"That's why you brought me along?" I asked as I flipped through the crime scene photos, there was something about all the victims that caught my attention making me slam the case file shut. Hotch didn't bother to look up but rather just kept reading notes on the case. "I fit the profile of his victims, don't I?"

It was undeniable that I fit the profile of Edwin Griffin's victims; I was even scared at how much I looked like them. Being a thirty year old, brown eyed brunette who happened to be a woman of authority and athletic I was starting to feel hesitant about being in the same prison, let alone the same room with the man.

I didn't care that I would be surrounded by armed prison guards or even Aaron; there was something unsettling about a man who had been convicted of sexually assaulting, torturing, and brutally murdering woman who looked an awful lot like myself.

There was a heavy sigh from Hotch. "Yes," he began, eyes still fixed on the file in front of him, "You do fit his type. However, that's not why I brought you with me."

"Really?" I asked turning and raising an eyebrow at my supervisor. "Why else would you bring me, having someone that reminds him of his victims would help get him to open up to you, am I right?"

Hotch closed the file, placing it carefully on the tray table, and turned to face me with nothing but seriousness. "You are correct that it would help to get Earl Griffin to open up, but the fact that you've tough, not to mention slightly confrontational since you noticed the similarities is the reason I brought you. I needed someone that wouldn't back down from a fight, someone like you."

Completely taken back by Hotch's reasoning there was very little I could say. "Thank you, sir."

"You're welcome, now I think we need to go a few things before we land."

Aaron and I continued going over case details, there was a lot of input that Hotch could give since he had worked the original case almost seven years ago. We did make sure to keep our voice down in an attempt to frighten the other passengers by talking about a serial killer.

"Anything for you, miss?" she asked pleasantly yet trying to subtly steal glances at Hotch.

"I'll have a ginger ale, please."

As she poured my ginger ale she was asking Aaron what he wanted, which of course he didn't want anything causing her to just kind of shove my drink at me. "You two are such a cute couple," the flight attendant added as she put several cans in her cart. "You two have been just so adorable this entire flight."

Hotch and I adorable during the flight? Did she see the point I was about to tell him have fun in prison because I wasn't going?

So not wanting to spit my ginger ale all over the flight attendant I swallowed hard nearly causing me to choke on it, but I did start coughing as a result of the bubbles tickled the back of my throat.

"You alright, dear?" the flight attendant asked, shooting Hotch curious glances. "Is something wrong?"

Clutching my chest I tried to make my coughing sound like just that instead making it obvious I was also fighting back a laughing fit, luckily I think the flight attendant actually bought it. "No," I gasped in between gasps for air. "No, I'm fine. Just swallowed wrong, you know?"

"Right," she responded, clearly not buying my choking rouse making my cheeks burn with embarrassment. "If you need anything don't hesitate to ask."

She was undoubtedly referring to Hotch when she told him not to hesitate to ask, she was probably praying I wouldn't as she hurried down the aisle intentionally skipping the row behind us just in case I started choking on ginger ale again.

And then there was Hotch.

"What?" I asked, gasping for air.

"Subtle Sam," Hotch said with a faint smile playing on the corner of him mouth. He went back to looking over his case files. "Next time why don't you just spit it at her?"

/0/0/

"Alright JJ," Hotch said into the phone nodding repeatedly as we waited for the warden to come back from checking if Griffin was ready. "We shouldn't be here for more than a couple of hours so then we'll head out and meet up with you guys. Keep me updated."

Clearly we were not going back to Quantico after we finished up with Griffin, by the sounds of it we weren't going to be going anywhere except straight to the airport. "What's up?" I asked Hotch as he hung up the phone.

"The team needs us in Santa Fe, New Mexico after we finish up here." Hotch's face fell in disappointment knowing that he wouldn't be able to be home tonight with his son. "It's only a couple hours drive so I figure we'll leave as soon as we're done here."

Then I guess we weren't heading to the airport.

