While Emily has a conversation with one of the diplomats working at the Embassy, Morgan follows a police officer to the back of the building to where the body was left. He carefully studies the scene from afar and shakes his head.

"Are you sure there is nothing on camera showing him dumping her?"

"Afraid not. The camera back here is malfunctioning. It's been on the fritz for a week so the Embassy doubled up patrols back here but figured since it's just the dumpsters who cares."

Morgan rolls his eyes. "In a post 9-11 world? I can name at least 3 terror groups that care."

"The French Officials told no one about the outage. They figured if it remained in house no one could use it to hurt them," the officer explains.

"And the French have tried to remain neutral in a lot of conflicts which they probably think helps them, too. How the hell did our unsub know it?"

Emily walks up, frustration in her eyes. "Because he was in a white van with stolen plates."

Morgan turns to her. "Street cams?"

Emily nods. "Yes. Garcia just called me." She gestures back to the building. "And they aren't any help. The officer that was supposed to patrol back here had skipped it because it's cold and it smells."

"Figures," Morgan mutters. "Well, let's see what we can find."

The two start towards the crime tape that keeps people from getting close to the body. Before they get there, a voice calls out to them.

"Emily? Emily Prentiss?"

Emily turns, recognizing the French accented voice. "Fuck," she mumbles so only Morgan hears. She forces a smile to her face and turns. "Monsieur LeBonne, bonjour. Comment allez-vous?"*

"I am fine. When will all this," he gestures wildly at the police presence, "be gone? It's causing problems."

"You think you have problems ask that woman's family the problems they'll have with her dead," Emily shoots back at him.

His face reddens in anger. "Watch your tone, young lady!"

"Listen you pompous ignoramus, I'm 40 years old, I'm married AND I'm an agent of the FBI. Either address me as Agent Prentiss or don't address me at all. Calling me 'young lady' to try to intimidate me just pisses me off. You may be able to speak to other women that way but you sure as hell can't talk to me that way. We will release the body and the scene as soon as we have found every bit of evidence that can possibly help us find the jackass that murdered this woman." She steps closer and lowers her voice so those around can't hear her. "And if you think for a second I forgot what you did to me 22 years ago you are sadly mistaken. So don't even hope I will do anything to help you or the French Ambassador out by clearing it away sooner, you asshole."

Before he can respond she spins and catches up to Morgan. He takes one look at her and knows something bad has happened. He glances back at the man who had summoned her.

"Em? You okay?" he asks quietly.

"Fine. Let's just do this." She raises a hand before he pushes. "No, Morgan. Not now. Please."

The look in her eyes, and the timber in her voice when she says "please" tells him not to press her at this moment. But it also tells him he wouldn't mind using the portly man as a punching bag. For now he just nods.

"Okay. Let's look it over."

Emily nods and the two duck under the tape and approach the body. To no surprise, the coroner tells them she has been dead since that morning. As he rolls the body, Morgan points to a bit of paper caught in her waistband.

"What's that?"

The coroner carefully picks it up. "Looks like a receipt of some kind. It's very faded."

Morgan hands the man a crime scene bag. "Get it to the techs. Maybe they can do something to pull info off of it." He looks at Emily. "Could be from the alley here or maybe not."

Emily shrugs. "Not like we've got so many leads we can ignore anything."

The two spend an hour in the alley but it offers them no new leads. Together they interview a couple more embassy workers, though Emily is glad to see Mr. LeBonne has made himself scarce. Finally they climb in the SUV for the drive back to Virginia. Emily pulls out her phone and sends a text as Morgan drives.

"On our way, honey. Love you."

As she pockets her phone, she sighs and stares out the window. Morgan slides a glance at her then back to the road.

"Bad memory?"

Emily considers dodging it but figures she wants it out of her system before she gets home. "You could say that." She takes a deep breath. "It was one of my mother's gala's my freshman year at Yale. She guilted me into attending since Father wouldn't be there."

Morgan lifts a brow at the monotone voice and the use of "Father" as Emily is caught up in this memory.

"That jackass LeBonne was drunk, his wife was back in France with their newborn daughter and toddler son. He saw me slip out and followed me to the elevators. I had no idea where he was staying so thought nothing of it as he got on with me and got off on my floor."

"Oh, God, Em…" Morgan whispers.

