Emily nods and stalks out of his office. He watches her, sighs and then goes to the phone to call Jack. A half hour later the team is on the plan headed to Chicago. Hotch is sitting next to Emily and when he tries to grab her hand she moves it out of his reach, Morgan notices this and gives Hotch a questioning look.
JJ watches Emily as she gets up from beside Hotch and shuffles past Morgan to get in the aisle and walks toward the bathroom at the back of the plane. JJ and Morgan trade glances of intrest. Emily surprises JJ when she plops down on the seat beside her. The two women smile at each other.
"Are you okay, JJ? You have seemed upset all morning". Emily asks concerned.
JJ gives her a shaky smile, "Will called me last night and he is threatening to take Henry away. He says he wants full custody". JJ wipes tears from her cheeks catching Dave's eye from across the plane.
Emily detects the exchange, "Why"?
"Will says I am work too much and I am an unfit mother because I am having an affair with someone I work with". JJ lowers her eyes when she discovers Dave staring at her his eyes full of compassion.
Emily looks up toward Dave and feels Hotch's eyes. He gives her a sad smile; she looks down and turns towards JJ. "First off, you are a wonderful mother and Will works just as much as you do, how many times has he dropped off Henry at the BAU because he has been called into work. So many I can't even count. I am sorry JJ, but we can fight this".
"Thanks Em, but you are my friend you have to say that. But Will is right I am out of town more than I am in, I even missed his last birthday because we had a case". Jennifer says holding back tears.
Hocth turns back to the window and Morgan sees a flash of sadness touch the corners of his eyes. Morgan opens his mouth to question Hotch about what is happening, but Hotch clears his throat loudly and says, "Let's look at this case".
With that the computer screen hums on and Garcia is in the forefront. "Hello my darling crime fighters, do you need anything from me". She says this with a sniffle and a sneeze.
The team comes from various parts of the plan and gathers around where Hotch and Morgan are sitting. Dave Rossi stands shoulder to shoulder with JJ and quietly grabs her hand and gives it a squeeze. JJ gives him a slow smile. "Hello you sweet thing, how are you feeling? Sorry you couldn't fly with us cause of your ears but do our victims have anything in common? Like did they go to the same stores, restaurants, or gyms"?
"Nada, as far as I can tell neither women frequented the same anything. I can tell you that each one of these women had high paying jobs and lived the good life". Garcia states.
"What do you mean by the good life"? Emily questions.
Garcia smiles warmly, "What I mean by the good life my gorgeous raven-haired profiler is that they liked expensive restaurants, they lived in fancy houses, and they shopped at top notch stores. These women were in the high society fast life. Each woman was in multiple relationships and at the time of their deaths none were in a relationship".
Reid rolls his eyes when he asks, "How do you know they were in multiple relationships"?
"Because there are a lot of credit card receipts for fancy hotels all around Chicago, trips for two out of state and never did they eat at the same restaurant". Garcia grins from Quantico.
"What does eating at different restaurants say they had multiple partners?" Reid questions wide eyed.
Rossi puts a hand on his shoulder and smirks when he says, "Kid you never take a lover to the same restaurant you have taken another too. Get it".
"But..." Reid starts when Hotch pinches the bridge of his nose and says tiredly "Not now. Garcia keep looking, there has got to be some connection. We need to find out where he is meeting these women". Garcia fades from the screen as Hotch says, "Rossi and Morgan go to the last dump site, Reid and I will go where the second woman was dumped and Emily and JJ got to the first dump site and we will meet up at the station. We will be landing in about twenty minutes, Prentiss can I have a word, please".
Hotch follows Prentiss to the back of the plane while the others sit down in various areas of the plane. Rossi follows JJ to her seat and sits close to her and places his hand on her knee. JJ brushes his hand off and glances around. Rossi follows her gaze and frowns.
"Jeni"? Rossi questions
"Are you ready to let the team know about us"? JJ looks around.
"Honey, I am game if you are game. It's been over a year, and we do love each other". Rossi whispers.
JJ smiles, "I do love you, Dave. I am so scared about Will".
Rossi pulls her into a hug and rubs circles on her back, "You don't have to be. I have a great lawyer and you will not lose Henry if I have anything to do with it".
Emily turns to face Hotch and smiles when she sees JJ and Rossi in a close embrace. Hotch also turns and shakes his head. Emily clears her throat and Hotch turns to face her and looks into her eyes. "We need to get through this case. I need your trust". Hotch says quietly.
Emily leans into Hotch's chest and wraps her arms around his waist. "I do trust you, always. But you need to trust me to be on guard and that I know what I am doing. Hotch please don't put my on a shelf just because you gave me a ring. I have not changed into a different person I am still strong and cautious".
Hotch kisses the top of head and whispers into her hair, "I do trust you". Hocth pulls her over to a seat that is across from Rossi and JJ and pulls her down close next to him. He drapes his arm around her and looks over at Rossi and raises his eyebrow. Rossi just smiles.
They arrive at the 19th district police station around midday. JJ introduces the team to Captain Swart. Captain Swart is a towering figure with fair hair and a kind face. He tells them that they will meet Detective Rawlings at the latest crime scene and that three SUVs are out in the parking lot for their use. The team walks briskly out to the parking lot. Since the first and third crime scene are across the street Rossi and Jareau slide into the backseat where Morgan is in the driver's seat. Hotch opens the passenger door and Emily climbs in, Hotch touches her cheek before he closes the door.
Hotch walks over to the driver's side and opens the door and motions for Morgan to step out. "I am going to go with Rossi so I'd like you to go with Reid".
Morgan shakes his head, "Are the four of you on this case or is this a couple's retreat? Women are dying and you guys are acting like..."
"Morgan"! Hotch says loudly.
Morgan groans in disgust and glares at the three in the car, and storms away toward the other SUV which holds a very confused doctor. Morgan slams the door and floors it out of the parking lot. Hocth sighs and sits behind the steering wheel. Both Hotch and Rossi reach across the seat and squeeze their respective woman's hands. The SVU pulls gently out of the parking lot and heads for Belmont and Broadway. Reid climbs out of the SVU and ducks under the crime scene tape in a parking garage near the corner of Cornelia and Broadway. Morgan flashes his FBI badge to the officer and nods towards Reid.
"Has this garage been open since the murder"? Reid questions the officer.
"Yes, but this level has been closed. This is the area where she was found".
"Have you questioned the couple who found her"?
"I have not personally but I know Detective Rawlings talked to them that night. You would have to talk with him about what they found".
Morgan flips open his phone, "Hey hot stuff are there any cameras in the parking garage on Broadway and Cornelia, or any outside cameras on the Treasure Island Grocery Store"?
Garcia swiftly pounds on the computer keys while she says, "Give me one second. There are none on the store and only cameras on the entrance and exits of the parking garage". She suddenly has a coughing fit and Morgan holds the phone away from his ear, troubled.
When she finally quiets down Morgan says, "Pen maybe you should sit this one out you sound terrible".
In between blowing her nose and hacking Garcia states, "You flatter me, my prince, but I am here till you guys return from Chicago".
Morgan flips his phone closed and notices Reid squatting looking at something on the ground. "You got something Reid"?
"Hmmm I am not sure but this spot is not blood, it looks more like a sauce of some kind. Did the crime scene techs get a sample of this"? He asks the officer.
The officer shrugs his shoulders. Morgan blows out a frustrated breath, "What do you know"?
"I was told to meet the FBI at this scene; I don't even work in the 19th district". He says curtly.