if i look back, i am lost
Keni
I'd rather be in outer space 🛸
ojovivo
wallacepolsom
bliss lane
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KIROKAZE
Stranger Things
🪼
Product Placement
RMH
Misplaced Lens Cap
we're not kids anymore.
noise dept.
let's talk about Bridgerton tea, my ask is open
sheepfilms
TVSTRANGERTHINGS
PR's Tumblrdome
todays bird
seen from Singapore
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seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Singapore
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seen from Colombia
seen from Australia
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@cmanonstillinhiding
Unhooking the Stars
--
@enbies-and-felonies chapter 12! last one!
--
Blackbird
--
Spring comes slowly in the north, snow giving way to slush, giving way to mud, and finally to grass. The first fragile flowers poke timidly towards the sun, turning their face upwards to feel a touch of warmth. People emerge as well, unwrapping layers of winter scarves and coats, opening shades and windows to catch the first of the thawing wind.
Emily, leaning on the porch rail, smiled at it all for the first time in years. JJ had mentioned planting a garden, and she’d readily agreed, planning a trip into town to pick up the supplies later that day. It will be nice to see things grow. There was no reason to hurry, no worry of a gun leveled at her chest or a surprise visit from the bosses. Just the sun touching the top of the house, and the muffled clatter of JJ making breakfast in the kitchen.
The screen door slammed behind her, announcing JJ’s emergence from the house. Emily felt arms slip around her waist, JJ kissing her softly on the cheek. ‘Hey, Em.’
Emily leaned into the touch, reaching a hand back to tangle in JJ’s hair. ‘Hey.’
‘What are you doing out here so early?’
‘Is ‘hoping my girlfriend would come join me’ an acceptable answer?’
Emily could feel JJ smile against her neck. ‘Mmm...I suppose so.’
Emily closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of JJ behind her. ‘I never thought I’d be able to say it, but I’m glad to be here.’
‘Here as in the front porch?’
‘Yes? Kinda, I guess. To have a front porch and a girlfriend to share it with, and to have the time to stand without being afraid of what might happen.’
She paused. ‘And Sergio. I’m glad to have a cat to make very sure we’re safe.’
I never thought I could have a cat.
JJ laughed. ‘Oh yes, he’s quite frightening. Send the whole of the FBI packing, that cat could.’
‘Exactly! He’s the only thing between us and federal prison.’
‘You’re sure it’s not the loaded gun you keep under your pillow?’
‘I hope not. That’s a habit I’d like to break.’
‘It’s alright. I understand why you do it.’
Emily turned to meet JJ’s eyes. ‘I don’t want to be afraid anymore.’
‘I don’t think we can ever let go of fear.’
‘No. And I know that. But I’d still like to try.’
JJ hugged her tighter, turning slightly to kiss Emily gently. ‘I’m glad to be here with you. However scared you may be now and in the future, I will be here.’
Emily smiled, tucking her head against JJ’s shoulder. ‘I know.’
JJ pulled her closer, kissing her forehead as the word came alive about them. Spring may come slowly, but come it will.
Unhooking the Stars
--
@enbies-and-felonies chapter 11!
--
Everything Has Changed
--
Having JJ next to her was almost peaceful. She’d fallen asleep at some point last night, during the longest conversation of Emily’s life, and Emily, not having the heart to wake her, had let her stay. Just this once. Emily sighed. You’ve said that too many times now. Looking over at JJ beside her, Emily was pretty sure ‘just this once’ was no longer an option.
JJ didn’t seem to notice Emily staring at her as she lazily opened her eyes, reaching out to pull Emily down next to her. ‘Good morning.’
Emily looked at her, reaching out to brush a strand of JJ’s hair out of her face. ‘Is it?’
JJ leaned into her touch, tracing her hand along Emily’s arm. ‘Well, I’m warm, no one’s pointing a gun at me, and you’re still here. So, we’ll say it is.’
‘Did you think I was gonna run off?’
‘I hadn’t ruled out the possibility.’
‘Hmm. Fair, but I wouldn’t leave you.’
JJ met her eyes. ‘You mean that?’
Emily pulled her closer. ‘Yes. For once in my life, I do.’
--
Emily tossed the last bag into the boot of the car. ‘All set?’
JJ bit her lip, glancing around the property. ‘Yeah.’
Emily glanced over, noticing the shine in JJ’s eyes. ‘Hey. You okay?’
JJ shook her head, tears slipping down her face. ‘How did this happen?’
Emily reached for her, wrapping her arms around JJ. ‘I don’t know.’
‘I loved them. That was my family. And they just turned on me.’ She looked up at Emily, eyes hard. ‘The amount of shit I hid for them! The laws I justified breaking for them, the times I looked away while Spencer shot up in the bathroom, or Hotch decided we didn’t need a warrant, or Garcia hacked into medical servers! People’s private information just there for the taking, because I knew we needed it. I let them do that, thinking they’d stand by me. I didn’t want them to end up in jail, so I ignored it. Now they’d see me burn.’
She shook her head, burying her face back in Emily’s shoulder. ‘How?’
Emily traced her hands along her back, pulling her closer. ‘People make choices.’
‘But they had to do it. Right? They had to, or they’d all be in jail.’
‘They didn’t have much of a choice here, no.’
JJ nodded, standing back. ‘They had no other choice. I have to believe that.’
Emily took her hand, leading her towards the car. ‘I know.’
--
Emily pressed the gas a little harder than necessary as they wound their way along the twisting road, picking up just enough speed to make JJ nervous. The border crossing had been so easy she’d almost thought FBI agents were gonna jump out as soon as they’d been cleared, but over an hour across there was still no sign of trouble. She glanced over, grinning at JJ’s indignant squawk.
‘Emily! Watch the road!’
Emily rolled her eyes. ‘Calm down, girl. You sound like my grandmother.’
‘We just got out of the country, and now you’re going to get us killed!’
‘Oh, relax. We beat the border agents, we can beat anything.’
‘Pretty sure the tree we’re going to end up wrapped around won’t take a fake ID.’
Emily smirked. ‘I don’t know who trains the border patrol, but they should be fired.’
JJ elbowed her. ‘You can’t say that! They work hard.’
‘But my forger works harder.’
‘You’re awful.’
‘And yet, here we are.’
‘Here we are.’
Emily grinned. ‘Where are we going?’
Unhooking the Stars
--
@enbies-and-felonies chapter 10!
--
I Will Wait
--
The next day was bright and clear, the sun reflecting off the clean snow sent dazzling flashes of light jumping around the yard, making everything appear bright and new. JJ marveled at the shine as she tramped back in from the woodshed, waiting for Emily to appear back from some mysterious errand she’d disappeared on early that morning. $20 says she ran off.
JJ kicked around the house, cleaning her weapon, checking the locks, and replaying yesterday over and over in her mind. She definitely kissed me. Right? But then why did she run off? Is she coming back?
Do I want to keep going with this?
Emily finally returned in the late afternoon, long after the sun had set. JJ was half-asleep in front of the fire when she heard the kitchen door open, followed by Emily calling for her. ‘JJ? Where’d you get to?’
JJ dragged herself up to meet Emily, who threw an envelope unceremoniously onto the counter. ‘There’s your new life.’
JJ opened it, pulling out a drivers licence, passport, birth certificate, and a half-dozen other forms, all bearing Canadian marks. ‘How did you do this?’
‘I’m an international assassin, JJ. I can get fake IDs.’
JJ picked up her new licence, inspecting the quality of the forgery. ‘Damn. I don’t think I would catch that.’
Emily smirked. ‘You haven’t before.’
JJ snapped her head up. ‘What?’
‘You’re not as perfect at you think you all are. We’ve gotten past your team multiple times.’
‘I think I would remember you.’
‘Oh, not me personally. And I certainly won’t be telling you who.’
JJ rolled her eyes and returned to studying her licence. ‘Natalie Taylor....my name’s Natalie? Again?’
‘You’ve used it once, they won’t think you’ll keep travelling under it. Besides, I’ve changed the surname.’
‘Did you keep yours?’
‘The first name? Yeah.’
JJ slipped her licence into her hip pocket, grabbing the rest of the documents from the countertop. ‘So when do we leave?’
‘As soon as you’d like.’
--
'Emily?’
JJ was calling from the living room. Emily reluctantly poked her head out of the bedroom she’d been hiding in. Please have a question about travel plans. ‘Hmm?’
‘We need to talk.’
Ah, shit. ‘Okay.’
‘Can you come out here, please?’
‘Yeah.’
JJ was seated on the couch, looking just as awkward as Emily felt. ‘Sit down?’
‘I’d rather not.’
‘Emily, sit down. I’m not about to have you arrested.’
Emily stayed where she was, picking at her nails. ‘That’s not what I’m worried about.’
‘What are you worried about, then?’
You’re going to leave as soon as I’m not useful. ‘Nothing. What did you want to talk about?’
JJ folded her hands in her lap. ‘You can’t guess?’
Emily could definitely guess. ‘You want to talk about what happened yesterday.’
JJ was silent for a minute. ‘Yeah. I do.’
Let’s just get this over with. ‘I’m sorry.’
JJ looked stung. ‘Sorry? For what?’
Is it not obvious? ‘I didn’t mean to hurt you.’
‘That’s not...what? No. That’s not the reason I want to talk.’
‘Then why?’
JJ sighed, gesturing at the seat beside her. ‘Emily, please sit. I want to talk without you looking like you’re about to bolt out of here.’
Emily sat as far away from JJ as possible, refusing to meet her eyes. ‘Okay.’
JJ noticed. ‘Is there a reason you’re being difficult?’
‘Is there a reason you’re talking to me like I’m a child?’
‘I’m trying to have a mature discussion, and you won’t even sit within three feet of me? What happened to the girl yesterday? You weren’t so shy about being close then!’
‘Well, maybe I should have been!’
‘What is that supposed to mean? No, don’t roll your eyes. Answer the damn question!’
Emily snapped, tired of dancing around the point. Please, just go away. ‘Look, I made a mistake yesterday! That’s all, and it won’t happen again. Happy?’
She looked over when JJ didn’t immediately retort. JJ was staring at her, hurt written on every feature. ‘A mistake?’
A mistake I would like to make every day of my life. ‘I didn’t mean it, and I’m sorry.’
‘You’re sorry? Emily, what-’
Emily didn’t wait for her to finish, stalking back into the bedroom.