"But when he stopped at the door to my room I asked him if there was something he needed from me." Emily grunts humorlessly. "Wrong question. Bastard pushed me into the room. Thing is, he didn't know I'd started taking self-defense classes. I broke his nose and kicked him in the groin hard enough I often wondered if I'm the reason he only has two kids. He still managed to rip my dress. Once he was gone it really hit me the fuck was planning to rape me."

"Did you tell your mother?"

Emily shakes her head. "No. She and I weren't…very cordial at the time. And she was really pissed I slipped away from the party so early. Truth is, I was planning to drink a bit of whiskey and go back. Instead I downed the bottle, called Tom and cried to him, then passed out."

"What did Tom do?"

Emily smiled. "Met me at the airport the next afternoon and let me cry some more then never said another word about it. He knew he couldn't avenge me and he knew if I ever wanted to discuss it again I would."

Morgan smiled. "You two hadn't known each other long."

"No but…we just clicked. I think until you he's the only person I ever had that kind of brotherly love thing with."

Morgan reaches over and takes Emily's hand. "I'm glad you had him back then, Emily."

"Me, too." She squeezes his hand. "And I'm glad I have you both in my life now."

"So you okay? About seeing LeBonne again?"

"I am. He won't be an issue. He knows next time he tries to get me to help him out I'll say it loud enough for everyone around to hear. It just sort of threw me to see him after the stress of this whole fucking case."

"Yeah, I think if your emotions weren't so raw he wouldn't have gotten to you tonight. I've seen you stare down the worst of the worst and it's not often I consider taking your sidearm from you."

Emily chuckles. "I can believe that. Thanks, Derek."

"Anytime, Emily."

The two make the rest of the drive in companionable silence.


Rossi is staring out over his backyard, once again not seeing the sculpted lawn shrouded in night. Instead he is running over every case he can remember where they let hubris on their behalf or even on behalf of the police influence what they told the public. A hand rubs his shoulder.

"David, you know if you don't let it go for a little while you'll miss something tomorrow." Straus turns him and stares into his eyes. "And there's a damn good chance if he takes someone tomorrow you'll be the one getting that call."

Rossi nods. "I know. I just hate that we're so far into this spree and we are no closer to him. He knows so much about us. He had to have stalked us for…for months. Maybe even years to get all this information on us. And I hate to say this but he has to work at Quantico in some capacity. There are things we just talk about at the office that he seems to know. Emily's connection to France being a big one."

"Or if, as you said, he's stalked you all, researched you all, he could know Emily's great-grandfather was French and that her grandfather spent many years in France both at the vineyard and that rustic cabin in the mountains Jean told us about," she points out.

"True. But it seems…personal. Like we interacted with this guy. His outburst at Emily was more like something he'd have said to us in person. And I just don't remember that kind of anger other than the few cases we've already cleared. What are we missing?"

"I don't know. What I do know is this unsub made a mistake by taunting your team. None of you are turning this off at night. You are working in some capacity 24/7 to bring this man down. And I do believe you all will break this case soon. You're the best damn team in the FBI for a reason," she says confidently.

Rossi stares into her eyes a moment then grins. "Maybe Emily is right…"

Straus mock frowns. "I'm not a pod person. And I will deny it if you tell her I know about that description."

Rossi laughs and pulls his girlfriend closer. Maybe she wasn't a pod person but she was pretty damn good at helping him refocus his attention. The case needed to be shelved for the night. He starts to kiss along Straus' neck.

And his lady needed to be taken care of properly.


"Another one, Aunt Penny?" Henry begs.

"Yeah! 'Nother!" Rocky agrees.

Garcia grins and looks over at JJ, who rolls her eyes and nods.

"Okay, my little owl-lings, one more story."

"YAY!" both children chant.

JJ chuckles. Neither of her children look like they are anywhere close to going to sleep. Aunt Penny is just too much fun. But the blond FBI employees are relishing the happiness and innocence of the two young children so JJ doesn't push the "bed time" point.

"Okay, this next story is about a donkey," she says, turning the page in "Bedtime Stories: Old Owl's Fairy Tales for Children".

The kids cuddle close as she reads the tale helping them learn why we must always take care of animals. JJ reaches down and scratches Alaska on the head. The dog stands sentry beside her, just waiting for his cue to leap into bed with his boy. But since the little red race car is pretty full at the moment all he can do is watch from afar to make sure Henry is okay. Two stories later she finally puts her foot down.

