''We've hit a fucking brick wall in this investigation. Murders keep turning up'' exclaimed Emily frustrated as she threw a file of a new murder down to the floor. The entire team had been working around the clock and living mostly on caffeine and Chinese take-out Penelope provided them with.
''This murder is different'' muttered Spencer while JJ desperately tried to calm down Emily, who was scratching at her nails until they bled. Derek hurried over with a paper towel when Emily yelped out in pain.
Blood dripped down her hand steadily and Emily cursed as she tried to take over from JJ, the blonde was trying to clean her finger. ''Don't be so stubborn babe'' whispered JJ, but Emily was exhausted.
JJ had expected Emily to have a certain reaction to this case, her experience with Ian Doyle had left her more scarred than she would let on but cases like this always chipped away at her solid armor.
''Prentiss'' Hotch sternly said, his voice curt but empathetic, ''Garcia's arranged a comfy chair for you to nap in. It's either that or going home'' he said. Emily was too tired to argue and just wrapped the paper towel around her finger before sulking off.
''You know it's bad when she doesn't fight back'' Rossi murmured as JJ eyed the doorway that Emily had left through. ''She hasn't been sleeping'' JJ softly said.
It wasn't a secret for the team that JJ stayed over at Emily more often than not, it still surprised them every time when one of them brought anything regarding that up in a conversation.
''I woke up last night and she wasn't in bed; I found her in the living room on the floor looking through all the case files'' JJ whispered, she knew Emily wouldn't like that she shared that, but JJ needed to get it off her chest.
''This case is starting to take its toll on everyone'' agreed Derek, who didn't look his chipper self either. ''This woman is a master in disguises. Making it impossible to catch her'' he added.
''But if she indeed has an emotional stake in this: she'll slip up. Make a mistake. She can't kill perfectly every time'' Hotch piped in, as his eyes wandered from his phone to the team and back.
JJ recognized the gaze, it's the face he made whenever he was worried about Jack or when he hadn't seen him in a while. ''You can call Jack, Hotch. We can manage a few minutes without you'' she chuckled. He looked out for them, so she'd look out for him.
He gave her a grateful nod before excusing himself.
The team turned back to the case and JJ's eyes landed on Spencer who had been uncharacteristically silent during all this. ''What's on your mind Spence?'' she asked.
''I was going over the autopsy report and I noticed the murder was executed differently'' he pointed out. ''Usually, the victims get tortured in some way. A slow painful death. But the stab to the vein in the neck was an almost instant kill. It doesn't make sense'' he murmured.
''It almost looks as though it was self-defense'' Derek piped in. ''If our profile of the killer is correct, she'd be way shorter than our victim. He'd be able to overpower her easily'' he added.
''Maybe she wanted to start the torture with the thing she used to stab his neck when he lunched at her?'' JJ suggested.
''Or maybe he was eager to have the sexual aspect she promised him, so he went and took matters into his own hands. Something our unsub probably did not like causing her to snap and accidentally kill him faster than she meant'' Rossi piped in.
''I have an idea'' JJ suddenly whispered, ''what if we lure the unsub in?''.
''How do you imagine that happening?'' Hotch asked as he re-entered the room, ''what would you propose we'd do?'' he added, indicating his interest was definitely there.
JJ's eyes wandered to Rossi swiftly ''well….we have someone that does fit the outside criteria of the victims'' she dryly nodded. Her eyes met Rossi's; his face plastered with emotions she couldn't quite place.
''So, I'd be the bait?'' he asked to which JJ nodded in agreement. ''You're a white, rich male'' JJ nodded, ''you fit the profile''.
''And how'd you suggest we do that without getting me killed?'' Rossi dryly asked, masking his worry with sarcasm.
''We'd dress swat teams and police officers in civilian clothes. We'll wire the house you'd be in, and we'll agree to a safe word'' JJ explained, feeling stronger in her idea with every word she spoke.
''I need to think about it'' Rossi said, ''how much time do you need? This is a literal life and death situation for a possible next victim'' Derek asked.
''And it's a possible life and death situation for me as well so I decide how much time I need'' Rossi said before heading towards the door. ''I'm going outside for a bit''.
Emily hadn't slept, she had lain in the chair Penelope had arranged for her, she had closed her eyes and she had pulled the blanket up to her chin. But she hadn't slept. Plagued with memories by Ian Doyle and the way his hands felt on her skin.
The way she had wanted to put her hands around his neck, the way she wanted to squeeze his neck until she watched him take his last breath. But she hadn't. And now there was a woman out there doing what she dreamt of doing to her abuser.
The sympathy she felt for the unsub had made her skin crawl with disgust, pain and confusion before it turned to a mere type of melancholy. A mere feeling of deep-rooted exhaustion that had lingered on her skin since the day she first met Ian Doyle.
She could hear JJ talk to Penelope, soft whispers as if Emily was asleep. The next thing she felt was JJ's hand on her cheek and her perfume mixed with the smell of coffee. ''Babe, wake up'' she whispered before placing a kiss on Emily's forehead.
Emily opened her eyes slowly, pretending as though she was well rested and had caught up on her sleep. ''Hey there, sleeping beauty'' smiled Penelope as she handed Emily some coffee in the pink octopus' mug.
''Did you sleep okay, love?'' JJ asked as she brushed her hand through Emily's knotted, greasy dark hair. ''Yes, thanks'' smiled Emily politely. ''Did you make progress while I was asleep?'' Emily asked, suppressing a yawn.
''We're considering sending Rossi in undercover'' JJ nodded, ''He does fit the white rich male profile'' agreed Emily. ''He's still thinking I assume?'' Emily added to which JJ nodded in agreement.
But before Emily could ask more Derek popped his head around the corner ''Hotch and Rossi are back. They want to see all of us'' he said, ''that includes you baby girl'' he added.
The three women followed Derek back to the conference room where Spencer was seated next to Hotch and Rossi. The rest of the team took a seat as well and their eyes all subconsciously wandered to Rossi.
''We've talked for a while'' Hotch started, ''we've also discussed it with Section Chief Straus-'' Hotch continued before he got interrupted by Rossi '' I'm going to do it''.
''I'm going undercover as bait''.