I apologize for my absence. My husband had surgery and I had to take time to take care of him, but good news it gave me a lot of time to think about my stories and I appreciate any and everyone who are still following this story and I hope you continue to enjoy!


The agents ran into the parking lot of the police station, quickly scattering around the perimeter but it was too late, Jimmy was gone.

The officer who was guarding Jimmy was not far behind the agents, following them into the parking lot. "I'm sorry." He said, holding the back of his bleeding head with one hand.

Hotch sternly walked up to the officer, holstering his gun once the parking lot had been cleared, "What the hell happened?"

"I'm sorry. He jumped me." The officer tried to explain frantically, wincing with the pain pulsing from his head.

Hotch sighed with a disappointing shake of his head. In Hotch's mind, that was no excuse. The officer should have been able to retain Jimmy. He could have been their only hope of catching the un-sub. Suddenly Hotch's phone started to ring, "Hotchner." He answered sternly, without looking at the I.D.

Garcia was a little surprised by Hotch's tone and said, "I am no profiler sir but I'm sensing some frustration so hopefully my snooping and technological genius will brighten your night like a harvest moon."

"I'm going to put you on speaker." Hotch said as the other agents were gathering around.

"I did some cross checking, opened a few sealed files and came across one Ed Walker. He delivers mail within the company, working odd shifts and like I previously mentioned I opened a few sealed files and found some interesting facts."

"What would that be?" Morgan asked.

"Well crime fighters it seems that Ed Walker started getting himself into trouble at a young age. His dad left when he was seven, he was repeatedly suspended from school where he eventually landed himself in juvy as a young teenager. He was released a couple years later when soon after, his mom suspiciously disappeared. She was later found in the woods with single stab wound to the chest."

"Sounds like our guy." Rossi added.

"Yes, but there is more. Before she was killed Ed's mom was a very wealthy woman and I'm mean wealthy like Coach purses would be pennies on the dollar wealthy, like a Mercedes is one of three she owned and the tennis court, indoor and outdoor pools have their own staff to maintain them wealthy."

"Garcia." Hotch said trying to bring her back to the point.

"Right, well she was the CEO of small business firm and I did some checking and found out that Ed's mother was not much of a mother at all. She worked too much and was most likely was the reason Ed's father left."

"So Ed had a grudge." JJ assumed.

Reid added, "He most likely held his mother responsible for his father leaving. If you combine that with the fact that he wasn't raised by loving parents and look at his brain chemistry, you will see he never really had a chance." There it was, humanizing the un-sub. The moment when everyone pauses and briefly empathizes just before they are all brought back to reality.

Garcia quickly chimed in after Reid's analysis, "One more thing my lovelies, I got a last name for your suspect Jimmy Louthen and sadly his parents were murdered when he was eleven and since he has been placed in and out of foster homes..."

"Is there a kicker Garcia?" Emily asked.

"Yes and its quite disturbing with a hint of suspicion. It appears that the man who was suspected of killing Jimmy's parents was beaten, stripped naked, hog tied with a green jump rope and finally strangled. His body was then found in a local park by teenagers."

"It sounds like Jimmy was giving out his own form of justice." Morgan said.

"Ding, ding and a hundred dollars goes to the brilliance of Derek Morgan. The local police suspected Jimmy might have had something to do with it, but there was no evidence to tie him to the murder and the case went cold."

Hotch looked at Emily confirming their suspicions, that would definitely explain Jimmy's behavior and wanting to kill the un-sub. "Do you have addresses for Ed and Jimmy Garcia?" Hotch asked.

"Of course I'm sending them to your phones now. Be safe my loves, Garcia out."

Hotch gave the orders, "Morgan, JJ and Reid go to Jimmy's. The rest of us will go to Walker's." Hotch wasn't sure he was making the right decision with how he separated the team but one thing he did know was that he wanted Emily with him as well as Rossi even though the dynamic between the two had now reached an uncomfortable status.

The agents grabbed their kevlars, jumped in the SUVs and headed towards their destinations.

Emily once again found herself in a quiet SUV, giving her mind the freedom to torment her. As long as she was focused on the case, keeping her mind productive she was able to compartmentalize, but in this silence it was almost impossible. Her faculties were beginning to deteriorate. She didn't know how much longer she could last before her emotions surfaced.