Several more minutes passed before the prison warden returned; he was a short, stocky man who seemed very timid which left me wondering how he was able to be in control of a maximum security prison surrounded by some of the most dangerous criminals.

"Are we all ready?" Aaron asked the warden, getting up from his seat.

I noticed the warden's eyes linger on me, leaving me to feel very vulnerable, before looking over to Hotch. "Are you sure?"he asked, suddenly I realized that he was questioning if I should be a part of the questioning. "I mean she's-"

Hotch must have figured out what the warden was insinuating and Hotch didn't bother to let the gentlemen finish his train of thought, "Agent Davidson is an experienced member of the bureau with years of field experience, I didn't bring her down here to sit out of this interview."

The warden was clearly flustered and continued apologizing repeatedly to Hotch; however, it wasn't Hotch that wanted the apology. "It isn't me that you should be apologizing to," Aaron snapped. Hotch's voice was tense and dangerous, his strong brow furrowed in frustration. "I'm not the agent whose experience you insulted."

"Very well," the warden mumbled heading back for the door. "Just follow me."

Without an apology the warden led Hotch and I down several winding hallways, not attempting to make any eye contact with either one of us.

"Remind me never get you that angry," I hissed under my breath as we walked through a set of heavy metal doors into a cell block causing an uproar among inmates, and as Hotch instructed me I kept my eyes fixed on what lied ahead.

"Don't worry I don't think you could get me that mad," Hotch assured me. I was a little startled as he placed a hand on my lower back and led me forward causing a hail storm of cat calls the second he did that.

Sure, Hotch was a gentleman but even this type of gesture was not something he had ever done for me, actually I don't think I ever witnessed him do it.

You've never been in a federal prison with the man either, but still this is weird because of how right it feels.

Once again I was ashamed that I was even thinking about anything outside of our professional relationship, after all Hotch had other things on his mind, his son for example.

It just has to be that protective instinct in him; you are surrounded by serial killers and other scumbags at the moment Sam.

We stopped just outside a thick, metal door with an armed guard posted outside, the warden introduced both of us as members of the FBI and the guard moved aside so the warden opened the door for us.

"We'll keep a guard with you inside the interview room," the warden began, his eyes carefully shooting at me, "Just as a precaution, you understand?"

"Of course," I agreed warmly, though my voice clearly dripping with sarcasm.

Once inside the interview room I was expecting a cold chill to rip through my body but it never came even as I was staring a monster in the eye, with Hotch I was starting to feel a strange connection develop, one that almost put my mind at ease.

"Agent Hotchner," Griffin said with a slight smirk, his eyes were not fixed on Hotch but rather on me. "It's so nice to see you and your friend."

With Hotch I was starting to feel a strange connection develop, one that almost put my mind at ease.

/0/0/

"You are not driving again," Hotch yelled, slamming the passenger side door shut as soon as I put the car in park. "You are definitely not driving again if I am in the car with you."

"Come on Hotch, lighten up." I leaned up against the car, crossing my arms on the warm hood of the car and letting my chin rest on my hands. "We got here didn't we?"

"Lighten up?" He stopped and mirrored my actions leaning on the car. "You want me to lighten up? You probably broke any land record between the Florence, Colorado and Santa Fe."

"Do you really think so because that'd be so cool if I did?"

"Well, well," JJ came out of the police station laughing. "I thought I heard you two killing each other out here."

"We're not killing each other," we both snapped at the same time heading up the stairs and making our way into the station leaving JJ standing on the front steps laughing.

Wait... what was that going on between Sam and Hotch? Is Sam starting to realize there is a connection between her and Hotch? Is Hotch's hard exterior starting to crack?

Sorry this chapter took so long to get posted but between battling a horrible cold/ allergies and a heavy college course load I was finally able to finish this chapter! I will admit this is my favorite chapter to date! Next up...Garcia and Sam have a heart to heart.

You can always ask me questions here or check out Light After Darkness' website and leave me (or Sam) a comment or question at, http:/afterdarknesscm(dot)wordpress(dot)com/