TITLE: Criminal Minds – "Behind the Mask"

AUTHOR: D M Harper

SUMMARY: Agent Prentiss finally discloses her true feelings to Agent Jareau, but not in the manner she'd originally hoped for.

RATING: M for Mature Readers.

DISCLAIMER: This story was conjured up for reading entertainment only. No money has exchanged hands or bank accounts. There is no profit gained, just fancy flights of imagination. There is no intention to infringe on the copyright of CBS Television Studios or creator Jeff Davis. This writing does feature consensual sexual interaction between two females, so if you are underage or unable to view due to restrictions in your part of the world, be gone and take my sympathy with you. If you find such material offensive, too bad, so sad, you chose to enter this web site of your own free will, hence you have no one to whine to except yourself or a parent if you are caught, now bugger off!


Chapter 12

Jennifer selected a request for assistance on two cases and Hotch split the Team into two and sent David, Jillian and Morgan to Kentucky while he, Jennifer, Spencer and Emily departed for Buffalo.

Jillian phoned Emily from her hotel that night and was disappointed when the call went directly to voice mail. "Hey Agent Prentiss, just calling to say hello and tell you I missed you today. Talk to you soon."

After dining with David and Derek at a local diner, Jillian returned to her room and went to bed. She still hadn't heard from Emily after two more days and ended up texting Hotch.

He immediately called her, "Hi Jillian."

"Hey Aaron, is there a reason why I haven't heard from Emily?"

"I thought she had spoken to you. We got back from Buffalo yesterday."

Alarm bells went off and Jillian hesitantly asked, "Did anything out of the ordinary happen with the case?"

"No, it was a fairly simple series of missing persons. The UNSUB was located swiftly without too much investigation required."

"Okay, thanks Aaron."

"Jillian, I am certain there is a simple explanation."

"I'm sure you're right, goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Jillian closed her phone and paced the room for several minutes. She stopped moving and dialled Emily's apartment number. When Jennifer answered, she hung up and swore loudly, "Shit!" Her cell phone sounded straight away with Emily's number and she responded, "Hello."

"Why did you hang up on J.J.?"

"I didn't want to interrupt. Obviously you have been too busy to call me or return any of my messages the past three days."

"Jillian, don't jump to conclusions. It's not what you think."

"I'm listening."

"I can't talk right now. I'll call you when I can." She disconnected before Jillian could reply.

"You have got to be kidding me," Jillian snapped out before phoning Garcia.

"Hey Blonde Bombshell, what can I do for you?"

"Hello, do you have any idea what is going on with Emily and Jennifer?"

"Uhm ... no, I don't know anything."

"Shit Penelope, that didn't sound very convincing."

"Look, I don't want to be caught up in the middle, but J.J. and Henry are staying with Emily at her apartment."

The news floored Jillian and her heart ripped apart, "Okay Garcia, I appreciate you being candid."

"Sweetie, that's all I know. Emily and J.J. haven't spoken to me since yesterday."

"All right."

"Jillian, it doesn't mean anything is going on between them."

"Then why is there the need for all the secrecy?"

"I have no idea, but I am going to talk to Emily tomorrow."

"She won't talk to me, so I guess that says it all."

"It may not."

There was a loud bang on the door and Morgan shouted, "JILL, WE HAVE TO GET MOVING; WE GOT A LEAD."

"I have to go, bye," declared Jillian while opening the door to Derek and ending the call.

"The local cops received a call with information on our suspect's location," he announced.

"Okay, give me a second to grab my gear."

-0-

Garcia walked up to Emily as she was pouring a mug of coffee from the machine, "You and I need to talk."

"What about?"

"Do you realise your girlfriend is worried sick about you and is convinced you are having an affair with J.J.?"

Emily's eyes lowered to the floor and Garcia snarled, "Oh for Christ's sake Emily, don't you dare tell me you are that stupid."

With tears rolling down her face, Emily sobbed, "J.J. kissed me."

"Say what!" exclaimed an unbelieving blonde.

"She told me in Buffalo she was suspicious of Will and was convinced he was being unfaithful. She was in my room and extremely upset. I comforted her and told her not to assume anything without proof. The next second she kissed me then asked if she and Henry could stay with me until she sorted it out with Will."

"Holy fuck Prentiss! Was it a friendly kiss or a full on kiss?"

"It was full on."

"Did you reciprocate?"

"Yes and I don't know how to tell Jillian."

"You need to tell her something before you lose her."

"Her last girlfriend cheated on her," cried Emily woefully.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Did you do anything else with J.J.?"

"No, it was just that one kiss."

"What has J.J. said about it?"

"Nothing, she pretends like it didn't happen."

"Oh Prentiss, what a god damn cluster fuck you've gotten yourself into. How do you feel?"

"I'm worried Jillian won't forgive me and I'm so in love with her."

"Then you better do some fast talking and hope she will listen."

"I'll call her now and thanks for the kick up the butt."

"If you don't make this sorry situation right, there'll be plenty more to follow."

Garcia stormed out of the break room and Emily called Jillian. She was notified the cell was either turned off or out of service range.

-0-