*Okay as always I own nothing of Criminal Minds or Rizzoli & Isles just enjoying using the characters.
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Jane entered the conference room where the team met to deliberate about cases. She sat in the chair by JJ and was handed a file folder by Pen. She opened it up and the first thing she saw was the crime scene photos of three dead women's bodies in pieces with their heads missing. She had scene gruesome murder scenes before but there's nothing like looking at pictures of a hodgepodge of body pieces first thing in the morning to make you want to toss your cookies.
"Let's get started." Hotch said as he came in all business like.
Pen took the remote and on the screen came even more gruesome photo's. "Three women's bodies were found in a dried river bed by some cattle men rounding up strays where a fence had been cut near Santa Fe, New Mexico."
"Have they made positive Id's yet?" JJ asked.
"Yes on two of the victims but the third one's DNA wasn't in the data base. You are looking at what remains of 21 year old Shanna Rodriguez, 20 year old Nancy Montago, and the other poor lady to be named later was also around 19 to 23 years of age according to the M.E.'s report."
"The body parts seem to be done with some skill and with a sharp instrument." Reid said looking at the cuts in the joint areas.
"Were these women reported missing and why were they in Santa Fe?" Morgan asked looking at Garcia.
"Shanna was visiting her grandmother Isabel on Christmas vacation and was reported missing three weeks ago. Nancy was on a hiking trip with friends to the Sangre de Cristo mountains and was reported missing a week ago and of course there isn't any info on our third victim."
"The unknown victim has darker skin like the other two women so we can maybe assume he has a type. The first two have Spanish names and run in their early twenties. They have dark hair and dark eyes and seem to be traveling to Santa Fe as oppose to living there." Rossi said just throwing out what he was thinking.
"Pen was there time of deaths given?" JJ asked as a thought hit her.
"Not yet."
"Hotch... what if that third victim is really our second and our killer has a week cycle?" She asked looking up at the man.
"That is a good possibility that's why we are wheels up in twenty. Let's try and get him before there is a fourth." He said as the team all started to leave to get ready for the trip.
JJ stood up and turned to Jane, "Is your go bag here or in your car?"
"I brought it in here. Are we really just up and going to New Mexico?"
"Yes... they need our help. You need to go and get your bag and meet us in the pen and be ready to head to the airport in five."
"I thought we had twenty minutes?"
"No... that's when the jet takes off." She said as she was rushing out to go and get her bag.
"Damn... everything happens around these people in a hurry." She thought as she went to get her bag and made into the pen with a couple of moments to spare so she glanced at her phone for texts and noticed she had a voice mail. She dialed it quickly and heard Maura's voice and smiled. She listened to the familiar voice tones and suddenly just wanted every thing to go back to before she ever knew that Emily Prentiss existed... but that wasn't going to happen.
"You ready Jane?" Morgan asked as the team was starting out the doors to the SUV's.
"Yeah... I'm ready." She said blowing out a deep sigh as she walked behind him to the elevators.
Jane texted Maura in the car:
We are heading out on a case in New Mexico.
God I hate flying... how do these people do this week after week?
I'll call you when I can... I miss you too.
She hit send on the phone just as they pulled up to the jet and started boarding.
XXXXX
Maura got the text as Raphy was driving her into BPD and winced knowing Jane was having a bad week from just the thought of flying alone.
"Everything okay Maura?" Raphy asked noticing the look on her face.
"Yes and no." He looked at her to explain. "Jane hates to fly and they have a case in New Mexico."
"Oh..." He said looking back to the road.
"Raphy... you've known my pretty girl for a long time."
"Yes... I have."
"Was my love for Ian what caused the darkness in her?"
"No... it was what facilitated it." Maura looked at him confused. "This is her place to tell you but I know Savoir she won't. The only way she got Interpol to make Ian an informant was to agree to become an assassin. See it's politics... you wash my hand and I'll wash yours if it's convenient for me."
"Dear lord... she sold her soul to save me." Maura said realizing the weight of his answer.
"She loves you more than anything and did it willingly. I know her and she would do it again today given the same choice... so do not beat yourself up over it."
She sat thinking about his answer, "How do I help get it out of her now?"
"Time and love are the only things I believe that can diminish it." He said looking over at her, "But do not fool yourself Maura... it will always be a part of her. Killing a person because you are told to changes you. Yes she has boundaries but that darkness leaves a mark and it will rear it's head from time to time. But my money is on you to help keep it down to a minimum." He said looking over at the now crying woman.
"I hope you are right Raphy... I hope you are right." She said wiping her eyes because they had pulled up at BPD and she had to go to work.
XXXXX
Jane sat by JJ on the plane and only had a little panic attack when they took off and was hoping no one noticed. "You all right there Jane? You looking a little ripe around the gills." Morgan said messing with the woman smiling.
"Leave her alone Morgan... not everyone was born with wings attached to their posterior like you were." Was heard as Pen came on the screen.
"What you got for us baby girl?" he said grinning.
"I did some digging and there is a pattern. The third woman is really your first victim missing but your second victim killed. Her name is Rita Gomez 22 from Albuquerque New Mexico. She had just flew in to find an apartment. She was moving back from Denver when she went missing four weeks ago and my babies are searching methods of transportation that these ladies took to New Mexico before you ask."
"Okay our guy took Rita four weeks ago, Shanna three weeks ago, Nancy a week ago... what happened two weeks ago? Does he have a girl now from that time period?" JJ asked looking at the file in her hands.
"The answer to that is possibly "yes." I widened out my search and found a missing report on a Bianca Lopez from Deming New Mexico. She went missing two weeks ago filling in our unsubs gory calendar of horror. She came in for a friends wedding making it to the rehearsal dinner with friends but never made it to the wedding."
"Good work Garcia."
"Anytime... my phones are always open." She said as she disconnected from the plane.
"Okay looks like we may have a live victim." He started to say.
"You really think she is alive after all those body pieces and no heads you've seen?"
"Yes... until we have proof to the contrary we will investigate this as though Bianca Lopez is alive Jane. Wouldn't your team do the same?"
"Yeah... I guess so but my gut says she is somewhere cut up like steaks like the rest of those women."
"Ugh..." They all said looking at her like "bad analogy" shaking their heads at the image but realizing that it was Jane's way of keeping the violence away from her and becoming personal.
"She is right about the cuts to the body. Our unsub has either anatomy training or a hunting back ground. The cuts are clean and somewhat professional." Reid said looking at the photos.
"Okay... listen up JJ you and Jane hit Deming and Albuquerque. I'll interview the victims families from Santa Fe while Morgan you and Rossi go to the dump site. Reid you will go to the M.E.'s office then join me at the station to work on demographics and victimology."
They all shook their heads in acknowledgement. "You might want to rest your eyes a moment Jane because when we hit the ground it will be very late before we rest." Reid said trying to help the woman out who was still pale.
"I've been on a case before... I know the hours." She said sarcastically.
"Jane I think he is just concerned about your health... you still look green." JJ said softly trying to mediate some between the two.
"I'm sorry Spencer... I hate flying." She said as a way of explanation as they hit some air pockets causing the plane to dip up and down.
The young man looked up and smiled at her and offered her a piece of spearmint gum, "The mint will settle your stomach."
"Thanks." She said taking it from him and half smiled back wondering if she was going to make it with out being sick on this seven hour flight.
This is a short read since I haven't posted in a while. I know where I'm going with this and it is going to be really good. Of course it is going to be a little longer for the wedding but the good news is... I have that all mapped out and it will be a quick write. This will not be a long case but is a very good set up for things to come.