Emily's breathing was slowly becoming more labored with short breaths as she fought for control. This didn't go unnoticed by Hotch and Rossi who were becoming increasingly concerned. Then suddenly Emily gasped as if she had run out of air, alarming the two senior agents.

Oh God, I'm losing it. Emily couldn't catch her breath as she continued to gasp. Her chest tightened and she clutched her shirt as if by some force she could release the tension but it was to no avail. She felt the blood leave her face and her head began to swim. Not here not in front of them.

"Emily?" Hotch said. He looked into the review mirror, hoping for eye contact but he was wrought with disappointment. He distinctly noticed Emily's hand, grasping tightly to her shirt. She had no one else to cling to, no one to help her fight. It was obvious to Hotch that she felt alone and he yearned to hold her, longing to make the pain go away. I'm right here Emily, right here. He thought to himself and in that moment he had never felt so helpless.

Rossi un-did his seatbelt and turned around in his seat, facing Emily. "What's wrong?"

Emily held up her hand, "I'm okay...it's...uh...I'm just...I can't..." She tried to speak gasping for air, between words. Her voice seeped with emotion and every word fought through gritted teeth to retain control.

"Try to take slow, deep breaths." Rossi instructed. He was relieved when he saw Emily nod, confirming to him that she was going to try.

Emily leaned forward, resting her forehead on the back of the passenger seat. She felt Rossi place his hand on her back, following with a soft pat before removing it. This is just too much, she thought. I can't do this. "Pull over!" She demanded of Hotch as the bile began forcing it's out of her throat.

Hotch quickly pulled over to the side of the road. Before the wheels even came to a stop, Emily jumped out of the vehicle emptying the contents of her stomach. Rossi turned back around in his seat to face out the front window, giving Emily her privacy. Hotch went to get out of the vehicle and Rossi grabbed his arm, "Not now. Give her a minute." He said calmly.

Hotch didn't argue.

When Emily finally finished heaving she caught her breath and stepped back to the open door of the SUV.

"I'm taking you back to the station." Hotch said.

"Like hell you are." Emily stated.

Rossi couldn't help but smile at Emily's grit and he looked at Hotch with a smirk.

Hotch was just about to rebuttal when a call came through the SUV. He saw who it was and answered, "Go ahead Morgan." Hotch said keeping an eye on Emily.

"No one's here Hotch. Jimmy's house is empty."

Emily was relieved to hear something about the case and asked, "Is there any evidence he's been following Ed Walker?"

Hotch finally felt himself breath, knowing Emily's focus was shifting.

"If a time line of the murders plastered on the wall is evidence, then I'd say he's been following him for a while."

"My guess he is already at Ed's house." Rossi added.

"Meet us there." Hotch ordered just before disconnecting the call.

Emily quickly scooted in the back seat, "Let's go." She said giving Hotch a determined eye in the dim, overhead light of the cab.

Hotch didn't argue and stepped on the gas.

Rossi began putting on his kevlar and remembered he had a mint. He reached into his pocket and handed it to Emily.

Emily took the mint, "Thank you." She said gratefully.

Rossi quietly nodded and continued putting on his kevlar.

Finally the three agents reached Ed's house, along with a squad of deputies lighting up the freshly cut yard with swirling blue and red lights.

The agents stepped out of the SUV into the breezy night air. There was a full moon overhead, outlining the shape of the one story house before them. Fireflies danced in the distance as a strong smell of grass enveloped their senses and just as everything seemed calm the sudden sound of muted gunfire could be heard coming from inside the house.

The three agents ran hastily towards the house.

Hotch took the back with a few deputies, nodding for Emily and Rossi to take the front.

Emily and Rossi wasted no time busting through the front door. "FBI!" Emily said fiercely as they entered into the cool, air conditioned house. Just a few feet in front of them Jimmy lay lifeless in the middle of the floor, his blood pooling on the white carpet. It was obvious Ed had the jump on him, like he knew Jimmy was coming.

"Damn." Rossi said under his breath.

Ed Walker was nowhere in sight but he had to be in the house, for there was no word from Hotch that anyone was trying to escape out of the back.

