The team arrived at the hotel a little past 04:30, exhausted and looking forward to a few hours of sleep before they got back to work. The hotel was small but well kept, the tiny lobby had a hallway on either side which lead to the guest rooms. The owner was a surly man in his mid 50s, who sat behind a large desk watching a re-run of 'I Love Lucy'.

"Hello, I'm Agent Jareau with the FBI. I believe there should be rooms booked for me and my team," she smiled.

"Yes ma'am. I have four rooms all ready for you," the man replied typing at his computer.

"Four?" JJ asked gently, trying not to let her exhaustion lead to bad manners.

"Yes ma'am, we only have 20 rooms total. I told that nice woman on the phone I had four available and she said she'd take them. It's a busy weekend with the rodeo in town," he explained.

"Of course it is," JJ muttered under her breath. "We'll double up. Thank you for the rooms you do have."

"Anything for the FBI! Not too often we get a bunch of Federal Agents in town! Y'all are local celebrities, helping us end these terrible murders. It's a damn shame, got everyone real scared," the man frowned and patted the 9mm on his belt, "Not that I'm scared. I reckon it'd take a pretty strong fella to get through old Bessie."

He named his gun, how quaint, JJ thought as she simply smiled and nodded. They had specifically kept the details about the victims' LGBTQ identities out of the media, not wanting to cause further harm to the victims' families who may not have even known and to a lesser extent, as an attempt to keep a small, Southern town from starting a misinformed witch hunt. Last thing they needed was a vigilante with a gun going after anyone that spooked them. She really hoped they could wrap up this case in a hurry before things got completely out of hand with the locals.

The man handed her the keys and JJ explained the situation to the team, who headed off to the separate ways to their rooms. All the men had rooms on the north wing, but JJ and Emily found their room down the south hallway. JJ decided it was coincidence, even though she wouldn't put it past the owner to have separated them on purpose. It wouldn't be fit and proper for two female agents to be in such close proximity with their male counterparts!

Emily pushed open the door, looking around the bleak room. She was grateful to have a place to sleep, even if the drab decor was in a desperate need of a make-over. The room was small with a bathroom equipped with the necessities, a TV, a dresser, and a bed. A bed. One bed. JJ noticed it at the same time as Emily. She sat her bag down and took a place on the bed to pull off her shoes.

"Well, they weren't kidding about doubling up!" JJ laughed. Emily chuckled hesitantly, monitoring JJ's expression while she joined JJ on the end of the bed.

"I could sleep in that arm chair if you want," Emily offered nodding towards the dilapidated arm chair near the corner of the room.

"Oh god no, Em! It's a king sized bed and it's not like I bite. Besides I have to check on you every hour, because of that concussion. This will make it easy to be sure you're still alive."

"Yeah I guess," Emily shrugged, trying to keep her mind from wandering to the idea of JJ wrapped around her in bed. "I think I'm going to take a shower before going to sleep. That way you can have the bathroom in the morning before we head out."

"Great idea, I wanted to check on the guys and make sure their rooms aren't similar to ours. I can only imagine Rossi and Hotch forced to share a bed," JJ laughed as the imagine popped into her head. She dialled Hotch's room first, he answered on the first ring. She explained the mix-up and he confirmed his room was, in fact, a double. Although, he didn't sound pleased that Rossi, who had already fallen asleep, was snoring quite loudly. JJ wished him goodnight, hung up, then picked up the receiver again to call Morgan and Reid's room. Morgan answered, the call seemingly interrupting something rather humorous, because he was mid-laugh upon picking up.

"Derek?"

"Hey JJ! Want to hear a funny story?" he asked, chuckling again into the receiver.

"Let me guess, you've only got one bed?"

"Oh, you ruined my punchline. How did you know?" he asked flatly, disheartened that he didn't get to tell her himself.

"Same here," she replied trying to keep her tone even, so he wouldn't pick up on her secret excitement at the situation.

"Well Reid is less than thrilled, but its not a big deal. It beats trying to sleep at the precinct on those tiny bunks they keep for power naps. I'm sure we'll survive. But thanks for checking on us," Morgan concluded.

"Yeah I guess it does, good night Morgan."

"Oh and JJ?" Derek added before hanging up.

"Yes?"

"You two be good tonight. No hanky panky just because you're married now!" Derek laughed at the suggestion and hung up.

JJ could feel her cheeks turn red as she placed the receiver back in the cradle and laid back on the bed. It wasn't like she had never thought about it. She and Emily. It just was something that seemed a little too far fetched to ever happen. Emily had always been the flirtatious type, basically exuding sex appeal anytime JJ spoke to her, but it was nothing that she didn't do with Garcia or Morgan. No, there was absolutely no chance there was anything else hidden in Emily's playful banter. Of that, JJ was sure. Or was she?

She thought back to earlier that night in the bar when Emily had casually kissed her. She knew it was to sell their ruse, but she couldn't help but feel like maybe, just maybe, there had been a spark between them and Emily had felt it too. She placed her fingers to her lips, her body filling with warmth at just the thought of Emily's lips on hers. Before totally succumbing to her day dream, she got up to change into her pajamas. She picked up her phone and shot Penelope a text that they had made it to the hotel before laying down to try to get some much needed rest. Just as she was shutting her eyes the bathroom door opened. She decided to play like she was sleeping, to not startle Emily in the dark.

