Chapter 1: We Have to Do What Now?
A/N: This is just a chapter that is an introduction to the case to the team so not much has happened yet, but next chapter will have more. I really hope you enjoy it and have a nice and wonderful day.
Emily was in her office with Chief Cruz and the rest of the team was out in the bullpen trying to figure out what they were talking about. Garcia walked in because she got a call saying she needed to be there and even she didn't know what was going on. The blinds were closed and the door was shut so no one could see into Emily's office, so they were just left to wonder about what was so important that Cruz had to meet with Emily in person.
The door to the Unit Chief's office started to open so the team immediately rushed and started acting like they were working. When the door opened, it was Cruz and he cleared his throat before saying anything, "JJ, can we please talk to you?"
JJ had no idea as to what the heck was going on. She was hoping this wasn't going to be another repeat of the Pentagon backstop because there was no way she was going to do that again. She got up from her desk and headed into Emily's office. When she got there, Emily was sitting at her desk looking just as confused as her.
The blonde sat in one of the chairs across from Emily and then the two looked at Cruz, "Matt, what is this about? Is everything okay?". Cruz looked intently at them and sat two case files in front of them. From the looks of it, it was not the average FBI case file, it was a file from the CIA.
"What's this?" Emily inquired as she realized the seal on the front. She had a feeling about what he was leading into and she wasn't happy about it.
Cruz looked over at a semi-irritated Emily and then at JJ who seemed completely confused. He took a deep breath before he ruined their lives for however long because they were not going to like what he had to say. "The CIA wants you two to go undercover to catch ring leaders of an assassin's ring known as 'The L.W.K.' and they requested you two specifically."
The two individually took a moment and then looked at each other in confusion. JJ looked at Matt, "Why do they want us specifically?"
He looked down at the case files, "Read it."
Emily and JJ took a quick glance at each other before opening the files in front of them. As they started reading Matt tried to concentrate on their facial expressions but they were good at hiding them because he got no reaction, well at least not yet.
They skimmed the file in complete silence for about fifteen minutes until JJ broke it three fourths through the file, "So they expect us to go undercover as assassins to catch the two women in charge of the whole thing and everyone else?" she harshly asked.
"Yes, but there's something else." He hesitantly added.
"What?" an irritated JJ said as she squinted her eyes,
Emily intercepted as she sat the file down, "We'd have to go undercover as engaged assassins with an agenda." She put her fingers to her temple because this whole thing was giving her a headache.
JJ closed her file and looked at Cruz, "What about my family Matt, what are they supposed to do? How is that going to work?"
He sincerely looked her in the eyes because he knew that she wouldn't like what he was going to say once again, "You wouldn't be able to see them. We could set up video calls every once in a while, but you wouldn't be able to see them at all."
At the sound of those words, JJ immediately broke down. She wouldn't be able to see Michael or Henry for who knows how long. Her and Will got a divorce a few months ago and the boys are still adjusting to switching between houses. Sometimes Michael has nightmares and she's the only one who can help. She was severely stressing because this wasn't a question…she had to do it. She was an emotional wreck but she still had to ask, "Why do they want us specifically?"
Emily was so lost because JJ totally skipped over the part where they had to be engaged assassins. They had to be a couple and that's all Emily could think about, she was stuck on it. Before Cruz could answer JJ's question, Emily intervened "Before you answer that, can we go back to the part where we," she pointed between JJ and herself, "have to be an engaged couple?"
"Yeah, that too. Why do we have to be engaged?" JJ added.
"Well at the end of the file it says they only take engaged same-sex couples because to them they are more trustworthy apparently." Emily added with emphasis on "engaged".
Matt knew this was going to be rough but what's he supposed to do when he got specific strict instructions to get them ready. "Yes, but to answer your question JJ, the two of you are the best shots in this branch of the FBI, the case requires strong profiling skills and with your-" he pointed to JJ, " experience with Askari and your-" he then pointed to Emily, "experience with Doyle, they thought of you as the perfect duo to take this ring down."
"What made them think that we would even get along? I mean we do but still?" JJ asked
"JJ, they know that you came back to save me and I saved you and they know more about us than we do. My time with them taught me to never get on their bad side." Emily stated.
"I know there isn't a choice in this no matter how much I don't want to be away from my family so when do we start all of this? Is the rest of the team going to help?" JJ asked.
Cruz went over to the blinds and pulled the string to open them, "They want you all to start in two weeks which should give you time to study and learn the case inside and out while preparing for the physical side of things as well." He looked through the window at the rest of the team and then at them, "As for them, Garcia will be the person you get your connections from in terms of helping you know about the people around you and also she will be setting up your undercover names. The rest of them will be incorporated by helping with surveillance and being people you know that the ringleaders might need."
JJ had a questioning look on her face, "Wait, hold up, so Garcia is going to come up with our fake backstories and lives?"
Cruz looked confused, "Yes?"
Emily laughed, "She's really going to enjoy this."
