As always, thank you for the comments posted. Apologies its taken a little longer than I would have liked to update. I also hope to have another chapter up sooner rather than later.
Chapter Twenty five
"Conference room now, we've caught a case." JJ said urgently, noting the atmosphere in the room, but was too involved with the new case to worry about it there and then as Emily rushed out behind her.
"Hey you two..." Garcia's voice trailed off in to thin air as she realized that she was talking to an empty space. "You've not got away with this, by a long shot, I will find out what is going on between you both. And Gutter bus!" Garcia complained as she gathered her things up before heading to the conference room. "I would never ride a gutter bus."
"What was that baby doll?" Morgan asked, overhearing Garcia as she walked past him.
"Would I ever ride the gutter bus?" Garcia asked.
"Why, sure you would kitten." Morgan grinned, and slapped Garcia on the backside as they walked. "Most people just go in the gutter, you on the other hand, have to always do it your way. You invented it!"
"What's a gutter bus?" Reid asked looking nonplussed.
"If you have to ask..." Morgan laughed as they entered the conference room, immediately sobering when they saw the expression on JJ's face.
"Bad one huh?" Morgan asked as they sat down.
"Aren't they always." JJ sighed, "but yeah, this one isn't great."
"Okay, so what have we got JJ?" Hotch walked in to the room, and JJ immediately got down to business.
"Its local to us,." JJ turned and brought some information up on screen. "They have four victims in all. The latest victim just today and whoever is doing this, is doing it fast. Its been over just 72 hours" JJ changed the pictures to bring up some crime scene ones. "All of the bodies have been discovered in Battlefield park."
"Wow, that is fast." Morgan said airing the surprise that was obvious on everyone's faces.
"All children?" Reid looked up from his file.
"No, actually, despite their looks, they are all are young men, age ranges between 18 and 20." JJ looked across. "And not one has been reported missing."
"They all look younger." Emily looked up, "Are you sure these are older?"
"Absolutely. And all have fallen through the cracks of society, and become homeless drifters. Daniel Stark, the first victim had a drink and drug problem, Otis Denning, the second victim was a known prostitute, as was the third victim, Lemar Still." JJ paused, "We're still waiting for full information on the last victim, Ramon Sanchez, I've been told it should be at the station once we get there. All appear to have been strangled, and are either black or mixed race."
"Sexual motive?" Rossi asked looking across.
"It looks like it, but because two of the three were known male prostitutes, we don't know for sure if it was consensual at this stage."
"Lets get to the station." As Hotch stood up, they all began to follow.
As Emily, JJ and Reid were walking out of the bureau to get in one suburban, with Morgan, Rossi and Hotch having already gone to another, Emily suddenly stopped mid-stride and glared around her. "What?" She demanded, "Have I got a bright red cross on my back? A fucking target?"
"Emily..." JJ moved to be near her, but was completely ignored.
"Hell yeah, I'm back and its from the dead people." Emily's tirade began, as people in the vicinity began to shift about awkwardly. "If you, any of you, have something to say about it, say it to me!" and with that, walked off, shrugging JJ's hand off her shoulder as she went, saying "Don't." as she did so.
"Let her go." Reid walked over, seeing how upset and hurt JJ looked. "It's bound to have an affect."
"I know, but this Spence?" JJ turned and looked at him completely at a loss. "This isn't what I expected."
JJ stood, looking across at Emily, who had all but ignored her on the journey over to the police station. She sighed, before turning back to the task in hand. "As I was saying Detective Timms, thank you for inviting us."
"No, thank you. Here is the other file you wanted on Ramon Sanchez., and call me Bill, please." JJ took the file with a nod of her head.
"If I may?" Reid asked, and JJ handed to file to him to begin reading.
"Is there anything you can tell me?" Bill frowned, looking worried.
"Well, right now all we can say for sure is there is a pattern. It does remind us a lot of a William Bonin, who killed children and young men in California between 1979 and 1980 that we know of, but there are marked differences here." Reid said, without looking up.
"When will you be able to give my men a profile?"
