Here's chapter two I hope that you are all enjoying it especially Angel'N'Darkness. Thank you to those who have reviewed I've really appreciated them Merry Christmas and on with the story
The swishing of the elevator doors was the only sound Hotch and Emily heard as they entered the BAU bullpen. Stopping to look around Hotch noticed Derek in the break room getting coffee. Derek looked up at the noise and smirked
"I see you couldn't leave the missus behind" chuckling as he poured sweetener into his coffee
Emily glared "Really Morgan do you want me to tell Garcia about what happened in Tennessee last April." Watching Morgan's face pale Emily smirked with satisfaction, "I don't need a lecture Morgan I've had enough of one from Hotch."
"Hey don't bring me into this" Hotch defended himself gently placing his hand on Emily's lower back to guide her to the round table "Is everyone here yet"
"You both are the last to arrive and Rossi is in a foul mood, you have been forewarned." Morgan grabbed his cup walking towards everyone else "But by the look on JJ's face it's a really bad one"
"It's a week before Christmas when isn't it a bad one" Emily shook her head "as for Rossi he's always grumpy when he's called in."
As all three walked into the briefing room everyone's attention turned to look at them. Garcia smirked, Reid shook his head, only Rossi was brave enough to comment about Emily's presence.
"I thought you were going to leave her home" Rossi whispered loudly to Hotch and grinned as he watched Emily glare at him.
"Funny Rossi real funny, don't piss me off I carry a gun, ask Hotch"
"Right Prentiss you and I both know that Hotch has confiscated your gun unless it's during a case" Rossi quipped
Dead panned Hotch responded "last time she put a hole through my favorite tie." Watching Rossi's eyebrow raise
"You've got to be kidding me" Derek asked disbelief evident in his voice "no way no freakin way, was the tie on."
Nodding his head affirmative Hotch smirked "I'm not"
Before Rossi or Derek could say anything else JJ walked in her face grim "Heads up guys this ones bad, when I say bad I mean this goes way beyond destroying a simple holiday this is perverting it."
As the room suddenly became serious, Hotch helped Emily into the seat next to him before ordering "show us what you have JJ"
"We have five women dead in the metropolitan area with in the last five days; each was kidnapped being held and tortured for 24 hours before they were found dead in there own homes. The strange thing is that each death is different"
"What do you mean by different" Rossi stated
"Helen Day found Dec. 13th in her home strangled with a partridge stuffed in her mouth. Samantha Burns Dec. 14th found in her home two stab wounds and two turtledoves in her eyes. Andrea Carmello Dec. 15th poisoned three French hens in her stomach. Margaret Stevens Dec. 16th beaten to death, four calling birds also found in her stomach. Ellen Grey found early this morning burned to death five gold rings found in her nose. Each were beaten and raped before they're deaths. This isn't the only similarity between the victims…"
Morgan was the first to speak up "wait are you kidding me its like some perverted rendition of the Twelve Days of Christmas, Why are we just hearing about this now there are five dead women and if this trend continues at least another seven are on this perverts list. I mean he's stuffing birds and gold into there bodies"
"Actually according to Christian theology each part of the song is has a Christian symbol, the partridge represents Jesus Christ, the turtledoves the Old and New Testament, the three French hens the three theological virtues, and the four calling birds represent the four gospels..." Reid rambled
"Reid" Hotch reproached
"Sorry" Reid looked down and continued to scan the file
"So we know that there's a religious aspect, and he's obviously escalating, we're on limited time this has already spun out of control" Rossi flipped through the folder looking for a pattern
"JJ according to the timeline someone else is missing what do you know" Hotch asked
JJ nodded her head "According to DC police department Alice Cane went missing early this morning, she was walking home from the senior center where she works."
"How do we know that this is the same unsub" Prentiss questioned as she flipped through the file "there's no indication that it's the same unsub"
"She fits the victimology, mid 30's-40's brunette, brown eyes, all were married." As JJ finished the description, Hotch took a deep breath trying to keep his the fear from overtaking him
"Morgan, Reid I want you to go the crime scenes, Garcia find any connection that you can between the victims, Prentiss you're victimology go with JJ to the DC police department, Rossi and I will speak to the victim's family members." Hotch ordered.
As everyone left Hotch gently grabbed Emily's hand and pulled her aside, looking at her with concern "Are you going to be able to work this"
"I know I can Aaron but the question is are you? I'm going to be in the precinct the entire time I promise it will be ok" trying to reassure him she softly caressed his face before pressing a soft kiss to his lips "you need to be focused Aaron the sooner we catch him the sooner we can celebrate Christmas with Jack"
"You're right, I hate it when you match the victimology," pressing a chaste kiss to her lips, pressing his forehead to hers he gently rubbed her stomach "I love you, both of you be careful" giving her one last kiss he released her "you better get going before someone notices you're missing."
Hotch watched as Emily gathered her things and waddled to where JJ was waiting. As they both entered, the elevator Hotch felt a hand descend on his shoulder. He turned to see Rossi's scrutinizing gaze
"Aaron she's going to be okay, no body is going to let anything happen to her" Rossi softly spoke
"I know that logically but my gut still says that I should bundle her up, hog tie her and take her home, I keep seeing what happened to you and JJ when Lexi was born" watching his old friend shudder and pale. "I don't think I could go through that"
"Trust me Aaron, going through that with JJ and Lexi, I would never wish that on my worst enemy, the second you think something is going to happen, I'll back you up if you want to send her to Little Creek she can stay with Henry, Lexi and Mama Rossi."
"Thank you."
"I know you'd do the same thing for my, but right now we need to focus. You're wife was right the sooner we catch him the sooner we can be home for Christmas"
Nodding Hotch and Rossi gathered there files, and briefcases before heading to the elevators. Hotch felt a new resolution, they were going to catch this unsub and they were all going to enjoy Christmas he wouldn't have it any other way
As Alice Cane's anguished scream penetrated the silent night. A man walked around her with penetrating eyes, enjoying the pain she was receiving, he slowly moved to his workbench
"Please, please stop" the Alice sobbed "I'll do anything you want please I have a family" she begged the man as he sharpened his knives. Raw fear had taken hold of her she couldn't die she had too much to live for.
Looking at her with utter contempt "you're just like all the others; it isn't until you're about to loose your life that you want it well you can't have it anymore." The man turned around and brought the knife down into her thigh. She screamed, this is what he wanted he was in control she couldn't leave him now she was all his just like the others.
"Please, I haven't done anything to you." Alice continued to sob. A sharp smack resounded blood slowly dripped down her lip before her eyes rolled into the back of her head
Sighing at the women who'd lost conscious, he caressed her cheek "don't worry my sweet it's Christmas, I'll make everything alright." Knowing she would be unconscious for awhile the man grabbed his coat and secured her bonds
"Don't worry I'll be back I must check on my other gifts" he muttered before leaving the warehouse
I'm going to hopefully be updating everyday until Christmas this story should only have 5-6 more chapters. I hope you are all enjoying it and that you all have a Merry Christmas and not kill me for distorting the twelve days of Christmas
As always, reviews are most welcome
-Galadinzel