The bathroom lighting spilled into the otherwise darkened room, highlighting Emily when she came in to view, wrapped in nothing but a short white towel. Her hair dripping wet, leaving droplets on her shoulders that twinkled in the light. JJ watched intently with one eye unperceptively cracked open, Emily looked over to JJ but decided she must have already been asleep. Assuming as much, she dropped her towel so she could get dressed for bed. JJ bit her lip to prevent a small gasp from escaping her mouth while she took in Emily's naked silhouette. She was absolutely stunning. Emily slipped on a pair of underwear and a t-shirt, then re-entered the bathroom to dry her hair and brush her teeth. JJ laid in bed letting the sound of Emily humming softly from the bathroom lull her to sleep.

JJ didn't even stir when Emily slipped into bed twenty minutes later. She smiled, watching the blonde's peaceful expression while she slumbered. It was nice to see her getting some rest after such a long day, Emily hoped for the same. She laid down, trying to lay the furthest away from JJ as the bed allowed. She closed her eyes, praying sleep would come quickly. Her prayer must have been answered, because the next thing she knew JJ was nudging her softly.

"Em, hourly wake up call," JJ whispered.

"I'm still breathing," Emily grunted without rolling over. JJ laughed and Emily felt her relax back into her side of the bed. They only had, at most, four hours to sleep and with hourly wake ups, Emily was not going to be held responsible for her demeanour later that morning. Another while went by and Emily felt a familiar shake.

"Emily?" this time JJ's voice was rushed and sounded slightly panicked. Emily jerked awake, suddenly being torn from her dream.

"What is Jay?"

"You were yelling in your sleep. Are you alright?" JJ asked a little more calmly.

"Oh, I think I was just having a nightmare," Emily admitted. She had traumatic nightmares about her abduction rather frequently. She had spent endless nights without sleep while she was in France, but it wasn't something she ever grew accustomed to. She could still hear his voice, feel the searing pain of the solder iron against her flesh and, on really bad nights, she'd still feel the gut wrenching pain of the stake being thrust through her stomach. "It was nothing," Emily lied, stifling back tears.

JJ instinctively wrapped her arm around Emily, pulling the brunette closer. She nuzzled the back of Emily's neck, happy when she felt Emily's body relax in her arms. "It's okay Em, I cannot even imagine what it's like for you."

"I hope you never have to," Emily whispered, tears slid silently down her face. JJ tightened her hold, moving her body to mirror Emily's position to spoon her protectively. With JJ's body pressed against her completely, butterflies filled her stomach

"Get some sleep, Emily."

"You too," Emily whispered.

Emily barely stirred over the next few hours, other than the mandatory checks. JJ got out of bed before her so she could shower and get ready. JJ paused at the edge of the bed and watched Emily sleeping soundly, discouraged that she'd have to wake her up soon if they were going to meet the rest of the team for breakfast, before heading in to the station. JJ decided another five minutes wouldn't hurt and she went in the bathroom to finish getting ready.

When she was done she came into the room and sat on Emily's side of the bed. She brushed the brunette's hair out of her face, smiling at her beauty. She leaned in to kiss Emily's cheek, right as Emily's brown eyes fluttered open. Stunned that she had mindlessly almost kissed Emily, JJ jumped backwards off the bed.

"Good morning," Emily yawned, seemingly unaware of JJ's previous intentions.

"Morning, it's about time to got up sleepy head!"

"Ugh, I feel like I just laid down," Emily whined. She swung her legs off the side of the bed, rubbing her eyes. It was the first time JJ had a chance to see the shirt Emily had worn to sleep and she recognized it instantly.

"Hey! Thief!" JJ accused, pointing at the shirt in question. Emily looked down innocently and shrugged.

"Is this yours?"

"Yes! I've been looking everywhere for that! How long have you had it?" JJ asked. Although, seeing Emily wearing her favorite, worn out t-shirt, made her heart race.

"I don't know, about a month probably. You must have left it at my house when we had that girl's night. It's so comfortable, I've been wearing it to sleep in," Emily laughed. She slipped the shirt over her head showing her bare breasts, "Here you can have it back."

JJ blushed at the sight of Emily topless, but Emily didn't seem to be embarrassed in the least. That is, until she caught the lingering stare of baby blue eyes taking in every inch of her naked flesh. The wound left from Ian Doyle had recently started to pink into what would be a permanent scar, it stretched across most of the left side of her abdomen. The second reminder of Doyle was the raised bit of flesh shaped like a clover on her clavicle. She was suddenly overwhelmingly aware that no one else had ever seen her scars. She quickly pulled the shirt close to her body, covering her chest the best she could, while quickly dropping her gaze to the floor.

"Emily, it's alright," JJ reassured. She closed the distance between them, taking Emily's chin in her hand to slowly tilt it upwards so she could look into Emily's eyes. "I think you're absolutely beautiful."

Emily blushed and forced a smile, before entering the bathroom, shutting the door behind her to get dressed in privacy. JJ sighed, wondering if she had offended Emily by being so forward. It wasn't a lie, she truly thought Emily was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen, perhaps, even more so now that she had images of Emily's bare chest fresh in her mind. Either way, JJ realised she was going to have a tough time keeping her hands off of Emily when they were under cover at the bar later that night.