A/N: Wasn't planning on posting this for another couple of days, but was in a pretty good mood today so figured I'd go ahead and share. This was only goint to be part XIII, but I thought I'd add the two parts after it since I'm in such a good mood. =D It'll probably be a few days before the next chapter comes out, but I promise I'm working on it. Got a decent amount written last night and hopefully I'll get more done tonight. Enjoy!

AgentNote: I'm glad you like cookies! I'll keep them around. And normally I'm not one for OC's either, but I am a bit partial to Sam.

Whiro: Glad you've stuck around! Thanks!

jm-oc-ja: I do have to leave you with the occasional cliffhanger, how else am I gonna get you to come back =D. I'll try not to be that mean again.

thegirlwhoflew: No worries, Sam isn't going to be forgotten, I'm a little too partial to her character to do that.

dearlydemented1993: I've only seen a few other three ways with JJ/Emily, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. =D

Willow008: Thanks, and you're welcome! I'm glad you're enjoying the story!

guitarrchick: Thanks for the support! The sad thing is that I'm horribly guilty of not reviewing when I should.

Disclaimer: they still don't belong to me. I keep wishing though.

XIII.

It was several hours later before Sam returned to the house. Walking in she found JJ and Emily curled up together on the couch, deep in sleep. Trying to be quiet the detective made her way to the kitchen, digging the first aid kid out from under her sink.

JJ was brought out of her sleep by the sound of muffled curses and a slight groan of pain. Slipping out of Emily's protective grasp, she padded quietly across the room to Sam. In the dim lighting JJ could see blood dripping from Sam's left hand. Without thinking JJ grabbed a towel off the counter and pressed it to the gashes crossing Sam's hand.

"Emily..." JJ called across the room, repeating the call a second and a third time before the brunette pulled out of her slumber and sat up.

"JJ? What's going?" Emily brushed a few stray hairs out of her face as she crossed the room.

"It's nothing Emily, JJ's just over reacting."

"No, I'm not. You're bleeding all over the place."

"It's just a superficial cut."

Emily turned on the rest of the lights in the kitchen, illuminating a series of deep gashes across Sam's knuckles, palm and the back of her hand, they crossed her skin up past her wrist, stretching almost to her elbow. The brunette muttered under her breath as she reached for the first aid kit. "Sam you're going to be lucky if you don't need stitches."

Sam tried to pull her hand away, insisting she was fine. It took JJ looking up at her with a deep look of concern etched across her features before Sam would agree to let them take care of her wounds. Twenty minutes later with her wounds bandaged and her hand and arm bound up to keep them from opening further, Sam was sitting at the counter of her kitchen, nursing a glass of water under the watchful eyes of her two nurses.

Emily sighed, reaching a hand out to rest softly on Sam's good arm, "What happened Sam? And why'd you run?"

Sam shrugged, "I was out in the barn. I wanted to park the jeep before the storm hit. It's supposed to storm pretty badly tonight. I did some work in my office, worked out a bit in the gym, put my hand through a window. Nothing serious."

JJ balked at the idea of Sam putting her hand through a window, but still wanted to know why she'd run. "That only answers one of the questions…" JJ crossed to the other side of the counter and sat down on a stool next to Sam, looking up at her with questioning eyes.

"I thought you two could use some time alone, I didn't want to be in the way." Sam shrugged again, looking down at the counter and tracing imaginary designs on the surface.

JJ and Emily shared a glance across the counter. "Sam…. look at me." The detective looked up hesitantly, meeting Emily's eyes. "You wouldn't be in the way. We wanted you with us." JJ nodded, "Sure this is confusing, but we talked while you were gone. And Emily and I … we don't know what this is, and we don't know where it's going, but we do know one thing." Sam focused her eyes on JJ's, listening to what she was saying, "We want you with us, in whatever this thing is." Emily was listening to JJ as well, but was focused on the face of the other blonde, catching the moment a flicker of hope crossed her face, only to be hidden again.

Reaching out, Emily cupped Sam's face in her hand gently, "I saw you this morning Sam, and I wanted you. But it was more than just want, more than just lust, I wanted to know what made you tick. Because here you were, this swaggering but light hearted detective who had seen hell repeatedly in the past 6 months, but still managed to smile and crack jokes. You didn't hide who you are, you didn't hide your sexuality, you were just there, you were just yourself. I saw you in pain, talking to Tasha, talking about Mike, you tried so hard to hide how you felt about it, but I saw it, and I found myself wanting to reach out and take that pain away. And I know we've only known each other a day, but there's something in you, that stretches out to something in me."

