Jo stood outside on the front porch, alone, looking up at the stars gently weeping. Hotch took a step outside. "Jo?" She didn't answer. She hoped if she just ignored him that he would go away and she wouldn't have to deal with any of this. That this wasn't real.
"Jo, I know you are hurt and angry. But the person you should be upset with his me, not anyone else."
She wiped her red face and turned to look at him through her glossy eyes. "And why should I be upset with you?" She asked sitting down on the empty bench.
"I only found out about everything this morning. It is because of me that some of the others found out. The last thing I wanted was for you to get hurt." Hotch went over the entire story with her, of how he knew Josh, and how the others found out. She started to understand.
"Can I ask you something?" She moved over on the bench to allow him to sit next to her.
"Of course." He sat down next to her.
"If you would have just met Josh tonight, for the first time, would you know that he was married."
"Yes." Hotch answered quickly. He didn't try to spare her feelings or hide her from the truth.
She looked down while nodding her head. "How would you know?"
"He kept his hands in his pockets while trying to keep his left hand out of sight as much as possible. But when he did have it exposed, he fidgeted with his ring finger because he wasn't wearing his ring."
"I don't think I could ever become a profiler. It is like you are being forced to see the worst in people at all times. How do you deal with it?"
"Agents deal with it in different ways. But I guess you need a way to compartmentalize it."
"I guess I just try to see the good in people."
"Can I give you some advice?"
She smiled and nodded.
"I don't think that you should go home tonight without talking with Spencer."
"I know. I will. Thank you, Hotch."
He grinned while standing back up. "Good, because I believe he is standing right behind me." Hotch got up and went inside.
Reid came out and sat down next to Jo on the bench. Without a word, she leaned over and hugged his arm and rested her held on his shoulder. "Thank you." She said meekly.
"For what?"
"Being there for me. Being my friend."
He moved his arm around her and held her close to him. "I will always be there for you."
The rain had been pouring on D.C. off and on for three days. There was a permanent black cloud in the sky that affected everyone's mood. Jo took a step off of the elevator at the crack of dawn and walked through the empty floor to her office.
Hotch was next to arrive and headed straight for his office carrying his briefcase. He opened his office door to see a small white box tied with blue ribbon on his desk. He picked up the small tag hanging off the ribbon, it read, "Thank you, Sir. Jo." He removed the ribbon and lifted the lid to see a homemade apple pie. He smirked at the gesture.
A few hours had passed and Hotch knocked on Rossi's door. Hotch let himself in to see Rossi's mouth full with a cannoli. "I see that Jo left you a gift too."
"Yes, apparently, she left everyone something. Garcia was the lucky one who got her red velvet cupcakes."
"She's trying hard to make sure no one feels sorry for her." Hotch observed.
"You noticed that, too."
"How has she been?"
"I think it has fueled her fire, actually. She has been coming in early, staying late. I am starting to think that she is putting in more hours than you do."
Hotch smiled. "Well, let's make sure that she isn't wearing herself out." He held up the file he brought with him. "Did you see the new case?"
"Yes. Are we going to take it?"
"Three shootings in three days, and in our own backyard, they are begging for us to help."
"Do you think I can make a suggestion?" Rossi asked.
"Of course."
"I think we should bring Jo in on this one with us. Since it is in D.C. We wouldn't have to justify her travel expenses."
Hotch looked concerned. "Yes, we can do that. Why are you pushing for this?"
"She wants to be in the field. However, she is letting outside factors affect the decisions she is making for herself."
"Jo would need a training officer."
"I will do it." Rossi said confidently.
"Alright, have her come to our meeting."
Rossi walked into Jo's office. "Hey Kiddo. I wanted you to know that you are needed at our meeting in five minutes, you are also joining us on this case, and thanks for the cannoli." He walked out before she was able to give a response.
Jo closed the casefile she was reading and left her office. She headed directly to Reid and pulled him aside. "So, guess who is working this next case with you?"
Reid's eyes widened. "You? That's great!" He gave her a hug.
"Rossi just came and told me. But now I am incredibly nervous. What if I mess up?"
"Well, I suggest that you use the time on the case to observe and learn everything that you can."
The two walked into the meeting together.
Garcia pulled up all of the victims on the TV screen. "Okay, my beautiful people. This rain has made everything drearier, especially for these three men. All of whom have been shot and left to die in an alley."
Morgan looked up to the screen. "They all have similar features, light brown hair, height, and weight. They could be surrogates for someone."
JJ looked at the pictures of the victims. "What is this on their cheeks?"
"The lab found DNA traces of saliva, like from a kiss." Garcia reported.
"Were they able to get any leads from the DNA?" Emily asked.
"Only that it was female."
Hotch looked at the group. "Okay, let's get going."
Jo stayed with Rossi throughout the case. She did as Reid suggested, he kept back and observed. She wanted to learn, she wanted to become a better agent. After several hours of talking to the victim's families, examining the bodies and crime scenes, they finally got a lead to a small building.
Hotch and Morgan entered first to clear the room. Rossi and Jo went in afterwards. The building was empty. They found a twin size bed, neatly made with stuffed animals in front of the pillows.
Jo looked around. "I looks like a teenager's bedroom." She started to go through the dresser drawers.
"Except for the writing on the walls." Morgan pointed to all of the quotes largely written in paint.
Hotch looked at them. "Looks like they are some sort of mantras."
Rossi started to read them. "I did not live until today. Keeping watch in the night. I dreamed that love will never die. All my life I've only been pretending."
Morgan pulled back the curtain to reveal another quote written on the curtain. "Hey guys, I got another one. In the rain the pavement shines like silver. Should I get Garcia on this?"
Jo started to sing. "All the lights are misty in the river." She then looked to Rossi. "Those are all lyrics."
"Song lyrics from what?" Hotch asked.
"Les Miserables."
Morgan answered his phone. "What you got Baby Girl?"
"I am sorry to say that there was another body found. Unfortunately it was just as it started to rain. Which made what else was found a bit weird."
"Which was?"
"There was a note left with his body. It said A little fall of rain can hardly hurt me now. Does that mean anything to you?"
Hotch turned to Jo.
"That is another line from the play."
"Hold on, Garcia." Morgan announced.
Hotch approached Jo. "How well do you know this play?"
"Practically by heart."
"Okay, tell me how this fits?"
"I am not sure."
Rossi looked to her. "Jo, put this together with what you see, a teenager's room, the lyrics to the play, men being shot. How does it all fit?"
"Wait. Garcia." She called out. "Were all of the men killed in the rain?"
"Yes, according to the M.E. said."
"That's it. She thinks she is Eponine. That is a young woman who is in love with Marius, however, he does not return her affection and is in love with Cosette."
"But how does the rain come in to play?" Rossi asked.
"Eponine is shot and dies in Marius' arms while it's raining. It's a really sad part of the play. I think that you are looking for a girl who is in love with someone who doesn't return her affection."
Morgan turned to Hotch. "Remember that girl we interviewed, she appeared to be in love with her boss."
"Yes, and he matches the features of our other victims."
The agents started toward the door.
Rossi walked by Jo. "Good job, Kiddo."