Chapter Text
It was unbearable hot. The air was thick and you couldn’t move a muscle without feeling droplets of sweat running down your neck. They had a case in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Oklahoma wasn’t known for it‘s cool summers but 34 degrees for days was way too hot. Two nights ago it was the most comfortable, even though it felt weird to say something like that, with a high of 28 degrees. The problem was that it looked like the case would never come to an end. So call it faith, lucky circumstances or gods will that the unsub attacked a young woman in daylight which let to an arrest and a wrapped up case. The team was there for six days and they couldn’t wait to board the plane back to Quantico which meant a working AC and temperatures lower than 30 degrees. Not much lower but lower and that was the whole point right now. But again, call it faith or gods will when they got the call.
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The air was static and it was quiet outside. There were no birds chirping and it felt like the world was at a standstill. The last days the air was thick and hot, yes, but right now it was like the air stopped moving. Due to space constraints, the team had to split between two hotels. Morgan, Reid and Rossi got the three available rooms which were closer to the station and JJ, Emily and Hotch took the two rooms 8 miles further away. So they parted ways at the station to pack their stuff and meet at the jet in an hour. JJ and Emily were together for almost one and a half year and the team knew about them, which made it easier to decide who would‘ve had to share a room with one double bed. The two of them reached the hotel before Hotch since he had to stay at the station a little longer to talk to the captain. They took an ice cold shower and started to pack their bags when Hotch knocked at their door.
„Hey Hotch, why that face? Please don’t tell me they still need us or we have another case here,“ JJ asked as she opened the door while Emily stopped packing their last belongings to be a part of the conversation. He shook his head and tried his best to not look worried but it didn’t really work. „Fortunately or unfortunately not, we can’t fly out today. Theres been several tornado warnings and it would be way too dangerous to fly. We‘re going to stay the night and we should be safe here but in case we get hit by it, I want us to stay together or at least stay in contact. I‘m in my room, dont bother to reach out if you need something. Morgan, Reid and Rossi are already informed and they are going to stay where they are,“ he said and JJ started to feel a little lightheaded while Emily thanked him and closed the door.
Due to the fact that she already saw most of the world in nearly every state of being, she was calmer and didn’t start to worry too much. That didnt occur to her girlfriend. The blonde turned on the news on the television and pulled her phone out, searching for everything tornado related affecting Oklahoma. Emily, of course, noticed the shift in her girlfriends behavior and just sat in silence next to her until JJ gave her a sign to pull her out of her head.
„We‘re in the middle of a tornado alley and Oklahoma was dubbed as the tornado capital by USA Today. Since 1950 it’s home to some of the most powerful twisters in the world with a rating of F4 and F5 which means—“ „JJ breathe,“ Emily stopped her rambling as she started to panic, grabbing her shoulders and focusing her girlfriends attention at her, „We are not in immediate danger, we are okay and we are together. The news are not even showing reports of a tornado. This right now is a warning which needs to be treated with care but there’s no need to panic. Whatever happens, try to stay calm. I‘m here, you‘re not alone and I‘m not leaving you.“ JJ swallowed hard and nodded while laying her head on Emily‘s shoulder and hugged her.
Yes, she was scared and yes, she wanted to get out of this state as fast as possible. But she needed to stay rational. Emily was right, the warning needed to be taken seriously but her panicking wouldn’t be helpfully right now. They weren’t in immediate danger and as long as they had an eye on the news and stayed together, they would be fine. „You‘re right Em, thank you,“ she murmured in Emily’s neck and breathed in her calming scent, „I love you.“ The brunette kissed her forehead and stroked her sides while she held her. „I love you too mon soleil. You alright?“ JJ nodded and let go of her girlfriend and pulled her legs to her chest. Realizing that JJ instantly missed her embrace, Emily laid down in the middle of the bed and opened her arms in a wordless invitation. The blonde smiled and cuddled her girlfriend immediately.
„You want me to tell you some stories about my experience with heavy storms? I experienced some and maybe it‘ll calm you down,“ Emily suggested while her hands disappeared under JJ‘s shirt on her back, loving her warm, toned skin and sending a shiver down her spine. Her girlfriend shook her head and smiled playfully at the brunette, mischief sparkling in her eyes. „No thank you but your mouth could do some other things to distract me.“ JJ stroked her cheek and Emily smiled, kissing her passionately. „Yeah? What did you have in mind,“ she grinned and moved her hands upward under JJ‘s shirt as she rolled on top of her, pressing her into the mattress. „Let me show you,“ the blonde answered and shoved her tongue into her mouth, pulling a moan out of her girlfriend.
