Chapter 6

*A/N~Happy Holidays yall 🎅

The next morning, I woke up to a text from Prentiss.

Em: Girls night tonight?

Penny G: OMG yes, please!!

Me: I will happily host. I haven’t had anyone over yet and would love for you guys to be the first. Plus I know I owe JJ a dinner for finding me my place. I’ll pick up some steaks, and stuff for the sides.

Penny G: Ooooh yummy! 🤤 Works for me

JJ: I’m so in

Em: Perfect! I’ll bring the wine 🍷

Penny G: I’ll bring snacks—nothing too fancy, just enough to get us through the night 😉

Me: Sounds perfect. I’ll take care of the rest! See you all tonight! 🥳

*5 p.m.*

I jumped up from the couch, wiping my hands on my jeans as I made my way to the door. “Coming!” I called, already excited for the night ahead.

I swung the door open to find Emily standing there, a bottle of wine in one hand and a bag of chips in the other. She flashed me a grin. “I come bearing the good stuff.”

“Wine and chips?” I joked, stepping aside to let her in. “We’re off to a solid start.”

She winked. “You can’t go wrong with wine. Or chips. Trust me, I’ve tested it.”

I laughed and gave her a quick hug. “You’re right, that’s a winning combo. Come on in. The steaks are almost done, just need to put a little sear on em.”

Before I could even set the bottle of wine on the counter, a knock sounded again. I opened the door to reveal JJ, looking casually chic in a sweater and jeans, holding a small cooler bag. “I come with dessert,” she said, flashing me a smile.

“Yesss, we’re really doing this right.” I gestured for her to come in, then quickly gave her a hug. “Seriously, I can’t thank you enough for helping me find my place.”

“No problem, anytime.” She gave me a warm smile. “And tonight? It’s all about having fun.”

Just as JJ stepped in, another knock echoed from the door. I grinned. “And here comes Penny.”

“Damn L/N, you really know how to decorate.” Prentiss glanced around the apartment with a smirk, clearly impressed.

“I like what I like,” I replied with a shrug. “It took me a week to put everything together, of course, I had help.” I shot her a wink, knowing full well she was probably picturing me carrying all those boxes by myself. “Anyway, I’ll wrap up the steaks, the sides are in the oven, and I have a fully stocked bar. I’d be happy to make anyone their choice of drink.”

Prentiss raised an eyebrow. “I’ll take a whiskey, neat. You’ve got some good taste in liquor, too.”

“Whiskey, coming right up.” I smiled as I grabbed the bottle. “JJ? Penny?”

JJ grinned. “Gin and tonic, please. Simple but effective.”

Penny, already settled comfortably on the couch, chimed in. “Vodka soda for me, if you’ve got it. No fancy stuff, just the basics.”

“No problem,” I said, moving quickly around the kitchen. “Alright, drinks are on their way, and dinner’s almost done. Get comfy, ladies, it’s gonna be a good night.”

We sat down to eat, the conversation flowing easily as we dug into the steaks and sides. Most of the night was spent gossiping about people at work, with them filling me in on all the behind-the-scenes drama from before my time. It was like a crash course in BAU history, and I was loving every minute of it.

After a while, I got up to make my signature drink—tequila pineapple, something sweet but with just enough of a kick. As the drink mixed, I topped off Prentiss’s whiskey and brought over JJ’s dessert, a rich, decadent chocolate cake.

“JJ, will you please describe your dish to the judges?” I said, laughing as I set the plate down in front of her. “We need your expert critique on this culinary masterpiece.”

JJ grinned and picked up her fork, taking a dramatic bite of the cake before raising an eyebrow. “Hmm, well, I think it’s safe to say this dessert is the clear winner tonight. The chocolate is rich, but not too heavy, and the frosting… perfectly balanced.” She paused, looking around at all of us with a mock-serious face. “I’d give it a solid 9.5 out of 10. Only because I’m saving that last half-point for an even better dessert next time.”

Prentiss snorted, shaking her head. “You’re ridiculous.”

“What the fuck was that snort? I have never heard you snort before.” I giggled, trying to hold back my laughter.

“Ouch, Y/N, when I get tipsy, I snort.” She gave me a mock glare, clearly unbothered.

I raised my glass in a mock salute. “Well, I’ll cherish that moment forever.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she muttered, taking another sip of her drink.

“Ok, ladies, I suggest we top off our drinks and make our way into the living room,” I said, setting down my glass. “I’ll step out for a quick smoke while you guys figure out what we’ll watch. And just so you know, none of you are driving home tonight. Prentiss is already swaying, and JJ and Penelope are one drink away from falling over.”

Prentiss shot me a playful glare as she swayed. “You’re making it sound like I’m completely hammered. I’m just… very relaxed.”

I chuckled as I headed toward the balcony. “Sure, that’s what they all say.”

I stepped out onto the balcony, took a deep breath of the cool night air, and connected to my speaker. As the music started playing, I selected ‘Doves in the Wind’ by SZA, letting the soothing melody fill the space. It was the perfect vibe to unwind and clear my head after all the chaos of the past few days.

The door to the balcony opened behind me, and I turned to see JJ stepping outside. She looked effortlessly calm, her relaxed smile lighting up her face. She’d had a few drinks, but she was still as collected as ever.

“You okay?” I asked with a grin, leaning against the balcony railing.

