Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It started in a blur of adrenaline and fury.

JJ’s lungs burned as she tore through the abandoned warehouse yard, boots pounding against cracked pavement, gun drawn but her focus locked on the unsub ahead of her. He was fast. But she was faster.

“FBI! Stop!” She shouted.

He didn’t. He turned left, toward a crumbling alley lined with broken crates—and JJ didn’t hesitate. She barreled after him, her mind already calculating how many ways this could go wrong. And when he stumbled, just for a second, JJ saw her opening. She tackled him hard, both of them slamming to the ground.

The fight wasn’t over.

He threw an elbow. JJ caught it in the ribs. She winced, gasping, but didn’t stop. His fist clipped her cheek. Her lip split. He kicked, but she was already on top of him, knee to his chest, wrenching his wrist back until she heard the pop and felt the weapon drop from his hand.

“Stay down!” She shouted, her voice sharp and breathless, blood smeared on her temple.

He didn’t move again.

A moment later, Derek came running up behind her, cuffs ready, eyes wide as they took in the sight of her—smeared with dirt and blood, uniform jacket ripped at the shoulder, hair disheveled.

He knelt beside her, cuffing the now-limp man, before glancing at her face. “Damn, JJ.”

“I’m fine,” she muttered, brushing her lip with the back of her glove and wincing.

“You arrested him. But he got a few shots in first.”

JJ tried to smile, but it came out more like a grimace.

“You know Emily is going to lose her mind when she sees you, right?”

JJ’s face fell slightly. “Yeah,” she said softly. “That’s what I’m worried about.”

****

By the time they got back to the BAU, her bruises were already darkening. Her lip was still bleeding, and her ribs ached with every step. Emily was waiting just inside the bullpen, arms crossed tightly, eyes locked on the entrance.

She’d heard over comms that JJ was okay. Fine, they said.

But the moment JJ stepped through the glass doors, Emily’s breath caught in her throat.

JJ slowed under her stare—sharp, burning, flickering with restrained panic. Emily’s eyes scanned her from head to toe, lingering on the blood on her collar, the bruises already rising along her jaw, and the way she held herself just a little too stiffly.

“Jesus, Jennifer…” Emily whispered, her voice tight.

JJ gave a sheepish shrug. “He fought back.”

Emily didn’t speak. She looked like she wanted to—needed to—but couldn’t trust her voice to come out steady. Her jaw clenched. Her hands curled into fists. Her entire body was vibrating with the effort not to fall apart in front of everyone.

Then she moved—one step forward, brushing her knuckles over JJ’s uninjured cheek. She held her there, just for a second. Breathing her in. Grounding herself.

“Let’s go home,” she finally said, her voice low and controlled.

JJ just nodded, relieved.

****

JJ sat on the closed toilet lid in their bathroom, sighing as Emily gently peeled off her jacket. Her white tank top beneath was streaked with dirt and blood—some hers, some not.

Emily knelt in front of her, the first-aid kit open, her hands trembling as she reached for a cloth. She didn’t say anything for a long time. Just worked in quiet concentration, dabbing at the split lip, the cheekbone already turning a sickly shade of purple, and the scrape near her temple.

“I hate this,” Emily said finally, her voice cracking. “I hate seeing you like this.”

JJ gave her a small, aching smile. “I’m okay, Em.”

“You weren’t okay out there,” Emily whispered, brushing blonde hair behind her ear. “You were alone. You were hurt. You could’ve—” She stopped herself.

JJ reached up, her scraped hand cupping Emily’s cheek. “But I’m here. Because I had you and the team. Always.”

Emily leaned into the touch, then kissed her softly—so reverently, so carefully, like she was trying to piece JJ back together one kiss at a time.

JJ tugged her in closer, lips moving slowly, deepening with every pass, until they were both breathless and flushed. Their love surged in every press of their mouths, in every shared inhale, and in the desperate way their hands gripped one another.

“You’re my whole damn world,” Emily whispered, resting their foreheads together. “You don’t get to scare me like that.”

“I’d do it again,” JJ whispered back. “But I’ll try not to make a habit of it.”

Emily huffed out a wet laugh, eyes shimmering. “Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up properly.”

***

Emily helped her shower, holding her steady under the warm water. She guided JJ’s movements, hands sliding over sore ribs and scraped skin with reverence, rinsing away the blood and grime. JJ let herself be taken care of. For once, she didn’t argue. She let Emily shampoo her hair, kiss her shoulder, and run a washcloth down her spine like a prayer.

When they stepped out, Emily wrapped her in a towel, pressing a kiss to her damp forehead.

JJ met her eyes. “You okay?”

Emily exhaled slowly, then nodded.

****

Later, in their bedroom, JJ lay back against the pillows as Emily climbed in beside her, reaching for the arnica cream and dabbing it on each bruise like it might erase the pain.

She kissed JJ’s temple.

Then her cheek.

Then the purpling bruise under her eye.

One by one, Emily kissed every scrape and mark she could find—her ribs, her knuckles, her jaw—each touch a vow, each kiss a silent never again.

JJ let her. Not because she needed it, but because she knew Emily did. Because the love in Emily’s touch was louder than any spoken words.

When Emily finally reached her lips again, JJ pulled her in tight, kissing her slow and deep. A kiss that said thank you, that said I’m here, that said I love you in all the ways words couldn’t.

“I love you,” Emily whispered, her forehead resting against hers.

“I love you too,” JJ breathed. “More than anything.”

They curled into each other beneath the sheets, legs tangled, hearts finally steady. JJ sighed into Emily’s shoulder, fingers tracing slow circles on her back.

“Next time,” Emily whispered, “let Morgan take the beating.”

JJ laughed, the sound warm against her skin. “Noted.”

And as the night closed in around them, Emily kissed her once more—right over her heart.

Because love, in the end, wasn’t just about showing up.

It was about staying.

Even when it hurt.

Even when it scared you.

Even when your person came home bruised and battered—because they came home.

And that was everything.

