Dirty Little Secret

When we live such fragile lives

It's the best way we survive

I go around a time or two

Just to waste my time with you

Tell me all that you've thrown away

Find out games you don't wanna play

You are the only one that needs to know

I'll keep you my dirty little secret

Who as to know?

~The All-American Rejects

They're only home for twelve hours when Garcia sends out the text calling them back in.

They stagger into the conference room, all bleary-eyed and exhausted. Morgan is still in sweats; Emily's got her hair tied up in a messy ponytail. Reid and JJ mirror one another as they rub sleep from their eyes. They glare at Hotch and Rossi, neither of whom appear the least bit tired.

This time they have to fly to San Diego. There's a serial rapist who, SDPD believes, has turned murderer and they've hit a dead end. They need the BAU's help and can't wait any longer. He's accelerated and is raping and killing two women a day now.

Emily swears under her breath when Garcia pulls up pictures of the victims - they're all brunettes in the mid-to-late thirties. She hates when she's the unsub's "type". She feels like the entire team gets over-protective and smothering. She feels JJ's eyes on her already and it takes everything she has to avoid making eye contact.

They get their files and information from Garcia and are on the jet before JJ is able to finish the first of what's sure to be many cups of coffee.

The flight to San Diego is long enough that, once they review the case, everyone settles in to sleep. Emily stretches out across a row of seats and smiles softly as she watches Reid offer JJ his shoulder as a pillow. The blond is asleep before she can smile back.

They hit the ground running when they land; their unsub has already raped and killed one woman and it's a race against the clock if they're going to save his next victim.

Hotch sends Emily and JJ to talk to the most recent victim's family. It's the first time they've been alone since JJ called Emily to her room; the first chance they've had to talk. And it's the worst possible timing. JJ sighs as she climbs into the SUV, buckles up as Emily starts it and pulls out into traffic. She hates that Emily fits the victimology so well, even if it's only physically at this point, and a part of her wishes Hotch had partnered her up with Reid or Rossi.

They pull up to the house, having spent the entire ride in silence, and JJ lets Emily take the lead as they question their victim's parents and younger sister. She's distracted, and frustrated by the fact that Emily is doing the compartmentalizing that she does and is acting like nothing has happened. Just being close to her is driving JJ crazy and a part of her hopes the case takes a day or two just so that they have a couple nights in the hotel room. She knows it's sick and twisted, hoping more girls are hurt, but she needs to get Emily out of her system. It has to be while they're on the road - if she takes this home with her, it could destroy everything she holds dear.

They get as much information from the family as they can, and it's more than they expected, considering how distraught the family is. They want justice for their daughter and to keep other women safe, and it shows in their willingness to push their sadness aside and answer all of Emily's questions.

As they climb back into the SUV, Emily turns to JJ. "What's going on, Jayje? You hardly said two words in there."

JJ pulls out her phone, putting a finger up to Emily as she calls Hotch, relays the information they'd gotten in the interview. Emily huffs angrily and starts the SUV, pulling out into traffic. Her jaw is set in angry lines, the combination of realizing she is EXACTLY the unsub's type and JJ's deflection testing her patience.

JJ ends the call with Hotch and turns to take in Emily's profile. The brunette has always been a easy read for her and right now her anger and frustration are plain as day. She clears her throat, taking a deep breath, and dives in.

"Emily, I'm sorry. It's just - well - you know how hard it is when one of the team so perfectly fits the unsub's victimology. It was bad enough before, but now, it's worse than normal." She draws a shaky breath. "Especially since I can't stop thinking about the other night." She finishes quickly, her cheeks going pink.

Emily's cheek flush and her breath catches. She'd shoved all the memories and feelings deep into their own little box, compartmentalizing as she did when something threatens to be a distraction or make her feel. It was easier to just push it all down and forget about it; to do what they were there to do and head home, back to the "friend zone" that she and JJ had established.

"JJ, don't. Don't worry about me fitting victimology. The guys will hover and protect enough. Don't let what has happened between us cloud your judgment or distract you. Let's just do what we're here to do and get back home." She didn't add "where it's safe", but JJ heard it just the same. And she understood. Emily didn't deserve to be her dirty little secret, and the longer they were here, so far from Quantico and Will, the more likely it was that she would become just that.

"Emily - "

"Jayje, don't." Emily hears the apology in JJ's voice and cuts her off. "I was there too. I started this, really. And I'm a big girl, I'll take responsibility for my part and for my feelings. I knew this wouldn't ever become more than what it is and I'm fine with that. I'd rather that than risk our friendship and your marriage. Will is a good guy, a great dad, and you deserve to be happy and loved."