JJ rolled her eyes, "Yeah, maybe a little too much."
Emily got up and headed towards Matt and then faced JJ, "Hey, at least she'll have fun with it."
JJ started laughing too, "True"
Matt got serious again and looked at the two, "Now we need to tell the rest of your team."
"Do you have the case files?" Emily looked at Cruz questionably.
"Yes, I have the other files to give to them." He responded.
JJ went to the door and put her hand on the knob, "Let's get this over with." Then opened the door. Emily and Matt followed.
When they walked out, JJ and Matt headed to the roundtable room as Emily got into unit chief mode, "Case, now." She ordered.
Everyone else already knew that something was up so they rushed up and headed to their seats in the conference room. Emily, Cruz, and JJ were standing in front of the screen while everyone including Garcia was sitting. Reid was freaking out thinking that JJ might leave again, Tara was completely lost and hoping no one was hurt, Rossi was used to the unknowing and was thinking about what kind of pasta to make for dinner, Luke kept starring Cruz down hoping he would get answers sooner, Matt was hoping that whatever was about to be said wouldn't affect his family, and Garcia was hoping that everyone was just safe.
Case files were already laid out in front of each person. Cruz politely asked everyone to open theirs and read it. Once they finished Rossi was the first to speak, "This isn't your typical BAU case, what's the catch?"
Tara then followed, "I agree, how do you expect us to do this without bringing people in undercover?"
Reid knew exactly what was going on. He had already pieced together what was happening and he didn't like it. He stared blankly at the front of the file for two seconds after Tara spoke before talking, "The front seal of this is CIA meaning they want two of our agents to go undercover that they handpicked. Which would be JJ and Emily." Reid saddened because once again, two of his favorite people would be in constant danger again.
Garcia wasn't a profiler, but she did read the case file all the way through so she had one major question, "Wait, wouldn't that mean they would have to go undercover as a couple?"
Emily and JJ took a glance at each other before looking at Garcia, "Yes" they both awkwardly replied.
Cruz interjected, "That's actually part of where you fit into this Garcia, you will be creating their backstories and making sure that when they do background checks, it seems legit."
Garcia suddenly got overexcited, "This is going to be so cool, I mean I always think about you guys and what you would be like on the other side of things- Ooo I already have some ideas."
"Wait a second, there is a list of things that you need to include which the CIA will send over when they bring in their person to help you. Also, you will be the person they get all of their 'connections' from, so to speak." Cruz wanted to make sure that Garcia knew it wasn't just going to be her and that there were guidelines.
"I figured that. I'm still excited though." Garcia added.
Luke was still trying to understand all of this as he had a few questions himself, "Wait a minute, so will the rest of us be helping? If so how?"
"Excellent question Agent Alvez. You will all become undercover as well at the right times and then go back. This group, associates with outside groups and outside people that you each will be at a certain time during the case in order to gather information. When you are not doing that, you will be the research team in finding as much on these people as you can. Everything JJ and Emily hear while in the presence of anyone from that group, you will listen to and analyze." Cruz explained.
The rest nodded in agreement and waited to ask more till they got deeper in the case. Each of them knew why the CIA wanted to choose JJ and Emily. It was no secret that they were the best shots, have had the most experience in that kind of situation and case, and they get along really well. As everyone was about to get up, Reid couldn't help but think about how Emily and JJ could possibly get hurt again, and the two could easily see it in his eyes. JJ looked at him, "Hey Spence, are you okay?"
He nodded and quickly responded hoping that they wouldn't see past him, "Yeah, I'm fine."
In response to that JJ looked back at Emily and they both looked concerned. Reid then turned to Cruz, "So when is this all starting?"
Matt put his hands in his pockets and stood a little relaxed, "As soon as everyone comes in tomorrow." Reid gave yet another nod and headed out the door with Cruz following not long after leaving just JJ and Emily.
"So Em, what do you think about all of this?" a curious JJ asked.
Emily plopped down in one of the chairs previously occupied by one of her friends, "Honestly J, I have no idea what to think. I also feel sorry for you because you can't see those wonderful boys of yours for a while. You better spend as much time as you can with them in these next two weeks."
JJ sat down in one of the seats next to the brunette and took a deep sigh, "Already planned on it, I'm going to miss them so much but at least I'll be with one of my favorite people."
Emily rolled her eyes with a small laugh, "Yeah right."
"Emily I'm serious. We've been through too much together for you not to be." JJ added.
Emily knew she was right and she felt the same way too, but this was going to be very difficult. The fact that she and JJ have to act like they've been dating and have loved each other for years was going to be interesting to figure out…or would it be? I mean Emily did know that they loved each other, and they do sometimes act like a married couple as told to her by Garcia, but Emily could only wonder how this was going to possibly change their friendship in the long run.
Emily got up and stopped at the door facing JJ, "Well out of everyone this mission could be with, I'm glad it's you, Jennifer."
JJ got up to meet her and go out the door too, "And I'm glad it's with you Prentiss."
