Chapter 12

*5 days since Alaska*

It was finally Friday, and the quiet of the late afternoon was settling over the building. I leaned back in my chair, scanning the last bit of paperwork. My desk was a cluttered mess-files stacked precariously, my half-empty coffee cup sitting on the edge, and my laptop open with a dozen tabs running.

Most of the team had already wrapped up for the day, eager to start their weekends. I glanced at the clock on my desk 5:47 p.m. Almost done, I told myself.

Just as I was signing off the last file, my door opened. It was JJ.

“Done for the day?” she asked, her voice soft as she moved to the blinds on the hallway window and closed them with a quiet snap.

I leaned back in my chair, stretching my arms with a tired grin. “Almost. What about you? Ready to call it a week?”

She stepped closer, perching on the edge of my desk. “I figured I’d check on you since I know how much you love working late on Fridays,” she teased, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

“I’m trying to break that habit,” I replied, closing the file in front of me. “Though you’re making it harder to focus.”

Her eyes sparkled with amusement. “Well, I was going to ask you if you wanted to get dinner, but if you’re too busy…”

I stood, grabbing my jacket from my couch. “I’d never say no to that,” I said with a grin, leaning in to give her a quick kiss.

Her smile lingered as she tucked her hair behind her ear. “Good answer, good answer.”

We headed toward the elevators, our footsteps echoing in the quiet hallway.

As JJ and I stepped into the elevator, a cheerful voice called out behind us.

“So, my little ducklings, what are you guys doing tonight?”

I turned around to see Penelope striding toward us, her usual vibrant energy on full display. Emily followed close behind, a small smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.

“Penelope, it’s like you have a sixth sense for catching us at the elevator,” I teased, holding the doors open for them.

“Of course I do! It’s part of my charm,” Penelope replied, stepping into the elevator with a dramatic flourish. “Now spill the beans. What’s on the agenda for tonight?”

No one knows that JJ and I are together-not yet. We had agreed to keep it to ourselves for a little while longer, wanting to enjoy the privacy and intimacy of something that was just ours.

“Nothing too wild,” I said smoothly, adding with a casual smile, “but I’m kinda hungry. Are you guys free to grab some din din or drinks?”

JJ glanced at me with a barely perceptible smirk. “I could eat,” she said, keeping her tone neutral.

“I’m down, as long as Penelope doesn’t pick,” Emily said chuckling at her own joke.

We all laughed as Penelope hurried to catch up with us, a playful glare aimed at Emily. “For that, I’m absolutely picking. And it’s going to be somewhere with flair and pizzazz!”

“Flair and pizzazz?” JJ raised an eyebrow. “Should we be worried?”

“Only if you don’t trust me,” Penelope shot back, feigning offense.

Emily sighed dramatically, throwing her hands up. “Fine, fine. I’ll risk it. Lead the way, Garcia.”

As we all headed toward the garage, I caught JJ’s eye again. She gave me a small, knowing smile, and I had to fight to keep the grin off my face. Another evening trying to keep things under wraps with the team-it was a little nerve-wracking, but I couldn’t deny how much fun it was.

We all got out of our cars and walked up to the bustling Mexican restaurant Penelope had picked. The vibrant colors of the building were eye-catching, and there was a live band playing in the corner, giving the place an unmistakable energy. The scent of spices and sizzling fajitas wafted through the air as we walked through the door.

Penelope beamed, clearly proud of her choice. “Told you! This place has flair and pizzazz.”

Emily and JJ exchanged amused looks. “You weren’t kidding,” JJ said, chuckling.

The restaurant had a 25-minute wait time, so we decided to hang out at the bar and pass the time. The atmosphere was lively, with the low hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses in the background. I leaned against the bar, chatting with JJ, enjoying the easy flow of our conversation.

Just as I was about to take a sip of my drink, I felt a familiar presence near me. I turned slightly, and my breath caught in my throat. Standing by the bar, looking as composed as ever, was Alex.

Her presence was like a wave of déjà vu. She had a way of commanding attention without even trying, with that signature confidence of hers. We locked eyes, and for a split second, it felt like time stopped.

She was the first to break the silence, offering a cool, casual smile as she approached. “Well, well, if it isn’t my favorite agent,” Alex said, her voice smooth and confident, though there was a flicker of something unreadable in her expression.

