Disclaimer: I do not own or profit from this work. OCs and plot (when not referencing the season aired on TV) belong to me. Nor do I own, know, or have any association with the films and directors referenced.

The first part of the chapter references the episode from when the team is after the pair of brothers who hunt people for sport who break down on the highway. At the end of the episode the victim who survived asked Emily Prentis "why do they do this?" and Emily said "They don't think like you and me" and then later, on the jet, tells Derrek that they (the team) do think like them.

Chapter 14: Thought Patterns

She hated the dreams that involved being chased. The very first one was when she was in third grade and the joker from Batman was chasing her around her elementary school.

Unfortunately they just got worse. She knew Derek had gone to the woods for a case, and now she knew exactly what they were dealing with having lived through 2 of the victims own life-and-death ordeal.

She hated being chased.

She heard the doorbell and pulled it open. "Sorry to drop in," Emily said. "I was, well, wondering. . ."

"Did you bring an offering?" Aimee asked. Emily held up the six pack and the Godiva chocolate. "I will marry you for that chocolate," Aimee said trying not to drool. "I have had a craving for Godiva . . ." she held the door open. "I am going to rummage through my cupboards to put up the effort that I contributed, but when JJ asks, I vote for Chinese. I am craving some black pepper chicken and make sure she gets some white rice," Aimee called out as she headed to her kitchen.

A moment later Emily heard the doorbell ring and she answered to find JJ and Garcia on Aimee's front step. "Hey," Emily said. She let them in.

"I thought I'd order out if Aimee doesn't mind us dropping in," JJ started.

"She votes for Chinese," Emily said grinning.

"Perfect," Garcia said. "I brought movies," she said showing Emily the DVDs she had brought.

"Uh, Garcia, these are all about psychics," Emily said looking at them.

"Who better to watch them with?" Garcia asked.

"Who better," Aimee repeated bringing in popcorn. "Look what I discovered I have!" she said happily. JJ called the Chinese restaurant and Garcia popped in a DVD. "You have one awesome collection," she said in awe.

"Perk of working in the industry," Aimee said happily. "And, I am wearing I'm-not-a-dear Red," she said showing off her shirt. humor was her way of dealing with the aftermath of the recent case in the wilds of Montanna.

"Did Derek tell you where we were?" Emily asked.

"No, one of your victims did," Aimee said taking a seat. "The sixth sense?" she asked. "I haven't seen it."

They ogled her. She shrugged. "I shy away from movies about psychics or sixth senses," she said. "I've watched Shyamalan's other films, though. Wanted to do his work on The Happening," she sighed. "Sadly, don't think it will happen because I have another film lined up at the same time."

"So, you don't see ghosts?"

"I see enough without having to deal with ghosts on top of it," Aimee said. Their food arrived and they paused the movie to eat and talk.

They were laughing over something Garcia said when Emily broke out the Godiva. "So how are things with you and Morgan?" Emily asked.

Aimee choked on her wine cooler. "Uh . . . I don't know," she said.

"What, he isn't as good as he brags?" JJ asked.

"That's it . . . we haven't," Aimee said.

"You guys have been dating for several months," Emily said.

"Which is why I am worried. I mean, what if he is just waiting to drop me? This is about when they usually do," Aimee sighed. "My dating record is pathetic; you can only keep the psychic bit quiet for so long."

"Honey, I know Derek," Garcia said. "And since you got me that autograph of Brad Pitt, I am going to share with you some of my wisdom." The others chuckled. "I think he is taking his time because he's serious. Not that Derek isn't serious when he dates, I don't mean he's some sort of player, but when he is serious with a girl he is careful. And he is very careful with you which tells me he is very serious."

"Ugh, then why am I still on edge waiting?" Aimee sighed. "At this rate, I'll be back in California before we get to anything serious. Or more serious."

"So you're going back?" Jj asked.

"So far, yes. My work is there," Aimee said.

"But you are still working here," Emily pointed out.

"But it's more difficult on the opposite coast. I have to go back anyways in a few months for a film. Lila's big blockbuster. It's all abuzz in the circle."

