Spoiler warning! I don't own anything!

Stick around this story is turning out to be longer than anticipated; it took life of its own! R&R

Chapter 10

Twenty minutes later the team was assembled in the plane. JJ starts to brief the them "We are heading to Pittsburgh, PA. Four months ago 14 children died in a fire," she says handing pictures that graphically showed the deaths. "over the past three months there have been five suicides in the area – all people who lost children in that fire. Paul Baleman was found electrocuted in his bathroom yesterday."

With a look of confusion Morgan asked, "Why do they need our help? They're suicides."

JJ didn't get a chance to reply, Reid beating her to the punch "All of the suicides were within 2 weeks of each other. It could be some kind of pattern."

The darker agent didn't seem to agree. "Det. Baleman thinks something else is going on," replied JJ, exhaustion evident in her voice.

"Well of course he does," mumbled Morgan.

Casting a concerned glance at the liaison, Emily spoke up "Now, wait a second.
In the same neighborhood? Within months? That's a serious spike."

Standing up, Reid picked up where Emily left off "Prentiss is right. Suicides don't spike after a tragedy. Quite the opposite, actually. Following World War I and II, right after Kennedy was shot, and following 9/11, suicides plummeted. Within a society, external threats usually create group integrations."

"People tend to come together when faced with an external threat," added Rossi.

"So if there's reason for doubt, which there obviously is, Don't those families left behind have a right to know?" asked Emily standing up to help JJ sit down. She knew the younger agent was over doing it. JJ would never admit it aloud, but letting Emily help her to a seat was enough to remind the team that she was still recovering.

Hotch had remained silent during the exchange, his mind was already made up "Yes, they do," he said looking at Morgan.

"Ok, sure, they deserve to know, but let somebody else tell them, like social services," mumbled Morgan.

Agent Hotchner chose to ignore the comment, "Contact detective Baleman. Let him know we'll be arriving soon," he said looking at JJ.

Twenty minutes later, Agent Morgan was still a skeptic about the situation, "we should've never have taken this case. And I say case in the loosest sense."

Rossi having had enough of the argument walked behind Morgan's seat, "We'll follow the facts as they are without bias. Isn't that what we do?"

Shaking his head "What facts, Rossi? Look at us. We don't have a single file," responded the annoyed agent.

"Ok, let me help you out," said the Italian, "Jump right in anytime," he said to the team. "Fact one there are no files, so it seems no case."

"But what if there is?" asked Reid.

"One fire, 14 deaths, all the suicides are connected to the original fire," Prentiss took the floor.

"And all exactly 2 weeks apart," followed Hotch.

Rossi shook his head, surprised that Morgan was pretty much dismissing the evidence, "Come on, Derek, you can't tell me that doesn't feel a lot like a pattern."

Lifting her head from her current resting spot, "and a timeline," added a tired JJ.

"That's a whole world of grief, and for a few suicide's their only way out," mentioned Morgan, knowing he'd already lost the battle.

Not giving up the argument, "Or someone decided it was," deadpanned Rossi.

Taking the bait the darker agent retorted, "And made it look this way? What if they have? Then we're looking for one very smart unsub."

"Who targets people in grief," came from Hotch, "And that would make them what?"

Reid's eyes opened wide at the realization, "someone who thinks they're putting they're putting them out of their misery; an angel of death."

The rest of the plane ride was practically silent. Emily's concerned glances weren't missed by anyone, neither was the fact that JJ had quickly fallen asleep.

Once the plane landed Rossi pulled Hotch to the side, "It's too soon for her to be back at work," said the Italian.

"It will be handled," he put a hand on Rossi's arm, "she will stay at the station for much of this case, I will not let any more harm come her way," with a curt nod the younger agent started to follow his team to the three FBI issued SUV's.