Hey guys, so this is the new and (hopefully) improved version of Undercover Confessions. I would like to thank RussellCraig for beta reading. You should definitely check out his story 'Broken'. It's an amazing story written by an amazing writer. You won't be dissapointed, I promise.

Just be warned: Will is an alcoholic in this story so you might not like him.

Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Criminal Minds, we're just using the characters.

Chapter 1: Introduction

"Winston Churchill once said: 'No Comment' is a splendid expression, I am using it again and again."

- Jennifer Jareau

-San Francisco-

Emma Rockford pulled into the driveway of her perfect little house. It was a bit of a fixer upper and still needed some work, but they were both thrilled when the previous owners accepted their offer. It was already dark as she climbed out of the car and pressed the button to lock the doors behind her. She waited until the car's lights flashed, confirming everything was secure, before she headed for the door.

She twisted her key in the lock and made her way to the living room, where a delicious smell filled her nostrils. "Oh, Mattie! You're making your famous lasagna! How did I get so lucky?" She couldn't help but grin and her walk, tired from a day of work, became a much more enthusiastic jog toward the kitchen.

"You know I like to surprise you when you've had a bad day." Mathilda was at the counter, in the process of making a salad when Emma's arms snaked around her waist. She turned her head to give her girlfriend a quick peck on the lips before pulling away to check on the dish in the oven. "It's almost ready, can you set the table, please?"

"Mais oui," Emma said with a smirk, quickly going to the cabinets and gathering up the necessary dishes. They worked together fluidly in the small kitchen, each woman with her task. One piece at a time she dressed the table with china and cutlery, putting everything where it belonged. "Can I interest you in some wine, fiancé?"

Mathilda had bent over to open the oven, a towel in each hand to hold the hot dish. She smiled as her lover stretched out the word fiancé and instinctively her eyes darted to the ring she wore. "Yes please," she replied, carefully maneuvering the lasagna to the middle of the table. The glorious smell filled their entire home. "I hope it tastes alright, I may have overdone it with the spices this time."

Emma handed Mathilda a glass of red wine before she closed the distance between them and wrapped an arm around the shorter woman's waist. "Your lasagna is always amazing," she assured her before she planted a loving kiss on the brunette's lips. "Besides, I like it a little spicy."

The wink Mathilda received made her want to skip dinner and jump straight to dessert. Yet she knew Emma needed a good meal after a long day at the office. Her job bossing people around had to be rather time consuming and tiresome, so she decided to swallow her lust and pull back the chair for her girlfriend to sit. "Get your mind out of the gutter, Emma." The younger woman laughed, taking the opposite chair. "Just taste."

"You like my mind in the gutter," Emma countered, earning a blush from the taller woman. "But I can never say no to your lasagna." She eagerly scooped some onto her plate and started eating. After only one bite she released a sinful moan and put down her fork. "It's absolutely fabulous! You got the spices just right, no need to worry."

"Thanks." Mathilda smiled, following Emma's lead. She tasted her own creation with no small amount of skepticism. She nearly burned her tongue on the first bite and used her hand as a fan toward her mouth. "You know, I always forget that things that come out of the oven are freaking hot."

"Didn't your mother teach you how to blow?" A laugh escaped Emma's lips before she took another bite. "Besides, you didn't come out of the oven and you're the hottest thing I've ever seen."

The flirting stopped as their hunger for food took over. They ate quietly, speaking about work and their plans for the upcoming weekend. As the meal was winding down Emma reached out to cover the younger woman's hand with her own, a soft smile reaching her lips. "Thank you for the amazing meal. I really appreciate everything you do."

The brunette was about to reply but a knock on the front door ended their conversation early. "Are you expecting anyone?" Mattie asked, pushing back her chair and getting to her feet. Emma got up as well, following her girlfriend. They both wondered who would come calling so late in the evening.

"No, mother's not due to arrive until tomorrow," Emma explained, giving Mattie's hand a quick squeeze.

"Mathilda, Emma, it's me! Charlotte!" A familiar voice shouted through the door, earning a relieved sigh from both woman.

Emma released Mathilda's hand and made the rest of the trip to the door. After a moment, she opened it to greet their friend. "What the hell are you wearing?" she asked with a laugh. Before the sound had reached Mathilda's ears, Charlotte had pushed her way in, and pinned Emma to the wall of the entryway. She tried to scream, to warn Mattie but the sound was blocked by a firm gloved hand clamping over her mouth. She tried to struggle, to bite, but Charlotte was too strong.

She didn't see the knife until Charlotte was running it along her cheekbone, pressing just hard enough to draw a thin line of blood. She grinned at the tear that fell down Emma's cheek before pulling her hand back and forcefully sending the knife through her torso.

