An/Ok, I have been crazy busy lately, but I had a free night and decided to reward my faithful readers. I don't know if anyone's still following these stories, but I LOATHE leaving stories unfinished. Regular disclaimers apply.

I'm intentionally trying to make all of these chapters longer and more rewarding than previous---so hopefully that makes up for the long delay.

PS. Check out the JJ/Hotch fanfic forum. I've got a new set of prompts for anyone that wants to participate and write a little fluff. Even if not, there's a chance for you to vote for your favorite March Madness Story, so please check it out :)

JJ sighed as she got off the phone with the last local reporter. Craning her neck, she cursed the vultures that did everything possible to make her life more difficult. "Why can't they just leave this all alone?" She groaned aloud.

But then, getting away with it would not be nearly as rewarding.

Staring out the window, she couldn't help but let her thoughts drift back to the most defining moment of her life. The day everything changed.

Glancing out the window to see the bright sun and beautiful scenery mocking the horror that occured inside her own home, JJ shook her head sadly. It was if the woods and world outside was attempting to compensate for the disfunctional family that lived inside her home.

JJ winced as she reached up to try to brush her hair. Her ribs flamed with pain from her encounter with her father the day before. The back of her head was still sore from--she shook her head, vowing not to dwell on the details of what had happened.

Slipping on her shirt, she couldn't help but feel grateful that no one would ever see the bruises that lay beneath her shirt.

If there was one thing she never wanted, never needed, it was pity. Deep down, really deep down, she wondered what it would feel like to have someone that cared.

But if life had taught her anything, it was that no one cared.

And no one ever would.

She pulled her hair back into a tight ponytail, checking herself once in the mirror to ensure she was presentable. Descending the stairs, she felt the familiar tension that seemed to always be present. But this time, something was different. Sniffling in the kitchen caused her to whip around to a sight she never thought possible.

"Brady? What's wrong?" She asked her little brother--her father's pride and joy--who tried in vain to hide the split lip and the bright red mark on his face.

"What's wrong is the little Maggot got in his father's way." Her mother slurred from the other room, not moving from her position in front of the television.

JJ's heart sank as she realized what had happened. In that instant, the world became incredibly clear as she realized her life's calling. Something needed to be done, and if no one else would do it, she would.

Some things in life were needful.

"Where is he?" She asked, not bothering to push her brother for an explanation. This had gone far enough.

"Outside." Brady sniffed, trying to mask his tears. "In the barn. I didn't mean to make him mad, Jenny. I promise, I--"

"Just finish getting ready for school buddy, we'll leave in a couple of minutes." She instructed her brother quickly, easily controling the rage she felt boiling at the surface.

Quietly surveying her options as she approached the old barn, she easily saw the key to her freedom gleaming in the sunlight.

Picking up the ax that before had always felt so heavy, she felt a surge of joy.

Happiness had never seemed so close.

Maybe one day, she could have a normal life.

But first, there was something she needed to do.

"JJ?" Rossi looked at her questioningly. From the look on his face, she realized she must have been staring off for quite some time.

Smirking slightly, she allowed herself to blush. "Sorry." She murmured. "What do you need?"

Rossi nodded, apparently deciding that her disconnection with reality was not anything to be overly concerned with. "I was just about to go over to see the last victim's family. I was wondering if you'd come with me.

Shrugging slightly, JJ beamed inwardly at the ability to see what her life's work had accomplished. "Sure."

"Let's go."

"Is there anything I can get you? Like a cup of coffee?" The diminuitive woman, Alice Gates, quickly ushered them in and smiled brightly. "Please, I've got tea, coffee, juice, wine, beer--"

"Just water for me." JJ smiled politely.

"I'm fine." Dave said curiously, studiously eyeing the woman to give any clue to her odd behavior. This woman had just lost her husband. Things weren't adding up. David Rossi had met with countless victims' families throughout his career. He didn't get to be the most legendary profiler in the FBI by avoiding the families. But this was unlike anything he had ever seen before. And there was only one word to describe it---relief. "This is odd." He whispered out of the side of his mouth.

"What do you mean?" JJ asked softly.

"I mean, where's the grief? why isn't she--?"

"Mourning the loss of my bastard husband?" Alice Gates scoffed as she reentered the main room. "Maybe because whoever killed him saved my life."

"Excuse me?" JJ asked, smiling inwardly--outwardly, she had no difficulty maintaining her stoic, even shocked, mask.

"You heard me. Jack beat me daily. He was an abusive bastard, and he deserved what he got." Alice bit out angrily, sipping the tea in front of her.

"Ms. Gates, if you don't mind, could you tell us what you were the night Jack disappeared?" Rossi asked in surprise. He hadn't expected to have a viable suspect so quickly, but the battered wife was quite a suspect.

"You think I killed Jack?" Alice scoffed. "Don't get me wrong, I thought about it. But I could never go through with it."

"Why is that?" JJ asked genuinely curious. It was very seldom she got the chance to be on this side of her life's work.

"I thought that my children needed a father." Alice shrugged. "Now that he's gone, I realize that while they needed a father, they needed Jack even less."

"Ma'am? Last Tuesday? Where were you?" Dave pushed further.

"At work. I had to pull a 24 hour shift. I'm a nurse." She said smartly. "And before you ask, I can get you a list of all the people that saw me working throughout my shifts. You know, just to verify."

"That'd be great." JJ smiled, grateful that she had long ago realized the importance of weeding out the main suspects and ensuring they had an alibi.

After all, it'd be a shame for someone else to get credit for her work.

Something nagged at the back of Garcia's mind. This all felt too familiar.

Bloody, greusome murders.

With a number carved behind the ear.

Where had she seen this before?

It wasn't like her to forget the gross things she had to see on a daily basis, but this--this felt important.

And she couldn't help but feel like if she could just remember, she just might be able to solve the case.

AN/And now, we're at a cross-roads that I've been struggling with. Rest assured, Garcia will figure it out, but should she help JJ get away with it? Or turn in the woman that she had always thought of as a friend? You're suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated. :)