AN: I realize the JJ scene might seem a little drawn out these last few chapters. I did that mostly in an attempt to convey the emotional turmoil between the two characters as well as the side emotions behind the case. I intended this to be more of a team-centric fic, though obviously it's become a bit more JJ centric than I thought it would. Oh well.

The team gathered again back at the precinct. Hotchner and Rossi were the last to arrive and as soon as Reid spotted them he ran over.

"Hotch, we have a problem."

"What is it Reid?" he asked, feeling a sense of dread.

"We just received a call from Ronald Curry and he wasn't too happy. He said a woman stopped by his gym saying the FBI had sent her there. It quickly became apparent to him that this wasn't the case when she started asking probing questions and suggested that he was helping to harbor a serial killer and failed his civic duty of reporting such a person." Hotchner rubbed his temple as Reid continued.

"They got into a verbal altercation at the end of which the woman told Curry to watch the news. As soon as it was over Curry called the precinct irate saying he was holding us personally responsible if his business was hurt by this and that he couldn't believe we would do this to him. He's threatening legal action."

"Do we know who the woman is?" Rossi asked.

"Uh…maybe, Curry's description of her sounded kind of familiar."

"Familiar how?"

Reid hesitated, not particularly wanting to divulge what had happened to him earlier.

"Uh…shortly after you all left…a woman stopped by saying that we had called her here. I tried to question her about who she was and what she was doing but she was…uh…evasive. She…um…saw our board and saw some of the case details. When I pressed her she uh…said someone named 'Reid' had called her here and then she ran out before I could stop her." Reid looked between the two men, knowing by the looks on their faces that they weren't happy.

"I…I chased her outside, but she disappeared, I had no idea who she was."

"Dammit Reid, she saw our case board and you don't know who she was?" Hotchner said evenly, trying to hold his anger in.

"I'm sorry Hotch, I turned around and she was standing there. I tried to find out who she was, and I chased her…I asked around the precinct, the only officer who saw her said she's uh…news reporter." Reid cringed as he finished, knowing this would only make Hotch angrier.

"A news reporter Reid?"

"I'm sorry Hotch, really I am, I didn't know."

Hotchner paced around for a second, regaining his composure as he thought things through.

"It's ok Reid, I knew the media would get this story eventually. I just hope it doesn't provoke our unsub. I'm more upset that she saw the case details, that's dangerous."

"I know we need to move quickly." Reid nodded gingerly.

"Hotch you should see this." Emily called from across the room. Hotchner walked over to the table where the rest of the group was watching the flat screen TV on the wall.

"That's right Andrew; it appears there is a potential serial killer in Portland, targeting the local gym Running Success. While the local police are working the case, the FBI is also in town to assist. As far as we know, there have been at least four victims so far. While we have yet to receive an official statement from the FBI or the local police department, we hope to have one by the five o'clock news." The team watched as the woman spoke across the street from Running Success.

"Hotch, that's her, that's the woman that was here." Reid spoke up excitedly when he saw the woman. At the bottom of the screen a name plate appeared, Elizabeth Marcum.

"We are told that there are a few suspects and leads that law enforcement is following, but we would advice the public to be on guard until we have more information at five. Live from downtown Portland, Elizabeth Marcum." The woman finished before signing off.

"Well our job just got a lot harder." Morgan said as he looked at the others.

"Detective Harlan, you should assign some of your officers to work answering the phones." Rossi suggested.

"Is that really necessary? We're already stretched a little thin with patrols and some of the guys we already assigned to surveillance."

"You're likely going to get inundated with calls any minute from the media, panicked people, etc. It's going to get hectic quick." Reid replied. Harlan rolled his eyes.

"Wilkins! Get some men and put them on the phones, make sure they know how to reassure people that we are doing all that we can. Make sure they don't leak any case information either." Harlan called over a young man and directed him. The man nodded and moved quickly to do as ordered.

