A/N: Another wedding tonight so I'm posting early. Hope y'all don't mind. :o)
Emily sits on the front end of the sedan. JJ stands in front of her.
"You know you couldn't have stopped her."
"I know. Should have seen it coming. She was too calm."
"So the Marines should have shot her? You should have? No matter what it ends the same. Or she could have returned fire injuring you or anyone else. The bright side is she couldn't get a warning out to the bombers."
"She might have. We won't know for sure what she did or didn't do until we finish tracking all the calls on the phones affected by her duplicity. Hell, she could have had another burn phone, made the call and flushed the damn thing before we left D.C." Emily sighs. "I didn't suspect her. We're so used to men being the terrorists we forget women can be, too. What if I missed something, Jen?"
"You didn't. And even if you did, so what? The only thing you can do right here, right now, is focus on tomorrow."
Emily slowly nods. "She's…she's the second LEO I've watched commit suicide."
"I know," JJ says, shivering as she remembers the confrontation with Sheriff Delpy that had occurred in her old office. "Neither time was it your fault, Emily. Neither time." She takes Emily's face in her hands and stares into her eyes. "Now, I can't believe I'm about to say this so listen carefully as you may never hear it again. Take all your emotions, all the 'what ifs' fucking with your head, and put them in a compartment and seal it with cement. I swear I will help you face them later."
Emily smiles. "Can I point out at some point how you told me to compartmentalize?"
"You're allowed to bring it up once. Twice if you save the day tomorrow."
Emily chuckles. "Deal." She stands. "Come on. Let's get back to work." She stares as the black body bag is loaded into the coroner's van. "She being kept here?"
"Yeah."
"Good." They walk over to Hotch and Rossi. "Ready to go back?"
Hotch studies Emily. "You okay?"
"There will be time to worry about feelings later. Right now we have an attack to stop. I want Garcia tearing into Brent's cyber life like a bulldozer. We need to know what she knew. And we need to know who she knew. She was able to warn the bastards in Baltimore to run. Did she warn anyone else?"
The four agents get in the sedan and drive back to the office. By the time they get there Hotch, Rossi and JJ have all seen the change come over Emily as she did, indeed, get her emotions shut away. She practically marches into the conference room.
"Brent is dead. Ate her gun because she was the mole. This shit could have been over with the raid in Baltimore but she tipped them off. Her death is not going to be announced. As far as her cell knows she's alive and ready to warn them if we figure out where they are attacking."
Allen throws up his hands in frustration. "There are too many damn Metro targets in Virginia. We'll never get it narrowed down to the right station or stations if you're right about it being tomorrow."
"We already know the target."
Her remaining team members exchange looks of shock and confusion. Noth speaks first. "What the hell?"
"I knew one of you was the mole. That's why I brought in the BAU. I knew their backgrounds were clean. This was about national security so wipe away your tears and ignore your bruised egos. Tomorrow between 10 and 2 suicide bombers will try to destroy the Capital Subway system. At least one bomb will be in the House or Senate open air car. The others could be in the tunnels or in the cars themselves."
"That's why you mentioned staffers earlier, isn't it?" Noth says.
"Yes."
"Damn. I just thought you meant Metro riders in general since so many work for the government. I never even thought about the Capital rail. How the fuck will they get access to it?" Farrelli asks.
"They most likely have i.d.'s giving them access. Some will look like staffers. Some will probably look like maintenance workers so they can access parts of the tunnel that will allow them to do maximum damage to the street above." She plugs a flash drive into the projector and turns on the wall screen. It shows a map of the underground system. "We will have teams where you see red dots. We'll deploy into position at 7 a.m. We're in for a long day but by the end of it the world will be a little bit safer. Any questions?"
"Who will be in which red dot?" Allen asks.
Emily clicks the mouse and the assignments come up. Hotch and Allen will be at the House station. Reid and Noth at the Central Senate station. Morgan and Emily will be in the tunnel to the Russell Building. Rossi and Farrelli will be in the tunnels leading to the Dirksen building. She lists off each team.
"JJ, I want you in the Capital Police Office with Garcia studying the security cameras. You'll be our eyes and ears in the sky. There will be additional officers deployed at the stations in each of the buildings but the open nature of the Capital, even in the wake of 9/11, means citizens can get in. If they can get in, they can figure out ways to stay in. There will be additional security sweeps there throughout the night but it's possible someone could be missed. In transmissions intercepted overseas the open air cars servicing the House Rayburn station and the Senate Russell building were mentioned and will probably be targeted to carry an explosive right into the station. It will cause maximum damage there considering the number of people usually in the stations during lunch hours."
"How will they get the bombs past security?" Reid asks.
"My guess is they are already in the building. When I leave here I'll be going to the Capital to oversea the additional security sweeps." JJ looks up sharply at this announcement. "If there are any developments overnight I will let you all know via text."
"So you going to turn our phones back on, Boss?" Allen asks with a grin.
"As long as you promise not to call any porn lines," she jokes.
"You take all my fun away, Boss."
Emily gives him a wink. "Any questions?" She looks around the room. She sees the anger in JJ's eyes but doesn't have time to deal with it. "Good. Call me if you need anything or think of any questions. If not, see you at the Capital Security Office tomorrow morning. Get some sleep tonight."
She turns off the computer and goes to pack up her things. JJ is by her side immediately.
"And what about sleep for you?"
"I'll catch a nap at the security office. I want to be onsite if anything happens tonight. If we manage to catch one terrorist I want the chance to interrogate him to see if he'll give up anything that can help us."