Chapter Text

The sun had already begun its slow descent over the horizon, casting gold across the stone tiles of their private villa. The pool shimmered beneath it, crystal clear and still—save for Emily’s lazy movements as she drifted near the edge, arms spread along the ledge, sunglasses on, skin sun-warmed and dripping.

She was waiting.

And, god, it was worth the wait.

When JJ finally stepped outside, Emily forgot how to breathe.

The red bikini was barely there—a wicked little number that clung to her curves like it was painted on. Her golden hair was piled up in a messy bun, stray strands kissing her flushed cheeks, and her hips swayed with sinful confidence as if she had no idea what she was doing to Emily.

But she knew.

JJ stopped at the edge of the pool, tilting her head with a smirk. “You’re staring.”

“I’m trying to survive,” Emily replied, her voice already thick. “But you just made it impossible.”

JJ didn’t answer—she just stepped into the water, slow and smooth, letting it rise over her thighs and her waist, the red of her bikini darkening as it soaked. Then, without a word, she dove beneath the surface.

Emily tensed in anticipation.

JJ surfaced right in front of her, gleaming and smug, then launched herself into Emily’s arms.

Emily caught her easily, hands sliding beneath her thighs as JJ wrapped her legs around her waist, pressing her body close and wet and perfect.

“God, I love when you do that,” Emily breathed, kissing along her jaw and down to the damp skin just behind her ear. “Get all clingy and greedy.”

JJ smirked against her throat. “I’m on vacation. I’m allowed to be greedy.”

Emily chuckled low in her throat, her fingers flexing over JJ’s ass. “You know I’m not going to stop you.”

“You never do.”

****

They moved effortlessly through the water, Emily guiding them to the center of the pool, JJ wrapped around her like a second skin. The water rippled around them, the sun painting them gold and pink as it sank lower in the sky.

JJ kissed her—deep and slow, tongue tracing Emily’s bottom lip before slipping inside, teasing and tasting. Her nails raked lightly across Emily’s shoulders as she pressed closer, their slick skin sliding together, hot and urgent.

“You taste like wine,” JJ murmured.

“You taste like my undoing,” Emily countered.

The kiss turned messier, wetter—more needy. Emily’s hands moved under the water, one gripping JJ’s ass while the other slid along her back and up to the string of her bikini top. She tugged slowly, eyes locked with JJ’s.

“You don’t need this anymore,” Emily growled, pulling the string loose and letting the red top drift from JJ’s body.

She didn’t even toss it—just threw it blindly over her shoulder onto the pool ledge.

JJ let out a breathless laugh that melted into a moan as Emily’s mouth found her chest.

The suction was immediate and unapologetic—Emily’s lips sealing around a peaked nipple, her tongue dragging slow, deliberate circles before her teeth scraped gently. JJ whimpered, fingers tangling in Emily’s hair, her back arching as heat spiked low and deep.

“You’re insatiable,” she panted.

“I’ve had a lot of time to fantasize,” Emily murmured against her skin before switching to the other breast with the same focused hunger. “And you wore this little red thing just to kill me.”

JJ didn’t respond with words—she reached down instead, tugging at the straps of Emily’s own bikini top. “Fair’s fair.”

With one swift motion, she pulled it off and tossed it onto the ledge beside hers. Then her hands slid over Emily’s breasts, cupping them, thumbs rubbing slowly over tight nipples, grinning when Emily’s breath hitched.

“I love how responsive you are,” JJ whispered, pressing wet kisses to Emily’s jaw, her neck, and down to her collarbone. “Like your body’s just waiting for me.”

“It is,” Emily rasped, nearly trembling beneath her.

They stayed wrapped up in each other, floating, kissing, exploring—slow, sensual worship. JJ rolled her hips deliberately against Emily, their bare chests sliding together with slick heat, water sloshing around them with every movement.

“I love you,” JJ said between kisses, her voice suddenly soft, reverent.

Emily looked at her—really looked—and smiled like it cracked something open inside her.

“I love you more than I know how to say.”

JJ rested her forehead against hers, both of them breathing heavily but steadily, grounding each other. “Then don’t say it. Just show me.”

And Emily did—with her hands, with her mouth, with the way she held JJ like she was the only thing keeping her heart alive.

Eventually, JJ curled against her chest again, sated for now, their legs tangling lazily as they floated.

“We should go inside soon,” JJ murmured, her voice low and spent.

“We will.” Emily smiled, brushing wet hair from her face. “When I’m done memorizing every inch of you.”

JJ grinned. “That might take a while.”

Emily met her gaze, eyes blazing with love and something far more primal. “Good thing we’ve got all night.”

And they did.

No interruptions. No cases. No team.

Just them.

Skin on skin, floating in sun-warmed water, tasting like heat and home and forever.

Chapter Text

Emily didn’t even hear the front door close behind her.

She was already halfway through the living room when her bag slipped from her shoulder and hit the floor with a dull thud. Her blazer followed, tossed somewhere near the couch. Her body moved on autopilot—depleted, sluggish, worn thin by the weight of the day.

This wasn’t just exhaustion. It was bone-deep. Her limbs were heavy. Her mind was fogged with too many hours of back-to-back meetings, budget disputes, a congressional oversight call that lasted forever, and too many names in too many files. The title Unit Chief sounded impressive on paper, but today it had felt like a millstone dragging her under.

She collapsed onto the couch without grace or thought, sinking into the cushions like she could disappear inside them. One hand dragged down her face. The other simply curled in her lap, fingers twitching from phantom typing.

Then came the sound that cut through everything: footsteps. Not distant, not rushed—purposeful. Familiar.

Arms circled her from behind, steady and sure. A chin brushed against her shoulder. A kiss landed just below her jaw.

“Long day, Chief?” JJ’s voice was low, teasing—just enough to make her eyes sting.

Emily exhaled. “You have no idea.”

JJ’s arms tightened around her, and she leaned in, nose skimming the line of Emily’s neck. “I’ve got you now.”

Emily turned her head slightly, allowing herself the indulgence of leaning into her. JJ’s hands found her biceps, thumbs tracing slow, soothing lines. She looked at Emily with a mix of affection and quiet concern, her brow furrowing as she studied her girlfriend’s face.

