A/N: I know, I know…work changes around have goofed me up a bit, plus the fact that I'm working on two original works (sequel to my book and a time travel book) not to mention two other fanfics…sheesh…anyway, hope you are still with me and this story. We are coming to the end now, another chap or two tops (I think) Thank you again...

Senator Cramer looked at his docket for the day and groaned. Two hearings. He was hoping to be able to take a couple of days with everything that had gone on, but as the senior member on both committees he didn't have a choice.

"Dexter!"

Dexter Ludwig shook his head at the Senator's bellowing. How the hell had Mac taken it for so long?

"Yes sir?"

"I have a hearing in an hour. Make sure I'm not disturbed before then."

"Sir…I don't think…"

"I don't pay you to think Dexter!" Irritated Senator Cramer raised his voice but quickly ratcheted back. "Don't make me regret what happened to Mac, just see to it."

"Yes sir."

Dexter cursed under his breath, asking not to be disturbed meant he was going to have a 'cocktail' before the hearing. "Shit." Senator Cramer, narcissistic bastard that he was, also suffered from anxiety so the medication he took toned him down but that wasn't him so he countered his medication by snorting. They were counter-intuitive but he had figured out just the right dosage with a shot of whiskey to get him through his hearings. Unfortunately, that made him extremely unpredictable which meant Dexter was going to have to be at the hearing as well. He hated it. Mac was used to it, knowing just when to interrupt and hustle the Senator out of the hearing chambers. This was not his strength at all but thanks to Mac's screw up, he had the job now. The Senator was at his best and his worst when he dabbled and he was in a mood today thanks to the funeral yesterday. With another curse he gave the front desk receptionist orders that the Senator not be disturbed until he returned and went to get the Senator his drugs.

xxxxxxxxx

Emily looked out the window of her mother's car and said a little prayer. If this went the way they planned, then it would all be over, finally. Senator Cramer would be put on the spot and judged by the court of public opinion. At a minimum he would resign, with any luck, formal charges would be filed. Emily knew the way the game was played and there was no guarantee that the Senator would ever officially pay for his actions but she could hope. The gentle reassuring squeeze of her hand by JJ gave her hope.

"Emily?" JJ said, "are you hurting?"

"I'm fine, really. Just a little anxious." She looked back at the other car that carried the others. "Scared it'll blow up in our faces."

"Thanks to your mother we have congressional access so there should be no warning for him. This will be over Emily." Hotch patted her on the knee trying to hide his own anxiety.

"Thanks Hotch." She looked at Rossi, "how do you think he'll react when I come back from the dead?"

"That will depend on his audience. I like what you and Jordan worked out yesterday."

"Thanks, we went round and round about it but given her job and the fact that she got us on the docket, it made more sense for her to give testimony about what she 'discovered'" Emily couldn't help the smile on her face. "I'm impressed with everything that Garcia was able to track down."

"Not just her, Kevin as well." Hotch said with satisfaction, "He's gotten much better about working within and around the rules as Garcia would say."

"Yes well we are going to need every bit of information they've been able to gather." Emily bit at her fingernails and stopped smiling ruefully. She already had them down to the nub. "Anyway, are we set?"

"Yes, the only wild card at this point is Ludwig. According to McIntyre he can be a little off balance and he will follow the Senator's direction to the letter." Thankfully they had been able to talk with McIntyre before they left, at least Reid and Morgan had. They were there when he had woken and questioned him briefly before his pain meds had kicked in again. He had even thanked them for saving his life. It didn't even seem to matter to him that he was facing jail time as long as the Senator went down.

The two cars headed toward the hill were full of a family that had bled together. Today, one cause of their bleeding would be cauterized for good.

Xxxxxxxxx

"Stop fidgeting." Maura smacked Jane's hand away from her neck. Now that it was healing, it was itching and making them both twitchy, one trying to scratch, the other trying to stop her.

"I can't help it Maur." Jane's puppy dog look did nothing to stop Maura's hand from slapping her again.

The sound of chuckling from the backseat did nothing to improve Jane's mood.

"What are you two laughing at?" she asked

Morgan looked at Reid and winked before turning back to her and shrugged his shoulders. "Nothing, its just funny seeing you being treated like a child." He tried to keep a straight face but couldn't, big bad Detective Rizzoli was being chastised like she was two and it tickled him in a way that was disproportionate but given the stress of the past week, he understood it.

"I hate you both." Jane crossed her arms across her chest and looked out the window with just a hint of a smile. It did feel good to laugh. She just hoped that this little encounter with the Senator ended well. She was tired, physically and mentally. She couldn't imagine how Emily and the others must be feeling after dealing with this for so long.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

Penelope leaned into Jordan. "I will be glad when this is done, but I really wish you had changed your mind about doing this."

The idea was of course for Jordan to address the committee with her findings. The goal was to rattle the Senator enough to get a public admission from him. If not about his activities then about what he had just tried to do to Emily. Emily's evidence would be produced and given what they knew about him, they were sure he would try to discredit the findings and disparage Emily now that she was 'dead'. Jordan of course was not 100% but it didn't matter anymore. This was their endgame and they all wanted to see it through.