Rossi nodded for Emily to go to the left as he searched to the right. After about three tedious steps Rossi saw a strange movement out of the corner of his eye. He looked to his left and there he was. Ed was peeking over the back of a love seat, pointing his gun straight at his daughter. "Emily!" He yelled desperate to save her.

Hotch heard Rossi's alarming voice resonate through the house. His tone foretold of a life threatening situation, something bad was about to happen and Hotch nearly felt his heart stop. Not Emily.

Ed was just out of Emily's peripheral vision and she didn't see him.

Rossi took a quick step and leapt in front of Emily, shielding her body with his own.

Emily turned in time to see Rossi's body flying in front her, she immediately aimed her gun at the floor to keep it from pointing at Rossi's back. A shot rang from across the room and she saw the impact of the bullet, jar the side of Rossi's head.

"No!" Emily felt her soul collapse and her heart surge with a heavy pain that soon seared through every fiber of her body.

Rossi lay motionless on the floor.

Emily quickly looked firing repeatedly at the figure, now standing in the corner of the room. She emptied her clip, watching Ed's body jolt with each bullet that penetrated his flesh, just before he fell to the floor, dead. It was only after Emily heard her gun click that she threw it down and knelt over Rossi's body. She rolled him on his back and saw the blood gushing from his head, "No! God no! Rossi!" Tears began to steadily stream from her eyes.

Hotch ran into the room and stopped abruptly when he saw Emily kneeling on the floor, cradling Rossi's head. His blood was spilling onto her hands and his body was nearly limp except for some noticeable movement at his lips.

Emily leaned down and kissed the top of Rossi's forehead, "Comeback." She begged her voice pitchy, transcending utter despair as her words further shattered her already broken heart.

Emily fought to see his face through the tears when suddenly she saw his lips trying to move. She leaned close to his face only to hear incoherent mumbling, "It's okay, it's okay you're going to be okay." She said more to convince herself, as she pressed on the side of his head to stop the bleeding. Beneath her fingertips she could feel the bullet lodged in his skull as his warm blood seeped between her fingers.

Hotch quickly knelt across from Emily helping hold Rossi between them. He placed his hand on top of Emily's that was covering Rossi's wound, to force more pressure in hopes of repressing the bleeding. "We need paramedics!" Hotch ordered waving in whoever might see them. "Paramedics!" He demanded.

Emily was leaned in tight to Rossi when she felt the last breath leave his body, "Rossi! No!"

"Paramedics!" Hotch yelled once again feeling the life slip from Rossi's body. Finally he saw the blue suited team rush through the front door. He pulled Emily to her feet and out of the way.

Emily resisted at first and then stepped next to Hotch, "He was...trying...to...say…something." She tried to explain to Hotch between the tears. "He had something to say...he...can't be..." Emily didn't want to say the word as if it would make it real. They watched as the paramedics ripped open his shirt to revive him. "He wanted to...tell me...something. He can't..." Emily felt her legs growing weak and found support leaning into Hotch's side. His arm was placed protectively around her waist, helping support her.

Hotch kept his arm around Emily. He could feel her weight beginning to get heavier as she tried to maintain standing.

Emily's eye caught a glimpse of something shiny as she looked towards the floor. Instinctively she reached for it between the frantic paramedics who were now yelling for her to stay back.

Hotch didn't know what she was doing and reached for her.

After Emily retrieved the item she stepped back out of the way, letting Hotch pull her into him. Only now did Hotch see that she was holding something. "What is it?

In her hands Emily held a gold locket that had burst open. She gasped. The picture inside was all too familiar. As if looking in a mirror she said, "That's me." Her eyes flew to Rossi and watched as his body was jolted from the floor, only to be followed by a steady death tone. She looked back at the picture and then up to Hotch.

Hotch didn't know if he should say anything. Once more he heard the paramedics call, "Clear!" just before they pressed the pads against Rossi's bare chest. "He's your dad." Hotch said, there it was it was finally out.

Emily fell to her knees pressing the locket to her chest.

Hotch safely guiding her to the floor.

In that moment it all made sense but the moment would come too late. There was no thinking of what could have been, what should have been said or even what she should feel. There was only what is and the reality was it all seemed a little too late.

Emily closed her eyes and wept.


There it is, Will it be the end for Rossi?