I’m sorry.
--
Emily was not expecting JJ to knock on her door, much less talk. ‘Emily? Are you still in there?’
Emily ignored her in favour of continuing to pace back and forth along the bare floorboards. Please, please leave me alone.
‘Emily, I understand if you don’t want anything to do with me. I’m not angry. I just want to talk.’
There was quiet for a moment, and Emily thought she’d gone until she spoke again, soft and calm.
‘You don’t have to open the door. You don’t even have to say anything. Just listen, okay? I’m going to say this once, and then leave you alone for as long as you want.’
‘I can’t stop you from talking.’
‘I know. But I want you to be listening.’
Emily paused her pacing. I owe her this, at least. ‘Go ahead.’
She could hear JJ shifting around outside. ‘I’m not sorry for yesterday. I’m sorry if it wasn’t what you wanted, or if I hurt you, which clearly, I did. But I’m not sorry I kissed you, nor that I let you kiss me, and I would do it again if that’s what you wanted. But if what you want is to pretend it never happened, then that’s okay too. You can open the door and we can go pick a place to hide out for the next month, and forget yesterday. Is that what you want?’
I don’t want that. ‘I don’t know what I want.’
‘Okay. Can I come in, please?’
Emily didn’t realise she’d opened the door until she saw JJ standing in front of her. ‘Thank you.’
‘For what?’
‘For letting me at least see you.’
‘I let you talk. Will you listen to what I have to say now?’
JJ nodded. ‘Absolutely.’
Emily sank down on the bed, out of energy. ‘I don’t want to forget yesterday. I shouldn’t have said it was a mistake, because I’ve never regretted anything less. Just...I have no idea what to do. With you, with us, with anything. I’ve been on my own so long, I don’t want to trust you.’
She paused, fighting to keep her voice level. ‘I don’t trust myself. I don’t want to hurt you.’
JJ stepped closer, sitting beside her. ‘Do I get a say in this?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Good. I’m willing to take that risk. If it ends badly, so be it. We can’t even promise we’ll be alive in the morning. You’ll never be fully rid of fear, but please, let me take some of it. Just for now.’
‘I can’t let you do that.’
‘I’ll wait until you can.’
Emily looked up at her. ‘You’ll be waiting a while.’
JJ slid closer, laying her hand over Emily’s. ‘I can live with that, if you talk to me instead of snapping and barricading yourself in your room.’
Emily cautiously leaned into her, resting her head on JJ’s shoulder. ‘I’ll try.’
JJ put an arm around her, pulling her closer. ‘That’s all I’m asking.’
Unhooking the Stars
--
@enbies-and-felonies chapter 9!
--
Strawberry Blond
--
Slipping out of the city was surprisingly easy: there were no roadblocks, and hardly any patrols as they wove their way north for the second time. Emily had wanted to leave as soon as possible, and JJ had no real objections.
‘What are we going to do?’
Emily looked at her. ‘Right now, we’re going up to the border. We can talk about the rest later.’
‘Are we crossing?’
‘I don’t know yet. There’s no rush, JJ. We have all the time in the world.’
‘Until Hotch finds us.’
‘Ah, yes. The seemingly-infallible Agent Hotchner. He’s not gonna find us.’
‘And you know this how?’
‘Has he found us before? You place so much trust in your precious profiling abilities. There’s nothing to lead him to us, no trail to follow, no messages or signatures to analyse.’
‘There’s always something.’
‘And he can bleed his brain dry looking for it. In the meantime, we’ll be one step ahead.’
JJ fiddled with her jacket hem, not entirely reassured. She was stopped from tearing the fabric by Emily’s hand, softly laid over her own to still it. ‘Hey. It’ll be okay.’
‘It’s not going to be okay! Nothing is okay! My family is trying to kill me and I don’t know what to do.’
Emily squeezed her hand gently. ‘We’ll figure it out.’
‘You can’t promise that.’
‘I can’t, but I’m going to anyway. We can start over, just us.’
‘How? How do we go on from this?’
‘The only way we can. Forward.’
--
‘Well, it looks a lot nicer when I’m awake.’
Emily sighed as she stopped the car in the back of the farmhouse. ‘It never looks nice.’
The house was a startling red against the grey-brown landscape, just beginning to be dusted with snow. It fell thicker and steadier as they dragged the few bags and groceries they’d been able to bring, Emily unlocking and dragging open the back door.
JJ stepped inside, looking around the kitchen. ‘Home sweet home, huh?’
‘At least for tonight. Grab some kindling from that box, would you? I’d rather not have this place be the same temperature as outside.’
JJ collected a handful of sticks from the bin Emily had indicated, tossing them into the woodstove in the living room. Emily gasped in mock horror. ‘What are you doing? Don’t they teach you to start fires in fed school?’
‘Are you judging my fire-starting ability?’
‘Yes! Give me those. You have to make a pyramid, and then-’
JJ groaned, raising her hands in surrender. ‘Why don’t you just do it?’
‘I will, thank you. You can go and get the actual logs from the woodshed.’
JJ sighed. ‘I am so not going to be able to live with you.’
Emily paused. ‘I thought we were splitting up after we got out of the country.’
JJ turned back. ‘I hadn’t thought that far ahead.’
Emily nodded. ‘Let’s just get through tonight.’
--
Two hours later, the house was almost a habitable temperature and Emily had managed to throw together something resembling dinner from their depressing supplies.
JJ was now sprawled over the couch, dozing with her feet encroaching dangerously on Emily’s perch on the arm.
Emily had thought she was asleep, and was weighing the merits of shoving her off the couch entirely when she spoke.
‘Why don’t we just stay here?’
Emily looked up from the book she had been trying to read. ‘Hmm?’
‘We can stay here. There’s no reason to leave unless we’re being chased, and no one in town knows what’s going on.’
‘What’s going on with the whole on-the-run-from-the-FBI thing, or with us?’
JJ sighed. ‘Is there something going on with us?’
Emily didn’t answer. ‘I thought you wanted to leave the country.’ And then split up.
‘I still do, but there’s no rush.’
‘What about Hotchner? Yesterday you seemed pretty worried he’d be kicking in our door by now.’
‘I don’t want to spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder. We don’t need to stay here forever, just a few months or so.’
Emily nodded. ‘Okay.’
‘Okay? Really?’ JJ grinned. ‘I thought I was going to have to pull out a powerpoint.’
‘I don’t like running either, and I’ve been doing it far longer. If there’s no danger to staying put, there’s no reason to move.’
JJ shivered. ‘I mean, it would be warmer in Mexico.’
Emily laughed. ‘Oh, give it up. If we cross the border, it’ll be the northern one.’
‘Ugh. We’re definitely staying here.’
Emily dragged herself to her feet. ‘If you’re that cold, you could help me bring in wood.’
‘Or I could go find a blanket.’
Emily shoved her off the couch. ‘I like my idea better.’
--
Emily jolted awake, lying on the threadbare carpet. Neither of them had wanted to take the time and energy to make up the bed, and around 2am JJ had just laid down on the floor and refused to get up. Emily had given up on anything else and stayed there with her, justifying her actions with ‘she might make a run for it.’
It took her a moment to get her bearings, sitting and looking around for what had woken her. Beside her, she could just make out JJ’s face, still asleep, the firelight paying over her features and highlighting the blonde hair spilling over her shoulders.
JJ shifted slightly, eyes still closed. ‘Hm? Is someone there?’
Emily sank back down, running her hands through her hair. ‘No.’
‘You sure?’
She sighed, letting her head drop onto the floor. ‘Yeah.’
JJ slithered closer, almost touching her. ‘I’m cold.’
Emily froze, torn between closing the gap between them and fleeing to Canada immediately. ‘You...could get closer to the fire.’
JJ smiled, eyes still closed. ‘Oh, but you’re right here.’
Emily decided Canada could wait. She’ll be gone in a week, tops. Just this once. She wrapped an arm around JJ’s shoulders, pulling the blonde against her. JJ tucked her head against Emily’s chest, curling even closer. ‘See? Now we’re both warm.’
Emily almost smiled. Just this once.
--
JJ was gone when she woke up in the almost sunrise light, the fire burned down to embers. Emily lay there for longer than she needed to, knowing once she got up life would be there to kick every inch of her for letting her guard down. She’s leaving soon. There’s no point in...whatever this is.
She dragged herself to her feet after another minute, hoping JJ was at least still in the house.
JJ turned out to be in the kitchen, drying last night’s dinner dishes. Emily noticed the holster back on her hip, no doubt strapped on first thing after she’d gotten up.
JJ grabbed a plate from the sink. ‘Good morning.’
Emily wasn’t sure how that ‘good morning’ had been meant. ‘Hey.’
JJ set the plate she’d been drying on the counter, wiping her hands on the dishrag. ‘We need to talk.’
Emily’s heart skipped about five beats. ‘About what?’
‘About our plans after this. We can’t live here forever, but I still don’t want to try leaving now.’
‘Whenever you want is fine.’
JJ twisted the dishrag between her fingers, looking anywhere but Emily. ‘And when we do leave...are we going to stay together?’
Emily didn’t particularly want to look at her either. ‘If you want.’
JJ nodded, staring at her feet. ‘Okay.’
Emily stepped closer to her, willing her to look up. Just this once.
JJ kept her eyes fixed firmly on the ground, turning to put the plates away. Emily reached for her, stopping her in her tracks. Just this once.
‘You ever heard the phrase ‘taking advantage of someone?”
JJ met her eyes. ‘Yeah?’
‘Well, seeing as your hands are full, and as such you can’t go for your gun, I’m going to take advantage of that.’
Before JJ could respond, Emily’s hands were in her hair as she kissed her, pulling JJ close against her before stepping back.
JJ stared at her. ‘What...what was that for.’
Emily looked back at her. ‘I just wanted something of you. For just one moment.’
JJ smiled, hair falling into her eyes. ‘You can have more than a moment.’
‘What do you mean by that?’
JJ tossed the plates and towel onto the counter before turning back to Emily. ‘I mean this.’ She reached for Emily’s hand, twining their fingers together, pulling her back in before kissing her, feeling Emily’s other hand back in her hair, wrapping her own free arm around her shoulders.
Emily pulled back, staring at her. ‘You just kissed me.’
‘Is that an issue?’
Emily grinned. ‘Not at all.’
