Morgan and Reid stayed behind a few days because Reid wasn't cleared for travel; the rest of the team caught a case in San Antonio, Texas and left for its warmer climate.
"Is Derek heading to Cali when Spence gets released?" JJ asked, reclining in the jet seat.
Hotch shook his head. "No, I gave them both off a week. Reid isn't supposed to be alone for a few days, so he's staying at Morgan's."
Emily remained silent, hoping Hotch wasn't about to instruct her to take some time off as well.
JJ spoke up for her. "What about Emily?"
The brunette kicked JJ in sharply in the shin. "What!" JJ cried incredulously. "You're two days post-concussion with a bullet hole in your shoulder. Am I the only one that finds that alarming?"
Rossi jumped in, throwing a blanket across Emily's leg to make her less likely to land an accurate kick. "JJ, trust me, we all understand your concern. Hotch and I talked about it last night, and as long as Prentiss is up to it, there's no reason she can't work from the local PD."
Turning to Emily, Hotch added, "Meaning no field work. No car chases, no searching for unsubs, nothing."
"And kid, only when you're up to it." Rossi's eyes glimmered. "That's one of the reasons we brought Garcia instead of letting her tag along in cyberplace."
"It's cycberspace, thank you very much." Garcia inserted, finagling with a tablet in her lap.
Rossi's eyes rolled. "The hotel is a mile away from PD and you can go back and forth to rest up. JJ, Hotch, and I and handle the field." Looking to JJ, he smiled reassuringly, "We've got this."
Hotch, on the other hand, nervously added, "Unless you want a week off, Prentiss. Then, that's something we can arrange. I just didn't think…"
Emily's gaze had been bouncing back and forth from each agent throughout the conversation, but finally she just shook her head. "No, Hotch. I'm fine. I want to work." She said that last part pointedly at JJ.
JJ once again shook her head, covering her ears with headphones. It was going to be a long flight, and there wasn't much to be debriefed on before they arrived. There was no sense in arguing with Emily. She was going to do what she wanted to do, and that was the end of that.
"I take It you're the Feds?" Officer Warren grimaced, "Follow me."
Emily looked to JJ, mouthing "Warm welcome." JJ just nodded.
The team followed Warren to the back of the station to a conference room that had already been arranged with an evidence board and case files.
Warren counted each agent off on his fingers, stopping at 5. "Wait, I thought they said we ordered 6 of y'all Feds."
Rossi took the file from his hand without it being offered. "Ordered? What are we, on a fast food menu?"
"One of my agents was injured on the last case, and I had to relieve another agent to stay with him; we brought our technical analyst in place."
"And what about gimpy over here?" Warren nudged his head towards Emily. "What goods she gonna' be?"
Emily's forehead wrinkled. Before she could defend herself, JJ stepped in. "Excuse me, Officer Warren- but you asked for our help, right? We're here. So why don't you give us the details of the case instead of standing here wasting both our time by insulting a woman who's probably a better shot with a broken arm than you are with freshly cleaned glasses?"
Rossi coughed to cover his grin.
Warren reddened, fuming. "Everything you need is on the table. I'll send Bateman in to give you the details when I see him." He shoved past Emily, thrusting his shoulder into hers as he passed.
She winced, biting her tongue to keep from crying out. Hotch and Rossi didn't notice, but JJ did. As the two male agents turned to the board, JJ placed a hand over the small of Emily's back. "You okay?"
Emily desperately wanted a pain pill, but knew she couldn't take one while working a case. She focused on her breathing instead, waiting for the vice-lock on her shoulder to melt away like she knew it would do in a moment. JJ took her lack of answer for a "no."
"Hey guys, since we don't have much here yet, I'm going to go find a coffee pot. Is that okay?"
"Jareau, I knew you were my favorite." Rossi teased. "Bring me back one."
Hotch hadn't looked up from the files. "Me too."
With one hand still on Emily's back, JJ guided her from the conference room. She glanced around and saw a sign for the bathroom a few feet away. "Come on." She ordered. Emily obliged. Behind a locked door, JJ pulled the brunette's body against hers.
Emily tried to resist, struggling to fight the embrace; but JJ's hand worked like magic, massaging her spine. Slowly, Emily melted into JJ's arms, nestling her forehead into Jennifer's neck.
The blonde smiled as Emily's tense muscles relaxed. Her heart beat quickened at the sensation of Emily's breath on her skin.
Emily started to fall asleep standing there, fully encompassed by JJ's warmth. But after a few minutes, JJ whispered, "Is that better?"
Her eyes snapped open. Emily knew that she needed to pull away, that she needed to put as much distance between herself and Jennifer as possible, but she couldn't; JJ had destroyed that wall, and Emily stood there staring at its pieces. She didn't know how to start rebuilding. Or if she even wanted to.
Emily had to admit, though, that the pain had nearly stopped. Her feet felt more grounded, her head slightly clearer. "Yeah. You…" Emily struggled to find the words. "Always know what to do."
JJ smiled, biting her lip. "Come on, the boys are probably looking for us by now."
The air suddenly became cold against Emily's skin as they separated, the brunette fully aware for once that she was alone, she was her own person. Normally, that knowledge was what kept her going; of course, she was alone, her identity relied on being a strong and independent woman. But right now, Emily couldn't shake the feeling that she knew what it was like to be part of a unit for once, and going back to being alone just didn't feel right; her life was missing more than the flesh in her shoulder.
They reappeared as Hotch and Rossi were being briefed by Sergeant Bateman. Rossi glanced up, disappointed. "Where's the coffee?"
JJ lied. "Couldn't find the breakroom." She shrugged.
Bateman checked JJ over, his eyes working their way from head to toe, giving special attention to her chest area. With an insinuating smile, he said, "I can show you where it is, ma'am. There are some cots in there, too. I know how you women like your rest."
Rossi's spine straightened. "That's quite alright, Officer. While I'm sure Agent Jareau appreciates the offer, we'll just pick some up on the way to the scene."
JJ shuddered, instinctively drawing closer to Emily, who noticed and protectively placed a hand around the blonde's hip.
"Well if you need anything, you just let me know little lady." He winked.
Emily's grip tightened. Rossi answered back for them both. "Don't worry, I think she can handle finding a place to sleep all on her own, Bateman." He didn't wait for Hotch's instruction before turning out of the office. He motioned behind him, signaling for the others to follow.
JJ didn't hesitate in following Rossi's lead. She slipped out of Emily's grasp, but caught the brunette's hand and walked away holding it, leading her along. Emily did her best to stifle a smile.
Emily waited for Hotch to stop her, expecting to be told to stay behind. But the order didn't come. The team was on their way to a crime scene where an entire family had been murdered the night before, two children aged 7 and 9 shot execution style in their beds.
JJ handed her a case file and they poured over it together in the van, ready to meet the gruesome scene that awaited ahead. Rossi looked in the rear-view mirror and smiled, noticing the two women's interlocking fingers. With all of the ugliness that surrounded them, he was happy to see something beautiful. So long as neither of them screwed it up.