Title: The Poison Apple

Author: innocent choir girl Is a past offender after the BAU team?

Category: General

Genres: Angst, Crime, Drama, Hurt/Comfort,

Characters: Aaron Hotchner, David Rossi, Emily Prentiss, Derek Morgan, Jennifer Jareau, Spencer Reid, Penelope Garcia

Rating: PG-13

Chapter 2 "Burnt Out"

Author's Notes: thanks be to the glorious powers of Riley

January 11, 2008

Behavioral Analysis Unit - FBI

Quantico, Virginia

The team would be departing once again on another case. This time it would be taking them to Minnesota. JJ had already presented the case to the team, and they were all to be ready to leave in less than thirty minutes, but before she headed for her apartment JJ wanted to make sure she had everything they'd need. She was prepared. She just didn't feel like she was. In fact, she felt sick. Prentiss had been the only one who had picked up on it, or at least the only one who had said anything. JJ was sure that it was just from working too many cases back to back with little proper eating or sleeping done. But the case in Minnesota deserved their immediate attention.

Minnesota held a mystery.

Thirteen men had been killed by evisceration and dumped all over the state of Minnesota. They had just been recently been connected. In all the cases, no evidence had ever been recovered along with the absence of witnesses. It was a cold case, but the killer had no apparent need to stop killing. The thirteen killings had spanned three years.

JJ closed her eyes for a minute as her stomach started to cramp. It had been going on all day and the only reason JJ could think of (because it wasn't the normal cause of cramping) was that she'd eaten something that her stomach just didn't agree with. She wrapped an arm around her stomach before forcing her eyes open and telling herself that she needed to move. It was getting closer and closer to the time he needed to be at the jet. She picked up the file and tucked it under her arm as she exited her office and made her way towards the elevator. She just hoped her stomach would pull itself under control before she got to the jet. JJ wasn't sure if she could keep her discomfort under control during the ride to Minnesota. Of course, it was also getting late, there was a possibility that the others might sleep on the plane.

As she stepped into the elevator, she let out a sigh. Her stomach really wasn't helping her moving quickly to get her things and to get to the jet on time. She pushed the button and watched as the doors closed. Maybe she was just suffering from her body giving into her rigorous work schedule. Was she just merely exhausted? She knew she worked a lot, but it wasn't like she was chasing people around. She was the media liaison for the team, though it had been awhile since she'd gotten a good night's sleep or even a vacation at that. Maybe she just needed to take better care of herself.

January 11, 2008

BAU's Private Jet

En route to Minnesota

Reid looked around and suddenly realized he hadn't seen JJ in a while. Normally, she sat up front with the rest of the team. "Hey, where'd JJ go?" he asked trying to look around for himself.

"She's got to be around here somewhere," Morgan spoke up. He remembered seeing her when they'd gotten on.

"She's asleep," Prentiss informed them and then pointed to the back of the jet where JJ was fast asleep on one of the bench seats. She had figured that it was best to let the younger woman sleep through the flight. JJ had already looked fatigued enough and once they touched down, she wouldn't sleep until they were heading home.

Hotch looked over to where Emily Prentiss was sitting. He'd noticed that JJ was off, but hadn't pushed it when he'd asked how she was doing and she'd told him that she was fine. "She okay?"

"I'm not sure," Prentiss told him honestly. She shrugged and looked over at JJ's sleeping form and then back to Hotch, "She might just be tired…"

He just nodded and made a mental note to keep JJ close and to make sure that if she was with one of the others, that they knew to keep a close eye on her. He knew that JJ worked after and before everyone was at the BAU and was sure that it was a distinct possibility that JJ could just be burnt out. He couldn't remember the last time she was allowed vacation time.

January 12, 2008

Duluth Police Department

Duluth, Minnesota

It was nearly three in the morning when the team's jet finally landed. Even with the early hour, the team dragged themselves to the local police department and started on the case. Hotch had opted to have the others work in the field while he stayed back at the precinct with JJ to put together a board to try to piece together what they had so far and to also go over the previous case files. She'd slept the whole flight to Minnesota and it only worried him more. She looked pale and sickly. But he didn't say anything. She wasn't showing any other signs of sickness other than fatigue and a pale pallor. He'd just keep a close eye on her. If something obvious showed itself, then he'd press.

JJ looked up and blinked for a minute taking in and processing before speaking, "What?" she asked. Hotch had been staring at her for a good minute or so and the look on his face had been one that she knew. He was worried… But at what?

"Nothing… I guess…" Hotch said and quickly thought of what he'd say. "I'm just tired…I was thinking about this file and sort of lost my train of thought."

"I think we could all use rest when we finish this case," JJ told him before looking back down at the case file she had been looking over. Her hand went up to her forehead and she gently ran her fingers along the side of her temple to try to urge the pain to leave her.

"JJ," he said hoping that she wouldn't take what he was to say the wrong way. He waited until she looked up at him before he continued, "Why don't you get some sleep for a while?" he asked. "You look exhausted."

"I slept on the plane," JJ told him resting her chin in the palm of her head staring at him. "I'll be fine… I appreciate the concern, though."

"Really—"

"We don't sleep until the unsub's located…he could kill several people before we find him. Me sleeping is not going to help us find him," JJ countered.

"I thought you're waiting for local media to re-contact you."

"I am."

"So, we know you won't sleep through a cell phone call."

JJ started going through paperwork, "I'll sleep on the way back."

"Alright…" Hotch finally gave in reluctantly. What else could he do? Push her? What use would that do?

TBC…