Thank you all so much for the reviews, as always, I love to hear what you think! And as promised, here is the next chapter!
I do not own Criminal Minds
"Earlier today, former FBI Agent Emily Prentiss was arrested and charged with murder. Here's Beth with the story."
The screen changed to a woman standing outside the FBI building, her blonde hair blowing in the wind. "I'm here in Quantico, Virginia at the FBI headquarters where Emily Prentiss spent six years working for the Behavior Analysis Unit. This is a team that profiles killers, they get inside their minds, in an attempt to catch them. Now the name Emily Prentiss may sound familiar to some of you, as we reported on her death six years ago. She was allegedly killed by arms dealer Ian Doyle. While the FBI and the nation mourned her death, she was alive and well living halfway around the world.
"Now she has been arrested and charged with murder in the first degree. The FBI has not released the victim's identity, they are waiting until the family has been notified.
"Emily Prentiss left the FBI four years ago to work for Interpol, an international policing agency. She is currently under investigation by Interpol for the death of six Interpol Agents. She returned to the United States a month ago and it has been uncovered that she is engaged in a romantic relationship with current BAU Agent Jennifer Jareau. We contacted her for an interview, but she declined. Instead, FBI Special Agent Aaron Hotchner has agreed to speak with us."
The screen changed to Hotch's office. He was sitting at his desk. "I have known Emily Prentiss for 10 years, since she joined our team. She worked for the Behavioral Analysis Unit for six years."
"And what was she like as an agent?" The interviewer asked.
"She was a good agent. Professional, cold at times."
"Are you surprised that she has been arrested for murder?"
Aaron didn't blink, "I was Prentiss's superior for six years, but I never truly knew her. She is a trained spy and skilled in deception. None of us really knew her, we just knew the cover she presented. So when I say she was a good agent, that was only because that was the role she needed to play."
"Even so, you were the arresting agent. Was it hard to arrest someone you once considered a friend?"
"You can't be friends with someone you never knew. She has sold the Bureau stories for the past ten years, and I will not let that continue to happen. Emily Prentiss murdered a man and she will be held responsible for that. We are also in contact with Interpol, and she will be held responsible for the deaths of those six agents."
"How involved is the BAU in this case?"
"We were given the case originally, but once we identified Emily Prentiss as the UNSUB and made the arrest, the case was handed over to another team to prevent any misconception of conflict of interest. We are cooperating with the new team and assisting in any way that is deemed fit. This case will be done the right way to ensure that Emily Prentiss pays for her crimes."
A knock came from JJ's front door but she didn't move from her position staring at the TV. It was late, almost eleven and JJ had been restless ever since being sent home. And then when she turned on the news, the first story was about Emily.
The knocking continued, louder. "I know you're in there JJ!" Derek called, "if you don't open the door I'll kick it down!"
JJ didn't get up. She willed him to leave, she wanted to be left alone. Then the door opened and Derek walked into the living room.
"Forgot I had a key," he held it up and then put it back in his pocket.
"What are you doing here, Derek?"
Morgan looked between JJ and the television screen. He turned it off and then sat down next to her on the couch. "Garcia called me."
"I just want to be alone right now."
"Sorry, but I can't let you do that," Derek said, "come on, I want to take you somewhere."
JJ turned and looked at him, exasperated, "don't you think I've been through enough bullshit today?"
"I know," Derek said, "but there is nothing you can do tonight. I swear, in the morning I will help you look for evidence, I will help you help Emily, but right now just trust me, okay?"
JJ shook her head, "you know how much Emily has gone through in the past few months, and now she's sitting in FBI custody..."
"JJ," Derek took her hands, "we will get this figured out, okay? But right now, come with me. We'll get some drinks, I'm buying."
JJ finally agreed and Derek drove them to a bar downtown. They went and sat down at a table in the back. JJ ordered a scotch and when it came she took it down in one gulp. There were a few other people in the bar, and there was the constant noise of people talking, but JJ and Derek were silent. They sat in silence and drank in silence. JJ another Scotch and Derek a club soda.
Eventually JJ began to grow tired. She rested her head on her hands and sighed. "How is this happening?"
"I don't know," Derek shook his head.
They stayed at the bar until it closed. They talked a little, but neither had much to say. They were the last ones to leave and walked out to Derek's car together. He drove her home and when they got back to JJ's, Derek got out and walked her to the door. He pulled her into a hug.
"Call me if you need anything, JJ, okay?"
She nodded and walked inside, lightheaded and tired.
