As everyone else gets settled, JJ turns on the screen behind her.
"This is a local one, guys." The team looks relieved. "Prince William County PD are investigating a series of home invasions. At first they thought it was kids just trying to steal whatever they could carry. But over the last week, the first two houses were hit again, this time, while the family was home. The parents were told to choose which child they wanted to keep."
"Oh my God," Emily mutters.
"When the parents didn't choose quick enough, they started torturing the children. As soon as a choice was made, the unsubs took that child and left."
"So no matter what they decide they lose," Rossi notes. "The remaining kids know they weren't the parents' choice and the parents have to deal with the psychological effects of having made the choice."
"These are some sick bastards," Morgan states.
"How many in the gang?" Hotch asks.
"The first house, there were 5. The second house, there were 4."
Reid frowns. "It's unusual for a pack to vary the number of members. The fifth member has either already been ousted or maybe even arrested."
"Or maybe he just couldn't make it that night for some reason," Morgan offers.
"Well, wait, look at the families," Emily notes. "There were 4 kids in the first house and only 2 in the second. Maybe they only take the number of people they think they will need to meet their objective."
"All good theories," Hotch notes. "But we need some more facts. Prentiss, since we're local, I'd like you to come with us and take the time to go over the evidence that was collected at the crime scenes."
"Yes, sir," Emily nods.
"Morgan, you and Reid head to the first house. Rossi and I will head to the second. Garcia, get everything you can on these families and get a search to see if any kids matching the missing ones have shown up anywhere: hospitals, clinics, morgues anywhere along the east coast. JJ, head to the police station with Emily and control what information is going out. The media has already picked up on this so we need to rein in the rumors quickly."
Everyone nods and heads out to get ready. Within 10 minutes Emily and JJ are in JJ's sedan heading to Woodbridge, VA. Emily reaches over to take JJ's hand. JJ pulls it away, using both hands to drive. Emily cusses in Spanish before speaking again.
"Her name is Caroline Weston. We dated over 5 years ago. We split because I was offered a promotion and I took it. I had no idea she was going to show up here today or at Quantico at all until she was beside my desk."
JJ takes a deep breath. "I didn't hear you telling her you were off the market."
Emily rolls her eyes and shakes her head. "Jennifer, that's not fair. She surprised me and after my meeting with Straus I wasn't exactly on my toes."
"Yeah, about that meeting…"
"Fuck. Jen, can we please talk about this later? Please?" JJ remains silent. Emily throws her hands in the air. "I'm in the fucking dog house and I've done nothing wrong. This isn't fair, Jennifer. Not fair at all."
JJ's jaw gradually unclenches. She reaches out and takes Emily's hand. "You're right. I'm sorry. I don't normally get all jealous like that but when I saw her standing there staring at you something just…snapped in me. She looked like a lioness closing in on an injured gazelle. And it made me mad. Add in your trip to Straus' office and I guess I was a little on edge." She makes eye contact with Emily long enough to show she is truly sorry. "I'm sorry, Em. You've never given me reason to doubt your integrity or your love for me."
Emily squeezes JJ's hand. "You're forgiven…this time, Agent Jareau."
JJ smiles. "Thank you, Agent Prentiss."
As they pull into the police lot JJ sees a crowd of reporters already waiting. "Great. Make sure you have your 'no comment' face on."
"Always, Jen. I hate talking to the press."
The two agents exit the car and run the gauntlet of reporters at the doors. Once inside, JJ is met by the lead detective. He directs her to the press office and takes Emily back to the room with all the evidence boxes. She stares at the amount accumulated.
"You guys are thorough. I appreciate that. Where is the evidence from the latest two?"
He shows her the boxes. Emily moves to them and gets to work looking over everything that has so far been gathered. By the time the rest of the team arrives that afternoon Emily has seen that "thorough" and "helpful" did not go hand in hand.
Morgan sets a Starbucks down in front of her. "Oh, Morgan, I could kiss you."
"Better not," JJ notes from nearby, with a wink at Morgan.
Morgan raises his hands, showing he was innocent in the exchange. Emily just laughs and moans happily as she takes a sip of the double shot Mocha latte. As everyone sits down, Hotch looks at Emily first.
"What have you got?"
"A lot of nothing, unfortunately. We have pictures showing where entry was made, blood spatter from where the parents were tortured, but no prints, blood or DNA from the unsubs. No footprints were found outside. Other than the families statements there is nothing to show anyone was ever there."
"So they are very organized. To have that many people and not leave anything behind takes discipline," Rossi points out.
"We're not looking at a terrorist cell again, are we? Like in New York?" Reid asks.
Hotch slowly shakes his head. "Though it's too early to rule anything out, I don't think so. None of this would create a mass panic, nor would it be seen as helping with planning for a mass attack."
"I don't know," JJ says. "As a mother, I'd be scared it could happen to me next. There is an air of fear out there. The reporters are all feeding it but even if we get control of that it will still be there. It won't just go away because I make a statement on TV."
"Okay, get Garcia on the phone. We need to know what she's found out about the families," Hotch orders.
By the time 5 p.m. rolls around, the team has given a preliminary profile, established protection details on the other families that had been robbed, and gotten the reporters to stop spreading fear and start spreading facts.
"Let's get a good night's sleep and meet back here at 8 tomorrow. Hopefully all of Garcia's programs will have finished by then and it will give us a direction to look in," Hotch stands, effectively dismissing the unit.
On their way home, JJ and Emily are quiet, each mulling over facts of the case. Henry is staying with Garcia that night so she can take him to day care at Quantico in the morning. As they pull into the driveway, JJ turns and looks at Emily.
"I know we said we would abstain from sex while away on a case but…"
Emily grins. "You know, we already broke that rule in Alaska."
"Think we could break it here, too?"
Emily smiles and leans over to kiss JJ. "I think I could be persuaded to bend it one more time."
The two head inside and don't stop until they get to their bedroom. The rule is broken several times that night and once more before they leave in the morning.