"Sometimes people carry to such perfection the mask they have assumed that in due course they actually become the person they seem." - W. Somerset Maugham

Why now of all times? Why her of all people?

Reid's face, full of utter humiliation over being rejected haunted JJ as she drove home. There was an empty feeling consuming inside that consumed JJ. On the freeway, it had been a struggle to maintain composure. But she could hold it in. She could handle it.

That's what she told herself. It was as JJ turned the car off and sat in the seat that she reached her breaking point. Her gaze fell on the empty house before her. Will wouldn't be inside because they still hadn't taken that step. They didn't live together and they weren't married. Just like Reid was saying, nothing had changed since Henry's birth.

It wasn't something she thought about. She never had the time. Or maybe that was just one more lie she led herself to believe. The truth was right there and JJ knew it. Somehow along the way, she and Will found themselves in a dead end relationship. Both of the purposely avoided talking about it because where they were was comfortable.

Then Dr. Spencer Reid comes along with his feelings and confessions. He wasn't the type to pour his heart out like that and suddenly he's in front of her and saying these things. She just wasn't ready.

No. It wasn't about being ready. It wasn't about timing at all. She didn't love Reid. Not like that. Despite their one date that took place a million years ago, their relationship was strictly platonic. Or at least that's what she thought.

Why then? Why was she still sitting in her car… alone? Why was she stuck, grasping the steering wheel? Why were tears running down her face? Why? Why did she regret her answer?

Misery distracted her and ran so deep that the buzzing from her cell phone actually startled her. Quickly, she took a few deep breaths before lifting the device out of her purse. If it had been anyone else, JJ may not have taken it. As it was, Hotch was calling.

"JJ, where are you?" The voice of her boss came urgent and spoke up before she could get a single word in.

His tone surprised her. With a perplexed expression twisting her features, JJ shifted her eyes at the phone and answered, "I… I just got home. Why? Is something wro-"

"Is there a package on your porch?" Hotch interrupted.

"A package?" She strained to see through the darkness to her front door but to no avail. "I don't know. I haven't even got out of the car. Hotch, what's going on?"

When the man spoke again, he sounded just the slightest bit relieved. "Alright. JJ. Listen to me. Do NOT get out of your car. Just turn it back on and come back to the office. I'll explain everything when you arrive."

Hardly one to ask questions, JJ did as she was told and started the car. As she did though, she had understand, "O…kay… I'm going right now. I'll be there in a few minutes."

"I want you to stay on the phone with me. Until you're at least a mile away. That's an order." The way Hotch was talking to her was beginning to frighten her. Barking orders like a drill sergeant was what Morgan would say.

But it was more than that. JJ could sense in the urgency within his voice that something was seriously wrong. "A-alright, sir."

The car rolled into the street and JJ put it in drive. She used the shoulder technique to keep the phone against her ear. Her eyes scanned the house again, in search for whatever might have been on her porch before she began to drive away. It was too dark.

Suddenly the darkness was illuminated and the silence of JJ's quiet neighborhood was shattered. From just a few yards away, she watched as flames engulfed her house after an huge explosion went off at her front door. The blast had been so powerful, had she still been sitting in the driveway, she probably wouldn't have survived.

Without realizing it, the explosion had caused her to drop the phone. On the other end, Hotch was frantically calling her name. She scrambled to pick it back up and reassure her boss that she was alright.

"I'm here! I'm here! I'm okay! Hotch, my house! It… it just blew up! I…"

"I know, JJ. The local police and fire department are on their way. But what I need you to do right now is come back to the BAU so we can figure out what's going on with these attacks."

Her nerves grew stiff and eyes wide. "A…attacks, Hotch? You mean… I'm not the only one?"

"I'm afraid not. So far no one has been hurt but there was a suspicious package on my door step this evening. Neighbors called it in and the bomb squad arrived before anything could happen. Then just a few minutes ago, we received a call from Morgan who arrived home and found a package at his place as well. He's fine. He got straight back in his car and called it in. As for Rossi, we're not sure if his house has been targeted as well. He's still here and I've had him call Reid. And Morgan's calling Prentiss."

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Someone was obviously after the members of the BAU. When she really thought about it, maybe it wasn't so insane. Obviously, making enemies came with the occupation. There was no telling which of their past un-subs were coming after them for revenge.

As JJ eventually gathered her thoughts enough to speak again, Hotch interjected once again but only to excuse himself, "JJ, one second…" His voice trailed away from the phone and she could hear Rossi in the background. "What do you mean you can't get a hold of him?"

Those words cut through JJ like daggers. She replayed everything Hotch had just told her. Rossi was calling Reid. And now Reid evidently wasn't answering his phone. There were very few things that JJ could imagine being worse than the feeling she had at that moment.

"Well… just… keep trying!" She heard Hotch instruct Rossi but his tone was shaken. He was just as worried as she. "JJ. Where are you now? Are you still driving?" As his words were now directed towards her, they were a bit more stable. But the damage was done.

In fact she wasn't driving. She hadn't moved since the explosion. The lights and sirens from the fire trucks arriving, blinded her for a moment as she came to a decision. It wasn't often that JJ disobeyed an order. As they say, there's a first time for everything.

"Hello? JJ? He-?"

"Reid had a package on his desk, Hotch. He's got it in his car with him." For once, Aaron Hotchner was speechless. The color in his face drained as he knew what that meant. JJ spoke again, "I'll be there, sir. I swear I'll come to the office but I have to find Reid first."

With that, she flipped the cell shut to save herself a lecture. There wasn't much time, if there was any. Regards for the rules were thrown at the window as JJ hit the gas pedal with everything she had and sped out of her neighborhood. Under her breath, she silently pleaded to whoever was listening that Reid was still alive.

~ Author's Notes ~

So I lied about the angst before. Luckily it only took up a little over half a page.

Anyway, I originally planned to only upload every Wednesday. However, chapter one attracted a few more subscribers than I anticipated. I don't want to leave you guys hanging so depending on the reaction I get after posting this; I may reconsider the whole 'one chapter a week' plan.