"I know querida, but if not me, who?" Kissing Pen on the temple she wrapped an arm around her, grateful for her presence and support.

Morgan tried not to listen to them but he couldn't un-hear what was said. Jordan was right, if not she, then who?

Xxxxxxx

Ludwig sat by the doors of the hearing room keeping an eye on his employer. The Senator was pissed after being called twenty minutes early for a meeting before the hearing. There was a harder edge to him than normal right now. Dexter watched as the Senator, agitated, tapped his pen on the table.

Sighing Dexter crossed his arms in front of him and leaned back. It was going to be a long day.

The sound of the gavel roused him and he sat up straight. They were about to get started and catching the Senator's eye, he knew his small lapse just now had been noticed. Glancing at the door he watched as people started to walk in. Settling in by the door he made sure to keep an eye on the Senator while they got ready to hear testimony.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

"I'm nervous." Jordan looked at her friends and grinned sheepishly. She hated to admit it but her palms were sweaty and so was the rest of her.

Penelope gave her an encouraging hug. "You've got this honey." She ran her fingers through Jordan's short hair and touched the ugly bruise on her face. "We have faith in you." She whispered.

"She's right you know." Rossi patted her on the shoulder. "We want to be there when you start but I think it's best if we don't start to trickle in until you start talking. That way, he can't go anywhere and it should start to rattle his cage even more."

Jordan swallowed and nodded. She knew Emily and JJ would be coming in just as she was finishing unless they got called in sooner. They would all have their cells on them and thanks to their clearance, their weapons as well.

Maura took Pen's hand in hers and smiled encouragingly as they watched Jordan walk in. "We'll go in next okay?" She looked at Hotch, who nodded in agreement. It would be good for Jordan to have her there.

"How long should we wait?" Reid asked.

"Just a few minutes for the first group of us." Hotch snorted when his phone buzzed at his hip. "I'm going to guess this is Strauss." He looked down at the number, "Damn…I'll be right back" Walking down the hall they could hear him explaining the timetable.

"Great timing" Morgan said derisively.

"We're heading in, she should be ready to start." Pen pulled the door open and walked in before Maura and Jane.

xxxxxxxxxx

Dexter yawned and tried to get comfortable. The testimony was boring as hell so far. He watched as an interesting woman came in wearing suit and eye patch. As she made her way to the front of the chambers, he realized she was going to be testifying. Her look intrigued him. She didn't look as soft as the other folks testifying. He watched as she got herself settled. It wasn't long before she introduced herself.

"Special Agent Jordan Rivera, United States Army Counter Intelligence." She cleared her throat and waited to be acknowledged. This was the first time she'd had to identify herself in her new persona. It felt strange. She watched the Senator shuffle the papers that were handed to him. Jordan stared at him as he read briefly through the synopsis she had provided and met his gaze head on when he tried to stare her down.

"Yes well…we've read through the information you provided. Are you prepared to present testimony as to the nature of your investigation?" His voice was hard. Even as he spoke she watched as he looked at someone to her right.

"Yes sir. Unfortunately we've only recently been able to ascertain the identity of the individuals involved in the weapons sale and transport."

"Excuse me," Senator Lawrence, a younger man from Connecticut interrupted. "Are you saying that the information provided is not complete?" He held up the papers that everyone on the panel was given.

"Yes sir," Jordan opened her briefcase and pulled out the documents that Penelope had prepared. There were enough copies for all the members of the committee. Glancing at her watch, she knew some of the others had to have come in. She looked around quickly while the folders were handed out and was rewarded when she saw Penelope with Jane and Maura. She waited patiently while they read the new documents that were provided, there was only one thing missing. She stole a glance at the news camera to her right, grateful for its presence. Anything that happened now would be recorded.

It wasn't long before she saw the effect the report was having on the Senator. His ears were red and the tenseness in his shoulders should have been apparent to everyone. It wans't long…

"Ms Rivera…"

"Special Agent Rivera, sir." She was damned if he would treat her as anything other than who she was.
His response died on his lips when he saw members of the BAU team walk into his hearing. He had just seen them yesterday, they should be mourning. Rattled headdressed her again.

"Ms. Rive-"

"Special Agent Rivera, sir." Her tone was anything but respectful and she could tell by the way he reacted that members of the BAU team had come into chambers. She smiled as much as the bruising on her face would allow.

"Yes, yes…of course…" Flustered he tried to regain is composure a bit. "Please, present your testimony." He swallowed nervously as the rest of the BAU team entered and took a seat. As far as he could tell, the only one missing was that bitch Prentiss' girlfriend. He glanced at Ludwig and saw that he had noticed as well.

Jordan started to give the committee a brief history on the alleged investigation. All she did was rehash some of the information that was provided during the BAU's last run in with the committee as it related to Emily's return from the dead the first time. The information was not lost on the Senator and he interrupted.

"Agent, we've heard this information before. Since then I do believe this…Ian Doyle was summarily dispatched by the FBI and the agent originally involved in the case has since died, what possible information do you have to provide?"

