Chapter Fourteen:

(In this chapter I am going to catch up with everyone else on the team, so there might not be that many Hotch or Emily moments…Enjoy)

Reid didn't want to admit it, but he was lost. He and JJ had spent the entire afternoon interviewing co-workers of the three latest victims, looking for a connection.

Other than the fact that fourteen of the sixteen had military connections and they all shared a general physical description, there was nothing to tie them together. It was frustrating.

"We're lost, aren't we?" JJ said, tapping her hand against the door frame.

"Lost implies a permanency. We are just temporarily misplaced." Spence said, hands tight around the wheel.

"Ok." JJ said, keeping the laughter to herself.

"JJ, can I ask you something?" Spencer said after a few more left turns.

"Of course."

"Do you think Emily still likes me? I've said some pretty rude things to her since the whole thing with Hinkle. I'd hate her to think that I didn't care about what's happened." Spencer's gut tightened as he recalled all the nasty things he'd said to the older woman when she'd expressed concern for him. It wasn't a pleasant experience, and he was glad she was going to be ok.

"Of course she likes you! Has she said anything to make you feel otherwise?"

"Well, no. But she doesn't say much when we're partnered together—not that we are that often."

"Emily's very reserved, especially when we're working, you know that." JJ said.

"With me, with Rossi, and with Hotch. But you, Garcia, and Morgan—she's a totally different woman. I'm sure she's already told you and Garcia about having coffee with Agent Gibbs, am I right?"

"How did you know about that? They were out past two."

"I was down in the lobby when he walked her to your room."

"We're girls, Spencer, and friends. We share that kind of thing."



"So you know he kissed her—and she didn't seem to mind."

"She told me—did she know you were watching?"

"No, I don't think so." Spencer paused before continuing. "That's not all—Hotch was awake, too."

"Hotch saw Gibbs kiss Emily?" JJ's eyes were wide and mouth opened in complete surprise.

"Yes. I don't think he was too happy about it."

"Oh, boy. You think that's why he was so rude to Gibbs?"

"Yep. I mean, you know how Hotch is, we're not supposed to get involved with someone while we're on a case. I don't want Emily to get into trouble."

"You think that's all it is?" JJ asked.

"What more could it be?"

"I don't know."

MCGEEMCGEEMGEEMCGEEMCGEE

"Hey, boss." McGee was the first to enter the bullpen, a sheath of papers in his hand. "I've got all the information about Franks and his family."

"Good McGee, anything important in it?" Gibbs asked, swigging from yet another cup of coffee.

"I don't know yet, uh, I'll get right on that, boss." McGee hurriedly spread the papers out over his desk.

"Do that."

Gibbs and Hotch stood, waiting for the rest of their teams to arrive. Neither man spoke. McGee could feel the tension radiating off the two men, and was hoping someone else would arrive to take the heat off of him.

The elevator door opened, and McGee was never more glad to see Tony and Morgan step out, bickering about something. Who would have thought Tim would ever be happy to see Tony?

"Hey, boss. Hey, McGeek." Tony said, smacking McGee in the back of the head. "We got anything?"

"You saw the interrogation, DiNozzo, what do you think we got?" Gibbs asked, snidely.

"Uh, Franks is a nutcase, but other than that, nothing. So how we gonna find the second shooter on the grassy knoll?" Tony asked, wadding paper into balls and tossing them half hazardly toward McGee's trashcan.

Hotch let him do this for only a moment, before reaching out a hand and snagging a paper missile. He gave the other man a look, and Tony straightened. He normally didn't care what the Feebs thought—but Hotchner had a ruthlessness about him that set Tony on edge.

The elevator opened again, revealing yet more of the team. Ziva and Ducky were discussing one of Ducky's stories, their differing accents mingling interestingly. Ziva moved to sit at her desk—one she was sharing with the attractive Agent Morgan—and settled into her chair. She didn't want to admit it, but she was hurting and tired. Ducky had tried to get her to go home, but she refused. Nothing to do at home but watch television, anyway.

JJ and Reid were the next to arrive, Reid spouting off some fount of trivial knowledge that JJ was pretending to be fascinated by. She always humored the younger man, was too polite to tell him to put a sock in it like Morgan had on several occasions. Abby came up the stairs less than half a minute later, slurping loudly from a big red cup.

"Hey Gibbs, Sir Mr. Hotchner, sir, Garcia says she's gonna stay with Agent Emily." Abby said. "Said she 'doesn't want her baby-girl to wake up all alone in my lab'. I don't know why it would matter, I gave Agent Emily my hippo."

"Your hippo?" JJ asked, brows rising.

"Stuffed hippo. Anytime someone sleeps in the lab, they'll wake up with a purple hippo as a pillow."

"Wonder what Emily will think of that?" JJ asked, snickering softly.

"Don't worry, I took pictures." Morgan said, waving his cell phone in JJ's direction.

"Good. We'll let Garcia Photoshop them later." JJ said, before turning to Hotch. "Where's Rossi?"

"Good question. I've not seen or heard from him all day." Morgan said, looking at his team leader. "What's up with that?"

"Oh, I do believe your agent accompanied Jenny to some meeting in Washington today." Ducky said, drawing everyone's attention his way.

"Making time with the director!" Tony snickered, only to be wacked on the back of the head. "Thanks, boss."

"So, do we have anything new?" Ziva asked, getting impatient with all the idle chatter. "Did Franks give you anything?"

"Give me a few minutes with my team and we'll be able to give you a starting profile." Hotch said. JJ and the rest of the team moved to gather around him.

"Anxiously awaiting." Gibbs said, giving every impression of insincerity.

"I'm sure." Hotch said, lip curling. It was the first anyone on his team could ever remember him showing such active dislike for any member of law enforcement.

JJ had a sneaking suspicion she knew why.