TITLE: Criminal Minds – "Behind the Mask"
AUTHOR: D M Harper
SUMMARY: Agent Prentiss finally discloses her true feelings to Agent Jareau, but not in the manner she'd originally hoped for.
RATING: M For Mature Readers.
DISCLAIMER: This story was conjured up for reading entertainment only. No money has exchanged hands or bank accounts. There is no profit gained, just fancy flights of imagination. There is no intention to infringe on the copyright of CBS Television Studios or creator Jeff Davis. This writing does feature consensual sexual interaction between two females, so if you are underage or unable to view due to restrictions in your part of the world, be gone and take my sympathy with you. If you find such material offensive, too bad, so sad, you chose to enter this web site of your own free will, hence you have no one to whine to except yourself or a parent if you are caught, now bugger off!
Chapter 2
After a ten mile run in the cold morning air, Emily showered then dressed for work. Once a light breakfast was eaten, she drove to Quantico and was greeted by Morgan in the underground car park as she alighted from her vehicle.
"Hey there beautiful, I see you didn't take the Metro this morning."
"Good morning Derek and I was running a little late."
The six foot one, thirty five year old muscled and brown skinned man grinned, "New suit?"
Emily looked down at her navy blue with white pin stripes attire, "Yeah, I treated myself at Christmas."
"Well you look hot," taunted Derek as the pair entered the elevator. "Word is J.J.'s replacement is joining us today."
With arched brows, Emily posed, "Really, I wonder who it is."
"Time will tell Miss Delicious."
Emily chuckled, "Good lord, you are good for the soul Morgan."
"Hey, just stating the facts Princess."
"I appreciate the words."
The lift halted on the sixth floor and the two Agents entered the empty BA division.
"Looks like it's my turn to make the coffee," offered Morgan. "Want some Partner?"
"No thanks, I drink way too much of that shit," answered Emily as she set her leather briefcase down on her desk beside Reid's.
"Don't we all," agreed Derek while making his way to refill the machine in the briefing room.
-0-
Emily was engrossed in a case she was consulting on for the Maine Police Department when Hotch exited his office and announced, "Conference room everybody."
"Ah shoot, I hope it's not a new case," grumbled Morgan.
"Me too," agreed David Rossi. "We just got back."
Even Spencer Reid, twenty seven, uncustomarily whined, "I'll never finish this paperwork."
Emily smiled at her complaining co-workers and made for the conference room. Taking her usual seat at the top right hand side of the table, she pulled out her ballpoint pen and waited for the others.
Several minutes later, Emily gulped when Jennifer entered the room with a tall, pony tailed blonde slightly behind her. Emily took in the stunning woman with attention grabbing blue eyes and held her breath as the rest of her Team arrived.
Jennifer moved to the head of the table and began, "Everyone, I'd like to introduce SSA Jillian Rolston, my temporary replacement." She introduced the Team individually then added, "Agent Rolston joins us with many years of field experience with the New York Counterterrorism Unit and will be an asset to the Team."
With that said, the two blondes left the room and Emily watched Agent Rolston limp away.
"Wow, she is an absolute looker," stated Reid as he turned to Morgan.
"She sure is," agreed Morgan as he leapt out of his chair and followed after the two women.
Emily finally exhaled and went directly to Garcia.
The blonde smirked, "My office, let's do a little creative digging my brown eyed girl."
With a chuckle, Emily followed her friend to her work area and closed the door.
As Garcia typed several codes into her computer, Morgan joined them.
"Hey Hot Stuff, did you get rejected already?" asked Garcia with a snigger.
Morgan tilted his head, "Yeah, shot down in flames Baby Girl, that woman is all business."
Garcia suppressed another giggle, "Oh poor baby, I'll rub your bruised ego for you later Love Muffin."
Emily grinned at her two friends' banter then pondered, "I'm surprised J.J. didn't give us more information."
Garcia let out an exasperated sigh, "That's because there is a huge firewall protecting her file."
"Say what?" queried Morgan.
"Agent Rolston's file is off limits and is protected by a very good encrypted program. Even better than the one I used on the Teams'. I've never seen anything like it before, it even surpasses Deadbolt the number one crack-resistant software in the world."
"Didn't you come across that program once before baby?" asked Morgan.
"Yeah, back in 2005 and I eventually cracked it."
"Come on my Blonde Goddess, you can crack this one too," encouraged Morgan.
"I'm trying Stud Muffin, but it's really good. All I can bring up is the usual standard information."