“You look like you haven’t breathed since breakfast.”

Emily let out a half-laugh, half-sigh. “ That’s optimistic. Garcia tried to schedule a working lunch. And Barnes's replacement wants a full review of the 2009 archives. Which is—” she broke off, defeated, “—madness.”

JJ leaned in and kissed her temple. It wasn’t a quick peck—it lingered, like she was trying to draw out the tension with her lips.

“Enough,” JJ whispered. “No more work talk. You’re not the chief tonight.”

Emily blinked at her. “Then what am I?”

JJ smiled as she took her hand and gently pulled her up from the couch. “You’re mine.”

****

Emily let herself be led—no resistance, just a quiet surrender. JJ brought her into the bedroom, already transformed. Candles flickered on the dresser. The lighting was low and golden, casting soft shadows across the room. One of Emily’s favorite jazz records played low in the background.

JJ turned to face her, fingers brushing Emily’s shirt collar.

“I can undress myself,” Emily murmured, though her voice was barely above a breath.

JJ met her gaze. “I know. But let me.”

There was reverence in the way JJ moved—fingers steady, deliberate. She unfastened each button like it meant something. With every inch of skin revealed, she pressed a kiss: to her collarbone, her shoulder, the hollow of her throat. Her touch wasn’t delicate—it was intentional, purposeful. It said, You’re safe. You’re loved. You can let go now.

Emily’s eyes fluttered closed. Her breathing slowed.

“Jennifer…”

JJ hushed her with another kiss, deeper now. Her hand slid along Emily’s jaw, anchoring her. The other rested just over her heart, feeling the frantic rhythm beneath her ribs.

“You give everything to everyone else,” JJ whispered. “Let me be the one who gives back.”

The kiss that followed was fierce in its tenderness. It wasn’t rushed. It was all-consuming. Lips met lips again and again, hungry and slow, until Emily was clinging to her, kissing back like it was the only thing keeping her together.

JJ eased her onto the bed, crawling up after her. Their bodies found each other easily, instinctively—legs tangling, hands roving, mouths barely parting. Emily’s fingers slid beneath JJ’s shirt, tracing muscle, feeling the heartbeat she trusted more than her own.

Every touch JJ gave was designed to soothe—her palms smoothing over tight shoulders, kisses trailing down the curve of her spine, her voice murmuring sweet nothings into the hush of the room.

“You don’t have to hold anything tonight,” JJ said. “Not with me.”

Emily shuddered. Her walls cracked open.

She let herself be undressed, let herself be touched and kissed, and cared for in a way she rarely allowed. JJ didn’t ask for anything—she just gave, over and over, as if love itself could be poured into someone drop by drop.

And it worked.

Emily came undone beneath her name, her fingers tangled in blonde hair, her gasps muffled against JJ’s shoulder. When it was over, JJ didn’t pull away. She stayed close, their limbs entwined, her hand trailing slow, grounding lines across Emily’s back.

For once, there were no thoughts of paperwork, no ghosts of old cases clawing at the corners of her mind. Just JJ and the steady drum of her heartbeat beneath Emily’s cheek.

“You feel different,” JJ said after a long silence. “Lighter.”

“I do.” Emily looked up, brushing her thumb along JJ’s cheekbone. “You made it all stop.”

JJ smiled and kissed her—softly this time, not to silence her, but to seal something in. “That’s the plan.”

Emily pulled her closer. “I don’t deserve you.”

JJ tucked the blanket around them and rested her forehead against Emily’s. “Tough luck. You’ve got me anyway.”

The world was quiet. The only sound was breath, the only light candle-gold, and the only feeling—peace.

“Thank you,” Emily whispered.

“Always,” JJ answered, already drifting into sleep.

And as Emily closed her eyes, she realized the weight of the BAU, the title, the pressure—it would all be there tomorrow.

But for tonight, she didn’t have to carry it.

Because JJ was already carrying her.

Chapter Text

“Then just leave!”

The words flew from Emily’s mouth like a blade she couldn’t pull back fast enough. Sharp. Final.

She didn’t mean them.

But JJ’s eyes went wide—shocked, hurt—before her expression steeled, lips pressed into a line as she grabbed her keys from the hook and turned for the door.

It slammed behind her hard enough to rattle the pictures on the wall.

Silence followed. Long and brutal.

Emily stood there, chest heaving, heart punching against her ribs like it wanted to chase after her before her mind had caught up. And when it finally did—the regret hit like a freight train.

“Fuck.”

The fight had been loud. Ugly. The kind you only have with someone who knows exactly where to hit you with their words. It had started with something small—something neither of them would remember by morning—but they’d both gone for the jugular.

And now… JJ was gone.

Emily didn’t bother with a coat. She didn’t grab her phone. She didn’t even lock the door behind her.

She just ran out into the rain.

It was pouring—sideways, sharp, relentless—but she didn’t care. Her boots pounded the pavement as she tore down the block, scanning every shadow.

Where would JJ go?

She didn’t even get past the corner when she saw her.

Sitting on the curb, knees drawn up, soaking wet. A portrait of heartbreak.

Emily stopped in her tracks. The ache in her chest bloomed so big she thought it might crush her.

JJ didn’t look at her. Didn’t speak. She just stared at the street, rain streaking down her face, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees like she was trying to hold herself together.

Emily didn’t speak either.

She walked forward, dropped to a crouch, and pulled JJ forward so she could slide her arms beneath JJ’s legs and back.

JJ didn’t resist.

She clung to her instead—arms around her neck, legs around her waist, holding on like Emily was gravity. Like she wanted to disappear into her and forget they’d ever fought at all.

Emily didn’t say a word.

She just carried her home.

The rain soaked them both to the bone. But JJ never let go. And Emily never loosened her grip.

****

When they got inside, the air was thick with everything unsaid.

Emily didn’t hesitate.

