An/Written in response to femvamp's"good guys as bad guys" challenge. Hope you like it! I'm pretty pleased with it. Yes, this is my idea of what JJ's secret could be, though I know it probably wasn't. Despite the fact that her "backstory" (if you can call that a backstory) was given the previous episode, I'm going to continue on with this theme.

Regular disclaimers apply.

"JJ, can I see you in the conference room? I just had a case come across my desk." Hotch peeked through her door and was gone before she had a chance to respond.

Stifling a groan, she rolled her eyes and stood. Whenever Hotch picked cases himself, she couldn't help but feel undermined. Her ability to control her surroundings was something that she prided herself on--and though she respected Aaron Hotchner, she couldn't help the momentary flash of vengeance she felt every time he interrupted the usual 'case-selection' method.

"Woah there Powder Puff." Penelope stopped her from behind. "Where do you think you're going?"

JJ rubbed her temple, trying to fight the annoyance that rippled through her. Normally, she enjoyed Penelope's eccentric and eclectic personality. But spending the 'romantic' weekend with her fiance without any opportunity to find the release she needed was wearing on her last nerve. "The conference room." She settled on honesty, "Can't this wait?"

Garcia's face was filled with sympathy. "Jayje, you don't have to go on pretending, I know what today is."

Today? The thought raced through her mind as she tried to place the significance of the date to Garcia. She knew it was her own special anniversary, but Garcia must think--Oh. Her eyes widened in surprise and she had to fight momentarilly to stop the smirk from forming. "Yeah, its a tough day." She smiled tightly hoping that her friend would take it as a sign of bravery.

"I'd say." Penelope's compassion was almost tangible, and JJ wondered--not for the first time--what it would be to feel that type of emotion.

The world may never know.

It was one reason that her friendship with the ecclectic blonde continued. JJ's curiosity grew each time she witnessed the other woman's overt displays of emotion.

Maybe if things had been different---

Noticing her friend's withdrawl, Garcia talked faster as if to retroactively fill the silence. "I mean, its February 15. The day of your father's--"

"I know." JJ cut her off, not wanting to bring up one of the finest masterpieces she'd ever created. At least, not here. Not now. Not where she couldn't glory in the success of her most important kill. Tonight when she was in the confines of her own home, she could relive the experience over and over in her mind.

The day that she finally gained complete control.

"Virginia State Police needs our help." Hotch announced passing JJ and Garcia each their own folder with the information. JJ fought a grimace as she looked at Hotch's files, slightly annoyed by his inability to arrange the case file correctly. Her annoyance quickly dissipated once she saw the photograph of the "first" victim. "Over the last six years, they have had twenty unsolved murders with a similar pattern."

"Are you kidding me?" Morgan looked up from the file, having read ahead, "They think these are all connected?"

Hotch nodded. "Allen Grant, the Chief of Detectives was on SWAT with me years ago. He gave me a call last night."

"Victimology is all over the place." Emily pointed out.

"Each victim was killed differently." Reid added.

"What makes them think they're all related?" Morgan asked. "It seems to me that they're looking for connections that aren't there." JJ remained quiet, reading carefully through the file in front of her. Had the profilers watched her carefully, they would have noticed the small smile that graced her lips.

But they were focused on more important things.

Rossi nodded, agreeing with Morgan, but waited for Hotch to respond. "This." Hotch pointed to a picture of the victim, focusing in on a small Roman Numeral etched into the skin just behind the ear.

Morgan whisteled softly "They've been marked."

"Numbered." Hotch corrected softly.

Rereading the file quickly, Reid looked up. "But none of the numbers are consecutive. 5, 18, 21, 23, 34..." He listed off the numbers quickly. "So either its a pattern--"

"Or we're looking for a lot more victims." Emily finished the sentence for him.

"It's local, so Garcia be ready to be on call. Start running searches for victims in surrounding states." He commanded before turning to the others. "Leaving in 20." Hotch informed the group who all nodded in agreement. This looked like it was going to be a bad one.

JJ grinned inwardly as she gathered the files in front of her. Maybe this was just the boost of excitement she was looking for.