Sam bit her lip, "But what about the two of you?" She looked between Emily and JJ, still apprehensive.

JJ took Sam's uninjured hand in her own and squeezed gently, "What's been building between Emily and I has been building for a while. But the thing is, when I saw you today, you made me swoon. And there's only two people who have ever done that to me. And they're both in this room. Between the two of you I feel as if my heart has been set on fire. I want to feel you beneath my fingers, and hear you in my dreams. But it's more than that. I want to know what makes you smile, I want to know what makes you strong, what makes you weak. I want to know what makes you laugh. I want to know why you're addicted to Mountain Dew, and why Tasha thinks you don't smile anymore. I want to know why you're here, doing the work you do. I want to know you. And I want you to know me."

Sam sighed, "Why tell me this? You're going back to D.C. and when you get there, what room will there be for me? I'll still be here, still be plugging away in small town Ohio, still alone."

Emily brushed her thumb over Sam's cheek softly, "I don't know how things will work out from here. But I know I want to try."

"And D.C. and Yellow Springs aren't that far away by plane," JJ smiled at the other blonde, dropping a kiss lightly on her shoulder. "What do you think?"

Sam looked between the two agents, "I think you're both crazy. But…" She paused, smiling softly, "I'm willing to try."

With a smile, JJ leaned closer to Sam, kissing her slowly and sweetly, thrilled to finally be able to do what she'd been thinking of all day. Emily watched the two, and felt something click into place, and knew, that no matter how things worked out, these two women would always hold a special place in her heart.

Sam and JJ pulled away from each other slowly, and JJ could finally ask one of the questions that had been on her mind, "How did you put your hand through a window?"

Sam frowned and looked down at her bandaged hand. "I tripped." Looking up at the matching curious expressions on JJ and Emily's faces, Sam somehow knew that the answer she'd given wasn't going to satisfy the women she held dear. "I was working out, and well, I'm a klutz. I didn't have all the lights on, and I'd forgotten that some of my weights were on the floor, I went to grab a bottle of water and I tripped over the weights and fell into the wall, my hand went through a window. Any other questions?" Sam smiled lightly at the other two.

Emily chuckled softly, "Klutzy? Why do I feel like there are other stories that we should hear about?"

Watching the blush rising on Sam's face, JJ couldn't help but join Emily's chuckle, but remembering back to a conversation from earlier that day, a question came to mind and she needed to know the answer. "Why didn't you fight back?"

Sam looked at JJ, a question etched across her face.

"When your ex attacked you. The story you and Tasha told us earlier. Why didn't you fight back?"

Sam smirked, "Did you miss the part about the bottle to the back of the head?"

JJ shook her head, "I caught that part, but still, she shouldn't have been able to get you down and wail on you without you putting up some form of a fight." Emily nodded, "I was wondering the same thing actually."

"I guess you two aren't going to let me give the same reason I gave everyone else huh?" Two heads shook at the same time. "I couldn't hurt her. I'd done enough of that when we were together. She almost lost her family because of her relationship with me, because I 'corrupted' her. She ended up in a lot of pain because of our relationship."

"That wasn't your fault," Emily frowned at the idea of Sam blaming herself for something out of her control.

Sam just shrugged, "No harm was done."

"You had to get stitches!" JJ started muttering under her breathe about crazy exes. "She attacked you."

"It's okay though. It's done and over with. And really, I'd much rather have the two of you on my mind," Sam couldn't help the suggestive wink that came naturally.

JJ smiled and leaned in to kiss Sam again softly, once the kiss ended Emily leaned in to claim Sam's lips herself.

JJ watched the exchange, smiling, before fighting back a yawn. Sam smiled at the blonde, "Tired Jayje?" the only answer was a nod. "Why don't we get some sleep? I've got a couple of guest rooms upstairs. Or…" Sam looked around as if she were about to expose a giant secret, "or I could show you my bedroom. Just for sleeping of course."

Emily nodded, walking around the counter to slip an arm around JJ's waist, easing her up off the stool. "I don't know about JJ, but I'd like to see you room."

Sam smiled brightly, taking Emily's hand in her good one and switched off the lights as she led the pair up the stairs.

XIV.

It was the sound of rain drops on the roof that woke the women in the morning. Sam was the first to wake, she loved the sound of rain above her head, which is part of the reason she had refinished the attic and made it her master bedroom. So waking up in the morning with JJ snuggled up on one side and Emily on the other, with the sound of rain pounding against her roof; Sam was in her own private version of heaven.

