The next morning the team meets at the hotel restaurant where they won't have to deal with Mack or the local police. Everyone knows that should one of the uninvited crash the party, talk will turn to anything other than the case. After they get their orders placed, Hotch looks at the team.

"Straus has approved two safe houses. Obviously we should only need the one for the winner but we will stake both out to be sure. Morgan, JJ, make sure the bar owner understands that Reid or Prentiss mustwin. This has to end this weekend."

Morgan nods. "No problem. We'll point out that whoever wins won't actually use the free dinners so it's winning situation for him."

JJ chuckles. "Who says we won't use them? Lunch was pretty good the other day."

Morgan chuckles as Hotch looks at Reid and Emily. "Speaking of you two, I'd like you to work from here today. The fewer people that see you around the station the fewer chances you end up on camera or being seen if the unsub tries to insert himself or herself into the investigation."

Emily nods. "Okay. What can we do?"

"Garcia should have the background runs on the bar employees. You two will have the most interaction with them so make sure you study them. The guy who won so many times using that song will also be in there. Know thine enemy, as the saying goes."

Emily and Reid nod.

Hotch looks at Rossi. "You and I will be interviewing some more family members. Morgan, JJ, when you finish at the bar, so will you." He clears his throat. "I've told Agent Brewster her help will not be needed today unless we get a break on the Amerson case specifically or the killings as a whole. Any questions?" Everyone nods. "Good. Let's get to it and start the beginning of the end of this shit today."

In their SUV, Hotch hands his phone to Rossi. "Read this. Garcia pulled it."

Rossi takes it and reads the background the tech had pulled on Brewster. By the time he finishes he is shocked.

"How the hell does a textbook narcissist end up in NCIS? A lawyer I can understand but an agent?"

Hotch shrugs. "Are we really that far off the textbook classification?"

Rossi thinks a moment then chuckles. "I know I'm not. Not so sure about the rest of you."

Hotch chuckles. "Thanks. I think. I've made some subtle inquiries. She was given the choice of giving up her law license or being kicked out of the Bar over some discrepancies that came to light after a case. From there she went to the New York police force as a spokeswoman. She had the spotlight but was just a mouthpiece. It wasn't important enough. She went to work at a private detective firm which gave her a chance to learn investigative skills. A Yale alum connection helped her snag the NCIS position. She's been good except she doesn't work well with a partner and there have been allegations of falsified evidence."

"And to top it all off, she hates Emily. Not much to make her very likable," Rossi concludes for Hotch.

Hotch grins. "Right." He sighs. "She did something to JJ last night."

Rossi nods. "I know. Think Emily knows?"

"Part of me hopes yes but part of me hopes no. I'll need to talk to JJ before Brewster comes back to the investigation. We need her on the sting only because the unsub could be in the Navy. But I won't let her do something that endangers Emily or Reid. Their asses will be on the line this weekend."

Rossi nods. "I agree. Want back up when you approach her?"

"No. She won't react well to being cornered or ganged up on. I'll speak to her alone."

"When?"

"Right now," Hotch says as he takes the exit for Oceana.

A few minutes later, Hotch sits down at the chair in front of Mack's temporary desk.

"Obviously my first warning to you went unheeded," he states. "Now, I will lay it on the line for you. I know about the Bar, I know about the NYPD, and I know about the connections that got you your job." Mack colors slightly. He pauses for effect. "And I know what you did to Agent Jareau last night."

Mack actually inhales and her pupils dilate. She would have never guessed JJ would tell about the…incident in the bathroom. Hotch grins inwardly. He had no idea what happened but now he has confirmed it was not good. He would have to speak to JJ later.

"Tonight we move forward with a sting to try to draw the unsub out after Reid or Prentiss. Since there is a slight possibility the unsub could be Naval personnel we would want an agent from NCIS to be with us. However, if you can't keep your personal animosity and childish games out of the business at hand I will request and be granted a new agent."

"Ha! You couldn't do that so quickly."

"It's already done. I spoke with our director this morning who spoke to yours. One call and you are removed. It is up to you."