Emma looked at her friend in shock, unable to scream, coughing and gurgling as blood and oxygen mixed in her throat. She felt the knife leave her chest and was momentarily relieved until it struck again, this time piercing the other side of her chest. She gasped in pain and her legs started to wobble. The last thing she saw was the joy on Charlotte's face as she collapsed on the ground.

Hearing the thump on the floor, Mathilda made her way toward the main hall. "Are you guys okay? Come in and sit down, we can – oh my God!" She screamed at the sight of her girlfriend's lifeless body, watching the pool of blood underneath her grow and grow. She locked eyes with the woman they thought they knew.

Charlotte only tilted her head before lunging at Mathilda and chasing her through the living room. They knocked over a lamp, a chair and a table as they went. "Get your ass over here, Mattie!" she screamed angrily, finally cornering the woman in her kitchen.

Tears now streamed down the brunette's face as she raised her hands defensively. "Please, don't do this," she cried, falling to her knees as Charlotte came closer, bloody knife in hand. "Please." Her begging was a hopeless plea to avoid the inevitable and they both knew it. The knife pierced between her breasts, quickly killing the young woman in a single strike.

Mathilda's blood dripped to the floor while the murderer watched. Only once Mattie had stopped moving did she make her way back to Emma. It was time to start on her masterpiece. She bent down and sliced open Emma's shirt and bra with a graceful slash of the blood-stained knife. Grinning, she put the knife to the cooling skin and started to carve open the body, revealing its most vital organ.

-Quantico-

Emily Prentiss sat behind her desk and reviewed some paperwork. After weeks, it still didn't feel like her office, or her desk. She was only here because Hotch needed to protect Jack and himself from Mr. Scratch, and after what happened with Foyet and Haley, who could blame him. Still she felt a little guilt about how she got the coveted position. Getting up from her seat she walked to the window and looked out the dark glass at her team. She noticed JJ down with the others, standing between two of the desks. Even though it was a Saturday morning, they were all working hard on the paperwork they hadn't been able to finish the day before.

In the privacy of her office, Emily allowed her eyes to linger on JJ. Beautiful Jennifer Jareau. Emily didn't have strong enough words to explain JJ. The mother of two was one of the bravest and most loyal women Emily had ever met. She had no shortage of confidence and rightly so, she was the best shot in the entire BAU, much to Alvez's disappointment.

Emily had been secretly harboring feelings for the beautiful blonde for years now. They were best friends and knew almost everything there was to know about one another. One of Emily's few remaining secrets happened to be how intense and intimate her feelings had grown to be. Back in London, Emily had felt lost without the other profiler by her side.

She just couldn't bring herself to admit the truth about her feelings. There was simply too much to lose. JJ had Will (a man Emily pushed her toward in the first place), Henry and Michael and Emily wasn't going to destroy that. It felt selfish to even think about.

It was true that JJ and Emily shared moments that made the brunette wonder, small interactions, looks and touches that were on the border between casual and not quite so casual. Everyday something JJ said or did had Emily questioning everything she thought she knew. Was it a subtle hint from JJ or wishful thinking on her part? And if she needed another reason to keep the truth hidden, there was always the FBI's policy against fraternization.

Emily was still watching JJ when the ring of her phone broke through the silence. After a short conversation, she took her tablet and left her office with a grunt of disapproval. She'd really been looking forward to a few days of rest, but apparently, fate had other plans. She went to Rossi first, knocking on the door of his office and sticking her head in just long enough to tell him the news. The action drew the attention of the others down below and they looked up to Emily for verification. She answered by waving her tablet in their general direction, before she headed to the conference room. On her way, she heard Reid say he intended to call Garcia up from her lair.

JJ was eager, stopping what she was doing and rushing to catch Emily. They met just before they passed through the doorway of the meeting room. "Hey boss," she teased as she nudged Emily's side with her elbow. The change in the older woman's features suggested she still didn't like the title.

"Stop calling me that," Emily whined, nudging JJ back in a similar manner. "I might be the new unit chief, but I'm still Emily, same as before."

JJ drew her mouth in a straight line, in a weak attempt to keep her laughter inside. "I know you don't like being called that, but it's so tempting to tease you. From now on, I will try my best to stop, but no promises."

"Good." Emily chuckled, placing her tablet on the corner of the table. Before doing anything else she pulled back JJ's chair, like a true gentleman. Once she was seated, Emily took the seat right next to her. "Call me 'boss' again," she warned, "and someone else will have to pull out your chair for you." Her eyes were bright with mischief. "If you let Reid do it, I suspect you'll end up listening to briefings from the floor."