Watching the other two women wake up slowly, Sam imagined that if she had a few more mornings like this she'd develop into a morning person. Unfortunately, she was willing to admit that there would be difficulties. Emily and JJ lived in D.C. and Sam knew this, and she knew she was a small town girl, a small town cop who belonged in Yellow Springs. But waking up with them in her arms in the morning made her forget, and she was more than willing to go along with the dream, and go along with the perfect little slice of heaven she'd found, and focus on waking up with the two women she'd come to adore. While Emily and JJ were pulling out of their slumber, Sam couldn't help but smile and watch the two. Watching their features awaken and their minds realize where they were and who they were with. The three exchanged morning greetings of hellos and gentle kisses before rising from bed to prepare for the day.

While Emily and JJ were getting dressed, Sam slipped downstairs to make breakfast, determined to stretch out the time she had with the women as much as possible. Sam knew, when she heard footsteps coming down the stairs that she would always love hearing the other two women descend from her bedroom down into the rest of the house, knowing that they were welcome and felt comfortable in her domain. Unfortunately the trio couldn't hide in the house all day and get lost in being with each other. Two hours later the three women had made their way back to the police station, but not before Emily and JJ snuck a glance into the barn and frowned at the trail of blood Sam had left the night before. Sam just looked at them sheepishly before starting up the jeep and driving the three of them into work.

XV.

Sam was glad she didn't have to put up with Morgan's catcalls and Reid's raised eyebrows, questioning where they had been the night before. The Chief took one look at Sam and laughed, then informed the team that the Mayor wanted to meet with them that morning, Sam included. Sam just nodded and went to start up a pot of coffee, knowing everyone else would be in need of it, and no one else could be trusted to make it. After receiving confirmation that the Mayor would be coming to the department for the meeting, the team headed to the conference room to get settled into work. Sam waved at Emily and JJ before turning to go to her desk. Morgan stopped her, "Come on detective, you've been helpful so far – let's see if you can keep up the trend. Sam was surprised when the rest of the team appeared to agree, and followed them in to the conference room. Gathering around the table the team began discussing the case, and their working profile.

"The Unsub is a local." Sam nodded at Reid's assessment, and added her own opinion, "As much as I hate to admit that it's one of my people, it has to be."

Gideon, never one to miss an opportunity that would encourage others to think, or to pick at the puzzle that was someone else's mind, asked Sam for her own explanation.

"Look at the locations," Sam rose, indicating pictures of the crime scenes, "he picked key locations to the village. Places that would make an impact, places for sending a message. Only someone from here would realize the importance of these locations."

Reid and the others nodded in agreement.

Sam, taking their agreement as consent, continued, "The victims too. He picked his victims for a reason. We might not know why, but he certainly does. He picked villagers – people who have spent the majority of their lives here, people who belong to the town just as much as the town belongs to them. Sure they had their fla-" Sam stopped suddenly, a look of confused understanding crossing her face.

"Mike had a gay sister, but voted Republican, which usually meant anti-gay."

Emily nodded, catching onto Sam's train of thought, "The kids were the children of pro-life parents who had abortions."

"Considering how liberal the village is," Hotch started," those could be seen as serious flaws by our Unsub."

Gideon rose and looked at the pictures of the other victims on the board. "We go back to the victims, we find what the Unsub might consider to be serious flaws, maybe we'll find a further link."

With determination everyone took a file and began the search. When Mayor James Hennessy stepped into the room two hours later there were still pouring over the files with apt determination. Hennessy was a soft spoken man who was completely devoted to the village. His entrance into the room was quiet and unnoticed until he spoke, "Stewart." Sam looked up and smiled, "Mayor." Rising, the detective went to shake hands with the Mayor, "James, let me introduce you to everyone. SSAs Aaron Hotchner, Jason Gideon, Derrick Morgan, Emily Prentiss, Jennifer Jareau and Dr. Spencer Reid. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the Mayor of Yellow Springs, James Hennessy." Hennessy and the team exchanged greetings, then they delved into business. Hotch spoke up first, "We're still working on the profile. This Unsub is particularly apt at not leaving evidence. Bur we're doing everything we can."

James nodded, "Any idea when you'll have something for us to use?"

Gideon answered, "Hopefully by this afternoon. Though the more we find out the more we'll be able to tell you."