She walked them straight to the bathroom, set JJ down, and began undressing her with shaking hands—peeling away her wet clothes like they were armor she no longer needed. JJ helped silently, her eyes locked on Emily the entire time.

Once they were bare, Emily pulled her into the shower.

No pretense. No urgency. Just JJ pressed against her chest as the hot water poured down over them, washing away the storm but not the pain.

Their hands roamed with reverence, like each was relearning the map of the other’s body. Touches that said, I’m sorry, without needing to say anything at all.

Emily leaned in, her lips grazing JJ’s forehead. “I didn’t mean it.”

JJ closed her eyes.

“I was mad. I was scared. I lashed out. But I never—never—wanted you to walk out that door. I don’t ever want to watch you leave again. Not even for a minute.”

JJ’s hands slid up her back, clinging tightly. Her voice cracked when she whispered, “I’m sorry too. I love you, Emily.”

Emily kissed her like it was a vow.

It started slow—just mouths meeting with shared breath and tremors still caught in their bones. But it didn’t stay slow. Their mouths opened wider, their tongues slid deeper, and suddenly they couldn’t get close enough. The ache between them had flipped—pain into longing, fear into need.

JJ pressed her body fully into Emily’s, chest to chest, hip to hip, and Emily responded in kind—pressing her against the tile, one arm braced beside her head, the other roaming down her side, across her ribs, over her hip.

She kissed JJ with everything she had left.

And JJ gave it all back.

The water eventually turned cold.

****

They stumbled out in towels and into bed, barely making it under the covers before they were on each other again—kisses slick and desperate, hands everywhere. JJ pulled Emily in with a quiet gasp, nails raking lightly over her back. Emily groaned into her mouth, trailing kisses down her neck, over her collarbone, to the curve of her breast.

They moved like they were making up for every second they’d wasted in anger. Like they were rewriting what had been broken.

It wasn’t rushed. It wasn’t careful.

It was honest.

Emily kissed the underside of JJ’s jaw, murmuring into her skin. “I love you. I love you. I love you.”

And JJ whimpered back, eyes wet, heart open. “I’m yours. I always will be.”

They made love slowly, then hard, then slowly again—legs tangled, breath shared, pleasure unfolding between whispered promises and gasped apologies.

It didn’t matter who said what anymore.

It mattered that they found their way back.

Afterward, JJ curled into Emily’s chest, still breathless, their skin slick with sweat and love.

“I hated being away from you,” JJ whispered.

“You never will be again,” Emily promised, kissing her temple, her cheek, and her lips.

They drifted like that—wrapped in each other, the storm outside now a dull hum behind the windowpane.

All relationships have their fights. The kind where things cracked wide open.

But what mattered was what came after.

The holding. The healing. The choosing each other again and again, even when it hurt.

And tonight?

Tonight, love won.

Chapter Text

The music thumped low and steady through the bar, enough bass to rattle the high tables and pulse through the soles of Emily’s boots. It smelled like beer, sweat, and sticky floor mats—nothing glamorous, but after a brutal week chasing monsters, she and JJ had decided they deserved something simple, something messy and loud and full of alcohol.

And clearly… they’d committed.

JJ was already tipsy—blatantly tipsy—the kind that made her laugh louder, press closer, and get bolder with every sip. She was tucked into the booth right next to Emily, practically in her lap, her hand resting high on Emily’s inner thigh and sliding higher each time she “accidentally” giggled into her shoulder.

Emily was buzzed too, but holding it together—barely. Not when JJ was looking at her like that, biting her lip and tracing lazy circles against the inside of her thigh like it wasn’t driving her absolutely insane.

“You’re trouble,” Emily murmured, breath ghosting against JJ’s ear.

JJ’s grin turned wicked, eyes glittering in the low light. “And you love it.”

Before Emily could answer, JJ turned her face and kissed her—sloppy and hot and filled with tequila. Their lips clashed, mouths parting with heat, and JJ climbed into her lap like it was her damn seat. Emily’s hands found her hips instinctively, gripping hard.

The kiss was more show than subtle, more tongue than technique, and when JJ finally pulled away, her lips were red and swollen, and she looked so fucking pleased with herself.

“I’ll get us another round,” she purred, breathless, nipping at Emily’s bottom lip one last time before sliding off her lap.

Emily exhaled like she’d been punched, watching JJ strut toward the bar, a little wobbly on her heels, a lot flirty without meaning to be. Blonde hair loose and wild, her shirt clinging in all the right places, her hips swaying in a way that made Emily’s mouth go dry.

And Emily wasn’t the only one watching.

****

There was a woman—leaning against the bar already, tall, toned, brunette, predatory in her confidence. She spotted JJ like a shark in water, tracking her with a smirk and angling her body to intercept.

Emily saw it coming before it happened.

JJ didn’t notice—she was too busy trying to get the bartender’s attention, blinking through the blur of alcohol and music. The woman sidled closer, brushing her arm against JJ’s. A line was spoken—Emily couldn’t hear it—but JJ laughed, bright and unaware.

Emily’s hands clenched into fists.

The woman leaned in, said something else, then placed her hand on JJ’s hip—her hip—fingers splaying, thumb dragging just slightly beneath the hem of JJ’s shirt.

JJ blinked, still too drunk to register it as anything more than a friendly chat. She turned a little, smiling politely.

The woman leaned in closer.

Emily was done.

She didn’t storm over—no, she prowled. All simmering heat and dark intent. By the time she reached the bar, her eyes were burning holes into the woman’s smug little smile.

JJ turned just as Emily stepped up behind her—then gasped when Emily’s arm snaked tight around her waist, yanking her flush against her body.

“She’s taken,” Emily said, her voice low and dangerous, like the warning growl of a predator before it bites.

The woman raised an eyebrow, unbothered. “Didn’t see a ring.”

Emily’s eyes narrowed. “Didn’t realize I needed one to lay claim. But since you’re slow on context clues—she’s mine. Hands. Off.”

JJ melted into her instantly, tipping her head back against Emily’s shoulder with a soft, “Hey, babe,” like she’d just realized what was happening.