Jordan paused her testimony and made a show of rustling through her papers. They had rehearsed this and Reid had been exactly on point with what the Senator's initial reaction would be. Smiling, she looked back up at him.

"Yes sir, of course. The information that has been uncovered is a bit sensitive in nature and I would be-"

Senator Cramer slammed his hand down in front of him, startling the Senator to his left. "You are under oath Agent, spit it out so that we can move on with this testimony." He hated the small smiles on the BAU's faces and he could feel himself losing a bit of control. Clearing his throat he nodded to her, "continue…"

"Of course sir," she took a deep breath, "we've uncovered evidence that names at least one high ranking government official and several government employees as complicit in the illegal transport and sale of arms and drugs and as a result of those sales… the deaths of at least two federal agents and one Interpol agent." She waited to look up as the silence that gripped the chambers forced her to.

The Senator chewed the inside of his lip as he tried not to scream at the woman in front of him. What the hell was this bitch saying?

Dexter Ludwig was standing by now. He had seen the BAU team come in and it had put him on edge but now…he couldn't communicate directly with the Senator but they had an established protocol for removing him from the chambers in the event of an emergency. He didn't know if this was it but the information he was hearing made him nervous.

"Has this evidence been verified?" Senator Cramer already knew the answer to that. There would be no testimony if it hadn't been. He could feel a droplet of sweat run down the side of his face.

"Yes sir."

"Well Agent? Are you going to present testimony or do we need to cross examine you?"

"Yes sir…would you like the names of the individuals sir?" Jordan played the innocent eliciting a giggle from at least a few in the audience.

Senator Cramer fought to maintain his composure. This bitch was playing with him. Who the hell was she?

"Agent Rivera, your impertinence is not appreciated. I don't know what you are playing at…"

"Sir, I'm not playing at anything." Her feigned innocence rankled him. "We've been able to identify two members of the senate staff and a senator." Jordan watched him squirm in his seat. "The senator identified is you sir." She sat back against her chair and waited.

It took a second for her words to register with the others in the chamber. When it did, raised voices erupted around her.

It took a couple of minutes but the pounding gavel finally silenced everyone.

Senator Cramer pounded a few more times for good measure. What the fuck was she talking about?

"Agent Rivera, that is a hell of an accusation to make to the head of this committee. I for one would like to hear what alleged evidence you have." His voice shook slightly and as he looked at the members of the team he had tried to destroy and he could see satisfaction on their faces.

Satisfied, Jordan didn't even look down at her paperwork, instead she made a point of looking at the members of the BAU team and settling her gaze on Penelope. Her smile of encouragement was all she needed.

"Certainly sir, former CIA operative and FBI Special Agent Emily Prentiss was able to uncover a network that-"

"Excuse me, Agent, are you saying that this is information that you cannot even corroborate? How are you going to make a statement like that during an open hearing without the proper testimony? How dare you even make that kind of accusation?" Senator Cramer's face was beet red. Even as he struggled to maintain a semblance of control he could see the looks the other senators and their staff were giving him. 'fuck them' he thought. No way was anyone going to make an accusation like this especially not from the grave.

"Sir," she said quietly, "I can corroborate it."

"Impossible!" He slammed his palm down in front of him and stood up, glancing quickly to his left and right. He felt like a trapped animal. He caught Ludwig's eye and nodded. He would get him out of here. He would.

"Senators," Jordan addressed herself to the rest of the committee, "may I continue?"

"Excuse me Agent Rivera but as much as it pains me," Senator Warren stole a glance at her belligerent colleague and sighed, "Senator Cramer is correct. How are we to rely on second hand testimony when something of this magnitude has never been broght to our attention before?"

"Ma'am, I do have a witness to present but I hesitate to do so." Jordan kept her eye on Cramer as he fidgeted with his jacket.

"Enough of this!" he interrupted, "present your witness so we can dismiss these allegations." Cramer swallowed as he watched three Capital Police Officers step in and position themselves in the chamber.

"Certainly sir." Jordan turned and nodded at Jane who had just pressed send on her phone.

When the door opened to the chamber the only sound besides Emily's footfalls were the sound of the Senator's panting.

"Sir I would like to introduce-"

"Impossible," Cramer mumbled. This couldn't be real, she was dead. Dead!

Cursing under his breath Ludwig understood exactly what was going on. It was a set up. Reaching into his jacket he crossed his arms in front of him, one hand wrapped firmly around his gun.

"No…" Cramer stared into Emily Prentiss' dark eyes and saw judgment.

"Senator Cramer, the rumors of my death appear to have been greatly exaggerated." She remained standing, waiting. She didn't really expect him to react irrationally in public, especially not here. He was trapped and he knew it.

"NO!" He screamed.

"DOWN!"

Emily hit the ground hard as gunfire and screams erupted around her, ribs protesting against the body on top of her. 'What the…Jennifer!'

Yes I ended it there. Call it literary license, I have to fill some stuff in and no other way to do it, plus…I love cliffhangers