"Prentiss, call JJ tell her we need her back here." Hotchner directed. "Detective, we're going to need to send an officer to relieve JJ."

"I figured, I'll have Wilkins send someone." Harlan said. "I can't believe Marcum slipped in here."

"Has she done something like this before?" Rossi asked.

"She's driven, but no she never has. The only way she would've known about this is if someone tipped her off or called her as Reid claimed."

"Who could've tipped them off?" Morgan asked.

"It's too late to be worried about that now. We need to focus on getting the results of the blood back so we can get the warrant and hopefully get Jacobson. Let JJ handle Marcum and the media when she gets here." Rossi said.

"JJ's not answering her phone Hotch; I tried more than once, nothing. I left her a message." Prentiss said as she rejoined everyone, looking worried.

"You don't think something happened to her with Cole do you? She's always attached to that phone." Reid asked, himself worried.

"Cole doesn't seem like the type to do something." Morgan answered.

"You never know how people will react when they are stressed and feel cornered. Cole is desperate to get his sister back, who knows." Rossi said, voicing the possibility they knew but were scared to acknowledge.

"I agree with Morgan, he doesn't seem like the type. Detective Harlan, I need a rush on that officer going to Cole's." Hotchner said.

"I'll get someone myself." He said before walking away.

"Hotch, I think maybe one of us should go too, just in case." Emily offered.

"Emily, that's not necessary. We need you here. We should get the results of the blood any minute and we need as many people available as possible. The officer Harlan is sending is more than capable of handling things."

"But Hotch, what if something really is wrong? What if JJ's in trouble or the officer needs back up?" Emily pushed. Hotchner grabbed her arm and pulled her to the side, out of the earshot of the others.

"Emily, I know you're worried about JJ, but she's fine, she's capable. I'll admit I find it strange that JJ didn't answer and I'm a little worried too, but I need you to focus. I need you here." Hotchner said as he stared at her.

"Hotch…" she tried to protest.

"Listen, we're stretched thin now that we have to deal with the media and a potential panic. I need as many people possible to go after Jacobson if it's him, and if it isn't him then we're going to have to re-do the profile. I need you here. I know you were worried about putting JJ with Cole from the start, but I wouldn't put her in a situation I didn't think she could handle."

"There's just something about him that makes me a little uneasy."

"I know, Rossi felt the same way and I already talked to him about it too. We already profiled Cole, we thoroughly dug into his background and history. He doesn't have a violent history and he has no connections to Jacobson, ok?" Hotchner looked at her.

He watched Emily bite her lip as she was deep in thought. Finally, she nodded, even if his words had hardly put her at ease.

/

JJ leaned into the couch as their lips met again.

Cole put his arms under her body, shifting her so she was lying on her back while he was on top of her. He was convinced that he had finally gotten her to let her guard down. This was it, he had her right where he wanted her.

JJ moaned and arched into him when his tongue entered her mouth. She was slowly getting lost in him. Her emotions, her fears, her focus, were all falling by the wayside.

One of Cole's hands traveled up her body, pushing her blouse up with it. His hand stopped on her breast and gave it a light squeeze while the other tangled itself in her hair. So many things were happening at once, he was seemingly everywhere all at once while she kept her hands safely on his upper back, unwilling or unable to move.

Cole moved his hand out of her hair and brought it to her shirt again. He pulled the material away from her neck and off the end of her shoulder.

"Cole…" JJ gasped as he sank his teeth gently into the flesh of her shoulder. He merely grunted in response as his hand remained gently on her breast. He kissed her shoulder before sinking his teeth into it again as JJ groaned.

Cole pulled away, taking his hands off her long enough to pull his shirt off and toss it aside. He watched as JJ stared as his body. When she didn't make an attempt to move, he gently grabbed a hold of her small hand and brought it to him. Slowly, he guided her hand over his chest and down his tight abs.

"Do you like that?" he asked her sensually. JJ nodded her head, unable to form a coherent verbal response.