“Absolutely,” she said, smiling as she took a deep breath. “This night was much needed. So, I saw a photo of you and a blonde on your TV stand—is that a girlfriend or…?”

I chuckled, leaning back against the balcony railing and taking another drag of my cigarette before exhaling. The smoke lingered in the air, curling and twisting as I stared at it for a moment, gathering my thoughts.

“Um, well, Alex and I go way back.” I paused for a second, glancing over at JJ. “When I worked in New York, she was the ADA. I worked closely with an NYPD unit, and she took their cases, so there were a lot of late nights together.” I exhaled again, the words flowing out easier now. “There was one case where a gang took a hit out on us.”

JJ’s eyebrows raised in surprise, but she stayed quiet, letting me continue.

“We had to pretend that we were dead and hide out for a while,” I added, lifting my shirt and showing her the faint gunshot scar on my side. “I pulled some strings with witness protection, and we managed to get ourselves out of New York and into the south of France.” I paused, remembering how surreal that time had been. “We were involved until the gang that took a hit on us collapsed. She moved back to New York after that, and I took a job with the CIA in London.”

I looked at JJ, waiting for her response, but she just nodded slowly, clearly taking it all in.

“That’s… intense,” she said quietly, her voice soft but understanding. “You two must’ve been through a lot together.”

“We did, but now we’re just friends, and I’m happily single.” I smiled, trying to lighten the mood. “Oh, I’ve been looking at dogs lately, and I found the most perfect little guy. Want to see?” I pulled up a picture on my phone of a Doberman puppy, his big brown eyes staring up at the camera in the most adorable way.

“Aw, Y/N, he’s perfect!” JJ’s face softened, and she practically melted at the sight of the puppy. “Look at those ears! He’s already got that cool, fierce look, but with a face like that, I’m sure he’ll melt anyone’s heart.” She glanced at me playfully, a little smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. “Though, I have to say, I think you might be giving him a run for his money in the ‘melt anyone’s heart’ category.”

I raised an eyebrow, a laugh escaping me. “Oh, now you’re just trying to flatter me.”

“Maybe,” JJ said with a shrug, her smile wide and warm. She leaned a little closer, glancing at the screen. “But I’m serious—he’s the perfect match for you. And I’m pretty sure he’ll be just as great at stealing hearts as you are.”

I chuckled, trying to play it cool, but her words made my heart skip a beat. “Honestly, I think he’d be the perfect addition to my place. And he’d definitely give me someone to talk to other than my never-ending pile of paperwork.”

I finished my cigarette and we headed inside. Penelope and Prentiss were intensely watching Planet Earth. I rolled my eyes, already knowing they probably hadn’t picked it.

“I know this isn’t what you guys chose,” I said, a little annoyed.

Penelope paused the show and gave me an innocent look. “No, we were just putting it on while you guys were outside. We decided on The Parent Trap.”

I sat down on the corner chaise part of the couch, and JJ sat next to me, making herself comfortable. As the movie started, I could already tell that Penelope and Emily were fading fast. Not even 15 minutes in, both of them were out cold. I glanced over at JJ, and we shared a silent laugh.

Prentiss was snoring so loudly, it could’ve been a soundtrack. I sighed and got up to gently nudge them both awake.

“Come on, ladies,” I said, trying to be polite, though the frustration was creeping in. “Let’s get you to the guest bedroom before you fall off the couch.”

JJ got up to help me, and together, we managed to guide them into the guest bedroom without waking them up too much.

When we returned to the living room, the quiet settled in again, and I looked over at JJ.

“I can sleep on the couch if you want to take my bedroom when we’re ready to go to bed. We could finish the movie or play some games. I’ve got Super Nintendo and PlayStation.” I glanced at her, offering a casual smile, but there was a hint of curiosity in my voice, waiting to see what she’d say.

JJ raised an eyebrow as she considered the offer. “We can share your bed if you’re comfortable with that. And I’m good with watching another movie after this one.”

I couldn’t hide the small smile that tugged at my lips. There was something easy about being around her, and despite the teasing and light flirtation, it felt natural.

“Sounds like a plan,” I said, settling back down on the couch. We finished The Parent Trap, and both of us still wide awake.

“You know,” I said with a grin, “I think we should definitely make game night a regular thing. I could beat you at Mario Kart anytime.”

JJ laughed, shaking her head. “Oh, we’ll see about that. I think I’ve got some skills you don’t know about yet.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah, Jareau? Care to show me those fictional skills?” I turned on the Super Nintendo.

“Bring it on, L/N.” She grinned, clearly ready for the challenge.

We picked Super Mario Kart, and I chose my usual—Yoshi. JJ picked Toad, which made me smirk.

“You’re going down,” I teased.

“We’ll see.” JJ shot me a confident look as the race started.

She zipped ahead almost immediately, leaving me in the dust. “No way,” I muttered as she flew past me with a power-up. “You’ve been holding out on me.”

“Told you,” JJ said with a smirk. “I’ve got skills.”

I tried to catch up, but she kept pulling ahead, hitting every turn perfectly. Finally, the finish line came into view, and it was clear—I had no chance.

JJ crossed the finish line with ease, glancing over at me with a playful grin. “Looks like I win, L/N.”

“You’re good, Jareau,” I said, laughing and raising my hands in defeat. “I’ll give you this one.”

“Just one?” she teased, leaning back with a smug look. “You’ll have to work harder to beat me next time.”