"Just as soon as we can." Hotch motioned for Morgan and Pentriss to come over. "Morgan, Prentiss, can you go to the newest crime scene. Reid and I will stay and go through some more files. JJ can you talk to the local press, asking we don't report this yet."
"Sure." Morgan nodded, "Lets go." he then looked across at Emily, who once again pointedly ignored JJ.
"Are you okay?" Morgan asked as he and Emily got in the car. "Its just you seem a little preoccupied."
"I'm fine." Emily replied brusquely.
"Huh." Morgan started the vehicle, before looking across at Emily. "Sure you are." He said quietly, but knew it wasn't the time to push it. Emily meanwhile just looked out of the window.
JJ walked through to the rest room, having seen Emily arrive back and disappear in there. As she walked in, Emily looked up from the sink where she had splashed water on her face.
"Do you want to talk about it?" JJ asked softly as she walked over to stand alongside Emily.
"Nothing to talk about." Emily grabbed some towels to pat her face down.
"Are you angry with me for some reason?" JJ asked.
"No." Emily shook her head, but JJ could tell her reply was forced. "I'm fine, just a bit strung out, first case back and all." Emily tried to send a reassuring smile.
"I..." JJ put her hand out and held Emily's arm. "Do you blame me for something then?" JJ sounded hurt, and Emily immediately felt remorseful.
"No, its just... I feel a little out of control of my life right now. I've spent so long lately being in such total control, and..." Emily faltered.
"And what?" JJ's touch was tender, and for the first time since the start of the conversation, Emily looked right at JJ.
"I have you to worry about now." Emily finally admitted. "It scares the heck out of me and I'm angry at myself because of it. I'm angry at the world for allowing these sick bastards to walk the earth who make me feel scared. Hell, I'm just angry."
Before anything more could be said, a female detective walked in, breaking the moment.
"I've got to get back." Emily smiled slightly at JJ before walking out in to the detectives office, while JJ looked on feeling helpless, because she had seen the raw emotion flicker across Emily's face as she'd spoken, and for the first time since she and Emily had been together after the death of Doyle, JJ sensed the real fear she could lose Emily, and she felt the blood drain from her face. She was still staring uncomprehendingly after Emily when her phone rang.
"Spencer can we talk?" Emily asked as she found him alone.
"Yeah, sure." Reid looked up from the book he was reading.
"I..." Emily hesitated, "I didn't know who else to turn to." She finally admitted. "You're the only one I think can understand."
Reid put his book away, and sat up more. "I'll do what I can."
"Its just, you know... you went through stuff after Hinkel. We all have effects from cases that linger, but I know the signs, its why I gave you a bit of a hard time back then. I'm struggling with things now I've got back."
"Like what?" Reid asked gently.
"I feel angry, out of control. I didn't want to die Spence, but I honestly thought I would." Emily ran her hands through her hair. "Its nothing, yet everything right now."
"It's not surprising. Are you seeing anyone about it? Professionally that is?"
"I promised someone I would and Hotch insisted I did, but it just seems too raw right now, too soon." Emily admitted. "I could never let my guard down for a second while I was away and right now I'm finding it hard to lift that feeling. And it isn't helped that I'm getting in to a relationship. It was something that sort of developed right before I had to go, and now I'm back, we're exploring what we've got and don't get me wrong, its wonderful. Its nothing I've ever had before... but its also scary. I'm having to deal with all the turmoil in my head from being away, and also trying to reconcile that against a new relationship. Great timing huh!"
"Do I know her?" Reid asked innocently.
"Pardon?" Emily looked shocked, and Reid suddenly realized what he had said.
"Oh... I just... Garcia said..." Reid spluttered.
"I should have known." Emily let out a light laugh. "And its okay Spence, it is a woman."
"Right." Reid didn't know what else to say, "So, your in this new relationship, as well as having to deal with issues from being away."
"Yeah..." Emily trailed off. Almost as if she'd realized she had said too much, Emily stood up quickly. "Thanks Spence." was all she said, before moving to walk away.
"I'm not quite sure what I've done to help, but you're welcome." Reid stood up as well, "And you know where I am."
Emily just nodded brusquely before walking off, fighting back her emotions.