Emily answers the phone after the first ring. "Good morning, honey. Please tell me you're getting here soon."

JJ sighs. "Rain and sleet continuing until noon. Federal Government is on liberal leave. I haven't even gone to Quantico yet. I'm working from home until we find out what we are doing. If we drive, we won't be cleared to leave until 11 for safety's sake. If it looks like we may be able to fly we won't be leaving until after noon."

"Son of a bitch," Emily mutters. She pinches the bridge of her nose, wondering if the headache she has had for two days will ever go away. "We're going to Dothan."

"What?" JJ asks in shock.

"I made a deal with Reid last night. If you all weren't going to get here before noon McElroy and I would go with him to Dothan to try to reason with the sheriff. Hopefully the sheriff will agree to admit he's got the wrong guys in custody or that they had help or something. Reid is worried if he doesn't reach out to the arsonist the next attack could be a mental hospital of some sort."

"I knew that and made some calls to put them on alert. Do you think he could be right?"

"Fuck, Jen, I barely know the case!" Emily shouts. "I was concentrating on Reese. I feel like I'm walking blind into a situation and I hate it with a passion. I haven't felt this wary about a situation since my first contact mission as Lauren Reynolds. I don't know the unsub, I don't know his M.O. the way you all do, and I don't know enough to really help Reid." Emily is pacing angrily. "All I am is pissed: at Reid, at the weather, at the Fates that made me a liar to my son."

"Oh, Em," JJ says softly. "I wish I could say something to make this better for you. I can promise to email you everything I have so you can read it on the drive to Dothan. I know it's not much but maybe it will help some."

"Maybe," Emily agrees. "Thanks, Jen. And, uh, can you give Henry and Rocky hugs for me? If, um, Henry doesn't want it, don't tell me. I'm not sure my mind could handle it."

"Done and done. And he will want the hug, Emily. He's just at an age where he's feeling clingy and right now you're just not here and so he's just upset that you're…shit…this was supposed to sound comforting and I think it's a huge fail," she finishes lamely.

Emily can't fight the smile on her face. "Yeah, pretty much sucked, honey. But I get what you were trying to say and I appreciate the attempt."

"Good. I will try to come up with something better to say when I see you in person," JJ promises.

Emily chuckles. "I'll hold you to that since I don't see this headache going away anytime soon and if the sheriff still won't see reason it is going to get worse."

"I know, sweetheart. I'll keep you updated on our progress."

"Thanks, Jen. I need to go see Reid and McElroy. I'll talk to you later. Drive safely when you head to Quantico."

"I will. Love you, Em."

"Love you, too."

Emily disconnects and stares at the picture she had made her background that morning: Henry in his Batman t-shirt, his head on Alaska as he naps in the playroom. She runs her thumb over the image.

"I really am sorry, Henry. I swear I never meant to lie to you," she whispers.

She takes a deep breath and forces herself to tuck the phone into her pocket. She stands and puts her work phone on her belt and goes to the doors between the rooms. She taps lightly.

"Reid? Have you talked to the others yet?"

Reid opens his door and nods. "Just finished getting my chewing out from Hotch. Also had a pretty graphic text from Garcia and a scolding from Jen on my voicemail."

"Good. Let's get with McElroy and head for Dothan. The sooner we get there the sooner we get control of the situation before someone else is hurt."

"Right. Do you have the case file?" he asks.

"Jen emailed me everything we were sent and what the team has dug out so far. I'm way behind on this case, Reid, and I hate walking into a situation this in the dark." She raises a hand to stop his protest. "I said I'd go with you and I will. I'll read up it all on the way to Dothan. I am trusting you, Reid, to lead me through this. Don't make me regret that."

He nods. "I won't, Emily. I promise."

Emily just nods. She goes to get her computer so she can download the files while they eat breakfast. The profilers meet up with McElroy in the hotel diner. After telling him what is happening, the lawyer sighs.

"I really need to get back to Quantico. I've got other cases sitting on my desk," he says regretfully.

"You're not getting there anytime soon," Emily points out.

He nods. "I guess that's right. Okay, I'll go with you to Dothan." He raises his hand and wags a finger at both agents. "But don't think I'm getting pulled into a case. I deal with the laws and shit after the fact, not the investigation leading up to the trial."

Emily grins. "Yeah, Hotch used to be the same way."

McElroy grins. "Don't remind me. So how long do you think we'll be down there?"

"No idea," Reid admits. "The sheriff is sure he has the right two for the arson at the church. It may take a while to convince him he is wrong."

"Any idea how we do that?" Emily asks.

Reid frowns in thought. "I'm thinking if I can show the sheriff the letter and photos then interview the two kids he arrested while he watches I should be able to prove they didn't sent the pictures."

"But that won't prove they didn't do it," McElroy points out. "He could simply say your unsub watched and acted on his own just to taunt you."

"Maybe." Reid concedes. He thinks a second more. "We have to show they didn't know about the paraffin can. That is the key to both arsons."

"Whoa, Reid, we don't even know for sure the second fire is his," Emily states.

"The sheriff doesn't know that."

Emily stares at him in astonishment. "Are you even hearing yourself? You want to lie to a sheriff who doesn't want us here in the first place. If he figures out you're lying not only will we be out of this case he'll never ask us for help in the future, not to mention who else he tells. If he spreads the word that we are liars bullying our way into cases we're done in Alabama and any other state he has connections in. Stop being so damn short-sighted, Reid, or it won't just be me and McElroy you screw over."

Reid blushes, ashamed at the dressing down; even more ashamed that it is deserved. He slowly nods.