Mack stares into his eyes. His micro expressions give away nothing. If anything was a bluff she has no idea. The one thing she does know is she would never, ever play poker with Agent Hotchner. She sits back in her chair.

"I'll lay off Emily and JJ. You have my word. Regardless of what you may think of me, finding this murderer iswhy I am here."

He nods. "Good. I will trust your word until you give me reason not to. Meet me at the restaurant at 7. The contest starts at 8. We'll be profiling the crowd until then."

"Yes, sir. And, sir, I am sorry if I caused any problems with your team. Emily and I have…unfinished business. And it will stay unfinished until this ends."

He nods. "See you tonight."

He heads out and sees Rossi speaking on the phone, his back to Hotch. "I'm sorry, Erin. I wish I knew when we'd be back." He listens. "As soon as I know you will know. Bye honey."

Rossi hangs up his phone and turns, jumping slightly when he sees Hotch staring at him. The two men stare into each other's eyes. Finally Hotch blinks and turns away.

"Not enough therapists in the world for me to ask what I want to. Let's get the hell out of here."

Rossi just chuckles and gets into the car so they can go speak with some more family members. Maybe, just maybe, one of the victims had mentioned someone at the contest who had worried them. Anything they could find out to give Emily and Reid an edge would be both appreciated and comforting.

When they get to their SUV Morgan looks at JJ. "You look like you didn't get much sleep. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

JJ grins, blushing. "Uh, definitely a good thing."

He chuckles. "Good. I was worried she'd be knocking on my door last night for a place to sleep."

"I was kind of worried about that, too," JJ admits. "I was wrong, Morgan. But at least she understood I did the wrong thing for the right reason. And I am very glad Brewster is not going to be around today. After last night I would be a bit on edge around her and we don't need that."

Morgan nods. "I know. Don't worry, JJ, from the minute Emily is announced as winner we'll have her ass covered."

"I know." JJ thinks a minute then grins. "What if Spence wins?"

Morgan snorts. "You really think that's a possibility?"

JJ shrugs. "I don't know. I do know I've never known Emily to bet on anything she wasn't 100% sure of."

Morgan frowns. Come to think of it…he knew the same thing. He has a bad feeling he may have taken a sucker bet. But Reid? Singing? And performing? No way…probably.

"Shit…I hate losing bets," he mumbles.

JJ just grins. Morgan and a somewhat tired, but happy, JJ head to The Nightingale to talk to Beamer. They are happy to find him alone in the bar; less chance for anyone to overhear the plan.

"Mr. Beamer, we have two agents entering your contest tonight. They will both sing 'I Love Rock and Roll'," JJ explains. "Whichever one does it the best, gets the crowd the most fired up, needs to be declared the winner."

He frowns. "What if they suck? The killer will know it's a set up and maybe come after me!" He is very obviously nervous.

Morgan takes over. "Mr. Beamer, in addition to the two agents performing, Agent Jareau and I will be here acting as a couple. There will be two other FBI agents and an agent from NCIS also." JJ inwardly groans, knowing Mack most likely would insist on being there that night. "I promise you, Mr. Beamer, you and your restaurant will be okay. But it is also very, very important that you do not tell anyone about the set up tonight. We will be setting our two agents up in safe-houses where we will be able to hopefully draw the unsub to and catch him. If all goes well, the killings end this weekend and you get hailed as a hero."

"A hero? Really?" he says brightening.

Morgan nods. "Yes, sir."

Beamer thinks about it a minute then nods. "Yeah, okay. As long as you're sure no one here can get hurt."

"We're sure," JJ assures him.

As the agents go to leave, a figure steps into the room across from Beamer's office. He had heard everything…and he is not happy. If it is to end this weekend, it is to end on his terms, not the FBI's.

Emily glances at her watch. She and Reid had been pouring over the backgrounds of the restaurant employees all day and making notes of anyone they might want to keep an eye on. They had also become experts on the winner who had won multiple times with the target song. At 2:30, Emily sighs.

