JJ woke slowly, feeling more rested than she could ever remember. Her whole body was warm and relaxed, liquid and calm. Gently, she took a deep breath and pressed back into the body behind her.

JJ remembered where and who she was with, but she couldn't bring herself to care right away. Her stress and reminders to stay cautious were muffled by her memory of the night before. Emily's nervous, tear-filled eyes had moved her despite herself. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, JJ couldn't get the memory of Emily's blank, empty, angry eyes out of her head either.

JJ did her best to remember who was currently wrapped around her, but that was the part of the problem. Emily was wrapped around her. The woman was either a serial killer who would eventually begin hurting her, or a lonely, closeted woman who JJ could fall in love with. Both options were absolutely terrifying.

Breathing deeply again, JJ tried to stay relaxed. She was allowed to relax, wasn't she? Despite the thought, she knew the answer - not around Emily. JJ picked up Emily's soft hand from where it was covering her stomach and pressed it to her mouth. Kissing the smooth skin of Emily's palm, she let herself relax. It would be fine for a moment or two.

The hand she was holding twitched and then twisted around. A delicate finger tapped her on the nose. With a breathy laugh, JJ let Emily's hand go, but she laughed again when it just pinched her nose.

"Hey!" JJ squeaked, voice distorted by her blocked nose. "That's rude!"

Emily hummed and nuzzled into JJ's neck, not releasing the nose in her grasp. "Shh… You're thinking so loudly, JJ. Go back to sleep."

Blushing, JJ swatted Emily's hand away. "I'm awake now," she told the woman snuggling into her. "Someone is feeling affectionate this morning."

Emily tensed briefly, but her body melted again and she kissed JJ's bare shoulder. "You're my girl," she murmured against JJ's skin. "I like being close to you."

Heart fluttering, JJ reminded herself that Emily was dangerous. Still, as Emily began to trace meaningless patterns on her stomach, JJ felt herself melting, too. She pressed back against Emily, hands falling to the bed.

"I like being close to you, too."

"I'd like some proof." Emily moved her hand down, sliding it between JJ's legs. She dragged her fingers through JJ's arousal, chuckling when JJ gasped. "You were telling the truth. Barely awake and you're wet. You do like being close to me."

Avoiding the subject, JJ rolled over, tangled her hands in Emily's sleep-mussed hair, and kissed her. Their tongues slid together easily and JJ moaned into Emily's mouth. She was still foggy, hazy and drunk on deep sleep. Strong arms wrapped around her, tugging her close.

"Can I fuck you?" Emily asked feverishly. "It's ok if you don't want to, I just-"

"Yes, Emily," JJ cut her off, grabbing her face and kissing her passionately. Managing to tear herself away again, JJ met dark, lust-filled eyes with her own. "Please touch me. It's okay. I want you to."

Emily pushed JJ onto her back, straddling her thigh and kissing her again. Their hands couldn't settle anywhere. JJ wanted to touch every inch of Emily, memorize the feel of her skin, and know that they were in this together. She groaned, growing needy and desperate as Emily seemed to want the same.

Gathering herself, JJ covered Emily's breasts with her hands. She squeezed lightly, swallowing Emily's moan. Last night, Emily had cried, admitting that she would have missed JJ if they'd separated. JJ wanted Emily to know that she wasn't going anywhere. She wanted Emily to know that she felt the same.

"Touch me, Emily." JJ turned her head, breaking their kiss and letting the other woman lick and suck her neck. "Remind me that you're here. Show me that you want to take care of me."

Nodding, Emily gently cupped JJ's face, so they could kiss again. Her hand moved between JJ's legs and JJ spread them. The sound of bodies shifting on satin sheets floated through the air to mingle with their unsteady breathing. When Emily pushed two fingers into JJ, both women sighed happily.

"You feel amazing," Emily said shyly. She started a slow and careful rhythm. "I missed this so much."