But Emily didn’t give the woman a chance to answer.

She spun JJ in her arms, cupped her face, and kissed her like it was a challenge. Like she was staking a claim. Like she needed everyone in that goddamn bar to know who JJ belonged to.

Their mouths crashed together, all open lips and possessive heat, Emily’s fingers tangling in JJ’s hair, the other hand squeezing her hip where that woman’s had just been. JJ gasped into her mouth, then whimpered, clutching at Emily’s shirt like she was seconds from begging for more.

When Emily finally pulled back, JJ’s lips were kissed raw, her eyes dazed.

“Jesus Christ,” JJ breathed. “You good?”

Emily didn’t take her eyes off the other woman, who was now glaring with a tight, awkward smile.

“Crystal,” she said, her tone sugar-sweet and venom-laced. “Unless you’d like to try again. I love repeating myself.”

The woman raised her hands and stepped back. “Loud and clear.”

Emily didn’t look away until the woman walked off. Then she turned her attention fully to JJ, whose pupils were blown wide, chest rising and falling like she’d just run a mile.

“That was…” JJ blinked. “...kinda hot.”

Emily handed her one of the drinks the bartender had just placed down. “She touched your hip.”

“I didn’t even notice,” JJ giggled, swaying. “I was thinking about your hands on my thigh. And your tongue in my mouth.”

Emily choked on a groan. “JJ…”

JJ leaned in close again, lips brushing Emily’s jaw. “You get hot when you’re jealous.”

“You get handsy when you’re drunk.”

JJ grinned. “Still am.”

****

They made it back to their booth somehow—JJ giggling the entire way, Emily dragging her hand up the back of JJ’s shirt in retaliation. JJ practically fell into the seat, and when Emily joined her, JJ immediately crawled into her lap again without asking.

“I’m going to ruin you tonight,” JJ whispered against her neck, drunk and breathy and bold.

Emily hissed out a breath. “You already are.”

JJ kissed her, tongue sweeping deep, wet, messy, and addictive. Emily’s hands curled against her ass as JJ rocked against her, slow and deliberate.

“I love you,” JJ whispered. “Even when you growl.”

Emily caught her bottom lip in her teeth. “I love you,” she growled back, “especially when I get to growl for you.”

JJ kissed her again. Filthy, hot, full of promise.

“You’re mine,” Emily muttered into her mouth.

“I know,” JJ smiled, nipping at her lips. “And I fucking love it.”

And that’s how they stayed—tangled up in each other, drunk on tequila and tongue, hands slipping beneath fabric like they didn’t give a damn who saw. The music thumped on. The lights blurred. The world faded.

Because sure, someone else could flirt with JJ.
They could try a line.
Make her laugh.
Even put a hand on her.

But only Emily got to make her melt.
Only Emily got the moans in her ear, the scratch of nails down her back, and the way JJ bit her lip like she was starving for more.
Only Emily got to take her home and tear her apart—one kiss, one whimper, one filthy promise at a time.

And tonight?

She wasn’t just going to remind JJ who she belonged to.
She was going to make her feel it—until her thighs ached and her voice was gone.

Over and over again.

Chapter Text

The bathroom glowed from the flicker of candlelight, shadows dancing across tiled walls. Steam hung thick in the air, infused with lavender and chamomile, softening every edge, turning the space into a sanctuary of heat and haze.

Emily sank into the tub first, a sigh slipping from her lips as the water enveloped her aching muscles. She let her head fall back, dark lashes fluttering shut, hair pinned in a loose bun to keep it dry. The water lapped at her collarbones, high and hot and perfect.

She didn’t have to open her eyes to know JJ was near.

The water shifted, and then JJ was there—sliding into the bath like a prayer answered. She eased herself between Emily’s legs, her back resting against Emily’s front with a familiarity that made Emily’s chest ache. Her hair curled with the steam, a few damp strands clinging to her neck.

Emily wrapped her arms around her waist and buried her face into JJ’s shoulder, inhaling her like oxygen.

“This,” Emily murmured, her breath feathering against slick skin. “This is exactly where I want to be.”

JJ hummed softly, her hands dipping below the waterline to cover Emily’s. “You smell like lavender.”
Emily grinned. “You’re my favorite smell.”

JJ tilted her head to the side, granting Emily more access.

Emily's lips dragged slowly across wet skin, tasting the slope of JJ’s neck, trailing kisses along the edge of her jaw. One hand slid up the front of JJ’s torso, gliding over her stomach, fingertips teasing the underside of one breast—nothing rushed, just the kind of slow reverence that said, You are everything.

JJ arched slightly into the touch, her breath hitching, back pressing tighter against Emily’s chest. Her hands reached back, threading into Emily’s hair, damp fingers tugging gently. She tilted her head further, exposing the line of her throat with aching trust.

“You always know how to touch me,” JJ whispered, her voice low and frayed.

“I know what you need,” Emily murmured, her mouth ghosting over her pulse point. “I always know.”

And then JJ shifted.

She turned in Emily’s arms, straddling her in one smooth movement. The water sloshed around them, heat rising with it. JJ’s thighs braced on either side of Emily’s hips, their bodies flushed together, breasts slick and pressed tight, lips hovering close—breath to breath.

The kiss, when it came, wasn’t soft.

It was deep, open-mouthed, all tongue and teeth and hunger. JJ moaned low in her throat as Emily’s hand slid beneath the water, gripping her ass and pulling her closer. JJ rolled her hips forward, grinding against her, slick and slow, water rippling around them with every movement.

Emily’s mouth dragged down her throat again, biting lightly at the junction where shoulder met neck.

“I missed this,” she murmured between kisses. “Missed you.”

JJ’s nails scraped lightly along Emily’s back, wet hands exploring every curve, every dip of her waist. Her fingers trailed back up to Emily’s shoulders, holding her in place as she kissed her again—slower this time, but no less intense.

Their tongues slid together, lips swollen, water sloshing around them like applause.

“I need you,” JJ gasped, her hips still moving. “Right now.”

Emily hissed at the friction. “You have me. Always.”