XXX
JJ rolled over. She had been drifting in and out of sleep for the past hour, always waking back up with a shock. She was somewhere between sleep and wakefulness when a pounding came on her door. There was shouting, but she didn't immediately recognize the words. In one movement JJ opened her bedside table drawer, pulled out her gun, and stood.
She walked to her bedroom door and opened it slowly, the sound of her front door being knocked down making her jump. There was definitely more than one person there. She gripped her gun tightly, took a deep breath, and turned the corner, her gun pointed out.
When she saw the letters FBI printed on the bullet proof vests of the people in her doorway she immediately dropped the gun and raised her hands above her head.
Someone shouted gun, and JJ took a step back.
"FBI, we have a search warrant," a man she didn't recognize shouted as another grabbed the gun from the ground. Then she was pushed up against the wall, her hands being held behind her back.
"Where is she?" The man shouted.
"What the hell are you talking about?" JJ shouted back, "I am an FBI agent."
"Where is Emily Prentiss?"
JJ froze for a moment, "she's in FBI custody."
"She escaped, but you already knew that, didn't you?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," JJ shouted, her face being pushed against the wall. "Now let me go unless you've got a warrant for me as well."
"I need to frisk you– for safety, you understand."
JJ put her hands back up when he let go of them and he started to pat down her body.
"Any weapons?"
"Not on me," she said, "I have another gun in a safe in my closet."
"Is that all?"
"That and the one you already took."
When he was done searching her, he let go and JJ demanded to see a copy of the warrant. It covered her house, car, computer, phone, as well as another arrest warrant for Emily, this time with charges including escape in the first degree. They had already taken Emily's laptop when they arrested her, but they hadn't found the case files that JJ had caught a glance of Emily going through. JJ didn't even know where those were.
But Emily was out, and JJ hoped to god she knew what she was doing.
"We're taking you in for questioning."
"What's your name?" JJ turned to stare at him.
"Warren," he returned.
"Okay, Agent Warren. I am going to go get dressed and grab my bag. Then I will meet you at the Bureau."
"Not happening, you could be destroying evidence."
"Then by all means," JJ snapped, "come watch."
She walked into her bedroom where two FBI agents were searching through her drawers and pulling everything onto the ground. The contents of her life scattered around for all to see. Looking away, she opened her dresser and pulled out a pair of jeans and a shirt. Knowing she had no chance for privacy, she changed right there. Everything else of hers had been included in the warrant, they were looking for any evidence of contact with Emily.
When they pulled up to the FBI building, Agent Warren took JJ's arm and she pulled it away. He didn't try again. The building was mostly abandoned, they passed a janitor and one agent pulling an all nighter.
"This way," Warren lead her down the hall to the BAU bullpen.
"Does Hotch know what you're doing?"
"If by Hotch, you mean Agent Hotchner, then yes. And before you ask, he gave us your name. He thought you might have some valuable information." He didn't look at her as he opened up the door to the bullpen.
When they walked in, she saw the lights in Hotch's office were on. Warren climbed up the stairs to her office and tried the door. "Where are your keys?"
"In my house that your agents are in the process of tearing apart."
"Come on," he took her arm again, tighter this time, and she ripped it away.
"Try that again and you'll wish you hadn't left all your agents at my house."
"Is that a threat?" Warren stopped and stared at her.
JJ returned the stare, but said nothing.
Warren shook his head in disgust and knocked on Aaron's door.
"Come in," he called out.
They walked into Hotch's office and he stood. He was wearing the same suit from earlier, but it was wrinkled and his shirt was untucked. His face was grim and he looked exhausted.
"I need the keys to Jareau's office."
Hotch opened the drawer in his desk and pulled out a set. He handed them to Warren, looking at JJ the whole time.
"Can we have a moment?" Aaron looked at Warren.
"I'll go get started." Warren turned and left the office, keeping the door open.
JJ stared across the desk, "Hotch..."
"What do you know?" He asked, his voice all business.
JJ clenched her fists, "I know that Emily escaped and that they think I helped her. Excuse me, you think I helped her. Why are you doing this?" She asked, "You know Emily, you know she wouldn't do this. All of those things you said about her–"
"Are true," Hotch interrupted. "The woman we knew was an act."
JJ shook her head in disgust. Unable to look at him any longer she turned and left his office. When she got to her office, it looked like her house had as she had left. Everything from her drawers had been thrown on the ground. She clenched her jaw. "That's FBI property."
He didn't look up.