Secrets

  Emily walked into the BAU office carrying coffee for the team. Handing them off to Reid and Morgan before setting the rest on her desk. 

    “Does anyone know what the plan is?” Emily asks. The team's travels have been up in the air ever since covid-19 started leaving them to try to work on cases remotely. 

    “No, Hotch and Rossi seem to be arguing about it though.” JJ says approaching the group smiling at Emily. 

    “How was your weekend?” Emily asks JJ as she sits on the edge of her desk. 

     “It was good, just relaxed at home which I haven’t done in awhile which was nice. What about you?” JJ says smiling at her. 

     “Busy my mother was traveling through town. So I spent some time with her.” Emily says. 

    “Ahh fun.” JJ laughs knowing how Emily feels about her mother. 

    “Want to go out for drinks tonight?” Emily asks hopefully. 

    “Yeah that sounds great. I’ll ask Garcia if she wants to join!” JJ says, knowing she can’t trust herself to be alone with her, especially if alcohol was involved. 

    “Sounds good, can’t wait,” Emily says. Watching as Hotch and Rossi head towards the bullpen. 

    “Meet in the conference room in 15” Hotch says before heading to his office.  

    “He didn’t sound happy,” Morgan says. 

    “No he didn't,” Emily agrees before grabbing her things. 

     The team files into the conference room unsure of what they are about to hear. They sit in silence for a moment before Morgan speaks up. 

    “Do we get to travel yet?” He asks, wanting to be able to do their job. 

    “No not yet, cases also not coming in as much because many agencies aren’t operating at full capacity.” Hotch says, sounding a bit disappointed. 

    “So what are we going to do until this gets under control?” Rossi asks. 

     “Well after talking with Strauss we decided that we will be looking at some cold cases from around the area.” Hotch says 

     “Sweet, I love diving into these.” Spencer says sitting up smiling. The rest of the team looks at him and shakes their heads. Not feeling the same enthusiasm as the young genius. 

    “Come on Hotch, there has to be something else we can do.” Morgan says with a hint of disappointment. 

     “I wish there was but my hands are tied here.” Hotch says. Grabbing a box. “Alright everyone take a box and start looking over the evidence inside. We will be going through one cases this week, so we will split into teams and then halfway through the week switch the evidence. So both groups will look them over.Prentiss, JJ and Rossi can work as a team and Morgan and Reid are with me.” The team nods. 

    “If we break it losers are buying the first round.” Morgan jokes trying to lighten the mood. 

    “What case is this?” JJ asks curiously. 

    “It is another string of murders that happened in the Midwest throughout the 90s and early 2000s” Hotch says, grabbing another box. 

    The second Emily hears those words everything stops for her. Her mind goes blank and her vision gets a haze around it. This cannot be happening. Is all she can think before JJ touches her arm breaking her from her trance. 

     “Are you okay?” JJ asks quietly trying not to alert the other team members. Emily has gone pale, her face dropped when Hotch said that. But why? 

    “Yeah I just need to go to the bathroom.” Emily says quickly exiting the room. 

    The rest of the team notices the exchange unsure of what to make of it. Spencer tried to add some insight. 

“Didn’t Emily work in the Midwest during those cases? She probably worked on them tirelessly and came up dry. Maybe she can help us remember details.” Spencer adds. 

    “Yeah she did” JJ says, making a mental note. But how would that explain the look of terror she just had. 

   Meanwhile in the bathroom Emily is washing her face with cold water. It’s fine, nothing to worry about. Just take some deep breaths. Everything will be okay. She keeps reminding herself trying to stop her mind from exploding. Just head back in there and act normal. Emily says taking one last look in the mirror before heading out the door. Emily renters the conference room and takes her spot. 

    “You sure you’re okay?” JJ whispers to her. Emily just nods in response. 

     “Hey Emily, did you work in the fbi office when these cases were happening?” Spencer asks, earning a glare from JJ. “What I’m just asking?” He says backing off a bit. 

     “Yes, I did.” Emily says calmly. 

     “Did you go over these at all?” He says motioning towards the boxes. 

     “Not all of them, just the ones that happened closer to where I was, we heard of other but that was all. In fact I didn't know they were all connected until just now.” She says staring at the boxes. What am I getting myself into. 

     “Makes sense. Most cases you can’t see the full picture till years later.” Spencer says opening a box. 

     “How many victims were there?” Emily asks, trying to keep her voice normal. 

     “24” Hotch says, starting to pin pictures up to the board. 

     “How many did you know of Prentiss?” Morgan asks. 

     “6” Emily says lying. “I’m surprised there are so many and it went cold.” 

     “I agree,” Rossi adds in. “That many victims and that many crime scenes there are bound to be some mistakes.” 

    “Well if there are we will find them.” Hotch says. “Alright we will take victims 1-12 and you will take 13-24.” Hotch says grabbing a box before heading to his office. Reid and Morgan do the same heading to their desks. 

     “Alright I say we each work through four victims and then rotate them. Does that work for everyone?” Rossi asks. 

     “Works for me” JJ says, still eyeing the woman next to her. 