"Aunt Penny can read more next time she visits. It's time for little boys and girls to go to bed."

"But we not kids. We owl-lings, right, Aunt Penny?" Henry insists.

"Yeah! Owl! Whoo!" Rocky chimes in.

JJ laughs. "Cute, guys. But you'll have to be owl-lings another night." She walks over and gives Henry and kiss and hug. "I love you, Henry."

"Love you, Mommy. Aunt Penny put me to bed so I can show her Daddy, 'kay?"

JJ smiles. "Okay." She lifts up her daughter. "Come on, Rock Star. Bed time."

Rocky leans over and JJ stoops so Aunt Penny can get a hug and kiss goodnight. She then leaves. Garcia looks at Henry.

"So, ready to show me Daddy?"

Henry nods. He gets out of bed to turn on the star planetarium.

"Whoa!" Garcia exclaims. "That's cool!"

Henry climbs into bed. "A'huh it is." He points to the dense area in the corner. "And up there is where Daddy and Jack's mommy watch over us. And I can talk to them stars or I can talk to the candle and then Daddy gives me a hug in my heart."

Garcia hugs him, staring up with him into the cosmos. "That is so cool, Henry. I am so glad your daddy is up there watching over you."

"Me, too." He sighs, and gets quieter. "Wish he was here, though."

She kisses him on the forehead. "I do, too. But at least you know he's not far away anytime you need to speak to him."

Henry nods, just staring up at his Daddy's star. Garcia stares up there, too, wondering if maybe a couple of those stars where her mom and stepdad staring down at her.


Emily and Morgan walk in and hear the TV on in the living room. They set their bags on the steps and go into the other room.

"Hey," Emily says as she drops down onto the couch beside her wife.

"Hey," JJ says, pulling her close. "What did you find?"

"And old nightmare and a new one. Good times."

Before JJ can question that statement, Morgan continues. "We did find a receipt stuck on the woman's clothes. It's pretty faded but the head tech thinks he can still get something off of it," he says as he sits down on the love seat with Garcia.

"Good. Maybe it will give me something to search to at least narrow in on where this big poopyhead is working."

"Hopefully," Morgan says.

"Poopyhead?" Emily asks in amusement.

"Well, I can't say what I think in case the twins hear," Garcia explains.

Emily laughs and rubs a hand over JJ's stomach. "Good point. Poopyhead is perfectly acceptable then. But I don't want to talk about the case. I just…I can't for a little while."

"Sounds good to me," JJ agrees. "Did you two eat dinner?"

"I made Princess buy me a Big Mac."

Emily chuckles. "Hence the 'special sauce' stains on his shirt. I told him he couldn't eat that and drive."

The other ladies chuckle as Morgan looks down to see he does indeed have two huge splotches of "special sauce" on his shirt.

"Damn it. I can't believe you didn't tell me about that. I thought you were my friend, Princess."

"I am. But I figured these two gorgeous blondes could use a laugh."

"Gee, thanks," Morgan grumbles as Garcia hands him a Kleenex.

"I remember a time I did a speech in a college communications class with ketchup on my pants. And let's say it wasn't in the best place for a woman to have ketchup on her pants," JJ relates with a slight blush and a grin.

"Ooo! Not good," Emily says with a chuckle.

For the next hour the four sit there and tell embarrassing stories on themselves. It is a much needed laugh to end the day. At some point, JJ had cuddled up to Emily, her head nestled on her wife's shoulder as strong arms held her tight. She sighs as her mind flips to the next day.

"So, um, who will he call next?" she asks.

"Jen, we need to turn it off."

"Probably me," Morgan answers. "But something tells me we're not going to find a link to anyone I know, anyplace I know, anything I've done. He is making sure we can't get a lead on the victim. He wants us to suffer."

"He's doing a damn good job of it," Garcia notes.

"We'll get ahead of him. Somehow. I won't settle for believing we won't," Emily avows. She kisses her wife on the head. "We will."

JJ smiles. "I love it when you get so confident."

Garcia rolls her eyes. "Uh oh, blue eyes going black." She stands and takes Morgan's hand. "We better get to bed before Blondie jumps Princess' bones."

Emily blushes as JJ just grins and winks at her best friend. Morgan stands, laughing.