"I need to take a break. I need to call Declan and let him know we're going to be stuck down here this weekend."

Reid smiles. "You guys are having fun getting to know him, aren't you?"

Emily nods. "He's a really good kid, Reid. Smart and well adjusted. Tom did a great job raising him."

"Why did you pick Tom?" Reid asks.

Emily chuckles. "We were at Yale together. He was an orphan, scholarship case. I wishedI was an orphan but I wasn't and I sure as heck wasn't a scholarship situation. But any time I could avoid going home I did. We bonded over a lot of shared holidays. We just…connected."

"Was he in love with you?"

"No. He knew from the start I was a lesbian. He didn't care because I didn't care about his lack of family or money. He was always a really nice guy. I still can't believe he never married." She moves to the bed to stretch out a bit. "When I figured who Declan was and what I would have to do, Tom was the first person I thought of."

"He had no family to be held over him," Reid immediately understands.

"Exactly. We never dated. We had lost contact after graduation but I knew he was someone I could trust to keep Declan and Louise safe. And he did. Now…now it's my turn to keep him and Declan safe."

"That's great, Em. It really is incredible what you did back then to save a little boy."

Emily smiles. "He saved me first. Seemed like an even trade to me."

Reid nods as Emily hits the memory dial for Declan's dorm.

"Yo!" a young voice answers.

Emily chuckles. "Declan Colter, please."

"Sure. Just a sec. YO! DECKCHAIR! PHONE!"

Emily had to hold her phone away from her ear because whoever had answered had screamed into the handset. Even across the room Reid had heard. A second later she hears a muffled.

"I think it's your girlfriend, Deckchair."

"Shut up, Matt." Then into the phone. "Hello?"

"Hi, Dec, it's Emily."

"Hi. Are you—Matt, go away! Geez, are you a three year old or what?" After a pause he comes back on the line. "Sorry, Emily. Resident pest is acting up."

Emily chuckles. "So I hear. Uh, is it okay that he calls you 'Deckchair'?"

Declan laughs. "I could be called worse, right? Besides, my teammates call me Hammer and that's what most people call me, too. I know Matt's just jealous of me."

Emily nods. "Well, good. Look, Hammer," Dec chuckles, "I hate to tell you this but we're stuck down in Norfolk on this case. We're going to miss your game today. But if you want to get away from school for the weekend we've gotten the paperwork filed so you can go home with Francesca. It's up to you."

"Sucks that you'll miss my game. But it's actually kind of good you won't be in town. I have study group for math on Sunday again and I need to work with my science partner tomorrow on the experiment we have to do this whole month. I was feeling bad I wouldn't see you all." He chuckles. "Now I can just blame your job and not feel bad."

Emily laughs. "Well, if that gets you through the day, go for it."

They chat a few more minutes about school and Tom. Finally Dec has to go for his pre-game team meeting. When Emily hangs up she sees Reid grinning at her.

"What?"

"He may not be your son but you're still a good mother to him."

Emily blushes. "Thanks. I still credit JJ and Sandy with any mothering skills I have at all. I learned from the best. And thankfully they are teaching my mother, too."

Reid laughs. Before he can comment on anything else, his phone rings. "Hey, Hotch." He listens. "Okay." He nods as he listens. "Good idea. Okay, I'll let Emily know and we'll get packed up to make the move." He listens again. "Right, we'll let you know. Bye."

He looks at Emily. "Garcia is emailing us our temporary housing info. I'll be in a house, you'll be in an apartment. Hotch also wants us to rent cars so we don't have to show up in the SUV's. That might give us away," he says jokingly.

Emily rolls her eyes. "You think?"

"Right. So, he's got those booked and Enterprise is on their way to pick us up. We'll go ahead and get moved now." He sighs. "Really wish I had more time to practice with you."

"You don't need it, Reid. You will be amazing. Like I told you, I never bet on a loser."

He gives her his crooked smile. "Thanks. Still scared."

"I know. Use it to your advantage. You can do it, Reid. Believe that."

He nods and heads to his room to get his go-bag and outfit for the night.