Emily took a deep breath as she opened the door and entered the BAU, preparing herself for another day of long stares at mutilated bodies. She pressed the button for the 6th floor after she entered the elevator, quickly pressing the "Close Doors" button; she then leaned back against the wall of the elevator and pulled out her phone. "3 Missed Calls" she read on the screen. She swiped her finger swiftly across the screen to unlock the phone and investigate who called her. She groaned when she realized it was her mother who was trying to reach her, locking the phone again and stuffing it back into her pocket as if she had no idea her mother had called. The elevator chimed as it arrived at the 6th floor and opened its doors after it made a complete stop. Emily exited the elevator and walked quickly as if she were on a mission, which she was: a mission to make it to the coffee machine before all the mugs were used up.
She allowed her bag to slip off of her shoulder and onto the floor as she opened up the cupboard above the coffee machine, chuckling with relief as she saw a single mug sitting in the very back. She pulled the mug out without a struggle and set it on the counter, moving to the coffee pot, which she loosely gripped the handle on and pulled out of the slot. She smiled as she watched the mug fill almost all the way to the top before she set the pot back down into its place. As she added her usual mix, a splash of cream and a tablespoon of sugar, Derek Morgan joined her side.
"Mornin', sunshine," he said, followed by his signature Derek Morgan smile. Emily look up slightly to meet his eyes, and smiled back. "Hey, Derek." Derek carefully reached around Emily so he could open the cupboard and grab a mug. Emily snickered as Derek swore when he realized she took the last mug. "You know I'm gonna get you back for this." He grunted. "Oh are you?" Emily teased, laughing as she stirred her coffee. "Karma's a bitch, Prentiss, so watch your ass!" He hoisted his own bag back up onto his shoulder and stormed off to his desk. Emily gripped the handles on her own bag, making her way back to her desk and the large pile of files that awaited her.
Garcia trotted across the bullpen, her presence incredibly obvious due to the sound of her heels clicking against the floor. Derek looked up with a smile to say hello, but a look of both confusion and shock swept over his face as he watched Garcia walk over to the coffee pot. He bolted out of his seat and nearly ran to Garcia. "Um, Garcia? Where did you get that mug?" Garcia turned and looked at Derek. "It's mine. The ones in the office are boring so I bring my-" Derek held up his hand and stopped Garcia, "do you have any more?" He interrupted. Garcia chuckled, "For you? Of course." Derek wrapped his arm around gracias shoulders and planted a large kiss on her cheek, "you're the best, babygirl!" He chimed before strutting back to his desk. He pointed at Emily and laughed playfully before he sat down in his chair again. Emily found slight amusement in the large smile on Derek's face, even though the case file he was looking over had to do with tortured 20 year olds.
"We've got a case," Jennifer Jareau projected through the bullpen, signaling Prentiss, Garcia, Morgan, Reid and Rossi to stop what they were doing and get to the briefing room. Reid, with his hands in his pockets smiled as he softly nudged Emily's shoulder, "Good morning." Emily nudged Reid back, but she obviously played too rough for him because he began to rub his arm from the pain, "Hey! Oops! Sorry Reid." Reid smiled briefly and held up a hand to tell her that it was no big deal before they entered the room and sat down in the chairs around the table. JJ and Emily's eyes met and they smiled at each other before JJ turned around to present the case.
"Four white homosexual males found stabbed 12 times in the chest along with a note concealed in their hands that reads 'fix me'," JJ started. Pictures of the four men in their mid twenties flashed up on the screen, starting with the ones of the men before they were murdered."Bradley Anderson, Parker Lewis, James Larson and Kyle Rogers: no relationships, no pets, not very close to family, and all had mostly remote jobs." Emily narrowed her brows. "Each one of them was a recluse," she said. "That seems... Unusual for homosexual males." JJ flashed up the pictures of the bodies on the screen and said, "Look at the stab wounds on the bodies: They are identical each time." JJ shook her head with confusion as she looked over the images. "Well he's obviously trying to send some sort of message. Identical stab wounds and notes, he's not escalating... He's got a routine. But I can't get my mind off of the note." Morgan finished. "He says 'fix me' as if he's asking for help." Reid stated. "Yea, but who's help?" Rossi asked. "Human behavior is our expertise. What better way to get our attention and help than through murder." Rossi raised an eyebrow at Reid. "Ok, doctor, but why does he need our help?" Reid turned his attention to the screen, his eyes darting from one picture to the next, he mumbled, "I don't know..." Hotch sighed and stood from his seat. Gathering the case file in his hands, he said, "Wheels up in 30," and exited the room. Everyone else followed his lead, gathering their files and piling out one by one.
Emily caught up to JJ as she was pulling her stuff together, "I didn't even know you were here yet," Emily said with a smile. JJ looked up and pushed her hair out of her face, "Huh? Oh! Yeah I've been here for over an hour, maybe two." Emily's eyes went wide, "What!? That's crazy," Emily laughed. JJ lifted the case and waved it, "You'd be surprised how many murders I look at every day. I do profiling before you all even know the case exists." Emily raised an eyebrow, "I thought we were the only ones who profiled." JJ smiled, "you thought wrong." JJ and Emily laughed, then Emily's phone began to ring. She pulled it out of her pocket and sighed angrily. She answered hesitantly. "Hello, mother."
"Emily! Where are you?"
"I'm at work and we are about to leave on a case. Why? Is something wrong?" JJ looked up from the case files she was collecting, to Emily, a concerned frown on her face.
"No of course not! I just have this wonderful young man with me: Ted's son, Richard? I think you two would be wonderful toge-"
"Mother!" Emily yelled into the phone. "Stop this! I've already told you that I will find someone when it's meant to be! Stop trying to set me up with the children of your colleagues!"
"Well... You are just the most ungrateful little... What is wrong with you? Honestly! So disrespectful! You won't be hearing from me until you have found a husband!" The call ended when Emily's mother hung up her phone. Emily rubbed her temples with the fingers of her left hand. JJ rested her hand lightly on Emily's shoulder and moved to see Emily's face, "Em, are you ok?" Emily took a deep breath and lifted her head, looking into JJ's eyes. Emily flashed a smile, but it disappeared quickly. "Mothers," she tried to chuckle. JJ gave a small sad smile in return and nodded. Her eyes were filled with concern and sympathy as she looked at her friend. "Damn..." Emily mumbled as she walked around JJ and to the doorway. Emily punched the wall to the right of the door before she exited, causing JJ to jump just a little. JJ pulled out her own phone and sent a text to Morgan: GO EASY ON EMILY TODAY. Morgan quickly replied: WHY'S THAT? JJ was stuck. She didn't want to talk about something that was none of her business, but Morgan was Emily's best friend, if she told anyone, it would be him. She tapped the side if her phone as she contemplated what to do. DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, JUST DONT BRING IT UP AND PLAY NICE. JJ put her phone away and made her way to her office, grabbing her go bag and quickly making her way to the jet.