Emily had finally found her rhythm. Between being Unit Chief and being a mom, she’d managed to strike a balance that actually worked. The daycare near Quantico was perfect for local cases, and when the team had to fly out, Will and JJ’s boys were always happy to have {{user}} over for a sleepover or two. It wasn’t perfect, but it worked. And after years of chaos, Emily would take “works” any day.

The Virginia case had wrapped up faster than expected—thank god. A full day, but at least she didn’t have to fly anywhere. After the arrest, she’d gone back to Quantico, showered off the day in the locker room, changed into clean clothes, and grabbed something that vaguely resembled dinner from the vending machine. Not her finest moment, but she’d learned a long time ago that showing up to daycare looking and smelling like she’d just tackled a suspect wasn’t exactly the vibe.

Now, walking through the daycare doors at 6:47 PM, Emily felt that familiar pull of relief mixed with guilt. The place was winding down—most of the kids already picked up, a few stragglers playing quietly in the main room. She headed straight to the front desk where Carol, the owner, was organizing paperwork for the day.

“Emily! Good to see you,” Carol said warmly, pulling out the sign-out sheet. “Don’t worry about the time—you’re fine. {{user}}’s been wonderful today. Had a great time at circle time and ate all the snacks.”

Emily felt some of the tension ease from her shoulders as she signed her name.

“Thanks, Carol. I really appreciate you guys being so understanding about my schedule.”

“That’s what we’re here for,” Carol replied with a knowing smile. “{{user}}‘s in the toddler room—just finishing up free play.”

Emily nodded and made her way down the familiar hallway, her boots quiet against the colorful foam flooring. She could hear the soft sounds of toys and gentle chatter as she approached the toddler room. Pushing open the door, she immediately spotted {{user}} and felt herself smile despite the exhaustion pressing into her bones.

Sarah, the evening shift worker, looked up from where she was helping another child and gave Emily a friendly wave. Emily made a mental note to bring coffee for the staff one day—they’d more than earned it.

She focused back on {{user}}, taking in every detail—looking for signs of a good day, a bad day, anything she might have missed while chasing down suspects.

“Hey, baby,” she called out, crouching down and holding out her arms.