JJ sighs, puts her hand over Emily's on the steering wheel. "You deserve those things too, you know." she replies softly.

Emily swallows hard past the lump that forms in her throat, blinks away the tears that sting her eyes. JJ doesn't know, can't understand, that Emily won't ever have those things. And she's come to terms with that. She's made her choices and mistakes, done her penance, and has moved past it. She's destined for a lifetime of random encounters that last a handful of fiery and passionate weeks, just to disappear as quickly and, more often than not, dramatically as they crashed into her life.

She shakes her head to clear away these thoughts and steals a glance at JJ as she waits for the red light to change. "Let's just catch our unsub and get you home to your family."

JJ opens her mouth to argue, but something about the steely look in Emily's eyes causes her to reconsider. Her friend's mind is made up, and nothing JJ says will sway her. But she can't leave it like this, leave Emily feeling used and unworthy of anything more or deeper. She'll just have to find another way.

They reconvene at the station to give the local law enforcment officials the profile. They bounce back and forth, each taking their turn to give input into their unsub, just as they always do. The local officials, having their assignments, disperse, leaving just the BAU team member behind.

They all look expectantly to Hotch, eager to make their next move and head home for what they hope will be slightly more down time.

Hotch looks over his team, takes in the lines of exhaustion evident in their bodies, the dark circles under their eyes. He gives them all credit, they're tough and determined and have hidden how tired they truly are well from the locals. He, however, knows his team better than that.

"There isn't much else we can do until the unsub makes another move and we have more information to pass along to Garcia. Let's head to the hotel and get some rest." The team sighs in relief, grateful to have even an hour to take a hot shower and pull themselves together.

They check in, two to a room, and get settled. Emily and JJ room together, against Hotch's better judgement. He'd feel better if Emily was with him or Morgan, considering her likeness to the unsub's previous victims, but they'd grabbed the keys before he'd had the chance to say anything. He knew that she could take care of herself and had to be satisifed with knowing that he and Rossi were rooming together right next to them.

Emily sighs as she steps out of the shower and begins to towel dry her hair. The hot water had done the trick, waking her up and helping her to shake off the unsteadiness she's been feeling since her talk with JJ. It's not like her to get so emotional, and she blames it on the stress of this case coming so closely on the heels of their last one.

She wraps her towel around her, smirks at how silly the modesty feels in light of the events of the past few days, and pads out to her go-bag. She's sorting through the bag when she feels JJ come up behind her.

JJ pushes Emily's hair to the side, her lips ghosting over Emily's neck. Emily tilts her head to the side, granting JJ better access. JJ's arms wrap around Emily, pulling the towel open and pushing it away. Her hands cup Emily's breasts as Emily leans back into her.

JJ can feel the brunette's pulse beating under her lips and she groans softly. Just knowing that she's causing Emily's heart to race like that turns her on and she needs more. She's also very aware that Hotch could call them back into the field at any minute, and it would be a shame to interrupt this.

She turns Emily toward her and pushes the go-bag from the bed. Her lips and hands never leave Emily's body as she pushes the woman back onto the bed. Emily tries to protest, the timing isn't great, but JJ silences her with a well-placed finger on her clit.

She grins when she feels how wet Emily already is, plunging two fingers into her without hesitation. The thrill of never knowing when the phone will ring has her adrenaline pumping and gives her a sense of urgency she didn't have before.

"Oh, God, JJ!" Emily bucks her hips against JJ's hand, begs the blond for more, the tension not quite enough.

JJ smirks, eyebrow raised, as she adds two more fingers, pumping in and out of Emily hard enough that the headboard bounces slightly against the wall. Her blue eyes sparkle mischieviously as she flips her hair over her shoulder and flicks her tongue against Emily's clit. Her hand never stops and Emily is calling out JJ's name, her body convulsing, in record time.

Emily sits up, her body still shuddering in the aftershocks of her orgasm, and slides her hand up the inside of JJ's thigh. Her thigh is wet, and Emily moans her appreciation when she discovers that JJ isn't wearing underwear under her skirt. Emily wastes no time, plunges three fingers into JJ, her thumb making circles over the blonde's clit.

JJ's head drops to Emily's shoulder, and she bites the brunette's neck as she comes, leaving deep indents that will definitely bruise. JJ slumps against Emily, completely sated, and groans as both of their phones chime.

JJ rolls off of Emily and grabs her phone. "It's a text from Hotch. Garcia's found something that might be useful." She moves to kiss Emily on the head before heading into the bathroom to clean up and change her clothes.