     “Sounds good.” Emily says grabbing a box. This week is going to be hell. 

      The team settles into their desk going through every detail. Trying to find anything that seems to be missing or out of place. After an hour and a half of going through the evidence Emily heads over to the break room to get some coffee. She fills her mug before whipping her forehead. A habit for when she is stressed. She starts heading back to her desk but at the doorway is met with JJ who looks at her concerned. 

     “So are you going to tell me what is going on?” JJ asks knowing when something is wrong with Emily. 

    “Oh it’s nothing. Just this case brings up old memories.” She says trying to downplay it. 

     “That bs might work on the rest of the team but not me. I know you too well for that Em.” JJ says, dropping the nickname. 

     “I just knew one of the victims.” Emily says lying. 

     “Oh Emily i'm sorry I had no idea.” JJ says rubbing her arm. 

    “It’s fine, I just never thought I’d have to think about it again, much less work it.” Emily says, sounding exhausted. 

     “Yeah I bet. Is there anything I can do to help?” JJ asks hopefully. 

     “Just get me through this as fast as possible.” Emily says. 

     “Well I don’t think you have to worry about it lasting longer than a week. This unsub was good. No one has found any new evidence yet.” JJ says watching Emily nod. She couldn’t tell for sure but for a second JJ thought Emily almost looked relieved. But she quickly puts it out of her mind before getting more coffee. 

     After lunch the team gets back together to discuss what they went over and found. “Did anyone find anything new?” Hotch asks the team. 

     “It is interesting, victim one seems to have some overkill possible suggesting the unsub knew them. Potentially killing them could have sparked something in this unsub making them continue on.” Morgan says. 

    “Yes and I agree. The first victim also seems to be a bit sloppy. Suggesting it’s their first kill.” Hotch added. 

    “The geography and timing of these killings are also very interesting.” Spencer adds. “Each kill was about 4 weeks apart. And they went through in a pattern of such. Hitting each city once and then going back through a second time. Potentially it was someone who travelled for their work.” Spencer says. 

    “Also the lack of evidence suggests someone with working knowledge of a crime scene. Potentially law enforcement.” JJ adds. 

    “Emily, anything you’d like to add?” Hotch asks. 

     “Not that I can think of. I know we thought the unsub was a male in his 30s at the time” Emily says. 

     “Interesting why did you think that?” Spencer asks. 

     “It just seemed consistent with what we knew at the time.” Emily says. 

     “I don’t think that’s true anymore. I think it’s a female unsub.” Rossi supplies. 

     “What? Why would you say that?” Emily says, sounding a bit standoffish. 

     “It just makes more sense with the victimology.” Rossi says. 

     “He’s right.” Hotch says. “Alright everyone you can get back to your work.” Hotch says having the team head back to their desks. “Prentiss can you stay here for a minute?” Hotch says. Emily nods staying behind. 

     As JJ and Reid head to their desk, JJ turns back for a moment. “Do you think that was weird?” JJ asks. 

     “A little, maybe he just wants to go over some details with her.” Reid says casually before taking his seat. 

     “Yeah, you're probably right.” JJ says looking back to see if she could make out what they were saying. Something just wasn’t sitting right with her. 

     After a few minutes Emily returned to the desk, avoiding eye contact with the rest of the team. JJ watched as Emily tries to bury her nose in work. JJ decides to let it slide until after work. Finally the clock hits 5 and the team starts to pack everything up. JJ finishes packing up and waits for Emily to finish up. 

    “Ready to go?” JJ finally asks. 

    “Yeah, I need a drink.” Emily says whipping her face. 

    “What is bothering you?” JJ asks. 

    “Just this case. Let’s go.” Emily says grabbing her bag. “Is Garcia coming?” Emily asks hoping she can spend time just with the blonde. 

    “She will be meeting us later, I think she is getting dinner with Kevin.” JJ says smiling, a bit nervous to spend time alone with the older agent. 

    The ride over to the bar was quite both women a bit nervous. Once inside they grab a table and Emily orders shots. 

    “Shots?!” JJ proclaims coming back to the table. 

    “Yes, I got us each two.” Emily says smiling. 

    “Alright.” JJ says throwing them back. 

    “Ah” JJ says, biting into a lime and making a face. 

    “Aren’t you cute.” Emily says watching the younger agent. JJ shakes her head. “Nonsense, so what is really bothering you about this case. I know there is more to it.” JJ says looking at Emily. I can’t hide anything from you. Emily thinks before starting to admit what was going on. 

     “Well one of the victims was my girlfriend.” Emily says looking off in the distance. 

     “Like a girl who is a friend or girlfriend?” JJ asks, confused. Wait is she a lesbian? How did I not know this? 

    “JJ, what do you think?” Emily says, giving the blonde a knowing look. 

    “Oh girlfriend girlfriend.” JJ says, raising her eyebrows. “Why did you tell me you were..” JJ starts before Garcia comes and interrupts her. 

    “Hi my lovelies” Garcia says, hugging the both of them. “Did I interrupt something?” Garcia asks, noting the tension between the two of them. 

    “No not at all.” Emily quickly says pulling Garcia in. “Let get you a drink!”