"Good, I like what I see too." He smiled as his eyes ran over her body intently.

Cole laid back down on top of her, kissing her again. JJ felt his hand travel down her stomach, along her hip bone, and stopping at her waist. His other hand massaged her thigh encouragingly. He was overwhelming her. She felt so many things, the most vivid of which was that she was getting close.

She felt her pants loosen as he undid the button to her slacks. Another alarm went off in JJ's head as she felt his fingers slowly pull her zipper open.

This was going to happen. She was almost at the point of no return. She didn't do this; she didn't hook up with people in a setting like this, no matter the situation. She was working. Her job was to remain focused and sharp, not to give into her bodily desires. She was stronger than this. She didn't even know Cole as much as she felt as though she could relate to him. This couldn't happen, she couldn't allow it. No matter how close she was, no matter what her body was telling her. If she really wanted this she could wait until the case was over. It would be less complicated and it would give her time to think.

As she felt Cole guide her pants down her hips, she began to panic. She moved her hand off his abs and joined it with her other in an attempt to push him off her. Cole was caught by surprise and immediately fell back. Quickly, JJ rolled off the couch and stumbled to the floor.

"Jennifer, what's going on?" he asked surprised.

Cole watched her struggle to her feet as she simultaneously pulled her pants back up from her thighs. JJ hoped he hadn't seen too much, though she had little doubt she had just given him a great view of her underwear before she'd been able to pull her pants back up. Cole kept his eyes locked on her waist the whole time, burning the image of how JJ's curves fit in her modest panties into his brain for his own thoughts later.

"What's wrong?" he asked as he watched the clearly flustered blonde quickly button her pants.

"I'm sorry Cole… but as much as it feels right, I just can't. It's not the right time. Too many things are happening and too many emotions are involved. I'm not sure that either of us really wants this for more than what it is…what it would be." JJ rambled as she pulled her blouse back over her saliva-covered shoulder.

"What would it be?" Cole asked, trying to act a little confused.

He knew the moment and opportunity were gone. It wasn't going to happen. He was going to have to settle for how far they had gone, for what he had seen and tasted. Although he wanted more, he wasn't going to force himself on her, that was one thing he didn't do. He may try to be overly persuasive and even push a little too far, but that was where he drew the line. He knew when to stop and he had reached that point.

"Just sex. I don't do just sex." JJ replied as she adjusted her blouse and re-buttoned the bottom three buttons he had opened.

Cole had barely heard her, admiring her body one last time before the moment was gone. Such a shame, she was gorgeous. He could just imagine how she would feel. Maybe after the case, like she had said, although he had serious doubts, especially if she found out he had called the media.

He saw Jennifer staring at him, waiting for a response. The redness in her cheeks had begun to fade, although her lips were still swollen and her hair was a mess.

"I understand." Cole simply nodded, not sure about what else to say.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to come off as I was playing games with you. I never meant for that." JJ looked at him apologetically.

She still wasn't sure what had come over her, or why she still felt as turned on as she did. Even looking at him shirtless it was all she could do to keep from jumping him.

"It's ok, I understand. Maybe we can try again when this is all over." He smiled at her weakly. She smiled back a little.

"Maybe."

He watched her as she tried to press some of the wrinkles out of her clothes, especially her shirt. Slowly, Cole stood, walking across the room to grab his shirt.

"I'll be back in a minute, just heading to the bathroom." He said as he left the room. JJ barely noticed, her attention more focused on trying to straighten her messy hair.

/

Cole quietly entered the bathroom, closing the door and locking it behind him. He turned on the sink facet to create some background noise as he tried to think through his options and come down from the high he had just experienced from being so close, and yet so far, from bedding Jennifer Jareau. He shook the images of her half-clothed body from his consciousness.

He needed to call his friend Eric back at the TV station. He had kept the TV off at the house on purpose, knowing if the serial killer had made the news then it would be all over the local stations. He needed to know where things stood, if Eric had in fact ran with the story as he had promised. After a couple of rings Eric finally answered.