JJ drew her closer. ‘Good, ‘cause I’d like to do it again.’
Emily let her, allowed her hands to drift into JJ’s hair, around her shoulders, holding her close. Just this once.
Unhooking the Stars
--
@enbies-and-felonies chapter 8!
--
Moving On
--
Emily noticed the throbbing in her arm first, followed by the fact that she was leaning on JJ. She sat up quickly, combing her fingers through her hair in a futile attempt to neaten it. JJ was staring at her hands, eyes glassy and unfocused. Emily reached gently for her shoulder, turning her so she could look at her face. ‘Hey.’
JJ took a moment to respond. ‘Hey.’
‘You okay?’
‘No.’
Emily nodded. ‘I didn’t think so.’ She paused for a moment, trying to think of something to say to keep the silence from falling again. ‘Was that your brother?’
‘Huh?’
‘The boy who warned us. ’
‘Oh. No.’ JJ smiled sadly. ‘I mean, kind of. He’s my best friend.’
She paused. ‘Was. He was my best friend.’
Emily glanced over at her. ‘He didn’t fire.’
‘What?’
‘Your friend. His gun never left his holster.’
JJ looked up. ‘But everyone else...’
‘Oh, yeah. They were going for the head.’
JJ bit her lip. ‘Is there a TV, or radio? We should put the news on.’
Emily pulled her up, letting go of her hand a second later than she needed to. ‘In the kitchen.’
--
The ancient radio on the windowsill crackled with static for a moment before JJ could make out the words.
‘-and in addition to Emily Prentiss, who remains on the run following a standoff with police yesterday, we advise the public to be on the lookout for one of our own, former SSA Jennifer Jareau, who is wanted for the murder of a local police officer in a shootout yesterday. Please be advised that both are considered armed and highly dangerous.’
Another voice cut in, describing both her and Emily, but JJ was to fixated on the information following her own name to notice much. Murder? I didn’t-
She froze, suddenly back in the alley. Lifting her head, aiming carefully for the man’s chest. The crack of the shot, the weight of the gun in her hand. How he’d dropped, the sound of his gun clattering onto the asphalt.
Oh. Oh, no. No, no, he was wearing a vest, he can’t be dead. I shot him in the chest so he’d live. I can’t have-
‘JJ?’ Emily’s hand on her shoulder yanked her back to reality. ‘What just happened?’
JJ shook her head, numb. ‘That man I shot. He’s dead.’
Emily looked confused. ‘That’s...what happens when you shoot people, JJ.’
JJ tore away from her. ‘No! I thought he had a vest, I didn’t want to kill him! He’s just doing his job, and now he’s dead because of me.’
‘There are plenty of people dead because of you and your team. Why do you care about him?’
‘He might have had a family! A child to raise or a wife or a mother who waited up for him! He was a cop! One of the good guys.’
‘You really think you only kill bad guys? You think the world is black and white, good and bad? You think so highly of yourself as to never have shot a ‘good guy’ until now? Let me tell you something, Jennifer. You’re not the good guys.’
‘Oh, and you are?’
‘No. I am not. But at least I don’t pretend otherwise.’
‘You kill innocent people.’
‘I kill criminals, same as you. If I had a badge, you’d give me a medal.’
‘I have a responsibility to the government to protect and serve the citizens of this country. That’s what this badge means, and I had to earn it.’
‘I have to earn every breath I take. You’re not special, fed. Stop pretending a gold flash at your waist gives you the right to take lives free of consequence.’
‘What gives you the right, then?’
‘Nothing. None of us have that right. We just learn to live with it.’
JJ turned up to her. ‘How, then? How do I live with it? I kill killers. This was a good man.’
‘He was a killer.’
‘For the law.’
‘I kill for the law too. Just a different one than you enforce.’
All the fight seemed to drain from JJ’s body. She slid down to the floor, leaning her back to the wall. ‘I was a good person, Emily.’
‘I never said you weren’t.’
‘I don’t think I am anymore.’
Emily sat down beside her. ‘In a court of law? Maybe not. But the law isn’t the final say as to your morals.’
‘It is to my team. And it was to me. The law is what defines us as federal agents.’
‘The law also says ketchup is a vegetable.’
JJ shifted closer to her. ‘That’s not the law I’m referring to.’
‘Not all laws are just, or right, or even well-intended.’
‘I enforced them that way.’
Emily sighed. ‘Look, if you want to spend the rest of your life paralysed of possibly committing an act of injustice, be like that. But at some point you need to move on. Have your choices hurt people? Yes. Will you hurt someone again? Probably. Are your intentions pure? Maybe not. But all of that is part of being human. We’re neither saints, nor angels. Trying to be perfect makes it hard to be good.’
JJ rested her head on Emily’s shoulder. ‘Quite a speech from a killer for hire.’
‘Why, thank you. I try.’
JJ almost smiled. 'Okay then, miss morally grey, what now? How do I let this go?’
‘You’ve killed before. How do you live with those?’
JJ didn’t need to think. ‘They were justified.’
‘He was trying to kill us. I think that’s justified.’
JJ sighed. ‘I think it’s going to take a while before I get there.’
Emily nodded. ‘You won’t forget him. But you can move on.’
Unhooking the Stars
--
@enbies-and-felonies chapter 7!
--
I Think We’re Alone Now
--
Emily frowned at the piece of paper JJ had handed her. ‘You want me to sign this?’
JJ took a sip from the mug of coffee on the counter in front of her. ‘You want a deal?’
Emily glanced back at JJ, snatching the mug away from her. ‘I want my coffee back first, you little thief!’
‘You could make me my own.’
‘Coffee isn’t for feds.’
JJ rolled her eyes. ‘I’ll make my own, then.’
Emily returned to the paper, eyes darting over the page. ‘I’m not signing this.’
JJ poured herself a mug of coffee. ‘I can’t offer you anything better.’
‘I could hit you over the head and leave. That would be better.’
‘Please don’t.’
‘Give me one good reason.’
The words slipped out before JJ knew she’d said them. ‘You’d miss me.’
Emily smiled, almost to herself. ‘Yeah, I guess I would.’
She reached for the paper, scrawling her signature across it before sliding the sheet back to JJ. ‘When do we leave?’
--
Six hours later, JJ stared uneasily out the window, watching the world go by through a haze of rain as Emily wove through the rush hour traffic. Hotch had requested they meet at the site of the bombing, and Emily had no choice but to agree.
She had given JJ her weapon back that morning, as a ‘show of good faith.’
JJ hoped Emily didn’t think she’d be using it against her own team.
They left the car in one of the underground garages. Emily leaned over to JJ, hiding her words from the cameras. ‘They’ve got eyes on us.’
JJ could see Morgan lurking in an SUV a few rows over, and Rossi pretending to text by the elevator. Hotch was sure to be someplace close as well, with Spencer in tow. ‘Oh, yeah. I would expect nothing less, but I think they’ll let us get aboveground.’
As JJ predicted, no one made a move until they approached the edge of the lake. Through the downpour she could just make out the silhouette of Hotch at the water’s edge, arms crossed. Spencer was with him, his expression curiously blank. He met her eyes, suddenly gesturing for her to duck.
That as the only warning they got before the SWAT team behind them opened fire. JJ grabbed Emily’s hand, pulling them both to the ground hard, covering her head with her free arm as bullets swarmed over them.
Next thing she knew, she was on her feet, Emily dragging her into an alley on the edge of the Common. ‘Move!’
JJ was too lost to do anything else, focusing all her energy on sprinting, eyes squinted against the rain. Emily pulled her along the twisting street, ducking the shots still coming, turning back every so often to return fire. JJ stared ahead, catching the figure coming at them just in time. ‘Look out!’
Emily spun on her heel and dragged her down another sidestreet, firing at the man now giving chase as his shots sailed harmlessly over them, barely able to aim in the freezing, pouring rain. JJ, just behind her, drew her own weapon as she passed Emily, urging her onwards. ‘It was a trap!’
Emily glared back at her as best she could while running for her life. ‘No shit! Your team set this up?’
‘They’re shooting at me, too!’
They rounded the corner, hearing the footsteps of their pursuers echoing in the alley behind them. Emily forced JJ’s head down as a bullet ricocheted off the wall above her, standing between her and the shooter.
JJ heard Emily cry out as a lucky shot pierced her sleeve, tearing her arm open. JJ fired back until the man retreated, running to her side, pulling her up. ‘You good?’
Emily nodded, teeth gritted. ‘Yeah. Can’t shoot though.’
‘That’s okay, let’s go!’
Another shot rang out, forcing them down onto the wet street. The man appeared back around the corner, firing wildly. It’s only a matter of time before he hits us somewhere vital. JJ lifted her head, aiming carefully for his chest. He’s got to be wearing a vest. He’ll be fine. Her shot struck him square. He dropped like a stone, his gun clattering onto the asphalt. JJ stood and ran, grabbing Emily’s dropped weapon and following her deeper into the city. They disappeared into the maze of alleyways, vanishing into the rain.
--
Emily slumped against the concrete wall of the abandoned tunnel they’d ducked into. ‘Think we lost them?’
JJ glanced back. There was no sign of pursuit, only the thrum of the rain on the roof. ‘I hope so.’
Emily groaned, leaning her head back to the wall. ‘Some deal that was.’
JJ frowned. ‘Let me see your arm.’
Emily unclenched her bloody hand from the wound, hissing through her teeth. ‘It’ll be okay.’
JJ wasn’t so sure. ‘That’s a lot of blood. We should get moving, maybe back to the house?’
It took Emily a while to respond, her eyes drifting shut. ‘Yeah...back to the house...’
‘Oh, no you don’t.’ JJ knelt in front of her, pushing Emily’s damp hair out of her eyes. ‘Look at me. Keep looking right here, and everything will be fine. I’m going to try and stop the bleeding, okay?’
Emily nodded, eyes half opening. JJ pulled her scarf off, wrapping it tightly around Emily’s forearm before tying it off and hauling her to her feet. ‘C’mon. The longer we wait, the less likely it is we get home.’
She could feel Emily’s weight leaning against her, could sense her heart beating rapidly. As long as it’s beating. They made their way out of the tunnel, JJ half carrying Emily towards their last non-compromised safe house in the area. She’d been shown it as a last resort, in case they needed more information for the deal they’d been promised. Emily had wanted JJ to be able to vouch for the accuracy.
Some good that did us.
