If an agent made just one wrong move—as small as a misstep—people could die. The Unsub could be thrown off, could lash out at the victim, or even turn on themselves. Everyone on the team understood the gravity of each situation, the weight pressing down with every decision made in the field.

So when you volunteered to be bait in one of the toughest cases you'd ever encountered, you did so knowing exactly what was at stake. The room fell into a tense silence the moment the words left your mouth. Then, almost simultaneously, Hotch and JJ spoke up. JJ’s voice was laced with immediate protest, her eyes wide with disbelief and fear. But Hotch, after a pause, gave a solemn nod, understanding the necessity, and granted you the go-ahead.

The case unfolded better than anyone could have hoped. The Unsub was apprehended without incident, and the victim emerged physically unharmed—at least in the ways that counted. The small town could finally breathe, its nightmare over, the killer who haunted them for a week now behind bars. The team shared quiet relief, eager to return home.

But JJ sat in the corner of the jet, a stark contrast to the subdued contentment surrounding her. She hadn’t said a word since the mission ended. Her silence was deafening, her body language tense—shoulders hunched, fists clenched, eyes boring into the floor like she could set it ablaze with sheer will.

It was impossible not to notice. The frustration radiated off her in waves, a storm brewing behind her normally calm exterior.

Finally, her voice cut through the quiet hum of the jet, sharp and brittle. "You could have been hurt." The words dropped like a stone between you, her tone dry, almost cold, but her eyes—when they finally met yours—betrayed her. They were filled with something raw, something aching. Fear. Anger. Maybe even something deeper she wasn’t ready to admit.