Her fingers slid between JJ’s thighs beneath the surface, and JJ gasped—loud and needy.
Emily kissed her hard to swallow the sound.
She curled her fingers in just the right way, and JJ’s entire body tensed.

“Fuck, Em…”

JJ’s forehead dropped to Emily’s shoulder, breath ragged against her neck. Emily worked her slowly, the water disguising just how thoroughly she touched her—until JJ’s thighs trembled around her waist, hips rocking helplessly with every thrust.

“Let go,” Emily whispered, kissing along her collarbone. “Let me take care of you.”

JJ’s head snapped up, mouth meeting hers again—desperate now. She kissed her like it was the only thing anchoring her to earth, her body moving faster, breath broken, hands gripping Emily’s shoulders with bruising strength.

And then she shattered.

Quietly, beautifully, with her mouth on Emily’s and her heart in her hands.

Emily held her through it, her free arm curled tightly around her back, keeping her grounded, keeping her close.

JJ clung to her as the waves subsided, her lips brushing Emily’s jaw, her skin flushed and trembling.

“I love you,” she whispered.

Emily pressed their foreheads together, brushing a thumb across JJ’s cheek.

“I love you. Always.”

They stayed like that for a while, breathless, tangled, water cooling around them.

Eventually, JJ smirked through the afterglow. “Your turn.”

Emily arched a brow. “Yeah?”

JJ slid a hand beneath the surface, her grin wicked and knowing. “Fair’s fair.”

The bath may have gone lukewarm, but what followed was anything but.

Steam wasn’t the only thing rising by the time they finally stumbled out, towel-draped and kiss-dazed, hands never straying far from each other’s bodies.

They hadn’t fixed the world.

But in each other’s arms, slick with love and water and need, they’d created something holy.

Something worth coming home to.

Every time.

Chapter Text

The case in Idaho was routine, efficient—textbook, even. But it had one complication, and her name was Officer Claire Ryan.

Claire was gorgeous. JJ had eyes; she could see it. Tall, lean muscle beneath a perfectly tailored uniform, a confident smile that bordered on cocky, and a presence that demanded attention. She was sharp too—tactically sound, quick on her feet, full of ideas. JJ might have respected her if she weren’t so damn handsy.

And if she could keep her hands off Emily Prentiss.

From the second they’d arrived, Claire had zeroed in on Emily like it was her job. Always standing too close, brushing Emily’s elbow when she made a point, offering her coffee with a wink and a “Didn’t know how you took it, but I made a guess.” And Emily, bless her, had just taken the cup with a smile and a distracted “Thanks,” like Claire wasn’t practically purring.

JJ watched it all in silence. Seething. Simmering.

In the SUV, Claire had wedged herself in the backseat beside Emily, knees almost touching, laughing too loudly at every joke Emily barely meant. She hung on her words in every briefing, took notes like Emily was reciting scripture, and seemed to forget entirely that JJ was standing two feet away, a badge and gun and full clearance be damned.

****

By the end of the day, JJ felt like a ghost.

She barely looked at Emily in the elevator up to their hotel room. Emily was still chatting, still going on about the evidence they'd gathered and the promising lead they’d be pursuing in the morning.

JJ didn’t answer.

Emily frowned as she slipped the key card in the door. “Babe? You okay?”

JJ breezed past her the second the door clicked open. “I’m fine,” she muttered, heading straight for the bed.

Emily blinked after her, confusion creasing her brow.

JJ tossed her blazer onto the chair, kicked off her shoes, and disappeared into the bathroom without a word. She showered quickly—alone, which was already a deviation from their usual ritual—and when she came back out, she found Emily waiting in a tank top and shorts.

JJ didn't speak. Just climbed into bed and turned her back to her.

Emily reached out, fingers trailing lightly along her hip. “Come lay in my arms?”

JJ jerked away from the touch. “No.”

Emily sat up straighter. “What’s going on?”

“If you want someone in your arms so bad,” JJ snapped, “why don’t you go find Officer Ryan?”

Emily froze. “What?”

JJ rolled over, glaring up at the ceiling. “You heard me. Or is she too busy scribbling ‘Mrs. Emily Ryan’ in her little fucking field notebook?”

Emily’s brows knit. “JJ…”

JJ sat up, eyes blazing. “Do you have any idea how she looks at you? How she touches you? She’s been throwing herself at you since we walked into that precinct, and you—” She scoffed. “You’re just smiling and letting her cling to you like it’s nothing.”

“I didn’t even notice,” Emily said, voice low.

“Exactly,” JJ hissed. “You didn’t notice. And you didn’t notice how I’ve been standing on the edge of losing my damn mind.”

Emily was quiet for a second, and then she moved—fast. She climbed over JJ, pushed her back into the pillows, and straddled her hips.

“Let me make one thing clear,” Emily said, her voice darker now. “I didn’t notice, because I don’t see anyone but you.”

JJ turned her head, stubborn. “You’ve got a funny way of showing it.”

Emily caught her chin and forced her to meet her eyes. “Look at me. You think I want anyone else? When I wake up beside you every morning aching to touch you before I even open my eyes? When I can’t go a full hour without thinking about the way you taste when you moan my name?”

JJ’s breath hitched.

“I don’t care about Officer Ryan,” Emily said. “She could strip naked in front of me and I’d still be thinking about how you look riding me in nothing but my t-shirt.”

JJ’s eyes darkened, her thighs tightening around Emily’s hips.

Emily leaned in, lips brushing her ear. “You’re mine, Jennifer Jareau. And I’m about to remind you why I’ll never need anyone else.”

JJ didn’t fight her. Not when Emily kissed her—deep and messy, tongue sliding against hers like she owned her mouth. Not when Emily ripped the sheets back and tore her shirt off, nails grazing her ribs, mouth latching onto her breast with a growl.

JJ gasped, arching into her, fingers clawing at Emily’s back.

Emily bit her lip, then kissed her way down—over her stomach, her hips, leaving a trail of heat in her wake. She slid her hands under JJ’s thighs and pulled her to the edge of the bed, spreading her legs wide.