"Me, too." Biting her lip, JJ blinked up at Emily, grasping her waist. "That feels really good."

"Yeah?" she asked with a grin. Leaning forward, she pressed her forehead to JJ's and added a third finger. "Was it hard to go a week without sex?"

JJ nodded, gasping as Emily curled her fingers. "It was so hard."

"Why?"

Whimpering, JJ's eyes threatened to fall shut, but she fought to keep them open. She wanted to look into Emily's. There was something swirling in them that she couldn't decipher.

"I got used to you," JJ moaned. Her hands tightened on Emily's waist as liquid heat pooled in her stomach. "You treat me so well, Emily, and you make me feel so good." She swallowed hard and did her best to keep talking. "I missed you. It was so hard to keep from calling you. I wanted to see you. I wa- I wanted to fuck you. Emily, don't leave again. I mean - I know you have to, but - fuck."

JJ came hard, a moan catching in her throat. Pulling out, Emily rubbed JJ's clit gently, supporting her through her orgasm without overwhelming her. When she could breathe again, JJ opened eyes she didn't know she'd closed. Emily was staring down at her with sadness.

"I'd stay if I could," she said, looking away. Her mouth tightened and she sat back on her heels, pushing her hair out of her face. "I wish I could." She took a deep breath and changed. Her body relaxed and she looked at JJ with easy eyes and an easier smile. "Let's make breakfast!"

Frowning, JJ grabbed her arm before she could run away. "Wait! What about you?"

"I'm ok," Emily said, clearly lying. Her flushed skin and ragged breath gave her away. "Don't worry about me. This was for you."

"Emily," JJ scolded, "let me touch you. I'm here for you."

Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say. "I know," Emily muttered. "That's the deal." She shook her head and pulled herself together. "It's fine-"

"Stop it!" JJ glared as Emily's head snapped around to look at her. The brunette looked shocked. "Stop talking like that," JJ continued. "You asked me, person to person, at dinner, if I wanted to do this and I said yes. Why isn't that enough for you? So, you're paying me. So what? I'm here with you now and I'm not going anywhere." She looked between Emily's eyes and saw tears and vulnerability. "Stop thinking about this like it's business. I don't know how long you'll want my company, but come on, Emily. Don't do me the disservice of pretending this isn't real." Her next words tasted rotten on her tongue. "I'm not hiding anything. Please stop hiding from me."

Emily's shoulders fell heavily and she looked young and scared for a moment. "There is so much that I can't tell you, JJ. I want to, but… It's just not possible."

JJ was reminded again of why she was doing this. Emily was the unsub. She was a killer. It was only a matter of time before she snapped and tried to hurt JJ like she'd hurt those other women. She knew that. She really, really knew that.

"Okay," JJ sighed, smiling sympathetically. "You don't have to tell me all your secrets yet , but don't do this." Shifting onto her knees, JJ crawled toward Emily and put her hands on her shoulders. "That's not what I mean by hiding. I mean these walls you have. Don't throw them up so quickly. Let me in, Emily."

"What if…" Emily scowled at herself, tilting her head up toward the ceiling. "This is so stupid," she muttered under her breath. "What if you don't like what you see?"

JJ smiled at the way her voice quivered. "Impossible. I barely know you and I already like you. I'm only going to like you more." That was the truth and it was almost as terrifying as the truth Emily was hiding. "Please let me see you. Let me touch you."

"Jennifer," Emily sighed. She cupped JJ's face with trembling hands. "For you? I'll try."

"And you're sure you're okay?"

"Yes!" JJ replied, rolling her eyes. "Hotch, I'm fine. I have Emily wrapped around my finger. Seriously."

She saw the doubt in his face, but he dropped it for now. Grateful, she took a bit of the chocolate scone Emily had bought for her. The brunette had given them to her as a Valentine's Day gift, alongside earrings and a large painting.

Remembering that she wanted to ask Derek to hang it for her, JJ glanced around her living room at her team. Rossi and Hotch were in their usual spot by the window. Reid and Garcia were on the couch and Derek was in the kitchen, digging through the box of baked goods.

