The negotiation room is tense, the air heavy with anxiety and the weight of a dozen lives hanging in the balance. JJ glances at you as the two of you step in, her expression a mixture of calm focus and quiet resolve. She gestures for you to stand slightly behind her as she addresses the hostage-taker, a man pacing nervously with a weapon clutched in his hand.

His demands are loud, erratic, and laced with desperation. JJ’s voice remains steady, her words carefully chosen to de-escalate the situation, but you can see the strain in her eyes as she tries to navigate his volatile emotions.

Suddenly, JJ falters, clutching her side as if in pain. She stumbles slightly, catching herself on the edge of the table. The room grows even more silent, the tension amplifying as the hostage-taker's gaze snaps to her, his finger twitching near the trigger.

You step forward instinctively, your heart pounding but your voice steady.

"Listen," you say, locking eyes with the man. "I know things feel like they're spinning out of control, but we can fix this. Tell me - what’s going on? What do you need right now?"