"You're right. I'm sorry. I'll…I'll think of something."

Emily sits back. "Let me read the case files and team notes. Maybe together we can come up with a way to talk to the sheriff and get his support while we investigate any arsons we can connect to our unsub. He can keep those kids in custody until we can definitively link them to the crimes or until we exonerate them. He can save face and we can still investigate with his approval."

Reid grabs a piece of toast and twirls it in his hands. "Yeah, okay. That does make more sense."

"Reid, I say this as a friend," Emily reaches out and stills his hands. "You're too emotionally involved in this one. It happens to all of us at one time or another. Stop letting those emotions override your intellect."

Reid drops the piece of toast and gives her a half-grin. "How the hell do I do that?"

Emily shrugs. "If I knew I'd sell it and make millions. But if anyone can figure it out, I'd bet money on you, Spencer."

"Thanks, Emily."

The three agents finish their breakfast. As they finish their coffee Emily's computer chimes that the download is complete. It is a very large file. Emily groans.

"Two hours may not be enough," she mutters.

The three agents go out to the SUV McElroy had rented. Emily sits in the back so she can use her headset if she wants to make any notes on the files. Reid smiles at her.

"You sure it is quiet enough for that?"

Emily grins. "As long as you two don't start blasting Ozzy Osborne I should be fine."

McElroy chuckles. "Damn. How about Metallica?"

Emily rolls her eyes. "Great another smart ass in my life."

She slips on her headset and opens the first file as McElroy points the SUV south. Reid flips a coin over his knuckles nervously as he tries to coach himself to start being more rational about this case than he has been so far. McElroy just smiles, impressed by the two agents. If all goes well he can take them to Dothan then back to Montgomery and be on a plane out this evening, weather permitting in D.C.

But if not it would be KIND of fun to participate in the investigation…though he'd never admit that to the profilers.

Just before 11 JJ finishes packing up an extra bag for Emily and goes downstairs to say goodbye to her kids and Francesca. Right now the jet is set to leave at 2:30. Hotch is hoping everyone will get there and be on board by 2 in case they can leave earlier. JJ wants time to check the mail on her desk and Emily's…not to mention Reid's. She grins, sure everyone is probably eager to check his desk.

As she walks into the playroom she sees Henry building a block city while Rocky sits in Francesca's lap reading a story. The profiler chuckles, easily reading this scene.

"Rocky trying to tear down your city before you do, Little Man?"

Henry nods. "Si, Mommy. But Aunt Franny stop her."

She ruffles his hair. "That's good." She gives Francesca a wink. She squats down beside him. "I have to go to the office now and then we have to go chase down a bad man with Mama and Uncle Spencer."

Henry frowns and drops the block in his hands. "Mama lie."

JJ turns him and looks into his face. "Henry, do you remember what Uncle Hotch told you? Mama didn't mean to lie to you. But Uncle Spence did a bad thing and Mama was the only one who could go help him. Your Mama is so upset that she isn't home with you. And she is really mad at Uncle Spence about this because of how much she loves you and hates to disappoint you."

Henry just shrugs. "Okay."

JJ sighs. It is going to take a lot to break through to Henry. She hopes Emily's idea of a day out together will help.

"Want to know a secret?" He looks up at her and nods. "Mama has a special day planned for just the two of you. You will go somewhere really fun, just you and her."

Henry shrugs again. "Okay."

JJ's heart is breaking for her wife. She cups Henry's face with her hands and stares into sad blue eyes. "Henry, I…I promise your Mama will make this up to you. She loves you so, so much. Please just…give her a chance to make this better, okay."

Henry sighs. "Try, Mommy," he agrees because he doesn't like to see his Mommy upset. He throws his arms around her neck. "Love you."

JJ hugs him tightly and kisses his cheek. "I love you, too, Henry. You be a good boy while we're gone, okay?"

He gives her a small smile. "I always good. Rock is bad."

JJ chuckles and kisses him on the forehead. "Right. Remind me of that next time you have a tantrum." She stands and walks over to her daughter. She holds out her hands and Rocky reaches for her. JJ lifts her up and gives her a hug and kiss "You, little one, are as mischievous as I was. And that's not good."

"Love Mommy."

"I love you, too, Rock Star. Be nice to your brother while we're gone."

"Love Ree!" she says happily.

"Love Rock," Henry calls, still working on his block city.

JJ smiles and kisses Rocky again. "You two are wonderful blessings. I love you both so much."

Rocky gives her a hug and kiss. "Love Mommy," she says again.

JJ puts her back down into Francesca's lap and leans over to give the woman a kiss on the cheek. "I love you, too, Francesca. I hope they are good for you."

"They are good, cara, just…playful."

JJ chuckles. "Right. Playful. That's why their time out chairs have permanent impressions of the behinds already."

Francesca laughs. "Well…perhaps they are a little rambunctious, yes?"

"Yes, maybe," JJ agrees. "As soon as we know what's going on with Emily we'll call to let you know. Hopefully Hotch will clear her to leave right after we get there."

Francesca raises an eyebrow. "And hopefully she will be smart enough to take her leave if it is offered."

JJ rolls her eyes. "Good point. Hopefully she'll be worried enough about Henry to go if we give her the chance and weather allows it."

"That may be the one thing that gets her to walk away from a case. A mother's love is a stronger force than anything."

JJ nods. "I agree with that completely. Talk to you tonight."

"Okay, cara. Ti amo."

"Love you, too."

JJ gives both of her kids another kiss, grabs the bag for Emily and is out the door, hoping her wife gets to come home tonight or early tomorrow."