406: Heartbeats and Jokes

As the laughter echoed through the room, Emma felt a peculiar mix of relief and embarrassment wash over her. The tension that had been building since the phone call dissipated as she watched Bauer approach, his expression a blend of concern and mild irritation, quickly shifting to bemusement as he took in the scene before him. "Hey, I rushed over thinking something was wrong," Bauer started, his voice filled with a hint of relief mixed with a gentle reprimand. "But it looks like I walked into a party instead." Emma bit her lip, feeling the rapid thump of her heart against her chest. It was strange, she thought, how a simple presence could stir such a flurry of emotions. "I’m sorry, Bauer. They thought it would be funny to test how fast you'd come if I was in trouble," she explained, her voice barely above a whisper, not just from embarrassment but from the odd realization of how deeply his quick response had touched her. Bauer studied her for a moment, his eyes softening. "Well, it