The three friends swore when the monitors went blank then flickered to a blue screen.
"Holy friggin' shit," uttered Garcia. "I didn't see that coming and it will take hours to fix."
"Damn, must be some interesting data we are missing out on if someone has gone to this much trouble to protect it," reasoned Morgan.
The threesome turned their heads to the door when it opened and froze when Agent Rolston appeared.
She glanced at the three startled faces then turned her attention to the numerous blue screened display monitors positioned around the room. Her features were stern as she inquired, "Isn't it a Federal offence to hack into restricted FBI personnel files without the proper authorisation?"
Before anyone had the opportunity to reply, Rolston continued, "Excuse me Miss Garcia." She motioned for the gobsmacked blonde to vacate the office chair then took her place. After a few commands on the keyboard, the FBI logo appeared on the screens. "There you go," announced Rolston while continuing to type.
Seconds later, her service history appeared on screen. "That's as good as you get," she remarked as she stood and hobbled out the room.
"Oh man, she is a freaking genius," gushed Garcia while she took her seat.
Emily laughed softly, "Looks like you've met your match Garcia."
"Oh I think I need to talk to her," replied the Analyst as she brought us Rolston's personal information.
Morgan read over her shoulder, "Jillian Ann Rolston, born June 3rd 1974, Parish Medical Centre Titusville, Florida to parents Malcolm and Maureen. Father is an Engineer with NASA and mother is a Literature Professor at Jacksonville University."
"Nice DNA," quipped Garcia. "Joined the FBI at twenty-three in 1997 and promoted to Supervisor in 2007. Last assignment was the New York Field Office with Counterterrorism."
Emily scanned to screen, "That's all there is?"
"Looks like it," answered Garcia. "Education and other service data are under lock and key honey."
"Hmm," said Morgan. "That just makes us more curious."
"Ask her out for a drink Prentiss," suggested Garcia. "You are excellent at prising information out of people."
Emily blushed at the thought, "Why me?"
Garcia beamed at her friend, "Because you are gorgeous pussycat and she won't be able to resist your spellbinding charm."
Morgan straightened up and the light bulb came on, "Oh I get it, she's gay?"
Chuckling, Garcia responded, "Oh course she is Love Muffin. The tailored suit, chucky silver wristwatch and shiny black combat boots are a dead giveaway."
Looking to Emily for confirmation, Morgan grinned when the raven haired woman nodded.
She moved towards the door and turned back at her colleagues, "I'll ask, but not today. By the way, I finally told J.J. I'm gay."
Garcia's eyes popped open at the news, "What did she say?"
"Not much, but I'm glad it's out there and she really is happy with Will."
Morgan inched closer and placed a hand on her shoulder, "You okay girl?"
"Yeah, I really am. It was only a dream and I've stopped torturing myself over it."
"Good to hear because I think the right woman is out there for you." With that said Morgan opened the door and pushed Emily outside, "Go get her tiger."
Emily stumbled slightly before regaining her footing. She turned a bright shade of red when she glanced up to find Jennifer and Agent Rolston both observing her from the lower level. Straightening her jacket, Emily walked nonchalantly to her desk and ignored the questioning glares.
-0-
After agreeing to have lunch with Rossi, Emily sat down at the local diner table and picked up the menu.
"I heard about Garcia's failed attempt to access Agent Rolston's file," said the goateed, fifty-three year old dark haired Agent.
Emily smirked, "News travels fast."
"I did a little digging myself. I rang an old colleague in New York and it seems our latest addition is well respected, very private and extremely efficient at her job."
With piqued interest, Emily asked, "Did your friend say anything more?"
Rossi chuckled at her enthusiasm, "No, apparently Agent Rolston plays it close to her chest. Luke said that even after working with her for five years, he didn't know anything personal about her."
"Bit of a lone wolf then?"
"Not on a work front, she's very much the team player."
"So how did she get to fill in for J.J.?"
"I spoke to Hotch earlier and he told me Strauss recommended her."
"Oh Hotch would have liked that," sniggered Emily as their waitress arrived.
Once orders were taken, Dave resumed the conversation, "Hotch was more than happy to have Agent Rolston join the Team."
"Has she done liaison work before?"
"Hotch mentioned she was seconded to Texas several years ago in that very position."
Emily sighed with relief, "That's good to know. At least J.J. won't have to walk her through every procedure and point of protocol."
"It will still take her some time to settle in though."
"Somehow I don't think that will worry Agent Rolston," retorted Emily with a sly grin.
-o-
