A/N: I want to start this chapter by saying something I should've said earlier: Thank you! Thank you all for your continuous support, your reviews, PMs, alerts, … It means a lot to me, and your suggestions and comments really do help. I've re-written parts or added extra chapters because of some of your messages, so thank you. I also love how many of you get so completely into the story, it gives me the feeling of a job well done.

That being said, I'm not too sure how I feel about basically being threatened with bodily harm if I "mess with JJ/Emily". So, spezria26, thank you for following my story and getting so immersed in it, but before you and your fist come after me after reading this chapter, please wait until you've finished the entire story. I promise, no FBI agents, real or fictional, have been hurt in the making of this story…

With that out of the way, all that's left for me to say is: enjoy!

13.

A quick look told Emily that the wound was nothing but a scratch. The bullet had only grazed her side, and a simple band-aid would suffice. Sighing in relief, she fished her phone out of her pocket and dialed Hotch's number.

"Hotchner," came the standard reply.

"Hotch, it's me. I have Fielding in custody."

"We're on our way. Where are you?"

"Coffee shop just off campus, on the corner of 6th and Oakland."

"All right, we'll be there in five. Has she said anything?"

"No, she's unconscious. Must've hit her head when I took her down. You might want to call for a bus."

"Will do. Nice job, Prentiss."

"Thank you, sir."

Emily hung up the phone and turned around, looking right into Jennifer's face.

"So it's true then? You're a cop?" JJ asked, hurt and anger mixed in her voice.

"Yes," Emily admitted, "I'm with the FBI."

"So you were lying? This whole time, you've been lying to everyone? To me?"

"No! Not about everything. Not about -. Not about you, or how I feel about you," Emily said softly.

"How can I believe you? How do I know you're not lying, when that's all you've been doing the entire time?"

"Because it's true. I care about you. I did everything I could to keep you from being hurt."

JJ's face softened for a moment. She remembered how Lauren – is that even her real name? – pushed her out of the way when the gun went off. She also remembered seeing the small red stain on her shirt as the brunette ran out the coffee shop, so she looked at Emily's side and gasped as she saw how the stain had expanded.

"You're hurt," she said worriedly.

"Oh, no, that's nothing. It's just a scratch," Emily brushed it off. "Are you okay, though?"

"I… I don't know. I don't know what to think, what to believe," JJ said honestly.

"Then believe me when I say I care about you," Emily replied.

She took a step closer to the blonde, but then saw a flurry of red and blue lights enter the streets.

"Look, we can't talk now, but… Later, maybe?" Emily asked, a hopeful look in her eyes.

"I… Okay," JJ agreed, much to Emily's relief.

"Thank you," the brunette whispered.

She saw Hotch stepping out of his car, so she gave Jennifer one last look of which she hoped it conveyed all the love and affection she felt for the young woman, and then walked away to talk to her boss. Ellen Fielding was still unconscious as she was strapped onto a gurney and loaded into an ambulance. Other agents began to question witnesses as Hotch gave Emily the once over.

"You're hurt," he stated simply, but with a hint of worry in his voice.

"I'm fine," Emily replied, eager to return to Quantico to start questioning suspects. As her team was looking for Fielding, other teams were out arresting her accomplices, and Emily wanted to have their interrogations over with as soon as possible.

"Get yourself checked out by a doctor before you go to the office," Hotch told her.

"But sir, it's just a scratch," Emily protested.

"Still, get it checked out. After a doctor has cleared you, you can come back to work," Hotch said.

Emily knew not to protest further, so she went to her car and drove herself to the hospital. It turned out that the wound did require a couple of stitches, but other than that, the doctor saw no reason she couldn't be cleared her for duty. With the note okaying her for work in her hand, she thanked the doctor and walked out of the exam room. She briefly stopped at the nurse's desk to fill out some forms before leaving the hospital.

She didn't notice the man standing near the exit, watching her every move and following her outside. She didn't notice him take out a small remote out of his pocket as she reached the car, and she didn't notice him press the button as she opened the door. All she noticed was a loud blast, flashes of light, and then nothing.

I know this is a rather short chapter. I tried to make it longer, but it just didn't work out… I'll try to update again tomorrow.