James nodded again and rose from his seat, "Then I'll let you work. Sam-" he turned towards the blonde detective, "Try not to find anymore dead bodies, will you?"

Sam let out a sharp bark of laughter, "The first one was an accident! I swear!"

Hennessy smiled in a fatherly fashion and left the room.

Reid looked at Sam with interest, "You have a tendency for finding bodies?"

Sam nodded, "Apparently. When I was 12 I got lost in the state park. While I was wandering lost, I found a body. The official report said it was a hiker who fell. James has been making jokes about it ever since. He was the one that found me that day."

Emily smiled, mentally adding to the pile of things she knew about Sam. JJ just shuddered at the idea of being lost in the woods, with a body to boot.

The team went back to work and it was another hour before Reid broke the silence. Reid looked around the room and back down to the papers he was holding, "You guys, do you think it's possible we're wrong? We've been operating under the assumption that the Unsub had to force his victims to go with him. What if they went willingly?"

Morgan looked up, "What do you mean Reid?"

"Well look at this, the power went out on the third night at 10 p.m. and the victim was on her cell phone at the time. She was still on the phone until just after 10. What if someone came to her door, someone she thought she could trust? Someone who had a problem, or needed assistance, possibly related to the power outage. Maybe the victims would have trusted the Unsub and followed them."

Gideon shook his head, "How would that explain the last murders, or any of the ones that followed after that third night?"

Emily jumped in, "Well it would have had to have been someone everyone trusted. A face they all recognized, someone they would have felt comfortable going out with, even with the threat of a serial killer out there. Someone who would be completely unexpected to be capable of such violence."

JJ looked up, a frown on her face, "Or someone in uniform…"

Everyone paused, thinking about the implications. Reid finally said what they were all thinking, "Who are you most likely to trust in a situation like that? A cop, a fireman, an EMT, someone with an official looking uniform or badge, someone with authority."

Morgan looked around the room then back down at the notes in front of him, "Uniform or not, any information we get is going to be from whoever was on the other end of that phone call."

Sam nodded, "It makes sense," a grim expression made its way across her face and JJ could sense her distaste at it being someone the citizens trust, inflicting these horrors on the village.

Hotch stood up, "Well then we need to find out who that victim was talking to. Maybe there's a reason why she hung up, or some bit of information that could be helpful. Whoever was on the other end of that call may know who the Unsub is, and not realize it.

Fate apparently agreed because at that moment Morgan's phone rang. "Garcia," he smiled as he told the team who was calling, "Hey baby girl, what's up?"

"Well, my big human ship of gorgeousness** I got some good news, and some bad news, and if you'd like I can have some naughty news."

The team laughed and Sam just grinned, "Why can't I get a tech analyst like that?"

Emily glared at Sam and JJ just laughed. Garcia just responded, "Well honey, how much cash you got?"

Morgan shook his head, "Garcia I don't think any of us can afford you."

"Well handsome, we'll just have to settle up your bill later. First things first, you wanna hear what I've got for you or not?"

"Alright sugar cakes, lay it on me."

"Whoever is taping into the power system is doing it through city hall. They're making a connection through the computers there. It looks like they set up a hack into the system from the building, and then routed that to a device or computer remotely. Allowing access from off the grounds, while still looking like they are in the building. I'll be able to narrow it down further, but it's going to take a while. It took me longer than it should have to get this far. The security on that system is far superior to what you would normally expect in such a small town. Someone is seriously determined to keep people from looking around inside their business."

"Alright, what else you got for me?"

"Well whoever is controlling those power outages is turning them off and on exactly when he or she wants to. I don't know how they've done it yet, but I'm thinking they've set up a control with the generators in town, making sure that the power doesn't come on anywhere before they're ready for it to. You might want to take a look at the generators and see what you can find. Send me pictures and I'll take a look."

"Thanks baby girl. Anything else we should know?"

"That's all I've got for you now Studly McStudMuffin."

"Well that's a new one."

Garcia's smile could be heard over the phone, "I know. I'm practicing so I can impress that sweet little small town detective that I know is keeping you all company."

"Well consider me impressed fair goddess," Sam smiled, "I really appreciate your help Garcia, and as a heads up, I'm gonna try and steal you from them."

Laughter trickled into the conference room through the floor, "Ooooh, this has the sound of a challenge, I'll anxiously await your attempts."

Moments later the call was ended and the team members plus Sam were formulating their plan of attack for the remainder of the day.

Thanks for reading!