Stumbling through the doorway, JJ slid Emily off her shoulders, stripping off her jacket, soaked through with blood and rain. The once-blue fabric of her scarf was stained crimson, the blood soaking through the thin cotton. Emily, pale and unmoving against the wall, looked more dead than alive. ‘No, no.’ JJ shook her firmly by the shoulders. ‘You stay here, okay? Stay right here with me.’
Emily’s eyes opened slightly, meeting JJ’s frantic gaze. ‘Hey...don’t worry.’
‘Good. Good, keep looking at me.’ JJ re-wrapped the scarf, pulling it until Emily bit her lip to keep from crying out. ‘Okay. I need something else to put on this.’
‘Closet...top shelf. Red box.’
JJ grabbed the package. Inside was gauze, suture needles and thread, disinfectant, and tape, along with a few unpleasant looking instruments JJ hoped she wouldn’t have to use. ‘You have a kit for this?’
Emily gave a ghost of a smile. ‘Not...my first time...getting shot.’
‘No, I guess not. Tell me what to do.’
Emily talked her through the process of cleaning, stitching, and bandaging the wound, far more calmly than JJ thought she would have managed in that state. ‘Nice job. Almost...professional looking, except...for those poor excuses for sutures...under the bandaging.’
JJ scowled. ‘You try stitching for the first time with numb fingers, on someone who won’t stop flinching.’
‘I don’t want...pain meds, I’ll lose...my senses.’
‘You almost just lost more than that, you do realise.’
Emily nodded. ‘Oh, I do. If your boy hadn’t...warned you-’
JJ finished for her. ‘-we’d both be going home in body bags.’
Emily reached out her good hand, letting JJ pull her up and steady her into the living room, sinking back down on the couch. JJ sat down next to her, almost close enough to touch. ‘What are we going to do?’
Emily cautiously leaned against her, resting her head on JJ’s shoulder. ‘We’ll...figure that out.’
JJ froze. ‘You’re touching me.’
‘I just got shot...let me have this.’
JJ stroked her hair gingerly, afraid that Emily would regain her awareness at any second. ‘You could have just asked.’
She felt Emily smile. ‘Where’s...the fun in that?’
JJ sighed. ‘You’re hopeless.’
Emily turned to look up at her, meeting JJ’s eyes. ‘Not anymore.’
THEY ARE ALL SO GOOD I'M- DSAJFHKJGDHSFHJGFSAJKGDHFD CM YOU ARE AMAZING ILY
ASDFGHJ I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKE THEM seriously i don’t know what to say but ilyyyyy thank you so so much <3
Unhooking the Stars
--
@enbies-and-felonies chapter 6!
--
Broken Glass
--
Lauren glanced back at the body sprawled limply in the back of the car. She’d mostly covered JJ’s still form with an old blanket she kept for the express purpose of hiding bodies, but a few strands of blonde hair peeked out, threatening to reveal the bloodstain on her temple. Lauren swore under her breath as she turned onto the highway, heading north as the sun set.
What a mess. How didn’t you know she was a fed, you idiot?
She shook her head. At least it’s dealt with now.
5 hours later, she pulled the car onto a gravel road leading to an old farmhouse in northern Maine. Once a last stop before slipping across the border, now a last resort for her to hide. Leaving JJ in the car for a moment, she crept into the barn, grabbing a shovel from against the wall. There were plenty of graves in the back garden, another hole wouldn’t make a difference. Lauren chose an out-of-the-way spot, underneath an oak tree, mostly bare in the late fall chill. Stabbing the blade of the spade into the soil, she dug around six feet into the frozen ground before turning back to the car to retrieve both JJ and her hastily-packed bag.
Dragging JJ around to the back, Lauren stripped off her jacket and gloves, throwing them into the hole and filling it back in. She looked down at JJ on the ground, just starting to stir. ‘C’mon, fed. It’s cold out here.’
--
JJ awoke to find herself staring up at the low, wooden board ceiling of the farmhouse kitchen. Lauren, or Emily’s, generosity in leaving her alive didn’t seem to extend to a bed. She was untied though, and that was a surprise. Even more of an oddity was that she was alone. Emily didn’t seem to be even in the house, much less the kitchen.
That can’t be good.
Laying on the floor, JJ took stock of her unfortunate situation. Untied, so we’re not near anything. She left me alone. That’s either very good, or very, very bad. Considering the sequence of events that had occurred last night, she was rather inclined to believe the latter. Reaching to grasp at her pounding head, she found a welt that had dripped blood down her face and neck, almost certainly from the blow she vaguely remembered Emily dealing out the night before. Lovely. How am I going to get out of this one? She’s going to put a bullet in my brain when she gets back, and I don’t think I can even stand right now, let alone run.
JJ was interrupted from such pleasant musings by the door creaking open. Emily poked her head in. ‘Oh. You’re awake.’
JJ gave her as much of a glare as she could. ‘You seem disappointed.’
‘I assure you, I’m not. Just surprised.’
‘Yeah, you pistol-whipped me pretty hard.’
‘To be fair, you did lie to me about...pretty much everything.’
JJ dragged herself upright. ‘And you believed me?’
Emily sighed. ‘Not a bit. I would have liked to, though’
‘I'd like you a lot better if you’d let me go.’
‘Ah, not so fast. I believe we discussed a deal last night?’
‘I may have mentioned a possibility of leniency, but certainly not a deal.’
‘Well, I’m mentioning one.’
JJ nodded. ‘Okay. First I have to let my team know I’m alive, then we’ll talk deal.’
‘That easy, huh?’
‘I just said we’ll talk. I can’t promise you anything.’
Emily looked almost hopeful. ‘I understand.’
She handed JJ an old satellite phone from her bag. ‘I’ll be right here while you make that call.’
--
Spencer answered the phone on the second ring. ‘Hello?’
‘Spence. Can you put Hotch on, please?’
‘JJ? Where are you? Are you okay?’
‘I’m fine. Put Hotch on the line.’
Hotch’s voice crackled over the speaker. ‘I’m here.’
JJ took a deep breath, conscious of Emily behind her. ‘I want a deal for Lauren Reynolds. She’s of far more use to us as a mole than in a cell.’
JJ could practically hear Hotch’s frown. ‘No.’
‘Why?’
‘We don’t make deals with terrorists.’
‘She’s an assassin, not a terrorist! You’ve made deals with nastier.’
‘Those deals still involved them in a cell. You’re proposing she stay free.’
‘JJ, the only way I will make that deal is if the other option is your death.’
‘It is. If you don’t make this deal, she will kill me, Hotch.’
--
Emily stared at JJ. The silence on the phone was deafening. Finally, the man JJ had been conversing with spoke up. ‘Okay. We can promise to take her alive, and the rest will have to depend on what information she can give us.’
JJ nodded. ‘Okay. I have to go.’
Emily snatched the phone from her hand. ‘What was that? Do you think so low of me that I would shoot you in the back?’
JJ gazed back at her. ‘No. But I don’t want to see you in prison for the rest of your life, and there was no other option.’
‘I can leave! Why do you think I dragged your ass all the way up here? I can assure the fall foliage was not a factor!’
‘I don’t have no idea where we are, we could be in France for all I know! I’d like to keep you safe, and federal custody will do that.’
‘Bullshit! You might be safe, but me? I’ll be killed before I can talk. They don’t take kindly to whistle-blowers in the mob, let me tell you.’ Emily’s voice softened. ‘Why do you care so much about my safety?’
‘You deserve a second chance.’
‘Why me? Why not the child I killed last year, or his father the year before that? There is blood on my hands you cannot erase.’
‘You are not the only one deserving. But you are the one I can try to help.’
‘Oh, stop with your redemption crap. Why are you helping me? And if you say ‘because it’s the right thing to do,’ I’m gonna shoot you.’
JJ sighed. ‘No. I can assure you I’m not trying to earn any favour by trying to keep you alive.’
‘Then why? What am I to you?’
JJ had gotten very, very close over the past few minutes. Emily was suddenly aware of that fact, and found she really would rather be anywhere else than almost nose-to-nose with an FBI agent who probably wanted her dead. JJ stared back at her, eyes unreadable, for a string of moments before turning away. ‘You could be something to me. Please, don’t make us give up that chance.’
Unhooking the Stars
--
@enbies-and-felonies chapter 5!
--
Candles
--
The placement of the bomb went without incident. It took less than an hour to tuck the pipe under the soil, and they slipped away just after sunrise, rinsing their hands and changing clothes in one of the restrooms nearby. Walking back the the T stop they would take home was almost peaceful, watching the city wake up around them. The only people in the park were early morning joggers and a few mothers with small children, out for their morning powerwalk, all with the same grey prams as each other.
JJ smiled at one such pair. The mother had stopped the pram under a tree, and the child was busily collecting sticks and leaning them against each other. She looked up, and started walking over towards them, unseen by the mother fishing through her bag.
The child stopped in front of Lauren, looking up at her curiously. She couldn’t have been more than four, if that, with dark brown hair in wispy bangs over her forehead and a bright pink jacket. She held a small doll out to them, grinning. ‘Will you play dolly with me? We can build a house!’
Before JJ could answer, the child’s mother came running up. ‘Emily! I told you not to wander off. I’m so sorry.’
JJ smiled at the mother, who had picked up her daughter and was now reminding her about not talking to strangers. ‘It’s all right. She’s adorable.’
The child and mother turned to leave, and JJ looked over at Lauren. She appeared frozen in place, eyes wide, mouth slightly open. Definitely not typical Lauren behaviour, even in the less than a week JJ had known her. She cautiously reached for her arm, wrapping gloved fingers around her wrist. ‘Lauren? You with me?’
Lauren shook her head as though ridding herself of the moment. ‘Fine. Why are you touching me?’ She yanked her arm out of JJ’s grasp.
JJ wasn’t about to push the matter. ‘Okay. Let’s go, then.’
‘Go where?’
‘Home? Where we were going before you lost your senses at the sight of a small child?’
Lauren ducked her head. ‘It wasn’t the child that did it.’
JJ glanced over. ‘Really? It sure looked like it, unless...’ she trailed off, staring as Lauren. ‘It wasn’t the child. It was her name.’
--
‘Your name isn’t Lauren, is it.’
JJ was perched on the arm of the couch, waiting for the news stations to pick up on the bombing. Hopefully Hotch had gotten the team there in time.