“You’re dripping for me,” Emily whispered. “God, baby.”

She dropped to her knees and didn’t hesitate. Her tongue was filthy, ruthless—stroking, curling, pressing until JJ was writhing, her moans echoing off the walls. Emily sucked her clit into her mouth and groaned, and JJ came hard, grabbing the sheets with one hand, the other tangled in Emily’s hair.

But Emily didn’t stop.

She kissed her way up JJ’s body, leaving bite marks and bruises, dragging her fingers down her slick folds again. “You’re not done,” she said.

JJ whimpered. “Fuck, Em—”

“You’re gonna take everything I give you,” Emily said, her voice shaking with need. “And then you’re gonna come again with my name on your lips.”

And she did.

She fucked her with fingers and teeth and a dirty mouth full of possession until JJ shattered again—louder, messier, legs trembling.

Afterward, Emily pulled her close, wrapping her arms around her like armor. JJ curled into her chest, still panting, still dazed.

“I don’t care if the entire world throws themselves at me,” Emily whispered, stroking her hair. “You’re the only one I want. Always.”

JJ finally spoke, voice hoarse. “You mean it?”

Emily kissed her. “You’re it for me. No competition. No doubt.”

JJ closed her eyes, exhaling into the safety of her arms. “Good,” she whispered. “Because you’re mine too. I don’t share.”

Emily smirked. “Jealousy looks hot on you.”

“Shut up and kiss me.”

And Emily did—deep, possessive, devouring—because no one else would ever get the chance.

Chapter Text

The shot rang out like thunder.

Emily didn’t even have time to flinch. One second she was staring down the barrel of the unsub’s gun—frozen, breath caught in her throat—and the next, something slammed into her side, knocking the air from her lungs.

She hit the floor with a grunt, the world spinning—and when she scrambled up, blood roaring in her ears, JJ was on the ground.

Bleeding.

“No,” Emily choked.

JJ clutched her side, blood already seeping through her vest and between her fingers. Her face twisted in agony, her eyes fluttering with the effort it took just to stay conscious.

Emily crawled to her, panic rising so fast it made her nauseous. She barely registered the team shouting behind her—Morgan subduing the suspect, Hotch barking commands, Reid calling for a medic. It all faded into static.

Nothing existed except JJ.

“JJ,” Emily gasped, dropping to her knees, hands already moving. “Oh my God—JJ.”

JJ’s hand was slick with blood. Too much blood. Emily pressed both hands over the wound, desperate, terrified. JJ let out a strangled cry of pain, and Emily flinched but didn’t stop. Couldn’t.

“Stay with me,” she begged. “Stay with me. Please, baby, just keep your eyes on me.”

JJ sucked in a breath. Her lips moved. “Em…”

“WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!” Emily’s voice cracked like glass, rising above the chaos. “Why would you do something so—so reckless? That bullet was meant for me!”

JJ gave a pained smile, barely there. Her lips trembled. “Because I love you.”

It shattered something inside Emily.

She stared down at her—at the blood, at the woman who had just thrown herself into the path of a bullet for her—and the tears came hard and fast.

“I love you too,” she whispered, her voice breaking as she leaned down and touched her forehead to JJ’s. “You’re not allowed to die. You hear me? You don’t get to leave me.”

JJ’s breathing hitched. “Not going anywhere.”

“You better not,” Emily said fiercely, voice shaking. “You stay awake. Look at me, Jayje—just keep looking at me.”

JJ’s eyes fluttered. Her fingers curled in the front of Emily’s vest, weak but determined. “You’re shaking…”

“I’m terrified,” Emily whispered.

JJ smiled faintly. “We’re… even then.”

The sirens were louder now, close—but not close enough.

Emily didn’t move. She stayed on the floor with JJ cradled in her arms, blood soaking through her clothes, holding on like it was the only thing tethering her to the earth.

Because in that moment—it was.

****

The hospital hallway felt like purgatory.

Emily paced the sterile tiles, her boots sticking faintly with every step. She hadn’t changed. Couldn’t. JJ’s blood still stained her shirt, her sleeves, under her fingernails. She didn’t care. Let the staff stare. Let the world tilt off its axis.

Her hands trembled—fists she couldn’t unclench. Her jaw ached from how tight she was holding herself together. The clock ticked endlessly, taunting her.

Then, finally—finally—a doctor stepped through the swinging double doors.

“She’s stable.”

That was it.

That was all Emily needed.

She didn’t wait for another word. She pushed past the nurses’ station, ignoring their calls. She found JJ’s room by instinct, not direction—drawn like gravity. And when she saw her—pale and still in that too-white bed—everything inside her cracked.

She crossed the room in seconds. Her hands hovered, afraid she might hurt her—but then they found JJ’s face. Tender. Careful. Desperate.

Emily pressed a kiss to her cheek. Another to her temple. Her lips trembled as they brushed along JJ’s skin like a prayer. A sob broke loose—ragged, helpless—and she buried her face against JJ’s shoulder.

“I almost lost you,” she whispered.

JJ didn’t stir. The sedation was still heavy.

So Emily climbed into the chair beside her, never letting go of her hand. At some point—minutes or hours later—exhaustion dragged her under. Her head rested on the mattress, their fingers still laced together.

****

The room was dim and quiet when JJ stirred.

Her side throbbed with pain. Her throat burned. But none of it mattered.

Because Emily was there.

Curled beside her, head on the edge of the bed, holding her hand like a lifeline. JJ blinked slowly, her heart clenching.

She looked down at their joined hands. Emily’s grip was iron even in sleep.

JJ turned her head, her voice a whisper, barely air. "Em…”

Emily jolted upright. Her eyes locked on JJ’s instantly—wide, stunned, and already filling with tears.

“Hi,” JJ murmured, weak but smiling.

Emily didn’t speak. She just looked at her like she was seeing a miracle. Her lips trembled, and then she reached out, cupping JJ’s face with both hands like she couldn’t believe she was real.