"Christ, Emily! Why the fuck not go home and just have someone call you? Why do you have to be there?"
Emily straightens up and glares at JJ. "My team, my op, my decision. If you don't like it, Agent Jareau, you don't have to be part of this."
JJ is stunned into silence. Emily finishes packing her briefcase and walks up to Hotch. "See you in the morning."
He nods. "Be careful tonight."
"I will be."
"I meant about more than the op," he says with a glance at JJ.
Emily takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. "I have a job to do. The personal can be dealt with later."
"Maybe so. But don't walk out of here without at least telling her you love her. I know you well enough to know you'll regret it later if you leave that undone."
Emily slowly nods. She turns around and walks back over to her wife. JJ is concentrating on gathering her things together.
"Jennifer," Emily says softly.
JJ doesn't look up. "Yes, Agent Prentiss?"
Emily sighs. "I deserved that. Look, I have to do this my way. I have to do what I can to protect the people on my team; you included. Easter left my ass hanging in the wind. I won't repeat his mistakes." JJ slowly looks up. "I couldn't handle being the reason you or anyone on this team was injured. Or worse. I have to know I did everything in my power to keep you all safe."
JJ nods. "I get that. Thank you for explaining."
"I love you, Jennifer. Trust me when I say all I want is to be going home with you tonight to spend time with our children."
"Can I ask…why I am in the security office and not in the tunnels or stations?"
"I know you think the nesters aren't there but in case they are…well, I wanted you in the safest place possible. Call it team leader's prerogative," she finishes with a smile.
JJ smiles. "Thank you. Now, I need you to make me a promise: Promise me you will not die or get hurt tomorrow. I don't care if it's a lie, Emily. Promise me."
Emily ignores the others still in the room. She pulls JJ close and gives her a deep kiss. When it ends she stares into her wife's eyes.
"I promise."
"Hi, Mama!"
"Hey, Champ! Were you a good boy today?"
"Si, Mama. Henry always good."
Emily chuckles, thinking of some of his tantrums. "Yes, he is. Mostly. Did you get to go swimming today?"
"Si. Showed Wok how to kick."
"That's great, Henry. You're a wonderful big brother."
"Si, Henry is."
Emily laughs. "And humble, too. So, Henry, I won't be home tonight. I have to go track down a bad guy."
"Being Batman?"
"Yep, I'm being Batman. Spiderman will be home soon, though. Can you give her an extra hug and kiss for me at bedtime?"
"Si, Mama. Henry love Mommy."
"I know you do. I love you so much, Henry. I am so proud to be your Mama."
"Love you, Mama. Proud of you."
"Thanks, Champ. Think I can speak to Rocky for a minute?"
""Kay, Mama. Love you!" he reiterates.
"Love you, too." She replies with a smile.
"MAMA! LOVE!"
Emily's heart melts as it always does when her children speak. "I love you, too, Rocky. I heard you had fun in the pool today."
"Yes!" She starts to babble on.
Emily is excited when she makes out a few more words, including pool and 'Ree, her way of saying Henry. Her little baby was becoming a little girl. Tears well in Emily's eyes. How the hell had she just walked out on her wife and kids? She clears her throat.
"Sounds like…" she coughs again. "Sounds like you had a great day, Sweet Girl. I am so happy for you. I love you so much, Rocky."
"Love Mama."
"And for all this time I've been gone I will make it up to you, Rocky. To you and your brother both. And your Mommy, too. I promise, Sweet Girl, I will get better and make it all up to you."
"Pool, Mama."
Emily just smiles. She'd take that as an "Okay, Mama". "I have to go now, Rocky. Can I talk to Aunty Francesca?"
"Mama Bye."
"Goodnight, Sweet Girl."
"Emily?"
"Hey, Francesca. I won't be home tonight but it's because of work." She takes a deep breath. "I screwed up so badly, Francesca. I need…do you think I have a chance to make it right with Jen? Will I be able to earn her trust back?"
Francesca hates to hear the fear in Emily's voice. "Cara, as long as you really want to change, you can. And if you change, you can fix things with Jennifer. Stop running when it gets hard, cara. Your father ran instead of working on things with your mother. Don't repeat that pattern."
Emily smiles. "Thank you, Francesca. I needed to hear that. I love her. I'll fight to make it right with all three of them. I swear."
"I know, cara. Be safe this evening."
"I will be. Jen will be leaving early to join me here. But before you lecture me, I've positioned her far from the action to protect the nesters. All will be okay."
"Emily, it is bad, yes?"
"It can be. But I have two good teams working the case. I am confident we'll stop this…situation before it actually gets out of hand. Jen will be watching security cameras and directing us. I know she'll help us stop the bad guys."
"That is good to hear. I will make sure she gets a good dinner and plenty of sleep tonight."
Emily smiles. "Thank you."
"Now, who will do the same for you?"
"I will, Francesca. Promise."
"You best remember that promise, cara. You're not too old to turn over my knee."
"Yes, ma'am. I love you, Francesca."
"I love you, too, cara. Goodnight."
"Night, Francesca."
Emily hangs up and slips her phone in her pocket. Between the children and their nanny, her heart is even more settled than she would have believed it could be considering what the next 24-48 hours would entail.
"I'll make it right with them." Her mind strays to her BAU team. "With all of them. I know I will."
With a clear head, she continues the drive to D.C. Time to focus on stopping the bastards looking to harm her country.