every passing period he comes right up here to watch me. He acts like he's not but he is, and he is challenging. Pulling an 'I dare you' attitude."

"I'll go to the office and see if he fits the profile by asking around."

"Already done." JJ said smiling as she walked up to them, Rossi and Morgan quickly joining. "Guys this is our guy, we need to make a plan."

"Guys!" Reid yelled running down the hall he was out of breath when he stopped. "James is in his class next period, he could use James as a perfect cover-up." Reid said and Morgan started walking down the hall toward the room, Mr. Kay looked at him but stayed in place, once he was out of eye shot of the teacher he ran down the hall yelling.

"Move!" Morgan said trying not to knock people over. "Get out of the way!" He finally stopped at Mr. Kay's door and grabbed James before he walked in. "Go to Emily and JJ, you're missing this class, I'm taking your spot." Morgan said, he walked James back to the group. "Hotch I want to tear his office upside-down."

"Rossi and I will go to his house, you and Reid take his office. Emily, JJ I want you to stay in the classroom with him, watch him see what makes him tick." Everyone nodded and went their separate ways, James went back to class but sat between Emily and JJ.

"Officers I can assure you…." Mr. Kay started when he saw Morgan and Reid looking through his stuff.

"Agents, we are agents." Emily said and saw that the man did not like being corrected.

"Excuse me, Agents please I would like to know why you are turning my office into a mess?"

"You did it Mr. Kay, we all know you have it in you. Were you with Carl when he killed those sheep? I bet you were, you were always so proud of your twisted nephew." One of the older male students said and Mr. Kay glared at him.

"Put your hands up…" Morgan said, gun pointed at the man, quickly JJ and Emily stood up guns drawn. "Sir you know better than to have a gun on school grounds, hands up and stand against the wall."

"Do it now." Emily barked, the man still didn't move. Slowly the two women made their way up to where Morgan and Mr. Kay stood.

"Come on man, you don't want to pull anything stupid here." Morgan said, suddenly the man turned to lunge at JJ, she reacted quickly by shoving him against the wall, head first.

"See that counted as stupid." She growled handcuffing the man.

"See kids that's why you don't mess with the small blonde chicks, they can still kick your ass if need be." Morgan said and Emily chuckled as JJ shoved the teacher against the wall, sitting him down.

"Stupid men." JJ huffed and walked out of the classroom as local officers walked in. "He's in there the one in cuffs, stupid man he is." She said and the sheriff looked at Emily.

"He thought he would be able to take out JJ…"

"Oh." Is all the man said before picking Mr. Kay up and reading him his rights.

x-x-x

"So what happens now?" James asked as he sat down next to JJ at the hotel lobby.

"Well we go home, you stay out of trouble." She said smiling.

"I pulled some strings you won't face any charges." Hotch said.

"Thank you, but I don't ever see you again?" He asked looking around. Emily grabbed a piece of paper and wrote on it.

"Here, all of our numbers and email. You ever feel like talking about anything just write or call. We promise to answer." She smiled hugging the boy. "You were a big help."

"You remind me of my son." JJ smiled hugging James, "You made us very proud."

"So this is really what you do every day?"

"Catch bad guys all over the country?" Morgan asked and James nodded.

"Yeah pretty much, unless we're on vacation." Rossi said smiling, everyone laughed.

"Don't you get sick of it? Or even each other?"

"Never! Well ok I do get sick of the people all the time." Rossi said earning a smack from JJ. "Hey just because you made the mistake of marrying one of us." He got smacked again, this time by Emily.

"No we really don't, the only bad part is the early wake up calls." Emily said and everyone nodded.

"If you're back in town, ring me ok? I'd like to see you all again." James said and they all agreed.

"We have to get going now though." JJ said pulling James into another hug. "Be good, no trouble, go to college, well you've heard this before." James got hugs from everyone on the team before they headed off to the plane.

"You know he gives me hope for the next generation." Rossi said.

"What and our kids didn't?" Morgan said.

"Nope, bunch of monkeys your kids are." He grinned laughing.

"Hey now we know you love them."

"Yeah well now I'm a damn great grandpa three times over, and I don't like it." Rossi growled and everyone laughed.

"Well just think of it this way, we nearly created our own BAU team to replace us!" JJ grinned and Rossi glared at her.

"I may be a great grandpa but I am not that old to be thinking about retiring."

"Again…" Emily said under her breath.

"What? What was that Emily? Would you like to speak up so I can hear that?"

"Again, you old fart you already retired once!" After another hour or so everyone had fallen asleep.

x-x-x

"Emily, wake up we're home." JJ said shaking her wife a little.

"It's too fucking early woman." Emily said curling up further.

"Sleep here then and I'll go home to our nice bed."

"Fine." Emily growled standing up, she looked at her watch, it was one minute to midnight. "Hey Jennifer wait up a second." Emily said still watching her watch.

"Ok what's up?" JJ said turning back to her wife. Emily waited till her watch ticked over to midnight before pulling JJ to her, kissing her.

"Happy birthday." She smiled kissing her again, JJ smiled into the kiss.

"Great way to start a birthday." She said, taking Emily's hand they got off the plane, only to see Tara, Izzy and Jaden standing there. "What are you guys doing here?" JJ asked hugging her kids.

"Well it is your birthday." Izzy grinned she walked over to her car opening the door, a dog jumped out.

"Happy birthday." Everyone said at once as the puppy jumped on JJ.

"Oh and just so you know he took to the name Loki…" Tara said slyly.

"Oh? Just took to it?" JJ said looking at the girl.

"Well we were going to name him Thor but Loki is the more sly and tricky god of the two and this little boy is very tricky." She said and Emily looked at the dog.

"Son of a bitch another one? Can't you two ever pick out a normal freaking dog!" She snapped and the puppy looked up at her and let out a small bark.

"He was cute…" Izzy said and everyone laughed.

"Plus he was the only one that had the darker marks that you wanted."

"He's perfect." JJ smiled hugging Emily, she kissed her again. "Thank you." She looked at her kids and the team. "Let's go home, we'll go out later tonight after a good night's sleep, and after I get my puppy situated at home." Everyone gave JJ a hug before leaving for the night. Once in their car JJ looked at Emily again taking her hand in her's. "I love you Emily." She said kissing the back of Emily's hand.

"Well I would hope so, because I love you too." Emily said before pulling onto the road to go home.

x-x-x

A/n: Sorry for the massive break, so I'm repaying you with a chapter that is nearly half the word count of the whole story… its nearly a full 13 pages! I am impressing myself. I'm trying to tie everything up and finish this, I've decided to make my last set in the series of just collected one shots that I didn't know what to do with, this also gives me a way to keep writing these set of characters that I just can't give up. I want to thank you all who have read these over the last three years, I have to say it's been one hell of a ride, so thank you for being there with me.