"I miss you guys," JJ told them with a pout. "It's so weird not to see you all day every day."

Garcia whined, pouting, too. "We miss you, too, Peaches. Trust me, I have serious respect for you now. Your job is hard!"

Laughing, JJ wagged a finger at Hotch. "Remember that the next time I ask for a raise."

He gave her a tight smile and turned away, hands stuffed into his pockets. She could read his physicality and tell that something else was going on. Rossi was avoiding her eye contact and the fact that Derek was hiding away in the kitchen wasn't comforting either. Wrapping her robes around herself, JJ shifted in her armchair, swallowing her food and frowning.

"Alright," she sighed, "what's going on? Why do you all look so nervous?"

The team suddenly looked sheepish, exchanging looks as if they were silently arguing over who was going to talk. JJ wanted answers, but she also liked watching them stew. After a few long seconds, Hotch cleared his throat.

"JJ, we're… worried."

"Worried," she repeated, eyebrows flying up. "About me? Why? I'm fine. I told you that."

He sighed heavily, avoiding her gaze. "We've caught up with the recordings." Finally, his eyes met hers. "Including this morning's."

"Hotch…" JJ knew that she was a little overwhelmed, but she wasn't going to admit that to her team. She was capable of protecting both herself and the mission. "What's your critique? What exactly are you worried about?"

"We're worried that you're too emotionally involved." Pulling his hands from his pockets, he crossed his arms and frowned. "You sound incredibly sincere when you talk to Emily, and during…" He choked, face turning red. "The recording included everything this morning."

Blushing, JJ tucked her hair behind her ears. She couldn't tell him, tell the team, that she wasn't sure Emily was the unsub anymore. All the signs still pointed to her, and a few vulnerable moments didn't change that. JJ spent so much time reminding herself of the truth, but Emily was just so damn likeable.

Still, what would happen if she left the case? Would it all go to shit? It had only been a month. JJ couldn't be the reason this failed. She couldn't be the reason another escort died. She was the one who could control the situation, control Emily, and stop the cycle.

"I know how it may sound," JJ said slowly, picking at her scone, "but I'm not attached." She met his eyes. "This is my job, Hotch. If I sounded insincere, then Emily would never trust me. If you heard our conversation today, then you know I made a major breakthrough. She trusts me now. I'm going to be able to get more out of her."

"Jayje," Derek said from behind her, "are you sure? There's nothing wrong with admitting that you need help."

"I don't need help," JJ countered, scowling. "What I need is for my team to trust me." Standing, she looked around the room, glaring at all of them. "I'm not a child. I'm not easy to manipulate. I'm an agent, a profiler, just like everyone else. If you don't trust me, if you really think I'm in trouble, then take me off this case." She turned her glare on Hotch. "Put me back at my desk."

Hotch hesitated for a moment, but nodded. "You're right. You're right. I'm sorry." He smiled at her. "I do trust you. Maybe I'm being a little overprotective."

"Has she been rough with you again?" Reid asked with worry in his voice.

"No," JJ answered honestly. "She honestly seems terrified to hurt me. I think that's part of her cycle. She gets close, makes the escort feel comfortable and safe, and then…" JJ swallowed, hating the taste of her words for the second time that day. "Then, she starts abusing them."

She couldn't even imagine Emily hurting her on purpose. The woman had vomited after JJ used her safeword. How much of a psychotic break must she experience to beat someone to death? It seemed entirely out of the realm of possibility.

It was the truth, though. That's what JJ had to keep reminding herself. Emily was a killer. She was an abuser and a murderer. JJ was her next target. Whatever affection, care, and hope she saw in Emily's eyes and heard in her voice wasn't real. Emily, just like JJ, wasn't real at all.

Clearing her throat, JJ flashed Derek a bright smile. "Hey, will you hang the painting she gave me?"