"Lila? We were the ones who helped her with that stalker," JJ said.

"I know," Aimee grinned. "After that, it's up in the air."

"Maybe that's why Derek is being cautious," Emily said.

"I . . . I would like a reason to stay," Aimee admitted. "If I have no reason to stay, no choice to make, then why bother at all?"

She rested her hands on her arms but instead of darkness she saw the FBI plane. "We do think like them," Emily said. "What makes us different than them?" She shot up and looked at Emily who was laughing at something Garcia had said.

"Okay, lets finish the sixth sense," Aimee decided. She grabbed a pillow for the scary parts.

She was scared enough in real life, movies didn't help matters.

The phone rang the same time a person jumped out making Aimee scream a little which, of course, made the others laugh. She found her cell phone. "Hello?"

"Everything okay?" Derek asked, kicking into full on FBI gear when he heard how breathless and frightened she sounded.

"You scared the shit out of me!" she chided. "The little girl just jumped out at him!"

"huh?"

"The sixth Sense," Aimee explained. "I haven't seen it before, and you called when someone jumped out." She hated when people jumped out or came out of nowhere. It happened enough as it was.

"I'm sorry, Aims," Derek said soothingly. "Do you want me to tell you how it ends?"

"I know the bit about Bruce Willis being dead. Even if I didn't know how it ended, I saw the clues along the way," she got up so she wouldn't interrupt their movie as they talked. "How are you? Are you still at work?"

"Yes, and I am fine. Just finished up paper work and wanted to hear your voice," he said making her grin. She took a seat at her kitchen table.

"It's good to hear yours," Aimee said smiling. "We talked about you tonight."

"We?"

"Me and the girls. JJ, Garcia, and Emily are here," she said.

"And what did you talk about?" He asked and she knew he had on a mischievous grin.

"Garcia shared some of her wisdom with the rest of us," Aimee laughed. "I'm not sure how much to believe, but it is nice to think about."

"Tell me what she said and I'll tell you if you should believe it or not," Derek said.

"Oh no, nope, not going to say anything," Aimee said. "Girls night stays amongst just us girls."

"Come on, Aims, just a little bit? What did she tell you about me?"

"Nope, begging won't do it. Nor bribing," she said.

"I'll figure something out. I like a challenge," he said laughing. "You remember that agent in Baltimore, the one you told him about missing cases?"

"Kramer, I think, yeah."

"Gideon told me he just got off the phone with him and they found the unsub."

"Why do I get the feeling there was more to that conversation than you are telling me?"

"Nope, what happens between us fellows stays between us men," Derek said throwing her words back at her.

She grinned. "That doesn't always work, I'll let you know if I see anything," she teased. She didn't feel like going back to the movie but actually enjoyed the girls company so she only talked with Derek for a little longer before braving it back in.

Garcia and JJ, who came together, left first. "Feel better?" Aimee asked Emily.

"Yeah, I do," Emily smiled.

"Good. You know, you asked Derek a question on the plane," she started. Emily looked surprised.

"Did he tell you?"

"No, he didn't. I saw it, right before I saw you guys were coming over. You still thinking about it?"

"Yes," Emily said. "The victim asked how they can think like that, act like that, chase and hunt down humans for sport. I told her they don't think like the rest of us, but I do think like them. It's what I do," Emily said sadly.

"The answer was your question," Aimee said. Emily gave her a confused look. "So long as you can still wonder, still question where the dividing line is, you haven't crossed it. Emily, you understand how they think, you can, when on a case, think like they do, but you can step away from it and objectively ask yourself: am I lost?"

"Thanks," Emily said standing up.

"No prob," Aimee said as Emily walked out to her car.

She was sad to see them go, and on some level a little afraid. She had enjoyed the company, but she was now more afraid that after all the movies and talk about psychics they had unleashed something.

Emily thought like them, Aimee became them.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

special thanks to sue1313 and soccer-bitch for the wonderful reviews! You guys rock!