Reid and Rossi had been back at the station, and had completely hit a roadblock with victimology. Victimology was one of the more important parts, if not the most important part, to their profile, but it was leading them nowhere. The problem was the lack of connections between the victims. The only thing that was similar between the eight victims was the age. Eye and hair color varied, size varied, heck, even race and gender varied. None of the kids knew each other and they weren't involved in similar activities. They were also very spread out, some of them coming from the outer skirts of the city, others from downtown. Reid had been looking at the autopsy reports for 30 minutes, hoping for a connection. And then he hit the jackpot.

"I've got something," he said. Rossi walked over to where he was sitting to get a better look at the reports.

"The bruises on the bodies," Reid said, looking up toward Rossi, "Were a week old according to the medical examiner."

Rossi's eyes squinted a bit in thought.

"But the kids showed up dead a few days after being reported missing," he said slowly.

"The blunt force trauma is the only wound within that time period in each case," Reid said.

"I think this may be a mercy killing," Rossi said.

"You think the parents are responsible for the actual abuse and the killer is just trying to save the kids from them?"

Rossi nodded his head. He could see a shimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, all thanks to the brilliant doctor sitting before him. He grinned and tousled Reid's hair a bit.

"Great work," he exclaimed.

"Thanks," Reid said with a lop-sided smile, wondering why Rossi just messed with his hair. "But where does that leave us?"

"With a killer who was most likely a victim of child abuse."

-----

Back in Colorado, JJ and Hotch had arrived at the airport. They had been sitting for ten minutes before Hotch took out his cell and walked off to be out of JJ's earshot.

"What, you can't talk on the phone in front of me now," JJ asked, slightly irritated.

Hotch ignored her comment and continued walking and dialing. He had already ticked her off, and if he wasn't careful he would be in the same situation that he was before the trip, so a glare was out of the question.

"Thank you for calling the hacker hotline, how can I be of assistance," Garcia said upon answering her phone.

"Garcia, I need you to listen very carefully to me."

"O-k...," Garcia said slowly, not knowing exactly what was going on.

"JJ was injured," Hotch began, but he was interrupted by a chaotic reply.

"Oh, my girl," Garcia exclaimed in worry, "What happened?"

"Garcia, relax," Hotch said calmly, "She's ok. She's ok."

Garcia took a minute to calm herself, then told Hotch to continue.

"I'm sending her home. I need you to pick her up at the airport tomorrow and take her to her apartment."

"I... I can't do that, Hotch."

"Why not?"

"Because I know JJ, I know my girl. She'll try to convince me to go to the BAU, because she doesn't know what the word 'rest' means, and I can't say no to her. She is very convincing, you know?"

He did know, but he was going to have Garcia drive her home anyway.

"Garcia, just drive her to her apartment so that she can get some rest. That is all you have to do. I've already talked to her about it, she isn't going to try to pull anything." The last sentence may have been wishful thinking from Hotch, he wasn't completely sure.

"Ok," Garcia said with a sigh, "But don't say I didn't warn you when she shows up at the BAU."

"Thanks, Garcia! I owe you. Bye!"

Hotch returned to JJ, who seemed lost in her own thoughts. He thought about saying something, then decided not to. Anything that he said at this point would probably make matters worse; she just needed a little time to cool off.

-----

The plane landed, and five minutes later Morgan and Prentiss were meeting up with JJ and Hotch. Both agents immediately felt sympathy for the blonde, her left arm in a cast. Prentiss rushed up to JJ and gave her a bear hug.

"Emily," JJ gasped, "You're hurting me."

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry," Prentiss said, loosening her grip.

"It's ok."

Morgan placed a hand on JJ's shoulder.

"How ya' feelin'?"

"Pretty good. Happy to be out of the hospital."

"I bet," Morgan said with a grin.

"Alright," Hotch said, "We've already lost a few days, so we need to go ahead and get started. JJ, I want you to call the other police departments as soon as we get in the car."

"On it!"

"Prentiss," Hotch said, shifting his glance, "I want you to start mapping out where the avalanches are happening. Look for any patterns..."

"This isn't my first rodeo," Prentiss interrupted, "You want a geographical profile. Consider it done."

Hotch nodded, then turned to Morgan.

"Morgan, I want you to accompany me to the top of the mountain. We're going to have to see if we can find any evidence of what started the avalanche."

"Me and cold weather don't really get along too well," Morgan said.

"I thought you grew up in Chicago," Hotch questioned.

"Why do you think I moved down south?"

"Buy a coat."

"What do you think we'll find," Morgan asked, "Explosives?"

"Not sure," Hotch admitted, "With the snow and all, we'll probably find nothing. It'll probably be buried. It is worth a shot, though."

Morgan nodded, and that was the end of the little briefing. The group of four retrieved Prentiss' and Morgan's bags, loaded them in the SUV, and took off toward Echo Mountain.

-----

The SUV came to a slow stop in the parking lot at Echo Mountain and the team sprung into action. Well, kind of... Hotch and Morgan went on their way without a second thought, but Prentiss held up as she noticed that JJ had stopped outside her door. She approached the blonde, who looked out of it.

"JJ," she asked, "Earth to JJ."

"Huh," JJ said softly, snapping out of her trance.

"You ok," Prentiss asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

Prentiss wasn't convinced by that response at all. It didn't take a profiler to know that something was on her friend's mind.

"Then why'd you freeze," she pressed.

"Umm... it's cold outside?"

Prentiss managed to stay focused, though it was hard to hold back the laugh from that.

"Talk to me, Jay."

JJ let out a deep sigh.

"You always have been persistent. I guess it is just that this is my first time here since the... umm... you know..."

Prentiss nodded. "I know. Just try to focus on the job. It'll keep your mind off it, and you'll be fine. And remember, we are all right here for you."

"Thanks."

Morgan popped his head out from inside the resort.

"Are you two coming? You know Hotch gets impatient after a while."

Prentiss waved to Morgan, then led the way to the building with JJ on her heels.