"Hello?"

"Eric, it's Cole."

"Cole? Hey man you were right, I have my reporter all over this thing and the story is taking off."

Cole smiled a little, hearing the words he had been hoping for.

"That's great Eric, so everything I told you checked out?"

"Yeah, you were right. We just did the newscast and we're getting a lot of feedback from social media. I'm hearing the police station is getting flooded with calls too. We're all waiting for law enforcement to make a statement, I have no idea why they seem to be stalling." Eric explained.

"Great, they should be making one soon I would think." Cole commented.

"I hope so, just adds fuel to the fire. Where are you now Cole? Maybe we can do an interview, get you on TV for your story?"

"Uh… I'll have to pass, I'm a little busy right now. I do have a question for you though."

"Go ahead, just make it quick."

"Do you know who the suspects are?"

There was a long pause on the phone.

"Are you asking me this officially or unofficially?" Eric said finally.

"Unofficially of course, I know that kind of information leak could cost you your job if it were to be broadcast before an arrest. I'm just asking for me, do you know if they've narrowed it down?"

"Cole, you know I shouldn't be telling you this."

"I know, but I'm asking this as a friend, for a personal favor, especially after I just helped give you the story."

Eric sighed deeply into the phone.

"Ok, fine, but you can't tell a soul, and you certainly can't say you heard it from me."

"Of course, I promise."

"I don't know this with absolute certainty, but it appears as though they have it down to two suspects, Chris Banks and Eric Jacobson. I'm sending my reporter back to the station to get the statement and hopefully some more information, we're trying to get some background info on these guys."

"Down to two." Cole mumbled to himself.

"What was that?" Eric asked.

"Nothing, thanks Eric, good luck with the story."

Eric went to say something else, but Cole had already hung up the phone. His mind was racing, hard at work to come up with his next plan. If he knew better the FBI and the police were still at the station. It was now afternoon, more than half the day had passed. He had to put things into his own hands, he still had a few cards to play especially now that he knew it was down to two suspects. He just had to pick one and pray that he was right.

He was going to have to use Jennifer, again. As much as he hated it, he had an idea that could help him find Christina. It would be dangerous and ballsy, and it could very well ruin whatever relationship he had developed with Jennifer. He had come this far though, he couldn't stop now.

Cole grabbed some water, splashing it over his face. After a moment he turned the water off and quietly tip-toed out of the room. He was able to make it to his room without a sound.

Once inside he carefully opened his closet door. He reached to the top shelf where he kept his registered hand gun, out of reach where Aiden would never find it. He had a license, it was legal, and at this moment he was very happy to have it. He checked to make sure it was loaded and that the safety was still on. When he was satisfied he took a deep, calming breath. His heart felt like it was going to beat out of his chest. He couldn't believe he was about to do this.

Quietly he walked back down the hall and cautiously peeked into the living room. Jennifer was distracted with her back to him. She was staring into a tiny handheld mirror, trying to straighten her hair with the tiny travel brush she kept handy.

Cole took another deep, quiet breath before he slowly approached her. She was completely oblivious as he made his way to her. He reached his arm out, wrapping it around her waist. The move startled her as she visibly jumped.

"Cole, you need to take no for an answer. You're starting to aggravate me." JJ said without turning around.

Suddenly she felt the familiar hard, round metal pressed into the back of her shoulder. The mirror she had been holding fell to the ground with a clatter.

AN: Suspenseful enough? I hate writing two author's notes but I felt it necessary. Cole may seem all over the place –going from near sex to pulling a gun on JJ- but it's all intentional. I'm trying my best to develop a more complex character and it's proven to be more challenging than I anticipated. Cole is acting in a way he thinks is somewhat logical, when in fact he is a bit mentally unstable as a result of what has happened so far. Hopefully that is coming across. All feedback, good and bad is welcome, thanks!