Lauren, or whatever she was called, stiffened. ‘Don’t ask me that again.’
‘I won’t tell anyone.’
She sat up, glaring daggers at JJ. ‘One, I don’t trust you. Two, that’s personal. Three, I’m pretty sure your name isn’t Natalie, either.’
JJ shrugged. ‘Only one way to find out.’
‘That’s if I care. And I do not.’
‘I don’t believe you’re as coldhearted as you like to show.’
Lauren stood up. ‘I think you should stop talking.’
JJ bowed her head, raising her hands in a gesture of surrender. ‘Okay. You win for now.’
‘For now?’
‘I’m hoping you’ll trust me enough at some point. I’m willing to wait for that.’
Lauren downright glared at her. ‘You’ll be there a while, then.’
--
‘Are you going to tell me your real name now?’
JJ had looked up from the book she was reading to poke the question at her again. Lauren, seated beside her, was typing something on her laptop.
‘I thought I told you not to ask that.’
‘I’m not great at following directions.’
‘Yeah, I picked up on that. Let me phrase this differently: Ask me that again, and you’ll be out on the street. If you’re lucky, I’ll leave your vital organs intact.
JJ was silent for a moment. ‘What if I already know it?’
‘Then I’d like you to forget it.’
JJ shrugged. ‘Okay.’
Lauren glanced over. ‘Okay? Just like that?’
JJ folded her hands in her lap. ‘I said I wanted to wait until you tell me.’
‘What makes you think I’m going to tell you at all? Once we get paid, you move on! I see no reason I’ll ever see you again.’
‘I don’t think that’s quite true.’
‘And why is that, little miss ex-cop? Gonna hook back up with your fed pals and have me arrested?’
JJ flinched at that. Not much, but enough. Lauren’s eyes widened. Quick as a snake, she snatched JJ’s gun out of her hip holster, turning it on her. ‘On the ground.’
JJ complied, hands in the air as Lauren stripped her of her backup and knife.
‘Give me one reason that I shouldn’t shoot you right now, fed.’
JJ gazed back calmly. ‘Logically? I’m your only hope for leniency. Emotionally? I don’t believe you will.’
‘I wouldn’t base too much off of that. But I’ll offer you a deal. Give me your name, and I’ll trade you back to your federal friends. I’ll even let you keep all your fingers.’
‘Okay.’
‘Okay? Then start talking.’
JJ looked up at her, lifting her chin slightly.
‘My name is SSA Jennifer Jareau. I work for the Behavioural Analysis Unit in Quantico, Virginia. I am part of a team of profilers who know where I am and will come looking if I don’t report in. And I know a whole lot about you, Emily Prentiss.’
Unhooking the Stars
--
@enbies-and-felonies chapter 4!
--
Would You be So Kind
--
The Common was full of people, families, runners, bikers, highschoolers and college students scuttling to and from classes. Lauren and JJ blended in with the crowd as they made their way over the Lagoon, where the reception would be held later in the week.
Lauren paused on the edge of the pond, looking out over the near-frozen expanse. ‘My parents used to bring me here when we were in town. I never thought I’d be figuring out how best to bomb it.’
JJ paused, looking up at her. Lauren seemed to realise the personal aspect of her words, turning her back to the water. ‘We need to know where Peters is going to be.’
JJ glanced around. ‘Well, he’s not the host, nor the speaker, so not up here. But he’s an ‘honoured guest,’ so probably somewhere in the front row?’
Lauren nodded. ‘So, the best place to hide anything would have to be either on him personally, or-’
‘-in the podium.’ JJ pointed to a patch of grass by the cement barrier of the lake. ‘Which is likely to be there, right?’
‘How do we get to it before the event, though? It might be easier to slip something in his bag.’
‘Plus, that way we’re sure to get him.’
Lauren frowned. ‘How do we put something the size of a bomb, even a small one, into his bag? What if he doesn’t have one? Or doesn’t sit with it?’
JJ bit her lip, thinking more about how to get the bomb squad there in time than carrying out the task. ‘Well...what if we buried one?’
Lauren stared at her. ‘Are you serious?’
‘Why not? It’s not like they run metal detectors over the ground, and if they do we can toss a couple of bottle caps on top or something. It wouldn’t be hard to peel back a layer of turf, and-’
‘Nat, that’s brilliant.’
JJ was taken aback. ‘What?’
‘You’re right that they won’t be minesweeping for this. If we get a copy of the seating chart, we can place it-’
‘-right under where his chair will be.’
Lauren grinned. ‘I knew there was a reason I kept you around.’
--
Over the course of her time at the BAU, JJ had seen dozens, if not hundreds, of bombs. They all had been faithfully catalogued and documented, the contents noted, so if any variation popped up, they wouldn’t be starting from nothing.
What Lauren was doing, however, JJ had no idea.
‘Nat, come over here. Pass me that pipe fitting.’
JJ handed it over, watching nervously as Lauren screwed the fitting over the pipe packed with things JJ didn’t want to know about.
Should I call Hotch? There’s no way a jury would let her walk on this.
No, they’ll be at the reception tomorrow. It’ll be safer to tell him then.
Lauren gingerly picked up the pipe and placed it in a case, slipping the key out of the padlock on it. ‘Let’s go find some food. Let me just wash my hands, okay?’
‘What?’
Lauren rolled her eyes. ‘I am not having peanut butter on stale bread for supper again.’
JJ laughed. ‘That’s fair. Where were you thinking?’
Lauren shrugged. ‘There’s a few places in town, or we could go into the city. There’s no time limit, really. We just have to back early enough to visit the Common.’
‘Okay. We can walk for a bit, if you want.’
Lauren almost smiled. ‘Perfect.’
JJ locked the door behind them, Lauren waiting on the walk for her. ‘Let’s go into the city. It’s too quiet out here.’
JJ shrugged. ‘Sure. Green line?’
‘You’re learning! Yeah, right through town.’
They set off in silence, Lauren keeping a cautious eye out for cars, busses, or any other assassins who might be in the area. It was spitting snow, and the flakes stood out on Lauren’s dark hair under every streetlight. JJ smiled to herself. Ten minutes ago, I was building a bomb with her. Now we’re going out to eat like, well, like normal people.
Lauren noticed her smile. ‘What?’
‘I was just thinking about how normal this is.’
‘Building a bomb to take out a high-profile businessman?’
‘No, going out to eat. Like we weren’t just building a bomb to take out a high-profile businessman.’
Lauren grinned at that. ‘We can do both.’
--
As it turned out, they didn’t end up at a restaurant, stopping instead at a small corner store to pick up fruit and not-stale bread. Lauren let Natalie pick out the cereal as well, laughing when she chose the sweetest kind, with tiny marshmallows and a prize inside. ‘How old are you, Nat?’
Natalie stuck out her tongue. ‘Old enough to want fun cereal, thank you very much.’
‘You are a child.’
‘And?’
‘And nothing. But I will remember this, so when you get a reputation I can tell everyone who might hire you that you still eat cereal with marshmallows in it.’
‘My eating marshmallows has no effect on the aim of my glock.’
‘Oh, I’m sure it doesn’t. And I am very glad we’re on the same side.’
Natalie looked up at her. ‘Are we?’
Lauren nodded. ‘Yeah. Yeah, I think we are.’
Unhooking the Stars
--
@enbies-and-felonies chapter 3!
--
Red and Black
--
Downtown Crossing was, as the boss had assumed, plenty crowded. Just before midnight, Lauren was lurking outside, pretending to be reading something on her phone when another young woman walked up, standing too close for comfort. She was blonde, around as tall as Lauren, and definitely carrying. Lauren smirked.
Amateur, shifting your weight like that. I can see your ankle holster.
‘I take it you’re not leaving a show?’
The woman looked away. ‘Nah, don’t have the money.’
‘Really?’ Lauren leaned in closer. ‘I would have thought the cops would pay you more.’
She smiled thinly. If Lauren’s comment had surprised her, she hid it well. ‘Ex-cop. Turns out they don’t like it when you shoot rapists on the job.’
‘Ah. I take it you’re a freeelancer now?’
‘I take it we’re here for the same reason.’
Lauren shifted away from her. ‘Depends on the reason. If you’re waiting for a train home, no. For a business opportunity, we might be.’
She nodded, blowing on her hands. It was mid-November, and got cold fast this far north. Lauren almost felt bad. ‘You got a name, ex-cop?’
‘I thought we didn’t trade names in this business.’
‘I make exceptions sometimes, if you’ll tell me yours.’
The woman grinned. ‘In that case, I’ll make one for you. Call me Natalie.’
‘Nice to meet you, Natalie. I’m Lauren.’ She paused, sending a sly smirk across at her. ‘Now that was almost civil of us!’
Natalie laughed. ‘And they say we’re barbaric.’
Lauren sighed as they walked into the station. ‘Well, someone’s about to be.’
--
The meeting itself wasn’t anything special. Lauren let Natalie stick close, telling herself she didn’t want the new girl to get herself killed before the job was even announced.
The most unpleasant surprise of the night was finding out that not only were they all working as a group, but they would have partners as well, ‘to prevent anyone slipping.’
You’re kidding. This is just some bad joke, right?
Natalie jerked her chin at her, tilting her head to the side in a clear question of ‘well?’
Lauren sighed, but nodded. I could do worse. At least this way I’m in charge.
The message runner that had visited her earlier handed them a file on their target. John Peters, a businessman that had ordered the killing of one of their own a few days earlier. His target had escaped, making him one of the highest on their hit list.
This should be fun.
They slipped out at around 1:30, pausing under a streetlamp to let a very cold-looking group pass in front of them, clutching red, white, and blue playbills against their dress clothes. Natalie smirked at them. ‘Looking chilly, there. Bet they wish they’d left earlier.’
‘Oh, but then they’d have walked right through us, and that would have been...unpleasant...for all involved.’ Lauren cast another look at the retreating group. ‘I wonder what show they were seeing?’
Natalie’s answer alerted her to the fact that she’d asked that out loud. ‘Les Miserables, I think.’
Lauren glanced at her. ‘What?’
Natalie blushed. ‘Les Miserables. It’s a love story.’
‘How do you know that, ex-cop?’
‘My sister liked theatre. We saw a few shows in New York when I was younger.’
‘Les Miserables. The miserables? Yeah, that sounds really lovely.’
Natalie looked back at her. ‘Depends on your definition of love.’
