Her apartment felt the emptiest after a rough case, the darkness suffocated her, and the lack of company fed her loneliness. She had always claimed she didn't need anyone, and the façade she had always shown at work didn't claim anything different. A healthy relationship wasn't in it for her. Married to the job, as Rossi often joked.

Her phone buzzed, and she smiled as JJ's name lit up her screen, yet het heart ached never the less. '' Hey, what's up?'' asked Emily as she wriggled herself out of her wrinkled jacket. '' Just wanted to see how you were doing''. ''I'm okay, making some tea before heading to bed. I'm exhausted''. ''Rough case. You did amazing though. You were great with the baby'. Emily thanked her before telling her she was really heading to bed now. They said their goodbye's.

She returned to the office earlier than planned that next morning, she'd ended up hardly sleeping, her night clouded with dark thoughts and loneliness. She filled her blue FBI mug to the brim with coffee and sighed as she took a seat behind her desk. A light brown pile of files covered most parts of her desk, so she started on a file, and then another and then another. Until she felt a soft hand on her shoulder. '' You look like you've been here for hours, we don't even have a case'' smiled JJ, as she crouched down next to Emily's incredibly messy desk. '' Yeah, I woke up early. Wanted to catch up on some paperwork'' shrugged Emily as she took a sip of her fourth coffee from that morning. JJ hummed slightly as she observed Emily, whom was avoiding eye contact at all cost. '' Stop profiling me'' hissed Emily annoyed which caused JJ to step back surprised.

JJ was just about to say something when Hotch entered '' I got called about a case, Reid, Morgan and Rossi will be here soon'' he said as he handed Emily and JJ the files. '' Jesus'' sighed Emily as she skimmed through the file. Once the rest of the team arrived they took their seats in the conference room and listened as Hotch briefed them. '' Three women in their late 30's have been found dead after being brutally tortured for days. Videos of the victims confessing their darkest secrets, or as the unsub claims to be their darkest secrets have been sent to the parents of the victims''. Hotch clicked play and they watched in terror as they heard the woman yelling and screaming for help.

'' So, this unsub gets off on humiliating them? Freeing them of their sins before he releases them of life?'' asked Reid. ''Could be religiously motivated?'' agreed Emily as she placed a few pictures from the file on the table. '' Morgan, get Garcia to look into the victims. Find out if they're linked to a church. If so, check those churches for people with a record'' said Hotch. Morgan reached for his phone and dialed Garcia, a muffled ''hey baby girl'' was heard as he left the room.

'' We'll discuss theories on the flight, go grab your go bags. Wheels up in an hour'' stated Hotch before making his way back towards his office. '' I need coffee'' muttered Emily as she pushed her chair back, slightly frustrated. Rossi and Reid exchanged surprised glances as they watched Emily made her way out of the room.

JJ followed her ''Em, wait up-. Emily''. Emily whipped her head around, her brows furrowed. '' Jesus JJ leave me alone'' hissed Emily, her voice raised, but not enough to alarm the rest of the bull pen. Hurt flashed over JJ's face, mixed with worry and frustration. '' i-. Fuck. JJ I'm sorry, I had a bad night''. JJ squeezed Emily's shoulder gently before walking towards her office.

'' What have you found Garcia?'' asked Hotch once they were up in the air. '' Well sir, thank you for asking. This genius tech analyst has found two men with multiple charges of assault who went to the churches these women went to. I've sent them to your phones''

'' Okay Prentiss and JJ, you go talk to This Mir. Luke Williams. Reid and Morgan go talk to Johnny Altman. Rossi and I will start on victimology at the precinct''.

They landed fairly and got setup at the precinct. '' You're going to go see Lukey-boy right?'' said officer Wilkins as he shook hands with Emily and JJ. '' He's a fine man. Don't know why you'd consider him a suspect. He's always fixing people's cars on the side of the road, fixing roofs'' continued the officer. '' Thank you, officer, we'll see about that ourselves'' smiled JJ politely, once the officer was out of ear sight, she muttered ''ass'' to Emily, which got Emily to smile.

The women arrived at Luke Williams house about 20 minutes after their questionable conversation with the officer in charge at the precinct. '' Why does it always have to be a shady farm'' groaned JJ as they knocked on the front door. The door got forcefully pushed open by Luke '' Whatta ya want?''. JJ and Emily showed their badges '' FBI, we would like to ask you a few questions''. Luke stepped aside and let the women enter.

'' Have you ever seen these women before?'' Emily asked, as she showed the driving license pictures of the three murdered women. Luke looked for a few minutes before shrugging ''Don't think so, should I?'' he asked as he directed his attention towards JJ which gave Emily the chance to look around the living room a little. ''These three women were found murdered, they all go to the same church as you'' said JJ.

'' Okay so? You're asking everything in the church or just me because of my record?'' he spat, clearly annoyed. '' We're asking people with records first, then we'll continue with the rest'' explained Emily.

The sound of a message halted their conversation, all six eyes looked over towards Mr Williams laptop. His screen lit up from the message, the video of one of the tortures open.

Emily and JJ reached for their guns, but they were too late.

The last thing Emily heard before everything went black was JJ screaming for help.