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JJ and Emily laid nakedly cuddled in their bed, both happy and calm and on the verge of sleep.
Until…
The world got darker and darker outside and a thunder pulled them back into reality. Both flinching and looking at each other, turning their heads towards the television which still showed the news. It calmed JJ knowing what was going on outside, even if they lost track of time. But the calming effect disappeared as she turned the volume up. The warning became reality, the report explaining that the forming tornado was at least classified as an F3, coming close to an F4. JJ was pulled out of her head again by Emily, this time she was throwing her clothes at her. The order clear and she was thankful that her girlfriend took the reins. Her hands shook as she tried to close the button on her jeans.
Emily closed it for her and took her hands in between hers. „Breathe JJ, this is becoming reality, yes. Get dresses, we‘re going to get Hotch and try to get in contact with the others. Most importantly we‘re staying together.“ JJ nodded, put on the rest of her clothes and followed Emily out of the room after turning out every technical device. In the hallway they ran into Hotch who was already on his phone, talking to one of their colleagues. „They are perfectly prepared for those kinds of situations. And please Reid, please stop throwing around these statistics. Tell Morgan, tell Rossi but stop telling strangers, alright? Thank you, now stay safe over there,“ he ordered without being able to stop the forming of one of his rare smiles while he talked to Reid.
„Are you both alright,“ he asked the two women. Emily had her arm around JJ‘s middle and looked her in the eyes. The fear in there broke her heart but right now, there was no time and no right way to calm her down. She nodded, looking again at Hotch, „Yeah, we‘re okay. You?“ He nodded and they walked towards the Lobby when Hotch grabbed Emilys arm and stopped them. „We‘re hiding in one of those rooms. Reid told me it‘s safer to hide on the ground or the fist floor in the bathrooms or the stairwells, but the risk that debris flies through the air is higher in the stairwell,“ he explained and broke a door down. Emily tried to let go of JJ but the blonde clung to her arm, a pleading look in her eyes to not leave her. „Okay, help me. Take all the blankets you can grab. Hotch, get every towel that is available in here and push the bathroom cabinet to the outer wall. We‘re going to put it on the ground,“ Emily directed an took the first load of blankets from JJ.
„What’s your idea Emily,“ Hotch asked and shortly after they heard the cabinet hitting the ground. „I‘m not familiar with tornadoes but I‘m very familiar with strong storms. We‘re going to wrap us up in the blankets to hide from the debris and the more that is between us and the outside the safer we are,“ she explained and they put all the blankets and towels on the ground. „JJ help him. We have to layer the blankets and towels. I‘ll have a look at the outside and I‘ll turn on the news.“ „Emily—“ Emily grabbed JJ‘s face and looked her in the eyes, „JJ, we don‘t have time. We are okay, we are together, you are okay. Help him.“ The blonde nodded with teary eyes, whispering her love and it broke Emilys heart. As the brunette took a look out the window she froze momentarily. The tornado was closer than she thought and the world outside was very dark. She turned on the news and immediately saw live footage of the classified F3 tornado. They were still hoping it wouldn’t evolve to an F4 but were positive because it neither increased in speed nor in size.
Nevertheless, almost 200 miles raged through the city, putting them all in danger. „Is it on standstill,“ Hotch asked as he took a look outside. JJ came back to her and Emily pulled her to her side as she turned the television off. „No, but we have to hide. Now! It’s heading towards us,“ she ordered, feeling the panic spreading through her body, „Go, wrap yourself up and try to take up less space as possible.“ There were three big piles of blankets and towels on the ground and Hotch already tried to wrap himself up. „Here, let me help you. JJ go hide, I‘ll be there in a second.“ Emily helped him hide before she helped her girlfriend. She stroked blonde soft hair one last time before it disappeared but JJ stopped her. „JJ we don‘t hav—“ „I know Em, so stop wasting it and kiss me. I love you.“ Of course Emily did what she asked her too. „I love you too.“
She heard the sound of a freight train approaching and knew there was no time left. She wrapped herself as tight as possible before the tornado hit the hotel and everything went black.