As the phones continued to ring and people rattled off information, the team stood in utter confusion as their usually calm and collected unit chief looked as though he might pass out. It was when the elevator doors opened, and Joe came running through in a panicked state that they knew something was definitely wrong. He charged into the room followed by a group of people who the team presumed where his fellow team members, a woman in heels inches from his side.

"Where is Jennifer?" She asked, them all coming to a halt.

"She is in a meeting with Strauss. She has no idea we all just found out ourselves." Joe was pacing frantically, a hand running through his hair stressfully.

"We need to go Aaron. Now." The man nodded and ushered everyone to follow him as he and Joe took lead. When in the hall way, he turned and stopped everyone in their tracks.

"Reid, I want you to ride with Garcia and Emily. Garcia, you are to coordinate with the police when we arrive, Reid and Emily are to follow your orders. Rossi, I need you and Morgan to stay with me, Joe and JJ at all times, profile as you go and try and collect as many details as you can from the scene." They nodded, Hotch turning to the woman who was with Joe.

"What Matthew there?" The team shared multiple looks of confusion as they continued to talk.

"No, he is at school. I have been spending all day wishing he was as intellectual as the group who were chosen but now my desires have changed. There was only a group of 6 or 7 so they should be easy to find as they will have grouped up somewhere. She knows when to ask for help, so I have a feeling she is waiting for you all." He nodded, squeezing her arm before turning to Joe.

"Stay here while I go and get her." Just as he turned to leave, JJ walked out of her office with Strauss, the smile she was suiting falling instantly when she eyed up everyone who was grouped in the hall by the elevator.

"What is going on?" Strauss beat JJ to the question, the blonde staring down her brother who looked as white as a ghost.

"There has been a shooting." Amanda spoke up, JJ's mouth drying up as she wobbled slightly, Strauss grabbing onto her arm for support.

"No, no, no, please don't say it."

"Outside the Virginia Library. JJ, I am so sorry- "Hotch stepped forward, JJ's hands shaking hysterically as she shook her head, Strauss doing her best to sooth the woman as she rubbed her arm.

"Agent Jareau you need to breath. Agent Hotchner you cannot allow her to go out into the field like this." The blonde turned in a fury, shaking the section chief off her.

"You will be damned if I am going to stay here. You can suspend me for all I care but I will gladly step into the crime scene as a civilian, it isn't my desk the paperwork will be falling on, it is yours." Strauss fell silent, that being the only answer JJ needed as she turned, grabbing onto Joe.

"Let's go." The walk down the stairs was painfully slow, Hotch giving Emily, Reid and Garcia a nod of support as they climbed into Emily's SUV, JJ getting into the passenger side of his, Rossi, Morgan and Joe in the back. Morgan couldn't help but stare at JJ who was physically shaking, her nails digging into her palm as she kept her fists tightly clenched together. It was Joe who spoke up first, his eyes never leaving his phone which was in his lap.

"We would have had a call by now, right?" Rossi noted how Hotch swerved slightly, his hands going weak.

"Everything is fine." He managed to chock out, JJ sucking in sharply.

"You can't know that."

"Jay- "She stopped him mid-sentence, her head shaking from side to side.

"Don't Aaron, just, don't." It was when her voice faded away and the first tear rolled down her cheek that Rossi and Morgan knew there was more behind this and meets the eye, and now was not the time to ask questions. The entrance to the scene was a mess. There were ambulances and police cars scattered all around the parking lot, crowds of people gathering, media vans blocking views, bodies scattering the floor. Upon jumping out the SUV, Morgan counted 6 body bags, all lined up by the entrance. He prayed there were no more. The other SUV pulled up and for a moment, nobody knew what to do. It wasn't until JJ took off that everyone was pushed back into motion, Hotch, Joe, Rossi and Morgan taking off after her.

"JJ!" Joe shouted, but his voice faded as he spotted what she had seconds previously. Standing near a lamppost by the information and guides office was a group of 7 teens and a woman, a blonde teenager speaking to an officer nearby.

"Charlotte!" JJ's voice was filled with utter relief as she dodged a hazard tape and sprinted towards the blonde. Those who took off after her slowed and watched as she embraced the child in her arms, the two falling to the floor as JJ cried into her hair. Joe reached them and too collapsed as he stretched his long arms over the two, looking up at the sky as if in prayer.

"Oh, baby I thought I had lost you." JJ whispered, her tears soaking Charlottes hair as she rocked. Hotch, Morgan and Rossi all stood to the side, Hotch with his head in his hands. When a few minutes had passed, the three stood, JJ not once letting go of Charlotte. Hotch took this opportunity to lift give the young blonde a long hug, Morgan and Rossi sharing a look as he did.

"Can you tell us what happened?" She nodded letting go of him.

"We were just leaving when we heard someone shout. It sounded like everyone get down, but I cannot be too sure. Mrs Griffith got us all in a huddle and we hide behind a huge statue in the entrance. I heard the gun shots, there was a lot, and I tried to count because I know that is what you are supposed to do but I lost count at 27 because someone shouted again, and I wanted to know what they said but I didn't catch it. Everything went silent and then we heard a scream. Someone had confirmed the shooter had ran off, so we tried to help the best we could but when the first police officers got here, they told us to group outside and wait until our statements could be taken. I pulled that officer aside and told him to call you and he said you were on your way, so I knew not to move." Hotch smiled, hugging her again as he did.

"I am so glad you are okay." She just hugged him back, nodding into his shoulder. He stood up and saw Rossi talking to the teacher, Morgan standing aside looking over the scene the best he could, though he could tell both the profilers attention was mainly on JJ who had yet to let go of Charlotte.

"JJ, you, me, Joe and Charlotte are going to head back to the BAU and start coordinating a case, Morgan- "Once he had the mans attention again, he carried on.

"You and Rossi are going to stay here and gather as much as you can. When you are finished, head back with the others and we will group back when you are there." He nodded and watched as the four walked off, trying his best to stay focused though his mind was clearly in other places.