Lauren paused. ‘Love is a myth, Nat. Especially in our profession.’
She hunched her shoulders against the cold, almost stepping closer to Lauren. ‘I wouldn’t know about that.’
Lauren’s voice turned hard. ‘I would.’
--
JJ had never thought she would find herself walking in lockstep with an international assassin, after midnight, on a dark road. Much less while discussing the topic of love.
But for some godforsaken reason, there she was, following Lauren home like some lost puppy. She’d asked if JJ had a place to stay, and grudgingly offered her a bed at her current house. Why JJ had said yes, she had no idea.
Not like I’m planning to actually sleep or anything. And I’m pretty sure if she wanted me dead, she’d have pulled the trigger already.
Lauren tossed her jacket on the hall table before flopping down on her couch. ‘If you want to sleep, I promise I won’t shoot you.’
JJ shook her head. ‘Thanks, but I think I’ll stay awake. Shouldn’t we go over the file? He might try to flee the country.’
Lauren sat up. ‘You and your logic. Give it here.’
JJ passed the file over. ‘It says he’s been invited to an event at the Common next week. Might be a good place to hit.’
‘Hmmm, yeah. You might be right, Nat.’
‘It happens.’
Lauren sighed. ‘Can you shoot anything other than that glock I see at your waist?’
Ah, shit. She had noticed.
'I'm comfortable with a rifle, if that’s what you’re asking.’
‘Oh, she’s brighter than I thought!’
‘Thanks, I think?’
‘I was asking that, but now I’m thinking a rifle might not be the best idea. Planting a bomb would have us more removed from the scene, as well as misdirecting our good friends the feds into thinking terrorism.’
‘Wouldn’t a bomb kill more than just our target?’
Lauren sat up to look at her. ‘Ah yes, more than one corrupt businessman killed. A tragic loss to our country.’
JJ shifted her feet. ‘Some of them might have their families there.’
Lauren’s eyes turned cold. ‘Tough.’
JJ didn’t press the point. Lauren turned away after a while, staring into space. No one broke the silence until the first rays of light shone into the room, and Lauren pulled JJ into the kitchen to make coffee. Lauren spoke up from her perch on the counter, clutching her mug in both hands. ‘I was thinking we could visit the common today? See where they’re holding our good friend’s reception?’
JJ pulled her hair into a fresh ponytail, grabbing her own mug of coffee off the counter by Lauren. ‘I think that’s an excellent idea.’
Unhooking the Stars
--
@enbies-and-felonies chapter 2!
--
Shoulders Back
--
Whatever JJ had expected to hear, that was not it. ‘What do you mean I have a case? Since when do I work alone? Hotch, what is going on here?’
Hotch frowned. ‘There’s been a recent string of murders in the Boston area over the past few months that appear to be mob hits. Strauss is concerned that there may be something bigger in the works, so you’re being sent undercover to check it out.’
JJ slumped down on the couch. ‘You’ve gotta be kidding me.’
Hotch was not kidding. ‘The plane’s fueling.’
JJ looked up at him. ‘Why aren’t we going as a team? If this crime ring is as bad as Strauss thinks it is, we’ll need all the help we can get to bring it down.’
‘I was overruled on that. There are other cases here that require the team’s attention, and one person is far less likely to be noticed.’
‘So, you just went along with that? No backup, no nothing?’
Hotch frowned. ‘This isn’t my choice, trust me. You’ll have backup in the form of the locals, and if something changes we can bring the team out.’
There was no point in arguing. ‘Do we at least have a plan?’
‘Yes. A high-profile mob boss has commissioned a group of hitmen, and your name is on the list.’ He pulled a file from his desk. ‘Well, this name is.’
JJ took the file, leafing through the papers. ‘Natalie James?’
‘A gun-for-hire killed last month by agents in New York. We’ve managed to keep the death quiet, so you have a ready-made cover. They’re meeting at a T stop in the theatre district tomorrow at midnight, and you’re going to join them.’
JJ said some words that would have gotten her a formal reprimand had it not been Hotch in the room. ‘Guess I’m going to Boston.’
She turned to leave, only to be stopped by Hotch’s hand on her shoulder. ‘JJ.’ She turned back, meeting his eyes. ‘Be careful.’
‘I will.’
--
Lauren stared at the man in disbelief. ‘What do you mean we have a job? Since when do I work with others?’
The scrawny twenty-something that ran communications for the group shrugged. ‘I don’t make the messages up, I just deliver them. The boss says he’s found a guy what needs a crew, and you were personally requested.’
Lauren sighed. This was not going to be fun. ‘And why was I personally requested? Is there no one else?’
‘That’s above my pay grade, but I’d take the job if I were you. I don’t think the boss was asking.’
Lauren muttered a phrase that would make a sailor blush. ‘Tell the boss I’ll be there. Where are we meeting?’
‘Theatre district, orange line, midnight. You’ll blend in with the crowds leaving.’
She rolled her eyes. ‘Oh, fabulous. So glad the boss thought this through.’
‘He always does.’
Lauren sighed. ‘Guess I’d better get ready.’
The young man nodded at her before ducking out the door. ‘Enjoy your night out.’
‘I’m sure I will.’
Unhooking the Stars
--
@enbies-and-felonies prologue / chapter 1 for a jemily mafia au??
--
Seconds and Years
--
The hit had been clean. Lauren Reynolds didn’t turn back to watch the life drain from the already cooling body she’d left in the snowy alley, focusing on getting out of the area. He wouldn’t be bothering her again.
The train was almost empty, as one would expect past midnight. Lauren had boarded the green line at Park Street, and was well away from the crime scene by now, on her way out to the safe house in Newton Centre that had been set up for them. A routine day, nothing out of the ordinary. There was a young couple talking quietly in the seats across from her, dresses and curled hair. They were holding playbills from a show Lauren didn’t know, a house against a purple background with unsettlingly detailed eyes on the front. She couldn’t quite make out the name. The girls weren’t much younger than her, but seemed children, enjoying a night out at the theatre, unaware of evil lurking.
I could kill them right now. End their lives, and they have no idea.
She ached for such naivety.
This kill had been her...oh, she’d lost count years ago. In the hundreds, it must be. Another life claimed, another red mark stitched into the lining of her jacket. It may have been childish to tally her kills, but she’d started as a child, and had no intention of giving up her custom now. If the bosses had a problem with it, she’d already be dead.
One of the girls was asleep now, her head on the other’s shoulder. How she trusted the world enough to close her eyes, Lauren didn’t know.
There had been a time, once, when she’d closed her eyes, trusted her world to be safe without watching it every second. Never again would she make that mistake.
The train lurched to a stop at the Newton Centre station, and Lauren slipped out, walking past darkened storefronts and the occasional car. Through the downtown area, into the residential streets, down the hill to the safe house. Punching in her code, confirming to the bosses it was in fact her entering, locking up for another night.
At some point, there would be a new assignment, and she would be moved, perhaps just to Boston, perhaps overseas. But Lauren wasn’t one to concern herself with might-be’s. Right now, she was here, and had a weapon and clothes to dispose of, a shower to take, and a report to write up. Her lips quirked in a smile. There was no rush. The man in the alley wasn’t going anywhere.
--
As Lauren carefully cleaned her weapon, 450 miles away Jennifer Jareau was being woken by the buzzing of her cell phone.
‘Garcia, this had better be good. I got home an hour ago and-’
‘JJ, it’s Hotch. We need you to come back in.’
‘For what?’
‘I can’t tell you over the phone. It’s urgent.’
His tone left no room for argument. ‘Yes, sir. I’m leaving now.’
JJ grabbed the clothes she had tossed on her chair a scant 45 minutes ago, collected her keys, badge, and ID from the various locations they’d been scattered, and opened the safe to get her weapon before grousing her way out to the car.
What in the world could he want barely an hour after we got home? and not over the phone?
Something was up, and JJ did not have a good feeling about it.
This sense was confirmed when the bullpen was empty, save for Hotch. No one else had been summoned back, and he didn’t say what this was about as he led them into his office.
‘I’m sorry to drag you back here so late, but you have a case.’
‘We have a case? Where is everyone else?’
‘We don’t have a case. You do.’
second impact
@enbies-and-felonies pt 5!! i’m gonna call this one the end but i might write an epilogue of sorts at some point? i hope you like it! <3
--
Hotch was gracious enough to wait until 7:30 to call them in later that day, so they drove Ellie to school on their way to the BAU.
‘I’m getting my uniform today! We’re meeting our coach too, and having our first practice and-’
JJ groaned. ‘-and drowning your mothers in release forms, physical forms, contact forms, the list goes on.’
‘Oh, yeah. We got those already, they’re on the hall table. They need to be in by Friday.
Emily smirked. ‘Well, Ellie, I think your mom can help you with that. She does have experience.
‘Yeah, from the athlete’s perspective. I feel bad for my mother, having to fill all those out every year.’
Ellie rolled her eyes. ‘It’s not that bad. You have case reports longer almost every day.’
Emily sighed as they stopped in front of Ellie’s school. ‘All the more reason for you not to add on top of them! You have your things? Alright, we’ll pick you up after practice. Have a good day!’
Ellie hopped out of the car, waving as she headed into the building. Emily dodged through the rush hour traffic as they drove the familiar route to the BAU, neither one wanting to break the silence that had settled once Ellie left.
Hotch only kept them until around noon that day, just finishing up paperwork and tying off any loose ends that had been left in the investigation. After Morgan and Reid left arm-in-arm at 11:30, he gave up on anything productive and gave them the rest of the day off.
JJ drove home, half watching the road and half lost in thought until Emily reminded her she’d just missed the turn down their road. JJ sighed and turned the car around, aware of Emily’s eyes drilling into her. ‘You really want to have that talk, huh?’
‘Yeah, I do.’
‘Okay. As soon as we get home.’
--
JJ tossed her keys onto the hall table, grabbing Ellie’s small mountain of sports forms as she walked into the kitchen where Emily, who was already making coffee, stared at the stack. ‘All that for a middleschool sport?’
JJ sighed. ‘Oh, yeah. All that plus impact testing, insurance forms, allergy information, and gosh knows what else.’ She pulled the top packet off the pile. ‘This at least is information. Her team roster, game times, uniform rules, and her-’
Emily frowned over the counter at her pause. ‘Her what?’