"You kids get some sleep. No staying up all night like honeymooners."

"Well…maybe not all night. But a good portion at least," JJ says.

"JEN! Geez…" Emily scolds, her blush brightening.

As soon as their friends are gone, Emily shakes her wife a little. "You are incorrigible, woman. No way are we having sex now with those two here and on the alert."

JJ spins to straddle her wife's lap. She gives her best pout. "Pleeeease, Emily? It will help me and the twins sleep better."

Emily grins. "Oh, bullshit."

JJ giggles. "I thought that sounded like a good reason for sex."

Emily runs her hands up and down her wife's side. She stares into beautiful blue eyes. "We don't need any reason other than we love each other. And I do love you, Jennifer Jareau Prentiss. With everything in me I love you. Sorry I got snippy with you back at the office."

JJ trails her fingers through Emily's ebony locks. "I got a bit snippy, too. That's why Hotch interrupted." Emily nods in agreement. "But I love you, too. I'm sorry about the attitude, too. And I hate to say it but we may get short with each other again depending on how things go."

"True." Emily pulls her down into a kiss. "Can I give you a pre-emptive 'I'm sorry' for when it does happen?"

JJ smiles and nods. "You can. As long as I can say it, too."

"Definitely."

"Good. I'm sorry for when I get snippy because you are being an unreasonable twit."

Emily bursts out laughing. "Uh, not quite what I meant but you're so cute I'll accept that."

JJ giggles. "Good. And I know I should have but I couldn't resist that one. Honestly, though, sorry if I get snippy with you. Just know it's fear and frustration bubbling over."

"I know."

"So, next question: What was the old nightmare you ran into out there?"

"Damn. Was hoping pregnancy hormones wiped that out of your head."

"Nope. Still right there waiting for an answer," JJ confirms.

Emily gives her a kiss then tells her about the man from her past. By the end there is fire in JJ's eyes.

"Emily, my God! You should have had him arrested for attempted rape!"

Emily nods. "I know that now. But even back then I know as a diplomat he had immunity and, well, I wasn't sure anyone would believe me; not even my mother. His word against mine and everyone knew I was the screw up daughter of the ambassador. Not exactly the best source when ruining a career and a marriage." She lifts a brow. "But I warned the bastard I remember what he did. He knows better than to press me, or the FBI for that matter, for a quick end to the investigation. He's scared I could get him in trouble if I let slip what he did to me."

"That's good for the latest victim. Still not sure what it will get us since the…hey…the video camera was out for a while. I bet the unsub disabled it! He'd have to know it was a safe place to dump a body and he had to figure they wouldn't overly care about keeping watch on garbage."

Emily nods. "Good point, Jen! We need to find out exactly when the camera went down. He may have been the one to tamper with it." She starts to stand but JJ pushes back on her shoulders.

"Tomorrow, Emily. Do it tomorrow morning."

Emily sighs. "He'll take someone else tomorrow morning, Jennifer. We need this info tonight. You go on to bed. I'll email embassy security for specifics and start searching nearby traffic cams for any sort of lead they might give us."

"Emily…"

"Another victim, Jen. Morgan, Rossi, or you are getting the next call. Do you really want to deal with that?"

JJ sighs. "No, I guess not. Try not to stay up too late," JJ says as she stands and pulls her wife up.

"I'll try."

Hand in hand the two go upstairs. Emily goes right into the office and shuts the door to start working on this new angle. JJ gets ready for bed. Once she is lying down she stares at the light under the office door until she falls into a restless sleep.

It is well past midnight when Emily stops watching grainy footage. She is so tired her eyes are starting to cross. Reluctantly she sends the information where she left off to Garcia and goes out to join her wife in bed, hoping she can shut her mind down and sleep. As soon as she is under the covers, JJ cuddles up to her, sighing happily in her sleep. Emily smiles and traces a finger down a usually sculpted cheek. Now it is a little puffy thanks to baby weight. And it makes her even more beautiful in Emily's eyes.

"I love you, sweetheart."

She kisses JJ's forehead and closes her own eyes, ordering herself to sleep so she can be well-rested and an asset to her wife and the team. It works in that she falls asleep. It doesn't work in that she has nightmares all night about phone calls leading to dead bodies…and a man from her past getting what he wanted when he jumped her in a hotel room.


*Mr. LeBonne, hello. How are you? (per Android Translator)