The next chapter, and I promise it'll get more interesting now. I'm surprised not more people have caught onto it.

Oh, and I got some comments about the use of the word 'suffocate'. Translated in my language, suffocate doesn't necessarily mean kill. So in this story, the unsub suffocates his victims until they lose consciousness, so that they won't fight anymore.

And now, onto the story...


They waited for a while in the 'case-room', as JJ had begun to call it. Reid was still observing the victims closely, while Morgan, Hotch and Rossi were now studying their personal details.

Emily wandered around, a little lost, until finally she moved over to JJ. "Any media on this case yet?"

JJ was still cautious around Emily, so she didn't look into her eyes when she said: "The police have already set up a tip line, but no one has come with any interesting information yet."

"What about TV stations, newspapers and all that?" Emily asked. She really wanted to know what the deal with the media was, but she also wanted to see how JJ reacted on her: and it became clear from her behaviour that JJ was nervous around her.

Just as JJ was about to answer, someone knocked on the door and walked in right after that.

JJ thought her heart would stop. Fear, surprise, anger, betrayal – it all flashed through her in that one second. Surely it couldn't be…

But it was. Through the door had walked Hannah Bauer-Barnes, JJ's old counsellor.

The emotions running through her were too much to process, but one thought surfaced: she can't recognize me. She mustn't recognize me. JJ turned her face so that it was hidden, but it didn't matter, she had already been seen.

"Shelby?" Hannah asked. Her voice sounded disbelieving, but everybody also caught the glimpse of hope in her voice.

JJ looked up: she had no other choice. Accidentally locking eyes with Hannah, she saw that she hadn't changed much: still the red hair, still the caring eyes, everything that reminded her of why she had liked her.

"Uh, no miss, I am Jennifer Jareau," she said, panicking. She was so confused and afraid she couldn't think clearly, but somewhere her mind took over and she extended her hand, trying to appear calm and professional. Hannah took and shook it, and when she let go, JJ had calmed down just enough to control herself again.

Hannah, still looking at JJ, said: "I am sorry; I confused you with someone I once knew." She shook her head to clear the memories, then, addressing the rest of the team, said: "I'm Hannah Bauer, a confidante for the victims and their family and friends."

Despite her confusion, JJ noticed that Hannah had only used her maiden name, which told her she had finally gotten a divorce. JJ felt sorry for her, because the reason why Hannah had left her group was because she had wanted to work on her marriage. Apparently, it hadn't worked.

She was pulled from her thoughts when Hannah continued talking: "I was late today, because a new victim has been found, and there have been some new developments with this one." Looking around to make sure everybody listened, she continued: "The victim is Katie Miller, a 27-year old woman who was known with the police for petty theft. She's been murdered in the killer's usual way, suffocating and throat-cutting, but not before she was abused."

She gave an odd glance in JJ's direction. Emily, not missing this exchange, saw it and remembered it to think about it some other time.

"Abused in what way?" she asked carefully. Abuse was always one of the worst things to deal with in her work, because it affected its victims for a lifetime – though Katie Miller no longer had anything to be affected by.

"She was tied down, beaten and raped before being suffocated and murdered," Hannah answered, not even flinching at the words. She'd heard worse, and though her heart bled for the woman, this was not the time to act upon it.

JJ was strangely affected by these words: Katie Miller had been raped, but at least she'd been dead not soon after it: she suffered no longer.

"So what has made him change his MO?" Hotch asked to no one in particular. Waiting for an answer, he started pacing up and down.

"Something must've happened, it seems like he was acting on his anger," Emily said.

"The unsub still tied down the victim before beating and raping her, suggesting he was composed enough to render Katie harmless before actually abreacting his anger," Reid piped up in his usual professor-like tone. "So that means he wasn't angry enough to act completely irate and unthinking."

Hotch nodded. Then he turned to Hannah: "Any physical evidence left behind?"

Hannah shook her head. "Nothing yet, but our ME will perform a closer examination this afternoon. This guy can't be that perfect."

"He is less composed now, maybe it will make him more sloppy next time," Morgan contributed, and Hannah looked at him. "Do you have any idea when he will stop, if he will?"

Rossi started talking, and Hannah turned around to look at him. "This type of unsub does not stop until he gets caught. To stop him we must gather as much information and evidence as possible, but we don't have nearly enough of that yet. He might leave some with his next crime. No matter how horrible it may sound, we need another victim."

Hannah nodded again, obviously agreeing with him.

Hotch took over. "Prentiss and Morgan, you go to the last crime scene. Try to find out where he beat and raped Katie Miller. Dave and I will go to her family to talk to them. JJ and Reid stay here to work on victimology." Everyone nodded their agreement and two by two they left, Hannah going with Emily and Morgan. JJ sighed, looking at Reid shortly before moving forward to study the victim's photos. This was going to be a long afternoon.


I know, I know. Brining back a HG character is quite cliché, but I hope my choice of character is a bit less expected. I thought it was, anyway. I like Sophie a lot, but I'm also very sorry Hannah didn't get more time. She was a great character, and something might've happened between her and Peter, had she stayed...
Also, somewhere in a bio I read it said that Hannah had great maternal instincts, and it seems to me that's something Shelby can use.

From the next chapter onwards I have no clear idea as to what to write, so it might take a little more time to upload. I will, though. I won't abandon this story. (And if I do, send me messages, because then I'll feel so guilty I just have to continue.)