“You took a bullet for me,” she finally said, voice cracking under the weight of it.

JJ’s smile faltered. “And I’d do it again.”

Emily blinked fast, trying to breathe. “Jesus, JJ, you could’ve died.”

“But I didn’t.”

“You almost did,” Emily said, her voice hollow with remembered terror. “You almost died right in front of me. I watched you fall. I saw your blood and—I couldn’t breathe. I’ve never been that scared in my life.”

JJ’s eyes glistened. “I had to keep you safe.”

“You think that makes it easier?” Emily let out a strangled sound. “If I lost you—I wouldn’t know how to go on. Losing you would destroy me."

JJ reached up, slow and trembling, and brushed Emily’s cheek. “And that’s exactly why I’d do it again. There is nothing—nothing—I wouldn’t do to protect you.”

Emily leaned in, forehead pressed against JJ’s. “Don’t you dare ever do that again.”

“I can't baby,” JJ whispered. “But I can promise this—I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me.”

Emily laughed through her tears, and then she kissed her—full, aching, reverent. A kiss that said I’m here. You’re here. We made it.

JJ’s hand slipped behind her neck, holding her close even as her muscles protested.

When they finally pulled apart, Emily rested her head on JJ’s shoulder and whispered, “I’m not leaving this room until you can come home."

“Good,” JJ murmured, eyes closing again. “Because I need you here.”

And Emily stayed.

Because JJ took a bullet for her.

Chapter Text

Emily Prentiss was many things: a seasoned profiler, a multilingual badass, the woman who’d faked her own death and stared down war criminals.

But she was also, as JJ was discovering, a complete and utter baby when she had the flu.

JJ balanced a tray with soup, tea, and a thermometer as she nudged the bedroom door open with her foot. The room was dim, lit only by the glow of the bedside lamp illuminating Emily’s dramatically cocooned form.

“Don’t come in,” Emily croaked from beneath a fortress of blankets. “It’s not safe. You’ll catch it. Save yourself.”

JJ rolled her eyes and crossed the room anyway, setting the tray on the nightstand. “It’s the flu, Emily. Not the plague.”

One bloodshot eye peeked out. “That’s what they said at the CDC in Contagion before everyone dropped dead.”

“You watched Contagion while you’re sick?”

“For research,” Emily rasped, retreating beneath the covers like a Victorian widow in mourning.

JJ tugged the blanket down just enough to rest a hand against Emily’s flushed forehead. “Your fever still feels high.”

“I’m not going to make it,” Emily whispered. “Tell my mother I love her.”

“You don’t talk to your mother,” JJ reminded her flatly.

“Then tell her she won,” Emily muttered. “She always said I’d die alone and under-appreciated.”

JJ pinched the bridge of her nose. “You’re in our bed, surrounded by three kinds of tea, freshly fluffed pillows, and a girlfriend who called off work to take care of you. I don’t think ‘alone and under-appreciated’ really fits here.”

Emily groaned.

“You are the worst sick person,” JJ added.

“I’m suffering,” Emily replied, dramatically.

“No,” JJ said, completely unimpressed. “You’re dramatic.”

“I need a bell,” Emily murmured, turning onto her side with a cough. “Something silver. Elegant. With a dignified chime. So I can summon you without straining.”

“You’re getting broth. And a thermometer.”

Emily groaned like she’d been handed her last rites.

JJ climbed into bed beside her, careful not to jostle the pile of blankets. “Drink your tea.”

“You drink your tea.”

“Em.”

With great reluctance, Emily took a small sip, as if it offended her very soul.

“See?” JJ said. “Not so bad.”

“I want to file a formal complaint.”

“With who?”

“The Nurse Girlfriend Ethics Committee.”

“Oh,” JJ said, smirking. “I am the committee.”

“…Figures.”

JJ kissed her forehead—slow and lingering. “You’re going to be okay. Just a nasty flu.”

“If I die,” Emily sniffled, “you have to wear something tragically appropriate to my funeral. A long black veil. Or a mourning pantsuit.”

JJ just smiled and pulled the blanket up to Emily’s chin, tucking her in with care. “I love you.”

A faint smile ghosted across Emily’s lips as she nestled closer, her head resting against JJ’s shoulder. “Love you.”

JJ’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Always.”

Emily drifted off soon after, cocooned in warmth and quiet devotion, JJ’s fingers stroking through her hair—steadfast, watchful, and wrapped in love.

****

A few hours later, Emily stirred.

The light had faded, the soup had gone cold, and JJ was still there—back propped against the headboard, case file half-read in her lap.

Emily blinked sleepily, then burrowed her cheek into JJ’s side, nuzzling like a cat seeking warmth. “You’re still here.”

JJ immediately set the file aside, turning to her. “Of course. How are you feeling?”

Emily blinked up at her, eyes glassy with fever and something tender. “Can you hold me?”

JJ didn’t hesitate. She slid fully down beside her, curling an arm around Emily and guiding her close.

Emily melted into the embrace, one arm around JJ’s waist, her leg tangling with hers, forehead tucked under JJ’s chin like she needed to be closer than skin. She trembled slightly, her breath uneven against JJ’s neck.

“I don’t want to be alone,” she whispered.

“You’re not,” JJ murmured. “You never are.”

Emily’s hand slid beneath JJ’s shirt, fingers pressing against her side—not seeking, just grounding. Her other arm tightened, anchoring herself as if JJ’s heartbeat was the only thing keeping her tethered.

“Stay like this?” she whispered. “Please.”

JJ adjusted the blankets around them both and kissed the crown of her head. “As long as you need.”

There was no more teasing. Just the weight of Emily’s fevered body in her arms, her breathing growing steadier, her grip loosening but never leaving.

“I feel better when you hold me,” she murmured.

JJ kissed her again—slow, reassuring, real. “Then I’ll hold you for as long as it takes.”

And when Emily finally drifted back to sleep, wrapped around her like something fragile and precious, JJ tightened her hold, whispered I love you against her skin, and closed her eyes too.

Because here, with Emily wrapped around her, was exactly where she belonged.