a/n: possible trigger warning in this chapter for a few mentions of self-harm (scars)
'' That wasn't anything useful'' stated Emily when they entered the conference room where the team was seated around a pile of Thai take out boxes. JJ pulled a box from the table and started eating as they reviewed the board. '' So far, we've concluded the unsub must be a male. Probably Late 20's to mid 30's'' Morgan repeated. '' I still think we should stay in the sexual assault angle. It can't be coincidental that these three men are all on the sex offenders list'' he added.
'' I noticed something else'' said Reid as he wiped some food from his mouth. ''All three men have a name that starts with an A. It looks like the unsub is working the list down from alphabetical order''. Hotch immediately called Garcia to search for the sex offenders list in the area, as they had expected the list was on their phones a few minutes later.
'' See'' exclaimed Reid. '' Look who's at the top. Aden Brown, our first murder victim. Alex Grey, our second murder victim and lastly Andrew Jenkins''. Hotch stood up immediately '' Garcia track the name after Andrew Jenkins. Billy Watson''. They received the address and immediately rushed to the SUV's, Hotch called for additional back up and they all arrived at the scene at the same time.
Billy's house was a rundown cabin on the property of a retired farmer. Old rusty tools lay scattered in the garden and an old car lay abandoned next to the cabin, the car was stripped entirely. Rossi and Morgan made their way towards the door of the cabin, the guns raised, while JJ and Emily made their way towards the back entrance of the cabin, followed by Reid.
'' We're too late'' they heard Morgan yell, right before they were about to kick the back door down. JJ, Emily and Reid walked towards the front entrance and entered the cabin, their eyes immediately landed on the body displayed on the floor.
Morgan reached for his phone and dialed Garcia. '' Baby girl could you pull the phone numbers and addresses from the next three people on that list?'' he asked, '' I'd do anything for you, my strong crime fighter''. Morgan felt his phone vibrate in his hand and saw Garcia's e-mail. '' You're amazing baby girl, be good'' he smiled, '' or what? You'll spank me?''. Morgan chuckled before hanging up the phone.
Emily tried to reach the first number, it kept ringing until finally it went to voice mail. She spoke a swift message before telling Hotch the man didn't pick up. The second and third person they needed to reach both picked up their phones and were told a police officer would be coming to bring them to safety.
The team tried reaching Bob Thomas a few times as they drove their SUV's towards his house, as quickly as possible. They parked their cars in the middle of the road and rushed towards the front door. Rossi and Reid checked for a back entrance as JJ, Emily, Hotch and Morgan knocked on the front door. '' Bob Thomas? This is the FBI, we're coming in'' Emily yelled, as she twisted the knob, the door wasn't locked.
A muffled sound put the entire team, and the back up on high alert. They hurried in with their guns raised. Emily and JJ reached the top of the stairs and ran towards the bedroom, quickly followed by Morgan and Reid. '' Drop the weapon'' yelled Emily when she saw a man, she recognized sitting on top of Bob Thomas, a gun pointed towards Bob's neck. '' It's not worth it, Sir'' she assed. The unsub looked up angrily '' You don't know if it's worth it or not'' he spat. ''Killing all the sex offenders in the area won't keep your daughter safe'' said Emily, causing Morgan and Reid to look up surprised. '' Mr. Peterson, I know you're hurting, I know you're hurting for Gracie, but the pain won't go away if you kill all these men'' Emily continued, as she took small steps towards Mr. Peterson. '' I just want to protect my baby'' Mr. Peterson sobbed, '' She's hurting, hurting herself and I need to save her''. Emily took another step forward and placed her hand on the gun he was holding '' Let go of the gun, killing these men will only hurt Gracie more''.
A sobbing Mr. Peterson dropped the gun into Emily's hands, and continued crying as Morgan put him in cuffs. Rossi helped Bob Thomas up as JJ walked Emily out of the room. ''You okay?'' whispered JJ as she watched Emily stare ahead, her eyes slightly glazed. '' I'm fine, I just need to sleep''. JJ looked unconvinced as she watched Emily walk towards the SUV.
It was nearing 1 am when they finished up at the scene, they drove to the hotel and took a seat in the lobby. Rossi came back with a round of drinks, a smile on his face; '' A drink before bed'' he said. '' That entire family is ruined'' sighed JJ once their conversation was steered back to the case by chance. '' He just wanted to protect her, stop her from hurting herself'' croaked Emily, her voice again, sounding distant. '' Yeah, but that doesn't justify murder'' chimed Morgan, which caused Emily to stand up quickly, dropping her drink in the process '' But it explains it'' she said, before walking towards the elevator.
She arrived at the room she shared with JJ and immediately headed towards the bathroom. She took of her dark black boots, her black pants and her dark red shirt. Leaving her in only her underwear. She followed the marks on her body with her eyes, burn marks covered a big part of her chest. However, the thin white small scars that covered the upper part of her leg caught her eye. She gently traced the lines, she had made when she was 15. Her mind wandered towards her best friend Matthew at the time, he was the light in the loneliness she felt after her abortion.
She dropped her arms next to her and continued studying her body, it was battered and bruised, but it was hers. She eventually got in the shower and tried to scrub the day of her. Mr. Peterson telling her his daughter was hurting was still ringing in her ears.
She found JJ laying on her bed holding a book when she entered their shared room in her pyjama's. '' You good?'' JJ immediately asked when she noticed Emily. '' JJ, for god's sake stop asking me that, I'm fine'' spat Emily. JJ looked surprised, mingled with hurt. However, something in her told her to be happy Emily felt safe enough to be mad with her.
'' I'm just worried about you'' JJ eventually said. '' Nothing to worry about''. JJ watched Emily climb under her covers and watched as she pulled up her blanket to her chin. ''I'm sorry for snapping'' Emily eventually whispered, avoiding eye contact at all cost. '' That's okay, I'm here for you when you need me''.