Note: This is continued from The Artist. It starts right where that story left off but with a new case.

Alfred Hitchcock said, "Blondes make the best victims. They're like virgin snow that shows up the bloody footprints."

Chapter 1

Stafford Hospital

Emily was still in the hospital recovering from their last case, she was doing much better and had plenty of visitors. But she hated the hospital and being stuck in bed with absolutely nothing to do. Aaron came by to see her everyday before work and sometimes if he got done early as well. She had known she had feelings for the unit chief for a while but she was afraid to let herself care so much about anyone. Her past with other men hadn't been that great but when she had almost died she thought to hell with it. She was going to enjoy her relationship with Aaron. Sure theirs was relatively new but they had known each other for years so they were past the initial getting to know each other stage.

Just then the very man who had captured her thoughts for the past couple days, stepped into the room, "Hey how are you feeling today?" he asked stepping up beside her bed.

"Much better now that your here."

"I know you hate it here so I brought you a few things." He said holding up the bag he had with him.

"What did you bring me?" she asked sitting up in bed.

"Some DVD's from Garcia she said you'd love them. Reid sent these books, says you should keep your mind active while your stuck in here.

"Of course he did."

"JJ sent some magazines, Morgan sent you an MP3 player with some songs he loaded on for you to listen to and Rossi cooked you something to eat. Which I snuck in here for you," he said pulling out a tupperware container.

"And you, what did you bring me?" she asked with a small smile.

"I brought this," he said leaning down to kiss her.

"Is that all?" she pouted jokingly.

"What that's not enough?" He replied playing along. "I'm just kidding I brought you this little guy." He said with a smile as he pulled out a little dark brown teddy bear.

"Awww he's so cute," she said laughing at the little gun holster the bear was wearing.

"I'll tuck him in here next to you," he told her as he placed the bear next to her on the bed.

"Thank you," she said leaning up to press a kiss to his lips. "He'll just have to be my bodyguard while your at work," she said causing him to laugh.

"Oh I almost forgot Jack wanted me to give this to you," he said reaching into his coat pocket and handing her a piece of folded paper. Unfolding it she noticed a drawing of three people. "Is that you, me and Jack?"

"Yeah."

"Tell him I love it and when I get out of here I'll put it up on my fridge."

"He'll love that."

Just then a cell phone rang interrupting them, "Oh man I thought I turned that off. "Hotch," he answered as he kept his gaze on Emily.

"Alright thanks JJ."

"You got a case?"

"Yeah I hate to leave you."

"It's alright go catch the killer."

"I'll see you later, try and get some sleep." He said leaning over to kiss her forehead before reluctantly leaving the room, looking back at her he said, "I'll see you later beautiful."

Behavioural Analysis Unit, Quantico Virginia

Hotch walked into the conference room where the rest of the team was waiting for him. "Where were you bossman? Your usually the first one here in the morning." Garcia asked as he took a seat at the head of the table.

"Sorry I overslept and then had to take Jack to school a little late," he lied. He and Emily had decided to keep their relationship a secret for now, they wanted it to be just the two of them for a while.

"What do we got JJ?" he asked trying to change the subject.

"Our unsub has kidnapped a mother and her daughter, Amy and Isabella Westfield. They were on their to the daughters school but never made it there. The father Micheal was found dead in their home. But get this he was found missing his left ear."

"Ah god," Garcia commented looking away from the crime scene photos as Morgan who was seated next to her reached over to squeeze her hand.

After the briefing Garcia was headed back to her office when JJ pulled her aside. "Pen, are you sure there's nothing going on between you and Derek?" she asked. "I mean I know you two have always been super close and flirty but lately things just seem different."

"Jayje, we're just friends. Someone like my chocolate god would not be interested in an ugly computer geek like me."

"Oh sweetie your not ugly and Derek would be lucky to have someone like you."