Emily hurriedly pulls on jeans and a t-shirt, hopping up and down slightly as she zips up her boots. Her hair has dried in messy waves, and she grabs a hair tie as she stuffs her phone in her back pocket.

The women leave the room together, JJ holding Emily's blazer as she pulls her hair into the neatest ponytail she can manage. Hotch and Rossi meet them in the hallway; Rossi takes in the flushed cheeks and messy ponytail and bites back a smile.

Emily takes the jacket from JJ, and turns to look quizically at Rossi when he takes her by the elbow, giving Hotch and JJ a chance to get a little ahead of them.

"It's, ah, none of my business, really, Emily" his lips twitch as he tries to hold back a grin and his eyes twinkle "but a little ice will keep that mark there from bruising." He brushes his fingers over the bite mark JJ has left and laughs when Emily's face flushes red. She pulls her jacket on, vainly trying to get the collar to cover the mark, making Rossi laugh louder.

She huffs and glares at him before hurrying after JJ and Hotch.

Garcia's find proves incredibly helpful and they apprehend their unsub before he has a chance to kill his newest victim. She has, however been raped and badly beaten, and Emily sighs sadly when she thinks about what it's going to take for her to heal.

The unsub takes a long good look at Emily when Hotch ushers him past, licking his lips and moaning slightly. It makes a shudder run through her; she doesn't back down, but instead stares him dead in the eye.

"Why do you always challenge these psychos?" murmered in her ear, illiciting a completely different kind of shudder.

"Same reason you do, I guess. Not giving them the satisfaction of thinking they have any power." She shrugs, heading back to the SUV. Now that the unsub has been apprehended and is the local law enforcement's problem, they'll go back to the hotel to pack up and be back on the jet within the hour.

Part of Emily wishes they'd get one more night here before going to back to their norm (and being JJ's dirty little secret), but bigger part thinks maybe it's for the best that they aren't. She's exhausted and ready for a good night's sleep in her bed, and maybe a couple of days off for good measure.

They get back to the hotel and Hotch gathers them together in the lobby. "We're staying the night. Garcia did a thing, we have the rooms for an extra night on the Bureau, and we can all agree that we could use the rest. Wheels up at 8:00 tomorrow morning."

The stagger off toward the elevators, Reid talking to JJ about some book he's been looking forward to reading, Morgan and Rossi making dinner plans. Hotch sidles up to Emily, a twinkle in his eye, his dimples just visible as he holds back a smirk. "Thought you and JJ could use the extra time, just, ah, maybe pull the bed away from the wall a little."

He chuckles when she cuffs him on the arm, her cheeks flushed a delicate pink. "We'll try not to keep you and Rossi up - but I can't make any promises."

Hotch smiles briefly, before suddenly becoming serious. He puts a hand on her arm, stopping her from boarding the elevator with the rest of the team, waving them on. "Seriously though, Emily. You're secret is safe with me and Dave, but it won't be long til Morgan and Reid figure it out." She nodded, huffed out a sigh. She'd already thought of that. "All that matters to us is that you are both happy and safe." He rubbed her arm as she mumbled "I know. Thanks."

They part at their doors, Hotch grins at her one more time, and she chuckles.

She leans against the door when it closes, can hear the shower running and grins wickedly. She quickly strips right there in the doorway before joining JJ in the shower. The blonde jumps and lets out a shriek of surprise when she feels hands snake up to cup her breasts.

"Hotch and Rossi know." The statement is punctuated with a kiss on JJ's neck. "Obviously they won't say anything." Another kiss. "But it won't be long til Reid and Morgan figure it out." Kiss. "And Pen." Kiss. "I won't be your dirty little secret for too much longer." Emily hesitates before placing another kiss on JJ's neck, sighs at the tightness in her chest that statement has caused. She knew JJ would never really be *hers* and it was never a problem for her. But knowing that *this* might have to end sooner rather than later was different.

JJ turns in Emily's embrace, cups her face in her hands and kisses her softly. "Knowing they'll keep to their word and not say anything, I have no intentions of quitting you any time soon. We've got our terms, we're both satisfied with them, and I see no reason why anything has to change until we're good and ready for it to." She grins mischievously, licks her lips slowly. "Emily, you will always be my dirty little secret." The statement is ended in a kiss that reaches all the way down to Emily's toes, causes her core to instantly throb and ache. By the end of the kiss, Emily is all but begging JJ to take her right there in the shower.

JJ is all too happy to oblige.