I stood up straighter, momentarily thrown off by her sudden appearance. “Cabot,” I said, forcing a calmness I didn’t quite feel. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Small world,” she replied, her gaze flicking over the group before landing on me again. “What brings you to this fine establishment?”

I glanced at JJ briefly, who had picked up on the tension in the air. I gave her a small, reassuring smile before responding. “Just grabbing dinner with some friends. How are you?” I gestured to the others, trying to keep things casual.

“I’m doing well. Actually, I’m getting married,” she said, showing off her engagement ring. “I haven’t seen you since you first came to D.C. I was going to text you to see if you wanted to grab drinks or something and catch up.”

As she spoke, I felt a strange knot twist in my stomach. It had been months since we last spoke, and hearing about her getting married stirred up emotions I wasn’t quite ready to face.

JJ, who had been watching the interaction with mild interest, smiled politely. “Hi, I’m Jennifer,” she introduced herself, extending a hand. There was no hint of animosity in her voice, just the professionalism that made her so good at what she did.

Alex shook her hand, her gaze flicking between JJ and me. “Nice to meet you, Jennifer,” she said, but there was an underlying edge, like she was trying to mask something. I saw her studying the way I was standing next to JJ, how our body language seemed to fit in a way that didn’t need to be said.

She raised an eyebrow, a small smirk curling her lips as she gave a quick glance between us. “Well, Y/N always knew how to pick a great partner,” Alex said, her tone light but with a hint of something deeper-perhaps nostalgia or just a touch of jealousy.

Alex’s smirk softened, and she gave us both a nod, her voice now more genuine. “You two really do make a great pair.”

Her gaze lingered on me for a moment, a flicker of something almost wistful in her eyes, as if recalling some shared history. “Anyway, I’ll leave you to it. Enjoy your evening. Oh, and send me your address so I can send the wedding invitations-Jennifer, you’re invited too, of course,” she said, giving me a kiss on the cheek, before walking away.

As Alex walked away, I could feel JJ’s eyes on me, but she didn’t say anything right away. The air between us had shifted, and I could tell she was processing what had just happened. After a few moments of silence, she cleared her throat, glancing at me with a playful yet cautious smile.

“Wedding invitations, huh?” she teased, her tone light but there was an undercurrent of curiosity.

I chuckled softly, trying to ease the tension. “Yeah, seems like it. Guess she’s really moving on, huh?”

JJ tilted her head, her gaze softening. “I can’t say I’m surprised. You two had… history.”

I nodded, taking a deep breath. “We did. But that was a long time ago.”

There was a quiet pause, and then JJ leaned in, her voice a little quieter, a touch more serious. “I’m glad it’s in the past,” she said, her hand lightly brushing mine across the table. “I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere.”

Her words sent a wave of warmth through me, and I reached for her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I know,” I said softly. “And that means the world to me.”

We returned to the girls and had a relaxed evening, the earlier tension now fading into the background. As we chatted, laughed, and enjoyed our meal, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment settle over me. JJ was right by my side, and it felt right. We were here, together, with our friends-uncomplicated, peaceful.

After dinner, JJ and I walked out to the parking lot with Emily and Penelope, chatting casually as we said our goodbyes. When we reached our cars, JJ lingered by hers, her keys dangling from her hand.

She glanced over at me, a small smile playing on her lips. “So… your place?”

I leaned against my car, mirroring her smile. “You sure you’re up for it? It’s been a long week.”

“I’m sure,” she replied, her tone soft but certain. “I’m not ready to end the night just yet.”

“Then I’ll see you there,” I said with a nod, unlocking my car.

We both got into our vehicles, and I watched her pull out of the lot first before following close behind. The drive back to my apartment was quiet, the faint glow of her taillights guiding me.

When we arrived, she was already waiting by the entrance, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, a playful smirk on her face. “Took you long enough,” she teased.

“Traffic was brutal,” I joked, unlocking the door and holding it open for her.

Inside, JJ kicked off her heels and sank onto the couch with a contented sigh.

“This is nice,” she said, looking around.

I chuckled, grabbing a couple of glasses and a bottle of wine from the kitchen. “Make yourself at home.”

She smiled up at me when I handed her a glass and sat beside her. “You always know how to make me feel at home,” she said softly, her fingers brushing against mine as she took the glass.

