Chapter Six:

A/N- If anyone has any questions just leave a comment when you respond. Also I thought it might be obvious that she couldn't work this case due to her sister being one of the victims so I didn't mention it in the story. Enjoy! Again please respond, having only two reviews makes me sad. Though I do appreciate those two reviews.

Seattle, Washington

J.J. sat silently in front of the phone trying to keep herself together, trying to decide who she needed to call first. She wasn't sure how long she had been sitting motionless in front of the phone when Reid came in.

"How did it go?" He asked awkwardly taking the seat next to her.

"I haven't called anyone yet," She replied honestly, "I haven't been part of this world for over nine years Spence… I don't know what to say."

"The truth is usually helpful," He smiled handing her the necklace.

J.J. took a deep breath and picked up the phone the right numbers flowing directly from the back of her mind to her fingers.

"This is special agent Jennifer Jareau with the F.B.I," She said when a familiar voice answered on the third ring, "No Sophie this isn't a joke… Sophie it's me… No it's Shelby… No Sophie calm down … I know… No, no one's called me Shel in a very long time… It's ok I don't mind, Sophie don't cry… Sophie please calm down, I need to talk to Peter can you put him on?" J.J. sat for a moment before taking Reid's hand without thinking. "Peter?… Yeah it's me… Yeah it's good to hear your voice too… I'm with the F.B.I now… I know it's a drastic change… That's not why I called though… It's Jess… Yeah this morning… You don't sound surprised… I'm gonna take care of everything, but I was wondering … Exactly my thoughts… It seemed like what she would want… No I'm going to go tell her as soon as I finish a few things at the station… Would it be alright if my team came I could really use…Me too but you're still family … No I never forgot… Not much… There's just too much to say… Can we talk about that later? … I love you and Sophie too … I'll see you tonight… Bye."

J.J. couldn't control her tears any longer, as soon as she hung up the phone they just began against her will.

"It's ok, shhhh," Reid comforted pulling her into a hug.

"We have to get things done, there's just so much to do, the unsub, arrangements, telling that bitch," J.J. cried feeling more overwhelmed by the second, "They have to catch him.

"Let's worry about one thing at a time," Reid comforted unsure of what else to say, "Just trust us J.J. we'll catch him, I promise."

By noon J.J. had finished the ID and the paperwork that went with that and was slowly finishing up her sister's personality assessment and victimology for the case.

"I hadn't seen her in over nine years Spence," J.J. huffed frustrated by how much had gone wrong since she left.

"Just one more time," He said apologetically aware of how emotionally drained his friend already was.

"Jess had some problems but she was a good kid," She hissed inwardly thinking of the man at the root of their 'problems', "She didn't really like herself, she was shy and smart, but she was a follower, she was always trying to prove herself, and she hated being alone. She was beautiful and gentle… but that's all I have."

"Ok," Reid smiled, "Let's go meet with the team real quick and then we can head out."

J.J. nodded and followed Reid back over into the conference room.

"Here's the victimology for all seven girls," He said as he handed a manila folder over to Hotch who was staring at the board, "Has Garcia gotten back to you with the titles yet?"

"Not yet," He said not paying attention to J.J. who was moving closer to the board, "We need to know what books he means so we can know what message he's trying to send."

"T.G.T.?" J.J. mused out loud, "The Giving Tree?"

"What?" Hotch asked looking over at the disheveled agent who was now gently caressing the first picture on the board.

"The Giving Tree, it's a book by Shel Silverstein I used to read it to her before bed every night, it was Jess's favorite when she was little," J.J. said pushing back the tears she could feel trying to invade her eyes.

"Their hands," Reid said out of nowhere, "J.J. can you move?"

As she moved Reid took each picture in order of death and placed them right next to each other before taking a step back.

"Their holding hands?" Morgan asked in utter confusion.

"Like paper dolls," Prentiss spoke up as she moved to see the board better.

"Exactly!" Reid said a little more excited than the rest, "He's sending us a message."

"What exactly?" Prentiss asked in frustration.

"Whatever it is innocence is at the root of it, though I'm sure we'll know more as soon we get those other book titles," Reid said as J.J. took another step closer to the board, this time her hand landing on her sister's picture.

"I'm going up to Mount Horizon about six hours north of here to prepare for the funeral, Peter and Sophie are going to help me get things ready," J.J. said holding the tears she wanted desperately to cry back, she knew she had to be strong now, "I know you all have mixed feelings about me right now but I could really use your support, I'm not really good at asking for it I know ... I just, I just hope you'll all come up. I know your sending Reid with me to make sure I don't lose it, but I would really like for you to come… besides Horizon you guys are the only home and family I've ever known."

"We'll be there J.J.," Hotch smiled placing a comforting hand on the young liaison's shoulder, "But first we have to catch this bastard."

"Thanks Hotch," She smiled as strongly as she could before making her way towards the door refusing to look at any of her other team members.

"She's trying to hide it but she is clearly falling apart," Morgan said thoughtfully as soon as J.J. and Reid were out of the room.

"I have a feeling this is the calm before the storm," Hotch replied turning his attention back to the board.