Laughter escaped JJ lips as she lost herself in the ease of their conversation. There was no one else JJ had this type of connection with, not Garcia and not even Will. Emily was special. When Emily told them she intended to stay, JJ couldn't have been more relieved. She had missed the other woman terribly and was thrilled to have her back where she belonged. She had missed their occasional flirting, their casual touching and even their serious conversations about anything and everything. It occurred to her that things with Emily came naturally, much more so than they did with Will. Why is that? she wondered to herself as she watched Emily subtly.

Mercifully JJ was forced from her thoughts by the arrival of the others. "What is it? I didn't receive anything!" Garcia complained, taking her spot off to the side of the large monitor. She placed the laptop she had brought with her on the table and opened it up. "It's Saturday, don't these guys take any time off?"

"Sorry, this one came straight to me," Emily explained, motioning for Garcia to take a seat, while Emily stood and prepared to present the case. "Three weeks ago, on Friday, a couple was found murdered in their home in San Francisco. They were both shot in the head twice with a shotgun. Their names were Andie Brown and Jane Fisher. Garcia, can you pull up pictures please?"

"Yes, boss! I mean, ma'am," Garcia quickly rectified after receiving a glare from Emily. She tapped a few keys and like magic the pictures of the first two victims appeared on the large screen to Emily's right. "Wow, they're gorgeous," Garcia commented offhandedly.

"Hold on, there's more," Emily continued, scrolling down on her own tablet. "Exactly one week later, a second couple were murdered. Amelia King and Jessie Young were killed in their home. The killer used arsenic this time." Before Emily even had to ask, Garcia had their pictures up on the monitor, next to the others. "Yesterday, Emma Rockford and Mathilda Greensburg were found in their home, both stabbed."

"All different methods, how do we know it's the same killer?" Rossi asked, raising his eyebrow at their unit chief. He leaned back in his chair and folded his hands across his stomach as he studied the six pictures on the screen. "Victimology is all over the board; the first two were blonde, Amelia was Hispanic, Jessie and Mathilda were brunette and Emma was a redhead."

Rather than comment, Emily continued tapping on her tablet, until finally the pictures she'd been sent appeared on the big-screen as well. Three sets of horrific crime scene photos shocked even the seasoned profilers. "In each of these cases, one woman's heart was cut from her chest and placed in the other woman's hand. I have sent all the data to your tablets."

Seeing the images for the first time Garcia screeched and covered her face with her hands. "A little warning next time Miss Boss Lady," she complained. "Some of us don't want to see that kinda stuff."

"None of us want to see that kinda stuff," Emily answered back honestly, "but I'll be more careful next time." The two friends shared a look and smile before they moved on. From the corner of her eye Emily saw JJ shaking her head in disgust, a feeling Emily understood fully.

Luke Alvez studied the pictures on his tablet, switching between the different homes. "The first time was messy, which suggests our unsub was hesitant. In last night's murder, it's a clean cut around the heart. Our killer is getting more and more confident with each kill."

"What do the locals have?" Dr. Lewis questioned, closing her tablet. She had seen enough. The killer was a sadistic bastard who got off on cutting people open. "Do we have DNA, prints or fibers?"

A deep sigh left Emily's lips. "That's just the thing," she started, placing her tablet on the table and resting her hands on either side of it. "There's absolutely nothing. CSU has been through each house with a fine-tooth comb and can't find anything. No fingerprints, no forced entry, not even a strand of hair. Our unsub has somehow managed to kill without leaving any kind of evidence. That's quite an accomplishment given the time and energy required to remove a human heart. We don't even know if it's a man or a woman we're looking for."

"The average person loses approximately a hundred hairs a day. It's almost impossible not to leave a hair behind, " Reid chimed in, squinting his eyes at the screen. "The use of arsenic suggests perhaps a woman, since they are much more likely to use poison as a murder weapon, but the violent nature of the other two attacks counters that." He turned to his tablet and scrolled through the pictures one more time. "It doesn't make sense, why kill three different couples in three different ways?"

Rossi chimed in next. "The kid's right. The gun worked the first time, why not stick with it? You can't buy arsenic at the grocery store so someone went to a lot of trouble to get it."

"Maybe he doesn't know what he likes yet?" JJ suggested, earning a glare from Reid, for not being entirely accurate. She quickly corrected herself, holding up a hand in defense. "Okay, maybe he or she doesn't know what he or she likes yet. These home invasions do require a lot of planning so our unsub is definitely well organized."

"One thing is certain," Rossi sighed, closing his tablet and looking at his other team members. "Men are safe. This person, appears to be focusing his or her rage on women, specifically gay women." He thought for a moment and then asked, "Were all these women openly gay?"