We settled into a comfortable rhythm, the conversation flowing easily as we sipped our wine. At one point, JJ leaned against me, her head resting on my shoulder, and I felt a deep sense of peace.

“Thanks for tonight,” she murmured, her voice laced with warmth.

“Anytime,” I replied, pressing a kiss to her hair. “You know that.”

After a quiet moment, I set my glass down and turned slightly to face her. “Hey, J?”

She tilted her head up to meet my gaze, her brows lifting in curiosity. “Yes, my dear?”

“I was thinking,” I began, my heart beating a little faster, “you’re here so often… maybe it’s time you had a key. No pressure, but if you want one, it’s yours.”

Her eyes widened slightly, and then she smiled-a soft, radiant smile that lit up her face. “You’re serious?”

“Completely,” I said, holding her gaze. “I want you to feel like this is your home too.”

JJ sat up a little, setting her glass aside before leaning in to kiss me. It was slow, tender, and full of emotion. When she pulled back, her smile hadn’t faded. “I’d love that,” she said quietly.

“Good,” I replied, grinning as I reached into the drawer of the side table and handed her a freshly made key.

She turned it over in her hands, her expression a mix of happiness and disbelief. “Thanks, babe. This… this really means a lot.”

“Thank you,” I said, wrapping my arms around her. “For being here, for being you.”

“You seemed a little off at dinner,” JJ said, tilting her head slightly as she studied me. Her hand found mine, fingers lacing together gently. “Is everything okay?”

I sighed, leaning back against the couch. “Yeah, it’s just… seeing Alex again threw me a bit. Not in a bad way, just unexpected.”

JJ nodded, her gaze soft but understanding. “That makes sense. She’s a part of your past, and I get that. But you handled it well.”

“Thanks,” I said, giving her hand a squeeze. “It’s not about her anymore. It’s about you. Us.”

JJ’s lips curved into a small smile, and she shifted closer. “I noticed how you kept looking at me during that whole conversation. It felt… reassuring, like you were grounding yourself.”

“I was,” I admitted, my voice soft. “You’re my present, my future. Alex showing up reminded me how lucky I am to have you.”

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she leaned in, her forehead resting against mine. “You don’t have to say things like that, you know.”

“I don’t have to,” I said with a grin, “but I mean every word.”

She laughed softly, the sound light and full of warmth. “You’re too good to me.”

“Not possible,” I replied, brushing a kiss across her temple. “And for the record, you handled it perfectly, too. I could see the little spark of pride when Alex guessed we were a couple.”

JJ chuckled, pulling back slightly to look at me. “Maybe I wanted her to know that I’m the one who gets to go home with you now.”

“Yeah?” I teased, leaning in closer. “And how does it feel being that person?”

She smirked, her voice dropping to a playful murmur. “Pretty damn good.”

Before I could respond, her lips met mine in a kiss that was slow and deliberate, full of emotion. When she pulled back, her eyes locked onto mine, and I could see the sincerity in them.

“You know,” she began, her voice low and teasing, “we could finish what we started in Alaska.”

Her words sent a shiver down my spine, the memory of that moment flickering vividly in my mind. I smirked, leaning closer so our noses brushed. “You mean the part where we almost froze to death or the part where we got interrupted by Prentiss?”

JJ laughed softly, her fingers tracing small patterns on my chest. “The second one, obviously.”

She closed the distance, her kiss bolder this time, her hands tangling in my hair. It was everything-warmth, longing, connection. When we finally broke apart, both of us were breathing heavily, and JJ’s cheeks were flushed.

I leaned my forehead against hers. “As much as I’d like to, between the margaritas and the wine, I’m wiped.”

She chuckled, brushing a kiss across my lips. “Fair enough,” she whispered. “You’ve had a long week, and I wouldn’t want you falling asleep halfway through.”

JJ grabbed my hand, her touch firm yet warm, and gave me a mischievous smile. “Come on,” she said softly, pulling me toward my bedroom.

I followed her without hesitation, her determination leaving no room for argument. As we stepped inside, the soft light from the bedside lamp bathed the room in a golden glow.

We climbed into bed, the comfort of her presence next to me easing away the stress of the week. As I pulled the blanket over us, JJ snuggled closer, her hand finding mine under the covers.

“Goodnight, my love.” she murmured, her voice already laced with sleep.

“Goodnight,” I whispered back, feeling a peace I hadn’t felt in a long time.