JJ tossed the form back onto the table. ‘I’m going to go pick up Ellie.’
‘What? It’s 1:00, she doesn’t even get out of school for another hour and a half.’
‘I don’t want her going to practice today.’
Emily come around to grab the packet off the table. ‘I thought we were going to talk about this? What happened?’
‘Her-’ JJ’s voice broke. ‘Her coach. He used to be-’
Emily met her eyes. ‘Brian Andrews. That’s your old coach, isn’t it?’
JJ closed her eyes, barely nodding. ‘Yes. He was.’
‘You need to tell me what’s so bad about him. I don’t want your perception of him to affect Ellie.’
‘Why don’t you just trust me?’
‘JJ, you know I do. I just can’t-’
‘Can’t what? Can’t just please, please, listen to me without needing to hear exactly how he hurt me? Exactly what happened? Em, stop. Just stop, please. I don’t want to hear how I ‘need to look on the bright side’ and ‘just because I had a bad experience doesn’t mean Ellie will.’ Because that’s so, so, not what I need to hear right now. You think Ellie should be allowed to play, great, she can play. But I cannot look the man that almost killed me in the eye and tell him I’m glad he can do the same to my daughter. Emily, you have to hear this. I don’t want my life to ruin Ellie’s. But I need my life, my experience to mean something to you.’
Emily, entirely taken aback by her outburst, paused for a moment. When she spoke again, her voice had none of its previous edge. ‘What do you mean ‘he almost killed you?”
JJ shook her head, lips pressed together.
Emily nodded. ‘Okay. If you don’t want to talk right now, fine, but will you sit with me?’
‘What?’
Emily shifted over to make space for her on the couch. ‘Sit with me. Please.’
JJ sat down gingerly, bracing herself for Emily to continue the conversation.
Emily laid her hand on JJ’s knee, waiting for her to make the next move. JJ placed her own hand over Emily’s, leaning into her until she could rest her head on the other’s shoulder. Emily threaded her fingers into JJ’s hair, stroking gently until she felt her relax. ‘Hey, sweetheart. You with me?’
JJ nodded, tucking her head against Emily’s shoulder.
‘Okay. Do you want to talk now, or just stay here?’
Barely more than a whisper. ‘Talk.’
‘Can I ask you a question?’
‘Yes.’
‘What did you mean when you said your coach almost killed you?’
JJ stiffened, her entire body tensing against Emily’s. She took a deep breath before beginning to speak. ‘I was 17, and got the flu just before a game. I had a fever of 102°. But missing a practice, let alone a game, as a captain was grounds for dismissal from the team. So I went. I almost passed out just walking to the field, so I swallowed my pride and asked to sit out.’
She paused, closing her eyes against the memory.
‘I stumbled out there, and he said to me,’
--
‘Are you serious? I trained you for years! Years! I made you everything you are, everything you will be, and you ask to sit out? How do you think that looks for me? My best senior, on the bench in the postseason? Not a chance! Get moving, girl. Three laps for your attitude, then practice.’
JJ had caught one word in five of his tirade through the pounding in her head. The tylenol the nurse had given her was wearing off, and she didn’t think making even one lap around the field was a possibility. She’d paused too long though, and a hand between her shoulder blades had her on the ground, facedown in the damp turf.
‘That’s four laps now, lazy. Get to it.’
JJ pulled herself up slowly, waiting for the world to stop spinning, then started a miserable jog around the field, barely upright. Pain, she was used to that. But this was different, a loss of ability, coordination, senses. Just three more laps, just two more laps, just-
--
‘I didn’t know I’d passed out until I woke up in the ER. I was left on the ground until practice was over. I was hypothermic and my temperature had spiked to 104°, but as far as Coach was concerned, I was useless.’
Emily was silent for so long JJ pulled back, turning her head up to look at Emily, hoping she hadn’t just ruined...well, everything. But Emily was staring down at her, mouth slightly open. ‘Sweetheart...I don’t know what to say.’
JJ didn’t answer, so Emily pulled her onto her lap, tucking the blonde’s head against her chest, wrapping her arms around her. ‘Shhhh, hey, I’m here. I have you.’
JJ nodded, staying where she was. ‘Do you understand now?’
‘Yeah. At least better than I did.’ Emily turned to look at her. ‘You lived like that for four years?’
‘Four years, year-round. We had an indoor rec league and spring games too. I saw him more than I saw my mother.’
‘Why didn’t you say anything?’
‘Because that’s normal! He wasn’t out of the ordinary at all for what he did, and it made us better players.’
‘I can assure you none of that made you a better player.’
‘It made me stronger.’
‘You’re repeating something he said, aren’t you.’
‘Yeah. I don’t know what else to say.’
‘What else happened?’
Emily waited a minute before JJ answered, her voice flat and detached.
‘He kept us on the field for as many as six hours, running almost the whole time. We were to attend practice no matter what, sick, injured, sister had just died, whatever. We would bleed through our cleats from blisters. When I got home every night, I would have to soak my socks and uniform to make sure my mother didn’t see the bloodstains. I played concussed and on stress fractures for two years, almost all without any access to medical care, because that would mean I had to sit out, and I couldn’t do that. On weekends we played dawn til dusk, before and after our games, with laps if we weren’t performing well enough. I wanted to quit so badly, but I had no other way out, and he knew that. For all of us.’
‘How could he do that? You were a child!’
‘We were children, and had no idea what we’d gotten into. When you don’t know anything else...I didn’t even know something was wrong with what he did until I graduated college.’
‘My god...JJ, why didn’t you tell me this earlier?’
‘I really, really don’t like talking about it, and I was hoping you’d trust me enough I wouldn’t have to.’
‘I should have. I’m so, so sorry that happened to you, love.’
JJ nodded, still curled against Emily. ‘I can’t let that happen to Ellie.’
Emily kissed her hair, pulling her closer. ‘No. We won’t let that happen. But, if there’s a rec league, or maybe a travel team around here...she really does want to play.’
JJ paused. ‘I think I could handle that, if she had a different coach. I want her to be happy, but I-I can’t have her near that man.’
‘I understand. We’ll figure it out, okay?’
‘Okay.’
They stayed like that for a while, until JJ’s phone buzzed with a text from Garcia. Emily opened it with a sigh. ‘You’ll never guess what this says...’
JJ groaned. ‘We have a case?’
‘Four dead in Providence, Rhode Island. Hotch wants us there ASAP.
‘Of course he does. I’ll call my mom to get Ellie.’
Emily groused into the hall the grab the keys. ‘They really can’t give us a day off, huh?’
‘Oh, where else would you get your adrenaline if not from chasing down the scum of the earth?’
‘We’re going to be chasing down a teenage daughter soon, I think that should about cover it.’
JJ grinned. ‘You have a point.’
Emily smirked back. ‘I know.’
She turned just as she reached the door, reaching for JJ’s hand. ‘I love you.’
JJ took it. ‘I love you too.’
second impact
@enbies-and-felonies pt 4! sorry for the short update but i’m almost done with 5, so hopefully that will be up tonight as well!
--
JJ had, again, been right. How the coaches and sports programs that had cost these girls their lives would be faring, she neither knew nor cared. After having to return to the Parker house to give Diana the news, all she wanted was to go home. So when Ellie called, JJ was more than happy to hand her paperwork over to Spencer for a few minutes.
‘Hey, kiddo! How are you?’
Ellie sounded nervous. ‘I’m fine. When are you coming home?’
‘We’re leaving in about an hour. Is something going on?’
‘No, just...I made the soccer team. Please don’t be mad.’
‘Mad? Why would I be mad? I-I’m happy for you, sweetheart. That’s great news.’
A pause on the other end of the line. ‘Mum said you would be mad, so I shouldn’t tell you. But I didn’t want to lie.’
JJ shot a glare at Emily, playing table football with Morgan instead of doing anything productive. ‘Oh, she did, did she? Well, I’m not, and you shouldn’t have been told to lie to me, much less by your mum.’ Across the room, she could see Spencer packing up the case files, getting ready to leave. ‘Listen, honey, I have to go. We’ll talk when we get home, okay?’
‘Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.’
‘See you tomorrow. I love you.’
‘I love you too.’
--
After successfully avoiding Emily on both the way to the airport and the plane, JJ was not surprised when she started talking before the key was even in the ignition of their car.
‘Okay, out with it. What did I do now?’
‘Why did you tell Ellie I would be angry with her for making the soccer team?”
Emily had the good grace to look slightly guilty. ‘I didn’t say you’d be mad, exactly. More like you might not want to hear that right now.’
‘It doesn’t matter! You told our daughter to lie to me?’
‘Not lie, exact-’
‘I do not care about ‘exactly!’ I care about what she said to me, and that you thought this wasn’t something I should know!’
‘Christ’s sake, JJ, she’s not dying!’
‘She could be! Have you not seen enough this week, or my whole damn life, to see that?’
‘Ellie is in the sixth grade and just started playing! That is not even remotely similar to you!’
‘That is exactly me! I don’t think she’s in danger now, or the next year, and maybe even not the next, but there will be a point where she is. And I will not let it get there.’
‘So what, we just lock her in the house? ‘Oooh, your mom used to walk to school, now she’s traumatised, so we’re just gonna homeschool you?”
JJ’s voice was a deadly quiet. ‘Stop. Stop that right now.’
Emily knew she’d gone too far. ‘You’re right. That was too much.’
‘You have been through some shit. I see that. And when she’s 15, I’ll bet you’ll be keeping a close eye on her.’
Emily looked like she’d been slapped. ‘That’s not fair. She wasn’t raised like me.’
‘But you think any 15 year old won’t do whatever it takes to fit in?’
‘I think the two incidents here are entirely different!’
‘They’re both places where we were hurt, Em. I just don’t want to lose Ellie to our mistakes.’
‘You think your full-ride scholarship was a mistake?’
JJ shut her eyes against tears. ‘More than anything in my life.’
‘Why? JJ, you talk all the time about how this hurt you, but I don’t know why.‘
‘Let’s just get home first, okay? I will tell you, I promise.’
‘Thank you.’
--
As it turned out, the conversation didn’t happen that night. Pulling into the driveway at 3:00am, neither wanted to do anything requiring coherent thought. Emily turned to JJ as she walked in the door, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. JJ turned to her, pulling her closer. ‘I love you. I just thought I should say that, no matter what happens with Ellie and soccer, I will love you.’