Emily answered, having posed that same question to the commander who called her. "According to their families, all three couples had been in long-term relationships and made no secret about their orientations."

"This could be a hate crime," JJ pointed out.

"We can figure that out on the plane. Wheels up in twenty." As the team started to move, Emily slipped into her office to get her go-bag.

...

JJ walked into her old office to get some privacy. She knew this phone call was not going to be pleasant. She'd never liked calling Will to tell him they had a case, but it was getting even more difficult lately. Over the past few months things between them had been strained to say the least, but for some reason they never discussed it. JJ hid in her work, while Will had taken refuge in a bottle of vodka. As if working at the BAU while being a mother of two wasn't enough, JJ now had the added task of cleaning up after her drunken husband. She hadn't told anyone about their situation, not even Emily, unsure of what she would say or how she'd explain it.

She considered leaving him, but thoughts of the boys stopped her. She couldn't take them away from their father, could she? She did her best to shield them from Will's drinking, but it was getting harder to do. Still, Henry and Michael seemed oblivious to their father's downward spiral. Thankfully, Will did his absolute best to try and compose himself around his sons.

JJ had been willing to tolerate things as they were, for her sons, but that became more difficult a few weeks ago. One Tuesday after a night of heavy drinking, Will got upset with JJ and struck her. She'd been stunned at the time, but was far less so now. It happened frequently since and JJ did little to stop it, deciding her boys' need for a father outweighed her need for safety. She took a deep breath and dialed his number as she leaned against the wall.

"Yes?" a male voice slurred after just a few rings. JJ could practically smell the booze on his breath through the phone.

"You've been drinking again," the blonde profiler stated. It wasn't even a question, she had no doubt she was right. Still, Will preferred to avoid the subject, so she didn't expect a response. She closed her eyes, and rubbed the bridge of her nose to try and prevent a headache. "We got a case, I'm going to need to leave today and I'll be gone for the next few days."

"Okay." The delay in his reply confirmed he had indeed been drinking. Luckily, her mother had picked up Henry and Michael days earlier for a vacation in Pennsylvania. They really didn't need to see their father lying on the couch with a bottle in his hand. "Who's going?"

She sighed. "The whole team Will, just like every other case."

"So, Emily's going then," he spat.

"Of course she's going, she's a part of the team."

"Of course," he mimicked, mocking her with his tone. "Who else would it be?" Will wondered, raising his voice slightly. "It's always Emily this, Emily that. Have you even realized that since she's been back, you haven't talked about anything else?"

Not willing to have this conversation JJ fell back on her favorite phrase from her days battling the media. "No comment, Will." With another sigh, JJ started pacing through her office. "I'm not having this discussion with you again. Emily is just a friend."

The sound of liquid being turned in a bottle told her that he was taking a large gulp of something that was probably vodka. "Right, just friends. If you are just friends then why have you been sleeping in your office, every night since she became the new unit chief?"

She could hear the anger in his voice. He was right, she hadn't slept in their bed in weeks. She always found an excuse to either sleep in her home office or to crawl into bed with one of the boys. "No comment, Will," she repeated, "but maybe I slept somewhere else because there wasn't room for me, with you and that bottle taking up all the space." Growing frustrated she pushed a hand through her long hair. "I'll probably be gone for a week or so… I don't know, Will, just don't make a mess."

With that, JJ ended the call without waiting for a reply and left Will alone with his drink and his self-pity. She knew they didn't have a healthy relationship anymore, but she felt powerless to fix it. Every time she mentioned Emily, no matter the context, it led to a fight. It always ended with Will accusing her of having feelings for Emily while JJ tried to assure him that that wasn't the case. At least, that's what JJ kept telling herself.

Their flirting had grown more intense since Emily's return from London. There were more subtle touches and every time they brushed past each other, JJ would get this strange feeling in her stomach that she couldn't quite name just yet.

She turned on her heel and walked to her desk to fetch her go bag before making her way to the jet. Emily had taken the far seat on the right so JJ moved to sit across from her. "How'd it go?" the older agent questioned as she looked up from the file she'd been reading.

"No comment," JJ snapped, her eyes locking with Emily's. She immediately regretted her harsh tone as she saw the flicker of hurt in those brown orbs, yet she couldn't bring herself to apologize. She was still too mad at Will to think rationally. Instead, she picked up her tablet and started reviewing the case.

Author's note: The chapter changed in a lot of ways, but the storyline will be the same. I hope you guys liked it. Reviews are greatly appreciated. :-)

AnonymousWriterFF

-CJ-