Emily threaded her hands into JJ’s hair, holding her against her chest. ‘I love you too. We’ll figure this out, okay?’
JJ nodded, nestling her head against Emily’s shoulder. ‘Okay.’
Emily kissed her forehead before pulling away up the stairs. ‘Now, can we please get some sleep? You know Hotch is gonna call at the crack of dawn.’
JJ followed, almost laughing. ‘He does have a tendency to start the work day at 5:00.’
Emily grinned. ‘Exactly. Let’s rest while we can.’
second impact
@enbies-and-felonies pt 3! tw for ment of ed, ment of suicide
--
JJ had been right. The other two girls, Sophia Parker and Katherine Wright, had both been on traveling or school sports teams. Katherine had played field hockey for a high-calibre travel team based in the area.
Sophia had been a senior team captain on the varsity soccer team at the nearby highschool.
JJ was certain the universe, or perhaps Aaron Hotchner, was out to get her. This theory was cemented by her not only being sent to interview Sophia’s parents, but having to take Emily with her.
--
The drive to the house was probably the most uncomfortable JJ had been in months. Emily was carefully keeping her eyes on the road, taking the corners and stomping the brakes maybe a tad more aggressively than usual. After around 15 minutes of dour silence, they pulled up to the 3-storey victorian owned by the Parker family. Emily paused, waiting for her to get out of the car, then starting up the walk. JJ did her best to compose herself before following, but Emily must have noticed, as she turned back to look at her for the first time since they’d touched down in Boston.
‘Do you want me to do this?’
‘I don’t need you to do this for me, Em. I can handle it.’
‘I didn’t ask if you needed it, I asked what you wanted.’
‘I just want to get this done, okay?’
Emily nodded, turning to continue to the door. JJ plastered on her best ‘everything is under control’ face before knocking. A middle-aged woman opened the door, peering out suspiciously. Emily pulled out her badge, flipping it to show her. ‘Hi, I’m FBI Agent Prentiss, and this is Agent Jareau. Is Diana Parker here?’
She opened the door slightly wider. ‘That’s me.’
JJ stepped forward, flashing her own badge. ‘We’d like to speak with you about your daughter, if you don’t mind?’
‘What does the FBI have to do with Sophia?’
‘We believe she may have been the victim of a serial killer.’
‘Of a serial killer? My daughter?’
‘It’s possible, ma’am. We’ll explain everything, if we could please come in?’
Diana didn’t look convinced, but let them into the family room, an entire wall of which was dedicated to soccer trophies, photographs, and framed momentos of Sophia and her team. The most recent one was a shot of Sophia presenting her mother with a rose, the frame set front and centre of the display.
Diana noticed JJ staring. ‘That was taken just last week. At her-’
‘Senior ceremony. I had one too.’
She turned away from the shelves, linking her hands behind her back in an effort to hide the slight tremor coursing through them. ‘May I ask if anyone would have wanted to hurt Sophia?’
‘No, no one at all. She was kind to everyone. Her teammates called her ‘silver-lining Sophie,’ she always had something good to say.’
‘And in her personal life? No trouble there?’
‘She didn’t have one outside of soccer. Her teammates were her family, she wouldn’t miss a game even when she was injured. She wanted that scholarship.’
Emily looked concerned. 'Scholarship?’
‘Yes, she had a full ride to Boston College on an athletic scholarship. The scouts at her last game were just there to give her the committal papers, her signing was supposed to be next week.’
Emily glanced at JJ. ‘You went through this song-and-dance, is there anything odd about what she did?’
JJ shook her head. ‘No, not at all. Although,’ she turned to Diana, ‘you said she was injured?’
Diana nodded, seeming confused. ‘Yes, the athletic trainer said she was likely concussed. I wanted to take her to the doctor-’
‘-but her coach said she was fine, she said she was fine, and she had that big game coming up.’ JJ looked like she’d seen a ghost. ‘So you let her play, just this once.’
‘Yes. I did. Why, does that mean something?’
JJ ducked her head, turning to leave. ‘Excuse me, please.’
--
Outside, Emily was not thrilled by JJ’s sudden exit. ‘What the hell was that? You turn white as a sheet and practically run out of there, leaving me to make something up? I thought you said you could handle this!’
But JJ wasn’t listening, already on the phone. ‘Hey, Spence. Do you have the autopsy report for Nora Lewis yet?’
Emily reached over. ‘Put it on speaker.’
Spencer’s voice came over the line, along with the shuffling of papers. ‘Uhhh, yeah, I have it right here. Why?’
‘Tell me the cause of death. A heart attack, right?’
Silence, followed by some very confused murmuring and Hotch being summoned. ‘That’s...correct. JJ, do you know something we don’t?’
‘Yeah, I think I do. Be right there.’
Emily looked as confused as Hotch sounded. ‘And what is it you know?’
‘Katherine Wright, they thought she was a suicide, right? But when Sophia, and then Nora, turned up, the ME changed his ruling to suspicious circumstances.’
‘Yes? And?’
‘The ME was right the first time. Look at Nora’s body. There’s no way she was a healthy weight, and dead on the side of a trail? No killer would put a body there, because the cross country team runs those woods almost every day. And now Sophia, playing already concussed, found in the very shallow woods along her walk home.’
Emily pulled the car over. ‘What are you suggesting?’
‘There’s no unsub here. All these deaths were accidental, or in Katherine’s case, self-inflicted. These girls died from their sports, and no coach wanted to speak up and say they were the cause.’
Emily shook her head. ‘JJ, there’s no way any coach-’
JJ snapped her head over to meet Emily’s gaze. ‘There is. I almost was Sophia.’
‘What?’
‘My senior year, I played concussed. I got hit in the head during the last period, hard enough that I should have been pulled. Instead, I finished the game, and walked home. The next day, I had to leave school for showing symptoms of a second concussion. I could have died, but I got lucky. Sophia didn’t.’
Emily sank back in seat. ‘If you’re right...’
‘I know I am.’
second impact
@enbies-and-felonies pt 2! this bitch has gotten so much longer than i thought it would, i hope you don’t mind some extra plot?
--
JJ was no more composed when she arrived late to the round table, attracting a concerned frown from Hotch, and a downright worried stare from Spencer. Garcia had the photographs from their new case pulled up: a seemingly random set of deaths in a Boston suburb, all young women with no obvious connections.
She put her things down, muttering an apology for being late, and opened the file on her tablet, choosing to stare at the grisly images rather than Emily.
Emily noticed, cornering her in the bathroom after Hotch gave them a departure time. ‘For a profiler, you’re dreadful at hiding when you’re upset.’
JJ shook her head, voice almost cracking. ‘Not the time, Em.’
Emily reached out to lay a hand on JJ’s shoulder. ‘What’s going on? Is everything okay with Ellie?’
‘Yeah...well, no. Not really.’ JJ turned to face Emily, laying her own hand over the one still on her shoulder. ‘Why didn’t you ask me about her playing soccer?’
Emily frowned. ‘Is that what this is about? She just asked me last night, and why not? I know you played, and I thought us going to Ellie’s games would be fun.’
‘Em, I would never have said yes to this.’
Emily looked totally lost. ‘What? Why? You don’t want your child playing the sport you spent seven years in?’
'No! I most definitely do not!’
‘Okay, well, you’re going to have to do better than that if you want me to tell her she can’t.’
JJ tossed Emily’s hand off. ‘You don’t have to tell her anything. I’ll be the one to say no.’
She stalked out of the bathroom, leaving Emily staring after her.
--
Spencer pounced as soon as they got in the car. A soon as they’d landed, Hotch had sent them off to one of the crime scenes, with only a slight glance at JJ.
‘What’s going on with you and Emily?’
JJ shook her head. ‘I don’t want to talk about it.’
‘Not even to me?'
‘Sorry, Spence. I just can’t right now, okay?’
‘Okay. Just...you’ll tell me if you need anything, right?’
‘Always.’
--
JJ stared down at the body in front of her, neatly wrapped and placed on the ground in a semi-secluded portion of woods. 19 years old Nora Lewis, according to the file. She’d been the third suspicious death in as many weeks, prompting the locals to call in the BAU. Spencer was crouched next to her, carefully examining something on her leg.
‘JJ...come here, I found something.’
JJ knelt next to him, noticing the angry red stripe that marked from mid-calf down to her ankle.
‘Rough edges. Whatever made that cut was either dull or jagged.’
‘Dull, I think. It tapers off oddly, like whoever made it lost contact instead of pulling away. It’s also semi-healed, and she wasn’t held for any length of time. I don’t think this was made by the unsub.’
‘What could it have been made by, then? A knife of some sort?’
‘No, it’s not right for a knife. Maybe a-’
‘Nora? Nora!’
The shout had come from a young woman, pushing against the barrier just off the path. ‘Please, is it Nora? Let me see her!’
JJ got to her feet, dusting off her knees. ‘Ma’am, we need you to stay back.’
The caller was too small to even be called a young woman, with wispy blonde hair, brown eyes unfocused and filled with tears. ‘Please-’ her voice broke, ‘-is it Nora?’
JJ’s silence was answer enough. ‘...I am so sorry.’
The girl nodded, squeezing her eyes shut. ‘What can I do?’
‘What’s your name?’
‘Celia.’
‘Celia, my name is Agent Jareau. I’m going to give you a ride back to the station, so you can tell me about Nora, okay?’
‘I’m gonna stay here a little longer, see if I can figure out what made that mark.’
Spencer had come up behind them, stripping off his crime scene gloves. Celia turned back to look at him. ‘What mark?’
Spencer looked at JJ, cocking his head in a silent question of should I tell her?
JJ nodded, taking the camera to find the photograph. ‘Here, Celia. do you have any idea what could have made this?’
To her surprise, the girl appeared to recognise it immediately, handing the camera back and rolling up her own pant leg to reveal a near-identical wound. ‘A 3/4 made that. We had a mudpit race last week, so our coach had us put velociraptor teeth in. I got hit too.’
Spencer looked just as confused as JJ felt. ‘Uhh, what?’
‘Nora got spiked. In our cross country race last weekend, someone kicked her with long pins in.’
‘Racing spikes? Like for track and field?’
‘Yeah, but longer. Nora was our top runner.’
‘Spence. Were any of the other girls-
‘Athletes? I’ll take a look.’
JJ led Celia away, glancing back at the prone form on the forest floor only once.